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Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft had a handful of predictable picks — Caleb Williams at No. 1 and Jayden Daniels at No. 2 — but also featured some truly shocking decisions. What grade do the Atlanta Falcons deserve for drafting a QB at No. 8? Do the Broncos receive a failing grade for drafting Bo Nix? Let’s break it down.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams – Quarterback
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This is a pick that had to be made. Chicago has never had a legitimate franchise quarterback. The franchise had an opportunity to draft Aaron Rodgers and decided to stick with Rex Grossman. A few years ago, Chicago selected Mitch Trubisky — Patrick Mahomes was available. Even if Caleb Williams doesn’t turn out to be a top-5 quarterback, his floor should be better than anyone Chicago has had at the position in decades. Now, it is about the Bears enhancing the rest of the roster around their new franchise QB.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels – Quarterback
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After rumors of the Commanders being enamored with J.J. McCarthy, the franchise made the best pick possible by selecting LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner will give Washington a dynamic that it hasn’t had at quarterback since pre-injury Robert Griffin III. Daniels will immediately become one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league when he escapes the pocket. The question will be: How will he handle interior pressure?
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye – Quarterback
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Life without Bill Belichick will begin with Drake Maye tapped as the new franchise quarterback. Before Daniels’ ascent during the 2023 season, Maye was seen as the most likely candidate to go No. 2 overall behind Caleb Williams. The North Carolina product has all the physical tools a team could want in a quarterback, but his decision-making must improve if he wants to succeed with the Patriots. New England did well by betting on Maye’s potential.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. – Wide Receiver
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Arizona took the best player on the board at No. 4 — that is deserving of an ‘A’. Marvin Harrison Jr. enters the league as one of the most hyped receiver prospects in quite some time. The son of a Hall of Famer, Harrison has the look of an elite wideout. Kyler Murray desperately needed help in the passing game, and Harrison should immediately slot in as WR1 in the desert.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt – Offensive Tackle
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Following weeks of wild speculation as to what Jim Harbaugh might do with Los Angeles’ No. 5 pick, the Chargers held onto their pick and selected the top tackle in the draft — Joe Alt. Harbaugh has focused on building a strong offensive line at each stop of his career, so Alt certainly feels like a no-brainer. Alongside Rashawn Slater, the Chargers potentially have two star tackles upfront to help protect Justin Herbert. Los Angeles still has a lot of work to do with its roster, but this was a good start.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers – Wide Receiver
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In a mild surprise, the Giants passed on J.J. McCarthy in favor of Malik Nabers. While Marvin Harrison Jr. stole all of the headlines throughout the recent college season, Nabers had a ton of support ahead of the draft — with many people believing Nabers was the top wideout in the draft. Nabers has been compared to Tyreek Hill for his explosive movements and game-breaking ability. The LSU wideout will be New York’s most exciting offensive player since pre-injury Saquon Barkley.
7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham – Offensive Tackle
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Tennessee receives a ‘B-‘ for its pick, but the final grade could be much higher in a few years. JC Latham is a very good tackle and arguably the most powerful player in the draft. At 6-foot-5 and well over 300 pounds, Latham is a mountain on the edge of the line and will cause a lot of issues for opposing rushers. With that being said, the Titans desperately need a left tackle — and Latham played right tackle at Alabama. Assuming the Titans are planning on moving Latham, it may take the All-American some time to become comfortable playing on the opposite side of the line.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. – Quarterback
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Wow. There aren’t many other words to describe the initial reaction to Atlanta selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. The Falcons receiving a ‘C-‘ is not a knock on Penix as a player. He has an elite arm and is a proven winner. However, it is baffling that the Falcons would select a QB when they recently signed Kirk Cousins to a 4-year/$180 million deal. Unless Atlanta is planning on moving on from Cousins within two years — which seems ridiculous given his contract — Penix will be a backup for quite some time. The Falcons should have used this pick on a position of need to help the team win this year.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze – Wide Receiver
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The Chicago Bears were the biggest winners of Round 1. In addition to securing Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, Chicago snagged a potential star at wideout with the 9th pick. Rome Odunze was viewed as a potential target for the Giants at No. 6, and many people believe he is on par with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers. Odunze will join a receiving corps that is suddenly stacked — Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. As a WR3, Odunze has a chance to shine immediately as opponents focus on Allen and Moore. And, the former Husky can learn from two star wideouts as he adjusts to the NFL game.
10. Minnesota Vikings (trade with New York Jets): J.J. McCarthy – Quarterback
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With Kirk Cousins moving on and signing with Atlanta in the offseason, the Vikings needed a new franchise quarterback. Minnesota swung a deal with the New York Jets — the Vikings sent Nos. 11, 129 and 157 to the Jets for No. 10 and No. 203 — to draft J.J. McCarthy. While the former Michigan star is still raw, his potential is enticing. The Vikings are banking on McCarthy’s continued development over the next few years and believe they drafted a star. McCarthy will likely begin the year behind Sam Darnold on the depth chart but don’t be surprised to see him starting by the end of the season.
11. New York Jets (trade with Minnesota Vikings): Olu Fashanu – Offensive Tackle
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Look at that, the New York Jets are trying their best to protect Aaron Rodgers. Months after watching their franchise QB go down with an Achilles injury, the Jets took the top offensive tackle remaining on the board to protect Rodgers’ blindside. Fashanu was a beast at Penn State — blossoming into an All-American last season — earning the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2023. This is a pick that should help the Jets in 2024 and for years to come.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix – Quarterback
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The sixth quarterback selected in the top-12 — Bo Nix. The most experienced college quarterback of all-time, Nix will enter the NFL at the age of 24. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Denver head coach Sean Payton “feels as strongly about Bo Nix as he did Mahomes.” Famously, Payton claims he was ready to turn in the card to draft Mahomes before the Chiefs traded up at the last moment to take the future Hall of Famer. This writer doesn’t view Nix as a future star — but perhaps that is why Payton is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Let’s see what Nix can do.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers – Tight End
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A lot of Raider fans were hoping that Michael Penix Jr. would be available at this spot. Following Atlanta’s shocker, however, snagging Brock Bowers is a very solid consolation prize. At first glance, this pick may seem bizarre considering Vegas took TE Michael Mayer in Round 2 last year. However, Bowers is not a traditional TE. He is a gifted pass catcher and is more in the mold of a Travis Kelce than a slow, blocking TE. Bowers may end up being one of the three best players in the draft when it’s all said and done. The only reason the Raiders don’t earn a higher grade is because they could have targeted positions that needed more help.
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga – Offensive Tackle
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Fuaga is a stud. The bruising right tackle is likely an unknown name to much of the country after playing for Oregon State. However, New Orleans’ top pick is an elite run blocker and is very strong in pass protection, as well. The former Beaver plays with a nastiness that should help set a tone with his teammates. New Orleans has struggled at the tackle position recently and Fuaga should make an early impact. Great pick and great value at No. 14 for the Saints.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu – Defensive End
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It is a different time in the NFL. With the 15th pick, Laiatu Latu became the first defensive player taken off the board. Latu was arguably the best defensive player in the nation last season while playing for UCLA. Only a few years removed from Latu medically retiring, the edge rusher returned to the field and starred for the Bruins for two years. The Colts fielded one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last year and Latu should be an immediate help. Last year, Latu recorded 13.0 sacks and 21.5 TFL.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II – Defensive Tackle
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Like the Colts, the Seahawks benefitted from the first 14 picks being on the offensive side of the ball. Last year, Seattle drafted a great cornerback (Devon Witherspoon) with the No. 5 pick. This year, the Seahawks added the top interior lineman in the draft at No. 16. Murphy explodes off the line and uses his frame to generate great leverage. While he is a bit smaller than a prototypical defensive tackle, Murphy makes up for it with immense power.
17. Minnesota Vikings (trade with Jacksonville Jaguars): Dallas Turner – Outside Linebacker
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Minnesota’s second trade of the night netted the team another strong player. The Vikings moved up six spots by trading Nos. 23 and 167 plus third- and fourth-round picks in 2025 to Jacksonville and subsequently drafted Dallas Turner — a player some experts had going in the top-10. McCarthy was taken to replace Kirk Cousins at QB and Turner can fill in for Danielle Hunter — pretty solid work by the Vikes. Last year, Turner recorded 11.0 sacks and 15.5 TFL for Alabama.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims – Offensive Tackle
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To be honest, a ‘B-‘ for this pick may be a bit generous — but I am banking on Mims’ potential over his lack of experience. At 6-foot-7, Mims is an absolute freak athlete along the offensive line. His measurables and talent are off the charts, but there are a lot of questions surrounding him, as well. In three years at Georgia, Mims started a mere eight games. It is hard to imagine he will make an immediate impact for the Bengals, but he has elite potential if everything clicks.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse – Defensive End
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Rumors of Sean McVay and the Rams attempting to trade into the top-10 didn’t come to fruition, but the franchise still did well with the 19th pick. Following Aaron Donald’s decision to retire, the Rams were left with a gaping hole along their defensive front. Replacing one of the greatest players of all-time is impossible but Verse should be a nice addition. While he is not the best athlete, Verse was very impressive at Florida State the past two years and is known to have a strong work ethic. The Rams hit on two defensive picks last year so I have faith that they know what they’re doing.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu – Offensive Tackle
It is never a bad idea to draft a high-end lineman. Troy Fautanu may not be a flashy player, but the former Husky is a versatile lineman who I can envision playing several positions for the Steelers. While Fautanu played left tackle at Washington, his athleticism should allow him to switch positions if he is asked to. The interior of Pittsburgh’s line struggled last season and Fautanu could be a good fit at either guard spot. Versatility is always a plus.
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson – Defensive End
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If last year didn’t see multiple star defensive players for Miami go down with season-ending injuries, Chop Robinson would likely find himself with a different franchise. However, given the circumstances, this is a strong pick for the Dolphins. Last year, Miami lost Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb to season-ending injuries. Phillips tore his Achilles in Week 12 — so his availability may be in doubt for most of the 2024 season. Robinson is a somewhat raw talent but his upside is immense.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell – Cornerback
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A few hours after extending All-Pro wideout A.J. Brown, the Eagles added a top talent to their defensive backfield. During Thursday’s opening round, former Alabama coach Nick Saban openly admitted that he tried to pry Quinyon Mitchell away from Toledo before last season. Mitchell stayed with the Rockets and blew people away at the combine. In addition to running a 4.33 40-yard dash, Mitchell’s overall athleticism jumped off the charts. He was an elite coverage corner at Toledo — 52 passes defended over three years — and should add some serious talent to Philadelphia’s secondary.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (trade with Minnesota Vikings): Brian Thomas Jr. – Wide Receiver
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Overshadowed by teammate Malik Nabers at LSU in 2023, Brian Thomas Jr. put together one hell of a season for the Tigers. A Third-Team All-American, Thomas led the nation with 17 touchdowns and averaged 17.3 yards per catch (1,177 yards). With Calvin Ridley now a member of the Titans, Thomas should be a nice No. 2 option for Trevor Lawrence. At 6-foot-3 with blazing speed, Thomas has the potential to develop into a true WR1 in the near future.
24. Detroit Lions (trade with Dallas Cowboys): Terrion Arnold – Cornerback
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The Lions have nailed the draft in recent years and Terrion Arnold looks like another strong pick at No. 24. One of the top-two corners in the draft, Arnold is a great fit for the franchise. He is physical, confident and passionate — all trademarks of head coach Dan Campbell and Detroit’s defense. Detroit moved up six spots to snag Arnold — sending Nos. 29 and 73 to Dallas for No. 24 and a 2025 seventh-round pick. The hometown crowd loved the pick and so did I. Well done, Lions.
25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan – Offensive Guard/Tackle
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This is not a knock against Jordan Morgan. The former Arizona Wildcat is a very good player. While he spent his time in Tucson playing offensive guard, he has the ability to play tackle — and may very well start as a tackle with the Packers. However, Green Bay desperately needs help in its secondary and passed on a chance to improve the group with this pick. Cornerback Nate Wiggins could have been a great fit in Green Bay.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton – Center
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This isn’t a sexy pick, but the Buccaneers did well to secure a potential long-term solution at center. While at Duke, Graham Barton played both center and tackle. His physical traits don’t translate well at tackle in the NFL, so it is more likely that Barton will stick to the interior of the line with the Bucs. Tampa Bay needs a center and Barton should get an opportunity to win the starting job in training camp. If not, he has the power and intelligence to play either guard spot, as well.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson – Defensive End
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When you are terrible against the run, it is probably a good idea to use a first-round pick on a talent that can improve your team in that area. In 2023, the Cardinals ranked last in run defense, 31st in scoring defense and allowed 4.7 yards per carry. Playing in a division that features the league’s best running back (Christian McCaffrey) and a rising star (Kyren Williams), the Cardinals couldn’t afford to pass on a talent like Robinson. Robinson was an All-SEC player last year at Missouri and is skilled enough to play on the edge or inside.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (trade with Buffalo Bills): Xavier Worthy – Wide Receiver
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This pick shouldn’t surprise anyone. The back-to-back champions swung a trade with Buffalo to move up four spots to draft Xavier Worthy. At the combine, Worthy set a record with a 4.21 40-yard dash. Patrick Mahomes has won two Super Bowls in a row without Tyreek Hill, and now he has a player who may be faster than Hill. While I can see Worthy becoming a stud with the Chiefs, his stature worries me a bit. At 165 pounds, Worthy’s durability will be something to watch. Additionally, he doesn’t have the best track record in terms of drops — something that has plagued the Chiefs over the past few years.
29. Dallas Cowboys (trade with Detroit Lions): Tyler Guyton – Offensive Tackle
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Dallas traded down and immediately saw two players that it could have used — Jordan Morgan and Graham Barton — come off the board. The Cowboys needed a center and a right tackle. Tyler Guyton has the ability to play right tackle from Day 1 but he is a raw player. At Oklahoma, Guyton started 14 games at tackle. He previously played tight end, so he is still learning how to play along the line. Dallas may have found a gem, but it could take some time for Guyton to reach his full potential.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins – Cornerback
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Nate Wiggins, the player I would have liked to see Green Bay take with its pick, comes off the board at No. 30. Baltimore has a strong track record when it comes to picking defensive players — and at first glance, Wiggins looks like a good fit. The former Clemson Tiger is incredibly fast (4.28 40-yard) and has good length for a corner. While he is on the smaller side weight-wise, 182 pounds on his pro day, Wiggins’ speed, length and instincts should translate well to the NFL.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall – Wide Receiver
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C.J. Stroud and Bill Belichick both praised the Niners for this pick. Wideout Brandon Aiyuk allegedly texted GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan following the pick with a clear message: “Fire Pick, can’t lie.” Pearsall is fast, has a 42-inch vertical and has great hands. While his numbers weren’t great at Florida, I cannot question the opinions of Belichick, Stroud and Aiyuk.
32. Carolina Panthers (trade with Buffalo Bills): Xavier Legette – Wide Receiver
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I am not a huge fan of this pick. Legette had a great final season at South Carolina — 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven TDs — but his first four years left a lot to be desired. Now 23, Legette caught a total of 42 passes in his first four years in college. Legette is a tremendous athlete with plus-speed and leaping ability, but his route-running needs some serious work. Also lowering the grade in my mind is the deal Carolina made. To move up one spot, the Panthers traded picks 33 and 141 to Buffalo for 32 and 200. Moving down 59 spots seems like a poor move when Legette could have been available at No. 33.
