NFL draft 2024: Five quarterbacks selected in the top 10 picks – live

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That’s 11 offensive players off the board with the first 11 picks. Denver are up next. And with all the top quarterbacks off the board, we should see the first defensive player taken here.

The Jets select Olu Fashanu, LT, Penn State with the 11th pick.

So the Jets decide to find a protector for Aaron Rodgers rather than trying to find a spark-plug at the skill positions. Will the moaner-in-chief be happy with the decision?

Fashanu is still a raw tackle. He has started only 21 games in his career and turned 21 in December. He’s a big toolsy tackle with arms so long they look CGI’d on. In the run game, he moves like a tight end. In pass protection, he’s too big for pass-rushers to run through and has quick enough feet to shuffle with even the most agile pass-rushers. His technique needs some work. And that stuff takes time, something the Jets are short on.

Profile: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan. If ever there was a place for McCarthy to land, it would be Minnesota. From my pre-draft look at McCarthy:

“No player has been more polarizing this cycle than McCarthy. His advocates see a quarterback of untapped potential, with a big arm, wheels and a fearless streak. His detractors point to McCarthy’s time at Michigan and say, with those skills, he should have produced more.

McCarthy guided Michigan to the national championship with a roster loaded with future NFL talent – by the time the draft concludes, the 2023 Wolverines roster will probably have more players drafted than any team in history. Given the surplus of talent, McCarthy was asked to mind the shop, to play within the offense, to hand the ball off to running backs (a lot) and play smart, mistake-free football. He rarely threw on third down, largely because Michigan were comfortably ahead in games – or they were so overwhelming that they did not need third downs.

For some decision-makers, McCarthy is the platonic ideal of a quarterback prospect: A talented passer with the athletic traits and intangibles that make scouts and GMs purr. He’s a proven winner and leader, who has been drawing up plays since he was five years old. He told fellow recruits looking at joining Michigan that “if they wanted to party and chase girls, go somewhere else”, according to draft analyst Dane Brugler.

It’s telling, however, that leaks from the scouting world reference everything except McCarthy’s ability to complete passes. Call it the Daniel Jones Zone. There are flashes from his college resume, but the quarterback that teams want him to be in the pros is different from the one he was asked to be at Michigan.”

Minnesota is the ideal landing spot, though. No coach is more willing to overhaul the mechanics of their system to fit their QB than Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. McCarthy was pushed into a more traditional system at Michigan, which hampered some of his natural instincts. He has a dynamite arm and an excellent athlete. O’Connell will tap into that side of his game more than Jim Harbaugh did at Michigan. Oh, and throwing to Justin Jefferson isn’t a bad thing for a young quarterback.

The Vikings select JJ quarterback McCarthy with the No 10 pick

Minnesota jumps up one spot to grab their quarterback of the future. That’s five (!) quarterbacks off the board in the first 10 picks.

From Neil Saffer: “With Malik Nabers, have the Giants found the perfect blend?”

They sure have! In a normal world, where Marvin Harrison Jr walking around, Nabers would be the slam-dunk top receiver in the draft. He’s more of a nuanced route-runner than he’s given credit for because his speed leaps off the screen. He wins contested catches. He creates after the catch. And he can dunk on defensive backs down the field. Brian Daboll is one of the best play-callers in the league at springing receivers open through play design. If he’s able to get Nabers out into space untouched, no one can keep up with him.

Trade! The Vikings have sent a fourth and fifth-round pick to the Jets to jump up one spot to No 11.

Profile: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington. How about this for a one-two punch? After picking up Keenan Allen via trade this offseason and stealing DJ Moore last season, the Bears add Rome Odunze to the fold. Odunze is a big-bodied receiver who dominates at the catch-point. He’s one of those outside receivers who widens a quarterback’s margin for error. His most common comparison in the pre-draft process: Keenan Allen. The Bears certainly have a type.

The Chicago Bears select Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze to pair with Caleb Williams at No 9.

Profile: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington. THE shock of the draft. The Falcons grab a quarterback of the future in the same offseason they signed Kirk Cousins to a huge free-agent contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that this is all about ‘succession’ planning, which is strange, because Penix is 24-years-old and will be 26 by the time Cousins’ contract expires. Penix is the best pure pocket passer in this class. He can spin it to anywhere on the field. The knocks on Penix are three-fold: he played in a goofy offense at Washington; he was surrounded by first-round talent; he’s had a series of injuries. Penix had four season-ending injuries in college. He tore two ACLs in two years, and it limits his ability to move around and extend plays, a prerequisite in the modern NFL. If anything, Penix has some Kirk Cousins to his game – albeit with a bigger arm. Maybe the Falcons know what they’re doing after all.

Shock! The Falcons select quarterback Michael Penix Jr at No 8

Woah. The chaos begins. The Falcons grab the Washington quarterback with the eight pick in the same offseason they inked Kirk Cousins to a mega-money free-agent deal.

Profile: JC Latham, OT, Alabama. It’s not a surprise that the Titans opted for a huge tackle to help provide some protection for Will Levis. Latham is a gigantic human being who was inconsistent in college. Latham is all tools: he has a big frame, is a bouncy athlete and has the length that all NFL teams covet. But he is an unrefined prospect. For someone so big, Latham does not put a dent in defensive front. He can be passive in pass protection, willing to concede first contact and betting on his athleticism to recover. That can work for an overwhelming talent in college. Against the likes of Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby, not so much.

The Titans select JC Latham with the seventh pick

Tennessee grabs some much-needed protection for Will Levis with the right tackle out of Alabama.

And so for all the talk of trades in the top 10, it’s been relatively quiet so far. The Titans are up at No 7 and their pick is in. If this isn’t an offensive lineman, send flowers to Will Levis.

Profile: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU. The Giants had one of the slowest offenses in the NFL last season. That all changed tonight. Nabers is the most explosive receiver in the class. Typically, ‘quick’ wide receivers are judged by their long speed. Nabers is quick in everything he does. He’s agile in and out of breaks. He modulates his tempo, tempting receivers to slow down before exploding by them. He was responsible for a whole chunk of Jayden Daniels’ production deep down the field. He finished 2023 with 89 catches, 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.

If you want to have a fun evening, grab a beverage of your choice and pull up the highlights of Nabers’ most devastating work.

New York Giants select Malik Nabers with No 6 pick

After failing to trade up for the third pick, the Giants stay in the sixth spot and select the most explosive receiver in the draft.

Profile: Joe Alt, LT, Notre Dame. The Notre Dame left tackle has everything teams covet in a blindside protector: size, tenacity, slick feet and a solid base. He can also bring some oomph to the run game. Jim Harbaugh’s offense is built around a power running scheme, and Alt is the ideal fit as someone who can put a dent in the front or slice across the formation as a blocker. There was some clamour for the Chargers to add a receiver after losing Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but protecting Justin Herbert is the main priority. There are some fit concerns: Alt played exclusively at left tackle at Notre Dame. In Rashawn Slater, the Chargers already have a solid left tackle. Who will move to the right side?

LA Chargers select Joe Alt with fifth pick

The first pick of the Jim Harbaugh era is a big offensive tackle, because of course.

Marvin Harrison Jr may wind up setting a new trend among draftees. He refused to participate in any of the traditional pre-draft tomfoolery. He didn’t work out at the combine. He didn’t do any drills at Ohio State’s Pro Day. He hasn’t even signed the NFLPA’s rookie charter, meaning he’s not eligible to license NFL sanctioned products between now and the time he signs his contract with the Cardinals – you can’t even buy a Harrison Jr jersey yet (sorry, Cardinals fans). And yet even after thumbing his nose at the process, he winds up going fourth overall.

Ohio State once had a receiver room of Marvin Harrison Jr, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. My word.

Profile: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State. The name will sound familiar. Harrison is the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. Harrison Jr has been the dominant force in college football over the past two seasons. He caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards with 14 touchdowns in 2022. In 2023, he finished with 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 15 total touchdowns. Harrison has the ideal blend of physical skill and smarts. He isn’t a complete burner, but he has outstanding hands and size, and has already mastered the nuances of the position. There might be no one on Earth happier tonight than Kyler Murray.

The Cardinals select Marvin Harrison Jr at No 4

One of the most talented wide receivers in college football history lands in the desert.

The pick is in for Arizona and the Chargers are now up on the clock. When will we get the start of the trade spree?

Profile: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina. If we’re judging on arm talent alone, Maye would be the top quarterback in the class. He’s a big, strong, deep-ball bomber with shades of Justin Herbert. The knock on Maye is that he’s inconsistent. His accuracy can wax and wane. But Maye can make jaw-dropping throws down the field and he’s an excellent athlete when he opts to the run the ball. There’s plenty to clean up, but Maye will bring some dynamism to a New England offense in dire need of some juice. The only question is when he will start.

New England Patriots take Drake Maye at No 3

The Patriots decide to keep their pick rather than trading it to the Giants or Vikings, selecting quarterback Drake Maye out of North Carolina.

Profile: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU. Daniels is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. He started out at Arizona State before transferring to LSU where he exploded in 2023. Daniels was prolific at LSU, posting the top QBR in the country, averaging 11.7 yards per attempt and completing 72% of his passes. He can do damage driving the ball down the field from the pocket and is an electric athlete when running with the ball. But Daniels is a funky prospect; he was a legitimate duel threat at LSU, but it’s tough to figure out if best elements of his game – his running, his deep ball – will smoothly transition to the NFL. He doesn’t possess Lamar Jackson-esque breakaway speed and has a brittle frame. He did a poor job of protecting himself as a runner in college and took some ginormous shots. As a thrower from the pocket, he has a snappy delivery and a dreamy deep ball. But he struggles to shift to his second and third reads due to some robotic mechanics – and had one of the worst pressure-to-sack rates of any quarterback in recent college history. Washington are betting on his upside. They’re betting that he can refine areas of his game (adding some size and becoming more decisive). There’s a chance this winds up being an RGIII 2.0 situation. But if Daniels can smooth off his rough edges, the Commanders will have a dynamic quarterback for years to come.

Commanders select Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU No 2

To nobody’s surprise, the Washington Commanders take Jayden Daniels out of LSU, landing their new, franchise quarterback.

Washington’s pick is in. Which means the Patriots are now up on the clock. Will they select Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy or trade the pick?

Profile: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC. Williams has been the favorite to be the Bears’ pick all along. He is known for his out-of-time creativity, but he is a cleaner pocket passer than the typical freelance artists. There have been non-stop comparisons to Patrick Mahomes for two years, thanks to his ability to extend plays and spin magic with his arms and leg. One GM recently compared Williams to Prince, which was intended as a criticism but sounds like a hell of a compliment. Williams has been the top quarterback in college football for two seasons running. 2023 was considered a down year for Williams after his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2022, but Williams showed growth as a passer despite USC’s struggles. In Chicago, he will land on a team ready to make an immediate playoff push, a unique situation for a No 1 overall pick.

Caleb Williams is the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft

With the first overall pick, the Bears do as expected, selecting the top quarterback in the draft. Time to pop the champagne, Chicago

And the Chicago Bears are now officially on the clock! The only lingering question: will they run the pick up to the podium or will they take their full ten minutes?

Roger Goodell walks out to a rousing chorus of boos – thank you to Detroit for maintaining the league’s most delightful tradition. He brought out Eminem, Calvin Johnson, Aidan Hutchinson and Jared Goff with him, which helped a little.

Also: Calvin Johnson looks like he would still be the best receiver in the league.

Bill Belichick is not presiding over a draft for the first time since 2000. Instead, he’s holed up with a denim-clad Pat McAfee breaking down his draft board. Worth noting (maybe?) Belichick has the top QBs in this order: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye. Will New England agree?

Predictions

Okay. Time for some last-minute predictions. Here’s how I see the top five playing out:

1) Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2) Washington Commanders, Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3) New England Patriots, Drake Maye, QB, UNC

4) Arizona Cardinals, Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State

5) Los Angeles Chargers, JC Latham, OT, Alabama

(Note: The Chargers should auction this pick to the highest bidder looking to trade up for JJ McCarthy.)

Thoughts, questions, comments? You can email [email protected] or tweet @OllieConnolly

Don’t tell this Vikings fan, but Minnesota’s bold strategy to deal for an extra first-round pick back in March, in hopes of giving them the ammunition needed to jump up for one of this year’s top quarterbacks, may come to … nothing.

Jeff Darlingon of ESPN reports that things are “tense” inside Minnesota’s war room as they try to engineer a move up the draft board.

Oops. It’s kind of peculiar that Minnesota felt the need to make the deal with the Texans so early in the process rather than waiting until draft night to see how the board played out.

It’s almost time to kick things off. One subplot to keep an eye on: will Roger Goodell be able to give his infamous bear hugs? ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the commissioner had back surgery three weeks ago, putting his typical ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment in jeopardy.

Remember when Goodell got to run the draft from a lounge chair in his basement? That was fun (and a little weird). He should be able to chill in a recliner and call out the picks every year.

This is Detroit’s first time hosting the league’s annual carnival. And they’re doing things in a typically Detroit style. How about Dan Campbell as a ‘Grit and Glory’ fortune teller?

If you can’t be in Detroit to hang out with Campbell, you can catch the draft here:

US: 5pm, NFL Network/ABC

UK: 1am, Sky Sports Main Event

Australia: 10am, ESPN

Caleb Williams will almost certainly be the first player off the board to the Bears with the No 1 overall pick. Who will be the No 2 pick? Here’s how our writers (myself included) view it:

Congrats to Kliff Kingsbury because the Washington offensive coordinator is going to have a blast with LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who is coming off a spectacular year with the Tigers. His explosive playmaking is evident, but his play in the pocket has vastly improved. This kid is just getting started. Melissa Jacobs

North Carolina’s Drake Maye has more upside, but Washington, riding 20-plus years of stink, need a quarterback with wins in his arm, now. Daniels is the fast track to respectability: a speedy, mobile, creative force at LSU, he ran for 10 touchdowns last season and threw with deadly accuracy. David Lengel

It feels like a lock that it will be Daniels, thought I wouldn’t put it past the Commanders to fall in love with Michigan’s JJ McCarthy. Daniels is a funky prospect; he was a starry duel threat at LSU, but it’s tough to see whether the best elements of his game – his running, his deep ball – will smoothly transition to the NFL. He doesn’t possess Lamar Jackson-esque breakaway speed and has a brittle frame. As a thrower from the pocket, he has a snappy delivery but struggles to shift to his second and third reads. There is some RGIII to his game. Do Washington want to tread that path again? Oliver Connolly

It’s Drake Maye. The buzz suggests Washington are in love with Jayden Daniels but when head coach Dan Quinn searches his feelings he will find Maye bears striking similarities to his former QB in Atlanta, Matt Ryan. The UNC star has a cannon for an arm (both a blessing and a curse, leading to accuracy issues) and is the unflappable franchise leader the Commanders need. Graham Searles

You can also catch up on more of our draft previews here:

‘Wait for my dress’: Caleb Williams is the Zoomer QB to shake up the hidebound Bears

Forgotten picks to gas mask bongs: the strangest NFL draft moments

NFL draft: high demand and supply set to create a glut of first-round QBs

A national champion to an English giant: the NFL draft’s most intriguing prospects

Draft order for the first-round

And here’s a reminder of tonight’s draft order. The fun and games will really begin with the second pick, with the Bears expected to take Caleb Williams with the No 1 overall pick. From there, based on all reports, it’s going to be trade bedlam. Who will trade up for JJ McCarthy? Will the Patriots deal away the third pick? How many teams will leap up for this crop of offensive linemen? It won’t be long until we find out.

1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina)

2) Washington Commanders

3) New England Patriots

4) Arizona Cardinals

5) Los Angeles Chargers

6) New York Giants

7) Tennessee Titans

8) Atlanta Falcons

9) Chicago Bears

10) New York Jets

11) Minnesota Vikings

12) Denver Broncos

13) Las Vegas Raiders

14) New Orleans Saints

15) Indianapolis Colts

16) Seattle Seahawks

17) Jacksonville Jaguars

18) Cincinnati Bengals

19) Los Angeles Rams

20) Pittsburgh Steelers

21) Miami Dolphins

22) Philadelphia Eagles

23) Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland)

24) Dallas Cowboys

25) Green Bay Packers

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

27) Arizona Cardinals (from Houston)

28) Buffalo Bills

29) Detroit Lions

30) Baltimore Ravens

31) San Francisco 49ers

32) Kansas City Chiefs

You can view the order for all seven rounds here.

Oliver will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at our predictions for tonight and the days to come.