2024 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine 2-Rounder

Before the 40s are run…and before the 40s are cracked open at the many late night establishments in Indianapolis…we thought it an appropriate time to look at the latest rumblings around the NFL. The Combine serves as a kickoff to the craziness of the offseason with franchise tags, compensatory picks, free agency and NFL draft team boards all really getting going next week in Indy. So here’s a final update before all that happens and ruins all our hard work.

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1. Chicago Bears — QB Caleb Williams, USC

Williams is the clear-cut top player in this class, and we’re still wondering just exactly who and what Justin Fields is as a starting quarterback. The Bears land a rare talent and flip Fields to a quarterback-needy team for a Round 2 selection to replace the one sent to Washington for pass-rusher Montez Sweat.

2. Washington Commanders — QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Maye is set to wow at the combine with his arm talent and mechanics. I expect a workout similar to the one C.J. Stroud put out last year. Could Maye and former Tar Heel teammate Sam Howell co-exist in Washington? Yes, they’re actually best friends and are excited about potentially reuniting, per a source.

3. New England Patriots — WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

The Patriots’ coaching staff and even front office is loaded with “legacy” names of former players and front office members. Head personnel man Eliot Wolf is the son of Green Bay Packers’ architect Ron and head coach Jerod Mayo was of course a great player before becoming an assistant under Bill Belichick. All that to say—we think New England will opt for a veteran quarterback and drafting a “sure thing” son of an NFL Hall of Famer. So in this instance, it’s Best Player Available at No. 3 overall with a trade down very, very likely.