A record-breaking Day 1 in Detroit! 

 

If you have been following my mock draft reports you know this was a first-time draft-day-attendee experience for me. And what an experience it was.

 

After getting settled in, it didn’t take long to notice the record-breaking crowd of 275,000 that started filling up Hart Plaza and Campus Martius Park, turning the wide area in front of the elaborately constructed draft stage into a sea of mostly Honolulu Blue.

 

Shortly before the scheduled start time of 8 p.m. the 13 prospects invited to the draft were announced and paraded onto the stage. This was followed by the National Anthem performed by Detroit’s own Caleb Carroll, and with an concluded with an epic flyover presented by the 107th Fighter Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard out of nearby Selfridge Air National Guard Base. 

 

A host of hometown heroes kicked off the draft when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took the microphone with local musician Marshall Mathers (AKA Eminem), who introduced Lions Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders, along with current Lions Aiden Hutchinson, newly contracted receiver Armon St. Brown, and quarterback Jared Goff. Chants of “Jared Goff” echoed through event area, and were soon followed by the usual draft-day “booooos” when Goodell took the mic. Those subsided when the Commish officially started the proceedings by announcing that Detroit's NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears were on the clock. 

 

Finally the main event — drafting players. Here is what we saw, pick by pick. Click the players name for additional information about the selected prospect. As always, please follow me on X @jeremy_bissett.

 

Day 1 selections

 

 

No. 1: CHICAGO BEARS: 

It was no surprise that the Chicago Bears officially announced Caleb Williams as Justin Fields successor at quarterback for this franchise. 

 

 

 

No. 2: WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

The Washington Commanders soon announced they had decided to take Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye to be their new face of the franchise. 

 

 

No. 3: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 

 

The New England Patriots followed suit with the Bears and Commanders by making Drake Maye the third consecutive quarterback taken to start off the draft. 

 

 

No. 4: ARIZONA CARDINALS 

The Arizona Cardinals addressed their need at the wide receiver position by drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. Although he is typically mentioned in the same breathe as his Hall of Fame father Harrision Sr. He made it a point that his mother also played a tremendous support person throughout his athletic career and his own personal journey to the NFL draft. 

 

 

No. 5: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

In a semi-surprising move the Los Angeles Chargers elect to pick Joe Alt, rather than finding a replacement at wide receiver for the departed  Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.

 

 

No. 6: NEW YORK GIANTS 

With the No. 6 pick the New York Giants venture down an old familiar road that leads them back to the Louisiana swamps of the Bayou Bengals by selecting LSU WR, Malik Nabers.

 

 

No. 7: TENNESSEE TITANS 

The Tennessee Titans activate panic mode after Los Angeles snags their first choice two picks before them. They gather themselves and select JC Latham as their Plan B. 

 

 

No. 8: ATLANTA FALCONS 

 

The media center and press conference area erupted in mixed cheers and jeers when the Atlanta Falcons shock not only their fans but also their newly signed $180 million dollar man, Kirk Cousins, by selecting Michael Penix Jr.

 

 

No. 9: CHICAGO BEARS 

 

With the No. 9 pick the Chicago Bears added another weapon to their offense by selecting Caleb Williams' new BFF Rome Odunze.

 

 

No. 10: MINNESOTA VIKINGS  (Trade w/ NYJ)

 

 

With the No. 10 pick the Minnesota Vikings performed their first of two trades when they made a deal with the New York Jets. The Vikings gave up Nos. 11, 129, and 157 to select J.J. McCarthy. 

 

 

No. 11: NEW YORK JETS  (Trade w/ MIN)

 

 

With two book end tackles currently on their roster over the age of 30, the New York Jets find it too hard to pass up Olu Fashanu when they find him still on the board with this selection. 

 

 

No. 12: DENVER BRONCOS 

 

The Denver Broncos added to their subpar quarterback room by bringing Bo Nix into the mix of Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson and Ben DiNucci. Considering there was a plethora of defensive talent remaining on the board this may become a regrettable move once it is all said and done. 

 

 

No. 13: LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 

 

The Las Vegas Raiders went with the best available player on the board approach by selecting Brock Bowers. Some may see this as a befuddling move considering the help they need on the offensive line and they already had taken Michael Mayer in the second-round of the 2023 NFL draft. 

 

 

No. 14: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The New Orleans Saints addressed their offensive line woes by selecting the Oregon St. mauler Taliese Fuaga.

 

 

No. 15: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

 

 

 

 

With the No. 15 pick the Indianapolis Colts finally stopped the record breaking run of offensive players by selecting Laiatu Latu culminating his impressive recovery from being medically retired from football just two-years ago. 

 

 

No. 16: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

With the No. 16 pick the Seattle Seahawks elected to address their defensive line with the selection of Byron Murphy II.

 

 

No. 17: MINNESOTA VIKINGS  (Trade w/ JAX)

 

With the No. 17 pick the Minnesota Vikings had their second let's make a deal moment when they traded No. 23, 167 and a 2025 third-round pick to select Dallas Turner. A move that will immediately address the void left by Danielle Hunter moving on to the Houston Texans. 

 

 

No. 18: CINNCINATI BENGALS

 

WHO DEY nation but a cabash the mini defensive run by selecting Amarius Mims to continue building their offensive line wall of protection for Joe Burrow. 

 

 

No. 19: LOS ANGELES RAMS 

Ending an eight year hiatus of not having a first-round selection the Los Angeles Rams found themselves in position to take the best player available by selecting the versatile defensive end Jared Verse.

 

No. 20: PITTSBURGH STEELERS

 

The Steel City fanbase will be estactic to watch their newly selected offensive lineman Troy Fautanu. He brings with him a blue collar work ethic and grind it out atitude. He will win over the city quicker than they can twirl a Terrible Towel above their head. 

 

 

No. 21: MIAMI DOLPHINS 

Ever since the arrival of Micah Pearsons to the league most Penn St. pass rushers will be immediately compared to him. However, with the selection of  Chop Robinson the Dolphins find a guy who wants to make a name for himself that those after him can be compared to.

 

No. 22: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

With a record number of offensive players coming off the board. The Eagles patently wait to select arguably the fastest rising prospect throughout the draft process in Quinyon Mitchell.

No. 23: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (Trade w/ MIN)

After trading down with the Minnesota Vikings the Jacksonville Jaguars found themselves selecting the Robin to Nabers Batman from the LSU Tigers, Brian Thomas Jr. With this stigma hoovering over his head, Thomas will be looking at establishing himself as WR No. 1 in Doug Peterson's offensive system, sooner than later! 

No. 24: DETROIT LIONS (Trade w/ DAL)

In typical Brad Holmes fashion he makes a move to snag a dynamic playmaker by trading up with the Dallas Cowboys to make the selection of Terrion Arnold. Had it not been from the numbers Quinyon Mitchell posted in his pre-draft workouts. Arnold would have been considered the number one cornerback in this draft. Once again the Lions address a position of need and take the best player available to fulfill it with this selection. 

 

No. 25: GREEN BAY PACKERS 

The Green Bay Packers were looking for some offensive line assistance in this years draft and they found it with the selection of Jordan Morgan.

 

No. 26: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 

The Buccaneers where in desperate need for some interior offensive line help and they immediately got that when they selected Graham Barton with this pick. 

 

No. 27: ARIZONA CARDINALS 

With their second pick in the first-round the Arizona Cardinals elected to address the defensive side of the ball with the selection of Darius Robinson. The Southfield, MI native  was estactic to have his wait in the green room end once he heard his named called. 

 

No. 28: Kansas City (Trade w/ BUF)

The Kansas City Chiefs once again fleeced the Buffalo Bills on draft day by moving up to select Xavier Worthy. Worthy isn ow considered the new fasted man in the NFL after his Combine performance in the 40 yard dash. The Chiefs are hoping that he can quickly become the playmaker they have been missing at the wide receiver position since they traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins.

 

No. 29: DALLAS COWBOYS (Trade w/ DET)

The Dallas Cowboys addressed their offensive line needs by selecting Tyler Guyton and collected a valuable draft pick in process when they traded down with the Detroit Lions.

No. 30: BALTIMORE RAVENS (Trade w/ DET)

In typical Ravens fashion they have a draft pick at the bottom of the first-round and they wait like a venus flu trap to snag up a supreme talented player to continue to build their championship driven roster by selecting Nate Wiggins.

 

No. 31: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

 

 

As the media was listening in on the Quinyon Mitchell press conference their attention momentarily turned to the TV monitors in the room when Ricky Pearsall was announced as the selection here. If it wasn't for the head scratcher of the Atlanta Falcons taking Penix at No. 8. This may be the more talked about move of the first-round. 

 

No. 32: CAROLINA PANTHERS (Trade w/ BUF)

The Carolina Panthers decided to make the move to trade up from the first selection in the secon-round to have the last pick in the first round and selected Xavier Leggette. A player that would have been available to them if they had stayed where they were sitting at in the first place.