Late updates in Miller's final mock draft
Editor's note: Miller updated his projections at Nos. 11 and 13 at 12:45 p.m. ET on Thursday.
We're closing in on the start of the 2024 NFL draft, so I'm running through all 32 first-round picks one last time with my final mock draft for this class. I think we all know what the Bears will do at No. 1 on Thursday night (8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC) -- Caleb Williams can change things in Chicago -- but things quickly get interesting after that.
I locked in my final rankings for this class last week, but mock drafts aren't about what I see on tape -- they are about what we believe each team will do when it is on the clock. So I've been making calls and firing off text messages to sources around the league to gather the latest intel and project each selection. Of course, there are always surprises, and one unexpected trade could throw off the whole board, but I ended up with five quarterbacks and plenty of future stars here in Round 1. I also projected two of those aforementioned trades to shake things up. But let's get started with Chicago.
See Miller's final rankings (ESPN+)
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
There will be no drama at the top of this draft -- I fully expect the Bears to take Williams, the best player in the class. He is the only quarterback Chicago met with privately during the pre-draft process, which speaks to the team's intentions. Williams' combination of arm strength, playmaking and the way he elevates the talent around him makes him an easy pick for the Bears.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The conversations I've had over the past week point to Daniels being the pick here. But I would also caution that new Commanders GM Adam Peters comes from the John Lynch tree in San Francisco, a team that executed a leak-proof process when it took Trey Lance over Mac Jones and Justin Fields at No. 3 overall in 2021. So I can't completely rule out North Carolina's Drake Maye; Washington might even still be finalizing its decision. Daniels -- who threw 40 touchdown passes and ran for 10 scores last season -- would be a great fit with the Commanders.
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Will the Patriots stick-and-pick or trade No. 3 for a bounty of draft capital? At least one trade call likely will come in while New England is on the clock, and the franchise might have a tough decision on its hands. My sense is ownership wants to get a young quarterback to start a new era of Patriots football under director of scouting Eliot Wolf and coach Jerod Mayo. Maye would be far from a consolation prize. He has the arm strength, pocket toughness and mobility to be a winner outdoors in the AFC East.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Harrison met with two teams for "30" visits in the lead-up to the draft -- the Bears and Cardinals. Sources around the NFL say Harrison has an assurance from the Cardinals that he will be the pick if available at this spot. Arizona would be getting its next Larry Fitzgerald to pair with quarterback Kyler Murray. Harrison has great body control, speed and instincts.
Vikings get: No. 5Chargers get: Nos. 11 and 23, plus a 2025 first-rounder
The closer we get to the draft, the less convinced I am the Vikings feel they absolutely have to move up to get a quarterback. That said, they acquired pick No. 23 from the Texans six weeks ago, and they probably wouldn't do that unless their plan was to package it in a move up the board.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
McCarthy is pro-ready coming out of the Michigan offense and would enter a dream situation with the Vikings thanks to the great supporting cast in place. I see good arm strength and a smooth release on tape, and he can make plays with his legs.
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Sitting tight means the Giants might miss out on the Round 1 quarterbacks, but I continue to hear the front office is OK with that -- especially if it means landing Nabers. The 6-foot, 199-pound speedster is a big play waiting to happen, and that's an element New York sorely lacked in 2023. Nabers' fantastic burst would open up the Giants' offense and allow Daniel Jones to get the ball out faster after the team gave up the most sacks in the league last season (85).
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
It's no secret that the Titans have eyes for Alt. I've been told by sources that should Alt be gone, the Titans would then potentially target Nabers. If both are gone? Trade out, and in a hurry. But Alt is here in this scenario, and he comes at good value and fills the team's biggest need. After allowing just two sacks over the past two seasons, he'd be a welcome addition protecting Will Levis' blindside. Tennessee allowed 64 sacks last season (tied for fourth-most) and recently released Andre Dillard.
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
OK, here's the first big surprise of my projections. I have the Falcons going defense, which has often been predicted, but it's not an edge rusher. Murphy would fit in coach Raheem Morris' defensive scheme as a 3-technique in the mold of Aaron Donald. He is stout at the point of attack and has awesome first-step quickness, and some scouts say he's the best defender in the class.
Check out some of the top highlights from Texas DT Byron Murphy II.
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Bears are rumored to love Odunze's skill set. My No. 3 overall prospect has excellent ability on 50-50 balls and shows inside-outside versatility in his alignments. Pairing him with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett would give Chicago a fantastic supporting cast for Williams. Odunze led the nation in receiving last season with 1,640 yards, and he scored 13 TDs.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
I keep hearing "pass-catcher" when reaching out to sources about the Jets. That's not what I would do when the offensive line is anchored by two 33-year-old tackles in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, but again, mock drafts are predictions. The Jets are all-in for 2024, and Bowers' middle-of-the-field ability and skills after the catch would help round out this New York passing game that currently lacks a third option behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams. Last season, 494 of Bowers' 714 yards came after the catch.
UPDATED PICK: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The latest buzz has the Chargers sticking at No. 5 to select Latham if they aren't blown away by a trade offer. That was the hot rumor way back at the combine and seems to have held true. I still think the Chargers will get that big offer, though, with the Vikings jumping the Giants for a quarterback. In Latham, they'd get a plug-and-play right tackle with the best pure power in the draft class. He'll have to clean up the penalties after logging 18 in college, but he has Pro Bowl potential. The Chargers also need receiver help, but the depth at that position means addressing it at pick No. 23 (acquired from the Vikings in our projected trade) or in Round 2 is possible.
Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Broncos have been connected to Oregon quarterback Bo Nix in this spot, but this is simply too early for him, making it hard to imagine the Broncos sacrificing so much in value to get the fifth quarterback on the board. Perhaps Denver would attempt to trade back since it doesn't have a second-rounder, but a few conversations this week led me to Turner here.
There are enough people who say Denver will look to beef up its pass rush first and potentially make a move for a quarterback in a secondary trade up, and it makes sense. The Broncos' 3-4 defense doesn't have a double-digit sack performer, and Turner's first-step speed, length and bend around the edge would fit well in an outside linebacker role.
UPDATED PICK: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
A quarterback has been linked to the Raiders in this spot, and the team seems to love Washington's Michael Penix Jr. -- but does it like him enough to pull the trigger this early when the consensus is that no other team would select him in Round 1? Instead, the Raiders can target the offensive line and plug Fuaga in at right tackle opposite Kolton Miller. Fuaga is a massive people-mover at 324 pounds and has shown excellent agility in space in the Beavers' zone-run scheme.
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Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
You could argue that the biggest need in the entire first round is the Saints getting an offensive tackle. Trevor Penning hasn't developed into a surefire starter after New Orleans took him in the first round in 2022, and the Saints are facing an uncertain future with veteran Ryan Ramczyk's knee injury. Now is the time, in a historically good tackle class, to get a starter of the future. Fashanu is a natural left tackle who allowed one sack in his past two years at Penn State, and I see great power and agility on tape.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Here's one where I'm going all-in on intel. The Colts have been linked to Worthy in numerous phone calls and texts over the past week, enough so that I'm buying it. The Colts do need speed at receiver, and Worthy has record-setting 4.21 wheels. Putting him in the mix with Michael Pittman Jr. and last year's second-rounder Josh Downs makes for a sweet trio of pass-catchers around Anthony Richardson. Imagine Worthy matched with Richardson's arm on vertical routes in Indy?
Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington
The Seahawks will beef up the trenches, and there's no better option for them at No. 16 than Fautanu. This would reunite him with his former college offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who is now the Seahawks' OC. Fautanu played left tackle in college, but he has the tools to be an All-Pro guard. And that's where he'd start in Seattle, allowing Abraham Lucas to stay at right tackle. Both of Seattle's starting guards from last season -- Damien Lewis and Evan Brown -- left in free agency, though the team signed Laken Tomlinson.
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Jaguars' need at cornerback has been mentioned to me a lot. Other teams see Jacksonville a
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5 of May 2024
