2024 NFL Draft: Latest What We're Hearing

With the NFL draft just five days away, here's the latest on what our team is hearing from NFL sources

After months of rumors and speculation, the 2024 NFL Draft is approaching. And a little known secret in the world of NFL insiders is that you can largely forget a lot of what you heard prior to this week.

The hay is in the barn, so to speak, and that means the information has changed since January. It also means there’s little time for the information to change again.

It was this time in 2021 when word became solid that the San Francisco 49ers were targetting Trey Lance at No. 3 overall after months of speculation that Mac Jones was the target. It was this week in 2018 when Baker Mayfield moved into the favorite position for the No. 1 overall pick with the Cleveland Browns. And so on, and so on.

As teams set their boards—and send scouts home this weekend to rest and see family—information becomes more solid. And we’re here to tell you the truth on what we’re hearing.

• Let’s start at the top—Caleb Williams will be the pick at No. 1 overall. The Chicago Bears did not meet with any other top quarterback in the ‘24 class during the pre-draft process. Yes, the front office traveled to the Michigan and LSU pro days, but that was to see other prospects outside of the quarterbacks. They had no contact with North Carolina’s Drake Maye via a pro day visit or private meeting. This is a done deal.

• At No. 2 overall, we hear the Commanders are still very much split on who to take. We’d also caution against anyone thinking they know what Commanders’ GM Adam Peters will do. Remember, he was in San Francisco when they duped the league and selected Lance over Jones. Peters is well-connected throughout the league and media worlds, but he’s not a talker. I still think Jayden Daniels is the preferred player here based on conversations with competing teams, but no one knows for sure.

• So what does New England do? College scouting director and acting general manager Eliot Wolf announced they are open for business at No. 3 overall (and in every round), which signals to the league to pick up the phone and send an offer their way. The sense I get is that New England will stick-and-pick a quarterback but will at least entertain offers for the pick. To me, that says they aren’t in love with any of the likely available quarterbacks but do like them enough to pick one if the offers aren’t good enough to move back. If you loved three quarterbacks in this class, you aren’t telling teams to call you with an offer.