The first wave of NFL free agency is now in the books, and there were several notable deals, releases, and signings that will have a significant impact going forward.
However, the good times are only getting started because the 2024 NFL draft, which is expected to be quite interesting, is only a month away. Things are starting to clear up at quarterback with all of the huge free agency moves; most importantly, which teams are ready to trade up and try to grab a top prospect.
We decided that now, with free agency behind us, would be the ideal moment to release another first-round mock draft that takes the league’s recent changes into consideration. The first round’s selections by our NFL Wire editors include a number of trades and a lot of quarterback movement, with one team significantly moving up into the top five to get a quarterback.
With the trade of Justin Fields, the Bears will definitely select a quarterback at No. 1, with Caleb Williams having a 99.9% probability of being selected. After his pro day, Williams will visit a Top 30 team that should seal his decision, giving Chicago the opportunity to host him at Halas Hall. To date, general manager Ryan Poles has taken every action possible to set up the best possible environment for a rookie quarterback to enter. Chicago has an average offensive line, a defense that is close to being in the top 10, and some exciting new weapons in Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, and Gerald Everett to complement DJ Moore and Cole Kmet.
Jayden Daniels’ immediate surroundings are hazy with smoke. Furthermore, Daniels might be the best choice for Washington. But I think that indicated Maye was the choice when the Commanders dealt Sam Howell. Maye acknowledged his personal bond with Howell in an interview with Adam Schefter, saying that while joining the same team might not be ideal, they could still work things out. Some find Maye divisive, yet he has more potential than Daniels. Washington hopes that having a strong and knowledgeable coaching staff will enable Maye to realize his full potential.
The Patriots will face many incentives to forego selecting a quarterback with the third overall pick. The Patriots should put on the blinders and acquire their quarterback until the trade offer is absolutely absurd—we’re talking about absurdity that involves more than two first-round draft picks. They select Jayden Daniels, the winner of the Heisman Trophy, in this mock draft, who may be the best quarterback available. He can transform a broken play into a track match because of his excellent arm, pocket knowledge, and skills.
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This is an easy pick, assuming the Vikings or Broncos don’t make an offer that surprises General Manager Monti Ossenfort and causes him to react the way Alabama’s Dallas Turner’s 40-minute combine time did. After Rondale Moore was moved to Atlanta and Hollywood Brown left the team in free agency, the Cardinals currently have one of the least promising receiver rooms (Zach Pascal is the only player on the squad to have 600 yards in a season; he had four receptions in 2023). Harrison is the best receiving prospect available for betting. His father is a Hall of Fame receiver. He possesses size, speed, playmaking ability, durability, and exceptional output across a number of seasons.
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In a trade-up, the Vikings acquired their quarterback of the future by moving up to 23rd overall. The Los Angeles Chargers provide the Vikings with that partner without requiring them to make any future sacrifices. Although McCarthy isn’t as good as the other elite quarterbacks, his profile is still quite intriguing. He wasn’t asked to accomplish much by Michigan, but that doesn’t mean he can’t. Analysts will differ in their projections, but Kevin O’Connell will be drawn to his ability to attack the center of the field and convert on third down.
