NFL Draft 2024: Top Prospects and 1st-Round Mock Predictions

At the start of the 2023 NFL draft, numerous teams committed to new franchise quarterbacks. The Carolina Panthers took Alabama's Bryce Young at No. 1, then the Houston Texans selected Ohio State's C.J. Stroud at No. 2 and the Indianapolis Colts picked Florida's Anthony Richardson at No. 4.

There may not be as many teams targeting QBs early in 2024. However, the best player in next year's draft class may just be a quarterback. That's because Caleb Williams should be leaving USC following his junior season and declaring for the NFL draft.

The 2023 draft may still be ongoing (and set to conclude Saturday), but it's fun to already start thinking about what may happen in the first round in 2024. A lot of talented players will be coming from the college ranks, and they'll have the 2023 season to further improve their stock. Next year's draft will take place April 25-27, 2024, in Detroit.

Here's an early mock for the first round of the 2024 draft. The order is set by the inverse of DraftKings Sportsbook's odds for each team to win the Super Bowl in the 2023 season.

2024 1st-Round Mock Draft

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: A detailed view of the Draft logo is seen prior to the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

1. Houston Texans: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

2. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

3. Indianapolis Colts: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

4. Tennessee Titans: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

5. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

6. Atlanta Falcons: J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

8. Washington Commanders: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

9. Los Angeles Rams: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

10. New England Patriots: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State

12. Chicago Bears: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

13. Green Bay Packers: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

14. Minnesota Vikings: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

15. Las Vegas Raiders: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

16. Seattle Seahawks: Andrew Mukuba, S, Clemson

17. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

18. New Orleans Saints: Maason Smith, DT, LSU

19. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State

21. Miami Dolphins: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

22. Baltimore Ravens: LaDarius Henderson, OT, Michigan

23. Denver Broncos: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

24. Los Angeles Chargers: James Williams, S, Miami

25. Detroit Lions: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

26. New York Jets: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

27. Dallas Cowboys: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

28. Buffalo Bills: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington

29. Cincinnati Bengals: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

31. San Francisco 49ers: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Williams Is Most Exciting Player in 2024 Class

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 15: Quarterback Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans warms up for the spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Unless Caleb Williams' stock takes a major hit during the 2023 season, the USC quarterback should enter next year's draft as the consensus No. 1 player in the class. Whether he gets drafted No. 1 overall, though, will depend on which team ends up with the top pick.

Williams, who spent his freshman year at Oklahoma, transferred prior to the 2022 campaign and had an impressive first season for the Trojans. In 14 games, he passed for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also scored 10 rushing TDs, proving he's capable of using his legs as a weapon.

Even if an NFL team has a clear starting quarterback now, it could be hard to pass up Williams, except if it's a franchise with one of the elite QBs. For example, maybe the Arizona Cardinals would consider moving on from Kyler Murray if he and the team both struggle in 2023, resulting in Arizona again having a top draft pick in 2024.

At 6'1" and 220 pounds, Williams has the size, look and talent of a future star NFL quarterback. One franchise will be fortunate enough to build around him for years to come.

Harrison Leads Strong Upcoming WR Class

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COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 15: Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball during the LiFEsports Spring Game, presented by Union Home Mortgage at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on April 15, 2023. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There are a lot of talented wide receivers expected to be part of the 2024 draft class. But none of them have a higher ceiling than Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of former Indianapolis Colts star receiver Marvin Harrison, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

The younger Harrison had a stellar showing as a sophomore in 2022, recording 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. He'll again be the Buckeyes' No. 1 wide receiver in 2023, and he should have another impressive year, considering all the talent on the team's offense.

The most recent WR to get taken with a top-five pick in the NFL draft was Ja'Marr Chase, who went No. 5 to the Bengals in 2021. Depending on the order for 2024, Harrison may get selected even earlier than that.

If the Texans struggle in 2023, maybe they could land Harrison and reunite him with his former Ohio State QB, C.J. Stroud, who went No. 2 overall to Houston in this year's draft. Of course, the Texans would probably prefer to fare well enough that they're picking much later. Should that happen, Harrison will surely be going somewhere else.

Could Buccaneers Be Seeking QB in 2024?

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass during the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl football game between the Oregon Ducks and the North Carolina Tar Heels on December 28, 2022, at Petco Park in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Justin Fine/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Buccaneers haven't taken a quarterback through the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft. So, it appears likely they'll be going into the upcoming season with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask as the top two QBs on their depth chart.

Mayfield hasn't played up to expectations through his first five NFL seasons. Trask has thrown only nine passes in one career game. It's unlikely either plays up to the level that Tom Brady did the past three years for Tampa Bay.

There's a good chance the Bucs could be in search of a new franchise QB in the 2024 draft. And that could be the case whether they struggle in 2023 and end up picking early, or if they play well and are drafting later in the first round.

Williams would be the top target. But if Tampa Bay isn't picking high enough to land him, then another potential target could be North Carolina's Drake Maye. He threw for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 14 games last season and is poised for another big year for the Tar Heels.