What is the NFL Draft?
The 2024 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 25 to 27 around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan. The draft will feature a comprehensive selection process where teams will strategically choose from a pool of talented prospects to strengthen their rosters.
With the draft order determined and teams assessing their needs, anticipation is high as franchises gear up to make critical decisions that could shape their success in the upcoming 2024 season.
Which city will host the NFL Draft 2024?
The NFL Draft 2024 is set to unfold in the vibrant and bustling city of Detroit, Michigan. Known for its rich automotive history and as the birthplace of Motown music, Detroit offers a unique backdrop for this highly anticipated event. The city, often referred to as the "Motor City," is steeped in cultural and industrial significance, making it an exciting destination for football fans and visitors alike.
History of the NFL Draft
The inception of the NFL Draft can be traced back to 1936, a time when the process of acquiring new players was far from structured. Prior to the draft, NFL teams would vie for the best players, often leading to bidding wars that only wealthier teams could win. The concept of a draft was proposed by Bert Bell, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, as a way to level the playing field. Bell suggested a system where the worst teams would have the first pick of the top college talent, giving them a better chance to improve.
The first NFL Draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia on February 8, 1936. Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, had the honor of being the first-ever draft pick. Although the draft was a modest affair, it laid the groundwork for what would become an integral part of the NFL's structure, ensuring competitive balance and giving every team a fair shot at acquiring top talent.
Iconic Moments
- 1983 NFL Draft: Often referred to as the "Quarterback Class of 1983," this draft saw six quarterbacks taken in the first round, including future Hall of Famers John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino. The drama surrounding Elway's refusal to play for the Baltimore Colts and his subsequent trade to the Denver Broncos added to the draft's lore.
- 1998 NFL Draft: The debate over who should be the first pick, Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf, dominated headlines. The Indianapolis Colts ultimately chose Manning, who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, while Leaf's career quickly fizzled, making this one of the most notable draft decisions in history.
- 2014 NFL Draft: Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL when the St. Louis Rams selected him in the seventh round. The moment was iconic not just for Sam's personal journey but for the NFL's progress toward inclusivity.
NFL Draft Trades
- Ravens traded a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Browns for No. 229 pick, selecting USC guard Andrew Voorhees.
- Patriots traded No. 14 pick to the Steelers for No. 17 and No. 120 picks. Steelers drafted Broderick Jones at No. 14; Patriots picked Christian Gonzalez at No. 17.
- Giants traded No. 25 and No. 160 picks to the Jaguars for No. 24 pick, selecting Deonte Banks. Jaguars picked Antonio Johnson at No. 160.
- Bills traded No. 27 and No. 130 picks to the Jaguars for No. 25 pick, selecting Dalton Kincaid. Jaguars picked Anton Harrison at No. 27 and Tyler Lacy at No. 130.
- Colts traded No. 141 pick to the Vikings for No. 158 and No. 211 picks. Vikings picked Jaquelin Roy at No. 141; Colts selected Daniel Scott at No. 158 and Titus Leo at No. 211.
- Rams traded No. 167 pick to the Texans for No. 174 and No. 259 picks. Texans picked Henry To’oTo’o at No. 167; Rams selected Warren McClendon at No. 174 and Desjuan Johnson at No. 259
NFL Draft Picks
First Round Picks:Pick 1: Chicago Bears
Pick 2: Washington Commanders
Pick 3: New England Patriots
Pick 4: Atlanta Falcons
Pick 5: Los Angeles Chargers
Pick 6: New York Giants
Pick 7: Tennessee Titans
Pick 8: Arizona Cardinals
Pick 9: Chicago Bears
Pick 10: Las Vegas Raiders
Pick 11: Minnesota Vikings
Pick 12: Cincinnati Bengals
Pick 13: New York Jets
Pick 14: New Orleans Saints
Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts
Pick 16: Seattle Seahawks
Pick 17: Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick 18: Denver Broncos
Pick 19: Los Angeles Rams
Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick 21: Miami Dolphins
Pick 22: Philadelphia Eagles
Pick 23: Houston Texans
Pick 24: Dallas Cowboys
Pick 25: Green Bay Packers
Pick 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick 27: Arizona Cardinals
Pick 28: Buffalo Bills
Pick 29: Detroit Lions
Pick 30: Battimore Ravens
Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers
Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs
Second Round Picks:Pick 33: Minnesota Vikings
Pick 34: New England Patriots
Pick 35: Arizona Cardinals
Pick 36: Washington Commanders
Pick 37: Los Angeles Chargers
Pick 38: Tennessee Titans
Pick 39: New York Giants
Pick 40: Washington Commanders
Pick 41: Green Bay Packers
Pick 42: Carolina Panthers
Pick 43: Atlanta Falcons
Pick 44: Las Vegas Raiders
Pick 45: New Orleans Saints
Pick 46: Indianapolis Colts
Pick 47: New York Giants
Pick 48: Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick 49: Cincinnati Bengals
Pick 50: Seattle Seahawks
Pick 51: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick 52: Los Angeles Rams
Pick 53: Philadelphia Eagles
Pick 54: Cleveland Browns
Pick 55: Miami Dolphins
Pick 56: Dallas Cowboys
Pick 57: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick 58: Green Bay Packers
Pick 59: Houston Texans
Pick 60: Buffalo Bills
Pick 61: Detroit Lions
Pick 62: Baltimore Ravens
Pick 63: San Francisco 49ers
Pick 64: Kansas City Chiefs
NFL Draft Order
Pick 1: Chicago Bears (from Panthers)Pick 2: Washington CommandersPick 3: New England PatriotsPick 4: Arizona CardinalsPick 5: Los Angeles ChargersPick 6: New York GiantsPick 7: Tennessee TitansPick 8: Atlanta FalconsPick 9: Chicago BearsPick 10: New York JetsPick 11: Minnesota VikingsPick 12: Denver BroncosPick 13: Las Vegas RaidersPick 14: New Orleans SaintsPick 15: Indianapolis ColtsPick 16: Seattle SeahawksPick 17: Jacksonville JaguarsPick 18: Cincinnati BengalsPick 19: Los Angeles RamsPick 20: Pittsburgh SteelersPick 21: Miami DolphinsPick 22: Philadelphia EaglesPick 23: Houston Texans (from Browns)Pick 24: Dallas CowboysPick 25: Green Bay PackersPick 26: Tampa Bay BuccaneersPick 27: Arizona Cardinals (From Texans)Pick 28: Buffalo BillsPick 29: Detroit LionsPick 30: Baltimore RavensPick 31: San Francisco 49ersPick 32: Kansas City Chiefs
NFL Draft Projections
- The Atlanta Falcons are projected to send their No. 8 pick, No. 43 pick, and a 2025 first-round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the No. 7 pick
- There is speculation that the New England Patriots might trade a third-round pick (No. 68) to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Justin Fields
- The Los Angeles Chargers are projected to select Taliese Fuaga, an offensive tackle from Oregon State, with a pick acquired from the Chicago Bears
- The Philadelphia Eagles are rumored to be exploring a trade scenario where they would package their No. 15 pick and a future draft pick to move up in the first round and target a top defensive prospect.
- The New York Jets are reportedly in discussions with multiple teams to trade down from their No. 4 pick in exchange for additional draft capital to address multiple positions of need.
- The Miami Dolphins are considering trading back into the first round by leveraging their existing draft assets to secure a playmaker on offense to support their young quarterback.
NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
- Caleb Williams, USC
- Malik Nabers, LSU
- Drake Maye, North Carolina
- Jayden Daniels, LSU
- Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
- Terrion Arnold, Alabama
- Joe Alt, Notre Dame
- Dallas Turner, Alabama
- Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
- Laiatu Latu, UCLA
- Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
- Byron Murphy II, Texas
- Brock Bowers, Georgia
- Rome Odunze, Washington
- Jared Verse, Florida State
- JC Latham, Alabama
- Amarius Mims, Georgia
- J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
- Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Best remaining players
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, WR
- Caleb Williams, USC, QB
- Jayden Daniels, LSU, QB
- Malik Nabers, LSU, WR
- Joe Alt, Notre Dame, OT
- Drake Maye, North Carolina, QB
- Dallas Turner, Alabama, OLB
- Troy Fautanu, Washington, OT
- Rome Odunze, Washington, WR
- Brock Bowers, Georgia, TE
- Jared Verse, Florida State, DE
- Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, CB
- Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, OT
- Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, OT
- Laiatu Latu, UCLA, OLB
- Terrion Arnold, Alabama, CB
- JC Latham, Alabama, OT
- J.J. McCarthy, Michigan, QB
- Amarius Mims, Georgia, OT
- Adonai Mitchell, Texas, WR
- Brian Thomas Jr., LSU, WR
- Nate Wiggins, Clemson, CB
- Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois, DT
- Byron Murphy II, Texas, DT
- Darius Robinson, Missouri, DE