2024 NFL Mock Draft: Shocking QB Picks Highlight Latest 1st-Round Forecast

This updated first-round projection for the 2024 NFL Draft features some big surprises at quarterback.

Luke Easterling | Mar 6, 2024

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Shocking QB Picks Highlight Latest 1st-Round Forecast /

There are always big changes to the mock draft machine coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine every year, and it's no exception this time around.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports shakes things up with some surprising quarterback moves at the top of the board, including one of the biggest names in the class falling out of the top 10.

After sending USC's Caleb Williams to the Chicago Bears at No. 1 as expected, this mock has LSU's Jayden Daniels in the No. 2 slot to the Washington Commanders. After the New England Patriots opt for Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. instead of the next-best passer, the New York Giants make Michigan's J.J. McCarthy the next quarterback off the board at the No. 6 pick.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy — Could J.J. McCarthy leap ahead of Drake Maye as the third QB off the board? / Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK

That leads to a shocking tumble for North Carolina's Drake Maye, who falls all the way out of the top 10, eventually falling into the Minnesota Vikings' lap at No. 11.

That would be a wild development for a prospect who was widely regarded as the slam-dunk candidate to be the No. 2 pick after Williams for months. Getting leapfrogged by Daniels after his incredible 2023 season is one thing, but falling behind McCarthy and tumbling out of the top 10 would be a massive surprise for Maye.

The only other quarterback to crack this first-round projection is Oregon's Bo Nix, who heads to the Denver Broncos after they trade down five spots with the Jacksonville Jaguars to the No. 17 spot.

To check out the full mock draft at CBS Sports, click here.

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Published Mar 6, 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