2024 NFL Draft tracker, takeaways: Round-to-round picks by team, grades, analysis as three-day event concludes

A look at all the action that went down in Detroit on Day 3

By Josh Edwards

Apr 28, 2024 • 1 min read

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.

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28. Kansas City Chiefs

Team needs: OT, WR, CB, DL, LB, S, RB, EDGE
Players acquired: WR Hollywood Brown
Players lost: OG Nick Allegretti, P Tommy Townsend, S Mike Edwards, LB Willie Gay Jr.

Could Buffalo be getting ahead of Dallas for an offensive lineman?

Round 1, pick 27: Cardinals select DL Darius Robinson

Robinson has size and flexibility to play on the edge or slide inside dependent upon the situation. Arizona needed to add difference makers to their defensive front and accomplish that late in Round 1.

Round 1, pick 26: Buccaneers select OG/C Graham Barton

Shaq Mason? Gone. Ryan Jensen? Gone. Alex Cappa? Gone. Tampa Bay had a need along the interior offensive line and they address it with the choice of Barton.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Team needs: IOL, CB, EDGE, LB, S, WR
Players acquired: S Jordan Whitehead, OG Ben Bredeson
Players lost: CB Carlton Davis, EDGE Shaquil Barrett, LB Devin White

Tampa Bay traded veteran cornerback Carlton Davis to Detroit this offseason, so they could go cornerback. Graham Barton could make sense for them as well.

Round 1, pick 25: Packers select OT Jordan Morgan

Morgan played left tackle for Arizona and may get the opportunity to do the same in the NFL. Several teams projected him as an interior player at the next level but speculation is that Green Bay will give him a shot at left tackle.

25. Green Bay Packers (9-8)

Team needs: OT, IOL, CB, S, DL, LB, QB
Players acquired: S Xavier McKinney, RB Josh Jacobs, CB Keisean Nixon
Players lost: S Darnell Savage, OG Jon Runyan, OT Yosh Nijman, RB Aaron Jones, S Jonathan Owens

Could Green Bay try to find a replacement for left tackle David Bahktiari or will it be a defender for the 13th time in 14 years? Jer'Zhan Newton and Cooper DeJean could be a few options.

Round 1, pick 24: Lions select CB Terrion Arnold

Detroit was pegged as a cornerback-needy team but few expected them to have an opportunity to select Arnold. He joins his former teammate, Brian Branch, in the Motor City.

24. Detroit Lions

Team needs: IOL, CB, WR, EDGE, DL, S, LB, TE
Players acquired: DT D.J. Reader, CB Carlton Davis, CB Amik Robertson, EDGE Marcus Davenport, OG Kevin Zeitler
Players lost: OG Jonah Jackson, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry or Cooper DeJean about to come off the board?

The home team is moving up!

24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

Team needs: OT, IOL, RB, CB, LB, WR, S
Players acquired: LB Eric Kendricks
Players lost: EDGE Dorance Armstrong, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Tony Pollard, OT Tyron Smith, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.

Is this a landing spot for Graham Barton or Tyler Guyton? Dallas needs offensive line help.

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Round 1, 23: Jaguars select Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas was believed to be on Jacksonville's short list at No. 17 overall but they were able to trade back and pick up additional draft assets. Thomas is a solid start to replacing Calvin Ridley, who signed with Tennessee this offseason.

Round 1, pick 22: Eagles select CB Quinyon Mitchell

The play of cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry last season was disappointing. Philadelphia did not want to go into another season without addressing the position.

Round 1, pick 21: Dolphins select EDGE Chop Robinson

Robinson is the fourth edge rusher to come off the board. Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb are both coming off season-ending injuries.

21. Miami Dolphins

Team needs: IOL, DL, TE, WR, IOL, EDGE, CB, OT
Players acquired: CB Kendall Fuller, LB Jordyn Brooks, C Aaron Brewer, TE Jonnu Smith, EDGE Shaquil Barrett, S Jordan Poyer
Players lost: DT Christian Wilkins, OG Robert Hunt, EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, S Brandon Jones, DT Raekwon Davis, LB Jerome Baker, S Deshon Elliott, WR Cedrick Wilson

Round 1, pick 20: Steelers select OL Troy Fautanu

Troy Fautanu played left tackle for Washington but many teams projected him inside at the next level. It will be interesting to hear how the franchise identifies him during the post-draft night press conference. Will he be a left tackle or an interior offensive lineman?

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

Team needs: WR, OT, IOL, CB, S, LB, DL
Players acquired: LB Patrick Queen, CB Donte Jackson, P Cameron Johnston, RB Cordarrelle Patterson, S Deshon Elliott, QB Justin Fields, QB Russell Wilson
Players lost: QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Diontae Johnson, OT Chuks Okorafor, QB Kenny Pickett

More offensive line or wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. about to come off the board?

Round 1, pick 19: Rams select EDGE Jared Verse

Los Angeles makes its first first-round pick since 2016. The Rams found great value in last year's draft with the likes of Kobie Turner and Byron Young, but they add a premier player opposite Young.

19. Los Angeles Rams

Team needs: DL, EDGE, CB, OT, RB, S, LB, WR
Players acquired: CB Darious Williams, CB Tre'Davious White, TE Colby Parkinson, S Kamren Curl, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, OG Jonah Jackson
Players lost: S Jordan Fuller, C Coleman Shelton

Round 1, pick 18: Bengals select OT Amarius Mims

Cincinnati signed Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency last year and then signed Trent Brown this year. Mims is the future on the Bengals offensive line. He played right tackle at Georgia.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

Team needs: TE, DL, IOL, EDGE, CB, WR, OT
Players acquired: DT Sheldon Rankins, S Geno Stone, S Vonn Bell, RB Zack Moss, OT Trent Brown, TE Mike Gesicki
Players lost: CB Chidobe Awuzie, OT Jonah Williams, DT D.J. Reader, RB Joe Mixon

Cincinnati could go in a number of directions with needs at defensive tackle and cornerback. Wide receiver Tee Higgins and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson have requested trades. Could the organization take a player to replace one of those two?

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Round 1, pick 17: Vikings select EDGE Dallas Turner

After taking Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall, Minnesota moves back up from No. 23 overall to select a replacement for Danielle Hunter.

Vikings move up for the second time

17. Minnesota Vikings (via trade with Jaguars)

Team needs: QB, DL, IOL, WR, EDGE, CB, DL
Players acquired: EDGE Jonathan Greenard, LB Blake Cashman, EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, QB Sam Darnold, RB Aaron Jones, CB Shaq Griffin
Players lost: WR K.J. Osborn, QB Kirk Cousins, EDGE Danielle Hunter, EDGE D.J. Wonnum, LB Jordan Hicks, EDGE Marcus Davenport

Round 1, pick No. 16 overall: Seahawks select DT Byron Murphy II

Seattle has thrown a lot of resources at the interior defensive line signing Dre'Mont Jones a year ago in free agency then trading for Leonard Williams. The investment continues with the selection of Murphy.

16. Seattle Seahawks

Team needs: IOL, LB, S, EDGE, DL, TE, IOL
Players acquired: S Rayshawn Jenkins, OT George Fant, LB Jerome Baker, QB Sam Howell
Players lost: OG Damien Lewis, LB Jordyn Brooks, TE Colby Parkinson, TE Will Dissly, RB DeeJay Dallas, LB Bobby Wagner, QB Drew Lock

Byron Murphy II is still available but, could the franchise take interior offensive lineman Troy Fautanu? Fautanu played for Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff at Washington.

Round 1, pick 15: Colts pick EDGE Laiatu Latu

Latu is the first defensive player off the board. At one time, Latu had medically retired from football. He made his return and parlayed it into a first-round selection.

Prisco's grade: B-

"I think there were other options for them in this spot and better edge rushers in my mind. But Latu has good pass-rush skills, although there are some medical concerns. They do need edge-rush help."

2024 NFL Draft: Laiatu Latu makes history by becoming the latest a defensive player has ever been taken

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15. Indianapolis Colts

Team needs: CB, EDGE, S, WR, LB, CB, TE
Players acquired: DT Raekwon Davis, QB Joe Flacco
Players lost: QB Gardner Minshew, RB Zack Moss

Indianapolis COULD take Brian Thomas Jr., but they also heavily pursued L'Jarius Sneed before he was dealt to the Titans. Could this be the destination for the first defender?

Round 1, pick 14: Saints select OT Taliese Fuaga

New Orleans gets their offensive tackle at No. 14 overall. Fuaga played right tackle for the Beavers. He leans on defenders in the run game.

14. New Orleans Saints

Team needs: OT, DL, WR, CB, IOL, RB, TE, S
Players acquired: EDGE Chase Young, WR Cedrick Wilson, LB Willie Gay Jr.
Players lost: DT Malcolm Roach, QB Jameis Winston

Most expect the Saints to target an offensive tackle with this pick as Ryan Ramczyk is dealing with a knee injury.

Round 1, pick 13: Raiders select Brock Bowers

The first, and likely only, tight end has been taken in the first round. The 2024 NFL Draft has STILL not seen a defensive prospect picked; the latest such occurrence in league history.

Pete Prisco's grade: C

"He's a heck of a player, but didn't they draft Michael Mayer last year and signed Harrison Bryant this year? They have other needs. Don't really like this pick that much.. It's not like he's a good blocker for their run game. Strange pick with other needs."

Raiders NFL Draft grades 2024: Las Vegas takes Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall after 6 QBs go in first 12 picks

Jordan Dajani

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