But the theme of the first round was the run on quarterbacks. An unprecedented six of the first 12 picks were quarterbacks, an NFL Draft record. The first 14 selections were offensive players, also a draft record, with no defensive players being taken until the Indianapolis Colts selected UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu at No. 15.
The Bears and their long-suffering fans hope Williams, the 22-year-old phenom, will finally bring them much-needed stability at the quarterback position, which has been in flux since the days of Jim McMahon in the 1980s.
To make way for Williams, Chicago traded away quarterback Justin Fields last month to the Pittsburgh Steelers after the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft failed to meet the lofty expectations that were set for him. The Bears immediately sought to give Williams a weapon, selecting Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick.
In honor of Detroit hosting the draft, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell trotted out rapper Eminem and Lions legend Barry Sanders to kick off the festivities. More than 275,000 people attended the draft Thursday, according to Goodell, a record for the event.
Former player Barry Sanders shakes hands with rapper Marshall
This year's draft is one of the deepest in years at the quarterback, offensive tackle and wide receiver positions, in part due to the pandemic, which spurred many players to extend their college careers. Nine offensive linemen and seven wide receivers went off the board Thursday. In total, 23 offensive players and only nine defensive players were selected in the first round.
The Arizona Cardinals selected the first receiver with Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. — son of his namesake, legendary Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. — to pair with talented Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
The first major surprise was provided by the Atlanta Falcons, who even though they had signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason, selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. Penix was not expected to go until late in the first round, due in part to injury concerns.
The Minnesota Vikings — Cousins' former home — conducted the first trade of the night, swapping picks with the New York Jets to move up from 11 to 10 to select quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who led Michigan to a national title in January.
The surprises culminated with the Denver Broncos — who also in search for help at quarterback after cutting Russell Wilson — selected seasoned 24-year-old Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at No. 12. Nix started 61 games over his college career, according to CBS Colorado, more than any other NCAA quarterback ever.
Rounds two and three of the draft will be held Friday, and rounds four through seven on Saturday.
NFL Draft order and picks for the first roundNo. 1: Chicago Bears — QB Caleb Williams, USC
Caleb Williams poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Chicago Bears during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 2: Washington Commanders — QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Jayden Daniels celebrates after being selected second overall by the Washington Commanders during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 3: New England Patriots — QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Drake Maye celebrates with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected third overall by the New England Patriots during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 4: Arizona Cardinals — WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected fourth overall by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 5: Los Angeles Chargers — OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Offensive tackle Joe Alt of Notre Dame prepares for the vertical jump during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kara Durrette / Getty Images
LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers arrives to the 2024 NFL Draft at the Fox Theatre on April 25, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images
JC Latham celebrates after being selected seventh overall by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 8: Atlanta Falcons — QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Michael Penix of Washington participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
No. 9: Chicago Bears — WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Rome Odunze poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected ninth overall by the Chicago Bears during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 10: Minnesota Vikings — QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan (via pick swap with the Jets)
J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines speaks to the media during the 2024 NFL Draft Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Michael Hickey / Getty Images
Offensive tackle Olu Fashanu of the Penn State participates in the 40 yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Justin Casterline / Getty Images
No. 12: Denver Broncos — QB Bo Nix, Oregon
Bo Nix of Oregon participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
Brock Bowers, University of Georgia tight end, trains in his hometown on April 24, 2024 in Napa, California. / Credit: Kimberly White/Getty Images for MET-Rx
Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
No. 15: Indianapolis Colts — DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Laiatu Latu poses after being selected 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
Defensive lineman Byron Murphy of Texas looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
No. 17: Minnesota Vikings — DE Dallas Turner, Alabama (via trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars)
Dallas Turner poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 17th overall by the Minnesota Vikings during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
Amarius Mims of Georgia participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Getty Images
Jared Verse of Florida State runs the the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
No. 20: Pittsburgh Steelers — OL Troy Fautanu, Washington
Offensive lineman Troy Fautanu of Washington participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
Defensive end Chop Robinson of Penn State participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Getty Images
Quinyon Mitchell poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Getty Images
No. 23: Jacksonville Jaguars — WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Brian Thomas Jr. arrives to the 2024 NFL Draft at the Fox Theatre on April 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images
Terrion Arnold of the Alabama Crimson Tide arrives to the 2024 NFL Draft at the Fox Theatre on April 25, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. / Credit: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images
Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 2, 2024, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. / Credit: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Graham Barton of the Duke Blue Devils walks off the field in the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Cardinal Stadium on Oct. 28, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky. / Credit: Getty Images
Xavier Worthy of Texas sets the NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash record at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kara Durrette / Getty Images
No. 29: Dallas Cowboys — OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Offensive lineman Tyler Guyton of Oklahoma during the American Team practice for the Reese's Senior Bowl on Jan. 31, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. / Credit: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Nate Wiggins of Clemson runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
Ricky Pearsall #WO23 of Florida participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
Xavier Legette of South Carolina participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. / Credit: Getty Images
Be in your seat for the NFL Draft no later than the second pick going on the clock. After that, it’s going to get wild, with two QBs and several teams in play to shake things up.
Our final 2024 mock draft projects four quarterbacks in the first five picks, but the Cardinals at No. 4 might represent the key pivot point of the entire board.
Numbers from the last 20 years indicate players still on the board after the draft’s third round might be better off going undrafted entirely than getting picked in the late rounds.
In the common draft era, the league has never seen the top three teams trade away their starting quarterbacks after season's end. It's part of a broader evolution in how the NFL scouts and values the position.
Caleb Williams will walk into an ideal situation. Seriously. Meanwhile, Josh Allen's potential No. 1 wideout could flash plenty of upside. And why not all-world tight end Brock Bowers?
Not only are there a ton of great offensive line prospects in this draft, teams can target all kinds of different players at a every position up front.
