Field Yates NFL Mock Draft 2024: Jayden Daniels Over Maye; J.J. McCarthy to Vikings

Field Yates of ESPN didn't spring any big surprises when he unveiled his newest 2024 NFL mock draft Thursday.

Yates projected USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye to be the top three picks to the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, respectively.

That matches the mock he dropped in February prior to the NFL Scouting Combine.

Michigan's J.J. McCarthy was the fourth quarterback off the board, going 11th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.

Yates' mock reflects the wider view of this year's QB class.

Williams has long been considered the best of the group despite having a junior season that fell slightly short of expectations. And while Justin Fields' future in Chicago remains murky, there appears to be little momentum behind the idea the Bears will trade the No. 1 pick.

"I wasn't expecting anything of the sort, but there has been no inclination the Bears are likely to keep Fields as their offensive focal point going forward and eschew taking a quarterback at No. 1 overall (or trade the pick altogether)," Yates wrote.

Daniels and Maye are next and not necessarily in that order. The latter went to the Patriots with the former going to the Commanders in Bleacher Report's most recent mock draft. A case can be made for either player regarding what Washington should do, and for New England, it's probably as simple as selecting which of the three is still available.

With McCarthy, the Vikings might represent his floor in the first round.

The Atlanta Falcons confirmed the signing of Kirk Cousins on Wednesday, leaving Minnesota in desperate need of a quarterback. Agreeing to a deal with Sam Darnold simply isn't going to cut it.

"While still just 26 years old, I do not view the signing of Darnold as prohibitive to drafting a quarterback," Yates wrote. "The deal gives the Vikings insurance under center, but without Cousins at the helm, Minnesota will likely be paying more attention to the QB class."

On McCarthy, the only question is whether the Vikings feel the need to move up into the top 10 to get him or if another team values him highly enough to leapfrog Minnesota in the first round.