On Thursday night, history was made during the NFL Draft when six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks. This marked a record-breaking streak as the first 14 picks were all offensive players. However, the trend of selecting offensive players came to an end when the Colts chose UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the No. 15 pick.
The top offensive players selected in the first 12 picks included wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze. Offensive tackles Joe Alt, JC Latham, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and Taliese Fuaga were also chosen. Tight end Brock Bowers was selected at No. 13 by the Raiders, while quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix were drafted by the Vikings and Broncos, respectively.
Among the notable quarterback selections early in the draft were Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maybe. However, a surprise came when the Falcons decided to pick quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 despite recently signing Kirk Cousins to a lucrative four-year deal worth $180 million. This decision suggests that teams are following a similar strategy to the Green Bay Packers when it comes to managing their quarterback position.
The increase in value of quarterbacks in recent years is reflected by this trend towards offense during the NFL Draft.
Overall, this year’s NFL Draft has been characterized by an increased emphasis on offense and a shift towards selecting quarterbacks early on in rounds one through three.
The rise of passing game has contributed to this shift as teams realize that having a strong offense is crucial for success in today’s NFL landscape.
It remains to be seen how these selections will impact each team’s performance on the field next season but it’s clear that offenses are becoming more important than ever before in professional football.
In conclusion, history was made during this year’s NFL Draft as six quarterbacks were selected in
