2024 NFL Mock Draft: Caleb Williams should go No. 1, no guarantee he will; stacked WR class as 8 go in Round 1

NFL Mock Draft 2024: Projecting top picks based on prospects’ rankings and positions

If Justin Fields has a strong second half of the 2023 season and convinces Chicago he’s the long-term answer, maybe you go in another direction. Otherwise, you take Williams here, who is the best prospect in this draft class.

Justin Williams
North Carolina • Soph • 6’4″ / 230 lbs
Projected Team N.Y. Giants
PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 2nd

The Giants are on the hook for at least one more year with Daniel Jones, who tore his ACL and is done for the season. But even if they bring him back in 2024, Drake Maye should be the heir apparent.

Drake Maye
Penn State • Jr • 6’4″ / 230 lbs
Projected Team New England
PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st

The Patriots will have to trade up for one of the top 2 QBs — or trade down for QB3 — because their current 2024 starter isn’t on the roster. But since there are no trades in this mock draft, they take the best offensive lineman — also a huge need — in Fashanu.

Fashanu
North Carolina • Soph • 6’6″ / 317 lbs
Projected Team New England
PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st

Kyler Murray didn’t miss a beat in his return from an ACL injury that sidelined him some 11 months. And if he convinces Arizona that he’s the long-term answer, they’re taking Marvin Harrison Jr. here.

Marvin Harrison Jr.
Ohio State • Jr • 6’4″ / 205 lbs
Projected Team Arizona
PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st

The Bears get their QB1, and now they get a bookend to Montez Sweat off the edge.

Montez Sweat
Alabama • Jr • 6’4″ / 242 lbs
Projected Team Chicago
PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 3rd

The Packers, like a lot of teams in the top half of the first round, could be in the QB market. It’s still too early to think about QB3 here, so in the meantime they grab Alt, who has had a fantastic season for the Irish.

Alt
Notre Dame • Jr • 6’7″ / 322 lbs
Projected Team Green Bay
PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 3rd

Mims missed a large chunk of the 2023 season with an injury, but he returned against Ole Miss in Week 11 and has all the tools to be a dominant right tackle in the NFL.

Mims
Georgia • Jr • 6’7″ / 340 lbs
Projected Team L.A. Rams
PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 4th

The Titans have a ton of needs, including offensive line, but they target the best CB in the draft to bolster a secondary that has Kristian Fulton and Sean Murphy-Bunting possibly hitting free agency after the season.

CB
Alabama • Jr • 6’1″ / 195 lbs
Projected Team Tennessee
PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd

Verse’s sack numbers are down from a season ago, but you could argue he’s a more complete player in 2023.

Verse
Florida State • Jr • 6’4″ / 260 lbs
Projected Team Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 2nd

It feels like Sam Howell has a chance to be the guy in Washington, and Brock Bowers is a tight end in name only. He can line up anywhere, including RB, and be a difference-maker.

Brock Bowers
Georgia • Jr • 6’4″ / 240 lbs
Projected Team Washington
PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st

This WR class is insanely deep, so Nabers lasting until the No. 12 pick feels like stealing.

Nabers
LSU • Jr • 6’0″ / 200 lbs
Projected Team Tampa Bay
PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd

If Aaron Rodgers is under center for the Jets in 2024, protection will be priority No. 1. JC Latham has been dominant this season for the Crimson Tide.

JC Latham
Alabama • Jr • 6’6″ / 360 lbs
Projected Team N.Y. Jets
PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 2nd

Odunze has had a breakout season for the Huskies, and the Broncos need to add some juice to the WR room.

Odunze
Washington • Jr • 6’3″ / 215 lbs
Projected Team Denver
PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 6th

Wiggins is a long, athletic corner who specializes in blanket coverage downfield.

Wiggins
Clemson • Jr • 6’2″ / 185 lbs

Anthony Richardson will be back in 2024, and giving him a jump-ball, downfield target like Coleman is only going to make this offense that much more explosive.

Coleman
Florida State • Jr • 6’4″ / 215 lbs
Projected Team Indianapolis
PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd

No player has done more for his draft stock than Jayden Daniels; we all knew he could run, but he’s shown continued improvement as a passer and has a legit case to be QB3 in this class.

Jayden Daniels
LSU • Sr • 6’4″ / 210 lbs
Projected Team Las Vegas
PROSPECT RNK 76th POSITION RNK 8th

Newton played on an Illini defense last season that included No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon and Day 2 selections Quan Martin and Sydney Brown. The defensive lineman will be the next in line to hear his name called early in the draft.

Newton
Illinois • Jr • 6’2″ / 295 lbs
Projected Team Buffalo
PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 2nd

Egbuka’s numbers are down this season, in part because of injury and in part because that’s what happens when C.J. Stroud leaves for the NFL. But catching passes from Joe Burrow seems like the quickest way to get Egbuka back to his 2022 form.

Egbuka
Ohio State • Jr • 6’1″ / 206 lbs
Projected Team Cincinnati
PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th

Penix Jr. has an injury history, but he has been healthy the past two seasons for the Huskies. And more than that, he has played out of his mind, not only as the best deep-ball passer in this class but also his ability to throw with anticipation and accuracy, and even win with his legs when he needs to.

Penix Jr.
Washington • Sr • 6’3″ / 213 lbs
Projected Team New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK 49th POSITION RNK 5th

The biggest issues facing Latu will be if he’s cleared medically after a neck injury sidelined his career a few years ago. On the field, he has been unstoppable all season.

Latu
UCLA • Sr • 6’5″ / 265 lbs
Projected Team Arizona
PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 1st

You will not find a player with a higher motor, and when you couple that with Tuimoloau’s twitch, speed and power, he’s going to be a problem at the next level for NFL offensive tackles.

Tuimoloau
Ohio State • Jr • 6’4″ / 270 lbs
Projected Team Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 4th

Lassiter feels like a Dan Quinn cornerback — he’s long and he’s physical, both in coverage and in run support. The ball production isn’t there yet, but that’ll come.

Lassiter
Georgia • Jr • 6’0″ / 180 lbs
Projected Team Dallas
PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 4th

King had a rough day against Ohio State, but he’s shown first-round talent over the past two seasons. In Pittsburgh, he’ll be reunited with Joey Porter Jr.

King
Penn State • Jr • 5’11” / 190 lbs
Projected Team Pittsburgh
PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 1st

The Texans traded up for Will Anderson Jr. in the spring, and he’s been as advertised. This time, they stay put and land another edge rusher in Chop Robinson, who is as active a pass rusher as you’ll find in college football.

Chop Robinson
Houston • Jr • 6’3″ / 234 lbs
Projected Team Houston
PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 6th

Paul is raw but athletic, and he’s certainly earned his way into the first-round conversation.

Paul
Houston • Jr • 6’7″ / 315 lbs
Projected Team Miami
PROSPECT RNK 40th POSITION RNK 8th

Trice is a proven commodity who has come on as of late; he’s a high-motor player who needs to expand his pass-rush arsenal, but he’s a designated pass rusher from Day 1.

Trice
Washington • Jr • 6’4″ / 274 lbs
Projected Team Seattle
PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th

The ball-hawking DeJean can line up just about anywhere (and he’s an asset in…