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Jess Root

NFL mock draft: 4 QBs go in top 5 picks in new 1st-round projections

It is the final weekend before the 2024 NFL draft. We have one final mock draft with some trades. In this first-round mock draft, the Minnesota Vikings trade up in the draft for a quarterback but don’t have to give up their second first-round pick, while the Arizona Cardinals move up from their second first-round selection to land a pass rusher.

Here is our final mock draft of the season.

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1
Chicago Bears: USC QB Caleb Williams

Syndication: USA TODAY

This is all but guaranteed.

2
Washington Commanders: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

They might go with Drake Maye, but the betting odds still say Daniels is the favorite.

3
New England Patriots: North Carolina QB Drake Maye

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It will be three quarterbacks in three picks.

4
Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

They stay put and take the guy they have been waiting to draft. It doesn’t make sense for the Vikings to move up to No. 4 unless they know that the Giants are trying to trade up. Otherwise, they just need to move up to No. 5, which is what they do.

5
(MOCK TRADE) Minnesota Vikings: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings move up to No. 5 but don’t have to give up both first-round picks. They give up No. 11, a fifth-round pick and next year’s first to move up. The Chargers want to move back and will be glad to have the extra pick next year.

6
New York Giants: LSU WR Malik Nabers

Malik Nabers 8 dives for a ball as the LSU Tigers take on Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 25, 2023.

While the Giants wanted McCarthy, they were okay with getting a big-time receiver in Nabers.

7
Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

This mock pick hasn’t changed in weeks.

8
Atlanta Falcons: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Turner has been the pick here for a while, but the betting odds have been shifting to Latu. Latu is the more polished pass rusher.

9
Chicago Bears: Washington WR Rome Odunze

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears have a great set of weapons for Williams — De’Andre Swift at running back, tight end Cole Kmet and receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and now Odunze.

10
New York Jets: Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs after a catch during the third quarter as Auburn Tigers take on Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

The Jets could go tackle here or another defensive player, but Bowers gives them sure production as a rookie to help Aaron Rodgers on offense.

11
(MOCK TRADE): Penn State OT Olu Fashanu

Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) goes up against Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu (74) during the third quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.

The Chargers want tackle help and get a good one in Fashanu, picked up an extra pick this year and a first next year. Perfect.

12
Denver Broncos: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If the top four quarterbacks are off the board, they are a trade-back candidate. They don’t have a second-round pick and could target one of the next tier of quarterbacks.

13
Las Vegas Raiders: Texas DL Byron Murphy II

David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders could go QB but with four off the board, they will instead go defense on the interior. Murphy inside with Maxx Crosby on the edge will be fun.

14
New Orleans Saints: Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Fuaga gives the Saints toughness on the offensive line.

15
Indianapolis Colts: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts add a stud cornerback for their defense.

16
Seattle Seahawks: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

How does Turner fall this far? Seattle doesn’t care. They haven’t had a good edge presence in years.

17
Jacksonville Jaguars: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean

Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) runs back a punt for a touchdown at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2023 in Iowa City. The touchdown was overturned after review.

Getting offensive line help would be useful, but if the Jags can cover and defend better, it will be better for Trevor Lawrence.

18
Cincinnati Bengals: Washington OT Troy Fautanu

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals now have a young, talented replacement for Jonah Williams, who signed with Arizona.

19
Los Angeles Rams: Illinois DL Johnny Newton

Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Newton isn’t Aaron Donald, but Newton won’t disappoint.

20
(MOCK TRADE) Arizona Cardinals: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Verse is an older prospect but the Cardinals don’t want to see if he falls more. He is in the upper tier of pass rushers before a dropoff.

They give up No. 27 and No. 90 to the Steelers to get No. 20.

21
Miami Dolpins: Alabama OT J.C. Latham

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Protect Tua. Protect Tua.

22
Philadelphia Eagles: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell

Texas Longhorns wide receivers Adonai Mitchell (5) and Xavier Worthy (1) celebrate a touchdown by Mitchell during the Big 12 Championship game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T stadium on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Arlington.

The Eagles add Mitchell to add to A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.

23
Minnesota Vikings: Duke OL Graham Barton

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings got their quarterback at No. 5 and now get guard help at No. 23.

24
Dallas Cowboys: Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This pick makes too much sense for the Cowboys, who need tackle help.

25
Green Bay Packers: Arizona OL Jordan Morgan

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers need help at multiple positions on the line to protect Jordan Love. Morgan played left tackle in college but might fit better at guard.

26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa needs a center so Jackson Powers-Johnson or Zach Frazier would make sense, but Wiggins falling this far is too good to pass up on.

27
(MOCK TRADE) Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers could go with a tackle but will add to their defense with McKinstry.

28
Buffalo Bills: LSU WR Brian Thomas

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas is big and fast and was super productive last year. The Bills need a No. 1 WR and many believe Thomas can be that.

29
Detroit Lions: Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Powers-Johnson will be a great center but probably will need to fill in at left guard at least for a year as Jonah Jackson left in free agency.

30
Baltimore Ravens: Texas WR Xavier Worthy

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) runs the ball during the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Speed! He gives the Ravens breakaway speed to throw down the field, adding him to the weapons that Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews are.

31
San Francisco 49ers: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Guyton fits in at right tackle. The Niners brought back Colton McKivitz but do want to upgrade.

32
Kansas City Chiefs: Georgia WR Ladd McConkey

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Adding McConkey gives the Chiefs a trio of him with Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown.

33
More Cardinals and NFL coverage

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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