The 2024 NFL Draft has come to an end. In all, there were 257 prospects from different playing backgrounds realizing a dream of becoming a professional football player. It was a year for the record books as multiple benchmarks were topped.
Here are takeaways from the three-day draft in Detroit:
1. Falcons deliver biggest surprise with Michael Penix Jr. selection
Atlanta's decision to select Penix without giving free agent signing Kirk Cousins much advanced notice is reminiscent of Chicago taking Mitchell Trubisky after signing Nick Foles to a lucrative contract. There is no question that Cousins is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but the Falcons are hardly maximizing their opportunity to win right away with their prized free agent signing.
2. Quarterback records set in the first round
For the first time in league history, six quarterbacks were taken in the first round of an NFL Draft. More impressively, six of the first 12 selections were used on the quarterbacks. The hay is in the barn. Now, the discussion turns to when those players will take the field and their overall outlook as professionals.
3. No quarterbacks selected on Day 2
For all the action at the position in the first round, there was little to no movement on Day 2. In fact, there was an NFL record 138-pick gap between quarterbacks picked until South Carolina's Spencer Rattler came off the board to the Saints.
4. Michigan falls short of draft record
Georgia still has the record for the most prospects taken (15) over the course of the NFL Draft. Michigan had an opportunity to surpass that total, thanks to Friday's results when six Wolverines were taken. J.J. McCarthy got them started in the first round and there were 13 taken in total.
5. Sons of NFL legends learn next destinations
Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was drafted by the team whose jersey his father adorned most of his career. The Eagles took him off the board in the fifth round. The Chargers selected USC wide receiver Brenden Rice, son of Jerry, in the seventh round.
Terrell Owens' son, Terique, is signing with with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Frank Gore Jr., son of the future Hall of Famer, is signing with the Bills, also as an undrafted free agent.
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals), Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (Bengals), Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt (Chargers) and Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (Commanders) all had Pro Bowl fathers as well.
6. The final draft haul of the PAC-12
As the conferences institutions have scattered across the country in the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII and beyond, the 2024 NFL Draft was the final year of PAC-12 representation. There were 24 PAC-12 prospects taken on Day 3. An additional 16, including seven in the first round, were taken over the first two days of the draft.