There were quarterbacks, chalk, offensive tackles, trades, wide receivers, surprises and a tight end.
It was a 14-pick whirlwind, but it was all offense in a record run to begin the 2024 ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøDraft on Thursday in Detroit. The initial 14 selections of the draft were all offensive players in what became the longest streak of picks on one side of the ball at any point of a draft in the Common Draft era (since 1967), per ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøResearch.
It all began with the long-prognosticated selection of USC quarterback Caleb Williams by the Chicago Bears at No. 1 and concluded with a likewise predictable New Orleans Saints selection of an offensive tackle, as they went with Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga.
In between was a record-setting roller coaster ride.
Perhaps fittingly, the most surprising selection of the first round -- the Atlanta Falcons' pick of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. -- was the record-breaker. In 2021, seven straight offensive players went off the board until the Carolina Panthers took cornerback Jaycee Horn. Penix was the eighth consecutive offensive player, but hardly the last.
The first-round surge featured six quarterbacks, four offensive tackles, three wide receivers and one tight end, before UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu busted the streak like he bursts through offensive lines. Latu was picked 15th overall by the Colts and was the first defensive player taken.
It stopped a historic streak of picks, but it hardly ended the offensive onus in the opening round.
A record 23 of the 32 selections were on the offensive side of the ball, easily besting the previous high of 19, as a bevy of records were set.
- Six QBs in the first round ties the 1983 record
- Fourth time QBs were taken with each of the first three picks
- First time four QBs were taken in the top eight
- First time five QBs were taken in the top 10
- First time six QBs were taken in the top 12
- First time all offensive players went in the top 10
- Eight OTs in the first round ties the 2008 record
- Seven WRs in the first round ties the 2004 record
It will be many autumns to come before it can be determined just how successful the 2024 first-round class is, but on Thursday, history was already made.
