2024 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Chicago Bears Select Caleb Williams, Trade Up For Marvin Harrison, Jr.

The NFL Scouting Combine has wrapped, and performances there helped give us a clearer picture of April’s draft.

Following a mid-January foray, here is my second attempt at getting every pick correct, including an aggressive trade by the Bears to move up into the top-3 after picking at 1.

1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC

The Bears have -900 odds to select Williams No. 1 overall. There is plenty of dissection about the USC quarterback’s every move, but in the end, this will happen.

2. Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye, LSU

Maye’s odds to be drafted second: -140 at FanDuel

The Commanders probably want to get up to 1 for Williams, but it’s going to be cost-prohibitive. Maye is a good fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and I think his superior arm talent will be the reason why it’s Maye above Jayden Daniels here.

3. Chicago Bears (via New England Patriots): WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State

Compensation: No. 9 overall, No. 75 overall; 2025 1st-Round Pick
Harrison’s odds to land with Bears: +350 at DraftKings

If the Patriots don’t love Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy, they could be open for business, and the Bears have both the ammunition and urgency to make a blockbuster trade.

Giving up next year’s first-rounder is a big price to pay, but if Chicago sees both Williams and MHJ as generational players, this could set them up for years to come. The Bears should also get a Day 2 pick back for Justin Fields, and they have the third-most cap space in the league, which makes a move like this feasible.

4. New York Giants (via Arizona Cardinals): QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

Compensation: No. 6 overall, No. 39 overall, 2025 second-round pick
Odds of Daniels to be drafted by Giants: +1000 at DraftKings

With their guy off the board, Arizona moves down. The Giants invested in Daniel Jones last offseason but that was never the answer, and taking a chance on a rookie like Daniels will breathe some life into the organization.

New York needs a lot more pieces on offense, but at least this is a good starting point, and the cost wasn’t crazy. The Cardinals now have picks 6, 27, 35 and 39 in the first two rounds, along with three picks in the third round.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: T Joe Alt, Notre Dame

The Chargers will be revamped in the image of new coach Jim Harbaugh, and taking the best offensive line prospect in the class over one of the star wide receivers would make sense.

6. Arizona Cardinals: WR Malik Nabers, LSU

The Cardinals don’t get Harrison, Jr., but they do land the electric Nabers, who has been 1B to Harrison's 1A in a strong wideout class, according to many analysts.

Nabers has some technical improvements to make, but his athleticism cannot be taught. He would slot in as the best wide receiver in Arizona from the jump.

7. Tennessee Titans: WR Rome Odunze, Washington

DeAndre Hopkins is winding down his career and the Titans have entered rebuild mode. Odunze would give Will Levis a young pass-catcher with whom he could grow.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama

Turner checked all the boxes at the Combine and would be a nice addition to the Falcons’ defense. The team needs a quarterback right now, but it feels like Justin Fields or Kirk Cousins will eventually end up there.

9. New England Patriots: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Odds Bowers lands with the Patriots: +3000 at BetMGM

The Patriots need everything, and maybe they take a look at J.J. McCarthy here after trading down from 3. But there is no need to force the quarterback pick, especially considering the Pats could very well end up near the top of the draft again in 2025. 

Bowers seems like a safe choice, and New England certainly has a track record of finding talented tight ends.

10. New York Jets: T Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

The Jets will almost certainly grab an offensive tackle here. Fuaga’s stock is rising and he could be the pick. 

11. Minnesota Vikings: Edge Jared Verse, Florida State

The Vikings have lost some key pass-rushers of late, and Danielle Hunter is slated for free agency. Replenishing that position makes sense.

12. Denver Broncos: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

The Broncos need a quarterback and have other holes, but there are worse decisions than pairing Arnold with Patrick Surtain as a formidable duo on the outside.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Odds McCarthy lands with the Raiders: +600 at BetMGM

The Vikings and Broncos could both take a long look at McCarthy, an intriguing but flawed player. If neither bites, Las Vegas could take the gamble.

14. New Orleans Saints: Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Cameron Jordan only had two sacks last season and is almost 35. The Saints have spent a lot of draft capital on edge rushers in the past few years, so what’s one more?

Latu is a very good player who could help immediately.

15. Indianapolis Colts: WR Brian Thomas, LSU

The Colts are expected to bring back Michael Pittman, but it’s unclear if the sides will get a long-term deal done. Thomas would complement him nicely and give Anthony Richardson another target in the passing game.

16. Seattle Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy, Texas

Seattle needs to get its defense straightened out, and another talented player up-front would help.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

Easy pick here if Wiggins drops to the middle of the first round.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: T Olu Fashanu, Penn State

This would be a gift from the draft gods. Fashanu’s stock seems to be dropping but this is excellent value for the Bengals, who could use the help on the offensive line.

19. Los Angeles Rams: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

Mitchell turned heads at the Combine, and the Rams would likely take a long look if he is on the board here. Los Angeles has enough firepower on offense and can focus on beefing up the secondary.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Pittsburgh adds another talented young player to the offensive line after investing in Broderick Jones in the first round last season.

21. Miami Dolphins: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

Just do it, Dolphins. Please.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Ennis Rakestraw, Jr., Missouri

The Eagles badly need help in the secondary, and Rakestraw is a playmaker who can flash quickly.

23. Houston Texans: DT Johnny Newton, Illinois

The Texans continue to add to an up-and-coming defense with a menace on the inside.

24. Dallas Cowboys: OT J.C. Latham, Alabama

Tyron Smith is expected to depart in free agency, but luckily Dallas will have its pick of some enticing prospects at tackle. Latham could go higher than this but the Cowboys would likely be very interested if he drops.

25. Green Bay Packers: T Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

The Packers also need an offensive tackle and Guyton would be nice value at this spot.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

The Bucs may be losing Antoine Winfield in free agency after they spent a good chunk of cap space to bring back Mike Evans. DeJean can play multiple spots in the secondary depending on team needs.

27. Arizona Cardinals: T Amarius Mims, Georgia

It may take a little while for Mims to reach his full potential, but he has a great frame and tantalizing talent. 

The Cardinals may be a year away from true contention, and Mims could be a key cog in 2025 and beyond as a book-end with Paris Johnson.

28. Buffalo Bills: WR Troy Franklin, Oregon

Stefon Diggs is getting older and the wide receiver depth chart beyond him isn’t great. Franklin would be a nice get late in the first round.

29. Detroit Lions: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

McKinstry has a Jones fracture in his foot, which could cause him to drop slightly in the draft. The Lions should still be interested, as this would be good value at a position of need.

30. Baltimore Ravens: G Graham Barton, Duke

The Ravens are set to lose a lot from last year’s team, and replenishing the interior of the offensive line will be one of the priorities.

31. San Francisco 49ers: G/T Troy Fautanu, Washington

Fautanu may be able to play inside or outside in the NFL, and that flexibility will work nicely in San Francisco, which would choose to use him at guard initially.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, Texas

The Chiefs won a Super Bowl with a below average wide receiver core, but it’s still something to address. Mitchell immediately upgrades the group.