3 weeks ago
1 of 5 | Former USC backmost Caleb Williams speaks to reporters aft he was selected No. 1 wide by nan Chicago Bears successful nan 2024 NFL Draft connected Thursday successful Detroit. Photo by Rena Laverty/UPI | License Photo
DETROIT, April 25 (UPI) -- A backmost trio of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye started nan 2024 NFL Draft and led to a historically offensive-heavy group of first-round picks Thursday successful Detroit.
"I'm really excited," Williams, who was picked by nan Chicago Bears astatine No. 1 overall, told reporters. "I'm really excited to beryllium connected this team."
About 275,000 fans, a grounds crowd for an opening nighttime of a draft, attended nan arena adjacent Campus Maritus Park.
They watched a grounds 23 violative players beryllium selected successful nan first round. The draught besides group a grounds for nan astir consecutive violative players picked -- pinch each 14 of nan first selections playing connected that broadside of nan ball.
A full of six quarterbacks were selected, tying nan grounds from 1983. The 7 wide receivers picked besides tied a grounds from 2004. NFL teams completed 5 abstracted trades successful nan first round.
Williams besides group a grounds earlier moreover playing a threat successful nan NFL, becoming nan sixth erstwhile USC Trojans subordinate picked No. 1 wide successful nan NFL Draft. No different schoolhouse has had arsenic galore players picked first.
Daniels, who starred astatine LSU, joined nan Washington Commanders astatine No. 2 overall. The New England Patriots followed by selecting Maye retired of North Carolina.
USC entered nan nighttime tied pinch Georgia, Oklahoma and Notre Dame for nan astir players (five) picked first successful nan NFL Draft. Williams joined Carson Palmer, Keyshawn Johnson, Rickey Bell, O.J. Simpson and Ron Yary arsenic nan different erstwhile Trojans to gain nan honor.
Chris Contreras of California wears a Minnesota Vikings stormtrooper outfit successful nan beforehand statement astatine nan 2024 NFL Draft connected Thursday successful Detroit. Photo by Rena Laverty/UPI
Williams, nan 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, totaled 93 touchdown passes and conscionable 14 interceptions done 37 collegiate appearances for nan Trojans. He will now participate an discourtesy that features 2 seasoned walk catchers successful wide receivers Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore.
"We've sewage a beautiful bully team," Williams said of nan Bears. "We conscionable gotta spell successful and gotta work. We've gotta strive for greatness."
The Arizona Cardinals picked nan first non-quarterback, selecting erstwhile Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. astatine No. 4 overall. The Los Angeles Chargers picked erstwhile Notre Dame violative tackle Joe Alt astatine No. 5 overall.
Half of nan first twelve picks were quarterbacks, including Williams, Daniels, Maye, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons), Michigan's J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings) and Oregon's Bo Nix (Denver Broncos).
The Indianapolis Colts collapsed up nan tally of violative selections erstwhile they picked erstwhile UCLA walk rusher Laiatu Latu astatine No. 15 overall.
Draft sum will proceed to aerial connected ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NFL Network. Second- and third-round selections will beryllium made Friday successful Detroit. Round 4 done 7 will beryllium held Saturday.
2024 NFL Draft
1. Chicago Bears
QB Caleb Williams, USC
2. Washington Commanders
QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
3. New England Patriots
QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
4. Arizona Cardinals
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
5. Los Angeles Chargers
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
6. New York Giants
WR Malik Nabers
7. Tennessee Titans
OT J.C. Latham, Alabama
8. Atlanta Falcons
QB Michael Penix, Washington
9. Chicago Bears
WR Rome Odunze, Washington
10. Minnesota Vikings (traded from New York Jets)
QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
11. New York Jets (traded from Minnesota Vikings)
OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos
QB Bo Nix, Oregon
13. Las Vegas Raiders
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
14. New Orleans Saints
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
15. Indianapolis Colts
Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA
16. Seattle Seahawks
DT Byron Murphy, Texas
17. Minnesota Vikings (traded from Jacksonville Jaguars)
Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
18. Cincinnati Bengals
OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
19. Los Angeles Rams
Edge Jared Verse, Florida State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
21. Miami Dolphins
Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
22. Philadelphia Eagles
CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (traded from Minnesota Vikings)
WR Brian Thomas, LSU
24. Detroit Lions (traded from Dallas Cowboys)
CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
25. Green Bay Packers
OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
IOL Graham Barton, Duke
27. Arizona Cardinals
Edge Darius Robinson, Missouri
28. Kansas City Chiefs (traded from Buffalo Bills)
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
29. Dallas Cowboys (traded from Detroit Lions)
OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
30. Baltimore Ravens
CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
31. San Francisco 49ers
WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida
32. Carolina Panthers (traded from Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs)
WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina
