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Top 100 prospects have been scooped up but Saturday is still stocked with NFL difference-makers
Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press | Posted April 27 - 4:10 a.m. | Save Story
The top 100 prospects have been scooped up by NFL teams through the first three rounds of the draft. But there's plenty of potential difference-makers sitting there Saturday when Round 4 begins. In all, there will be 257 selections in the 2024 NFL draft, capped with the New York Jets owning the final pick in Round 7. So far, teams have selected 54 offensive players and 46 defenders.
Browns' draft picks from Michigan, Ohio State connected by horrific injury in last year's big game
Tom Withers, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 10:21 p.m. | Save Story
The Cleveland Browns selected two players in the NFL draft forever connected by a horrific injury. In Friday's third round, the team picked Michigan guard Zak Zinter, who broke his left leg against Ohio State on Nov. 25 when Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr., taken by the Browns in the second round, was accidentally thrown into him. Zinter fractured his tibia and fibula on a play that hushed a crowd of more than 100,000 fans inside Michigan Stadium. Zinter and Hall are now teammates. Zinter says he has no hard feelings toward Hall, knowing the play was an accident.
Defense becomes focus of NFL draft in Round 2 after Bills and Chargers get receivers early
Rob Maaddi, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 9:58 p.m. | Save Story
Defense became the focus of the NFL draft on Friday night after a record-setting 23 offensive players were selected in the first round. The Atlanta Falcons, who shocked everyone by taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, kicked off the shift by moving up to take Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro with the third pick of the second round. The Commanders then took Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton and a total of 20 defensive players went in a round that had seven trades as teams were wheeling and dealing to get their guy. The Titans took a chance on Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat with the 38th pick after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Elliss, Jenkins, McCaffrey join Harrison and Alt in following their fathers into the NFL
Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 9:43 p.m. | Save Story
Marvin Harrison Jr., Joe Alt, Kris Jenkins and Jonah Ellis have turned the NFL draft into a family affair. All sons of former NFL stars, they heard their names called in the draft in Detroit and are set to follow their fathers into pro football. Others could join them this weekend as Frank Gore Jr., Brenden Rice, Luke McCaffrey and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., are on the board for the final four rounds of the NFL draft. The Harrisons and the Alts became the 10th and 11th families since 1967 to have both a father and son selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
The long wait for the first running back to be drafted ends with Jonathon Brooks going 46th
Josh Dubow, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 9:37 p.m. | Save Story
The long wait for the first running back to be drafted is over. The Carolina Panthers traded up six spots to take Texas running back Jonathon Brooks with the 46th pick Friday night, the second-latest selection for the first running back to go off the board. The only draft that had a longer wait for a running back came in 2014, when Bishop Sankey was the first taken when he went 54th to Tennessee. The only other time in the common draft era starting in 1967 when no running backs were taken in the first round came two years ago.
Buffalo Bills open 2nd round of NFL draft by selecting Florida State receiver Keon Coleman
John Wawrow, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 9:28 p.m. | Save Story
The Buffalo Bills elected not to trade back in the NFL draft order for a third time, and addressed their most significant need by selecting Florida State receiver Keon Coleman to open the second round. The 20-year-old Coleman brings size and adept catching ability to a Josh Allen-led offense that traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans earlier this month and lost fourth-year player Gabe Davis to free agency. The Bills addressed another need at safety by selecting Utah's Cole Bishop 60th overall. Buffalo closed the day selecting fifth-year Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter at No. 95, leaving the team holding seven picks on Saturday.
First night of NFL draft averages 12.1 million viewers, a 6% increase over last year
The Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 8:57 p.m. | Save Story
The first round of the NFL draft on Thursday averaged 12.1 million viewers on television and digital platforms, a 6% increase over last year. It is the highest day one viewership since 2021, when there was an average audience of 12.6 million. The first round aired on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and the league's digital channels. The league and Nielsen said that 34.3 million viewers tuned in at some point to watch the coverage.
Four months after being fired by Atlanta, Arthur Smith is hitting the reset button in Pittsburgh
Will Graves, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 8:51 p.m. | Save Story
Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is hitting the reboot button with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith took over as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator in February after being fired by the Falcons following a third straight 7-10 season. The Steelers have overhauled their quarterback room by adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and selected talented young offensive linemen Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier in the draft. Smith says he and head coach Mike Tomlin share the same core philosophy and want to build a physical team that can run the ball. It's a philosophy that worked well for Smith when he was offensive coordinator in Tennessee in 2019 and 2020 before being hired by the Falcons.
NFL draft attendance record within reach in Detroit, Commissioner Roger Goodell tells fans on Day 2
Larry Lage, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 8:46 p.m. | Save Story
The NFL draft tour has not had a stop quite like the one in Detroit. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told fans that flooded downtown Detroit for a second straight day that an attendance record was set with 275,000 people on Thursday during the first round. Goodell says another 230,000 fans attended during Friday's second round. He challenged the crowd to show up 100,000 strong on Saturday to break Nashville's three-day record of 600,000 set in 2019. The NFL draft left its traditional home in New York a decade ago and took the show on the road, starting in Chicago.
Utah's Jonah Elliss becomes latest in family to join NFL, selected No. 76 overall to Broncos
Josh Furlong, KSL.com | Posted April 26 - 8:11 p.m. | Save Story
The former Utes defensive end had a year left of eligibility at Utah but decided to try his hand at being the latest member of the Elliss family to play in the NFL.
NFL to allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers during games
The Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 7:59 p.m. | Save Story
The NFL says it will allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games next season if they choose. The league is also expanding the use of the devices during practices. Defensive backs and receivers have joined the position groups now required to wear the caps during all contact practices. The NFL has mandated the caps' use at practices for some players since 2022. Quarterbacks, kickers and punters are the only remaining position groups not required to wear them during practice. No players will be required to wear the caps during games, but they now have the option to do so.
BYU's Kingsley Suamataia selected in 2nd round of 2024 NFL draft by Kansas City Chiefs
Sean Walker, KSL.com | Posted April 26 - 7:25 p.m. | Save Story
The former five-star offensive tackle who moved back home to play football at BYU after initially signing with Oregon has found a new home in the NFL.
Former Utes safety Cole Bishop selected No. 60 overall by Buffalo Bills in NFL draft
Josh Furlong, KSL.com | Posted April 26 - 7:16 p.m. | Save Story
Three years and several accolades later as a three-year starter at safety, Bishop became the latest defensive player from Utah drafted to the NFL.
No. 1 NFL draft pick Caleb Williams realizes all eyes are on him and he's embracing the attention
Andrew Seligman, Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 6:48 p.m. | Save Story
Caleb Williams was ready to embrace the attention after the Chicago Bears grabbed him with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The prized quarterback knows all eyes are on him in a city craving a consistent winner. Williams realizes he's going to be under scrutiny because he paints his nails and wears "funky clothes, things like that." But he also says he'll make a lot of people happy if he wins. The Bears have just three playoff appearances since the 2006 team advanced to the Super Bowl. Chicago's lone Super Bowl champion remains the 1985 team, but there's certainly a buzz blowing through the Windy City.
Corner Canyon's Jackson Powers-Johnson selected in 2nd round of NFL draft by Las Vegas
Sean Walker, KSL.com | Posted April 26 - 6:15 p.m. | Save Story
Jackson Powers-Johnson made the most of his only year as the starting center at Oregon. Now it's his time to make the most of his shot at the NFL.
QB Penix hears from Cousins, Vick after landing with Falcons as NFL draft first-round surprise pick
Charles Odum, Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 3:53 p.m. | Save Story
Michael Penix Jr., the biggest surprise of the NFL draft's first round, received a congratulatory call from Kirk Cousins even as Cousins' agent was second-guessing the Atlanta Falcons adding depth to their quarterback spot. Penix described the chat with Cousins as "a very good conversation" but would not say what was discussed. Penix may have been more excited by a text message from another left-handed Falcons quarterback named Michael. In his first news conference in Atlanta after he was the No. 8 overall draft pick by the Falcons, Penix beamed when talking about his text from Michael Vick.
Korey Cunningham, a former NFL lineman, found dead in his New Jersey home. He was 28
The Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 3:21 p.m. | Save Story
Korey Cunningham, an offensive lineman who played for three NFL teams during a five-year career, has died. He was 28. Police say Cunningham was found dead Thursday in his Clifton, New Jersey, home. Officers had gone to the home after a family member reported they could not contact Cunningham. The cause of death remains under investigation. Police said there was no evidence of foul play. Cunningham, drafted in the seventh round by Arizona in 2018 out of Cincinnati, also played for New England and the New York Giants. He did not play in the NFL in 2023.
After going 2nd in the NFL draft, Jayden Daniels is Washington's latest quarterback of the future
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 2:31 p.m. | Save Story
Jayden Daniels, after being picked second by the Commanders in the NFL draft, will get the next chance to be Washington's long-term solution at quarterback. The organization has had 20 different starting quarterbacks in the nearly two decades since its most recent playoff victory. Daniels or veteran Marcus Mariota in the season opener will make it 21 and the eighth different Week 1 starter in as many years. The pressure is on the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU to be the franchise QB whether he plays right away or not.
Several defensive playmakers are available in Round 2 of the NFL draft after historic offensive run
Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 12:23 p.m. | Save Story
The historic run on offensive players, especially quarterbacks, in the first round of the NFL draft pushed plenty of talented defenders down the board. It also pushed some first-round worthy defensive players into Round 2 on Friday. Those include Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Texas A&M inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
