2024 NFL Mock Draft: QB Landing Spots

2024 NFL Draft Betting

The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit between April 25 and April 27, but all eyes will be on the first round, and in particular, the quarterback position.

This is regarded as a top-heavy quarterback class, so let’s explore where each top prospect could end up. Scroll down to see the five QB’s I have going in the first round and where I think they’ll end up. Mock trades are also included, so buckle up!

1. Atlanta Falcons (via Chicago Bears via Carolina Panthers) Select Caleb Williams (QB, USC)

With the lone exception of a franchise quarterback, the Falcons are built to win right now. With Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts under contract, whoever steps into this role is going to have legitimate weapons to work with and that’s exactly why I think Atlanta is going to make a splash and move up to this spot, enticing the Bears with the No. 8 pick and multiple future first-rounders.

With Justin Fields already on their roster and Matt Eberflus staying put, I think there’s a solid chance that Chicago decides to build around the young, dynamic QB and address other major needs. Remember - when Fields has been healthy, he can do what very few other QB’s in the league can do when you factor in his dual-threat abilities. Bears GM Ryan Poles would be able to get a gigantic haul in terms of future assets for this pick and would presumably have the ability to rebuild his team quicker as a result.

Listed as long as -900 at bet365, Williams is the clear favorite to go No. 1 after putting up insane numbers in college. Under Lincoln Riley, he put up a combined 93 touchdown passes compared to 14 interceptions and added 27 more touchdowns on the ground in three wildly-productive years at Oklahoma and USC. Regarded as a generational prospect with an elite combination of awareness, arm strength and production, this would be a home run for the Falcons, who are starting a new era with a new head coach after moving on from Arthur Smith. It might take four or five draft picks in order to get him, but Arthur Blank's team needs to make a splash.

2. Washington Commanders Select Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)

Speaking of teams that are starting fresh, I firmly believe that the Commanders are going to use this pick on a quarterback. Sam Howell simply isn’t going to be the guy.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner for Brian Kelly at LSU is an elite dual threat option and has the proven ability to sling the football down the field. Completing 72.2% of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions, Daniels also rushed for 1,134 yards with 10 more scores on the ground.

A lot of people have the more prototypical pocket passer Drake Maye going here, but I think that his inconsistency towards the end of the year at UNC will vault Daniels ahead of him. Washington needs someone under center who can extend plays, create offense and develop into someone who can potentially overtake the other offenses in the division: Dallas, Philadelphia and New York. In my opinion, Daniels has more short-term and long-term upside than Maye.

3. Minnesota Vikings (via New England Patriots) Select Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

Moving on from Bill Belichick, the Patriots will enter the new season with a new head coach and front office. Averaging just 12.9 points per game, New England needs a ton of upgrades on this side of the ball, from quarterback to offensive line to wide receivers to tight ends and for that reason, I like them to trade down to No. 11 and land more picks as well, perhaps from this year’s draft, and a future high pick or two. I suspect the Vikings are going to move on from Kirk Cousins and start fresh and Maye is regarded as a top prospect for many reasons. 

Playing within Mack Brown’s pro-style offense at UNC, Maye threw for 4,321 and then 3,608 yards over the last two seasons for the Tar Heels, racking up a total of 62 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In those two seasons, he also rushed for 698 and then 449 yards to go along with 16 touchdowns on the ground. Adding him to an offense that already includes Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson would put him into an amazing spot to produce right away. This would also be a solid stylistic fit for him, taking over for Cousins within Kevin O'Connell's system.

11. New England Patriots (via Minnesota Vikings) Select Bo Nix (QB, Oregon)

Jerod Mayo is a defensive-oriented coach and the Patriots could lose star offensive linemen Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu as well as potentially both Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki in free agency. I can see them targeting multiple offensive players in this draft, but since they traded down from No. 3 to No. 11 in this mock, I think the perfect guy to pick would be former Oregon standout Bo Nix, a mature and productive option who would be able to come in and start immediately.

Nix spent five years in college (three at Auburn, two at Oregon) and really thrived as a member of the Ducks. This past season, he completed 77.4% of his passes for 4,508 yards with 45 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions and added six more scores on the ground as one of the most productive signal-callers in the country. While New England could go out and target a veteran in free agency or an unproven backup via trade, I expect them to go after who they deem could be their franchise quarterback from Day 1 under the new regime.

Nix has a lot of the qualities that Tom Brady had during his college days and is a proven leader. Drafting a guy with those intangibles and leadership qualities turned out pretty well for the Patriots last time around. He may not have the biggest arm and might not be as athletic as the first three guys, but put in the right situation, I think Nix has a ton of upside.

13. Las Vegas Raiders Select Michael Penix Jr. (QB, Washington)

The Raiders retained head coach Antonio Pierce for a reason. When he took over, the team reverted back to its “mean”, hard-nosed mentality that they previously lacked. Also in need of a quarterback, why not target the guy who instills those same values?

Penix Jr. was not only one of the most productive players in the nation at Washington over the last two seasons, throwing for 4,641 and then 4,903 yards to go along with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions and then 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Penix is a relentless, dynamic thrower of the football and is unafraid to take shots downfield. Possessing the swagger that a QB on Pierce’s team will need, he will make someone like Davante Adams very happy to catch passes from.

This is a very important pick for the Raiders. Sure, they could address other needs. However, they need to move on from Jimmy G and Aidan O’Connell, both of whom didn’t work out. Penix’s preference to throw to outside wide receivers could be a gigantic boost for Adams and would also help attract free agent playmakers to Vegas. I love the fit here for the most important position on the field.