2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bears, Cardinals Pass on Top QBs

See where Caleb Williams and Drake Maye fall in this updated first-round projection for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Luke Easterling | Nov 20, 2023

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bears, Cardinals Pass on Top QBs /

For months now, it's seemed like a foregone conclusion that whichever teams land in the first two slots at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft order, they'd both be picking quarterbacks.

USC's Caleb Williams has long been the consensus No. 1 pick across early projections, with North Carolina's Drake Maye gaining on him in recent weeks. Many have speculated that even teams that already have young quarterbacks that were highly drafted in recent years could be tempted to reset at the position if given the chance to land Williams or Maye at the top of the draft.

That's not what happens in the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from SB Nation, which has both Williams and Maye still on the board after the first two selections.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is the No. 1 overall pick to the Chicago Bears in this mock, followed by Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu at No. 2 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye — Drake Maye could leapfrog Caleb Williams as the first QB off the board / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

With both Justin Fields and Kyler Murray having returned to full strength from recent injuries (and playing well so far), it wouldn't be shocking for both teams to use their top draft picks to build around their current quarterbacks instead of drafting a new one.

Maye comes off the board at No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots, while the New York Giants land Williams at No. 5 overall in this projection.

Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt joins Harrison in Chicago at the No. 4 overall pick, rounding out the top five.

Three more quarterbacks find their way into this first-round forecast: LSU's Jayden Daniels (No. 14 overall, Las Vegas Raiders), Michigan's J.J. McCarthy (No. 20 overall, Minnesota Vikings), and Georgia's Carson Beck (No. 22 overall, Seattle Seahawks). That leaves the likes of Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix waiting until Day 2 to hear their names called.

To check out the full first-round projection at SB Nation, click here.

Published Nov 20, 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