The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25th. Last season, we saw the first defender come off the board with the 3rd overall pick. With all the QBs this year, the odds are that will not be the case this year, but when will the fittest defensive player go in the 2024 NFL Draft?
2024 NFL Draft: First Defensive Player Selected Odds
2024 NFL Draft: Favorites to be the First Defensive Player Selected
Dallas Turner was the 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and it is unsurprising that he is the favorite to be the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Turner picked up 14.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Tide last season.
The way the 2024 NFL Draft is expected to shake out, it makes the most sense that Turner will be selected 8th overall by the Atlanta Falcons. Picks 1-3 are expected to be quarterbacks, while picks 5-7 are expected to be skill players or linemen. It is possible a team trades up over Atlanta to select Turner earlier, but he is chalk to be selected first for good reason.
Latu was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, and his 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss cannot be ignored. At 23 years old, he is an older prospect, so teams may be slightly turned off by this. However, his production makes him an intriguing look in the 2024 NFL Draft.