2024 NFL Mock Draft: History Made With QBs Going in First Four Picks

Six signal-callers are taken with the first 13 selections along with 10 offensive linemen, five wide receivers and five corners in the first round.

Drake Maye spent much of the 2023 season as the projected No. 2 pick, but the Commanders may prefer another QB at that slot. / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, I unveiled my NFL all-trades mock draft. So now I’m going to give you all the true results of the 2024 NFL draft.

You’re welcome.

Below, I’m going to dive into the first round of the upcoming draft, including three hypothetical trades. There’s also a bit of history being made, with four quarterbacks going in the first four picks.

But I’ll start with former USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who heads to the Windy City.

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina)
Pick: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

This is the easiest pick to make in years. Let’s move on.

2. Washington Commanders
Pick: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The Commanders have to make a choice between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. And while Maye was the clear-cut No. 2 option behind Williams throughout the 2023 season, Daniels burst onto the scene by winning the Heisman Trophy with 4,946 total yards and 50 touchdowns.

3. New England Patriots
Pick: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

If Maye gets to this point, the Patriots shouldn’t hesitate. New England has to find Tom Brady’s successor, and Maye gives it that opportunity. If there’s an opportunity to trade down for a haul of picks, that also must be considered.

4. Minnesota Vikings
TRADE: Nos. 11 and 23 to Cardinals for Nos. 4, 66 and 104
Pick: J.J McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Minnesota didn’t acquire an additional first-round pick to sit around. Look for the Vikings to get into the top five, likely to select Maye or McCarthy. In this instance, it’s McCarthy, making this the first time in draft history that quarterbacks have been the top four picks.

Former Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. could be the first non-quarterback off the board. / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

5. Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

What a situation for the Chargers. After trading Keenan Allen and releasing Mike Williams, Justin Herbert is without quality receivers. Suddenly, Los Angeles would get cheaper and potentially more explosive at the position with Harrison. Last year with the Buckeyes, Harrison had 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 scores.

6. New York Giants
Pick: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Giants have the league’s worst receiving corps. General manager Joe Schoen can’t sit around once more and try to coax a good year from Daniel Jones with Darius Slayton as the top option. Odunze was a force with the Huskies, catching 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. Run the pick in.

7. Tennessee Titans
Pick: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

In a class flush with offensive tackles, Alt is the best. The former Golden Domer is a hulking 6'8" and 321 pounds, giving him ideal size to hold down Will Levis’s blind side. With Alt and last year’s first-round pick Peter Skoronski, Tennessee would be building a terrific offensive line.

8. Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

The first defender off the board, Turner is a pure pass rusher who would give the Falcons a much-needed presence in their front seven. Last year with the Crimson Tide, he notched 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. After previously spending first-rounders galore on offense, it’s time GM Terry Fontenot goes the other way.

9. Chicago Bears
Pick: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Nabers is the third receiver off the board, finishing off the top trio everyone has been talking about. With the Bears, he joins a receiver group including DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, albeit with Allen only having a year left on his deal at 32 years old. In the future, it’s Moore and Nabers for Caleb Williams.

10. New York Jets
Pick: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Jets need to fix their offensive line. Nothing else matters if Aaron Rodgers is looking up from the turf every other play. New York currently has a pair of 33-year-old tackles in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, but the team needs to get younger and better up front.

Edge rusher Jared Verse was a two-time first-team All-American at Florida State, racking up nine sacks in each of the last two years. / Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY

11. Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota)
Pick: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

With their first of three picks in this mock, the Cardinals decide to improve the defense. There’s an argument for Verse being the first defender off the board, as he dominated for the Seminoles with 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. He’s a perfect fit in coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense.

12. Denver Broncos
Pick: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Are the Broncos going to go for the best player available, or a quarterback? With Sean Payton at the helm, it feels like a signal-caller will be the choice. While Nix struggled during his time at Auburn, he thrived at Oregon, throwing for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and only three interceptions in 2023. He’s a risk, but a worthwhile one.

13. Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Penix is a fascinating prospect. He is 24 years old and is an injury risk after two ACL tears in college. But, he is also a terrific thrower of the ball and someone who dominated at Washington with 67 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions across two seasons. The Raiders must find a quarterback, and Penix is an intriguing choice.

14. Cincinnati Bengals
TRADE: Nos. 18 and 97 to the Saints for No. 14
Pick: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

With Bowers falling to the middle of the first round, the Bengals make their move. Cincinnati is likely going to lose receiver Tee Higgins, but adding Bowers cushions that loss for Joe Burrow. If the Bengals can get Bowers and only give up a late third-rounder as the cost, it’s a no-brainer.

15. Indianapolis Colts
Pick: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Indianapolis was able to re-sign corner Kenny Moore II, but he plays in the slot. The Colts still need help on the boundary, and Mitchell provides it. He is arguably the best corner in this class despite coming from a smaller program at Toledo, and would fit as a Day 1 starter for Indianapolis.

16. Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

Seattle could go a litany of different ways here, but improving on the interior might be the best choice. Fautanu is a local product who can play all over the line, and with Abe Lucas and Charles Cross at tackle, he slides inside. This isn’t a sexy pick for GM John Schneider, but it’s a smart one.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Last year, the Jaguars ranked 26th against the pass. Then the offseason saw Darious Williams leave as a cap casualty, with the big replacement being a journeyman in Ronald Darby. Wiggins would be an immediate upgrade to a secondary that needs a star corner.

18. New Orleans Saints (via Cincinnati)
Pick: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Fuaga would be a steal here. After drafting Trevor Penning in the 2022 first round, it might be time to start looking at his replacement as things haven’t worked out. Paired with Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans would have an elite tackle combo if Fuaga fulfills his potential.

Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II helped Texas qualify for the College Football Playoff by racking up five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. / Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

19. Los Angeles Rams
Pick: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

The Rams can go a variety of ways. They could add a corner such as Terrion Arnold, or bolster a defensive line without the retired Aaron Donald. The latter seems more important, so GM Les Snead goes with Murphy, who could be a disruptor on the inside from the start.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mims is a fascinating prospect. He has only started eight games as a college player, but his tape is outrageous. The Steelers took Broderick Jones, another Georgia product, last year. Now, Pittsburgh can double back and try to fortify its offensive line for the next decade should it hit twice.

21. Miami Dolphins
Pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon

The Dolphins have to figure out the interior of their offensive line. Robert Hunt left for $100 million with the Carolina Panthers, while last year’s center, Connor Williams, tore his ACL in December and remains a free agent. Powers-Johnson would be a huge addition for Miami, which is trying to win its first division title since 2008.

22. Buffalo Bills 
TRADE: Nos. 28, 128, 133, 163 to the Eagles for No. 22
Pick: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Buffalo needs to make this move if it’s available. The Bills desperately need a receiver after trading away Stefon Diggs, and if Thomas is still on the board come the early 20s, it’s time for GM Brandon Beane to make his move. Thomas would instantly upgrade Buffalo’s questionable receiving corps.

23. Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota, Houston and Cleveland)
Pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

After adding a pass rusher with his first pick, GM Monti Ossenfort looks at the back end of the defense this time. With Arnold still on the board, the Cardinals get a potentially elite corner who gives them a cornerstone in the secondary alongside star safety Budda Baker.

24. Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Graham Barton, OL, Duke

Barton is a great fit for the Cowboys, who lost center Tyler Biadasz in free agency while also seeing longtime left tackle Tyron Smith sign with the Jets. Barton played tackle in college, but many believe his destiny is at center in the NFL. With the Cowboys, either fit is plausible and an upgrade.

25. Green Bay Packers
Pick: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Latham would be an ideal pick for the Packers, who need to address the offensive line with David Bakhtiari gone. Pairing Latham with a young, ascending player in Zach Tom would give quarterback Jordan Love terrific protection off both edges for years to come.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

A two-year starter, Robinson would give the Buccaneers another pass rusher on their front and a third first-round pick for this unit in four years. Tampa Bay could also try and upgrade its secondary after trading away Carlton Davis, but Robinson’s value here is too great to ignore.

Xavier Worthy boosted his draft stock by running the 40-yard dash in record time (4.21 seconds). / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston)
Pick: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Worthy ran a record-setting 40-yard dash at the combine (4.21), and while his 6'1”, 170-pound frame is scary, his talent and traits are evident. After taking two defenders, the Cardinals have to add help on offense for Kyler Murray. Worthy fits the bill after he caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards for the Longhorns last year.

28. Philadelphia Eagles (via Buffalo)
Pick: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Philadelphia needs to fix its secondary. After adding Bryce Huff and keeping Josh Sweat on a restructured deal, there’s no need for an edge rusher. DeJean is a perfect pick for the Eagles, who can play immediately alongside veterans Darius Slay and James Bradberry before increasing his snaps with time.

29. Kansas City Chiefs
TRADE: Nos. 32 and 131 to DET for No. 29
Pick: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Chiefs love offensive lineman from Oklahoma, including Creed Humphrey and Orlando Brown Jr. Guyton could be GM Brett Veach’s latest foray from the Sooners, stepping in to be the stalwart at left tackle for Patrick Mahomes. After signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Kansas City’s clear need is protecting Mahomes’s blindside.

30. Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

The Ravens lost a litany of starters in the offseason, including guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson, and tackle Morgan Moses. Baltimore would do well to land Morgan, who at 6'5" and 311 pounds could be a fixture protecting for Lamar Jackson.

31. San Francisco 49ers
Pick: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

With so many tackles off the board, the 49ers can circle back on Day 2 and take a corner. Rakestraw would be a plug-and-play corner alongside All-Pro Charvarius Ward. And if Ward has only one year left in the Bay Area, Rakestraw could be his replacement.

32. Detroit Lions (via Kansas City)
Pick: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA 

Detroit already has Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill up front, and adding Latu would give the Lions one of the premier defensive lines in the NFL. With the Bruins, Latu registered 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2023.