#1 versus #2 highlights weekly NFL schedule … It doesn’t happen all that often, but there’s a head-to-head match-up between the first two players selected at the 2024 draft when Houston plays at Carolina in an early game Sunday afternoon. Texans’ QB CJ Stroud was taken with the 2nd pick overall this past April, while the Panthers’ QB Bryce Young was the first player chosen. Interestingly, while Young was clearly the favorite of just about every team in the league, Stroud has gotten off to the better start so far this season. Stroud has only completed just under 60% of his pass attempts, but has been getting the ball down the field as he is averaging a solid 7.8 yards yards per throw and is on pace to throw for almost 4,700 yards; for good measure, Stroud has also thrown 9 TD passes with just one pick as he has led the Texans to three wins already this fall. Young, on the other hand is still looking for his first pro W as a pro as he is throwing for fewer than 200 yards per game, while tossing for 6 TDs against 4 picks. This game also will have an impact on the 2024 selection order as the Panthers, the NFL’s last remaining winless team, are currently sitting on the first pick overall in the current selection order for the upcoming draft, although the pick actually belongs to Chicago as a result of the trade last spring that brought Young to Carolina.
Whatever happens in Carolina, there will be some shuffling of the current draft order as there a number of games involving sub-.500 teams. Chicago, which also currently has the third pick courtesy of their 2-5 record, for example, will be in LA to play the 2-4 Chargers, and they’ll have to do it with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent at QB as Justin Fields is still injured. Elsewhere, the Jets (3-3) will play the Giants (2-5) in New York, Minnesota (3-4) plays at Green Bay (2-4) and New Orleans (3-4) will be at Indianapolis (3-4). On the other hand, the other teams currently sitting on high 2024 picks look to be in tough. Arizona, which currently sits at #2 hosts Baltimore, while #4 Denver gets Kansas City and #6 New England plays at Miami. As usual, the full first round selection order will be updated after Monday night’s game.
