NFL Draft

2024 NFL Mock Draft: What if Caleb Williams Doesn't Go No. 1?

The defending Heisman Trophy winner might have a worthy challenger for next year's top pick.

Luke Easterling

Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports

It already seems like a foregone conclusion that USC quarterback Caleb Williams will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but there are some dissenting voices who believe he's got a worthy challenger in that race.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network has a big surprise at the top, with North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye coming off the board at No. 1 overall instead of Williams.

As with most early projections based on preseason power rankings or Super Bowl odds, this projection has the Arizona Cardinals landing the top two picks, thanks to this year's draft-day trade with the Houston Texans. After taking Maye over Williams at No. 1, this mock has the Cards spending the No. 2 overall pick on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to pair with their new franchise quarterback.

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye / Orlando Ramirez - USA TODAY Sports

With Williams still shockingly available at No. 3 overall, this projection has the Atlanta Falcons trading up with the Indianapolis Colts (who just took Anthony Richardson at No. 4 this year) to steal him.

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (No. 4 overall, Tennessee Titans) and Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (No. 5 overall, Chicago Bears) round out the top five picks in this mock.

There's another top-10 quarterback surprise here, as well, with Oregon's Bo Nix projected to go at No. 7 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It's still extremely early in the process, so it wouldn't be a complete shock to see a talented passer like Maye overtake Williams by the time next April rolls around. Stranger things have happened throughout an entire draft cycle, and it's hard for even the best quarterback prospects to go wire-to-wire as a projected No. 1 overall pick.

To check out the complete seven-round (whew) mock draft at Pro Football Network, click here.

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Luke Easterling
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

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