It wouldn’t be unexpected if the initial three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft featured quarterbacks, although Bucky Brooks of NFL.com holds a different view on which quarterbacks might be chosen. According to Brooks’ recent mock draft, he envisions USC’s Caleb Williams heading to the Chicago Bears and LSU’s Jayden Daniels being picked by the Washington Commanders. Additionally, he predicts the New England Patriots will opt for Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy with the third pick, citing McCarthy’s impressive performance and potential fit with the Patriots’ system.
McCarthy’s draft prospects have notably surged following his leadership in securing a national championship for Michigan and his impressive statistics of 5,710 passing yards, 44 touchdowns, and merely nine interceptions between 2022 and 2023. While many anticipate him as a top-five pick, Brooks is among the first to suggest he might go within the top three.
This projection implies that UNC’s Drake Maye, currently considered the second-best quarterback and third overall prospect by Pro Football Focus, could experience a slide in the draft. Brooks suggests Maye might not only drop out of the top three but potentially out of the top 10 altogether, landing him with the Minnesota Vikings at the 11th pick.
Despite Maye’s talent, demonstrated by his 7,929 passing yards, 62 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over two seasons, his relatively limited starting experience might contribute to this projected fall. However, falling out of the top 10 would still be surprising, with several teams likely to express interest in trading up for him, including the Vikings, who possess two first-round picks.
Brooks acknowledges that he’s not factoring in potential trades, but he finds it unexpected that Maye might slip past the quarterback-needy New York Giants, especially after Giants owner John Mara voiced support for selecting a quarterback with the sixth overall pick.