The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and it was full of some big surprises. 

From the Chicago Bears finally making Caleb Williams their QB to the Atlanta Falcons making the shock of the draft, lets grade all 32 picks in the first round. 

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2024 NFL Draft 1st round Grades

1. Chicago Bears via Carolina Panthers
Caleb Willams, QB, USC
Grade: A+

The Bears landed their new franchise QB at pick number one without having to be the worst team in football last season and didn't have to trade up due to this pick being traded TO them last year from the Carolina Panthers for the right to select Bryce Young with the top pick last year. And it happens to be USC's Caleb Williams a QB the league has been anxiously waiting for. Take a bow, Chicago, this was a home run. 

2. Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Grade: B-

The Commanders had to add a QB, and they chose the reigning Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, out of LSU. In my opinion, it was the right position but not the right player for the Commanders due to the fact that I had a significantly higher grade on Drake Maye. 

3. New England Patriots 
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina 
Grade: A+

I was scared for a while there that the Patriots would trade out and risk losing a QB of Drake Maye's caliber. In the end they stayed put and did the right thing by drafting my top QB in this class. He's going to end up starting earlier than fans realize mark my words. A fantastic start to an important draft for the Patriots. 

4. Arizona Cardinals 
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Grade: A+

Again I was nervous the Cardinals were going to overthink this and lose out on a top overall player in the draft, but they denied trade requests and landed Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. I'm going to assume Kyler Murray won't be able to frown any time soon with the thought of throwing passes to Harrison Jr. for the foreseeable future. 

5. Los Angeles Chargers 
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Grade: A-

The Chargers take the first offensive lineman of the draft by selecting Notre Dame's Joe Alt. Alt was my top offensive lineman in this class and now forms one of the top young tackle duos in the entire NFL with Rashawn Slater. One of them will have to play RT, but they can figure that out later. The only reason this is just an A- is because of how bad the Chargers WR room currently is, but they have more picks to attack that position, and Alt will be a star very soon. 

6. New York Giants
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Grade: A-

The Giants missed out on their preferred QB (Drake Maye), and instead of pivoting to a different one, they took their top player on the board in Malik Nabers. Nabers is going to be an immediate difference maker for the Giants and while they didn't land a QB this year he will be a dangerous weapon for their future young QB. And he should help get the absolute most out Daniel Jones in the present. 

7. Tennessee Titans 
JC Latham, OT, Alabama 
Grade: C+

It was a brutal result for the Titans, who saw both Joe Alt and Malik Nabers go back-to-back ahead of them here. I like JC Latham a lot, and he's arguably the top-run blocker in the entire class. But in my opinion, there were better options to protect QB Will Levis, and I think they should have traded back a few picks to make it happen. Good player, just not the swing I would have taken if I were them.

8. Atlanta Falcons 
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Grade: D

The Falcons decided to get the biggest shock of round one out of the way early by drafting QB Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington at pick 8. I get their desire to add a rookie quarterback, but with them choosing to go into the win-now mode with Kirk Cousins, I'm not sure picking one this year, or at least in the first round, makes any sense. And now it puts more pressure on their next few picks to be able to produce day one in my opinion. 

9. Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Grade: A

The Bears WR room is one of the top in the NFL after today, adding Rome Odunze to DJ more and Keenan Allen. Talk about a great place for a rookie QB to land. The expectations for the Bears is going to be higher than the typical rookie QB led team but I think they are welcoming those expectations right now. 

10. Minnesota Vikings via Trade with the Jets
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan 
Grade: C+

The Vikings weren't able to pull off the big trade-up some would have liked, but they did land their QB in a small trade-up with the Jets. I think this is a significantly better outcome than I was expecting, and they land the guy they likely would have taken if they moved into the top 6 anyway. J.J. McCarthy is a ball of clay that the Vikings will now look to mold. At just 21 years old, with all the tools you want, Vikings fans have a lot to be excited about; it just may not be seen on the field for a year or two while his game gets polished. 

11. New York Jets via Trade with the Vikings 
Olumuyiwa Fahanu, OT, Penn State
Grade: B+

The Jets were able to land the player they would have taken at 10 as well as adding more draft capital. And after trading for Aaron Rodgers that is a big win in itself. The only reason this grade isn't higher is because I think they should have taken one of Fuaga or Fautanu who could play guard in the short term and move to tackle in a year or two to raise the floor and ceiling of this Jets line. 

12. Denver Broncos
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon 
Grade: D

Another shocker with the Broncos taking QB Bo Nix in the first round. I get the need they absoulty needed a QB in this class, but I think this is a major reach. I just don't see the upside with Nix for him to be a day-one pick, but on the bright side, he should for sure be able to win a QB battle against Jarett Stidham and Zach Wilson as early as week 1. 

13. Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers, TE, Georiga 
Grade: B+

I didn't think the Raiders were a fit for Brock Bowers, to be honest, but he's a great player, and the Raiders have seen first-hand how valuable it is to have an elite TE by playing against the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce over the years. They still need to figure out long-term who will be throwing to Bowers, but he should be a top target for veteran Gardner Minshew next year.

14. New Orleans Saints
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Grade: A

The Saints needed to add an offensive lineman here, and they took the right one, in my opinion. Fuaga was the best available lineman on my board, and he can compete to play tackle or guard for the Saints on day one. 

15. Indianapolis Colts
Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Grade: B+

The first defender comes off the board at pick 15 to the Colts, with them selecting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu. If the medical concerns weren't there, he likely goes even higher. He's easily the most proven pass rusher in this year's class. And so many metrics show how dominant he was in the passing game over the last two seasons at UCLA. Him already being 23 and being my edge two in this class is why this grade doesn't hit the A threshold, with Dallas Turner still on the board at the pick. But it's clear Latu was the Colts' highest graded edge rusher and defender overall. 

16. Seattle Seahawks 
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Grade: B+

The Seahawks added a dynamic talent at DT in Byron Murphy II to pair with Leonard Williams, who they acquired last year from the Giants. I love the player, but I am not sure about the fit right now. I also think they should have targeted an edge rusher at this pick instead. But it's hard to argue how good of a player Murphy II is in a vacuum. 

17. Minnesota Vikings via Trade with the Jaguars 
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama 
Grade: A+

The Vikings pull off another trade up and, this time, land my top edge rusher and defender in the class in Dallas Turner out of Alabama. Turner lit up the Scouting Combine and was very productive in the SEC at Alabama. There is still some rawness to his game that will require some polishing for him to reach the level of player I believe he can become, but this was a fantastic move and a way to finish round one for the Vikings. 

18. Cincinnati Bengal 
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia 
Grade: B+

The Bengals ended up adding a talented tackle in Armarius Mims, who, before this past season, was looked at as a top-10 pick in this class. His injury last year forces him to fall to 18, but he could end up being a steal for the Bengals. I think there were better players on the board for the Bengals to consider here but a high upside option at a position of need. 

19. Los Angeles Rams
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Grade: A-

I love this fit for Verse and the Rams; he was my third-ranked edge rusher in this class and doesn't have the upside that Latu and Turner possess. But he will impact both the run game and the pass game as a rookie and adds some needed firepower on a defensive line that lost future Hall of Famer to retirement this offseason. 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington 
Grade: A

Troy Fautanu is the best kind of versatile, because he isn't just someone that has the potential to play multiple positions. I believe he will play at a high level at either guard or tackle wherever the Steelers choose to play him. A dynamic talent on the offensive line that I honestly didn't think would make it to them at pick 20. 

21. Miami Dolphins
Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Grade: B-

I love the upside with Chop Robinson, but he fully relies on his speed off the edge right now, which could lead to him not being able to play much early. I would have preferred to see the Dolphins look for a more clear day one contributor to try and elevate themselves into the top tier of contenders in the league.  I get the draw to Robinson, though, because if he can hit his ceiling, he can be a special player; they just might have to wait a while to see it. 

22. Philadelphia Eagles
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo 
Grade: A

The Eagles tried to trade up but ended up landing the player I expect they were trying to go get at pick 22. Mitchell's speed and ability in zone coverage improve the Eagles' secondary, which struggled mightily last season on day one. And his aggressive play style is going to fit well in Philadelphia. 

23. Jacksonville Jaguars via Trade with the Vikings 
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Grade: A

The Jaguars needed a big-body WR who they could develop into the X alongside the other talent in their room, and I think they chose the right guy. I think Thomas Jr. fits better in the Z role on day one, but if they can develop his play style and route tree, this could be a massive win. And to land him after a trade back was excellent work from the Jaguars. 

24. Detroit Lions via Trade with the Cowboys
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama 
Grade: A

The Lions saw my top CB in the draft fall and moved up a few picks to stop his slide. They saw their secondary cost them a potential Super Bowl last season and made sure to address it this offseason. Arnold can play in the slot or on the outside, and his technique at the CB position could be used as teach tape. 

25. Green Bay Packers 
Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona 
Grade: B+

The Packers took the right position, but I think there were a couple of better options on the board. I like Jordan Morgan though, and he has some versatility to his game that will let the Packers try him at both tackle and guard which will let them get their best five on the field to protect Jordan Love. 

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Graham Barton, G/C, Duke
Grade: A-

Graham Barton is such a fun film study. On top of his ability on the interior, he has experience playing left tackle as well. The Buccaneers can try him all over but I expect he lands at guard and will be a day one starter with high upsdie. Love this pick by the Buccaneers. 

27. Arizona Cardinals 
Darius Robinson, DT/Edge, Missouri 
Grade: B-

The Cardinals added versatile defensive lineman Darius Robinson. I like his game, but I think he is best used on the interior, and with Johnny Newton on the board, I don't understand taking Robinson over him. If they plan on trying him off the edge, I guess it makes sense, but the talent gap between the two players is pretty large, in my opinion. Robinsons' great length and versatility will be a welcome addition to the Cardinals defense. 

28. Kansas City Chiefs via Trade with the Bills
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Grade: B

The Chiefs move up and grab the King of the 40 yard dash in Xavier Worthy. I love seeing the dynamic weapon land with a QB like Patrick Mahomes. The only reason this grade is lower is due to having to trade up, as well as him being pretty similar to their current top WR in Hollywood Brown. I think a WR with more size would have fit them better, but if there a team that knows how to use elite speed its the Kansas City Chiefs. 

29. Dallas Cowboys via Trade with the Lions
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma 
Grade: C+

The Cowboys needed to add help on the offensive line and land Okalhoma's Tyler Guyton. Guyton is a really raw tackle prospect who I personally didn't think should start right away in the NFL. For the Cowboys, though, he probably ends up their week 1 starter, and he's going to have some growing pains as he needs a lot of coaching, in my opinion. This grade ends up being a C+ just because they were able to trade back and land other picks instead of staying at 24 and potentially still taking Guyton. 

30. Baltimore Ravens
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson 
Grade: B+

Wiggins is a dynamic athlete at CB who is going to bring big-time speed to the Raven's secondary. I love his fit opposite of Marlon Humphreys. This was one of the best fits for him in the entire draft, and I think it will lead to him having a much better start to his career than if he were going to be thrown into the fire as a team's top CB in the class. 

31. San Francisco 49ers
Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida 
Grade: C

It truly hurts me not to give this a higher grade, but the value and WRs they bypassed to ake Pearsall warrant the C. I really like the fit and the player here, but the first round is significantly more rich than anyone was expecting for sure. But don't sleep on him being a solid day one contributor, especially if they end up trading away one of Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. 

32. Carolina Panthers via Trade with the Bills
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina 
Grade: B

The Panthers trade up into round one to land South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. Legette has had a strong draft cycle with a big week at the Senior Bowl and a player who I was told impressed teams in interviews. The Panthers didn't want to wait till tomorrow and grab Bryce Young, a WR. To say Legette is coming off a career year would be an understatement, with his first four-college season not surpassing 200 yards in a single season, but he exploded on the scene last year with 1,255 yards and 7 touchdowns. I think there were better WRs on the board, but he's an easy kid to root for and should be the Panther's top weapon as a rookie. 

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