Check back for all the LIVE first round reactions as they happen here.
1.1 – Chicago Bears
Selection: Caleb Williams, QB USC
Grade: A+++
Thoughts: We all saw this coming, and boy will it be a fun game to watch when he plays for the Bears. I’m interested to see how Williams is able to clean up his game under the Bears regime. Williams knows how to battle back when faced with adversity, something that is going to come in handy when the Bears face the same issues.
1.2 – Washington Commanders
Selection: Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
Grade: A+
Thoughts: It’s a new era in Washington, so it makes so much sense to start fresh with a new QB. Daniels is a thin-frame guy but that could make for quickly getting out of the pocket when faced against the harsh NFC East defense. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is a top notch passer who’s able to make things happen down the field.
1.3 – New England Patriots
Selection: Drake Maye, QB UNC
Grade: A
Thoughts: The Patriots need a rebound from losing Brady and Belichick. They haven’t been able to really figure it out yet, but Maye could come in and really help the team. The Patriots are far from contending, but this is a good start. Maye has incredible speed and passing power that is going to help elevate the team. The 2022 ACC Player of the year had 24 TDs in 2023.
1.4 – Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR OSU
Grade: A++
Thoughts: While the Cardinals have a quarterback, they are in need of a wide receiver. Taking the best one off the board is a great start. He is a reliable and aggressive playmaker that helped the OSU to much success. He is the 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner with 1,211 yards and 14 TDs in 2023.
1.5 – Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Joe Alt, OT Notre Dame
Grade: A+++
Thoughts: With Harbaugh coming back into the league, we know he’s going to be big on running the ball. With that, you need to protect your offensive weapons. What better way than to go with 2023 unanimous All-American and Lombardi Award finalist in 2023. Alt will also help with alleviating pressure off of quarterback Justin Herbert.
1.6 – New York Giants
Selection: Malik Nabers, WR LSU
Grade: B+
Thoughts: Instead of getting a quarterback that could boost the Giants, they go with a weapon for their guy. Nabers is a speedy reliable guy that will surely fill the hole that was left after a few key guys left. Nabers is the 2023 unanimous All-American with 1,559 yards, second in the FBS. I think Nabers is a sensational player, but won’t get much success on the Giants.
1.7 – Tennessee Titans
Selection: JC Latham, OL Alabama
Grade: A+
Thoughts: What a smart pick by the Titans to get someone to protect Will Levis. Getting younger is going to take time and be worth the time. The Titans feel like they’re rebuilding and are managing to get there. Latham is a mammoth of an offensive lineman who is the 2023 AP second-team All-American and All-SEC first team in 2023.
1.8 – Atlanta Falcons
Selection: Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington
Grade: A?
Thoughts: I can’t say I expected this pick, but I don’t hate it. Penix is a standout QB that will fit perfectly with the Falcons regime. Penix had 4,903 pass yards for 36 TDs in 2023. He was all elected to the first-team All-American. What I like about this pick is that it shakes things up a little in the draft.
Selection: Rome Odunze, WR Washington
1.9 – Chicago Bears
Grade: A+
Thoughts: Get your young QB and WR in the top 10? I think that’s fantastic. Odunze led the CFB with 1,640 yards in 2023. He was elected to the 2023 first-team All-American. I’m excited to see what he can do for the Bears while the Bears look to rebuild. It’ll take a lot of work for both young guys to find their footing, but they could be a great pairing in 2024.
1.10 – Minnesota Vikings
Selection: J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan
Grade: A++
Thoughts: This feels like it had to be a pick, right? With the Kirk Cousins departure, you need to find your immediate replacement. McCarthy had a 27-1 record as a starter and basically has the numbers to show for being the next Vikings guy. Plus when you have Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, you almost can’t go wrong.
1.11 – New York Jets
Selection: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, T Penn State
Grade: A++
Thoughts: The Jets getting Fashanu is a top tier pick. Fashanu is a reliable guy, starting 21 of his 29 games. He is a 2023 First-team All-American. He allowed 0 sacks on 697 pass attempts. Now with the Jets, he could deliver that same level of power to protect the quarterback.
1.12 – Denver Broncos
Selection: Bo Nix, QB Oregon
Grade: A+
Thoughts: Nix had 61 career starts and broke single season school record AND third most in school history. He is going to fit in well with the Broncos and get the team to where they need to be. I think Nix has a bit of help coming into this team having played in a high altitude in Oregon. I love this pick for the Broncos and think they already fixed their biggest issue.
1.13 – Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Brock Bowers, TE Georgia
Grade: A
Thoughts: Bowers is a speedy, agile playmaker who made the First-team All-SEC for three years. He led the team in reception yards and saw career highs in 2022. Needless to say, Bowers’ fire will radiate to the rest of the Raiders.
1.14 – New Orleans Saints
Selection: Taliese Fuaga, T Oregon St.
Grade: A+
Thoughts: Fuaga is a nasty, balanced tackle who is about to get things right with the Saints. The 2023 All-Pac-12 first-team electee started 12 games and dominated along the way. The Saints really need to protect their quarterback and Fuaga is a nice start to add that.
1.15 – Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Grade: A++
Thoughts: I’m giving this pick extra love because it’s the first defensive pick taken in this draft. Latu is a Lombardi Award winner and 4th in the CFB with 13 sacks. After a second opportunity with football thanks to UCLA, Latu is able to reach a level of success he only dreamed of. Better yet, we know what he’s capable of as an elite pass rusher and is going to cause chaos for the Colts.
1.16 – Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Byron Murphy, DT Texas
Grade: A
Thoughts: What a pick. Murphy leverages quickness and has the ability to penetrate plays. He can anchor down and gets off blocks and makes tackles. He’s going to be impossible to match up against and is going to be super disruptive for the Seahawks. He has 5 sacks on the season.
1.17 – Minnesota Vikings (via Jacksonville Jaguars)
Selection: Dallas Turner, EDGE Alabama
Grade: A++
Thoughts: Now that the teams are on a defensive kick, it makes sense that the Vikings want to get back in and cover their bases. Getting Turner at #17 is an incredible choice. He was the 2023 All-SEC Defensive Player of the Year with 10 sacks. He led the team in tackles-for-loss in the 2023 season.
1.18 – Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Amarius Mims, T Georgia
Grade: A++
Thoughts: Mims is another mammoth off the board, and a GEORGIA mammoth at that. He allowed 0 sacks on 377 pass blocks and started six games at RT in 2023. The Bengals picking him up is going to actually protect Joe Burrow from any future injury (trust).
1.19 – Los Angeles Rams
Selection: Jared Verse, EDGE Florida St.
Grade: A+++
Thoughts: Verse is a rugged, physical pass rusher. He has 32.5 career sacks and elected to the First-team All-American. He’s no Aaron Donald replacement, but he is a key guy that can learn in a few years to really hustle and show what he’s capable of on the Rams.
1.20 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Troy Fautanu, T Washington
Grade: A
Thoughts: Fautanu is another great guy in this draft that is going to do wonders for the Steelers. Pittsburgh is already a smart agressive football team, so Fautanu is going to get a chance to show what he’s made of. Fautanu was elected to the 2023 All-Pac-12 first team and won the 2023 Morris Trophy.
1.21 – Miami Dolphins
Selection: Chop Robinson, LB Penn State
Grade: A
Thoughts: Robinson is a fast guy, readily gets after his target like another Penn State LB in the league by the name of Micah Parsons. Robinson was elected to the first-team All-Big Ten and had four sacks in seven games this season. He’s going to do wonders for the Dolphins who are already on the come up from last season’s success.
1.22 – Philadelphia Eagles
Selection: Quinyon Mitchell, CB Toledo
Grade: A?
Thoughts: Not sure if this pick was expected, but I certainly am surprised. The Eagles have an all-time school leader in PBUs. He is a two-time All-American and is going to add some stability to the CB room. The Eagles haven’t been able to fix their defensive issues from retirements and letting other guys walk. I think the Eagles have a sleeper pick in Mitchell and am excited to see what he can do.
1.23 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Brian Thomas Jr., WR LSU
Grade: A
Thoughts: I think guys that come from LSU really can dominate in the league. Thomas Jr. is a speedy guy with the ability to fly down the field without getting tackled. He had 17 touchdown receptions in 2023 and second team All-SEC electee. I’m happy the Jaguars were able to find a guy reasonably close and who knows how to deal with southern weather.
1.24 – Detroit Lions (from Dallas Cowboys)
Selection: Terrion Arnold, CB Alabama
Grade: A+++
Thoughts: Arnold is the guy. He is a first-team All-American. He had five interceptions in 2023 and six in the FBS. If the Lions know how to do anything, it’s how to pick good defensive guys in the draft. It’s almost shocking that Arnold fell that fast.
1.25 – Green Bay Packers
Selection: Jordan Morgan, T Arizona
Grade: B
Thoughts: This is the slow part of the first round of the draft in my opinion, and it almost feels like the Packers were looking for the best player available. Regardless, Morgan allowed two sacks in 760 snaps and was the 2023 first-team All-Pac-12 electee. I don’t know how to feel about this pick but at the end of the day, the Packers do need help and to protect Jordan Love.
1.26 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Graham Barton, C Duke
Grade: B
Thoughts: Barton is an incredible player, I just don’t think the Buccaneers needed to focus on a center this early when they have more pressing issues. Regardless, Barton provides the protection needed to conduct an offensive line. He is a two-time first-team All-ACC electee and has 39 career starts.
1.27 – Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Darius Robinson, EDGE Missouri
Grade: A
Thoughts: The first-team All-SEC playmaker is going to be fiery for Arizona. He had 8.5 sacks and 39 tackles in his career, easily something he could transition to in the NFL. He has a push-pull technique that will get opposing offenses frustrated.
1.28 – Kansas City Chiefs (from the Buffalo Bills)
Selection: Xavier Worthy, WR Texas
Grade: A+
Thoughts: What happens when you pair a guy who has broken records and a back-to-back Super Bowl champion? Doesn’t matter, the possibilities are endless. Worthy set a combine 40-yard dash record and is someone that Patrick Mahomes is going to love working with.
1.29 – Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Tyler Guyton, T Oklahoma
Grade: A
Thoughts: He is an experienced former tight end with outstanding athleticism. Guyton is a genuine talent who can uproot defenders in the run game. He’ll dominate across the field with his large frame and agile feet. The Cowboys usually know how to draft good defensive guys, so I don’t doubt that Guyton is going to have a fantastic first season in Dallas.
1.30 – Baltimore Ravens
Selection: Nate Wiggins, DB Clemson
Grade: B
Thoughts: Wiggins is a fast, fluid athlete who knows how to create chaos for offenses. He is a stellar athlete who was on Mel Kiper’s list of top CBs (#4). He was also a first-team All-ACC electee in 2023. I like this pick for Baltimore especially after much of the succes they had last season, I think adding depth will boost the team.
1.31 – San Francisco 49ers
Selection: Ricky Pearsall, WR Florida
Grade: A++
Thoughts: Pearsall has excellent hands and is light on his feet. He is a phenomenal athlete with incredible route running capability and reliability. The 49ers have a real good one in Pearsall. A Michael Gallup-type, Pearsall had a team-high 965 receiving yards and returned punts in 2023. The 49ers are going to have fun adding him alongside Mr. No Longer Irrelevant.
1.32 – Carolina Panthers
Selection: Xavier Legette, WR South Carolina
Grade: B
Thoughts: I don’t know what the Panthers were thinking by trading up for Legette, but I do know they have a good player at least. He’s an AJ Brown-type who goes up and wins those 50/50 matchups. He has the speed and physicality to be a standout key player for the Panthers.
How to watch
Live coverage of the NFL Draft can be found on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network. Streaming coverage is also available on ESPN+, NFL+, YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo TV and Sling TV.
Round 1: Thursday, April 25, 8 p.m. ET
Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET
Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 27, 12 p.m. ET
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