By Mason Quigley

Every year, the NFL Draft captivates football fans across the country, who wonder about the next stars of the league and who their team will draft. The draft process is a tumultuous one that has people predicting trades and landing spots for the top players. This year, a new lineup of college stars were set to take the stage in Detroit as the NFL draft took place on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. Star quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jaden Daniels, who were all predicted to be top 3 picks, headlined a historically talented draft pool that also featured generational talent all over the field. Before the draft took place, I examined the predictions and possible deals that could be made. After the draft, I evaluated what happened…

The 2024 NFL Draft venue in Detroit, Michigan. Photo credit: CBS Sports.

Before The Draft:

Everybody knew that the Chicago Bears would select quarterback Williams from the University of Southern California to be the future of the franchise in Chicago, so the real draft would begin with the number two overall pick. The Washington Commanders would have their pick of all players, besides Williams, to lead their franchise into the future. Although there was a consensus that the Commanders would be selecting a quarterback, there was great debate in the weeks leading up to the draft, questioning who their selection would be. 2023 Heisman winner and Louisiana State University standout Jaden Daniels seems to be the favorite to head to Washington, but North Carolina star Drake Maye also had a strong chance to be the number two overall pick. 

The most captivating storyline heading into this year’s draft was where the quarterbacks would land, especially Maye and national champion Michigan Wolverine JJ McCarthy. Both players had been rumored to be selected by the New England Patriots, who were selecting third, along with the New York Giants (No. 6 pick) and the Minnesota Vikings (No. 11 pick). New England would likely select one of these signal-callers at no. 3 overall, leaving only one of the top quarterbacks available. It was unlikely that Minnesota would be able to wait for the last star quarterback to fall to their No. 11 spot, where they were selecting. So I was looking for the Vikings to trade up to the number five or eight pick, in order to get their quarterback. This is a situation that Minnesota prepared for by acquiring the Texans’ No. 23 pick back in March to gain ammunition to possibly trade up. 

There were many other talented players in this draft other than the quarterbacks. Ohio State standout Marvin Harrison Jr. has been called one of the best wide receiver prospects to ever enter the draft, along with other star receivers Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze.

This was one of the most anticipated drafts in recent years. This year, I attempted to predict the chaos that would assuredly ensue that night. Here was my mock 2024 NFL Draft.

After The Draft: 

This year’s NFL Draft lived up to the expectations of avid football fans across the world. We saw a record six quarterbacks selected in the first round, tying the 1983 NFL Draft for the most ever. This offense-heavy draft was the story of the night, as 14 picks came and went before a single defensive player was off the board. Here are some of the headlines from the draft: 

To nobody’s surprise the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots all secured their quarterbacks of the future in Williams, Daniels, and Maye, respectively. Following these selections were Marvin Harrison, Jr., to the Cardinals, Joe Alt to the Chargers, and Malik Nabors to the Giants. The first few picks had not seen the trades or drama that many predicted, but this all changed when Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, walked across the stage with the Falcons No. 8 selection. The Falcons stunned the NFL community by selecting Michael Penix, Jr., a senior quarterback from the University of Washington. Many people like Penix’s ability to throw the ball downfield with pinpoint accuracy, and stretch the defense, but most did not predict that he would come off the board this early in the draft. 

Penix’s selection was a surprise to many, mostly because of Kirk Cousins. Cousins, a twelve-year NFL veteran, signed a four-year 180 million dollar contract this offseason to be the Falcons’ quarterback. Many questioned why the Falcons would spend 180 million dollars if they were planning to draft Penix, someone who would be paid much less while on his rookie contract. This will be a story that continues to unfold into this year’s season.

Another questionable move from this year’s draft focused around the defending champion Chiefs and their rival team, the Buffalo Bills. The Bills held the No. 28 pick at the end of the first round in this year’s draft, but when it was their turn to pick, a trade was announced. The Bills had traded their pick to the Chiefs. This came as a shock to many, as most people were surprised to see a trade between rivals, especially since the last time these two traded picks on draft night in 2017, it allowed the Chiefs to take Patrick Mahomes, now a three-time Super Bowl champion and the face of the league. 

This year’s draft did not fall short of expectations, leaving fans eager for the season to begin in September. Now we have to wait to witness what this class of rookies will add to the NFL.