2024 NFL Mock Draft – Round 1 (1-16) – Charlie Campbell

If the Bears land a top-two pick for the second straight year, whether its via their pick or the one they have from Carolina, they should reset the quarterback position by taking Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. Chicago could then trade Justin Fields and improve the potency of their offense with a more natural passer.

In 2023, Williams completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also notched 11 rushing touchdowns. Williams (6-1, 218) possesses an excellent skill set to become a pro starter because he is an accurate passer with a strong arm. On the ground, Williams is slippery and dangerous runner who possesses surprising speed and toughness. His greatest strength is his ability to ad lib his team into a big play. Williams is tremendous at scrambling and throwing on the run to make something out of nothing. However, Williams has a huge problem with holding the ball too long. He puts a lot of pressure on his offensive line, leading to him taking a lot of hits. Williams has a lot of talent, but he needs development for the NFL.

Williams started out the 2021 season as the backup quarterback to Spencer Rattler at Oklahoma, but after Rattler struggled, Williams replaced him as the starter and put together an excellent year, completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,912 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also hurt defenses on the ground with six rushing touchdowns and lots of yardage. After the 2021 season, Williams transferred to USC to follow former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley. Williams played well for the Trojans in 2022, completing 67 percent of his passes for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions.

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The Cardinals take a true No. 1 receiver for Kyler Murray. Having a big outside receiver like Harrison would make Hollywood Brown even more dangerous.

In 2023, Harrison has 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. He broke out in 2022, recording 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. The sophomore was a dynamic mismatch weapon for C.J. Stroud. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Harrison has excellent height and length with speed to get downfield. He runs routes like a smaller receiver, and he obviously learned a lot from his Hall of Fame father. However, the younger Harrison is much bigger than his father and is more like an A.J. Green-type receiver for the next level.

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Mac Jones can be added to the expansive list of poor picks made by Bill Belichick. Without Tom Brady there to cover up the stink, Belichick’s drafting failures has been exposed. The Patriots need to find an upgrade at quarterback and move on from Jones.

In 2023, Maye has completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also has eight rushing touchdowns. He exploded onto the college-football scene as a redshirt freshman, showing serious arm talent. On the year, Maye completed 66 percent of his passes for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has good size and easy arm strength to go vertical. Maye lofts balls well, showing touch and throwing his receivers open. On top of his passing ability, Maye can make some things happen with his feet and he has mobile athleticism. He will be a high first-rounder in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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The Bears grab an edge rusher and dangerous quarterback hunter to pair with Montez Sweat.

Latu has recorded 49 tackles, 13 sacks, two interceptions, two passes batted and two forced fumbles in 2023. After recording 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022, Latu is proving to be a dangerous quarterback hunter. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder is quick off the edge with athleticism and a strong build. At Washington, Latu had injury issues that cost him the 2020 and 2021 seasons. A serious neck injury caused former Huskies coach Jimmy Lake to say that Latu’s career was over, but he transferred to UCLA after Lake and his staff were let go. Latu then received medical clearance from UCLA before resuming his career.

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The Commanders need more offensive line talent.

Suamataia was a top recruit who landed at Oregon and redshirted. In 2022, Suamataia transferred to BYU and broke out, including not allowing a sack all season. The 6-foot-6, 325-pounder has shocking speed and athleticism for an edge blocker of his size. He is superb in pass protection while also showing toughness as a run blocker. Suamataia could stand to add some lower body strength, but he has a lot of upside and could be a very good starter at left or right tackle in the NFL.

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The Giants need to find an upgrade over Daniel Jones.

This season, McCarthy has completed 74 percent of his passes for 2,483 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has three rushing touchdowns as well. McCarthy put together a strong 2022 season, leading Michigan to the college football playoff and completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also did some damage on the ground with 306 yards and five scores. The 6-foot-3, 196-pounder has the upside to improve with experience. He has a quality arm, mobility, size, and is being groomed well for the NFL. McCarthy has shown more intelligence, decisiveness, and pocket-passing efficiency in 2023.

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Baker Mayfield hasn’t played terribly, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Tampa Bay looks for a new starting quarterback and a long-term starter in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This season, Daniels has completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has 10 rushing touchdowns as well. Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback who showed improvement as a passer throughout the 2022 season with LSU. He has a quality arm and is a dangerous runner with shocking speed. While he has plenty of room for growth, he has become more consistent with pocket-passing accuracy and reading the field. Daniels completed 69 percent of his passes in 2022 for 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also went for 885 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. While playing for Arizona State in 2021, Daniels completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,380 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was impressive in 2019, showing playmaking ability as a passer and runner while producing points for the Sun Devils, but he did not look as good in the short 2020 season.

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The Jets grab some protection for Aaron Rodgers.

Alt (6-7, 317) broke into the starting lineup at left tackle as a freshman in 2021 and has remained on the blind side ever since. He started out his career playing some tight end for Notre Dame before settling in at left tackle. Alt is big with long arms, has good strength in the upper body, uses his hands well, and has good technique. Alt has been consistent and productive. However, he has issues with his anchor because he is stiff and doesn’t bend well. That lack of bend will be challenging to fix given how tall Alt is.

Gerald Everett has been a serviceable veteran, but here is a long-term starter and mismatch weapon for Justin Herbert.

In 2023, Bowers has recorded 51 receptions for 666 yards and six touchdowns. He missed some time with a high ankle sprain. Bowers was a freshman sensation for the Bulldogs in 2021 and was a huge receiving weapon in helping them win their first National Championship since 1980. Immediately, Bowers (6-4, 230) was a mismatch threat with excellent speed, athleticism, and run-after-the-catch ability. In 2021, Bowers recorded 56 receptions for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. He totaled 63 receptions in 2022 for 942 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bulldogs have had other good young talent at tight end and wide receiver, so Bowers doesn’t see everything funneled his way, as they spread the ball around, but Bowers is definitely special prospect for the NFL.

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The wide receiver position has once again been a weakness for Tennessee. DeAndre Hopkins has been solid, but he is only signed for one more season. The Titans could use more long-term weapons for Will Levis.

In terms of size, speed, athleticism and upside, Thomas is probably second only to Marvin Harrison Jr. among the wide receiver prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Thomas has mismatch size and is a fast wideout with the ability to challenge teams vertically. In 2023, he has 60 catches for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns. Thomas has a great skill set with a ton of upside to develop. There is some rawness to his game, as he plays small. He needs to play to his size.

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The Raiders need more talent for the secondary, which was horribly neglected by Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has height to go along with serious speed and athleticism. Wiggins is fast and fluid to run the route and prevent separation. He could stand to add some strength to tackle in the NFL, but he is the most talented cover corner in the 2024 NFL Draft. This season, he has 28 tackles, six passes broken up, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack. In 2022, Wiggins broke into the starting lineup with 39 tackles, an interception and 11 passes defended.

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The Saints grab a replacement for Michael Thomas.

In 2023, Coleman has 46 catches of 639 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has good size with quickness, athleticism, and excellent ball skills. In 2022 for Michigan State, he recorded 58 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns while playing. Coleman opened the 2023 season, and his career as a Seminole, with a monster game of nine catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns versus LSU. Coleman also got the better of a future NFL corner in Wake Forest’s Caelen Carson in their matchup. Coleman could be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

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The Packers could use more young talent at safety and corner. DeJean would help them at both positions.

DeJean (6-1, 209) recorded 41 tackles, two interceptions and five passes batted in 2023 before his season ended early. He was all over the field for Iowa in 2022, making big plays while totaling 75 tackles, five interceptions and eight passes defended.

DeJean is a gritty and instinctive defender. While he has played outside cornerback for Iowa, some team sources feel DeJean would be best as a hybrid safety and nickel corner in the NFL similar to a C.J. Gardner-Johnson or Brian Branch. That would allow DeJean the freedom to use his instincts to make plays. He is expected to be a workout warrior before the 2024 NFL Draft as well.

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The Rams need a true replacement for Jalen Ramsey.

Lassiter (6-0, 180) was behind some more experienced players before, but he has a good skill set and has established himself as the top cover corner for the Bulldogs in 2023. Lassiter is very instinctive and has impressed with his ability to sustain coverage. He has 36 tackles and eight passes broken up so far this year. He recorded 38 tackles and four passes batted in 2022.

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The Bengals grab a true replacement for Jesse Bates.

Despite missing time with an injury, Kinchens has been incredible in 2023, showing he is an elite ball-hawking safety with amazing instincts and playmaking ability. Kinchens has played less than half the season, but has totaled 59 tackles, a sack, five passes batted and five interceptions. He broke out in 2022 with six interceptions, five passes defended, 59 tackles and a forced fumble. The 5-foot-11, 202-pounder has a great skill set and serious ball skills. Kinchens is athletic and rangy, so he could play single-high deep free safety for the NFL. Sources also say Kinchens is great off the field.

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The Bills could use more receiving weapons for Josh Allen.

Nabers has 86 catches for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns so far this year. While Kayshon Boutte was supposed to be LSU’s No. 1 wide receiver in 2022, Nabers outplayed him and was a steady contributor for Jayden Daniels. Nabers caught 72 passes for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns that season. He has decent size at 6-foot, 195 pounds as well as quickness and athleticism.

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