With the 2024 NFL Draft order set up until the playoff teams, the franchises picking at the top will now begin to do their homework on some of the top prospects come April. The end of the 2023 NFL regular season yielded more clarity on the draft order. Officially, the Chicago Bears are now picking first overall thanks to the Carolina Panthers.
The Bears could hold still with that No. 1 pick and take a QB, or they could trade down and perhaps build around Justin Fields. It does seem like the Bears would take a QB and reset at the position, as Fields is not a franchise passer, but anything could happen.
And then other teams picking near the top may also draft a QB. The Washington Commanders are a very interesting team, as they have a fresh ownership group and recently fired Ron Rivera. They could be in the market for a QB as well. Let's try to craft a 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bears, Commanders land new quarterbacks?
1. Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams, QB, USC
There really is only one correct pick here. Justin Fields has shown nothing to indicate that he can be a franchise QB in the NFL, so the Bears would be wise to trade Fields to the highest bidder, get a draft pick for him, and reset with USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who does have a ton of similarities to Patrick Mahomes.
Williams would be a Week 1 starter and would inject some life into the Chicago Bears franchise. With the Bears defense turning it around in 2023, this team could be dangerous in 2024 with Caleb Williams under center.
2. Washington Commanders, Drake Maye, QB, UNC
This is a no-brainer pick for the Washington Commanders. Unless they get an unspeakably insane haul for the No. 2 pick, they should hold still and select Drake Maye, who is likely going to be there at No. 2 for them. Maye seems to compares nicely to Justin Herbert at the next level. Maye is an insane athlete who can truly make any throw on the football field, and he's also huge.
Maye might be the best overall QB prospect in a while.
3. New England Patriots, Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
The top three selections won't be traded in this mock draft. The Patriots have not be able to draft wide receivers for what feels like forever now. Well, with Marvin Harrison Jr, they land the best non-QB prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. Harrison comes into the NFL perhaps already being a top-10 player at his position.
And is obviously the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, so he's got NFL in his DNA, which is a huge bonus. Harrison is going to be a stud at the next level.
4. Atlanta Falcons (via ARI), Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Trade! Our first trade of the 2024 NFL Draft sees the QB-hungry Atlanta Falcons trading up four spots with the Arizona Cardinals. They get the third-best QB prospect in this cycle with Jayden Daniels out of LSU, an electric player who is also a pretty well-rounded prospect. This would be a huge get for Atlanta, and the Cardinals trade down to the Falcons No. 8 pick.
Arizona has a franchise QB and just added more draft capital to bolster their subpar roster.
5. Los Angeles Chargers, Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Los Angeles Chargers need to get the most out of what they have with Justin Herbert. Herbert's two top targets in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are either old or always hurt. So, the Chargers land a unicorn at the TE position with Brock Bowers out of Georgia. Bowers is an insane receiving threat and would slide right in as the TE1 in LA for years.
6. New York Giants, Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The New York Giants need help along their offensive line, wide receiver, and at QB. Well, in this mock draft, they land a top WR prospect in Malik Nabers from LSU. Nabers is coming from a great wide receiver school and has over 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last two seasons. He's a bonafide top-10 pick in April.
7. Tennessee Titans, Joe Alt, LT, Notre Dame
How about this for the Tennessee Titans? They hold still at their No. 7 selection and land arguably the best OT prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. Joe Alt is a polished player who comes from a great OL school in Notre Dame, which has churned out OL prospects like Quenton Nelson, Ronnie Stanley, and Mike McGlinchey.
Joe Alt is a Week 1 starter at LT and is going to protect the blindside of Will Levis in 2024. We'll see if Levis can make the jump in year two. Getting him some OL help is a great start.
8. Arizona Cardinals, Olu Fashanu, LT, Penn State
Building up the offensive line is going to be the name of the game for the Arizona Cardinals, who lost LT DJ Humphries to a torn ACL late this year. The Cardinals can cut Humphries and save nearly $16 million in 2024. With this pick of Olu Fashanu, they have a young tackle tandem of him and Paris Johnson Jr. Protecting Kyler Murray is a huge priority, and this move may also allow Arizona to make a splash iOL signing in 2024.
The Cardinals also need to add talent to their WR room.
9. Chicago Bears, Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Bears add more help on offense after taking Caleb Williams with their top pick. Keon Coleman is a stud at the position and might be the perfect compliment to stud WR DJ Moore. Williams would have one of the best WR duos in the NFL if the Bears go this route and add the 6'4" Coleman in round one.
10. New York Jets, JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The New York Jets need to protect Aaron Rodgers in 2024, so they draft JC Latham out of Alabama. I think the Jets could try Latham at LT first, but he has primarily played RT at Alabama. He's got plenty enough talent to play LT at the next level, and obviously it's important for the Jets to protect Rodgers' blindside.