6 QBs go in top 12 in NFL Draft, Caleb Williams goes first

(Photo by Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Thursday night's NFL Draft in Detroit saw three quarterbacks qualify for the top three picks, led by Southern California signal-caller Caleb Williams.

For the first time in NFL history, six QBs were selected in the top 12. The first 12 picks were all offensive players, which also set a league record.

After months of anticipation, the Chicago Bears selected Williams with the first overall pick. He was the second USC quarterback to be drafted with the first pick, following Carson Palmer, who originally joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003.

“It's an honor to be here,” Williams said on NFL Network after hearing his name called by the Bears. “I'm very blessed.”

After winning the Heisman Trophy in 2022, Williams passed for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Trojans in 2023.

The Washington Commanders then drafted LSU quarterback Jaden Daniels with the second pick. Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last season, passing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions, while adding 1,134 rushing yards and 10 scores.

At No. 3, the New England Patriots turned down a trade requester and kept their pick for North Carolina State quarterback Drake Maye. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder passed for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

“Let's go,” May said on the broadcast. “I'm ready to go to the game. I'm ready to go to New England. I'm going to have a good time.”

The early sequence marked the fourth time in NFL history that each team selected a quarterback with each of their top three picks. That happened in 1971, 1999 and 2021, the latter time with Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance finishing in the top three.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick. Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., has been compared to legendary Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

Harrison Jr. said he was confident he would be selected as the starting wideout.

“I just believed in my abilities,” he said on the broadcast. “I worked very hard to get to this point.”

The Los Angeles Chargers strengthened their offensive line by selecting Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alto with the fifth pick. This was the first pick under new manager Jim Harbaugh.

The New York Giants added playmaker Malik Nabors from LSU with the sixth overall pick, making them the second wideout in the draft.

Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham was picked No. 7 by the Tennessee Titans. Latham, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 342 pounds, embraced NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a giant bear hug and lifted him high off the ground.

“I let him know,” Latham said with a smile. “I had to let him know. I was so excited.”

The Atlanta Falcons provided the first big surprise of the night by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. The Falcons spent a first-round pick on a quarterback, even though they signed veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins ​​to a contract worth $100 this offseason. Million guaranteed.

The Bears used the No. 9 pick to select Washington wideout Rome Odunze, who will join Williams as part of a revitalized offense.

Odunze said he can't wait to team up with Williams.

“The glimpses I've had with him, you can tell he has that determination, and so do I,” Odunze said.

Next, the Minnesota Vikings traded one spot in the draft to secure their target, Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy. The Vikings sent a fourth-round pick and a fifth-round pick to the New York Jets, receiving a seventh-round pick in return as part of the exchange, so no other team could swoop in to win McCarthy. There wasn't.

The Jets used the No. 11 pick to take Penn State offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu. Fashanu will need to strengthen the line guarding veteran Aaron Rodgers.

The Denver Broncos selected their sixth QB of the night, Oregon State's Bo Nix, at No. 12. The Auburn transfer had a stellar career with the Ducks, passing for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and three interceptions last season.

–Field level media