Sechs Quarterbacks in der ersten Runde des NFL Drafts weg

Mit ihrem ersten Nummer-1-Pick seit 77 Jahren (!) wählten die Chicago Bears wie zu erwarten war USC-Quarterback Caleb Williams aus.

"DA BEARS!" @CALEBcsw is ready to fit right in.

📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Jd9ACpuQe8

— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2024

In der Hoffnung, endlich ihren Franchise-QB zu finden, haben sie an Nummer 9 Williams mit Rome Odunze gleich einen der Top Receiver des heurigen Jahrgangs zur Seite gestellt.

Rome Odunze interview after being drafted.pic.twitter.com/bgblEzhqVR

— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) April 26, 2024

Mit Williams startete eine Rekordserie von sechs Quarterbacks in den ersten 12 Picks. Jayden Daniels (Commanders, Nr. 2), Drake Maye (Patriots, Nr. 3), Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons, Nr. 8), J.J. McCarthy (Vikings, Nr. 10) und Bo Nix (Broncos, Nr. 12).

The Washington Commanders have selected Jayden Daniels 👏 #PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/dEIDCAa60D

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 26, 2024

Die große Überraschung dabei ist sicherlich der Pick der Falcons. Atlanta hat kürzlich erst Kirk Cousins mit einem 180 Millionen Dollar-Vertrag über vier Jahre ausgestattet. Auch wenn Desmond Ridder nach der letzten Saison nach Arizona abgeschoben wurde, bestand für die kommende Saison kein Handlungsbedarf in die Richtung. Danach gab es auch Erklärungsbedarf, wofür Besitzer Arthur Blank sein Geld davor für das ältere Vikings Model überhaupt ausgab.

Falcons GM Terry Fontenot explaining why they selected Michael Penix Jr. to owner Arthur Blank 🫣pic.twitter.com/lFtc1neHl5 https://t.co/GMGYgaCnok

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 26, 2024

Eine Rekordzahl von 23 Offensivspielern wurde über 32 Picks geholt, darunter sieben Wide Receiver. Der erste Verteidiger kam erst mit der Nummer 25 vom Brett.

Rekordzuschauerkulisse?

Eine riesige Menschenmenge drängte sich am Donnerstag in der Innenstadt von Detroit und zog erstaunte Kommentare von NFL-Kommentatoren und -Offiziellen nach sich.

All the crowd not for a drake or taylor swift concert its just the NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/hAwkAdawIf

— Nour 🌵 (@NUOR_11) April 26, 2024

NFL-Commissioner Roger Goodell sagte auf ESPN, dass die große Beteiligung ein Beweis für die Fans in der Region sei und was für eine großartige Football-Stadt Detroit sei. Goodell bezifferte die Gesamtzuschauerzahl später auf 275.000. Die hohe Zahl wird in US-Medien teilweise angezweifelt. Die Polizei Detroits sprach davon von „über 100.000 Menschen“ auf den Straßen und dass der Zugang zum Areal abgesperrt wird. Der Rekordbesuch bei allen drei Tagen liegt bei 600.000 (Nashville 2019).

NFL Draft Runde 1:

1. Chicago Bears (von CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC (Audio)
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (Audio)
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (Audio)
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (Audio)
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (Audio)
7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama (Audio)
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (Audio)
10. Minnesota Vikings (von NYJ): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
11. New York Jets (von MIN): 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 (Audio)
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
17. Minnesota Vikings (von JAX): Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama (Audio)
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo (Audio)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars von MIN über CLE und HOU): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU (Audio)
24. Detroit Lions (von DAL): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
27. Arizona Cardinals (von HOU): Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri (Audio)
28. Kansas City Chiefs (von BUF): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
29. Dallas Cowboys (von DET): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
32. Carolina Panthers (von BUF über KC): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

OFFENSE AT THE TOP:

The first 14 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft were on the offensive side of the ball. Surpassing the previous record of seven set in 2021 for the most consecutive offensive players chosen to begin an NFL Draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft saw 23 offensive players chosen in the first round. Surpassing the previous record of 19 (three times: 1968, 2004 and 2009) for the most offensive players ever in the first round of an NFL Draft.

QUARTERBACKS GO FIRST:

Quarterbacks CALEB WILLIAMS (No. 1 overall, Chicago), JAYDEN DANIELS (No. 2, Washington) and DRAKE MAYE (No. 3, New England) were selected with the first three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, while MICHAEL PENIX JR. (No. 8, Atlanta), J.J. MCCARTHY (No. 10, Minnesota) and BO NIX (No. 12, Denver) were each selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The six quarterbacks selected in the first round ties the 1983 NFL Draft (six) for the most quarterbacks chosen in the first round of an NFL Draft all-time. The 2024 NFL Draft is the first Draft ever with five quarterbacks selected in the top-10 picks.

Since 1967, a quarterback has been selected first overall on 28 occasions, the most among all positions.

The 2024 NFL Draft is the fourth in the common-draft era to have quarterbacks chosen with each of the top-three selections. Joining 2021, 1999 and 1971.

With the selection of quarterback Caleb Williams, the University of Southern California is the first college all-time to produce six No. 1 overall selections. Breaking a tie with Auburn (five), Notre Dame (five) and Oklahoma (five).

Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, is the 11th quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy and be chosen No. 1 overall since 1967.

CATCHING ON:

Wide receivers MARVIN HARRISON JR. (No. 4, Arizona), MALIK NABERS (No. 6, New York Giants), ROME ODUNZE (No. 9, Chicago), BRIAN THOMAS JR. (No. 23, Jacksonville), XAVIER WORTHY (No. 28, Kansas City), RICKY PEARSALL (No. 31, San Francisco) and XAVIER LEGETTE (No. 32, Carolina) were each selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The seven wide receivers selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft ties the 2004 NFL Draft (seven) for the most ever wide receivers taken in the first round of a Draft.
The 2024 NFL Draft marks the seventh time since 1967 that three wide receivers were chosen among the top-10 selections in the NFL Draft, joining 2021, 2017, 2005, 2004, 2000 and 1995.

With LSU’s Nabers and Thomas Jr. both being selected in the first round, they marked the eighth pair of wide receiver college teammates to be selected in the first round in the same NFL Draft.

LSU – with quarterback JAYDEN DANIELS (No. 2, Washington) and wide receiver MALIK NABERS (No. 6, New York Giants), and Washington – with quarterback MICHAEL PENIX JR. (No. 8, Atlanta) and wide receiver ROME ODUNZE (No. 9, Chicago) – became the first schools in the common-draft era to have a quarterback and wide receiver selected in the top-10 of the same NFL Draft.

With the selections of Daniels, Nabers and BRIAN THOMAS JR. (No. 23, Jacksonville), it marked the fourth time since 1967 that a college had a quarterback and two wide receivers selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft. Joining Alabama in 2021 (Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle), Alabama in 2020 (Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs) and LSU in 2007 (JaMarcus Russell, Dwayne Bowe and Buster Davis).

OFFENSIVE LINE PAVES THE WAY:

Nine offensive linemen were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Tackles JOE ALT (No. 5, Los Angeles Chargers), JC LATHAM (No. 7, Tennessee), OLU FASHANU (No. 11, New York Jets), TALIESE FUAGA (No. 14, New Orleans), AMARIUS MIMS (No. 18, Cincinnati), TROY FAUTANU (No. 20, Pittsburgh), JORDAN MORGAN (No. 25, Green Bay) and TYLER GUYTON (No. 29, Dallas), as well as center GRAHAM BARTON (No. 26, Tampa Bay).

The 2024 NFL Draft marked the fourth time since 1967 that at least nine offensive linemen were chosen in the first round. Joining 1968 (10 offensive linemen), 2022 (nine) and 2013 (nine).

The eight tackles selected in the first round ties the 2008 NFL Draft (eight) for the most tackles taken in the first round of a draft all-time.

FIRST ROUND FATHERS & SONS:

Arizona selected wide receiver MARVIN HARRISON JR. with the No. 4 overall selection. His father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., was selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. With the following selection, the Los Angeles Chargers chose tackle JOE ALT. His father, John Alt, was a first-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1984 NFL Draft.

The Harrison’s and Alt’s are the 10th and 11th family since 1967 to have both a father and son selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.