Neil Reynolds' – 10 takeaways from Round 1
The initial round of the NFL Draft has concluded, setting a record in Detroit with an audience of 275,000 fans. They were there to see the top collegiate football players from all over the US having their names announced and dreams fulfilled. Here are 10 key points from this unforgettable opening round.
The pass is king…
In the first round, for only the second time in NFL history (1983), six quarterbacks were chosen, alongside a record-breaking eight offensive tackles, seven wide receivers, a tight end, a center, six edge rushers/defensive linemen, and three cornerbacks. The unifying element among these 32 selections? Each one impacts the passing game, a testament to today’s aerial-focused game style. Even the defensive tackles chosen are those who can pressure the quarterback, as opposed to merely occupying space to prevent runs. This underscores the importance of the passing game in modern football, a fact well-known to the league’s general managers.
Williams in a great spot…
As anticipated, Caleb Williams was the premier selection in the draft, stepping into an ideal situation for a rookie quarterback. He is now a part of the Bears, who have completely revamped their offense in the span of two offseasons. On draft night, comparisons were drawn between Williams and football greats, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. The Bears’ formidable lineup now 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. The prospect of this new Chicago offense is thrilling – a sentiment I haven’t expressed in a considerable period!
Too good to resist…
Talks of trades at the second, third, fourth, and fifth spots were heard, but they never came into fruition. Jayden Daniels has become the new quarterback for the Washington Commanders. According to NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, they have transitioned from being “unwatchable on offense to must-see TV.” New England has chosen Drake Maye, hoping that he will serve as their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Arizona equipped Kyler Murray with a powerful tool in the form of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Los Angeles Chargers surprised everyone at the fifth spot by selecting Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt instead of a much-needed wide receiver. In all these instances, the teams decided to prioritize “dudes over depth,” a brilliant phrase coined by Jeremiah in the first round.
Falcons shock the NFL…
The most surprising moment of the night came at the eighth pick when the Atlanta Falcons chose Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Despite his impressive skills and arm strength, which have drawn comparisons to Justin Herbert, this decision might have put the Falcons in a tricky situation. They had recently signed Kirk Cousins with a $180 million contract in March, with $100 million guaranteed. How will Cousins react to this development? It seems unlikely that the Falcons hadn’t considered their quarterback strategy when they lured Cousins to Atlanta. It’s also worth noting that this decision could make sense in the long run, considering Cousins is 36 and recovering from a torn Achilles. However, how long are the Falcons willing to wait and how patient can they be? By the time the new season begins, Penix will be 24. If Cousins remains the team’s quarterback for two or three years, Penix could be 26 or 27 before he gets a chance to play in the NFL. And if Penix plays earlier, did the Falcons waste a substantial amount of money on Cousins? Penix’s talent is evident in his film, but the Falcons will have to handle this situation carefully. The payoff could be massive, but so could the risk of failure.
Vikings hold their nerve…
Much pre-draft discussion was centered around the Minnesota Vikings potentially sacrificing one of their first-round picks for a quarterback. However, the Vikings stood their ground and only advanced one place, trading with the New York Jets to move from the 11th to the 10th spot. This only required a fourth and fifth-round pick. The new quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, now has an exciting opportunity to collaborate with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. Minnesota made another astute trade at the 17th pick, surrendering only a fifth-round pick this year and third and fourth-round picks to Jacksonville in 2025. This enabled them to acquire edge rusher Dallas Turner. Therefore, the Vikings did trade up twice, but they managed to utilize both of the first-round picks they had initially. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah deserves credit for this smart maneuvering.
Did Denver reach for Bo Nix?
Once Minnesota secured their quarterback, the remaining potential first-round pick, Oregon’s Bo Nix, was set to land either with the Denver Broncos or the Las Vegas Raiders. Luckily for the Broncos, their draft pick was one spot ahead of the Raiders, who had no intention of trading up for Nix. Many regarded Nix as a second-round talent or a late first at best. He was picked at number 12. The Broncos, however, had limited options. Their quarterback roster before the draft included Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham, and Ben DiNucci, but they lacked a second-round pick. Nix may have been drafted higher than expected, but he could be a solid fit. With 61 college starts under his belt, he’s highly experienced and known to be a superior ball distributor compared to Tua Tagovailoa. Could he be Denver’s answer to Drew Brees in Sean Payton’s offense? That’s certainly the plan in Denver.
Colts take first defender…
An unprecedented streak of 14 consecutive offensive players was finally broken when the Indianapolis Colts picked the first defender, UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu. Latu’s journey is certainly an intriguing one. After a neck injury at Washington, he was compelled to retire medically from football. Despite contemplating a career in firefighting, he couldn’t let go of his dream and had to switch schools to continue playing. Latu is a player everyone will be cheering for, and I believe he will grab our attention in 2024. He was the most skilled pass rusher in this class, blending technique and determination with a variety of moves. Comparisons have been drawn between Latu and T.J. Watt, and I have a hunch that the Colts made a great choice with the first defender chosen.
Necessary wide receiver picks…
In the second half of the first round, several receiver picks were thoroughly logical to me. The dynamic and efficient Brian Thomas is set to replace Calvin Ridley in Jacksonville, joining forces with Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk as receivers and Evan Engram as a tight end. The Kansas City Chiefs, after a season of disappointments from their receivers, were compelled to select a wide receiver at number 28, following a trade up with Buffalo. This need became even more pressing when Rashee Rice found himself in off-field trouble. I’m intrigued to see how Andy Reid might utilize Xavier Worthy, a strikingly swift player from Texas. His record time of 4.21 seconds for a 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine is noteworthy. Could he be Patrick 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, a need that persisted throughout the round. Despite having Josh Allen, one of the top quarterbacks in the game, the Bills were lacking offensive weapons due to the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason. Although it’s unclear what strategy General Manager Brandon Beane is employing, Buffalo moved down from 28 to 32 and then out of the first round completely to 33 – the first pick of the second day. During this shuffle, three wide receivers were drafted: Worthy to Kansas City at 28, Ricky Pearsall to San Francisco at 31, and Xavier Legette to Carolina at 32. This brings up speculation about Brandon Aiyuk potentially leaving San Francisco through a trade. If this is the case, the Bills should quickly reach out to California!
Take a bow, Detroit!
For years, Detroit fans have endured hardship, but it seems the tide is turning. The fervor of the Lions’ fan base was unmistakable during last season’s playoff games at Ford Field. Thursday night served as another reminder of this passion, with nearly 300,000 fans gathering to watch the announcement of the 32 draft picks. It’s truly remarkable. As the NFL Draft continues over the weekend, the ardent football enthusiasts of Detroit will show up in droves. By the end of this weekend, I suspect we’ll be discussing record-setting crowd numbers for an NFL Draft.
