NFL draft 2024: Six quarterbacks selected in top 12 picks – live
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In the world of football, there has been a trade. The Cowboys have decided to move down in the rankings, allowing the hometown Lions to move up to the spot of number 24.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made the decision to select LSU's wide receiver, Brian Thomas Jr.
After the departure of Calvin Ridley in free agency, the Jaguars decided to take a risk on a receiver who has the potential for great success or failure. Thomas is a threat at vertical plays, but during his time at LSU, he only ran two routes more than 10% of the time. Similar to his teammate Malik Nabers, Thomas is exceptionally fast when running down the field. He was the best in college football in 2023 with 17 touchdowns and an average of 17.3 yards per catch.
The Philadelphia Eagles have chosen Quinyon Mitchell, a cornerback from Toledo.
The Eagles have chosen a cornerback in the first round, and it's the first time since 2002. Mitchell is known for his lightning-fast moves and he's all about speed. He's got an impressive record too - he hasn't let anyone score a touchdown when he was the nearest defender in coverage in college for four whole years.
Attention, all supporters of New England! We are thrilled to share with you an analysis by Bill Belichick on the latest addition to the Patriots' roster, none other than quarterback Drake Maye. The breakdown is comprehensive and sure to pique your interest.
With the 21st pick, the Dolphins have chosen Chop Robinson as their edge-rusher.
Miami made a great move by selecting the most agile player in the draft who is specialized in rushing edge. Robinson is smaller in size but can easily adapt to different positions. Miami had a pressing requirement for a player skilled at passing the ball during the draft. Last season, their defense weakened in the latter part when Jaelan Phillips got injured. Though Robinson may not become an all-time player, he will serve as a viable option during crucial situations.
I recently realized that the NFL is still carrying out an investigation into the Falcons allegedly tampering with Kirk Cousins before the free agency took place. Isn't it ironic that the funniest scenario in the Cousins-Penix saga could be Cousins demanding a trade next year and the Falcons forfeiting their first-round pick in 2025?
With the 20th pick in the selection process, the Steelers have chosen Troy Fautanu to be their offensive tackle.
For the second year in a row, the Pittsburgh football team has selected offensive tackles in the first round of the draft. Among all the highly-skilled athletes in the draft, Fautanu stands out as the most athletic line player. It's not every day that you witness an offensive lineman execute a spin move to counter a pass rusher's spin move.
The term 'freak' is used too frequently to describe potential draft picks. However, Fautanu truly lives up to this description.
On the platform is Cam Heyward, a prominent player for the Steelers and the recipient of the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award from the NFL, who is ready to declare the chosen selection for Pittsburgh.
All individuals except for Mr. Bowers appear to be extremely thrilled about the fact that Brock is headed towards Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Rams have chosen Jared Verse as their edge-rusher with the 19th overall pick.
Some people believed that the Rams might search for a new player to replace Aaron Donald. However, the Rams decided to choose a highly aggressive edge rusher who never takes a break. Verse is incredibly quick when starting off the snap and has a very aggressive style. He's not known for his technical abilities, as he's more of a player who charges at you. Nevertheless, Verse has managed to rack up over 10 tackles for loss (TFLs) in each of the four seasons he played college football.
Guess what? The Rams are going to choose a player in the first round of the draft. This hasn't happened since Jared Goff was picked in 2016.
With the 18th pick, the Bengals have chosen Amarius Mims to be their offensive tackle.
The Cincinnati team has brought in a new huge tackle to add to their roster along with Trent Brown and Orlando Brown Jr. Mims is considered an unpredictable player in the draft due to his limited experience on the field, despite having the ideal physical characteristics for a top-ranked offensive tackle such as height, weight, speed, and build. During his last year at Georgia, he had issues with injuries, and only seven games to his credit throughout his playing career. Although the Bengals needed to strengthen their offensive line, selecting Mims could be viewed as a risky choice, with the potential for a high reward.
Returning to the Falcons once more, it appears as though their draft room may not be completely convinced by the choice they recently made.
With the 17th overall pick, the Vikings opt for Dallas Turner, a pass-rusher from Alabama.
Minnesota is taking a page out of the Texans' playbook. The team drafted JJ McCarthy as their 10th overall pick and has now secured the top-notch edge-rusher of the class. Turner possesses a rare combination of speed and agility that allows him to swiftly maneuver around blockers and rush towards the quarterback. Although he may need some fine-tuning in certain areas, Turner's defense skills are impressive, especially when it comes to defending against the run. He has the potential to be a versatile defensive anchor who can handle all three downs. In the previous season, the Vikings relied heavily on blitzing to tackle their opponents, but with Turner onboard, they can consistently ward off quarterbacks with just four defenders.
Exchange on the pitch! The Vikings made a move to secure the 17th pick by giving up the 23rd pick and a few other selections for 2025.
With the 16th overall choice, the Seahawks have opted to draft a defensive tackle named Byron Murphy II.
This article discusses Murphy, a player in a particular group who is known for his quick movements and ability to penetrate defenses. He is often compared to famous NFL players, such as Ed Oliver or Aaron Donald if you look closely enough. The hardest thing to defend against in the NFL is internal pressure, and this is where Murphy will shine for Seattle. He will bring some excitement and necessary energy to the team's interior.
According to reports, the Vikings and Patriots reached out to the Chargers to inquire about a possible trade involving Justin Herbert. It's always worth a shot!
Laiatu Latu shared with NFL Network that he had a feeling he would be the first defensive player picked in the 2024 NFL draft. This happened two years after he had to retire from the sport due to medical reasons. He believes his manifestation made it possible.
The 15th overall pick in the draft was used by the Colts to select Laiatu Latu, who plays the position of edge-rusher.
Indy was really hoping to get a chance to compete for Brock Bowers. However, since Bowers is no longer available, the Colts were basically given the biggest opportunity in the 2024 defense draft. They took advantage of their position and chose the most outstanding edge-rusher in the group.
Nowadays, teams have a surplus of statistics at their disposal. However, when it's time for the ultimate assessment, general managers resort to the most traditional method: observing real-life games. If you take a look at those games, it's evident that Latu possesses a natural talent comparable to any other player in this group.
However, there are some worries about his health. Latu experienced an injury to his neck while playing at Washington in 2020 and had to stop participating in the sport. During his break, he underwent various neck surgeries and began playing rugby in Seattle. In 2022, he was given the green light to resume his football career and moved to UCLA, where he dominated the competition for the following two years. His performance against Arizona is recommended only for adults.
Latu's uniqueness lies in his style, which is unmatched among pass-rushing prospects in recent times. He cannot be identified as slow or fast as he adapts to the pace that suits his game. The 23-year-old is explosive, especially in confined spaces. It's impressive how he plays like it's some sort of fusion between MMA and interpretive dance. Latu's approach to knifing into the backfield is full of unconventional moves, head fakes, and all limbs. It's as if he's playing his game, which is different from traditional pass-rushing techniques.
Latu's style is captivating, but it's more than just looks. During his time at UCLA, he achieved an impressive 27 sacks and 107 total pressures, making him the top performer in college football. His pass rush win rate of 26.2% in his final year is also one of the highest on record. It's possible that his surgeries had an impact on his performance, but there is no evidence of it since he never missed a game due to injury in the two years he played for the team.
Latu's story is pretty amazing in the draft. He made a transition from playing rugby and firefighting part-time to becoming the top defensive player chosen in the draft.
As per the information provided by Adam Schefter from ESPN:
In the latest draft, a new record has been set as all of the first 14 picks were focused on offensive players. This beats the previous record of seven offensive players chosen to start a draft, which was set in 2021.
The 14th pick in the draft was used by the Saints to choose Taliese Fuaga from Oregon State.
As per the blog, it seems like the Saints are in dire need of two promising candidates for their offensive line, who can directly become starters. In order to secure a good prospect, they have picked a talented run blocker as their first preference for the 14th pick. Fuaga has the experience of playing 25 games as a right tackle during his college days, although due to his small wingspan, he might have to switch positions and move inside the field. However, his moving-block support is exceptional and he often tries to overpower people. This Oscar winner is the first-ever player from Oregon State to get drafted in the first round since Brandin Cooks in the year 2014.
Many supporters of the Falcons are displeased with the decision to select Penix.
The NFL Network stated that Kirk Cousins did not receive a notification about the selection. Dianna Russini from ESPN mentioned that Cousins was surprised by the pick. However, this should not be a big concern for him as he already has a confirmed $100 million for his performances during the next two seasons. This situation may cause some problems though.
The score so far shows that there have been 13 interceptions made by the offensive team and no interceptions made by the defensive team. Furthermore, out of the 13 players chosen, all of them were offensive players. Given this information, we can make a prediction for the first round of the draft, setting the line at 6.5 players chosen for the defensive side of the game.
The Las Vegas Raiders chose Brock Bowers as their 13th pick.
There is a very interesting player in the draft heading to Vegas. Bowers is an amazing tight end who is really a wide receiver disguised as a tight end. His performance last season was impressive in terms of statistics, with 56 catches, 714 yards, and six touchdowns. However, what really sets him apart is what he does after he has the ball in his hands. Bowers is known for hurdling, running through, and outrunning defenders, making him a very entertaining player to watch in college football. While he may not be an exceptional blocker as a pure tight end, he was not chosen by Vegas for his blocking skills. Instead, his role will be to move around the formation and catch passes.
About Bo Nix, Oregon's Quarterback. Nix is an experienced quarterback who was not seen as a top draft pick when he played for Auburn. However, after transferring to Oregon, he gained considerable momentum. Nix has a style similar to that of a point guard in basketball; he passes the ball to his teammates and is adept enough at the game to create his own opportunities when needed. With careful observation, it's clear that Nix possesses the potential to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Additionally, his familiarity with intricate offenses should enable him to play for Sean Payton without delay.
Broncos Pick Bo Nix Of Oregon As 12th Overall QB
Wow. Sean Payton and the Broncos seem to be in a pickle. They urgently require a quarterback and, instead of waiting to make a trade, they have decided to choose their preferred option. Unfortunately, this decision could be unfortunate for Zach Wilson.
Eleven players who play in an attacking position have been selected in the first 11 picks. Next up is Denver. Since all the best quarterbacks have already been picked, it is expected that the first player chosen will be one who plays in a defensive position.
With the 11th pick, Penn State's Olu Fashanu has been chosen by the Jets as their LT.
The Jets have chosen to focus on acquiring a player to defend Aaron Rodgers, rather than attempting to add a dynamic player to their offensive lineup. Will the person who complains the most be pleased with this choice?
Fashanu is an inexperienced tackle. He has only played in 21 games throughout his career and just celebrated his 21st birthday in December. He's a large and skillful tackle with arms that appear so long they might be computer-generated. When it comes to running, he moves like a tight end. In terms of protecting the pass, he's too big for defenders to pass through and possesses agile feet that allow him to keep up with even the most nimble of pass-rushers. However, he needs to work on his technique, which will require time – something the Jets don't have much of.
Introducing: JJ McCarthy, the quarterback from Michigan. If there was ever a destination that seemed ideal for McCarthy, it would have to be Minnesota. Based on my assessment of him prior to the draft:
Out of all the players in the current cycle, none have sparked such strong opinions as McCarthy has. Some believe that he's a quarterback with limitless potential, possessing quick legs, a strong throwing arm, and a bold attitude. Others are critical of his past performance at Michigan, suggesting that with those same abilities, he should have accomplished more.
McCarthy led Michigan's football team to national victory, boasting an abundance of future NFL players on their team. It is anticipated that by the end of the draft, the 2023 Wolverines roster will have more players drafted than any previous team in history. With such an impressive amount of talent, McCarthy's role was primarily to oversee the team and ensure they stuck to the game plan. This included frequently passing the ball to their reliable running backs and playing smart, error-free football. It was rare for McCarthy to throw on third down, as Michigan typically maintained a comfortable lead in games or dominated their opponents, meaning they didn't require third downs.
McCarthy is considered by certain influential people as the perfect example of a potential quarterback. He is a skillful passer who possesses the exceptional abilities and intangible qualities that cause scouts and general managers to express great satisfaction. He has consistently demonstrated his capability of winning and leadership skills, having created plays since he was only five years old. According to draft analyst Dane Brugler, he advised potential Michigan recruits that if they were interested in partying and pursuing girls, they should seek other universities rather than Michigan.
Interestingly, leaks from the scouting industry focus on every aspect of McCarthy except for his efficiency in passing the ball. This situation is comparable to what happened with Daniel Jones. Although there are some highlights from his time as a college game player, the quarterbacks that teams want him to become in the professional league differ from the kind of player he was expected to be during his time at Michigan.
Minnesota is the perfect destination for a young quarterback to land, as the head coach of the Vikings, Kevin O’Connell, is very open to revamping their system to suit the quarterback’s style. Former coach, McCarthy, was required to conform to a more typical strategy during his time at Michigan which inhibited some of his inborn tendencies. However, McCarthy possesses an incredible arm and is a great athlete. O’Connell will concentrate more on his athleticism and allow him to showcase his abilities, something which Jim Harbaugh didn't do enough of during his time at Michigan. Plus, having Justin Jefferson as a receiver to throw to is certainly a perk for a young quarterback.
Vikings Draft JJ McCarthy As 10th Pick QB
The state of Minnesota moves up to take possession of their future star quarterback, resulting in a total of five quarterbacks chosen within the first ten picks.
Neil Saffer asked whether the Giants have discovered the ideal combination with Malik Nabers.
Wow, they've done it! If Marvin Harrison Jr wasn't around, Nabers would definitely be the best receiver in the draft. Despite not getting enough recognition, he's actually a really skilled route-runner and has great speed. He's a pro at winning contested catches, can make plays after catching the ball, and can even outplay defensive backs when it comes to jumping for the ball. When it comes to springing receivers open through play design, Brian Daboll is one of the best in the league. If Nabers ever gets a chance to run free and unmarked, no one would be fast enough to catch up to him.
Business dealings! The Vikings made an exchange by giving away two picks in the fourth and fifth rounds to the Jets in order to move up in the draft to the 11th spot.
Meet Rome Odunze, a wide receiver from Washington. The Chicago Bears are making some serious moves by adding Odunze to their team, just after they successfully traded for Keenan Allen in the offseason and snagged DJ Moore in the previous season. Odunze is known for his large size and ability to make strong catches. He excels as an outside receiver and makes it easier for quarterbacks to throw to him. In fact, he's often compared to Keenan Allen during the pre-draft process. Looks like the Chicago Bears have a particular preference when it comes to their team's wide receivers.
The ninth pick in the NFL draft for the Chicago Bears was Washington's wide receiver, Rome Odunze. He was selected to team up with Caleb Williams.
About Michael Penix Jr, a quarterback from Washington who was drafted by the Falcons, what a surprise! It happened right after they signed Kirk Cousins to a massive free-agent contract in the same offseason. According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, it appears to be a matter of 'succession' planning. This is a bit odd since Penix is currently 24 years old and will likely be 26 when Cousins' contract is up. Penix is the most outstanding pocket passer in his class, capable of throwing accurately anywhere on the field. Penix, however, has a few downsides to his game. For one, he was a part of a system at Washington that was unconventional. Secondly, he was always surrounded by top-tier talent. Lastly, Penix's injury history isn't the best, having four season-ending injuries in his college career. Penix has torn two ACLs in two years, which makes it tough for him to move around and make plays, which is essential in the modern NFL. Interestingly enough, Penix bears some similarities to Kirk Cousins in his style – although Penix has a larger arm. Maybe the Falcons knew exactly what they were doing when they drafted him.
Falcons Pick Michael Penix Jr As 8th Pick QB - Surprising!
Wow, things are getting crazy. The Falcons have chosen the Washington team's quarterback as the eighth pick, even though they already signed Kirk Cousins to a huge free-agent contract earlier in the same season.
