NFL Overreactions: First Round of the 2024 NFL Draft
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down some of the biggest shocks (and expected picks) of the NFL Draft on night one.
Sports Seriously
Offense stole the show early in the 2024 NFL Draft, but there were some excellent defenders taken in the first round as well. Which defensive rookie will be the biggest contributor this season?
Opening odds are out for the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) award, and new Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner is the early favorite. In his last season at Alabama, Turner recorded 10 sacks and forced two fumbles. Entering the draft, many saw the Fort Lauderdale, Florida native as the top defender in the class.
UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defender off of the board instead, heading to the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 15 overall pick. Latu is just behind Turner in DROY odds.
Here are the full opening odds for the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday.
2024 NFL DRAFT: Team-by-team look at all 257 selections
2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
1. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings (+500)
The Vikings brought in edge rusher Jonathan Greenard in free agency off of a 12.5-sack season. In the first round, Minnesota got a dynamic pass-rusher to pair with him on its defensive front, coming off of a double-digit sack season of his own.
Turner will have the chance to get after opposing quarterbacks under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who can help get the most out of his young stars on that side of the ball.
2. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts (+750)
Latu, the first defensive player taken in the draft, closed out his collegiate career with back-to-back years with double-digit sacks. He now joins a Colts team that hasn’t had a pass-rusher with more than 9.5 sacks since Justin Houston in 2019.
Latu is a new potential cornerstone who will help boost defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s squad further after it finished top five in pass-rush win rate last season.
3. Jared Verse, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams (+800)
With their first first-round pick since 2016, the Rams added a necessary piece to their defensive line following future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s retirement. Verse had a lot of success in Florida State’s defense over the last two years and helped lead the Seminoles to an undefeated regular season and ACC championship
The Pennsylvania native will also get to play alongside Florida State teammate and fellow defensive lineman Braden Fiske at the pro level. General manager Les Snead’s decision to draft both players led to one of the most heartwarming interactions of this year’s draft.
4. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (+900)
The Eagles stocked up on secondary help with their first two selections in the draft, the first of which they used on Mitchell. The Toledo product was one of the pre-draft process’s biggest risers after dominating in Senior Bowl practices earlier this year and running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Mitchell will join fellow rookie Cooper DeJean – who is tied for sixth in current DROY odds – in a revamped Eagles defensive backfield.
5. Terrion Arnold, CB, Detroit Lions (+1000)
Arnold was one of the most productive cornerbacks in all of FBS last year, finishing with top-six marks in interceptions (5) and passes defended (12). He’s also an excellent tackler in run support.
The Lions had several spots in their secondary locked down with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch at the safety spots, but they needed another cornerback to pair with free-agent signing Carlton Davis III. Arnold should be that guy in Detroit and fits perfectly into the hard-nosed style of football head coach Dan Campbell loves.
T-6. Byron Murphy, IDL, Seattle Seahawks (+1300)
T-6. Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (+1300)
8. Chop Robinson, EDGE, Miami Dolphins (+2000)
T-9. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, New Orleans Saints (+2500)
T-9. Nate Wiggins, CB, Baltimore Ravens (+2500)
When does the 2024 NFL season start?
The 2024 NFL season will begin with the annual NFL Kickoff game on September 5. As reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs will be the hosts of the game. Their opponent is still to be announced.
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