The Numbers Do Not Lie: Essential Takeaways From the 2024 NFL Draft

The national champion Michigan Wolverines had the most players drafted. 13 Wolverines were selected in the Draft.

Here are the universities that produced the most players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft:

• 13 Michigan Wolverines
• 11 Texas Longhorns
• 10 Alabama Crimson Tide
• 10 Florida State Seminoles
• 10 Washington Huskies

These numbers are not all that surprising. Four of the five schools/teams listed above were in the college football playoff last year. And, the exclusion of one of the five teams which was not (Florida State) was very controversial.

In any event, it makes sense that the college teams with the best players performed at the highest level.

The Numbers Do Not Lie: Wide Receiver and Defensive Back Were the Most Coveted Positions in the 2024 NFL Draft

Cornerback and wide receiver were the two most popular positions in the 2024 NFL Draft. Slightly over 14% of the players selected are cornerbacks. And, just about the same percentage are wide receivers.

Although teams made an early run on quarterbacks, only eleven quarterbacks were selected in the Draft. By contrast, 36 cornerbacks were selected, along with 35 wide receivers and 21 safeties.

From WR Marvin Harrision, Jr., selected No. 4 overall, through “Mr. Irrelevant”, Alabama safety Jaylen Key, the Draft was chock-full of selections of receivers and defensive backs.

Here is a breakdown of the number of players selected by position:

• 36 cornerbacks
• 35 wide receivers
• 28 interior offensive linemen
• 27 offensive tackles
• 24 defensive tackles
• 21 safeties
• 20 linebackers
• 20 edge rushers
• 19 running backs
• 12 tight ends
• 11 quarterbacks
• 3 place kickers
• 1 punter

The numbers are revealing about the direction and priorities of the NFL.

A premium is certainly put on top-end quarterback play, as demonstrated by the circumstance that the first three players selected, and six out of the first twelve, are quarterbacks. However, after that initial surge at the QB position, only five more quarterbacks were selected in the entire Draft.

The teams demonstrated that their focus is on play-making wide receivers and trying to contain those receivers with defensive backs.

Numbers of Offensive and Defensive Players Selected Are Roughly Equal

A total of 257 players were selected in seven rounds in the 2024 NFL Draft. 132 of them are offensive players, 121 are defensive players, and four are special teams players (a punter and three place kickers).

The focus of most teams in the first round was on offensive players, with over 70% of the selections in that round allocated to offensive players. In the end, however, that focus evened out.