USC Football: Latest Mock Draft Has Former AFC Powerhouse Trading Up For Caleb Williams

The Heisman's new home?

Ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, the rumors have begun to swirl regarding which team will end up with the 1st overall pick, which they'd use to select Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams, who is widely considered one of this generation's best QB prospects. 

While typically, the top pick is made by the team with the worst record in the league, in some cases (ex, the 2023 NFL Draft), the top-picking team will trade the selection in exchange for a treasure chest of assets, highlighted by the trading partner's first-round pick that draft, multiple more picks into the future, and in some cases, a player that is already in the league. 

Looking at the 2023 NFL draft, for example, the Chicago Bears, who had the league's worst record, dealt the No. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Carolina's 2023 first-round pick (No. 9), a second-round pick (No. 61), a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick. They also gave up star wide receiver DJ Moore (per ESPN). Carolina used the pick on Alabama QB Bryce Young. 

Nick Schultz, a writer at On3.com, has the New England Patriots taking the Panthers' position in the 2024 draft and trading some assets for the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears. 

Interestingly, Schultz predicts that the Panthers would have the 1st overall pick, but because they dealt their 2024 first-round pick in the Bryce Young deal, that pick actually belongs to Chicago. 

While he doesn't go into detail concerning what the Patriots would give up, one would assume it would be similar to what Carolina did for Young, but likely a more lucrative package given Williams' prowess as a prospect compared to the ex-Bama QB. 

As such, the Patriots, who look as though they'll finish with no more than 6 or 7 wins, will likely have a top-10 pick. 

Consequently, they can deal their first-round pick, their 2025 first-round pick, perhaps one of their star defensive players given their talent on that side of the ball, and the same chest of picks that Carolina did, adding one or two given Williams' ability. 

The only flaw with this projected deal is that Williams is too good a prospect for any team to pass on. While current Bears QB Justin Fields is young and has shown some flashes of promise, unless he looks like an All-Pro level player by the end of the season, it's unlikely Chicago doesn't take Williams themselves and trades Fields instead. 

Regardless, that'll be a really interesting situation to monitor as the season progresses, given how talented Williams is and how many teams in the NFL would give up an arm and a leg for a prospect of his caliber. 

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