Record 14 straight offensive players kick off historic 2024 NFL Draft

Quarterbacks, chalk, offensive tackles, trades, wide receivers, surprises, and a tight end were present.

In an unprecedented move, the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday in Detroit started with a 14-pick streak of offensive players. It’s the longest run of selections on one side of the ball at any point in a draft since the inception of the Common Draft era in 1967, according to NFL Research.

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.

A record-setting roller coaster ride was in between.

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.

The historic streak of selections was halted, but it barely terminated the offensive burden in the first round.

A record-breaking 23 out of 32 picks were offensive players, surpassing the previous record of 19, as numerous records were established.

• The first round ties the 1983 record with six QBs.
• Quarterbacks were selected with each of the first three picks for the fourth time.
• The top eight included four QBs for the first time.
• The first instance when five quarterbacks were selected in the top 10.
• The top 12 picks included six quarterbacks for the first time.
• For the first time, all offensive players were among the top 10 picks.
• The first round having eight OTs ties the record set in 2008.
• The first round having seven WRs ties the record set in 2004.

Many autumns will pass before the success of the 2024 first-round class can be determined, but history was already made on Thursday.