2024 NFL Mock Draft: Massive Trade, Big Surprises Highlight New 1st-Round Forecast

A shocker at No. 1 and a massive top-five trade are just a few of the surprises in this updated first-round projection for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Luke Easterling | Feb 25, 2024

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Massive Trade, Big Surprises Highlight New 1st-Round Forecast /

NFL Combine week is officially upon us, but before the on-field action starts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, there are still some last-minute mock drafts flying in before this week's workout performances impact the stock of many prospects.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire starts off with a bang, as he has the Chicago Bears spending the No. 1 pick on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. instead of USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Williams goes to the Washington Commanders at the very next spot, but there's another shocker at No. 3, where Farrar has the Denver Broncos trading all the way up from No. 12 to land LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — Marvin Harrison Jr. is worthy of the No. 1 pick, but would the Bears pass on Caleb Williams? / Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Two more wide receivers join Harrison in the top five, as both LSU's Malik Nabers (No. 4, Arizona Cardinals) and Washington's Rome Odunze (No. 5, Los Angeles Chargers) come off the board after Daniels.

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye lands with the New York Giants at the No. 6 pick, while the New England Patriots still land a new quarterback after trading down from No. 3, grabbing Oregon's Bo Nix. Neither Michigan's J.J. McCarthy nor Washington's Michael Penix Jr. make the cut in this first-round projection.

Other surprises in this mock include Georgia tight end Brock Bowers falling all the way to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 18, and the Bears opting for Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean with their other top-10 pick at No. 9.

To check out Farrar's full first-round mock draft at Touchdown Wire, click here.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Updated 4-Round Projections

Published Feb 25, 2024

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