It was a wild week at the NFL combine, and I wanted to sort through all of the event’s top risers, fallers and standouts for the 2024 NFL draft with a brand-new mock. And this time I’m going two full rounds with predictions for the opening 64 picks.
Which top prospects cemented their place in Round 1? Who made a statement and warrants a climb up the board? Which Day 2 sleepers impressed? We still have pro days and nearly two months of team visits to shift opinions, and looming free agency will shake up each team’s needs for the draft, but we’re getting more clarity on this class and the range in which each player could get picked.
So here’s my latest projections for the first and second rounds of April’s draft, including a few of the week’s 40-yard-dash stars and workout warriors. I even included a trade projection involving a pair of teams in the top 10.
ROUND 1
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Breaking his silence for the first time since January, Williams made it clear at the combine that he’d be “excited” about playing in Chicago. People I spoke with in Indianapolis last week were still under the impression that the Bears will ultimately trade quarterback Justin Fields, which would of course pave the way for Williams to end up in Chicago. And the talented signal-caller has all of the qualities that it takes to quickly become an NFL star. His arm talent, improvisational skills and accuracy would make him a strong fit for new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense.
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
It’s widely known that Washington will select a QB if it stays put at No. 2, but which one? I elected to go with Maye, as his prior experience in an Air Raid-style offense, his 6-foot-4, 223-pound size and ability to drive the ball downfield gives him the edge over LSU’s Jayden Daniels. The learning curve might not be as steep for him in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, and there is a lot of upside here with him throwing to receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.
Drake Maye ready to show teams who he is
Drake Maye talks to Laura Rutledge about meeting with teams and the advice he got from Philip Rivers.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
I’m still not convinced that the Patriots will ultimately take a quarterback at this spot — even though they should. They lack playmakers all over the roster, and both starting offensive tackles are scheduled to become free agents (Mike Onwenu and Trent Brown). They need more than just a starting quarterback, but with around $100 million in cap space, New England can fill holes in free agency and draft Daniels — an exceptional vertical passer with good touch on his throws — to build around him. The Heisman Trophy winner also has mobility traits to help mask some of the team’s deficiencies.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Harrison is a perfect match for Cards quarterback Kyler Murray, who isn’t shy about giving his receivers chances down the field. The top-ranked player on my board, Harrison is the prototype of a true WR1. He’s 6-3 and 209 pounds, but he has the traits of a smaller wideout, and his tape shows a wide catch radius and diverse route tree. He could help turn around this Arizona offense that could lose Marquise Brown to free agency next week.
Projected trade: Bears move up to land second top-five pick
The Bears already landed a franchise quarterback at No. 1 overall, but I have them moving up to get Williams some help on offense. I think Chicago could probably move from No. 9 to No. 5 for a pair of third-rounders (one this year and one next year), and considering it might…
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