The Broncos get their quarterback of the future with the second-to-last pick in the first round
By Chris Trapasso of cbssports.com
Sean Payton is going to find himself a new quarterback, who more fits what he wants to do offensively, over the next few months. We aren’t sure what avenue he’ll use to get that new passer, but it feels like the Russell Wilson era is over in Denver.
In this mock, Payton and Co. get creative to land who they hope is their next franchise quarterback. And they snag a premier skill-position prospect in the process.
For this week, this is my Justin Fields trade, and it’s a new one:
Patriots get: Fields, 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 110)
Bears get: 2024 third-round pick (No. 68), 2025 third-round pick that becomes a second-round pick if Fields plays 75% of the 2024 snaps in New England
Important: The draft order is now set. Thanks to Tankathon for compiling it.
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.
NFL MOCK DRAFT
Round 1
Round 1 – Pick 1 Caleb Williams QBUSC • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBSPROJECTED TEAMChicagoPROSPECT RNK2ndPOSITION RNK1stBecause Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are stellar prospects in their own right, there’ll be some debate as to whether or not the Bears should trade out of No. 1 (again). At this point, I doubt they do. |
Round 1 – Pick 2 Jayden Daniels QBLSU • SR • 6’4″ / 210 LBSPROJECTED TEAMWashingtonPROSPECT RNK14thPOSITION RNK3rdKliff Kingsbury has worked with Williams, but he should be able to tap into the skills of the dynamic Daniels too, right? |
Round 1 – Pick 3 Marvin Harrison Jr. WROHIO STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBSPROJECTED TEAMNew EnglandPROSPECT RNK1stPOSITION RNK1stNow with Fields and Harrison, the Patriots offense looks significantly more explosive than it’s been in the post Tom Brady era. |
Round 1 – Pick 4 Rome Odunze WRWASHINGTON • JR • 6’3″ / 215 LBSPROJECTED TEAMArizonaPROSPECT RNK7thPOSITION RNK2ndThe Cardinals are desperate for a quarterback-friendly boundary receiver, and they’d get that with Odunze. |
Mock Trade from Los Angeles ChargersRound 1 – Pick 5 Drake Maye QBNORTH CAROLINA • SOPH • 6’4″ / 230 LBSPROJECTED TEAMN.Y. GiantsPROSPECT RNK15thPOSITION RNK1stThe Chargers, with new GM Joe Hortiz, may very well be interested in more picks. If Maye is available at No. 5, they’ll field plenty of calls. To ensure they get their guy, the Giants trade up one spot. |
Mock Trade from New York GiantsRound 1 – Pick 6 Taliese Fuaga OTOREGON STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 334 LBSPROJECTED TEAML.A. ChargersPROSPECT RNK6thPOSITION RNK2ndThe Chargers continue the previous regime’s build-the-trenches-early philosophy with Fuaga. Instant plus starter at right tackle. Los Angeles gets pick No. 70 (third-round) in this swap. |
Round 1 – Pick 7 Olumuyiwa Fashanu OTPENN STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 317 LBSPROJECTED TEAMTennesseePROSPECT RNK20thPOSITION RNK4thThe Titans send this pick in as soon as graphic flips to their logo as on the clock. Franchise left tackle for Will Levis. |
Round 1 – Pick 8 Laiatu Latu EDGEUCLA • SR • 6’5″ / 265 LBSPROJECTED TEAMAtlantaPROSPECT RNK12thPOSITION RNK3rdThe Falcons add a premier, NFL-ready outside rusher to the defense. Huge need filled. |
| Round 1 – Pick 9 Malik Nabers WRLSU • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBSPROJECTED TEAMChicagoPROSPECT RNK10thPOSITION RNK3rdWilliams and Nabers can be a tremendous All-Pro caliber duo in Chicago. Don’t forget about D.J. Moore either. |
Round 1 – Pick 10 Joe Alt OTNOTRE DAME • JR • 6’7″ / 322 LBSPROJECTED TEAMN.Y. JetsPROSPECT RNK5thPOSITION RNK2ndThere’s a touch of projection with Alt — he needs to get stronger. Technically, he’s all set. This Jets have to address the offensive front with Aaron Rodgers set to return in 2024. |
Round 1 – Pick 11 J.J. McCarthy QBMICHIGAN • JR • 6’3″ / 202 LBSPROJECTED TEAMMinnesotaPROSPECT RNK34thPOSITION RNK5thThe Vikings go with McCarthy, who has plus arm talent and athleticism, two things the quarterback spot has lacked in Minnesota during the productive Kirk Cousins era. |
| Round 1 – Pick 12 |
Round 1 – Pick 13 Terrion Arnold CBALABAMA • SOPH • 6’0″ / 196 LBSPROJECTED TEAMLas VegasPROSPECT RNK17thPOSITION RNK1stArnold is a super-fluid athlete who became a ball-hawking corner in his final season at Alabama. Huge boost for the Raiders secondary. |
Round 1 – Pick 14 JC Latham OTALABAMA • JR • 6’6″ / 360 LBSPROJECTED TEAMNew OrleansPROSPECT RNK11thPOSITION RNK3rdWith an SEC pedigree at multiple positions, Latham is a smart selection here for the Saints during the Derek Carr era. |
Round 1 – Pick 15 Nate Wiggins CBCLEMSON • JR • 6’2″ / 185 LBSPROJECTED TEAMIndianapolisPROSPECT RNK18thPOSITION RNK2ndWiggins is a sleek athlete on the perimeter who was around the football often in the air for the Tigers in 2023. |
Round 1 – Pick 16 Cooper DeJean CBIOWA • JR • 6’1″ / 207 LBSPROJECTED TEAMSeattlePROSPECT RNK22ndPOSITION RNK4thDeJean is a do-everything defensive back who’ll be a fun chess piece for Mike McDonald right away. |
Round 1 – Pick 17 Brian Thomas Jr. WRLSU • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBSPROJECTED TEAMJacksonvillePROSPECT RNK27thPOSITION RNK4thThomas is a sizable, athletic, well-rounded weapon, which is needed in Jacksonville. |
Round 1 – Pick 18 Jordan Morgan OTARIZONA • SR • 6’5″ / 325 LBSPROJECTED TEAMCincinnatiPROSPECT RNK22ndPOSITION RNK5thThe Bengals know how vital it is protecting Joe Burrow, so Morgan is added as one of the best pass-blockers in the class. |
Round 1 – Pick 19 Kamren Kinchens SMIAMI (FL) • JR • 6’0″ / 205 LBSPROJECTED TEAML.A. RamsPROSPECT RNK32ndPOSITION RNK1stKinchens can be the quarterback of the Rams defense and make an impact in a variety of ways from his safety spot. |
Round 1 – Pick 20 Quinyon Mitchell CBTOLEDO • JR • 6’0″ / 196 LBSPROJECTED TEAMPittsburghPROSPECT RNK29thPOSITION RNK7thHow about a cornerback pairing of Mitchell and Joey Porter Jr. for the next 5-7 years in Pittsburgh? |
Round 1 – Pick 21 Jackson Powers-Johnson OLOREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 320 LBSPROJECTED TEAMMiamiPROSPECT RNK196thPOSITION RNK16thIf Connor Williams isn’t re-signed, uh yeah, the Dolphins have a gaping hole at center, and Powers-Johnson is one rather large and athletic blocker at that position. |
Round 1 – Pick 22 Kool-Aid McKinstry CBALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBSPROJECTED TEAMPhiladelphiaPROSPECT RNK17thPOSITION RNK1stThe Eagles absolutely need to address their secondary early in the draft, and McKinstry has long looked like a future first-round pick on the field. |
From Cleveland BrownsRound 1 – Pick 23 Chop Robinson EDGEPENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 254 LBSPROJECTED TEAMHoustonPROSPECT RNK18thPOSITION RNK4thIf the Texans lose Jonathan Greenard in free agency, they’ll likely be in the edge market early in the draft, and Robinson has freaky athletic gifts around the corner. |
Round 1 – Pick 24 Jared Verse EDGEFLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBSPROJECTED TEAMDallasPROSPECT RNK15thPOSITION RNK3rdGiven that DeMarcus Lawrence is in the twilight of his career, the Cowboys want to restock the edge-rusher shelf, and do so here with Verse. |
Round 1 – Pick 25 Kamari Lassiter CBGEORGIA • JR • 6’0″ / 180 LBSPROJECTED TEAMGreen BayPROSPECT RNK27thPOSITION RNK6thLassiter pieced together a fine season at Georgia and possesses first-round-caliber traits. The Packers haven’t been shy about drafting defensive backs in Round 1. |
Round 1 – Pick 26 Dallas Turner EDGEALABAMA • JR • 6’4″ / 252 LBSPROJECTED TEAMTampa BayPROSPECT RNK9thPOSITION RNK1stTurner enjoyed a productive 2023 at Alabama and has plus athleticism around the corner. |
| From Houston TexansRound 1 – Pick 27 Byron Murphy II DLTEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 308 LBSPROJECTED TEAMArizonaPROSPECT RNK11thPOSITION RNK2ndThe Cardinals are ecstatic about Murphy being available this late in Round 1 given his incendiary first step and pass-rush move arsenal. |
Round 1 – Pick 28 Troy Franklin WROREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 187 LBSPROJECTED TEAMBuffaloPROSPECT RNK48thPOSITION RNK9thFranklin is a tall speedster whose numbers increased in each of his three seasons at Oregon. There’s some after-the-catch juice to his game, too. Precisely what the Bills need offensively. |
Round 1 – Pick 29 Darius Robinson DLMISSOURI • SR • 6’5″ / 296 LBSPROJECTED TEAMDetroitPROSPECT RNK138thPOSITION RNK13thRobinson could actually go higher than this, but if he’s here, the Missouri star would be sensible for a Lions club that needs another rusher up front opposite Aidan Hutchinson. |
Round 1 – Pick 30 Jer’Zhan Newton DLILLINOIS • JR • 6’2″ / 295 LBSPROJECTED TEAMBaltimorePROSPECT RNK16thPOSITION RNK2ndAnother beefy but polished defensive lineman for the Ravens. Newton was awesome at Illinois and can really rush the passer. |
Mock Trade from San Francisco 49ersRound 1 – Pick 31 Bo Nix QBOREGON • SR • 6’2″ / 217 LBSPROJECTED TEAMDenverPROSPECT RNK42ndPOSITION RNK6thTo get that extra year on the rookie deal, the Broncos move back into Round 1 for Nix, who Payton will likely love due to his vast collegiate experience and the maturation he showed as a quick decision-maker from the pocket at Oregon. In this deal, the 49ers move this selection and a 2025 fourth-round pick and receive Denver’s 2025 first-rounder and No. 76 in this draft (third round). |
Round 1 – Pick 32 Adonai Mitchell WRTEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 196 LBSPROJECTED TEAMKansas CityPROSPECT RNK37thPOSITION RNK7thMitchell is just scratching the surface as to how good he can be. With plus size and super-smooth movement skills the sky is the limit in Kansas City. |