2024 NFL Mock Draft: Big-Name QBs Tumble, WRs Break 1st-Round Record

This early projection for the 2024 NFL Draft features a WR class of historic proportions, and some top quarterbacks free-falling.

Luke Easterling | Dec 17, 2023

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Big-Name QBs Tumble, WRs Break 1st-Round Record /

Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix were both in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation as finalists for this year's college football MVP award, but will they have to wait a while to hear their names called in the 2024 NFL Draft?

That's what happens in the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network, which has both of these star quarterbacks from the Pac-12 free-falling out of the first two rounds.

Nix finally comes off the board in the third round in this projection (No. 70, New York Giants), while Penix has to wait until the fourth round (No. 104, Las Vegas Raiders).

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. — Could Penix's injury history make him tumble down the draft board? :: Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

It would be a shocking development for both prospects, who have routinely been projected as potential first-round picks throughout the 2023 college football season. Both Heisman Trophy finalists, Penix and Nix put up impressive numbers for their respective teams this season, and have the tools to be franchise quarterbacks at the next level.

Four quarterbacks who did go in the first round of this mock: USC's Caleb Williams (No. 1, Chicago Bears), North Carolina's Drake Maye (No. 2, New England Patriots), LSU's Jayden Daniels (No. 12, New Orleans Saints), and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy (No. 20, Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

This mock also features a record-breaking first round for wide receivers, as eight of the top 32 selections come from that position group. Three of them crack the top 10: Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 3, Arizona Cardinals), LSU's Malik Nabers (No. 6, Las Vegas Raiders), and Florida State's Keon Coleman (No. 8, New York Giants).

To check out the full seven-round mock draft at Pro Football Network, click here.

LOOK | Latest 3-Round Projections for the 2024 NFL Draft

Published Dec 17, 2023

LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more. Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com