The 2024 NFL Draft kicked off with a bang on Thursday night in Detroit. With so much activity, it took some time to catch our breath and digest each pick. Before the action resumes on Friday night, we’ll take you through the five best and three worst selections of Thursday night.
We are off and running after the festivities for the 2024 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday night in Detroit. The Chicago Bears led things off with the most obvious pick since 2021 when the Jacksonville Jaguars took quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The next pick offered little surprise, with the Washington Commanders taking quarterback Jayden Daniels. A third quarterback came off the board at No. 3 overall, and despite many predictions, things stayed pretty level for the first half of the draft. 13 straight offensive players came off the board for the first time in NFL history.
Despite expectations, there weren’t many trades in the Top 15. Three teams entered the night with multiple first-round selections, which helped aid a flurry of fun picks that won’t soon be forgotten. With the dust having finally settled after the opening round, we decided to take a look back at the five best and worst selections before we dive head first into Day 2 starting tonight at 7 pm Eastern time.
We’ll be using Arif Hasan from Wide Left’s Top 300 consensus board to help provide further context into these grades.
Best Five Selections Of Day 1
1. QB Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) at No. 1 overall
No, I’m not grading this as the top pick just because the Bears made it. Instead, it’s because Chicago made the obvious selection and got one of the better quarterbacks to come out of the draft over the last decade. Sure, there’s never a consensus player in the draft process anymore, but he’s about as close as it gets. He should breathe new life into a city that has watched their favorite team rifle through quarterbacks since the dawning of time. Even better, Chicago is well-suited to build around their rookie quarterback and still have plenty of future resources as they come ever so close to exiting their multi-year rebuild.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #2
2. Edge Dallas Turner (Minnesota Vikings) At No. 17 overall
It feels like the Vikings took the budget route to what the Houston Texans did last year with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson. Obviously, the Vikings didn’t have the resources to replicate that exact pairing, but getting Turner at 17 is a great value and fills a big need after losing Danielle Hunter. Considering they were able to get J.J. McCarthy at 10 and now Turner at 17, I’d say Minnesota did pretty dang well on Day 1. The only downside? They are down to three picks in the 2025 draft. Granted, that’s a year away, but for a re-tooling team, that might hurt come this time next season. For now, this was one of the better values in the draft.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #9
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Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
3. CB Tarrion Arnold (Detroit Lions) at No. 24 overall
In these grades, the NFC North dominated the headlines in the first round of great values. Many had Arnold being selected in the Top 15. He’s far from a finished product and didn’t test otherworldly at the combine, but he’s a technically sound defensive back that is very physical at the point of attack. More importantly, this fills a gigantic need for the Lions and should help push them to becoming Super Bowl contenders in 2024. The Lions have continued to stack talent through the draft under general manager Brad Holmes, and this pick should prove to be no different. The overall value here is outstanding and a product of an offensive-heavy first round.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #12
4. CB Quinyon Mitchell (Philadelphia Eagles) at No. 22 overall
Heading into the draft’s opening night, there was plenty of smoke around the Eagles and wanting to trade up for one of the top cornerbacks in this draft. Howie Roseman is one of the best general managers in the league and has no issues being aggressive. On Thursday night, his patience paid off. The top defenders slid as six quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks. Offensive linemen and receivers were flying off the board, and before cornerbacks, edge rushers were the primary defensive targets. That allowed the top cornerback in the draft to fall all the way to No. 22. The value here, much like Arnold, is incredible. It fills a massive need for a Philadelphia team that will be looking to rebound after their collapse late in 2023. Mitchell is the perfect cornerback for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense. This was an A+ pick.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #11
5. OL Graham Barton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at No. 26 overall
From a value standpoint, this was a one-for-one pick. On paper, though, this might be the best fit in the entire first round. Barton was primarily a tackle at Duke, but his size and length best suit him inside at the next level. Barton has All-Pro potential at either guard or center. Tampa Bay had a big need on the interior and this is a picture-perfect fit. The value is better than it appears, considering how devalued interior offensive linemen continue to be in the draft. However, as we’ve seen in recent months, the contract values are shooting up. Having this type of upside starting at center (or guard) for a cost-controlled four to five years should help keep the Buccaneers as favorites in the NFC South.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #26
Worst Three Selections of Day 1
1. QB Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons) at No. 8 overall
What in the hell are the Falcons doing in Atlanta? Don’t get me wrong, I like Penix Jr. as a low-ceiling quarterback who can start close to right away and should have a relatively “safe” floor. But for a team like Atlanta— Who just gave veteran Kirk Cousins a four-year, $160 million deal with two years fully guaranteed— To select an older prospect like Penix? It just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Especially when looking at their defensive line. Instead, the Falcons launch into the future a year (or two) too early and ignore a bad defensive line in the process. On top of all of this, they didn’t let Cousins know about the selection until they were on the clock. He was reported as “stunned” that the pick was made, and rightfully so.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #34
2. QB Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) At No. 12 overall
This is how bad teams stay bad. They reach badly on a quarterback that most didn’t have a first-round grade on instead of just taking their medicine for a year and trying again the next year. Sean Payton’s start to his Denver tenure has not started well, and I continue to question how general manager George Paton still has a job. They had their choice of a top defender, or any other position for that matter, and instead, they took QB6 a round too early. While I understand why Payton doesn’t want to go into a rebuild, this is a team with a lot of needs and really couldn’t afford to reach that badly on a quarterback in the first round. Yet, here we are.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #38
3. WR Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco 49ers) At No. 31 overall
Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Pearsall. I don’t love him, but I think he’s going to be a good wide receiver in the NFL. The issue is that he’ll be 24 during his rookie season, and the top-end of this receiving class is loaded. With Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell still on the board and much higher graded, this pick comes as a bit of a surprise. Pearsall tested extremely well and was fun to watch in Florida. I do have concerns about his versatility at the next level, though. Overall, this is more about value than anything else. This also can’t mean great things when it comes to the future of star receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is set to become one of the highest-paid players at his position in the next year or two.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #48
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