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2024 NFL Draft First-Round Grades for All 32 Picks
The 2024 NFL draft is finally here.
Round 1 began on Thursday night. And to the surprise of nobody, Caleb Williams went off the board No. 1 to the Chicago Bears.
The first round will be followed by Rounds 2–3 at 7 p.m. ET Friday and Rounds 4–7 at noon ET Saturday. You can watch all three days on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
On Thursday night, Sports Illustrated will be grading every first-round pick, starting with Williams.
We’ll have continuous coverage of everything happening in Detroit through Saturday, including when Mr. Irrelevant comes off the board with the final pick at No. 257. Of course, that choice won’t be announced by commissioner Roger Goodell but by some seal at a zoo in Piscataway.
Orr: Winners and Losers From Round 1 | Complete draft coverage
This story will be updated throughout the draft in real time as each of the 32 first-round picks are selected. Let’s party.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina) | Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Rookie contract: Four years, $38.5 million (Spotrac.com)
This was a no-brainer the second the season ended. The Bears were always going to upgrade from Justin Fields, who showed flashes but not enough consistency.
With Williams, the Bears are getting a generational prospect who threw for 93 touchdowns against 14 interceptions over three years with the Trojans, while winning the Heisman Trophy in 2022. He instantly makes Chicago a playoff contender in the NFC.
- Grade: A
- BearDigest: More on Chicago’s first-round pick
2. Washington Commanders | Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Rookie contract: Four years, $36.8 million
Daniels has enjoyed a meteoric rise throughout the last year, going from a pro afterthought to a top choice. Last year with LSU, Daniels totaled 50 touchdowns (throwing for 40) while earning the Heisman Trophy.
In Washington, Daniels inherits a team with a revamped offensive line along with a top receiver in Terry McLaurin. However, he also takes on a franchise starved for success, being run by entirely new personnel from ownership to the coaching staff. Big changes for all involved.
- Grade: B+
3. New England Patriots | Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Rookie contract: Four years, $35.8 million
Maye was long considered one of the best two quarterbacks in this class alongside Williams. Ultimately, Maye showed his talents with the Tar Heels over the past two years, throwing 62 touchdowns against 16 interceptions.
With Maye, the Patriots have a 6'4", 223-pound signal-caller with some mobility and a huge arm. He’s the type of quarterback prospect talent evaluators love.
- Grade: A-
4. Arizona Cardinals | Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Rookie contract: Four years, $34.5 million
The son of Indianapolis Colts great Marvin Harrison, Harrison could follow in his father’s footsteps. Seen as a generational prospect in the same vein as Calvin Johnson and Ja’Marr Chase, Harrison can do it all.
With the Buckeyes, Harrison caught 144 passes over the past two years for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns. While Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers are tremendous, neither has the vast potential and sky-high floor of Harrison.
- Grade: A+
- All Cardinals: More on Arizona’s first-round pick
5. Los Angeles Chargers | Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Rookie contract: Four years, $32.4 million
Alt is the top tackle on almost every board in what is a loaded class at his position. He’s a mountain at 6'8" and 315 pounds, and should immediately slide into left tackle as a starter.
He’s a two-time All-American and a three-year starter. He’s polished in both the run and pass game, giving the Chargers a huge boost up front.
- Grade: A
6. New York Giants | Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Rookie contract: Four years, $28.5 million
Nabers is a top-three talent at receiver in this class alongside Harrison and Odunze. In 2022, Nabers had 72 receptions and 1,017 yards.
In 2023, Nabers ascended to All-America status with 89 catches, 1,569 yards and 14 scores, helping Jayden Daniels earn Heisman Trophy honors. At 200 pounds, Nabers is a big, physical receiver who can win in a variety of ways.
- Grade: B+
7. Tennessee Titans | JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Rookie contract: Four years, $25.5 million
After Alt went off the board, there were a host of tackles who could claim being the second-best in this class. Latham was one of them, going to the Titans as a Day 1 starter with ample upside.
Latham is a behemoth at 342 pounds and a dominant run blocker, while also being adept at handling a variety of pass-rush moves. Latham started 27 games over the past two years at right tackle.
- Grade: B
- All Titans: More on Tennessee’s first-round pick
8. Atlanta Falcons | Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Rookie contract: Four years, $22.4 million
Penix is a fascinating prospect. He’s 24 years old and had a pair of torn ACLs in college. He also struggled at Indiana before transferring to Washington, where he took off in every way.
Over the past two seasons with the Huskies, Penix threw for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns, showcasing a terrific arm. If Penix can stay healthy, he has all the talent to be an upper-tier quarterback at the next level.
That said, this is a wild pick. He’s an older prospect and Kirk Cousins is signed for four years. The fit is dubious at best.
- Grade: D+
- All Falcons: More on Atlanta’s first-round pick
9. Chicago Bears | Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Rookie contract: Four years, $22.2 million
Few teams had a better passing attack than the Huskies in 2023, and Odunze was one of the main reasons. Last season, he caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns on the heels of another 1,000-yard campaign with Washington.
At 6'3" and 212 pounds, the Las Vegas native can win with size, while also using his 4.45 speed to separate out of breaks. He’s the total package for the Bears and should be an elite receiver early on.
- Grade: A+
- BearDigest: More on Chicago’s second first-round pick
10. Minnesota Vikings (from N.Y. Jets) | J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Rookie contract: Four years, $21.4 million
McCarthy led the Wolverines to the national championship under former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, but he also had a great running game and an elite defense.
During his time in Ann Arbor, McCarthy never threw for 3,000 yards in either one of his starting campaigns. The question is how much he can develop at the pro level.
- Grade: B-
11. New York Jets (from Minnesota) | Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Rookie contract: Four years, $20.1 million
Fashanu started 21 games, dominating at left tackle. Beyond Alt, many draft experts had Fashanu as the best tackle in the class, giving the Jets a tone-setter on the left side.
Fashanu’s tape shows someone with tremendous strength who plays a well-rounded game. Without question, he’s one of the more ready-made starters in this crop, regardless of position.
- Grade: B+
- Jets Country: More on New York’s first-round pick
12. Denver Broncos | Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Rookie contract: Four years, $18.2 million
Much like Michael Penix Jr., Nix is a case of what you see is what you get. At Auburn, Nix struggled over three seasons, completing 59.4% of his attempts. Then, after transferring to Oregon, he took off, culminating in a season with 45 touchdown passes against three interceptions.
Nix’s size isn’t great at just 6'2" and 214 pounds, and his mobility is limited. He ran for just 234 yards in 2023, albeit notching 14 rushing touchdowns in ’22. Yet if he continues trending upward, he could be a quality NFL quarterback.
- Grade: C
13. Las Vegas Raiders | Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Rookie contract: Four years, $17.8 million
Bowers is easily the top tight end in this class, and arguably the best prospect at his position in years. A three-year starter, Bowers had 175 catches, 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.
At 6'3" and 243 pounds, Bowers is undersized but his athleticism is absurd. He’s also a willing blocker, albeit one who needs to improve. Still, he is a top-10 player in this rookie class.
- Grade: A
- Raiders Today: More on Las Vegas’ first-round pick
14. New Orleans Saints | Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Rookie contract: Four years, $17 million
A two-year starter, Fuaga was a star right tackle who twice earned All-Pac-12 honors. He’s an instant upgrade for the Saints, coming in as a refined pass blocker.
Fuaga has terrific size at 6'6" and 324 pounds, although there’s some work to be done with his run blocking. If he can fix that area, he’ll be a quality tackle for a decade in the NFL.
- Grade: B
15. Indianapolis Colts | Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Rookie contract: Four years, $16.7 million
Latu didn’t get the publicity of either Jared Verse or Dallas Turner going into the draft, but make no mistake, he’s on the same level. In two seasons with UCLA, Latu posted 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss after transferring over from Washington.
While his neck injury during his days with the Huskies is a concern, the rest of his profile screams NFL star. At 259 pounds, he has perfect size for an edge rusher. And, when married to his 4.64 40-time, there’s even more to salivate over for the Colts.
- Grade: A-
- Horseshoe Huddle: More on Indy’s first-round pick
16. Seattle Seahawks | Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Rookie contract: Four years, $15.8 million
By most accounts, Murphy is the best defensive tackle in this class. He dominated in the Big 12 over the past two seasons, totaling six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.
More importantly, his traits jump off the tape. He’s 297 pounds, has incredible power off the line and is able to hold his own against double teams while also penetrating on pass plays. It’ll be interesting to see how Murphy approaches potentially adding some weight at the next level as well.
- Grade: B+
- All Seahawks: More on Seattle’s first-round pick
17. Minnesota Vikings (from Jacksonville through Houston and Cleveland) | Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Rookie contract: Four years, $15.5 million
Turner was a universal top-10 pick in every mock leading up to the draft, and for good reason. He’s a terrific edge defender who can cause havoc in the pass game while holding his own against the run.
A three-year starter under Nick Saban, Turner has the chance to be an immediate impact player who projects as a 10-year starter. He’s arguably the best defensive player in this draft after totaling 22.5 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss at Alabama.
The only reason for the lowered grade? The trade. Minnesota gave up three picks, including a pair of 2025 choices to move up six spots. That’s legitimate ammunition.
- Grade: C+
18. Cincinnati Bengals | Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Rookie contract: Four years, $15.1 million
Mims is perhaps the most polarizing prospect in this class, regardless of position. The hulking left tackle started only eight games at the collegiate level and yet, because of his obscene tape, he’s a worthy first-round pick.
Mims measures 6'8" and 340 pounds, giving him the ability to dominate at the point of attack. He’s also agile enough to handle different types of pass-rush moves, making him an elite prospect with injury concerns.
- Grade: B
- All Bengals: More on Cincinnati's first-round pick
19. Los Angeles Rams | Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.9 million
After three years with the Albany Great Danes, Verse transferred to the Seminoles and was excellent in Tallahassee. Over two seasons with Florida State, he posted nine sacks in each campaign while totaling 29.5 tackles for loss.
At 6'4" and 254 pounds, Verse has ideal size for an edge rusher. Look for his athleticism to be a huge part of his game early before adding moves to his pass-rushing arsenal.
- Grade: A-
- Ram Digest: More on L.A.’s first-round pick
20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.8 million
Fautanu is one of the more experienced offensive linemen in this class, having started 31 games for the Huskies. He also was part of the nation’s best lines, as Washington’s front won the Joe Moore Award in 2023.
Additionally, Fautanu has the flexibility to play either tackle spot or reduce down inside as a guard. Finally, considering his size at 6'4" and 317 pounds, Fautanu may benefit from an NFL weight room to bulk up a bit if need be.
- Grade: B
21. Miami Dolphins | Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.7 million
Robinson is an incredible athlete. He’s 254 pounds and ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, solidifying his status as a first-round pick.
With the Nittany Lions, Robinson was a two-year starter after his transfer from Maryland. During that span, he had 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss, helping Penn State enjoy one of the nation’s best defenses. At the next level, expect Robinson to use his top-notch athleticism to wreak havoc off the edge.
- Grade: C+
- All Dolphins: More on Miami’s first-round pick
22. Philadelphia Eagles | Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.5 million
A product of the Mid-American Conference, Mitchell has an argument as the best corner in this draft. After starring for the Rockets, he dominated Senior Bowl week before going to the scouting combine and running a 4.33 40-time.
A two-time All-American, Mitchell started 40 games over three seasons, racking up 46 pass breakups. At 195 pounds, Mitchell is the ideal combination of size, speed and athleticism to go with ball skills.
- Grade: A
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Minnesota) | Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.4 million
Thomas isn’t on the level of Harrison, Odunze or Nabers, but he’s the next-best option in this loaded receiver class. With the Tigers, Thomas was a role player in 2021 and ’22 before exploding this past fall with 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Furthermore, Thomas is an incredible size-speed combination at 6'3" and 209 pounds, running a 4.33 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. The question is whether Thomas was a one-year wonder who benefitted from Nabers, or if he’s a rapidly ascending talent.
Jacksonville got good value here, but it has myriad defensive needs and plenty of receivers already on the roster. Bizarre choice.
- Grade: C-
24. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) | Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.1 million
This year’s draft class isn’t strong toward the top at corner, but there’s terrific depth from the mid-first round on. Arnold represents that, and both he and teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry made up the best corner tandem in college football in 2023.
Arnold started two years with the Crimson Tide and totaled six interceptions and 20 passes defensed. He comes into the NFL at 6'0" and 189 pounds while running a 4.5 40-time, giving him average measurables.
- Grade: A-
- All Lions: More on Detroit’s first-round pick
25. Green Bay Packers | Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Rookie contract: Four years, $14 million
Morgan has ample experience, but he also has a long history of getting hurt. In each of the years between 2020 to ’22, he sustained injuries, including a torn ACL in ’22.
That said, Morgan is 6'5", 311 pounds and provides plenty to work with. He’s able to still add weight and with better technique, can become above average in both run and pass blocking.
- Grade: C
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Rookie contract: Four years, $13.8 million
Barton is an intriguing prospect. With the Blue Devils, he played tackle but many believe he’s set to move inside due to short arms. Of course, his experience on the edge of the line could provide key versatility throughout his NFL career.
At Duke, Barton started 39 games, including 34 at tackle (five at center). The 313-pounder is a two-time, first-team All-ACC as well, showcasing staying power as a top talent. The only concern for Barton as a center is his 6'5" height, a metric on the tall side for playing the position.
- Grade: B
- BucsGameday: More on Tampa Bay’s first-round pick
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston) | Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
Rookie contract: Four years, $13.6 million
Robinson has risen many draft boards over the past few months, putting himself into the late-first round conversation. At Missouri, Robinson was a two-year starter after being a role player from 2019 to ’21, notching 12 of his 13 sacks since the start of ’22.
At 6'5" and 285 pounds, Robinson is a larger edge who can play inside at times. That versatility should help the Cardinals, similar to a player such as Charles Omenihu, Denico Autry and others.
- Grade: C
28. Kansas City Chiefs (from Buffalo) | Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Rookie contract: Four years, $13.5 million
Worthy is known for his blazing, record-setting 4.21 40-yard dash from the scouting combine, but there’s so much more to why this Texas product is … worthy … of a first-round choice.
With the Longhorns, Worthy was a three-year starter who caught 197 passes for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns, while also serving as their punt returner over the past two seasons. At 5'11" and 165 pounds, Worthy’s size is the chief concern, but he’s a significant talent.
- Grade: B
29. Dallas Cowboys (from Detroit) | Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Rookie contract: Four years, $13 million
Guyton comes out of an offensive line factory. The Sooners product had just 14 career starts, but he has the agility and the versatility to play left or right tackle in the NFL.
While Guyton’s size of 6'8" and 322 pounds is massive, what’s most impressive is his quickness and ability to climb to the second level. The big coaching point will be refining his technique.
- Grade: A
- Cowboys Country: More on Dallas’ first-round pick
30. Baltimore Ravens | Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Rookie contract: Four years, $12.6 million
Wiggins is an exceptional athlete. He’s also undersized at 6'1" and 173 pounds, a weight which undoubtedly had some teams taking him off their boards. That said, Wiggins can always overcome many issues with his 4.28 40-yard dash, along with a good weight program at the next level.
At Clemson, Wiggins was a two-year starter, totaling 48 tackles with three interceptions. With the Ravens, Wiggins will likely be asked to play zone and off-man coverage.
- Grade: B-
31. San Francisco 49ers | Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Rookie contract: Four years, $12.3 million
Pearsall is a surprise pick here, as many expected him to be an early Day 2 pick. However, Pearsall is an electrifying route-runner who can work himself open on a litany of different routes.
With the Gators, Pearsall caught 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns. And with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk potentially nearing the end of their respective times with the Niners, nabbing Pearsall both helps now and later.
- Grade: B
32. Carolina Panthers (from Buffalo through Kansas City) | Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Rookie contract: Four years, $12.1 million
Legette is a local product, coming to the Panthers via South Carolina. With Legette, Carolina is getting a five-year contributor for the Gamecocks who did little through the first four campaigns before exploding as a redshirt senior, notching 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.
For the Panthers, adding a receiver for second-year quarterback was an essential need. New general manager Dan Morgan has now done that, moving into the first round to get a fifth-year option as well.
- Grade: B-
John Pluym is the managing editor for NFL and golf content at Sports Illustrated. A sports history buff, he joined SI in April 2022 after having spent 10 years at ESPN overseeing NFL coverage. Pluym has won several awards throughout his career, including honors from the Society of News Design and Associated Press Sports Editors. As a native Minnesotan, he enjoys spending time on his boat and playing golf.