The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft had everything.
Six quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks, 14 offensive players went in the first 14 picks, and five trades were made throughout the exciting first round. The first seven picks went somewhat as predicted, before the Atlanta Falcons shocked the world (and their high-paid quarterback) at No. 8. More on that later.
Related: Best Available Players Heading Into Round 2 of NFL Draft
With Round 1 officially in the books, here are the biggest winners and losers of the first 32 picks, and the most mind-boggling moves:
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Winners
1. Chicago Bears
When you get one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory, you instantly become a big winner. When you’re also able to add one of the best wide receivers in Rome Odunze, you make the top of this list.
Caleb Williams was drafted into arguably the greatest situation ever for a No. 1 overall pick, and should take the Bears to the playoffs in year one. You can’t get any more “winner” than that.
2. Offensive Players
An NFL-record 14 consecutive picks were used on offensive players to begin the NFL Draft. The previous record was seven.
In total, 23 offensive players were taken: six quarterbacks, seven wide receivers, nine offensive lineman and one tight end.
They say defense wins championships. On Thursday, offense won the draft.
3. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were rumored to be interested in trading up in the first round, potentially sending out one of their top wide receivers in Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk. Instead, they stood pat, and still took a wide receiver, which makes sense considering Aiyuk is on an expiring contract, as is Jauan Jennings.
The 49ers’ top choice at receiver might not have been the best player available according to NFL experts (he was mostly mocked in the second round), but when you have opposing quarterbacks reacting like this, you clearly made a good pick.
It also doesn’t hurt that Aiyuk, who has been in the middle of trade drama all offseason long, texted head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, “Fire Pick, can’t lie.”
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk texted GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan moments after they selected his former Arizona State teammate Ricky Pearsall with their first-round pick Thursday night. The message, per Shanahan: “Fire Pick, can’t lie.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2024
Losers
1. Denver Broncos
The run on quarterbacks was expected, but the Broncos appeared to panic.
After five quarterbacks went in the first 10 picks, the Broncos, in need of a quarterback, didn’t want to let the only other potential first-round quarterback slip. So, they elected to take Bo Nix out of Oregon at No. 12, a 24-year-old who easily could have been a Day 2 pick.
Nix will compete with former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson (who’s also 24 and just six months older than Nix) to make up one of the weirder and more underwhelming quarterback rooms in the NFL.
2. Las Vegas Raiders
I don’t love having the Raiders as a “loser” considering they got one of the game’s best offensive weapons in Brock Bowers at No. 13. However, the Raiders needed a quarterback, and saw an incredible six quarterbacks taken ahead of them in the first 12 picks. Why didn’t they trade up to a more favorable spot?
As of now, the Raiders are entering the 2024 season with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell competing for the starting spot. That doesn’t exactly feel like a Super-Bowl-caliber quarterback room.
Most Confusing, Shocking, Mind-Boggling Moves
1. Buffalo Bills Helping the Kansas City Chiefs
What on earth are the Bills doing?
The Bills entered the draft with a clear need: wide receiver.
After losing Gabe Davis in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars and trading Stefon Diggs to an AFC contender before the draft, they needed to find Josh Allen his next great weapon.
Instead? They gave Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes his.
The Bills elected to trade down from No. 28 with the defending-champion Chiefs, who took the fastest receiver in the draft in Texas’ Xavier Worthy. The 6-foot-1, 172-pound speedster ran a 4.21 40-yard dash at the combine, and now joins the best team in football as another weapon at Mahomes’ disposal.
Every time Worthy burns the Bills for a touchdown, they’ll have to remember that they’re the reason he’s there in the first place.
As for the Bills? They traded down a second time and didn’t even make a first-round pick.
Oh, and did I mention the Bills have been eliminated by the Chiefs in three of the last four postseasons?
2. Atlanta Falcons Drafting Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons gave four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed this offseason. They were in a perfect spot to add a defensive playmaker to a team that will be much, much better in 2024 with good quarterback play.
Instead, they took Penix.
In the team’s post-draft press conference, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said, “The Green Bay model was something that we talked about and it’s been proven to be right last year. So hopefully, we’ll be right with them.”
The only difference?
The Packers had a Hall of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, and spent the No. 26 overall pick to draft a 21-year-old in Jordan Love.
The Vikings don’t have a Hall of Fame quarterback in Cousins, and spent the No. 8 overall pick to draft a soon-to-be-24-year-old in Penix. He’ll be turning 28 when Cousins’ deal is up.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.