During an historic week in Detroit, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer broke some news ahead of the Lions' fourth-round selection on Saturday.

Whitmer announced that the 2024 NFL draft broke the draft attendance record with 700,000 fans and counting. In 2019, Nashville set the previous record after drawing 600,000 fans over a three-day span.

"We have shown the world what the Motor City is about," Whitmer said.

Kirk Cousins' position as the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback of the foreseeable future has not changed after the team's stunning first-round NFL draft decision, according to new coach Raheem Morris.

The Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 pick Thursday night. The choice sent shockwaves across the NFL since Atlanta had just signed Cousins as a free agent last month to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million, with $100 million of that guaranteed.

At the Falcons' post-draft media availability Saturday, Morris halted any quarterback controversy.

It turned out all of those conversations the Denver Broncos had in recent weeks with the New York Jets weren't just about quarterback Zach Wilson.

The Broncos stayed busy on Day 3 of the draft Saturday as they acquired defensive end John Franklin-Myers from the Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

The Philadelphia Eagles tied an NFL record for most trades in a seven-round draft with eight. They join the 2023 Houston Texans and 2018 New England Patriots for most draft-day trades since 1990.

The wheeling and dealing by general manager Howie Roseman kicked into overdrive Saturday, as Philadelphia executed five different trades on Day 3.

Alabama safety Jaylen Key said it was "pretty nerve-wracking" waiting seven hours Saturday to hear his name called on Day 3 of the NFL draft. When he learned he had been picked by the New York Jets, he knew exactly what that meant.

He was Mr. Irrelevant.

"It means everything; that's part of the title," Key said on a video conference with New York-area reporters. "You just have to take it and lean into it. For me, I'm definitely going to lean into every bit of it. I'm Mr. Irrelevant this year, and we're going to make something shake, for sure."

The Dallas Cowboys have yet to fill their running back need, but the return of Ezekiel Elliott looks more and more likely.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones would not say the Cowboys have an agreement in place with Elliott, who played for Dallas from 2016 to 2022, but he has acknowledged interest in Elliott.

The Philadelphia Eagles moved up in the second round to select Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean. 

The Eagles traded both of their second-round picks - Nos. 50 and 53 - along with a fifth-round pick to the Washington Commanders for picks 40 and 78.

DeJean was a projected first round pick, but was still available at No. 40.

DeJean totaled seven interceptions and 13 passes defensed over the past two seasons for Iowa while also making an impact as a punt returner.

The Minnesota Vikings traded up twice on Thursday night to draft quarterback J.J. McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner.

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team didn't want to look back and feel they missed out on something.

Minnesota moved up from No. 11 to No. 10 for McCarthy and from No. 23 to No. 17 to take Turner.

"You know, we're always talking about minimizing regret," Adofo-Mensah said. "If you're sitting on your couch one day, and you're like, 'That extra fifth [-round pick] or whatever it was, and you could have had a chance at a guy you think could be special,' you're never going to care about that fifth-round pick. And there's ways of getting it back. Obviously, I'm a spreadsheet guy myself, but sometimes, you've got to step out from there, take your Clark Kent glasses off, have a championship mindset and swing for a great player."

The Atlanta Falcons surprised many when they used the No. 8 pick on Michael Penix, a month after giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract.

The Falcons weren't the only team highly interested in Penix.

According to a report, the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders all attempted to trade into the top 10 for the former Washington quarterback.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted a wide receiver on Thursday night, but the team says that doesn't mean they'll trade someone like Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, which has led to plenty of trade speculation.

John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that there had been discussions with other teams, but no deals came close to happening.

Asked late Thursday night if such a trade could still happen heading into Friday, Lynch and Shanahan again didn't sound like a deal for either player was imminent, though they didn't close the door completely.

"It doesn't seem that likely to be honest," Shanahan said. "But I'm still on the table. If someone offered [owner] Jed [York] and John good stuff for me, I'm going to be out of here."