Six teams select quarterback in first round of latest mock draft

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams (QB14) is widely expected to be the first pick of this year’s NFL Draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft has arguably more quarterback talent than any other draft in recent memory.

As a result, NFL.com’s Charles Davis believes six teams will select a quarterback in the first round of his latest mock draft.

The first quarterback off the board is USC’s Caleb Williams at pick No. 1 to the Chicago Bears.

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is the presumptive first-overall pick after the Bears dealt QB Justin Fields to the Steelers a couple of weeks ago. Williams has thrown for 8,170 yards, 72 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions from 2022-23.

The next quarterback taken is UNC’s Drake Maye at pick No. 2 to the Washington Commanders.

The debate for who the second quarterback off the board will be is ongoing. It seems to be between Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, but Davis believes it will be “Maye’s ability to throw downfield” that will be the difference.

Maye is a little raw with just two years of starting experience, but he’s been impressive, throwing for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in the past two seasons.

The third quarterback drafted is Daniels, who doesn’t fall much further as he goes to the New England Patriots at pick No. 3.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner could be the second quarterback off the board after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Still, Daniels seems to be a lock as a top-three pick.

Some may believe the next quarterback selected will come at pick No. 6, currently owned by the New York Giants.

On Tuesday, owner John Mara gave his team the green light to go quarterback in round one if it so chooses.

“If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it’s worth pick No. 6 — or moving up — I certainly would support that,” Mara said via ESPN.com.

However, Davis believes the Giants will build around QB Daniel Jones with Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze instead.

That allows the Minnesota Vikings to stand pat at pick No. 11 and land the fourth quarterback in Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

McCarthy’s draft stock has risen since he led the Wolverines to a national championship. He threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions from 2022-23.

The last two quarterbacks taken in the first round come by surprise teams. At pick No. 16, the Seattle Seahawks select Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.

Penix Jr. has been mocked all over the place since leading the Huskies to a national championship appearance and throwing for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23. If the Seahawks are looking to move on from QB Geno Smith soon, it makes sense.

The sixth and final quarterback drafted in the first round of Davis’ latest mock draft is Oregon’s Bo Nix at pick No. 19 to the Los Angeles Rams.

Nix is an intriguing prospect after having a breakout season in 2023, passing for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions, but the Rams selecting a QB is a little surprising with Matthew Stafford locked in as their starter for at least the next two seasons.

However, former general manager Michael Lombardi recently revealed that Los Angeles could be a surprise player for a quarterback in this year’s draft.

Although six quarterbacks being taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft may feel like a stretch, it is not out of the question, with several teams looking for the future of their franchises.

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