NFL Draft 2024: First round takeaways + top 25 OL remaining on day two

Before we get into my top 25 OL remaining on the board for day two of the draft, here are a few takeaways and thoughts from round one:

• There were nine offensive linemen selected in the first round of the draft last night, tying 2022 and 2013 for the most over the last 12 draft classes (since 2012). Eight of the nine are projected to play tackle (at least to start), which is the most over that same span. The previous high was six offensive tackles selected in round one in 2020.

• Since 2012, the most offensive linemen selected in the first three rounds total were 23 in 2021, which was the first class that I started evaluating in full for Bleacher Report. This is the class I have most often compared to 2024, and I think there is a good shot that the record will be broken after tonight.

• As with most drafts (particularly on the interior OL), the bulk of the picks typically come on day two. Since 2012, the average number of day two offensive line picks is 11.7 (5.3 in round two and 6.4 in round three). I would peg the over/under for tonight to start at 14.

• As many as six of the nine drafted linemen last night are likely or expected to switch positions from their primary college position. This isn’t particularly rare, but here are the notable shifts:

  • Joe Alt LT to RT

  • JC Latham RT to LT

  • Graham Barton LT to C

  • Tyler Guyton RT to LT

  • Troy Fautanu LT to RT

    • Fautanu’s future position is up in the air, but it sounds like the Steelers will try him at tackle first. There’s a decent chance that will be on the right rather than his college spot at left considering GM Omar Khan recently remarked in February that last year’s first round pick, Broderick Jones, is the left tackle of the future. Considering Fautanu’s more versatile skill-set, this arrangement would make the most sense.

    • Jordan Morgan LT to ?

      • Morgan should at least get a crack at left tackle considering the Packers have former seventh round pick Rasheed Walker as their best option (although Walker played admirably in 2023 as a first-time starter). Right tackle is also an option if the team decides to move Zach Tom inside.

• The remaining three are expected to stick at their primary college position

  • Olu Fashanu LT for the Jets

  • Taliese Fuaga RT for the Saints

  • Amarius Mims RT for the Bengals

• You will see some of the players listed below with late fourth/early fifth round grades. Even though my grades largely lined up with the NFL’s on day one, those can and likely will start to vary considerably as we get further into the draft. I included players graded as early day three picks since it is likely some teams will like them more.

• Of the ten players named in my annual ‘My guys’ article, two were selected last night (Troy Fautanu & Graham Barton). They are outlined below with a ‘*MG’ note before their name.

• I recorded ten total film rooms with 2024 OL prospects, including four with players selected in round one.

  • Chargers 5th overall pick Joe Alt

  • Titans 7th overall pick JC Latham

  • Jets 10th overall pick Olu Fashanu

  • Bucs 26th overall pick Graham Barton

• The remaining six film rooms were with some of the players expected to be selected tonight.

  • Jackson Powers-Johnson

  • Zach Frazier

  • Christian Haynes

  • Christian Mahogany

  • Roger Rosengarten

  • Hunter Nourzad

Top 25 OL on the board

Each player’s scouting reports is linked to their name

School-Position-Name-Grade

Tier 1

1. Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson - 8.0 (Late 1st)

2. *MG West Virginia C Zach Frazier - 7.8 (Early 2nd)

3. Kansas State G/C Cooper Beebe - 7.7 (Early/Mid 2nd)

Tier 2

4. BYU T Kingsley Suamataia - 7.5 (Late 2nd)

5. *MG Kansas G/C Dominick Puni - 7.4 (Early 3rd)

6. *MG Connecticut G Christian Haynes - 7.3 (Early 3rd)

7. Houston T Patrick Paul - 7.2 (Mid 3rd)