2024 NFL Mock Draft: New 1st-Round Forecast Full of Big Surprises
Most early projections for the 2024 NFL Draft appear to have come to a consensus at the top, with three quarterbacks coming off the board in the same order most of the time.
USC's Caleb Williams is usually in the No. 1 spot, followed by North Carolina's Drake Maye, then LSU's Jayden Daniels.
But the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Joe DeLeone at BLEAV goes in a different direction after sending Williams to the Chicago Bears at No. 1, flipping the other two passers as Daniels lands with the Washington Commanders at the No. 2 pick, while the New England Patriots grab Maye at No. 3.
Both Daniels and Maye deserve consideration for the No. 1 pick alongside Williams, so it wouldn't be a terrible shock to see either of them go No. 2. While Maye has owned that No. 2 spot since last offseason, Daniels' incredible 2023 campaign that ended with a Heisman Trophy has launched him into that same range.
Drake Maye could fall to the No. 3 pick if Jayden Daniels leapfrogs over him.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
That's not the only surprise in this mock draft, either.
The Tennessee Titans pass up Penn State's Olu Fashanu at No. 7 in favor of another offensive tackle, Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga. One pick later, the Atlanta Falcons reach for the fourth quarterback off the board, spending a top-10 selection on Oregon's Bo Nix.
Other surprises in this projection include Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze falling out of the top 10 (No. 12, Denver Broncos), Fashanu tumbling all the way to the Indianapolis Colts at the No. 15 pick, and UConn offensive lineman Christian Haynes leaping into the first round (No. 31, San Francisco 49ers) after a strong performance at the Senior Bowl.
To check out the full first-round mock draft at BLEAV, click here.
