Come Thursday night, a band will strike up, “Fight On.”
When quarterback Caleb Williams is selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick, USC will become the all-time college leader with six players being the top selection in the NFL draft. That will break a four-way tie between USC, Georgia, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
More history also could be made. If the top four picks are quarterbacks, that would be a record for the start of a draft. Three times before, in 1971, 1999 and 2021, the top three selections were quarterbacks.
If the Broncos trade up in the draft, they could make history for the earliest they've selected a quarterback. Jay Cutler went No. 11 in 2006 and Denver enters the Thursday through Saturday event in Detroit with the No. 12 selection.
Here’s a look at how the first round might unfold:
1. CHICAGO BEARS: CALEB WILLIAMS, QB, USC
The Bears had former Colorado State star Caleb Hanie as a quarterback from 2009-11, and he wasn’t very good in the NFL. But this Caleb will be a star and will excite Chicago for years to come.
2. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: JAYDEN DANIELS, QB, LSU
The Commanders brought Daniels to Washington along with other prospects to hang out at Topgolf. If he plays well for the Commanders, they can kick in a country club membership in his next contract.
3. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: DRAKE MAYE, QB, NORTH CAROLINA
The Patriots are dangling this pick to the highest bidder but in the end will realize they desperately need a quarterback. Did anybody notice Bill Belichick's mediocrity in New England when the Patriots no longer had Tom Brady?
4. ARIZONA CARDINALS: MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR, OHIO STATE
Monty Hall, er, Monti Ossenfort, will try to make a deal. The Cardinals general manager will play the Broncos and the Vikings against each other and try to drive up the price for the right to pick Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. If that doesn’t work, there won’t be a record for four quarterbacks taken first and the Cardinals will get a stud receiver.
5. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: J.J. McCARTHY, QB, MICHIGAN
The Vikings didn’t hire Jim Harbaugh when he interviewed for head coach in 2022, but the Chargers boss will be nice to Minnesota by selecting his former Michigan QB and sending him there. You better believe Harbaugh won't help the AFC West-rival Broncos.
6. NEW YORK GIANTS: ROME ODUNZE, WR, WASHINGTON
The Giants aren’t ready to dump Daniel Jones after giving him a crazy four-year, $160 million contract extension last year, so they will give him another weapon in Odunze. If Jones still falters, that will be it for him in New York.
7. TENNESSEE TITANS: JOE ALT, T, NOTRE DAME
At 6-foot-9, Alt is even bigger than 6-8 Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey, who also went to Notre Dame. He should be the Titans’ left tackle for years to come and also would make a good addition if they form an offseason basketball team.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS: DALLAS TURNER, EDGE, ALABAMA
When Turner was last at Mercedes Benz Stadium, he was dominant defensively in Alabama’s 27-24 win over the home-state Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC title game. The folks in Atlanta, though, now will embrace this rugged pass rusher.
9. CHICAGO BEARS: MALIK NABERS, WR, LSU
The Bears have landed Williams as their quarterback of the future and he now needs a neighbor in Chicago. Make that a Nabers. The LSU wide receiver will be a valuable weapon.
10. NEW YORK JETS: BROCK BOWERS, TE, GEORGIA
Bowers is from Napa, Calif., just down the road from Aaron Rodgers’ native Chico. The two will have lots to talk about and they can hook up for lots of passes.
11. MINNESOTA VIKINGS, BYRON MURPHY II, DT, TEXAS
Will the Vikings keep this pick or deal it? Regardless, foes don’t like to deal with the 6-foot, 300-pound Murphy, who once did a front-squat lift of 455 pounds.
12. DENVER BRONCOS, BO NIX, QB, OREGON
This is a reach at No. 12. But Sean Payton will choose Denver’s next quarterback, and if likes Nix a lot, nobody is going to nix it. But the Broncos would make out the best if they could trade down and get Nix while also accumulating additional assets.
13. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS, QB, MICHAEL PENIX JR., WASHINGTON
The Raiders had the NFL’s first great left-handed quarterback in Ken Stabler, who led them to a Super Bowl win in the 1976 season. So why not grab another in Penix.
14. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: JC LATHAM, T, ALABAMA
His real name is Jerome and his father’s name also is Jerome. But don’t call this 6-6, 342-pound intimidator “Junior.” He will help protect Derek Carr after Carr's up-and-down first year with the Saints.
15. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: TERRION ARNOLD, CB, ALABAMA
Arnold has talked about learning lessons while working up high for Arnold’s Roofing Enterprises, the company his grandfather owns in Tallahassee, Fla. He should now do just fine under the roof at Lucas Oil Stadium.
16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: TROY FAUTANU, G, WASHINGTON
The Seahawks won’t have to pay moving expenses for Fautanu, who makes the six-mile trip from playing games at Husky Stadium to helping anchor the line at Lumen Field.
17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: QUINYON MITCHELL, CB, TOLEDO
It will be a bit of a homecoming for Mitchell, who grew up 90 miles southwest of Jacksonville in the hamlet of Williston, Fla., population 3,000.
18. CINCINNATI BENGALS: TALIESE FUAGA, T, OREGON STATE
From Anthony Munoz to Willie Anderson to Andrew Whitworth, the Bengals have had a fine line of top tackles. Welcome to the jungle, Taliese.
19. LOS ANGELES RAMS: LAIATU LATU, EDGE, UCLA
Wake up, Rams officials. You’re actually on the clock in the first round. With their first pick in the first round since 2016, the Rams grab a slick pass rusher from just down the road.
20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: JARED VERSE, EDGE, FLORIDA STATE
The Steelers already have T.J. Watt terrorizing quarterbacks and now add another highly touted pass rusher. Could a sequel to the Steel Curtain be in the works?
21. MIAMI DOLPHINS: BRIAN THOMAS JR., WR LSU
Dolphins coach and mad scientist Mike McDaniel has been concocting all sorts of stuff in his offensive laboratory. He now gets another intriguing potion to test out.
22. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: NATE WIGGINS, CB, CLEMSON
Philadelphia fans chant “Fly Eagles Fly,’’ but lately too many footballs from opposing quarterbacks have been flying down the field for big gains. Philly looks to fix its shaky pass defense with help from an athletic cornerback.
23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: CHOP ROBINSON, EDGE, PENN STATE
Robinson, whose original nickname at birth was “Pork Chop,’’ actually had an NIL in college with the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council. In case you’re wondering, there is a Minnesota Pork Board.
24. DALLAS COWBOYS: GRAHAM BARTON, C, DUKE
A center in the first round? Well, the Cowboys took Travis Frederick in the first round in 2013 and he made five Pro Bowls in six active seasons before retiring due to health issues.
25. GREEN BAY PACKERS: OLU FASHANU, T, PENN STATE
Ever since the days of the power sweep, offensive linemen have had a special place in the hearts of Packers fans. They should applaud getting quarterback Jordan Love another bodyguard.
26. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: AMARIUS MIMS, T, GEORGIA
He’s one of the heavier players in the draft but his resume is light on experience. Mims started just eight of the 30 games he played at Georgia, but he’s got all sorts of upside.
27. ARIZONA CARDINALS: KOOL-AID McKINSTRY, CB, ALABAMA
McKinstry’s favorite flavor now can become cherry, which one presumes is the closest color to Cardinal red.
28. BUFFALO BILLS: XAVIER WORTHY, WR, TEXAS
Perhaps the snow and wind will slow him down a at home games, but this guy could end up being the NFL’s fastest player. He ran a dazzling 40-yard dash in a record 4.21 seconds at the combine.
29. DETROIT LIONS: COOPER DeJEAN, CB, IOWA
Here’s a guy who should get a big round of applause when taken by the hometown Lions. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and had an interception against Michigan State.
30. BALTIMORE RAVENS: TYLER GUYTON, T, OKLHAOMA
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was the NFL MVP and rushed for 821 yards, but he still was sacked 37 times. Enter the 6-8, 322-pound Guyton, big enough to plug a lot of holes.
31. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: DARIUS ROBINSON, EDGE, MISSOURI
The 49ers took a Missouri edge rusher in the 2011 first round in Aldon Smith, and he had 33.5 sacks his first two seasons. His career was derailed by off-the-field issues, but they’ll try again with a Tigers pass rusher.
32. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: LADD McCONKEY, WR, GEORGIA
McConkey won two national titles at Georgia and would love to add some rings with the Chiefs, who have won three of the past five Super Bowls.
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