How will your team fare on the first two nights of the 2024 NFL Draft, starting with the first round? The Sporting News has you covered tracking all the selections and handing out grades in real time from Thursday night through the second and third rounds on Friday.
While the quarterbacks take center stage again, wide receivers, corners, and pass rushers are the true loaded positions in this class. That makes for some intriguing and surprising selections after a predictable No. 1 overall pick.
From the top, with the Bears set to land USC’s Caleb Williams as their new franchise QB, through No. 100 overall, this is your hub for in-depth live reactions for the first through third rounds, grading every team and player fit:
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1. Chicago Bears (from Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Bears take a swing for the quarterback ceiling with Williams’ cannon of an arm and elite playmaking. He compares to Patrick Mahomes with his competitive, often successful improv and can push toward that level with the right coaching and offensive support. Chicago has a promising infrastructure in place to believe Williams will end their search for a long-term franchise passer.
MORE CALEB WILLIAMS NEWS:
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Commanders made the right choice over Drake Maye given Daniels can be like Lamar Jackson with his running ability and big-play passing. That lines up well with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who made the most out of Kyler Murray in Arizona early. Daniels has a high athletic ceiling as a fellow Heisman winner to Williams.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Maye was the No. 2 QB prospect for a long time before Daniels’ meteoric rise during his final season. He’s got the prototypical size (6-4, 223 pounds) and good enough athleticism to go with a strong arm, but he’s more of a high-floor pick than either Williams or Daniels. He also needs to work on decision making, staying patient and handling pressure, now on a team that doesn’t have the same kind of support Chicago and Washington offer their rookies.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals smartly go for Plan A to fill their biggest need with the best non-quarterback in the draft. Harrison proved long before pre-draft workouts he is a generational talent, bigger, stronger and faster than his Hall of Fame namesake father. He will be a dominant go-to guy for Murray with hands, routes, big-play ability and red-zone flair.
MORE: Marvin Harrison Jr. scouting report
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Chargers went with Alt over a top wide receiver (Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze), but that’s not a huge surprise given this is Jim Harbaugh. The team now has elite athletic blocking rock Big Ten bookends in Alt and Rashawn Slater to keep Justin Herbert well protected and also further boost the perimeter running game. Alt is a can’t-miss, safe option with an NFL pedigree and the Chargers can just tap into a deep wideout class in later rounds.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Giants go back to the first-round wide receiver well 10 years after taking Odell Beckham Jr. out of LSU with another special big-time explosive playmaker. Nabers has the speed and quickness of a true No. 1 they have been missing for Daniel Jones. Nabers is versatile to deliver outside or in the slot, stretching the field or running well after the catch and be the new Stefon Diggs for offensive-minded coach Brian Daboll.
7. Tennessee Titans: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
The Titans did need an offensive tackle badly to put in front of Will Levis’ blind side on the left side, but it was curious how they reached for positional need once the Chargers took Alta and didn’t want to bring in Odunze instead to help Levis. Latham can be a strong pass protector for them, but they might have been able to find a starting-caliber tackle on Day 2.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
The Falcons pull off the first real shocker in the first round by taking the strong-armed Penix, a perfect fit for Zac Robinson’s downfield passing offense, despite making a blockbuster trade for veteran starter Kirk Cousins earlier in the offseason. Cousins will turn 36 in August and is coming off a torn Achilles’ in Minnesota. Penix works as a contingency and potential successor soon, but the Falcons get dinged for not getting some key defensive help (Dallas Turner) for Raheem Morris.
MORE: Michael Penix Jr. scouting report
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Bears should be pinching themselves with their new-look passing offense. D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen now get a complementary outside No. 2 with elite size and clutch-play ability reminiscent of long-time Packers rival wideout Davante Adams. New coordinator Shane Waldron now has the dangerous downfield passing attack he had in Seattle and Williams is set up for smashing rookie success with his inherited weapons.
10. Minnesota Vikings (from Jets): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Vikings increased the quarterbacks drafted tally to five in the top 10 and needed to only move up one spot to secure their consistent QB of choice. After the Penix twist to the Falcons, McCarthy goes to another Rams offshoot offense where he can thrive with his arm, toughness and intangibles under Kevin O’Connell. Like Williams, Daniels and Penix, he goes to a team loaded with key weapons, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. He has the best chance to steal OROY from Williams.
MORE: J.J. McCarthy scouting report
11. New York Jets (from Vikings): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Jets had options here, including catching a falling “big three” wide receiver or taking top tight end Brock Bowers. But this selection might be the safest and smartest, given they are relying on two 33-year-old new tackles, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, in front of Aaron Rodgers. Fashanu is a well-rounded blocker with a good blend of power and athleticism to hold down either side for a while.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Broncos went for the combination of reliable arm strength and accuracy in Nix, despite him not having close to the ceiling of Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix or McCarthy. They needed a starter badly for Sean Payton and there are some basic Drew Brees traits he does well for that system. They might have forced it with Penix and McCarthy gone, but Nix could end up a solid pick if they put in a lot of work to improve around him, too.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders
There’s nothing wrong with Bowers being taken in the top 15, given he has that kind of athletic talent as a mismatch-creating tight end. But they did already have Michael Mayer and added underrated former Brown Harrison Bryant in the offseason. The Raiders went for a luxury pick despite having needs on the offensive line and secondary. Tom Telesco went for the best player available, but the QB void and defensive issues make Bowers less of a valuable pick to this particular team.
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
There wasn’t much separating Fashanu and Fuaga as the best overall blocking tackles in this class after Alt. The Saints had a huge need here given Ryan Ramczyk is a real injury concern and Trevor Penning has been ineffective playing anywhere. His power and sneaky athleticism is great for the new system under Klint Kubiak.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Latu is an explosive, versatile pass rusher coming off a huge season of production in Westwood. The Colts were looking for an impact defender and had to jump on a dropping elite sack artist vs. a top cornerback. GM Chris Ballard adds a promising complement to DeForest Buckner.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
The Seahawks could have thought about cornerback, offensive line or edge rusher, too, but they went with Murphy to bookend re-signed Leonard Williams on their new 3-4 front for new defensive-minded coach Mike Macdonald. Macdonald is hoping that Murphy will turn into his new version of the Ravens’ Justin Madubuike in terms of explosive pass-rushing and blowing up run plays in the backfield with a compact frame.
17. Minnesota Vikings (from Jaguars): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Turner slides into a great landing spot as the best all-around edge defender in this class, with Latu being the best pure pass rusher. Turner will thrive for Brian Flores as he’s schemed around to make a lot of the same big plays he made in Tuscaloosa. Turner with free-agent additions Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel makes for a devastating new pressure group. The Vikings will put Turner in places to produce right away as a situational rookie.
MORE: Dallas Turner scouting report
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Bengals made a smart, smooth, agile pass-protection upgrade pick for Joe Burrow after the blocking didn’t pan out with Jonah Williams on the left side. The team took a shot on Trent Brown this offseason to put opposite Orlando Brown Jr., but both are question marks as the latter struggled big-time last season, giving up seven sacks.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Rams needed to find a way to upgrade their pass rush in the wake of Aaron Donald’s retirement and with Murphy off the board, they had to go outside linebacker for Chris Shula’s defense, getting a nice complement to their second-year rising star, Byron Young. Verse should remain productive right away in their scheme.
MORE: Rams make first Round 1 pick in Sean McVay era
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Steelers were locked into getting offensive line help, with center and guard also being on the radar. Although Fautanu has devastating physicality, he showed teams he could start outside as an agile and quick blocker, too. He projects to start on the right side with 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones flipping to left tackle to upgrade from Dan Moore Jr.
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Dolphins have some major depth concerns on their pass rush minus Van Ginkel and both Jaelan Phllips and Bradley Chubb being on the mend. New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver needed to replenish the pressure package and he will love Robinson’s combination of explosiveness and energy to be a strong situational option if not a needed starter right away.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Eagles made it no secret they coveted Mitchell as the top pick for Howie Roseman as the near future needed to be addressed at corner behind Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Mitchell separated from other corners because of his pure speed to stay with faster receivers downfield along with using all of his frame to win in coverage. They’re hoping he can be their version of Sauce Gardner.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Browns through Texans, Vikings): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Thomas is a big, strong, physical receiver who uses his body and speed well to stretch the field, work downfield after the catch and provide a big red zone target. Thomas gives them a replacement on the perimeter for Calvin Ridley, joining Gabe Davis as a vertical threat to complement slot Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram. This is a great pre-lucrative contract extension gift for big-armed franchise QB Trevor Lawrence.
24. Detroit Lions (from Cowboys): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Lions tried to upgrade their cornerback situation last offseason and their veteran moves, including Cameron Sutton, didn’t work out. They are doing it better, adding the ballhawking of Arnold to complement former Buccaneer Carlton Davis. Detroit found its priority missing defensive missing piece with an immediate-impact playmaker for Aaron Glenn.
25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The Packers had a need at offensive tackle after moving on from David Bakhtiari. They might have reached a little for the more developmental Morgan, but there’s not doubt he has the athleticism and agile blocking style to become a key pass protector for Jordan Love in time.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
The Buccaneers needed to address the offensive line at some point with concerns at both left guard adjacent to and right tackle opposite Tristan Wirfs. Barton is an ideal option for either position because he’s a natural fluid run blocker inside who has the athleticism to be developed into a starter outside.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Texans): Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
The Cardinals get the ideal pass-rushing prospect for defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon. Robinson has a good blend of explosiveness to get to quarterbacks along with strength to hold up well vs. the run. He has some freakish upside to have double-digit sacks at some point.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Chiefs already went for a veteran speedster by signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown late in free agency to help better track Patrick Mahomes’ deep balls and they got aggressive to land Worthy, the fastest-ever wideout at the Combine. Although it seems a little desperate to try to restore the big-play ability they had with Tyreek Hill, Mahomes and Andy Reid should be thrilled by upgrading their downfield weapons outside.
29. Dallas Cowboys (from Lions): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Cowboys might have been thinking about Barton and Fautanu with the inside more in mind, but in the end, going with Guyton in the wake of parting ways with long-time star left tackle Tyron Smith was a shrewd move after trading down. Guyton proved that beyond his big, mauling frame, he has the footwork and agility to handle protecting outside.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Ravens are ready to push forward at corner, where they needed some depth behind Marlon Humphrey and a potential upgrade from Brandon Stephens outside They had to grab a falling Wiggins for his size, speedy, and savvy playmaking.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
The 49ers make a head-scratching reach for a wide receiver even while not trading Brandon Aiyuk on the first night of the draft. That said, Pearsall is a solid natural route-runner with some downfield big-play flair, much like Aiyuk. That also said, there were many better receivers with higher floors and ceilings still left on the board vs. a late second-round caliber player.
32. Carolina Panthers (from Chiefs through Bills): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
The Panthers also reached for a wideout in a trade up, albeit much less than the 49ers did. Legette profiles as the tantalizing outside deep threat they need for Bryce Young, but before he can really produce opposite Diontae Johnson, Legette must show more consistency with his hands and routes to stay on the field.
MORE NFL DRAFT: Best players available | Winners and losers after Round 1
