Our baby’s all grown up. Welcome to our 18th annual SB Nation NFL community mock draft.
Each year, we turn to the experts — our writers — on every team’s draft needs to deliver you a projection of what the first round could look like. This year, it’s no surprise that the first two picks off the board are quarterbacks, with Windy City Gridiron snagging Caleb Williams for the Bears with the No. 1 overall pick and the Commanders (courtesy of Hogs Haven) added UNC’s Drake Maye at No. 2.
We’ll be updating this post with the rest of the picks as they’re published, so stay tuned. Below are the results of the 2024 SB Nation NFL mock draft with insight on the “why” behind each pick from our team community writers.
No. 1 – Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams will be stepping into an unprecedented situation in Chicago. Usually, the first overall draft pick is going to the worst team in football, but the Bears went 7-10 last season after an 0-4 start. Chicago’s defense is primed to take another step after a strong second half, but it’s the offense Williams will slide into that makes this opportunity so unique.
At receiver, DJ Moore gives Williams an electric playmaker at the Z, and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen has been one of the most reliable pass catchers in the game for a decade. Tight end Cole Kmet has averaged 61 receptions per year over the last three seasons, and Gerald Everett’s versatility at the other tight end spot will create mismatches. D’Andre Swift is a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, and he’s coming off a 1,000-yard rushing season. – Lester Wiltfong, Windy City Gridiron
No. 2 – Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Drake Maye started for the last two seasons at North Carolina and showed all the tools necessary to be a successful NFL QB. He has the size, arm talent, and ability to make all the throws. Maye’s first season as a starter put him into the conversation for the top QBs, and despite a “slump” last season, he remained the No. 2 QB despite Jayden Daniels’s Heisman Trophy-winning season.
Maye has a lot of things to clean up in his game, starting with his footwork. The Washington Commanders new offense is led by former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, and has several assistants who will work with Maye as he cleans up his game to play at the next level. Maye is a big, mobile passer who has a higher ceiling than other QBs in this draft. – Scott Jennings, Hogs Haven
No. 3 – New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels’ super power is his legs, as he’s an electric ball carrier who will be one of the fastest quarterbacks in football due to his blazing straight-line speed. In his two years in the SEC, Daniels complied over 2,000 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. His ability to create big plays as an athlete will be a nightmare for opposing defenses to defend.
It’s important to note that Daniels isn’t just a runner, however, as he’s improved as a passer throughout his college career. He has clean mechanics that feature a very consistent throwing motion and upper body. Daniels can layer throws all over the field and is extremely accurate (78.7% adjusted completion rate at LSU) all while supporting a measly 1.1 turnover worthy play rate the past two seasons.
Daniels has above-average arm strength, but makes up for any limitations with his plus ball placement. He is perhaps the best deep ball thrower in this class as the slot fade is the best throw in his bag. – Brian Hines, Pats Pulpit
No. 4 – Minnesota Vikings (via Arizona Cardinals): JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
At just 21 years old, younger than prospects like Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix, McCarthy still has plenty of room to grow. He’s already quite mechanically sound and has displayed significantly above-average arm talent as well. He’s also a plus athlete and can be a threat to make plays on the move, whether it’s on designed runs or getting outside of the pocket in the passing game.
One of the criticisms of McCarthy is that he was surrounded by an incredible amount of talent at Michigan and that could potentially make him look better than he actually is. Sure, Michigan is an NFL talent factory at this point, but that shouldn’t take away from what McCarthy has done. And, if we want to go down that road, given the level of talent he’d be surrounded by in Minnesota. . .the league’s best wide receiver, a dynamic No. 2 wideout, one of the best tight ends in the NFL, a new leader in the run game, and a pair of outstanding bookend tackles. . .his talent could be maximized in relatively short order. – Christopher Gates, Daily Norseman
No. 5 – Arizona Cardinals (via Chargers): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals need an alpha in the wide receiver room and Harrison projects as one of the best wide receiver prospects in the last couple years. My buddy Matt Harmon who runs Reception Perception came out with his final grades and Marvin Harrison Jr. is his highest-graded receiver between 2021 and this season. – Seth Cox, Revenge of the Birds
No. 6 – New York Giants: WR Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds with strong hands, the ability to win at all three levels, good enough route running ability and contested catch ability that turns 50-50 balls into 80-20 balls in his favor, Odunze is a different player than anyone in that group.
If you use the ‘Basketball Theory’ of building a wide receiver room with varying skill sets, Odunze would bring things to the Giants they don’t already have. Especially if tight end Darren Waller retires.
Odunze is a better athlete than many think, having run a 4.45 40-yard dash and compiled the second-highest Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of any receiver tested at the NFL Scouting Combine. – Ed Valentine, Big Blue View
No. 7 – Tennessee Titans: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
This pick will be a bit of a controversial one because Joe Alt was on the board, and the Titans’ biggest need entering the offseason and still in April is a left tackle. I could have simply taken Alt and had the left tackle position locked down for the next decade, but I chose Nabers.
So why would a team that has desperately needed a left tackle for the last two years pass on the best one in the draft to take a receiver? For me it came down to a few things:
The first is the dropoff from Nabers to the receiver the Titans would have the chance to take in the second round is way bigger than the dropoff from Alt to the tackle they can get in the second round. Nabers has the ceiling of being one of the best receivers in the NFL. He’s a dynamic playmaker on the outside. Brian Callahan is going to value that more than the coaches the Titans have had in the past. – Jimmy Morris, Music City Miracles
No. 8 – Los Angeles Rams: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
To trade up into the top 10 at No. 8 I gave up 19th overall, a 2025 first-round pick, and the 83rd overall pick in the third round. Keeping this year’s second-round pick was important, which is why I opted for the 2025 first-round pick instead. The Rams could still move back in the second round and pick up an extra late third or a fourth-round pick to make up for the loss of pick 83.
This move allows the Rams to continue adding to this year’s roster and add pieces for the future which is important for their current team-build. It’s a somewhat hefty price, but we won’t be talking about what it took to get Joe Alt when he’s an All-Pro-caliber left tackle for 15 years. There are a few blue-chip caliber players in this draft class and Alt is one of them. – Blaine Grisak, Turf Show Times
No. 9 – Las Vegas Raiders (via Bears): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
While the hope is the Silver and Black will trade up into the top three picks to, presumptively, target Jayden Daniels, the Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots weren’t budging. That meant Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Daniels were selected first, second and third overall. Then, the Minnesota Vikings parlayed their two first-round picks into a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to take J.J. McCarthy off the board.
With four quarterbacks taken in the first four picks and the quarterback-needy Denver Broncos sitting one spot ahead of the Raiders, panic started to set in, so a move had to be made. Chicago was willing to move out of No. 9 and all it took was a third-round pick for Las Vegas to secure its quarterback of the future.
Using the NFL draft pick trade value chart, this was a pretty even deal as the Raiders only overspent by five points. A small premium to pay for the most important position on the field. – Matt Holder, Silver & Black Pride
No. 10 – New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Washington
Fuaga is not a pick purely for the future. He will get a chance to compete with Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle job right off the bat. During Moses’ first stint with the Jets, he began the season as the primary backup tackle, only sliding into the starting lineup after a Mekhi Becton injury.
Either way, Fuaga gives the Jets tackle depth in the short run. That is important with a pair of starters in their mid 30s. It is doubly important with a starting left tackle in Smith who hasn’t played a season without missing at least three games since 2015. The phrase “win now” is practically a cliché around the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets at this point. Fuaga gives the Jets one of the rarest benefits an NFL team can have, offensive line depth. The Jets are no longer one injury on the infamous turf at MetLife Stadium away from starting the likes of Carter Warren or Max Mitchell on Aaron Rodgers’ blindside.
Of course you don’t pick a player in the top 10 only for depth. Fuaga gives the Jets a long-term building block for the offensive line. Some think he might eventually move inside to guard, but no matter where he ends up he should be a valuable part of the trenches for a long time. – John Butchko, Gang Green Nation
No. 11 – Los Angeles Chargers: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham has as high a ceiling as any offensive tackle prospect in the class – and may have the highest floor! He stands nearly 6’6 and weighs 342 pounds, while boasting a wingspan in the 82nd percentile for offensive tackles, and 11-inch hands that register in the 95th percentile, according to Mockdraftable.com. And DraftKings Sportsbook’s odds suggest an offensive lineman will be the first position targeted by the Chargers on draft night.
With all that size, Latham controls defensive lineman in the run game, and locks up pass rushers attempting to go through him. The power is combined with smooth, quick feet, and all that came together in a very impressive way for the recently turned 21-year-old. He only started at right tackle at Alabama, but his skill set suggests he could protect the blind side if needed.
For the Chargers, that won’t matter: He’ll fit right in as the immediate starting right tackle, manning the edges of the pocket with left tackle Rashawn Slater. – Ron Kopp Jr., Bolts From the Blue
No. 12 – Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Bo Nix gives the Broncos a quarterback who fits into Sean Payton’s offense very well. He is a quick rhythm passer who has had success in the short passing game, throwing screens, quick passes to the backs, and so on — all things Payton loves to do in his offense. His processing ability, which is something Payton covets from his quarterbacks, has also been praised by evaluators. While Nix may not be the most highly touted prospect, he may just be the best fit for the Broncos at quarterback in this draft.
This may not be the most popular pick, but with the way the board fell in front of me, it was the move the Broncos had to make. Trying to trade up and compete with the Vikings for Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was unsuccessful and then the Raiders traded up to ninth overall to select Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., which was a surprise. I would have liked to trade back, but with Nix being the quarterback I wanted to get if I could not trade up, I pulled the trigger at 12th overall. – Scotty Payne, Mile High Report