The Chicago Bears selected Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft Thursday in Detroit. He was followed by the Washington Commanders’ selection of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and the New England Patriots’ choice of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
Six quarterbacks — Williams, Daniels, Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix — were taken in the first 12 picks. In total, 23 offensive players heard their names called, the most in NFL draft history.
Williams, the consensus top prospect, threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. He won the Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football the previous season after he took the Trojans from a four-win team to an 11-win team. Williams threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and only four interceptions over 13 games in 2022.
The Bears were able to select Williams thanks to a major trade ahead of the 2023 draft. Chicago — which owned the No. 1 pick at the time — sent it to the Carolina Panthers in return for receiver DJ Moore, 2023 first- and second-round picks, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. That 2024 first-round pick would later become the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
Williams joins a retooled Chicago team that traded for six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen and signed running back D’Andre Swift this offseason. The Bears also have rising stars in Moore and tight end Cole Kmet.
The Commanders selected LSU star Daniels at No. 2. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback won the 2023 Heisman Trophy after one of the most electrifying seasons in college football history. He threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and only four interceptions while adding 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Maye was selected No. 3 by the Patriots. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he boasts the prototypical size for the position and has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Chargers signal-caller Justin Herbert. Maye — the 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore — threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season in his junior year.
The biggest shock came at No. 8, when Michael Penix Jr. was selected by the Atlanta Falcons. Not only was that higher than most had expected the Washington quarterback to be taken, it also came from a team that signed veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed this offseason.
“It was a big surprise. We had no idea this was coming,” Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, said in a text to the NFL Network. “The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation.”
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Xavier Legette heading to Carolina
The quick South Carolina receiver had 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He will be a major boost for Bryce Young, who had few weapons to throw to in his rookie season.
Ricky Pearsall goes to 49ers at No. 31
The former Arizona State and Florida receiver is a speedster, running a 4.2 40-yard dash. What could this mean for Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk?
Clemson's Nate Wiggins has major upside in Baltimore
Few corners move or run like Wiggins can. The No. 30 pick needs to fill out his frame, but keep in mind he won’t turn 21 until the end of his first NFL training camp.
Cowboys select OT Tyler Guyton at No. 29
Guyton is built like a small forward and moves like a tight end. He started only one year (at right tackle) for Oklahoma, and his hand placement needs work, but he’s the type of athlete and has the body type you bet on at the position.
Chiefs add speedy receiver at No. 28
Xavier Worthy of Texas, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL combine history, is headed to Kansas City.
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Cardinals pick Darius Robinson takes stage in hometown Detroit
Although he’s eager to go to Arizona and work with the Cardinals, who selected him at No. 27 overall, for tonight Darius Robinson was before a home crowd.
Robinson, a defensive tackle and edge rusher who played for Missouri, is from Southfield in the Detroit area.
“It means everything,” he said onstage about being selected in a draft where he is from. “I’m thankful for the people in my hometown that believed in me, so I’m glad I’m here.”
“We’re going to celebrate after this, but I’m ready to get to Arizona as soon as possible and get to work,” he said.
Chiefs trade up to No. 28
Kansas City made a move with Buffalo. Full trade details have yet to be announced.
Cardinals take Mizzou defensive lineman Darius Robinson
Robinson had 43 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for losses last season at Missouri en route to being named first-team All-SEC.