NFL draft 2024: Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. among 10 winners and losers from Round 1

The first round of the 2024 NFL draft was completed Thursday night, and there a number of unexpected selections. Quarterbacks were the first three selections and six quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks. The number of quarterbacks set a new record for the most selected in the first round in the common draft era.

The thirst for quarterbacks highlighted the sense of urgency teams apparently feel to improve quickly. No one knows right now how the unexpected run on quarterbacks will play out for the six teams who drafted quarterbacks. But if 2024 draft is similar to many others, there will be busts and home runs.

Here are 10 winners and losers from the first round of the draft:

Winner: Chicago Bears

The Bears lucked out when they received the No. 1 pick in the draft a year after trading away the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft. Selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick was easy, but there will pressure on Williams to be good right away. The Bears relieved some of the pressure on Williams by using the No. 9 pick to select wide receiver Rome Odunze, giving Williams another option at the position with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen.

Loser: Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders needed a quarterback and they probably figured one of the “second-tier” quarterbacks (Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix) would be available when they were on the clock at No. 13. Oops. Penix and Nix were snapped up among the first 12 selections, leaving the Raiders sitting on the outside looking in. The Raiders picked Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, not a bad selection, but they’re left with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew at quarterback at this point.

Winner: Michael Penix Jr.

The Atlanta Falcons stunned everyone by selecting Penix with the No. 8 pick. No one except the Falcons’ saw that coming. More than a few mock drafts projected the Washington quarterback as a first round pick, but not at No. 8. Even Penix himself said he didn’t expect to be selected so early. He’s also going into a great situation. The Falcons have veteran Kirk Cousins, who’s expected to be the starter for at least the next two seasons, allowing Penix to learn.

Loser: Kirk Cousins

The selection of Penix left Cousins “confused,” according to his agent. The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract during free agency. Cousins is probably wondering why the Falcons would use their first-round pick on a quarterback, instead of adding a player to a defense sorely in need of improvement. Well, Cousins is 35 and coming off a torn Achilles tendon in 2023. The Falcons probably figure Cousins is good for the next two seasons.

Winner: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

With journeyman Sam Darnold as their lone viable starting quarterback on the roster, the Vikings were looking to snag a young signal-caller in the draft. They started the night with the No. 11 and 23 picks and were expected to be an aggressive player in the trade market. Instead, Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings’ general manager, remained calm and only needed to move up one spot - a trade with the New York Jets - to grab Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 10. They didn’t give up their second first-round pick and used that piece to trade up and select Alabama defensive edge rusher Dallas Turner as the replacement for Danielle Hunter, who signed with the Houston Texans in free agency.

Loser: Buffalo Bills

The Bills needed a dynamic wide receiver after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. This year’s draft was loaded with quality wideouts, but general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott decided to trade down - not up - twice on Thursday. Their first trade was with Kansas City, who promptly selected Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, the speedster who set a new scouting combine record by posting a time of 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The Bills then traded out of the first round following a deal with the Carolina Panthers, who used the No. 32 pick to select - you guessed it - a wide receiver, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette. Bills quarterback Josh Allen has to be wondering what is going on.

Winner: Bo Nix

The Oregon quarterback was one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft. Some mock drafts projected him going in mid-first round and others had him slipping into the second round. Nix had been connected to the Denver Broncos at No. 12 and fortunately for him, he’s going to the Mile High City. Nix could very well be the Week 1 starter for the Broncos. His competition at the position is Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

Loser: Defensive players

The Indianapolis Colts used the No. 15 pick to select UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, ending a run of 14 consecutive offensive players being selected. Just nine defensive players were selected in the first round, the fewest ever on that side of the ball in the common draft era. Have offensive players become more important than defensive players in building a winning team?

Winner: Laiatu Latu

The Colts’ decision to select Latu represents a feel-good story and a risk. Latu sat out the 2020 season due to a serious neck injury and then-University of Washington head coach Jimmy Lake announced in 2021 Latu had to retire due to his neck injury. Latu visited five specialists who all determined he should not continue playing. Latu was eventually cleared to play again by the same doctor who performed neck surgery on Peyton Manning and he posted 13 sacks in 2023. Latu deserves credit for his determination to keep playing, but there is a huge risk. The Colts rolled the dice.

Loser: Sean Payton

The Denver Broncos head coach ran Russell Wilson out of town, in turn forcing the franchise to eat a record “dead money” salary cap hit of $85 million (the largest in NFL history) and they have to pay him nearly $38 million in 2024, even though he’ll be playing for the Steelers. Payton has placed his reputation as a quarterback-whisperer on the line by selecting Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick, despite many evaluators projecting the Oregon quarterback as a Day 2 selection. If Nix struggles, Payton will absorb the blame and his reputation, already battered by the Wilson saga, likely won’t survive.