The 2024 NFL Draft is nearly upon us, as the festivities will kick off on April 25 at 8 p.m. ET. There have been many mock drafts compiled by many analysts, and now it’s time to reveal who Newsweek thinks will be taken with the top 10 picks of the draft.
The top 10 picks in this mock draft are assuming that no team will be making a trade into the top 10, which is unlikely to happen. That said, here is the prediction for the players selected with the first 10 picks.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Image
It’s no secret that the Bears are going to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams possesses the right kind of generational talent that will make him a day-one starter for the team. With wide receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore to throw to, Williams could light up the NFL in his rookie year.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Jayden Daniels is easily the next-best quarterback in the draft, with some believing that he could be the best pick in the draft—even over Williams. The Commanders recently met with Daniels, which reportedly did not go well. Still, things will no doubt be smoothed over so Daniels can also jumpstart the Commanders’ plans to be a competitive playoff team.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The New England Patriots recently went on record to state they are having “ongoing” talks about trading down from the No. 3 overall pick. The team’s director of scouting, Eliot Wolf, told reporters that the organization would consider offers to trade down, but that would be foolish. The Patriots need a franchise quarterback, and UNC’s Drake Maye is it.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals need a dynamic playmaker, and there might be no one more dynamic than Marvin Harrison Jr. Much like his father, Harrison Jr. can stretch the field, and become a pass catcher who can complement quarterback Kyler Murray. No receiver on the Cardinals eclipsed 1,000 yards last season, and with Murray coming back healthy, he and Harrison Jr. will be a dynamite combo.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Much like the skillset difference between Williams and Daniels, Malik Nabers is arguably on the same level as Harrison Jr. Nabers can create separation and allow Justin Herbert to set up big throws. He is also great with contested catches, which Herbert will need with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams now off the roster.
6. New York Giants: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Daniel Jones experiment needs to be ended. While the New York Giants organization has placed all the confidence in the world on Jones, he is just not the quarterback of the future. J.J. McCarthy is. McCarthy could even benefit greatly from sitting a season and learning from Jones, though he is a fantastic passer who might be ready to be a day-one starter.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The biggest issue with the Tennesee Titans was their protection of former quarterback Ryan Tannehill and current quarterback Will Levis. The team signed offensive line guru Bill Callahan, and now they need a starting left tackle of the future. Their new starter would be Joe Alt, who is the best offensive lineman in this draft.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
As the saying goes, “defense wins championships.” While that saying may not be true all the way anymore, it still helps to have a disruptive defense. Dallas Turner has the kind of motor that would turn an already good Falcons defense into a nightmare for opponents.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Chicago Bears land their franchise quarterback in Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, then they can turn around and add another weapon with Washington receiver Rome Odunze. Despite already landing Allen in a trade, the Bears bet on the future by adding another young and dynamic weapon for Williams to throw to.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending Achilles tear last season proves the New York Jets are playing on borrowed time. Despite Rodgers being a great quarterback, his age is clearly starting to show. This means the team is in a win-now mode, and adding the most dynamic tight end in the form of Brock Bowers gives the offense another weapon for Rodgers to dish the ball out to in what is likely one of his final seasons in the NFL.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.