The time has come for the 2024 NFL Draft, and a few Trojans are expected to hear their name called by the end of the three-day event in Detroit. Follow along here for live updates on the USC players taken in this year’s NFL Draft from Will Simonds and Nick Charles Currie.
Day 1: Round 1
Chicago Bears, Pick No. 1: Caleb Williams, QB
After months of waiting, Caleb Williams is the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
USC’s latest Heisman-winning quarterback will head to Chicago, the only team he visited in the pre-draft process. Williams will join fellow former Trojan Velus Jones Jr. in the Windy City, where he will aim to be the franchise’s first 4,000 yard passer in the franchise’s 105-year history.
Williams transferred to USC from Oklahoma, moving with head coach Lincoln Riley. In his first year as a Trojan, he threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions on his way to USC’s first Heisman Trophy since the newly-reinstated Reggie Bush. He also ran for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Williams was long-presumed the No. 1 overall pick, widely touted for his ability to throw with a wide variety of arm angles, impressive arm strength and athleticism, as well as his talent to escape from difficult situations. He’s got plenty of hype going into his rookie season, but Williams is entering into a pretty good situation with a Chicago squad coming off a 7-10 season in 2023.
Day 2: Rounds 2 & 3
Houston Texans, Pick No. 78: Calen Bullock, S
Calen Bullock is the second USC player off the board, heading out to an up-and-coming contender in the Texans. Bullock started at USC for three years and was a rare consistent piece for a defensive backfield that has struggled mightily over the past few seasons.
The Pasadena native has been praised for his range in coverage and penchant for finding the ball, with nine career interceptions. Ranked as one of the top safety prospects in the class, Bullock will have the chance to develop under head coach DeMeco Ryans and veteran safety Jimmie Ward. His tackling will need to improve, but Bullock’s ball skills give him the chance to be an important piece of the Texans’ defense of the future.
Green Bay Packers, Pick No. 88: MarShawn Lloyd, RB
MarShawn Lloyd is the third USC player off the board and the second on day two of the draft — he’s heading north to Green Bay. The transfer from South Carolina ran for 7.1 yards per carry and nine touchdowns last year in his only season with the Trojans. He’s also a threat as a pass catcher, adding another 232 yards on the ground to get him over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Lloyd is the fourth running back off the board and has been praised for his burst and ability to avoid tacklers. With the departure of Aaron Jones, Lloyd could contribute right away as a third-down back on a young, but talented Packers offense. He’ll be competing for snaps with free-agent signing Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon.
Day 3: Rounds 4-7
San Francisco 49ers, Pick No. 215: Jarrett Kingston, OL
Offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston is the fourth USC player off the board and the first to go on day three. The Washington State grad transfer has been praised for his movement skills and athleticism, but there are concerns about his arm length. He may project at center for the 49ers, who are weak along the interior, but Kingston did not play the position in college. He joins fellow Trojan Talanoa Hufanga, who became a first-team All-Pro for the Bay Area team.
Los Angeles Chargers, Pick No. 225: Brenden Rice, WR
Wide receiver Brenden Rice is the fifth USC player off the board and the second on day two of the draft. Rice, the son of NFL legend Jerry, transferred from Colorado after the 2021 season. He started at receiver during both of his years at USC.
Rice has been praised for his play strength and contested catching, as well as his red zone success — Rice scored 12 touchdowns for the Trojans in 2023. He was largely expected to be off the board by the fourth round, but fell — likely due to struggles generating separation. The Chargers receiving corps is a very thin group, so Rice may have a chance to contribute early in Jim Harbaugh’s first season in Los Angeles.
Houston Texans, Pick No. 238: Solomon Byrd, EDGE
Edge rusher Solomon Byrd is the sixth USC player off the board and the third on day three of the draft. He will join teammate Calen Bullock on DeMeco Ryans’ defense.
Byrd has a variety of pass rush moves in his arsenal and used them to great effect. He notched ten sacks in his two years with the Trojans, following his transfer from Wyoming. Byrd also forced four fumbles in 2023 as one of the team’s most impactful defenders.
Although Byrd was effective on the football field, his athletic testing likely put many teams off. As an undersized edge rusher, he only ran a 5.01 second 40-yard dash and managed 10 bench press reps of 225 lbs at USC’s pro day.
Miami Dolphins, Pick No. 241: Tahj Washington, WR
Wide receiver Tahj Washington is the seventh USC player off the board and the fourth on day three of the draft. The Memphis transfer spent three years at USC and never dipped below 50 receptions in a season, culminating in a 1,062-yard, eight-touchdown season in 2023. He heads to the Dolphins — a team which places heavy emphasis on its receiver talent, with the offense operating on the speed and talent of Tyreek Hill and Jayden Waddle.
Concerns have been raised about Washington’s size, but he has been praised for his contested catching, willingness to block and toughness. Tahj was not the only receiver named Washington to go to Miami this draft, with Virginia’s Malik Washington coming off the board in the sixth round.
Trojans signed as Undrafted Free Agents:
Austin Jones, RB — Washington Commanders
Christian Roland-Wallace, CB — Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Dedich, OL — Los Angeles Rams
DL Kyon Barrs was invited to the Tennessee Titans rookie minicamp for a tryout.