The first round of the 2024 NFL draft is a wrap, and it was a crazy Thursday night full of surprises.
The first night featured six quarterbacks coming off the board in the first 12 picks, a record for the most quarterbacks selected in the first round in the common draft era.
The Chicago Bears surprised no one by selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams, with Washington selecting LSU’s Jayden Daniels at No. 2 and New England selecting North Carolina’s Drake Maye with the third overall pick. The Atlanta Falcons pulled off the shocker of the night by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. The Minnesota Vikings traded up for Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, followed by the Denver Broncos selecting Oregon’s Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick.
A total of 23 offensive players were selected in the first round, a record in the common draft era.
While many big names came off the board during Round 1, there are several well-known players who are available for Rounds 2-3 on Day 2. Former Oregon Ducks’ star Troy Franklin and Jackson Powers-Johnson remain on the board, as well as Florida State’s Keon Coleman and Alabama’s Koolaid McKinstry.
Day 2 begins at 4 p.m. PT on Friday and here’s a look at a few players still on the board.
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Coleman showed he could make big plays after transferring from Michigan State. He posted 11 touchdown receptions in 2023. He is explosive with a wide catch radius, but his inability to consistently get separation from defenders seems to have hurt his status.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Corum was slowed after suffering a torn meniscus at the end of the 2022 season and he didn’t return to form until toward the end of the 2023 season. He doesn’t have home-run speed or quickness, but he’s a downhill runner and find holes where others cannot.
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
DeJean possesses size and speed as a playmaking cornerback. He’s a ballhawking defensive back with an explosive skillset. He’s also versatile, with many scouts saying his best position may be at safety.
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Franklin caught 83 passes for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns in 13 games in 2023, Franklin’s numbers compare favorably to the top-three wide receivers (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze) selected early in the first round.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Mitchell has outstanding size (6-4) and toughness. He has a long stride and is very athletic with a solid route tree. His size makes him an obvious red zone target.
Koolaid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
McKinstry was regarded by many scouts as the best cover corner in the draft class, but he is still available after his teammate, Terrion Arnold, was the first cornerback selected at No. 24 by the Detroit Lions.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
He’s not the biggest wide receiver (6-foot), but his quickness and route-running make up for the lack of height. He is also a strong blocker for a player of his size and can play out wide or in the slot. He is also a very good return specialist.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Powers-Johnson was regarded as the one of the top players at the position in the draft class. Just one center was selected in the first round - Duke’s Graham Barton was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 26th pick.
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Wilson is a victim of a deep wide receiver class in the draft. He’s not tall (5-11) but is very fast, and he can reach top speed quickly. Wilson can be electric on the field, but he’s still a work in progress when it comes to route-running.
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Cooper has length and athleticism with excellent speed and coverage ability. He exceptional at filling a hole and generates big-time plays. He can be a starting linebacker as a rookie.