2024 NFL Mock Draft: Justin Fields, Mac Jones trades send shockwave through first round

Now that the Bears moved on from Fields and received very little in the return, Caleb Williams has to be a savior of sorts for the franchise. Don't ask Deion Sanders for his opinion of the situation, however. The Colorado coach strongly encouraged Williams to look away from Chicago and try to play somewhere that is not in frigid temperatures. Williams is anxious to get started at the next level and said last month he has no preference on where he's selected. Contrary to previous reports of Williams wanting to play for a specific team — specifically in Washington with former USC analyst Kliff Kingsbury — one of the most-talented players this cycle said Chicago would be a fine fit recently. 

Sam Howell did some nice things in spots, but Washington shipped him to the Seattle Seahawks in a trade that leaves the Commanders without a franchise quarterback. That's where LSU Heisman winner Jayden Daniels steps in. The belief here is Washington will go with the next-best signal caller available after Williams goes to the Bears. Daniels finished with 3,812 yards passing this season and 40 touchdowns to go along with 1,134 yards on the ground and 10 scores.  

There's no doubt the Vikings are going to take a quarterback this draft with Cousins no more, but who? In CBS Sports' new mock, Minnesota moves up to No. 3 after a trade with the Patriots, who also intend on taking a player at the same position after sending Jones to Jacksonville. Drake Maye is one of the career record holders for the Tar Heels after throwing for more than 8,000 yards and finishing with 63 touchdown passes. Most analysts believe he's a sure-fire, top-five selection despite choosing not to throw or participate in on-field drills at the combine — like Williams and Daniels. 

The most talented non-quarterback prospect is undoubtedly Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., a player who would likely go No. 1 overall if that spot wasn't so often reserved for a quarterback. Not only is Harrison a field-stretcher with an elite bloodline, but he does the little things right and is a matchup nightmare due to his size and athleticism. There's a chance he could be better than his talented father at the next level if he continues to develop as an elite player. If Chicago trades its top selection, expect the Bears to go with Harrison if signal caller is a no go.

Like Harrison, Malik Nabers is a big play waiting to happen with the perfect skillset that should translate to immediate success at the next level. New York needs all the help it can get in terms of additional playmakers and Nabers will be a plug-and-play star at the next level. Nabers finished just shy of winning the Biletnikoff after a splendid season as the top target for Jayden Daniels. Not only does he display great hands and route-running ability, but he's a menace to bring down after catching the football.

J.J. McCarthy's stock rose considerably since November, after he finished the campaign with wins over Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama and Washington to help Michigan claim its first national championship since 1997. He is mobile, has a strong arm and fits the profile of what teams seek inside the top five. In this updated mock, New York takes the former Michigan star at No. 6 overall as the fourth quarterback taken in the first round. 

Joe Alt graded out as one of the nation's most consistent offensive linemen last season as Notre Dame's most dependable star. Alt helped pave the way for Doak Walker finalist Audric Estime's career-best rushing outing in his final game with the Fighting Irish, an incredible performance that all but solidified top-10 billing. Alt kept Sam Hartman upright throughout the season, too. Alt is a guy you can give a long-term contract to and feel good about it up front. The Titans need help along the offensive line and that's the expectation here, whether it's Alt, Amarius Mims or Olu Fashanu depending on which option is available to them.

Atlanta needs to make sure this is the right pick for an expected quick turnaround with the Cousins signing. Turner, a former freshman All-American at Alabama prior to winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, stands 6-foot-4, 250 pounds and passes the eye test with what you want to see for a future first-round selection. He posted career-bests with 13.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Often used as a hybrid defender who Alabama allowed to roam in various roles, Turner's strength is his speed and athleticism. He has no problem fighting off double-teams and will be a three-down threat in the NFL.

Notes Noles247, Jared Verse put together one of the better NFL Combine showings of the edge class, which matched his on-field production the last several seasons at FSU. The combination of tape and testing all but assures his place as a top-15 draft pick. It's between Alabama's Dallas Turner and Verse to be the first nasty edge defender off the board and both the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears are in the market for help along the defensive line.

Fuaga stands 6-6, 332 pounds with a massive wingspan. He rarely allowed a sack during his collegiate career and one of the most dependable players at the line of scrimmage within the Power Five ranks. With Aaron Rodgers returning next season in a full capacity, the Jets could tap one of these top-end tackle prospects for immediate aid up front. Olu Fashanu is another potential pick here for New York, who most insiders project are going with the best-available offensive tackle in this spot.

11. New England Patriots (mock trade with Vikings): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

12. Denver Broncos: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

14. New Orleans Saints: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Odunze battles several top-end wideout options for top billing including Harrison and Nabers — that's elite company. No receiver in college football mastered the back-shoulder reception and production in the red zone quite like Odunze last season. He gave defensive coordinators fits thanks to his elite route-running abilities and superior hands. There are three wideouts capable of going inside the top 10. If he goes ahead of Nabers, it would not be surprising, but it doesn't appear any elite target will be taken before Harrison.

Fashanu had some of the smallest hands from a player his size at the combine, so perhaps that's part of the reason he's fallen outside of the top 10 here. Several teams could use a cornerstone tackle to protect their quarterback and Fashanu fits that mold. He would likely have been a first-round pick in the 2023 draft cycle, but chose to return to the Nittany Lions for another season to try and win a Big Ten championship. 

16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

19. Los Angeles Rams: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL

Will Arnold be this cycle's first cornerback off the board? It's either him, former Alabama teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry or Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell, per most insiders. According to Bama247, Arnold raised speculation about a potential return to the Crimson Tide after the Rose Bowl when he said, "We’ve got unfinished business.” However, despite a viral social media graphic stating he would return, Arnold never specifically said he would come back in 2024 and given his stock, he made the right choice.

21. Miami Dolphins: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

23. New England Patriots (mock trade with Chargers): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington 

24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

25. Green Bay Packers: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

There it is — New England passes on taking a quarterback at No. 3 overall in favor of a trade and then lands the strong-armed talent out of Washington later in the opening round. Penix was superb last season for Kalen DeBoer and the Huskies, en route to Heisman finalist honors and a College Football Playoff appearance.

Coming out of the NFL Combine, Mims has been routinely projected inside the top 10, but not here. A preseason All-SEC First Team selection at right tackle, played in seven games last season after an ankle injury in the conference opener against South Carolina forced him to miss six games and required surgery. Dawgs247 reported that Mims returned to the lineup against Ole Miss but re-injured his ankle early in the SEC Championship Game loss to Alabama, leaving the game in the first half and forcing Georgia to re-shuffle its offensive line. Injuries are partly to blame for Mims not being a top 10 projection.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

27. Arizona Cardinals: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

28. Buffalo Bills: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

29. Detroit Lions: Graham Barton, OT, Duke

Robinson capped his Penn State career by earning All-Big Ten first-team honors during his junior season. Robinson posted 15 tackles (12 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one pass breakup, five quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles in 10 games. He missed two games and part of a third because of an injury. Tampa Bay needs pass rush help and Robinson would be an immediate impact addition.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

31. San Francisco 49ers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri

Per Hawkeye Insider, DeJean was one of the nation's most lockdown cornerbacks and outstanding returners. He missed the final four games of his career after suffering an injury in practice, but was still named unanimous all-American. DeJean, who did not participate in the combine, finished the season with 41 tackles, two TFL, two interceptions and five pass break-ups in 10 games. DeJean did not allow a touchdown pass in 388 snaps in coverage in 2023. He was second on the Hawkeyes in pass break-ups (5), is second in interceptions (2) and seventh in tackles (41) this season.