Let’s find out what we learned during NFL draft that ends on Saturday.
What we learned during the NFL draft. As the 2024 NFL Draft came to an end on Saturday, 257 players from all over the league were chosen by teams in the hopes of having a successful career ahead of them.
This year’s draft in Detroit drew a record 700,000 attendees, including 275,000 on the first day, surpassing the previous high of 600,000 set in Nashville five years prior.
Additionally, an unparalleled level of interest in quarterbacks and offensive players in general was evident among those there on Thursday.
Here are some things we learned from this year’s draft, ranging from the Chicago Bears picking USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the first choice to the New York Jets selecting Alabama cornerback Jaylen Key as the next “Mr. Irrelevant” at pick 257.
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Teams go QB Crazy
Five quarterbacks were chosen with the first 10 and six quarterbacks with the first 12 picks in the NFL Draft, respectively, for the first time in history.
Williams was chosen first by the Bears, as was to be expected, as a likely starter in the wake of Justin Fields’ departure.
The Washington Commanders then selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, and the New England Patriots selected North Carolina’s Drake Maye, the third quarterback overall and chosen by the Patriots, as the third overall pick of the draft.
Signal callers were chosen with the first three picks for the fourth time in NFL history, but the excitement didn’t end there. The Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings, respectively, selected Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix, capping an incredible first day for quarterbacks in the draft.
Many, including the camp of current quarterback Kirk Cousins, who inked a four-year, $180 million contract with the organization last month, were surprised that the Falcons selected Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick.
“We were unaware that this would occur. After the pick was revealed, Mike McCartney, the agent for Cousins, told NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo, “The truth is the entire league had no idea this was coming.” “We were not warned.” The Falcons called Kirk while they were in overtime. The first thing we heard was that. It was never discussed in conversation.
Following Nix, the New Orleans Saints selected Spencer Rattler of South Carolina at pick No. 150 overall in the quarterback selection.
The record for the longest stretch in NFL Draft history without a quarterback being selected was achieved by the 137 selections made between the first round on Thursday and the fifth round on Saturday.
Other Offensive Players Popular
Throughout the draft, there was a lot of interest in offensive players, and wide receivers and offensive linemen had particularly successful days.
ESPN
Over the three days, a record 55 linemen, 28 of which were offensive tackles, were taken, setting a record for the seven-round selection period, according to ESPN.
There would always be a strong market for this gifted group of wide receivers, and that proved to be the case. The first of 35 wide receivers to be drafted overall was Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals at pick No. 4.
The Bears and the New York Giants, respectively, selected Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers in the top 10, at No. 9 and No. 6. Four more picks were made in the first round, matching the record for the most ever.
Xavier Worthy, who will infuse the Kansas City Chiefs’ already explosive offense with lightning-fast speed, was one of them. With a time of 4.21 seconds earlier in March, the Texas wide receiver broke the record for the quickest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history.
Patrick Mahomes expressed gratitude for the news by replying to the pick on social media platform X with a smile and running emojis. The quarterback for the Chiefs seems content with BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, his team’s second pick.
“I adore Veach Man!” Mahomes referred Brett Veach, the general manager of the Chiefs, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The Denver Broncos reunited with quarterback Nix when they selected Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin as the 102nd overall choice in the fourth round of the NFL.
The Ducks selected four players in ten picks after that, setting off a frenzy of selections. With eight picks overall—five of which came in the fourth round alone—the school set a new record for the program.
Defensive Players Show Patience
More teams focused on strengthening their defenses on Friday after offensive players took center stage on the first selection day.
Following a successful season at UCLA, defensive end Laiatu Latu became the first player taken at No. 15 by the Indianapolis Colts—the latest selection for a first defensive pick in history.
With 20 picks in the second round—the most in a single round since 2016—defense players gained popularity. Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro was selected by the Falcons, who had been predicted to select a defensive player with their first pick.
After offensive players dominated the first selection day, more clubs on Friday concentrated on bolstering their defenses.
Defensive end Laiatu Latu was the first player selected by the Indianapolis Colts at No. 15 after having a stellar season at UCLA. This was the most recent defensive choice in team history.
Defense players gained popularity with 20 picks in the second round, the highest in a single round since 2016. The Falcons, who were expected to select a defensive player with their first pick, chose Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro.
Key becomes Latest ‘Mr. Irrelevant’
With the final pick of this year’s draft, the New York Jets selected Alabama safety Jaylen Key, gaining the nickname “Mr. Irrelevant” for the player.
Being selected as the final player during the three-day event was all that excited Key, who was thrilled to be the Jets’ first Mr. Irrelevant selection since 1969.
It is implied by the term that it signifies everything. Key told reporters, “You just have to take it and lean into it.” “I will be leaning into every aspect of it for myself.”
Since Brock Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl just two years after being selected as the final draft pick, the moniker “Mr. Irrelevant” has garnered increased attention.
Every year since 1976, the final player chosen has been honored with a trip to Disneyland during Irrelevant Week in California.
Key continued, “We’re going to make something shake, for sure. We have some shoes to fill behind Brock.”
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