The 2024 NFL Draft is only a few days away and fans can't contain their excitement. The NFL Draft is a popular event every year, but fans are especially excited this year because the draft class is loaded with talent. This should be an offense-heavy draft, especially in the first round. In fact, NFL insider Peter Schrager believes this year's draft could set an NFL record for the number of QBs taken in round one.
“I’ve been on the phones non-stop for the last 48 hours including this morning,” Peter Schrager said on The Pat McAfee show. “I’ve got some interesting updates on what I’m thinking based on last week. The feedback I’m getting is there will be trades, there will be trades up, there will be trades down, and the Quarterbacks are going to be very, very, much in play. I’m not talking just the Top 4, I think the Top 6, including Penix and Nix all in the first half of Thursday night’s first round.”
The last time that six quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft was 1983. It is important to note that there were only 28 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1983.
The QBs taken in the first round in 1983 were:
- John Elway (1st)
- Todd Blackledge (7th)
- Jim Kelly (14th)
- Tony Eason (15th)
- Ken O’Brien (24th)
- Dan Marino (27th)
However, there has never been six QB taken in the first 16 picks of the draft like Schrager is expecting.
Therefore, if six QBs are drafted in the first round it would tie the 1983 record. But if all six QBs do get drafted within the first half of round one then it would be a first in NFL history.
The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with offensive talent
The first round will still be full of offensive players even if Schrager is wrong about six quarterbacks.
The 2009 NFL Draft featured 19 offensive players taken in the first round, which is the current NFL record. The 2024 draft class could blow the 2009 class out of the water.
For context, the 2009 NFL Draft class saw the following players drafted in the first round:
- QB Matthew Stafford (#1)
- T Jason Smith (#2)
- QB Mark Sanchez (#5)
- T Andre Smith (#6)
- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (#7)
- T Eugene Monroe (#8)
- WR Michael Crabtree (#10)
- RB Knowshon Moreno (#12)
- QB Josh Freeman (#17)
- WR Jeremy Maclin (#19)
- TE Brandon Pettigrew (#20)
- C Alex Mack (#21)
- WR Percy Harvin (#22)
- T Michael Oher (#23)
- RB Donald Brown (#27)
- C Eric Wood (#28)
- WR Hakeem Nicks (#29)
- WR Kenny Britt (#30)
- RB Beanie Wells (#31)
There are four quarterbacks who appear to be locks to go early in the first round: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy. If Schrager is right then we can add Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix.
The wide receiver class is headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr. It also features Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze in a similar tier to Harrison Jr. There are several other receivers who could sneak into round one, including Brian Thomas Jr, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, and Keon Coleman. There is also superstar tight end Brock Bowers from Georgia.
Add in the offensive line and things go over the top. There are upwards of 12 offensive lineman who are flirting with a first round grade, with some of the best including Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt and Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu.
NFL fans will get their final answer on Thursday night in Detroit.
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