2024 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2 Mock + Super Wildcard Weekend Update
We have surprising losses in Dallas, a revitalized Kansas City, and a Houston Texans team that looked unbeatable on Sunday afternoon. We also have six teams losing games, which means a major update to the draft order.
Also notable: January 15 is the deadline for underclassmen to enter the 2024 NFL draft. The final list will be sent to all clubs on January 19, but this was a pivotal day on the Draft calendar given the underclassman deadline—which saw quarterback Cam Ward remove his name from the draft and commit to the University of Miami—and the finalization of draft picks Nos. 19 though 24.
What changed?
Not much at the top. You’ve no doubt read or heard our reasons for having Caleb Williams to the Chicago Bears. In fact, the order of the top five is unchanged from our last mock draft. So sit tight as we zip through those picks before giving deeper analysis on the remaining Round 1 and Round 2 selections.
Round 1
1.01 Chicago Bears — QB Caleb Williams, USC
Team Needs: QB, WR, CB, DT, EDGE
We’re still projecting the Bears will draft Caleb Williams and look to trade Justin Fields to a team missing out on the top three or four passers in this class. Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Denver are all options.
1.02 Washington Commanders — QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Team Needs: QB, OT, DE, WR, CB
Washington doesn’t have a head coach as of this writing, but it does have a new head of football in former San Francisco 49ers’ assistant general manager Adam Peters. Who Peters brings in as head coach will inform this decision greatly, but our knowledge of AP is that he’ll value the dynamic, dual-threat nature of Daniels in this spot.
1.03 New England Patriots — QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Team Needs: QB, LT, DE, OG, S
Jerod Mayo will anchor a new era of Patriot football, but the former linebacker must oversee a massive overhaul of the offense. That starts at quarterback, where Mac Jones should be traded and Maye brought in to offer a clean slate at the position. Maye’s size, mobility and arm strength will remind many of Justin Herbert—or C.J. Stroud.
1.04 Arizona Cardinals — WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Team Needs: WR, CB, DT, EDGE, IOL
The Cardinals face an off-season with Marquise Brown hitting free agency—and even if he’s retained, there’s room to add a generational talent like Marvin Harrison, Jr. to this roster. The 6’4” Harrison would be a perfect WR1 complement to the speedy Brown with Trey McBride opening things up at tight end.
1.05 Los Angeles Chargers — WR Malik Nabers, LSU
Team Needs: CB, WR, DT, IOL, RB
The Chargers are the spot where a trade down conversation starts. The team needs to fix the offensive line, but left tackle Rashawn Slater is good enough that selecting Olu Fashanu or Joe Alt and moving them to right tackle feels like a waste. Instead, a reboot at wide receiver comes in with a new general manager and head coach. Nabers is the draft’s best yards-after-catch receiver with real-deal speed. Mike Williams and/or Keenan Allen are a cap casualty in this scenario.