NFL Draft 2024: Notable Picks from Mel Kiper and Latest Expert Mocks
The NFL Draft kicks off April 25 in Detroit and teams across the league will look to acquire the young talent that will shape and define them for the next decade.
From explosive wide receivers to dynamic defenders, difference-makers are available up and down the board.
No position is more scrutinized and studied than quarterback, however, and that will not change this year.
Ahead of the three-day event, Mel Kiper Jr. and other experts have compiled their mock drafts, with a few surprises for top teams looking to enhance their quarterback rooms.
Washington Picks the Heisman Trophy Winner at No. 2
1 of 3
Caleb Williams and Drake Maye were the clear Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft for the majority of the lead-in to the event. Now, the Heisman winner, LSU's Jayden Daniels, joins the pair at the top of the order.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN and Peter Schrager of NFL.com both have Daniels supplanting Maye as the second quarterback off the board and the Washington Commanders' new signal-caller.
It is not particularly surprising why the organization would want to jump at the opportunity to take Daniels. He took over games for LSU in 2023, amassing 3,812 yards through the air, with 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions, all while completing 72.2 percent of his passes.
On the ground, he added 1,334 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
His ability to scramble and make plays with his feet, or buy time for his receivers downfield, will benefit the offense with a speedster such as Terry McLaurin on the edge and give it the big-play potential it has not always had.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com still has Maye at No. 2, with Daniels going third to New England.
Whatever the case, Daniels figures to hear his name called early on in the event as he begins his journey in the NFL.
Minnesota Goes with the Polarizing National Champion in a Trade
2 of 3
The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback following Kirk Cousins' departure this offseason. Kiper Jr. has the purple and gold selecting one of the more polarizing players in this year's draft: J.J. McCarthy of the national champion Michigan Wolverines.
The 21-year-old signal-caller oversaw a run-first offense and was asked not to do much. He was a consistent player, did not turn the ball over, but did not exactly electrify to the level of his peers in this year's class.
McCarthy totaled just 22 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons with the Wolverines while allowing four and five interceptions each, respectively. He completed 72.3 percent of his passes in 2023, making him efficient if nothing else, and saved one of his best performances for the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he threw for three touchdowns, no interceptions, and 221 yards.
Kiper wrote, "Giving up that 2025 pick is going to hurt for Minnesota, but it would be worth it if the organization feels McCarthy can be the guy. There's some risk involved -- McCarthy was never asked to carry the load with his arm in college -- but his physical tools are appealing."
The physical tools may be appealing but there are so many unanswered questions about McCarthy's ability to be the guy on a team, which is expected if the Vikings are to trade up to No. 5 with the Chargers and select him.
If Minnesota makes that deal and selects McCarthy, whether it is via trade or by staying put and letting him come to them, it better be sure that he is a player that can lead the team for years to come or it could set back the team's development for the next decade.
Rams Prep for Future with Quarterback Pick
3 of 3
The Los Angeles Rams are always one of the most intriguing teams in any NFL Draft, thanks to the front office and general manager Les Snead not valuing picks as much as others in the league.
Kiper predicts the team will pull off one of the most memorable moves of this draft, though, trading up to the top of the second round to select Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
"Matthew Stafford turned 36 earlier this year, and he has dealt with injuries the past two seasons. The Rams could target a passer to start in 2025," he wrote.
Penix Jr. was one of the best quarterbacks in the nation a year ago, passing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, and leading his team to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Michigan.
Considering the Rams' history of preferring established players, via trade or free agency, instead of long-term projects through the draft, the move would certainly be out of place for Snead and head coach Sean McVay.
With that said, Stafford will not be available forever and the team will need to find a quarterback that can carry the franchise for the next decade. They could get one with Penix.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
