NFL records snapped as megastar's move locked in

Caleb Williams swiftly walked on stage, looked out and screamed “Woooo! Yeah" and long-suffering Chicago Bears fans certainly felt his joy.

Williams is officially heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.

“My goal is to get into as far as February as I can,” he said, referring to the NFL playoffs.

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The superstar 2022 Heisman Trophy winner kicked off an historic NFL draft on Friday (AEST) that had five other teams selecting quarterbacks among the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10 and tying a record for the most in the first round.

Nearly the entire first half of the draft were offensive players.

A defensive player wasn’t selected until UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu went at No.15 to the Indianapolis Colts – the latest a first defensive player has ever gone.

The desperate Bears opened with the easy choice, taking Williams at No.1 after deciding weeks ago to bank on the USC standout, who isn't feeling the pressure.

"I don't think of it that way. That may be the narrative. For me, I handle my job," he said.

"I handle business on and off the field and then I go to work. I enjoy what I do. I love what I do. I'm in there with my guys and my guys are seeing me, they see how hard I work, their guy, their QB, and we go get it. We go win games together.

"That's the biggest thing is winning games together because I can't win a game by myself. Keenan Allen can't win a game by himself. And so making sure that we're all together, offence, defence, special teams, and we go get it."

Washington Commanders followed up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina's Drake Maye at No.3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks.

At No.8, the Atlanta Falcons made a stunning decision to choose Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. despite signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency.

Minnesota Vikings traded up one spot and took JJ McCarthy, who led Michigan to a national championship, to make it five QBs in the top 10 for the first time.

Denver Broncos would then choose Oregon's Bo Nix with the 12th pick, tying the 1983 draft with six QBs in the first round. Three of those became Hall of Famers — John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly.

Arizona Cardinals snapped the early QB trend, choosing Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr with the fourth pick.

Los Angeles Chargers opened the Jim Harbaugh era by taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt instead of giving Justin Herbert a star wide receiver to replace Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

New York Giants snatched up LSU receiver Malik Nabers at No.6. in the draft. Tennessee Titans took Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with the seventh pick and the Bears selected Washington wideout Rome Odunze at No.9.