Last night, the NFL Draft’s first round aired in primetime, featuring the first 32 picks in the 2024 edition of the draft. This year, the league is in Detroit, Michigan, for the three-day event, where the second and third rounds will take place tonight. You can watch on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
As we gear up for Rounds 2 and 3, let’s revisit some of the highlights from the first round. We may see a Kentucky Wildcat or two drafted in the top three rounds tonight. Andru Phillips and Trevin Wallace are a couple of names to watch.
Eminem got the party started, Roger Goodell tried to be human
When you’re in Detroit, there is one celebrity guest to call, so the NFL called him.
Roger Goodell even tried to be human with a reference to Eminem’s Mom’s Spaghetti.
Watch the entire intro with Eminem here.
Chicago took Caleb Williams No. 1, then found him help
On paper, the Chicago Bears offense is loaded with weapons now that Caleb Williams is the future of the franchise at QB, going first overall last night, followed by a surprise pickup in wide receiver Rome Odunze eight picks later at No. 9. It could be a quick turnaround in the Windy City if the offensive line can give Williams time. The Bears were a Night 1 winner.
Will Levis got some protection
Will Levis would like to forget last year’s draft, when he fell from a top-10 projection to the second round the following day, leaving him stranded in the green room and then in Kansas City for an additional night. This year, the Titans took care of Levis on the first night of the draft, selecting JC Latham, an offensive tackle from Alabama, with the seventh overall pick. Tennessee ended up with Latham after the Chargers selected Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, the top tackle prospect in the draft, at fifth overall, presumably stealing the pick from Nashville. Still, Latham, known as the “Trench King,” brings size and strength to Levis’ offensive line, although it is uncertain if he will pan out at left tackle or stay at right. Whatever the case, Levis is excited about the pickup:
The franchise QB from Kentucky called Latham to welcome him to the Titans.
JC Latham didn’t get the memo about Goodell’s back
Roger Goodell had back surgery three weeks ago, nearly costing him the tradition of hugging each pick on draft night. Prior to the draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Goodell’s hugs would be a game-time decision. The No. 7 pick didn’t get the memo. Latham picked Goodell up in a bear hug and carried him across the stage.
Save some of that for Nashville, JC.
Atlanta made the most bizarre pick of the night
After picks 1 through 7 mainly were chalk, the Atlanta Falcons went rogue with the eighth pick, selecting Michael Penix Jr. The selection was a puzzling move because the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, the largest free agent contract this offseason, before drafting the rookie QB out of Washington. Cousins was stunned, according to several reports, and was told about the move while the Falcons were on the clock. Adding to the frustration, wide receiver Rome Odunze, another Washington star, was still available at No. 8 to get Cousins some help. Atlanta could’ve used help at offensive tackle, too. It seems the Falcons’ general manager had to explain himself to owner Arthur Blank:
Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer are on the same team
Another interesting pick from the first round: the Raiders selected Brock Bowers a year after drafting Michael Mayer, giving Las Vegas two franchise tight ends. “We love Michael Mayer,” Raiders GM Tom Telesco said of their native Kentuckian in the tight end room. “But (Bowers) adds another dimension to the offense.”
Some Raiders fans dream of Tom Brady joining the young Gronk-Hernandez situation in Vegas.
The Rams got a sleeper at No. 19
KSR listeners know how big of a sleeper pick Jared Verse is at No. 19 to the Rams.
Mom/Girlfriend Duo of the Night: Olu Fashanu
Every NFL Draft, a mom and/or girlfriend becomes famous, usually for a reaction or interaction that goes viral online. Last year, Will Levis’ girlfriend, Gia Duddy, became the draft night star simply for being attractive as Levis fell in the draft in primetime.
This year, Olu Fashanu‘s mom and the young woman next to her, presumably his girlfriend, provided the viral moment as the internet accused mom of “boxing out.”
The first 14 picks were offensive players; first six were QBs
For the first time in history, offense completely dominated the beginning of the draft, with six quarterbacks, four offensive tackles, three wide receivers, and one tight end picked before anyone on the defensive side of the ball. The six quarterbacks set a new record for the fewest number of picks until the sixth quarterback heard his name called. The 14 straight offensive players also set a new record.
11 SEC players selected in Round 1
Per tradition, the Southeastern Conference provided more draft picks than any other conference. The SEC had 11 selections in the first round, followed by the Pac-12 (8), Big Ten (4), ACC (4), Big 12 (3), and one from the MAC and Notre Dame. The Big 12’s three picks were from Texas and Oklahoma, two schools joining the SEC this year.
Every first-round draft pick
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., WR (Ohio State)
5. Los Angeles 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 (via trade with Jets) — JJ McCarthy, QB (Michigan)
11. New York Jets (via trade with 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, DE (UCLA)
16. Seattle Seahawks — Byron Murphy, DT (Texas)
17. Minnesota Vikings (via trade with Jaguars) — Dallas Turner, LB (Alabama)
18. Cincinnati Bengals — Amarius Mims, OT (Georgia)
19. Los Angeles Rams — Jared Verse, DE (Florida State)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Troy Fautanu, OT(Washington)
21. Miami Dolphins — Chop Robinson, DE (Penn State)
22. Philadelphia Eagles — Quinyon Mitchell, DB (Toledo)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars — Brian Thomas Jr., WR (LSU)
24. Detroit Lions (via trade with Cowboys) — Terrion Arnold, DB (Alabama)
25. Green Bay Packers — Jordan Morgan, OT (Arizona)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Graham Barton, C (Duke)
27. Arizona Cardinals — Darius Robinson, DT (Missouri)
28. Kansas City Chiefs (via trade with Bills) — Xavier Worthy, WR (Texas)
29. Dallas Cowboys (via trade with Lions) — Tyler Guyton, OT (Oklahoma)
30. Baltimore Ravens — Nate Wiggins, DB (Clemson)
31. San Francisco 49ers — Ricky Pearsall, WR (Florida)
32. Carolina Panthers (via trade with Bills) — Xavier Legette, WR (South Carolina)
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