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Mike Fanelli looks at why the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Houston Texans don't have a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The 2024 NFL Draft is nearly here. There will be 32 picks in the first round this year after only 31 in 2023 because of illegal tampering by the Miami Dolphins.
Three teams have multiple picks in the first round this year. The Chicago Bears own the first and ninth selections, the Arizona Cardinals are picking fourth and 27th overall, while the Minnesota Vikings have the 11th and 23rd picks on Day 1.
Unfortunately, that means the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Houston Texans won’t make a pick until the second round of the NFL Draft. Let’s look at why each team doesn’t have a first-round selection.
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Cleveland Browns
The Browns haven’t had a first-round pick in the past three NFL Drafts because of the Deshaun Watson trade. Cleveland sent multiple draft picks, including three consecutive first-round selections, to the Texans for the star quarterback during the 2022 offseason. Unfortunately, that trade hasn’t worked out well for the Browns, as Watson has played 12 games since joining the team.
As it turns out, the compensation on the blockbuster trade has changed: Browns now are giving up six draft picks for Deshaun Watson; also instead of giving up a 2024 5th-round pick, it’s now a 2024 6th-round pick, per today’s wire. pic.twitter.com/Y98WFPmYeE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2022
Cleveland does have five picks in this year’s NFL Draft, with its first selection coming in the second round at 54th overall.
Carolina Panthers
Last year, the Panthers made a blockbuster move with the Bears to acquire the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carolina sent Chicago multiple early-round draft picks and DJ Moore for the top selection. Unfortunately, the Panthers traded away their 2024 first-round pick to the Bears as part of that deal. That pick became the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s draft.
Major draft shakeup 🚨 🚨 🚨
Sources say the #Bears are trading the No. 1 overall pick to the #Panthers in exchange for big-time compensation including multiple 1st rounders. Chicago loads up and lands at No. 9, while Carolina can draft its QB of the future. pic.twitter.com/DNvYMStoxd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2023
Carolina has seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including two early second-round selections. They will pick 33rd and 39th overall after acquiring a second-round pick from the New York Giants earlier this offseason for Brian Burns.
Houston Texans
The Texans made two first-round picks in the 2022 and 2023 NFL Draft, thanks to their trade with the Browns. Houston traded away its first-round pick this year to the Cardinals during the 2023 NFL Draft, leaving it with only Cleveland’s top selection. However, the Texans no longer have that first-round pick, trading it to Minnesota a few weeks ago for a second-round pick in 2024 and 2025.
Draft trade! The #Vikings have acquired the #Texans’ first-round pick (No. 23 overall) for a package that includes second-rounders this year and next, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Minnesota gets:
No. 23
No. 232Houston gets:
No. 42
No. 188
2nd-rounder in ‘25 pic.twitter.com/Oc2zQnCgCK— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2024
Houston has nine picks in the NFL Draft this year, including two second-round selections. It got the 42nd overall pick from the Vikings in the trade a few weeks ago and a second-round selection at 59th overall.
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