Neil Reynolds' – 10 takeaways from Round 1
The initial round of the NFL Draft has concluded, setting a new record in Detroit as 275,000 fans gathered to see the top college football players from across the US as their names were announced and their dreams came true. Here are 10 insights from this unforgettable first round.
The pass is king…
In the initial round of the NFL draft, six quarterbacks were chosen, emulating only the second occurrence in the league’s history (1983). Additionally, a record number of eight offensive tackles and seven wide receivers were selected. Other positions included a tight end, a center, six edge rushers/defensive linemen, and three cornerbacks. One commonality among all 32 chosen players is their impact on the passing game, indicative of the league’s current focus on aerial strategies. Even defensive tackles selected are not just space-fillers who stop the run, but those capable of pursuing the quarterback. This represents the rising dominance of the passing game, a fact well-known to general managers across the league.
Williams in a great spot…
As anticipated, Caleb Williams was the number one pick and is stepping into an ideal scenario for a rookie quarterback. The Bears have completely revamped their offense in just two offseasons with Williams, who was likened to Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers on draft night, leading a team that includes wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, ninth pick Rome Odunze, tight end Cole Kmet, and running backs D’Andre Swift and Khalil Herbert. It’s been a while since I’ve expressed excitement about the Chicago offense, but I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing them in action!
Too good to resist…
Trade rumors swirled around the second, third, fourth, and fifth spots, but no deals were finalized. Jayden Daniels has been announced as the new quarterback for the Washington Commanders, who have transformed from an offensive “unwatchable” team to “must-see TV,” according to Daniel Jeremiah, an NFL Network analyst. The New England Patriots selected Drake Maye, hoping he’ll serve as their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future, while the Arizona Cardinals provided Kyler Murray with a strong ally in wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Los Angeles Chargers, rather than selecting a much-needed wide receiver, chose Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt at fifth. In all these instances, the teams prioritized exceptional talent over team depth – a concept aptly phrased as “dudes over depth” by Jeremiah during the first round.
Falcons shock the NFL…
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the Atlanta Falcons’ eighth pick, where they chose Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. His impressive skills and arm strength have drawn parallels to Justin Herbert, but this move by Atlanta might have complicated things. Earlier in March, they signed Kirk Cousins to a monumental $180 million contract, with a guaranteed $100 million. How will Cousins react to this development?
It’s hard to believe that the Falcons didn’t consider their quarterback strategy when they lured Cousins to their team, they couldn’t have decided on Penix just last night. One interesting point is that this might be a long-term decision, considering Cousins is 36 and recovering from an Achilles tear. But how long-term are the Falcons willing to go, and how much patience will they exhibit?
Penix will be 24 by the time the new season starts, which means he might be 26 or 27 before he gets to play on an NFL field if Cousins remains the team’s primary for two or three years. And if Penix gets to play sooner, wouldn’t that mean a significant portion of Cousins’ contract was wasted? Penix’s film shows undeniable talent, but the Falcons have indeed created a tricky situation that requires careful management. The rewards could be immense, but so could the risks.
Vikings hold their nerve…
Much of the pre-draft discussion centered around the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings sacrificing one of their first-round picks for a quarterback. However, the Vikings stood firm and only advanced one position, trading with the New York Jets to move from 11th to 10th place. The trade merely cost them a fourth and fifth-round pick. Now, they welcome J.J. McCarthy as their new quarterback, offering him an exciting opportunity to collaborate with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings made another shrewd move at 17th, surrendering only a fifth-round pick this year and third and fourth-round picks to Jacksonville in 2025. This allowed them to select edge rusher Dallas Turner. Thus, Minnesota traded up not just once but twice, yet managed to utilize both of the first-round picks they had obtained. This is a commendable effort on the part of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Did Denver reach for Bo Nix?
Once Minnesota secured their quarterback, the last potential first-round quarterback – Oregon’s Bo Nix – was expected to end up with either the Denver Broncos or the Las Vegas Raiders. Thankfully for the Broncos, they had a higher draft pick than the Silver and Black, who didn’t express any interest in trading up for Nix. Many people believed Nix was more of a second-round player or possibly a late first at best. Nix was drafted at number 12, leaving the Broncos with little choice. Before the draft, their quarterback lineup included Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham, and Ben DiNucci, and they didn’t have a second-round pick. Despite being over-drafted, Nix could be a good fit. With 61 college starts, he has significant experience and is known for his ball distribution skills, even when compared to Tua Tagovailoa. Could he be the next Drew Brees in Sean Payton’s offense? That’s definitely the plan in Denver.
Colts take first defender…
The historic streak of 14 consecutive offensive players was broken when the Indianapolis Colts chose UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu as their first defensive player. Latu’s journey is an inspiring one. He was compelled to retire from football due to a neck injury while he was at Washington. Even though he pondered becoming a firefighter, he remained dedicated to his dream of playing football and switched schools to continue. Latu is a player that everyone will want to support, and I believe he will grab our attention in 2024. He was the top pure pass rusher in this class, combining technique, tenacity, and a variety of moves. Comparisons have been drawn between Latu and T.J. Watt, leading me to believe that the Colts have made an excellent choice with their first defensive pick.
Necessary wide receiver picks…
In the second half of the first round, some receiver selections seemed incredibly logical to me. Brian Thomas, with his explosive productivity, seems an ideal replacement for Calvin Ridley in Jacksonville. He should pair well with Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk as receivers, and Evan Engram as tight end. After a season where his receivers consistently disappointed Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs had no choice but to draft a wide receiver at number 28, following a trade-up with Buffalo. This need became even more urgent after Rashee Rice’s off-field issues. I’m particularly keen to see how Andy Reid will utilize Texas’ Xavier Worthy, who demonstrated his exceptional speed with a record-breaking 4.21 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Could he be Mahomes’ new Tyreek Hill?
What were the Buffalo Bills thinking?
The Buffalo Bills entered the first round of the draft with a clear need for a wide receiver. This need was not filled after the first round, nor after the second. With one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Josh Allen, the Bills are in dire need of offensive weapons following the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason. It’s hard to discern the plan of General Manager Brandon Beane at this time. The Bills made several trades, moving from 28 to 32 and then completely out of the first round to the 33rd pick – the first of day two. During this time, three promising wide receivers were picked: Worthy to Kansas City at 28, Pearsall to San Francisco at 31, and Legette to Carolina at 32. Does Pearsall’s move indicate that Brandon Aiyuk might be leaving San Francisco through a trade? If so, the Bills should be making a quick call to California!
Take a bow, Detroit!
Detroit fans have endured years of suffering, but now, good times are rolling. The passion of the Lions fan base was particularly evident in last season’s playoff games at Ford Field and was reaffirmed on Thursday night. It’s astounding to think that nearly 300,000 fans gathered in one location just to watch someone announce 32 names on stage. The fervent football enthusiasts of Detroit will continue to show their support in large numbers for the next two days. By the end of this weekend, I anticipate we’ll be discussing record-breaking crowd numbers for an NFL Draft.
