No. 16 pick: Byron Murphy to the Seahawks
Seattle selected Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy with the No. 16 pick, continuing the trend of defensive players being chosen, following 15 consecutive offensive picks.
WATCH: Marvin Harrison Jr. on his dad’s impact
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
WATCH: Jadyn Daniels on football and his identity
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Pac-12 is dominating its final draft before realignment
The last season of Pac-12 football produced an outstanding draft performance.
Six players from the conference that will undergo realignment were selected in the top 15 picks, surpassing all other conferences.
Caleb Williams from USC was the first pick, followed by two players from Washington with Michael Penix Jr. at eighth and Rome Odunze at ninth. Oregon’s Bo Nix was drafted at 12th, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga at 14th, and UCLA’s Laiati Latu at the 15th spot.
Since 2011, the SEC was the only conference to have at least six players chosen in the top 15, achieving this feat seven times, with a peak of nine players in 2020.
That’s offensive: First defensive player isn’t selected until Latu at No. 15
UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu became the first defensive player chosen in the NFL draft, picked at No. 15 by Indianapolis, ending a streak of 14 consecutive offensive player selections.
The latest a defensive player was chosen prior to Latu was in 2021 when the Carolina Panthers selected cornerback Jaycee Horn at eighth overall.
This marks the first time in any draft where 14 straight offensive players were picked.
No. 15 pick: Laiatu Latu to the Colts
UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu walks on stage during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Finally, a team took a defensive player in a city known as The D. Indianapolis selected the UCLA edge rusher with the No. 15 pick overall, ending the longest drought before a defensive player was drafted since 1967.
No. 14 pick: OT Fuaga to the Saints
New Orleans selected Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, a second-team All-America offensive tackle.
Air show: Receivers and tight ends also flying fast in first round
The pass-happy nature of this draft goes beyond the six quarterbacks in the first 12 picks. There has also been a heavy focus on pass catchers — with three wide receivers and a tight end taken so far. Only the Chargers, Titans and Jets bucked this trend by selecting linemen, and we’re still waiting for the first defensive pick.
Raiders select Brock Bowers at No. 13
Las Vegas kept the run on offensive players going, taking the Georgia tight end with the No. 13 pick, leaving another team to take the first defensive player off the board.
Pick-6: Six QBs go in the first 12 picks for the first time
Denver took Bo Nix with the 12th pick overall, completing a stunning run of half a dozen QBs going off the board with the first 12 picks. This draft ties the record from the famed 1983 draft when a record six quarterbacks were taken in the first round, including Hall of Famers John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino. But it took until pick No. 27 for Marino to go off the board that year. It went much faster this time around with Nix following Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy.
Bo Nix goes No. 12 to Denver
The Broncos took the Oregon standout to mark the first time six quarterbacks were selected among the first 12 picks in an NFL draft.
OT Fashanu goes No. 11 to the Jets
New York drafted Olu Fashanu with the No. 11 overall pick, banking on the Penn State offensive tackle to help keep quarterback Aaron Rodgers healthy. The Jets traded down one slot with the Minnesota Vikings.
That’s a record 5 QBs in the first 10 picks
The trend of selecting quarterbacks continued, with Minnesota making a move to select J.J. McCarthy as the 10th overall pick, setting a new record for the fewest number of picks for five quarterbacks.
McCathy was chosen after Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Michael Penix Jr., making it the first time in history that five quarterbacks were selected in the top 10.
The last time the fifth quarterback was picked this early was in 1999 when Chicago drafted Cade McNown at 12th. In that year, Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, and Akili Smith were the top three picks, while Daunte Culpepper was picked 11th.
Vikings trade up and select QB J.J. McCarthy at No. 10
Minnesota traded up to secure the selection of McCarthy.
They traded a fourth- and fifth-round pick to the New York Jets to prevent another team from picking the Michigan quarterback. Additionally, they acquired a sixth-round pick in the first trade of the night.
Latham gives Alabama yet another first-round pick
Tackle JC Latham going No. 7 to Tennessee extended Alabama’s record streak to 16 straight years with a first-round draft pick.
Vikings trade up to No. 10
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Minnesota traded up with the Jets to the No. 10 overall pick.
Bears select WR Rome Odunze at No. 9
Chicago picked Washington’s Rome Odunze as the No. 9 overall pick to provide Caleb Williams with a talented receiver for the Bears.
QBs are being drafted at a record pace
Quarterbacks were selected at a rapid rate following a surprising turn of events in the draft.
After Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye were picked as the top three, Atlanta surprised everyone by choosing Michael Penix Jr. as the eighth overall pick, despite already signing Kirk Cousins to a lucrative deal in free agency.
The previous record was set in 2018 when Baker Mayfield was picked first, followed by Sam Darnold at third, Josh Allen at seventh, and Josh Rosen at tenth.
The Tennessee Titans, with new coach Brian Callahan, selected Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with the No. 7 pick in the draft.
LSU had two top-six picks in the draft, with Jayden Daniels going to the Commanders at No. 2 and Malik Nabers to the Giants at No. 6.
Malik Nabers, drafted by the New York Giants, displayed images of his football journey at LSU inside his suit jacket after being selected sixth overall.
The Chargers chose offensive tackle Joe Alt from Notre Dame with the No. 5 pick in hopes of bolstering protection for quarterback Justin Herbert.Marvin Harrison Jr. became part of an exclusive group when he was selected as the 4th pick by Arizona. His father, Marvin Harrison, a Hall of Famer, had a successful career with Indianapolis Colts. Other notable father-son duos in the NFL include Jake Matthews, son of Bruce Matthews, and Kyle and Chris Long, sons of Howie Long.
Jayden Daniels, selected 2nd overall by Washington Commanders in the NFL draft, has garnered high praise from Magic Johnson, part-owner of the Commanders. Johnson expressed excitement for Daniels leading the team to future victories and energizing both players and fans.
In another draft move, the Arizona Cardinals picked wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as the 4th overall selection, marking a significant moment for the team. The first three picks went to quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye.
The draft saw quarterbacks being picked in the first three spots for the second time since 2021, with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye leading the charge. This occurrence was only the fourth time in history that quarterbacks dominated the top picks.
Moreover, the New England Patriots chose quarterback Drake Maye as the 3rd pick overall. With qualities like size, arm strength, and accuracy, Maye is expected to bring a new dynamic to the team after their departure from coach Bill Belichick.
Additionally, the draft made history with the top two picks both being Heisman winners, a rare feat that had only occurred once before.“`html
The first two picks in this year’s draft were both Heisman Trophy winners, following a recent pattern where the winners of college football’s top prize are selected early. Of the last seven Heisman winners, five were chosen as the first overall pick – Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, Bryce Young, and Caleb Williams. The exceptions were DeVonta Smith, who was the 10th pick in his draft, and Jayden Daniels, who went second after Williams.
This marks the second instance of two Heisman winners being chosen in the top five picks. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were selected 1-2 in 2015. This is only the eighth time since the common draft era began that two Heisman winners have been picked in the same draft:
-2018 Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson
-2015 Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota
-2011 Cam Newton, Mark Ingram
-2010 Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow
-1992 Desmond Howard, Ty Detmer
-1985 Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie
-1980 Billy Sims, Charles White
Commanders select Jayden Daniels with second pick
The Washington Commanders picked Jayden Daniels as the No. 2 overall selection.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner shined in his fifth season of college football, emerging as a standout player at LSU.
Daniels excels in deep throws and agile plays, and he is expected to showcase his skills in Washington.
Eminem takes the stage with Goodell
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rapper Eminem joined commissioner Roger Goodell, Lions Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, and current Detroit players Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson and Amon-Ra St. Brown on stage before the Bears selected Caleb Williams as the first pick of the draft.
St. Brown initiated a “Jared Goff” chant, referring to the Lions’ quarterback.
“This is unbelievable, I can’t fathom it,” St. Brown addressed the audience. “But before we step offstage, I need to hear one thing: Ja-red Goff.” Goff reciprocated the chant by stating, “What’s up Detroit, let’s go baby.”
Caleb Williams becomes USC’s sixth No. 1 overall draft pick, joining Carson Palmer, O.J. Simpson, Keyshawn Johnson, Rickey Bell, and Ron Yary. This sets a new record for the most top picks from a single school, surpassing Oklahoma.
