This year’s college draft class is unlike many before it. There are generational talents such as Marvin Harrison Jr. (OSU), son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, and Caleb Williams (USC) who is widely considered the most complete QB prospect since Joe Burrow in 2019. Other players include the likes of Quarterback Drake Maye (UNC), Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (BAMA), and reigning Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels (LSU). This years draft class is loaded with both offensive and defensive talent, and any team with a top pick should be salivating at the chance to draft any of the top players this year. 

At this very moment in time, the Chicago Bears hold this year’s first overall selection. Common belief around the league however is that Chicago will trade back to as far as third overall. This mock draft will take probable trades such as this into consideration as well as other trades that could happen as well. With that being said, here are my predictions for the top 10 picks in this years NFL Draft!

Round 1: Picks 1-10

Pick #1: Washington Commanders – Caleb Williams, QB (VIA Chicago)

Chicago moving back here comes as no surprise as they still appear to be all in on third-year quarterback Justin Fields. Washington on the other hand may have the biggest question mark at the QB position of any team in the NFL. After a disappointing 4-13 season, the Commanders need to change something quick, and shaking things up on the offensive side of the ball might be exactly what they need to get back up in the difficult NFC East. 

Pick #2: New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB (VIA Chicago)

Yes, I do have Chicago moving back not once, but twice in this years draft. Chicago has come out and stated they don’t plan on drafting a quarterback, so why keep a top pick when the guy they want will still be there at 3 and they can get more draft compensation in return? The Pats are taking Drake Maye, end of story. Ever since Brady left for Tampa Bay, New England has been shaky at quarterback to say the least. Mac Jones looked promising his rookie year coming out of Alabama, but we now see he was a product of Nick Saban’s stacked Crimson Tide team and is not the star player he was made out to be. Drake Maye not only looks like the most NFL ready quarterback in the draft, but being put in the New England system can do great things. We saw what happened last time Belicheck was paired with a generational quarterback, so I say the Pats keep him around for one more year and take Maye second overall, and see if Bill’s got anything left in the tank. 

Pick #3: Chicago Bears – Marvin Harrison Jr, WR

The Chicago Bears would be crazy to pass up on Marv. There hasn’t been a wide receiver prospect this hyped up since Devonta Smith won the Heisman back in the 2020-21 season. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a human highlight tape, reeling in any pass within 10 yards of him. You could throw the ball directly to the defender and Harrison’s going to have a better chance at making the catch than the defensive back would. Pairing him up with Justin Fields might be just what he needs to take the next step in his development as Chicago’s franchise guy. 

Pick #4: Arizona Cardinals – Malik Neybors, WR

Malik spent the 2023 season in Marvin Harrison’s shadow. Malik put up record-setting numbers at LSU this year with Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. So, why not pair him up with a former Heisman winner Kyler Murray? Murray lost his number one guy in Deandre Hopkins this year to free agency, and the effects of his departure showed as the Cards finished the season with a disappointing 4 wins and 13 losses. With a healthy Kyler and someone he can get the ball to, this offense could bring back Arizona’s playoff hopes this upcoming season. 

Pick #5: Los Angeles Chargers – Brock Bowers, TE

Although an unconventional pick, there’s some reasoning behind the Chargers taking a chance on a tight end at 5. The most recent instance of a team drafting a star tight end to uplift a quarterback’s play was the Falcons in 2021 with Kyle Pitts, and although it hasn’t panned out quite yet in Atlanta that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for Bowers. For starters, the Chargers’ QB situation is a lot more sound than Atlanta’s was at the time, Los Angeles has Pro Bowler Justin Herbert at the helm while Atlanta had Desmond Ridder and Marcus Mariota all season. Take a look at Brady and Gronk, or Mahomes and Kelce; Some of the best QB-Reciever connections haven’t even been with a true receiver, and with the increasing age of Keenan Allen and a regressing Austin Ekler it seems like a no-brainer to take the chance on a generational tight end. 

Pick #6: New York Giants – Michael Penix Jr, QB

Michael Penix to the Big Apple would be the biggest risk-reward pick of the first six picks. All 5 guys ahead of him are surefire studs, as opposed to Penix who’s had a long injury history throughout his six years in college. Penix showed this year however that these injuries haven’t slowed him down one bit as he’s led Washington to the National Championship against Michigan. Although they fell to the Wolverines 34-13, Penix showed he has an arm like never seen before from a lefty quarterback, and his play style will fit Big Blue perfectly. With a plus-sized question mark at quarterback going into a make-or-break 2024 season, I see no reason the Giants should pass up on Penix at six. 

Pick #7: Tennessee Titans – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT

The first lineman off the board, Fashanu was a force to be reckoned with at Penn State this year. At a whopping 6’6, 317 lbs, one could say he’s a man amongst boys out on the field. The titans could use somebody to protect the blindside of 2nd year quarterback Will Levis, and drafting Fashanu will help them unlock his full potential while protecting the backfield as well. Seems like a no-brainer in Tennessee’s run-heavy offense. 

Pick #8: Atlanta Falcons – Jayden Daniels, QB

Having stud receivers and tight ends on a team without a good quarterback is like having a nice car without an engine. You can’t do anything with it. The Falcons need to draft Daniels, not only can he run if their mediocre offensive line lets up but he can hit any receiver anywhere on the field. Playing with Malik Neybors at LSU, Jayden won the 2023 Heisman award. Imagine what he could do with an offense consisting of generational talents such as Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson out of the backfield. Atlanta can expect to go from pretenders to contenders if they can get Daniels at 8, and after firing Arthur Smith recently they’ve made it clear they aren’t messing around next season. 

Pick #9: New York Giants (VIA Chicago) – Rome Odunze, WR

As mentioned before, this is a make-or-break draft for the Giants. After having one of the worst offenses in the league this past season, it’s about time the Giants shake things up in the draft and make a splash. Trading up to partner Penix with Odunze would inevitably lead to success, as the two have a great connection which was shown in the National Championship game last week. It will take a lot for the Giants to pull this off, but if they do the Big Blue faithful can have a young, electrifying offense to look forward to watching. 

Pick #10: Jets – Joe Alt, OT

The Notre Dame prospect is just what the doctor ordered for Aaron Rodgers’ post-Achilles injury. With Rodgers approaching age forty and the offensive line having ranked 24/32 this past season, protecting Rodgers should be New York’s main priority. With a stifling defense and electrifying playmakers on both sides of the ball, the only dark spot on the team is the line, and with Mekhi Beckton yet again failing to meet expectations, it may be time to move on from the potential bust at tackle and draft a new blindside protector for number 8. 

To conclude these draft projections, it should be noted that these are nothing but predictions based solely on who I believe each team should pursue to have the greatest success in 2024. Some teams may shock the world and pick someone not noted, and other players noted may fall off this list entirely come draft night. The NFL is one big mystery, and it’ll be real fun watching teams scramble to assemble their draft boards to be ready in time for April.