Let’s move on to 1983 and make room for the new gold standard: quarterback-rich NFL draft classes.
For the first time in NFL history, six quarterbacks were selected within the first 12 picks, tying the overall first-round record set in 1983. Time will tell if there is a version of Hall of Famers Dan Marino, John Elway, and John Elway in this group. It turns out he resembles Jim Kelly, or the bust-laden quarterback classes of 1999 and 2021.
As expected, Caleb Williams of the Bears, Jayden Daniels of the Commanders, and Drake Maye of the Patriots each started the party as the first three picks. The Patriots accepted trade offers from the Vikings and Giants, both of whom had interest in Maye, but in the end, he was drafted for just the fourth time in the modern draft era (1967), joining in 1971, 1999, and 2021. They became the first team to acquire a quarterback with the No. 3 pick.
“We had some conversations with other teams, but ultimately we felt Drake was the player we wanted and we had a chance to acquire him,” Patriots scouting director Elliott Wolf said. “We knew from the beginning that we had a unique opportunity to acquire a quarterback that we liked.”
All hell began at No. 8 when the Falcons, who had just signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, surprised the league by selecting Michael Penix Jr. in the draft. Penix, 23, who has been plagued by injuries, is widely thought to be ready. He will play, but he will sit on the bench for a team that could have used a defensive starter to keep its playoff hopes alive.
It’s easy to imagine a stunned Cousins feeling misled about leaving the Vikings in free agency, especially considering NFL Network reported that he wasn’t informed of the possibility in advance. The Falcons are under investigation by the NFL for misconduct against Cousins.
“I’m going to learn from him,” said Penix, who sounded surprised by where he landed. “There’s a reason behind it.”
The Vikings traded one spot with the Jets to secure J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, and the Broncos were trying to land Bo Nix (who some teams were valuing as a second-round prospect). , it’s possible that other players saw the Falcons’ move and reached for the panic button. 12, sources told the Post.
“We are truly sorry for what happened,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “This business is about taking some risks and getting some rewards, and I think we achieved that in the end.”
The Vikings’ trade was one of only two involving the first 17 picks. This was a surprise considering the amount of activity I was expecting.
After leaving the rookie quarterback in a game of musical chairs and feeling bad for not being more aggressive, the Raiders pivoted by making more history by taking tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13. This was the first draft in NFL history to include offensive players. The players selected with the first 10 picks became the first draft picks to have 13 consecutive picks from one side of the ball at any point during the round (the final total was 14). ).
Williams, 22, is stepping into a situation where he is more likely to succeed right away than any No. 1 draft pick since at least Andrew Luck in 2011.
The Bears finished 7-10 last season, but they still own the No. 1 overall pick thanks to a trade with the Panthers in March 2023, and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young’s rookie season was in the league. They ended up with a record of 2 wins and 15 losses. Williams will throw to perhaps the best receiver trio in the NFL, with DJ Moore joined by rookie Rome Odunze (9th pick) and newly acquired Keenan Allen, who totaled over 2,500 yards last season. .
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“My goal is to get as far as I can in February,” Williams said. “The purpose of playing football is to win championships.”
The Bears and Patriots found themselves in a familiar position after giving up top-15 quarterback picks from 2021, Justin Fields and Mac Jones, respectively. Fields, Jones, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance were all traded for their original players. While leading the team to a backup job, No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence is perhaps yet to reach his generational potential.
The infamous 1999 class of five quarterbacks included Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Cade McNown (another Bears draft pick), Donovan McNabb, and Daunte Culpepper.
The Vikings appear to be the big winners, as they called the Giants’ bluff based on interest in McCarthy and weren’t swayed by a trade to No. 4 or No. 5, nor were they pounced on by the Broncos or Raiders. The designation answers a key question for All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, who is in contract extension talks.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters kept his decision to hire Daniels over Maye a closely guarded secret, but said on “The Pat McAfee Show” that “we’ve known about this for a long time.” Told.
The Knicks were the biggest surprise, but they earned the spot by surprising Broncos head coach Sean Payton during a workout.
“I can’t thank them enough for taking me there and entrusting me with their beliefs,” Nix said.
