2024 NFL Draft shatters record for offensive players selected at the top
The start of the 2024 NFL Draft was offense, offense, and more offense. Then offense.
The first fourteen picks of the 2024 NFL Draft are in and we’ve already broken a record. No NFL Draft has ever begun with eight straight picks on offense, let alone the top fourteen players.
Quarterbacks went 1-2-3 to start us off, as it went as expected. The next four picks alternated the top wide receiver and offensive tackles, as teams continued to shore up their passing game. The big surprise came at 8 to break the record, with the Atlanta Falcons moving up big to take a quarterback. Another chalk pick at 9 gave way to a trade up at 10 for another quarterback. Another QB went off the board at 12 and the top tight end in the draft was the thirteenth pick. The fourth OT went at pick 14.
- Chicago Bears, QB Caleb Williams
- Washington Commanders, QB Jayden Daniels
- New England Patriots, QB Drake Maye
- Arizona Cardinals, WR Marvin Harrison, Jr.
- Los Angeles Chargers, OT Joe Alt
- New York Giants, WR Malik Nabers
- Tennessee Titans, OT JC Latham
- Atlanta Falcons, QB Michael Penix Jr.
- Chicago Bears, WR Rome Odunze
- Minnesota Vikings, QB J.J. McCarthy
- New York Jets, OT Olu Fashanu
- Denver Broncos, QB Bo Nix
- Las Vegas Raiders, TE Brock Bowers
- New Orleans Saints, OT Taliese Fuaga
The first defender didn’t come off the board until pick 15, when the Indianapolis Colts went with UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu.
The previous record for the start of the draft was seven straight offensive players. In 2021, cornerback Jaycee Horn broke the streak at pick 8. CB Patrick Surtain II was next, too.
The 1999 NFL Draft also came close, with seven of the first eight picks going to the offensive side of the ball. Champ Bailey went at 7, so the cornerback broke up the run again. In 1983, only one defender was taken in the first nine picks. In 1971, it was one defender in the top nine, too.
It’s a long way from 2022, when the first five picks were on defense.
No draft has ever had 19 offensive players picked in the first round, but in 2024, they shattered the number with 23 first-rounders on offense. With a historic wide receiver class, the run on offense is expected to continue into Day 2.