In a historic moment, the NFL Draft witnessed six quarterbacks being chosen in the first 12 picks for the very first time. This trend reflected the current emphasis on offense in the NFL, with quarterbacks being more valuable than ever due to rule changes and the evolution of the passing game.
Among the top 12 selections, other offensive players included wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, offensive tackles Joe Alt and JC Latham, tight end Brock Bowers, and quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (drafted by the Vikings after a trade for the 10th pick) and Bo Nix (No. 12 to the Broncos). The streak was broken when the Colts chose UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the No. 15 pick.
While expected top quarterbacks like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maybe were chosen early, a surprise came when Michael Penix Jr., who was not considered one of them, was selected by Atlanta as their No. 8 overall pick. This move raised eyebrows as Atlanta had recently signed Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal. The Falcons seem to be following Green Bay’s lead when it comes to handling their approach to quarterbacks.