NFL draft 2024: Falcons shock with Penix Jr quarterback choose – because it occurred | NFL

Key occasions

So, after all of the mocks, massive boards and speculations the primary spherical of the 2024 NFL draft is within the books. Right here’s the whole listing of choices:

1) Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2) Washington Commanders, Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3) New England Patriots, Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4) Arizona Cardinals, Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State

5) LA Chargers, Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

6) New York Giants, Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

7) Tennessee Titans, JC Latham, OT, Alabama

8) Atlanta Falcons, Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington

9) Chicago Bears, Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

10) Minnesota Vikings (from Jets), JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan

11) New York Jets (from Vikings), Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

12) Denver Broncos, Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

13) Las Vegas Raiders, Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

14) New Orleans Saints, Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

15) Indianapolis Colts, Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

16) Seattle Seahawks, Byron Murphy II, Texas

17) Minnesota Vikings (from Jaguars), Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

18) Cincinnati Bengals, Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

19) LA Rams, Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

20) Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

21) Miami Dolphins, Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

22) Philadelphia Eagles, Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

23) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Vikings), Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU

24) Detroit Lions (from Cowboys), Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

25) Inexperienced Bay Packers, Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Graham Barton, OL, Duke

27) Arizona Cardinals (from Texans), Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri

28) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (from Payments), Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29) Dallas Cowboys (from Lions), Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

30) Baltimore Ravens, Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

31) San Francisco 49ers, Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

32) Carolina Panthers (from Payments), Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

That’s it for the night. Due to all people for following together with the Guardian’s dwell protection of the draft. The Payments will probably be first up on the board tomorrow. Will they lastly take a receiver?

Share

Up to date at 01.34 EDT

The Legette choose marks the seventh large receiver taken within the first spherical, setting a brand new draft report.

In all, 23 offensive gamers have been chosen within the first spherical:

Six quarterbacks

Seven large receivers

9 offensive linemen

One tight finish

Share

Up to date at 23.56 EDT

32. Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

The Panthers are good to their phrase! They reportedly ‘promised’ the South Carolina receiver they’d choose him with the primary choose within the second spherical. However they leap as much as the ultimate choose within the first to verify they land their man. Legette is a cumbersome, fast receiver who has some Deebo Samuel to his recreation.

Share

The Niners have reportedly been on the telephone exploring trades for Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. There might be some motion in a single day.

Share

Welcome to the primary spherical, Carolina Panthers. They commerce up with the Payments to snag the final choose of the evening. They reportedly ‘promised’ large receiver Xavier Legette they might choose him with the thirty third choose. Does that promise maintain at 32?

Share

31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

San Francisco picks up a receiver to pair with *deep breath* Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Including a receiver within the first spherical provides extra gas to the Brandon Aiyuk hearth.

Share

Let’s test in on how issues are going with Kirk Cousins:

Not nice, Bob.

Share

We’re virtually performed with the primary spherical. Will we see any crew leap again in with the ultimate two picks?

Share

Up to date at 23.41 EDT

30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

An upside play from the Ravens at nook. The defensive backfield was a urgent want for Baltimore, and Wiggins will compete for a beginning spot from the leap. He received cooked by Drake Maye and North Carolina final season, however has top-tier size and pace – the instruments that the NFL most covets on the place.

Share

29. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Cowboys discover their Tyron Smith substitute. Guyton has been mentioned as a ‘mission’ all through the draft course of. However he’s a lot additional alongside in his growth than he’s given credit score for. Guyton has a towering, lengthy body and he packs a punch within the run recreation.

Share

28. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

The Chiefs go forward and draft their Tyreek Hill substitute. Dropping Worthy’s pace onto an offense with Patrick Mahomes is flat-out unfair. However Worthy is about greater than pace; he’s a tenacious competitor and a extra polished route-runner than different deep burners within the class. Some speedsters are one-dimensional. Not Worthy.

However how concerning the Payments? After buying and selling away Stefon Diggs, Buffalo are in want of discovering some deep pace and a dependable pass-catcher exterior. Worthy would have ticked each bins. As an alternative, they now face the prospect of seeing the Mahomes-Worthy connection up shut and private within the AFC playoffs.

Share

Up to date at 23.42 EDT

The Chiefs and Payments swap picks!

KC trades with Buffalo to seize the quickest participant within the draft with the twenty eighth choose: Texas large receiver Xavier Worthy, who broke the 40-yard sprint report on the mix.

Share

Up to date at 23.43 EDT

27. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri

The Playing cards use their second first-round choose to pick a flexible defensive lineman. Robinson has rocks for palms, and might line up inside or exterior. The Cardinals completed twenty eighth in pass-rush win charge final season. They wanted to get greater, deeper and extra versatile up entrance. Robinson will assist resolve all these issues.

Share

“I simply need to inform Detroit, y’all received a star,” Terrion Arnold tells the 270,000 robust Lions crowd on the draft. “I’m house!”

Share

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, OL, Duke

And now all of the o-linemen are coming off the board! Barton is taken into account one of many most secure prospects within the draft. He’s a artful linemen who performed deal with in school however initiatives as a middle within the NFL. He must be an instantaneous starter in Tampa.

Share

25. Inexperienced Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

The Packers choose up one other strong offensive lineman. Morgan is on the shorter facet for a deal with with a small wingspan. He might need to maneuver inside to protect within the NFL. However he’s a strong go protector who may slot in for the outgoing David Bakhtiari at left deal with or begin inside.

Share

The hometown Lions commerce as much as choose cornerback Terrion Arnold

No crew entered the draft with a extra urgent want at nook than Detroit. They handed a third-round choose to the Cowboys to leap up and choose Terrion Arnold out of Alabama. Arnold is a ball-hawk. He picked off six passes and had 20 go breakups in his school profession. Draft analysts have been break up on whether or not Arnold or Quinyon Mitchell was the highest cornerback on this class: Arnold is a savvy nook, additional alongside in his growth than Mitchell; Mitchell has extra athletic upside. “There are guys that like soccer. There are guys that love soccer. After which there’s Terrion Arnold,” Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Community says.

Share

Up to date at 23.05 EDT

Commerce! The Cowboys have moved down and the hometown Lions have leapt as much as No 24

Share

23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU

With Calvin Ridley leaving in free company, the Jags take a swing on a boom-or-bust receiver. Thomas is a vertical menace who ran solely two routes at a better than 10% clip at LSU. Like his LSU teammate Malik Nabers, Thomas is a burner down the sector. He led school soccer in 2023 with 17 touchdowns and averaged 17.3 yards per catch.

Share

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The Eagles choose a cornerback within the first-round for the primary time since 2002. Mitchell is all about pace, pace and extra pace. He didn’t concede a single landing as the closest defender in protection in 4 years in school.

Share

Up to date at 22.52 EDT

One thing for you, New England followers. Right here is Invoice Belichick with an in depth breakdown of latest Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

Share

The Dolphins choose edge-rusher Chop Robinson with the twenty first choose.

Miami swoops in and grabs the springiest edge-rusher within the draft. Robinson is an undersized pass-rusher who can toggle between positions. Miami entered the draft in determined want of a pass-rusher. Their protection fell aside down the stretch final season as soon as Jaelan Phillips was misplaced to an harm. Robinson might by no means develop into an every-down participant, however he’ll be a menace on third downs.

Share

It’s simply dawned on me that the NFL continues to be investigating the Falcons for tampering with Kirk Cousins previous to free company. Is the funniest final result to the Cousins-Penix scenario, Cousins asking to be traded subsequent 12 months and the Falcons shedding their 2025 first-round choose?

Share

The Steelers choose offensive deal with Troy Fautanu with the twentieth choose.

Pittsburgh goes back-to-back years with offensive tackles within the first spherical. Fautanu is probably the most athletic linemen in a draft loaded with uber athletes. How usually do you see an o-lineman dropping a spin transfer on a pass-rusher to counter their spin transfer?

The phrase ‘freak’ is thrown round too liberally with draft prospects. However Fautanu suits the billing.

Share

Cam Heyward, Steelers ace and the NFL’s 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Yr, is on stage to announce Pittsburgh’s choose.

Share

Everybody besides Mr Bowers appears very excited that Brock is on his strategy to Vegas

Share

The LA Rams choose edge-rusher Jared Verse nineteenth total.

There was some thought the Rams may go looking for an Aaron Donald substitute right here. As an alternative, the Rams go along with an all-gas, no-break edge rusher. Verse is a rocket off the snap and performs with a nasty streak. As technicians go, Verse can be properly down the listing on this class. He’s extra of a through-your-facemask rusher. However his type – Verse wracked up 10-plus TFLs in every of his 4 seasons in school soccer.

Share

Up to date at 22.25 EDT

Right here’s a shock: the Rams will probably be making a first-round choose for the primary time since they chose Jared Goff within the 2016 draft.

Share

The Bengals choose offensive deal with Amarius Mims with the 18th choose.

Cincy provides one other hulking deal with to go alongside Trent Brown and Orlando Brown Jr. Mims is among the wildcards of the draft. He has the prototypical top, weight, pace and construct for a top-tier offensive deal with. However he’s performed barely any soccer. Mims struggled with accidents in his last 12 months at Georgia, and has solely seven profession begins to his title. The expertise is there – and the Bengals wanted offensive line reinforcements – however it is a swing-for-the-fences choose.

Share

Up to date at 22.21 EDT

So… again to the Falcons – once more. This doesn’t appear like a draft room that’s completely offered on the choice it simply made.

Share

The Vikings choose Alabama pass-rusher Dallas Turner with the seventeenth choose.

Minnesota goes all Texans. First, they chose JJ McCarthy with the tenth choose. Now, they deal again as much as seize probably the most explosive edge-rusher within the class. Turner is a basic dip-and-rip rusher who wins with pace and bend off the sting. He lacks some polish, however Turner performs with reckless abandon when defending the run and has the expertise to be a three-down defensive anchor. The Vikings have been closely reliant on blitzing to get after opposing quarterbacks final season. Including Turner will permit the crew to get house with a four-man rush extra constantly.

Share

Up to date at 22.28 EDT

Commerce! The Vikings have jumped as much as the seventeenth choose, dealing away the No 23 choose, choose 167, a 2025 third-round choose and a 2025 fourth-round choose.

Share

The Seahawks choose defensive deal with Byron Murphy II with the sixteenth choose.

Murphy is the slight, quick-twitch penetrator on this class. Suppose Ed Oliver. Or, should you squint laborious sufficient, you possibly can see Aaron Donald. Inner strain is the hardest factor to guard in opposition to within the NFL. Murphy will carry some wanted sizzle to Seattle’s inside.

Share

Away from the draft, the Vikings and Patriots reportedly referred to as the Chargers about buying and selling for Justin Herbert. Hey, it’s value asking.

Share

“I knew it. I manifested it,” Laiatu Latu tells NFL Community of being the primary defensive participant chosen within the 2024 NFL draft two years after he was pressured to medically retire.

Share

The Colts choose edge-rusher Laiatu Latu with the fifteenth total choose.

Indy would have liked to have been within the Brock Bowers sweepstakes. However with Bowers off the board, the Colts basically had the No 1 total choose within the 2024 defensive draft. They used the choose to pick one of the best edge-rusher within the class.

Groups have entry to extra statistics than ever, however with regards to the ultimate analysis, GMs fall again on the oldest technique of all: watching precise video games. And should you watch these video games, it’s clear Latu is as gifted as any participant on this class.

However there are medical considerations. Latu suffered a neck harm at Washington in 2020 and was pressured to retire from the game. Throughout his hiatus, he had a number of operations on his neck and took up rugby in Seattle. In 2022, he was cleared to return to soccer and transferred to UCLA, the place he spent the subsequent 24 months clowning all earlier than him. His tape in opposition to Arizona is for mature audiences solely.

It’s the type that grabs you with Latu. He’s probably the most distinctive pass-rushing prospect in recent times. It’s tempting to say Latu performs at his personal tempo, however that phrase is often hooked up to slower guys. The 23-year-old is explosive in tight areas. He’s good gradual and quick. He performs at no matter tempo serves him. There are occasions when he isn’t even actually dashing the passer, not less than not within the conventional sense. It’s as if he’s taking part in his personal sport, some fusion of MMA and interpretive dance; he’s all limbs and head fakes and unorthodox approaches to knifing into the backfield.

Latu is stylistically mesmerizing, however that type has substance. He completed with 27 sacks and 107 complete pressures in his two years at UCLA, the best charge in school soccer. His 26.2% go rush win charge in his last 12 months is tied for the best determine on report. If the surgical procedures affected his recreation, it didn’t present up at UCLA. In two seasons with the crew he didn’t miss a recreation attributable to harm.

Latu is among the coolest tales of the draft: He’s gone from being a part-time rugby participant/part-time fire-fighter to being the primary defensive participant off the board.

Share

In line with ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

“The report of most offensive gamers to open a draft was seven in 2021. And now the report has been doubled: first 14 picks have all been offensive gamers.”

Share

The Saints choose Oregon State Taliese Fuaga with the 14th choose.

The Saints most likely want to come back out of this draft with two starters on their offensive line. They begin early, grabbing one of the best run blocker within the class with the 14th choose. Fuaga began 25 video games at proper deal with in school, however he has a small wingspan so may transfer inside on the subsequent degree. He’s an elite blocker on the transfer and is all the time trying to blast folks. Fuaga is the primary Oregon State participant to be drafted within the first spherical since Brandin Cooks in 2014.

Share

Falcons followers will not be taking the Penix choose properly:

And NFL Community stories that Kirk Cousins was not given a heads up that the choose was coming. ESPN’s Dianna Russini stories Cousins was ‘shocked’ by the choose. No worries, he solely has $100m assured to him for the subsequent two seasons. Uh-oh.

Share

Up to date at 22.02 EDT

That offense-defense tally: 13 picks; 13 offensive gamers; zero defensive gamers. Let’s set the over-under for the remainder of the primary spherical at 6.5 for defensive gamers.

Share

Brock Bowers goes off the board to the Las Vegas Raiders with the thirteenth choose.

One of the crucial fascinating prospects within the class is on his strategy to Vegas. Bowers is a dynamic tight finish who, in actuality, is a large receiver in tight ends clothes. Bowers had 56 catches for 714 yards and 6 touchdowns final season, doing a ton of injury with the ball in his hand after the catch. There may not have been a extra enjoyable participant in school soccer during the last two years. He hurdles defenders. He runs via defenders. He runs away from defenders. As a pure tight finish, he’s a restricted blocker. However Vegas didn’t draft him to steer the road within the run recreation. He’s arriving to bounce across the formation and catch passes.

Share

Profile: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon. Nix is an older QB who was considered as an undraftable prospect again in his Auburn days however caught hearth as soon as he transferred to Oregon. He’s a point-guard type quarterback, who distributes the ball round to his playmakers and has sufficient of a really feel as a playmaker to create performs along with his legs. Should you squint laborious sufficient, you’ll be able to see an NFL starter. He has the expertise in an expansive offense to have the ability to play for Sean Payton instantly.

Share

Up to date at 21.42 EDT

The Denver Broncos choose Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the twelfth choose

Woah. Sean Payton and the Broncos couldn’t assist themselves. In determined want of a quarterback, the Broncos go forward and take their man reasonably than buying and selling down and taking part in the ready recreation. Poor Zach Wilson.

Share

Up to date at 21.35 EDT

That’s 11 offensive gamers off the board with the primary 11 picks. Denver are up subsequent. And with all the highest quarterbacks off the board, we should always see the primary defensive participant taken right here.

Share

The Jets choose Olu Fashanu, LT, Penn State with the eleventh choose.

So the Jets determine to discover a protector for Aaron Rodgers reasonably than looking for a spark-plug on the talent positions. Will the moaner-in-chief be pleased with the choice?

Fashanu continues to be a uncooked deal with. He has began solely 21 video games in his profession and turned 21 in December. He’s an enormous toolsy deal with with arms so lengthy they appear CGI’d on. Within the run recreation, he strikes like a good finish. In go safety, he’s too massive for pass-rushers to run via and has fast sufficient toes to shuffle with even probably the most agile pass-rushers. His method wants some work. And that stuff takes time, one thing the Jets are brief on.

Share

Up to date at 21.31 EDT

Profile: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan. If ever there was a spot for McCarthy to land, it could be Minnesota. From my pre-draft take a look at McCarthy:

“No participant has been extra polarizing this cycle than McCarthy. His advocates see a quarterback of untapped potential, with an enormous arm, wheels and a fearless streak. His detractors level to McCarthy’s time at Michigan and say, with these abilities, he ought to have produced extra.

McCarthy guided Michigan to the nationwide championship with a roster loaded with future NFL expertise – by the point the draft concludes, the 2023 Wolverines roster will most likely have extra gamers drafted than any crew in historical past. Given the excess of expertise, McCarthy was requested to thoughts the store, to play inside the offense, handy the ball off to operating backs (lots) and play sensible, mistake-free soccer. He not often threw on third down, largely as a result of Michigan have been comfortably forward in video games – or they have been so overwhelming that they didn’t want third downs.

For some decision-makers, McCarthy is the platonic excellent of a quarterback prospect: A proficient passer with the athletic traits and intangibles that make scouts and GMs purr. He’s a confirmed winner and chief, who has been drawing up performs since he was 5 years outdated. He advised fellow recruits taking a look at becoming a member of Michigan that “in the event that they needed to occasion and chase women, go someplace else”, in keeping with draft analyst Dane Brugler.

It’s telling, nevertheless, that leaks from the scouting world reference every part besides McCarthy’s capability to finish passes. Name it the Daniel Jones Zone. There are flashes from his school resume, however the quarterback that groups need him to be within the execs is completely different from the one he was requested to be at Michigan.”

Minnesota is the perfect touchdown spot, although. No coach is extra keen to overtake the mechanics of their system to suit their QB than Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. McCarthy was pushed right into a extra conventional system at Michigan, which hampered a few of his pure instincts. He has a dynamite arm and a very good athlete. O’Connell will faucet into that facet of his recreation greater than Jim Harbaugh did at Michigan. Oh, and throwing to Justin Jefferson isn’t a nasty factor for a younger quarterback.

Share

Up to date at 21.26 EDT

The Vikings choose JJ quarterback McCarthy with the No 10 choose

Minnesota jumps up one spot to seize their quarterback of the longer term. That’s 5 (!) quarterbacks off the board within the first 10 picks.

Share

From Neil Saffer: “With Malik Nabers, have the Giants discovered the right mix?”

They certain have! In a traditional world, the place Marvin Harrison Jr strolling round, Nabers can be the slam-dunk high receiver within the draft. He’s extra of a nuanced route-runner than he’s given credit score for as a result of his pace leaps off the display screen. He wins contested catches. He creates after the catch. And he can dunk on defensive backs down the sector. Brian Daboll is among the greatest play-callers within the league at springing receivers open via play design. If he’s capable of get Nabers out into house untouched, nobody can sustain with him.

Share

Up to date at 21.19 EDT

Commerce! The Vikings have despatched a fourth and fifth-round choose to the Jets to leap up one spot to No 11.

Share

Profile: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington. How about this for a one-two punch? After choosing up Keenan Allen through commerce this offseason and stealing DJ Moore final season, the Bears add Rome Odunze to the fold. Odunze is a big-bodied receiver who dominates on the catch-point. He’s a kind of exterior receivers who widens a quarterback’s margin for error. His most typical comparability within the pre-draft course of: Keenan Allen. The Bears actually have a kind.

Share

The Chicago Bears choose Washington large receiver Rome Odunze to pair with Caleb Williams at No 9.

Share

Up to date at 21.12 EDT

Profile: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington. THE shock of the draft. The Falcons seize a quarterback of the longer term in the identical offseason they signed Kirk Cousins to an enormous free-agent contract. NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport stories that that is all about ‘succession’ planning, which is unusual, as a result of Penix is 24-years-old and will probably be 26 by the point Cousins’ contract expires. Penix is one of the best pure pocket passer on this class. He can spin it to anyplace on the sector. The knocks on Penix are three-fold: he performed in a goofy offense at Washington; he was surrounded by first-round expertise; he’s had a collection of accidents. Penix had 4 season-ending accidents in school. He tore two ACLs in two years, and it limits his capability to maneuver round and lengthen performs, a prerequisite within the fashionable NFL. If something, Penix has some Kirk Cousins to his recreation – albeit with an even bigger arm. Perhaps the Falcons know what they’re doing in any case.

Share

Shock! The Falcons choose quarterback Michael Penix Jr at No 8

Woah. The chaos begins. The Falcons seize the Washington quarterback with the eight choose in the identical offseason they inked Kirk Cousins to a mega-money free-agent deal.

Share

Up to date at 21.07 EDT