2024 NFL draft: Pros and cons for every first-round pick

NFL Nation, ESPNApr 25, 2024, 08:17 PM ET

The 2024 NFL draft began Thursday night in Detroit, with the Chicago Bears ending the suspense by selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall. A record six quarterbacks would be selected in the first 12 picks.

We will be tracking all 257 picks for Rounds 1-7, and you also can check out all the best available draft prospects.

The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on Friday (7 p.m. ET) and concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (noon ET).

ESPN’s team of reporters will submit pros and cons below for each of the 32 players selected in Thursday’s first round:

coverage:
Top prospects at every position
Kiper’s position rankings

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina) — Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Why they picked him: The Bears have been preparing to draft Williams for months. A thorough vetting of the quarterback supported their belief the Heisman Trophy winner will be an upgrade at the position and the right fit for the team’s culture. General manager Ryan Poles was hired to break Chicago’s cycle of quarterback futility and believes the Bears have the pieces in place to develop a franchise QB. Nothing reflects that more than trading Justin Fields to Pittsburgh to clear the runway for Williams as he begins his NFL career.

Williams is the type of quarterback Poles has been searching for since being part of the Kansas City front office that drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017. He can make throws with surgical precision and freelance with a unique ability to escape pressure and keep plays alive. He threw 72 touchdowns to 10 interceptions over his last two seasons and had a career-best 68.6% completion percentage despite his passing yards taking a slight dip during his final college season. After 10 wins the past two seasons combined, Chicago is finally in position to move past the rebuild phase in contention.

Biggest question: What are realistic expectations for Williams’ rookie season? The Bears have never drafted a player with the No. 1 overall pick, let alone a quarterback who carries the weight of a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2010. Chicago’s main objective should be consistent quarterback play, the catalyst behind moving on from Fields, and relying on its QB to be the reason the team wins games. Williams will undoubtedly experience rookie growing pains, but the level of talent surrounding him means the Bears need to have more wins than losses and position themselves to become a playoff team in 2024. — Courtney Cronin

Why they picked him: It is not just because Daniels is more prepared to make an early impact than the others. It is because he can still develop while having a skill set — the ability to outrun defenders and make them miss — that the other quarterbacks do not possess at the same level. Commanders coach Dan Quinn said before the draft he likes how quickly Daniels gets through his progressions in the pocket and can adjust to coverage changes after the snap. Daniels also was the most accurate passer in the NCAA last season on throws of 20 air yards or more, completing 66.7% with 22 touchdowns. And then there are his legs: Daniels ran for 1,134 yards last season and was second among quarterbacks with 20 gains of 20 or more yards. He is a dynamic threat.

Biggest question: Durability. Daniels has a narrow frame and weighed 210 pounds at his pro day. He also had a penchant for taking big hits in college — he once hurdled the middle of the line on a scramble against Florida State and was drilled backwards to the ground. He will have to learn when he must give up on a run and slide, or when he needs to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid a sack. Washington fans saw what happened to a potential long-term answer at QB when another dual-threat quarterback — Robert Griffin III — was injured. They do not want a repeat. — John Keim

Why they picked him: Identifying a potential quarterback of the future was the team’s top priority, and as head coach Jerod Mayo said of Maye: “There’s really no ceiling.” Mayo also cited his leadership ability and a “fantastic interview” at the NFL combine. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Maye has the size and powerful arm to contend with inclement Northeast weather conditions late in the season. Veteran QB Jacoby Brissett will not only compete with him but also serve as a mentor.

Biggest question: How much time will the 21-year-old Maye need before he’s ready to play? He started 26 games in his college career, which is a notable contrast to fellow high draft pick Daniels (55). — Mike Reiss

4. Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Why they picked him: Harrison is the offensive playmaker the Cardinals want and need. He’ll give quarterback Kyler Murray the tools to take Arizona’s offense to the next level and possibly the playoffs. Harrison is as prepared for the NFL as any prospect in recent memory and has the skill set — and pedigree — to make an instant impact as Arizona’s WR1.

Biggest question: As with any rookie, the biggest question surrounding Harrison will be how he adapts to the NFL. He’s been preparing for the jump to the professional level essentially his entire life under the tutelage of his father, Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., but how he adjusts to actually doing it — facing myriad defensive schemes, faster and bigger cornerbacks and the overall speed of the game — will be something to watch. — Josh Weinfuss

Why they picked him: Since Jim Harbaugh took the job of Chargers head coach in February, the staff has preached the importance of having a rushing offense to “outphysical” teams. Alt will presumably start at right tackle opposite Chargers’ Pro Bowl tackle Rashawn Slater, giving the team a pairing that could become one of the league’s best. Last season, the Chargers’ middling offensive line played a large role in their struggles. The Chargers’ rushing offense averaged 96.6 yards per game last season, 24th in the NFL.

Biggest question: What will happen with Trey Pipkins III? Pipkins has been the Chargers’ starting right tackle for the past two seasons, where his play has fluctuated from middling to good. The Chargers’ selection of Alt proves that the team believed they needed an upgrade despite Pipkins signing a three-year, $21.75 million contract last offseason. A trade would save the Chargers $10.5 million over the next two seasons. — Kris Rhim

Why they picked him: The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018. Nabers’ explosiveness makes him a prime candidate to get there for many years to come. His run-after-the-catch ability is special, making him an ideal fit for coach Brian Daboll’s offense. “Looks like a running back with the ball in his hands,” a source familiar with Nabers said. This finally gives quarterback Daniel Jones a receiver who will demand significant attention and double teams from defenses.

Biggest question: How will Nabers handle New York? There were some around the league that questioned whether Nabers was a good fit in the Big Apple. But his character wasn’t something teams considered a major concern, despite an arrest on a gun charge that was eventually dropped at LSU. Nabers is especially close with his wide receivers coach at LSU, Cortez Hankton, who reassured teams the WR wouldn’t be a problem. Nabers, multiple sources said, is someone willing to put his head down and work and who cares about winning. — Jordan Raanan

Why they picked him: At 6-foot-6, 342 pounds, Latham is the type of power player the Titans can rely on to anchor their offensive line. Tackle was their biggest need entering the draft. With veteran offensive line coach Bill Callahan in the mix, there’s a good chance Latham flips from right tackle to the left side like the Browns did when they selected Jedrick Willis Jr. in 2020.

Biggest question: Will Latham play left or right tackle? The Titans’ left tackles allowed 29 of their 64 sacks last season. Latham played 1,753 snaps at right tackle over his career at Alabama. — Turron Davenport

8. Atlanta Falcons — Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Why they picked him: Clearly, the Falcons wanted a successor to $180 million signee Kirk Cousins. This was a surprise — the biggest of the draft thus far — since the Falcons’ biggest need was on defense, especially at pass-rusher. But Falcons GM Terry Fontenot is unconventional and said this week the team would take the best player available “for us.” Atlanta must have thought that was Penix, who it visited and spent quite a bit of time with in recent weeks.

Biggest question: His injury history and age (23). Penix separated his left (throwing) shoulder in 2021, tore his right ACL in 2018 and 2020 and dislocated his right (non-throwing) shoulder in 2019. From a pure skill standpoint, the left-hander was one of the best quarterbacks on the board, especially known for his great arm strength on the deep ball. But those durability questions are why Penix was projected to go much lower than No. 8 overall. — Marc Raimondi

9. Chicago Bears — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Why they picked him: Putting Williams in the best possible situation means surrounding him with top-tier talent. The Bears did that last month when they traded for wide receiver Keenan Allen and signed running back D’Andre Swift in free agency. Now, eight picks after making Williams its future, Chicago adds one of the best receivers in the draft and can boast one of the league’s best receiver trios with Allen, Odunze and DJ Moore. In 2023, the Biletnikoff Award finalist led the nation with 21 receptions on passes thrown 20-plus yards down field and was the go-to deep ball threat for Penix, who went one pick earlier. Given that he’s already been catching passes from Williams in the weeks leading up to the draft, Odunze appears to be off to a fast start in building chemistry, which should help him become a vertical threat in this offense.

Biggest question: Will the Bears boast a top-10 offense? It’s not too early to start wondering whether the 27th ranked passing offense from a year ago can become one of the best in 2024. With this much talent in the receiver room coupled with how the Bears plan to use tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, Williams is walking into a situation where he has capable pass catchers at every turn. — Courtney Cronin

10. Minnesota Vikings (from New York Jets) — J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Why they picked him: Let’s go ahead and state the obvious. The Vikings needed a quarterback after bidding farewell to Cousins six weeks ago. They signed veteran Sam Darnold to a one-year deal shortly after, but he’s best thought of as a bridge starter who the Vikings hope will play well enough that they don’t have to rush McCarthy onto the field. The Vikings had hoped to trade up to get Maye, per sources, but could not pry the No. 3 pick away from the Patriots.

Biggest question: McCarthy’s relatively light college career makes it tough to project when he’ll be ready to play. He just turned 21 and averaged only 22.1 attempts per game last season, ranked No. 92 among qualified FBS quarterbacks. The Vikings have Darnold on their roster, but will one year be enough? How long can the No. 10 overall pick in the draft reasonably be expected to stand on the sidelines? — Kevin Seifert

11. New York Jets (from Minnesota) — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, T, Penn State

Why they picked him: Priority No. 1 is keeping Aaron Rodgers on the field. The Jets allowed 64 sacks last season, the first of which resulted in a torn right Achilles for their future Hall of Fame quarterback. They added three new starters in free agency, but tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses (both 33) are Band-Aids. Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015. In Fashanu (6-foot-6, 312), they get a natural left tackle with prototypical size and arm strength. He’s an excellent pass protector (one sack in two years as a starter) who needs some technique work in the run game.

Biggest question: How does Fashanu get on the field? There’s no clear path to immediate playing time, which is unusual for a player drafted this high on a perennial loser — but a team ready to contend, the Jets believe. At Penn State, he played exclusively at left tackle. As a rookie, he’s not going to supplant Smith, a likely Hall of Famer, but he can prepare to take over for Smith in 2025. — Rich Cimini

12. Denver Broncos — Bo Nix, QB, Washington

Why they picked him: With the desperation level to find franchise quarterbacks league-wide at an all-time high, no team is more needy than the Broncos. So much so the Broncos made Nix the sixth quarterback off the board in the first 12 picks of the draft. The Broncos had used 12 different quarterbacks, 13 different players, as starters at the position since Peyton Manning retired following the 2015 season. The Broncos have also missed the playoffs in the eight seasons since their Super Bowl 50 win.

Biggest question: Whether Nix can turn his remarkable efficiency in his two years at Oregon, including 77.4% completion rate this past season, into a more well-rounded, all-parts-of-the-field game. Some teams had charted almost a third of his attempts at or behind the line of scrimmage. He will have to show he can drive the ball to all parts of the field to flourish with the Broncos. His experience — 61 college games at Auburn and Oregon — to go with his mobility and toughness are why the Broncos made the pick. — Jeff Legwold

Why they picked him: A true mystery, unless the Raiders’ new front office of GM Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce simply followed the board and selected the best player available, regardless of position. Remember, the Raiders used a second-round pick on Michael Mayer last year and he was coming into his own before a foot injury landed him on injured reserve as he missed the final three games. Perhaps the Raiders envision a dual threat at tight end going forward.

Biggest question: Offensive tackle and cornerback were much bigger needs and every CB was still on the board, so you have to wonder … Why another tight end? Beyond that, perhaps Mayers’ injury is worse than initially disclosed. Knee-jerk reaction — it’s a confounding pick. — Paul Gutierrez

14. New Orleans Saints — Taliese Fuaga, T, Oregon State

Why they picked him: The Saints needed an offensive tackle more than any other position on the roster. It’s unknown if 2022 first-round tackle Trevor Penning is going to develop into a starter on the left side, and former All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has serious knee issues. Andrus Peat and James Hurst, two players who were able to fill multiple roles on the offensive line, are both gone. Protecting quarterback Derek Carr needs to be a top priority after he left three games with injuries last season.

Biggest question: Does Fuaga start immediately, and if so, what does that mean for Ryan Ramczyk? Fauga earned All-American honors in 2022 and 2023 as right tackle for Oregon State. Ramczyk has been the Saints RT since 2017. Ramczyk’s knee issues have left both his training camp status and his future in question. However, the Saints have lamented rushing Penning into a starting position before he was ready (he was benched as a starter early in the 2023 season), so it will be interesting to sees how they approach Fuaga’s development, especially if Ramczyk is not ready to go at the beginning of the season. — Katherine Terrell