26Apr
NFL SUMMARY-UPDATE:
Records are usually memorable, and there's a chance we see a new one set in 2024.
As ESPN's Adam Schefter recently pointed out, the current record for offensive players taken in the first round is 19 and has occurred three times. We could see 20 or more go this year.
There are a few reasons there could be an early run on offensive players. The quarterback class is a big part of it, but the draft is also loaded at wide receiver, offensive tackle and interior offensive line.
Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the top-ranked prospect at any position on the XQT-Simplified Sports Scouting Department's big board, and he's only one of six pass-catchers ranked inside the top 32.
Florida State pass-rusher Jared Verse and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell are the only defensive players ranked inside the top 10 by the Scouting Department. The draft isn't particularly deep at marquee defensive positions like cornerback and edge, so from a value standpoint, targeting an offensive player will make sense for many franchises.
In the XQT- Simplified Sports Scouting Department's latest mock draft, 20 offensive players went in the first round, and that mock only included four quarterbacks. The actual draft may unfold similarly.
The potential record is only part of the equation, though. The NFL loves offense, and if we look back on the 2024 class as one littered with top-tier offensive talent, we're not likely to forget it.
