2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bears keep Justin Fields, trade No. 1 pick to Patriots; Jayden Daniels falls out of top 5

The NFL season is the most joyous time of the year, but the offseason ain't bad, either. We've got the NCAA Tournament and the Masters on deck and it's MOCK DRAFT SZN, baby. And Mock SZN means it's time for the godfather of the veteran QB trade mock draft (aka me) to test out some craziness. 

But for this first mock draft, we're not going to trade a veteran quarterback. Instead, we're going to have the Bears change course, do what no one expects them to do, and keep Justin Fields while trading away the No. 1 overall pick. 

Bears fans and friends, you know where to find me with your anger (@WillBrinson on Twitter/X and also on Instagram) because I've gotten it before. But this is a pre-free agency mock draft. And it's starting to look like there might not be a great market for Fields. If that's the case, why not make some massive moves. 

In this particular instance, the Bears get THREE future firsts and a 2024 second-round pick from the Patriots to move down to No. 3. The Pats are that desperate for a quarterback, and it's the opposite of what Bill Belichick would do. 

Also, just to make my Giants friends happy, they trade up with the Cardinals to grab a quarterback, giving up a future first to swap with Arizona.

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. Listen to the latest episode below!

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

Mock Trade from Chicago Bears Round 1 - Pick 1 Caleb Williams QB USC • 6'1" / 215 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Patriots are hell-bent on getting a franchise quarterback to help them forget Mac Jones ... and Tom Brady.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Drake Maye QB North Carolina • 6'4" / 225 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 3rd Washington has talked about trading down, but it's also talked about trading up. I think the Commanders ultimately stand pat and take Maye here.

Mock Trade from New England Patriots Round 1 - Pick 3 Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State • 6'4" / 205 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st The Bears could go with a quarterback here or they could kick the can down the road and grab a superstar wide receiver to see how things could work in 2024 with Justin Fields.

Mock Trade from Arizona Cardinals Round 1 - Pick 4 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan • 6'3" / 219 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 4th The Giants move up to grab a quarterback, a leader type who can step in and take over for Daniel Jones. This franchise needs a reboot at QB, and McCarthy can handle the pressure that comes with being the quarterback in New York.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Joe Alt OT Notre Dame • 6'8" / 322 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd Rashawn Slater is still slotted in at left tackle, but Jim Harbaugh loves to draft in the trenches, and he'll want to get his franchise quarterback help early.

Mock Trade from New York Giants Round 1 - Pick 6 Malik Nabers WR LSU • 6'0" / 200 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 2nd The Cardinals have gone over the top in professing their love for Kyler Murray, so now's the time to show it by drafting him a weapon. Nabers has enormous upside.

Round 1 - Pick 7 JC Latham OT Alabama • 6'6" / 342 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 3rd The Titans have to improve the offensive line, and Brian Callahan should be interested in building out protection before trying to find a quarterback.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Jayden Daniels QB LSU • 6'4" / 210 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 2nd The Falcons are THRILLED to find Daniels sitting here, even though he doesn't necessarily fit the coaching staff's description. Plus, I think they'll sign a veteran quarterback in free agency, giving Daniels a year plus to sit and learn Zac Robinson's system.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT Penn State • 6'6" / 312 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st First you get the wide receiver, then you get the offensive lineman, then you get the khakis. The Bears come away with two GREAT players and an insane number of draft picks for the future.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Rome Odunze WR Washington • 6'3" / 215 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 3rd The Jets stop a surprising fall -- they really want to go OL to help Aaron Rodgers, but Odunze plus Garrett Wilson is absolutely LETHAL.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 2nd The Vikings could go in any direction here, and a lot may depend on whether or not they bring back Kirk Cousins. I'll give them some defensive help with free agency still pending.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Brock Bowers TE Georgia • 6'4" / 230 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st The Broncos are a team in flux with Russell Wilson gone, so QB could be an option here. However, I don't see Sean Payton reaching. He might prefer getting Jarrett Stidham some weapons.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Terrion Arnold CB Alabama • 6'0" / 199 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd The Raiders are at a point where they can just take the best player available, and while pairing an edge rusher with Maxx Crosby could work, they're shoring up the back end of the defense here with a player who fits well with Antonio Pierce.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Chop Robinson EDGE Penn State • 6'3" / 254 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 4th Cameron Jordan ain't getting any younger! He's aging marvelously, but adding more pass-rush help wouldn't be a bad thing for the Saints.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Byron Murphy II DL Texas • 6'0" / 306 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 1st Lean into a strength and keep loading up on that defensive line. Pairing Murphy with DeForest Buckner would be a problem for interior pass blockers.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama • 6'3" / 247 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 1st The Seahawks snap up a premium pass-rusher who fell further than expected.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State • 6'4" / 260 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 3rd The Jags are likely franchise tagging Josh Allen, but he's not under contract, so they could use additional pass rush help.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU • 6'2" / 209 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 4th Tee Higgins got the franchise tag, but it's entirely possible the Bengals end up letting him walk in free agency after this season. They'll need help if so.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Amarius Mims OT Georgia • 6'8" / 350 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 5th I have no clue what the Rams will do in the first round... Sean McVay might spontaneously combust when he finds himself on the clock in the first round for the first time ever.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Nate Wiggins CB Clemson • 6'1" / 182 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 3rd The Steelers are being coy about their plans at quarterback, so for now we'll give them additional help on the defensive side of the ball.

Round 1 - Pick 21 T'Vondre Sweat DL Texas • 6'4" / 366 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 99th POSITION RNK 10th Losing Christian Wilkins means the Dolphins need to restock on the defensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Alabama • 5'11" / 199 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 4th Mock drafting for the Eagles is easy. Just find the highest-rated Alabama or Georgia guy remaining and add water. You got a stew going baby.

From Cleveland Browns Round 1 - Pick 23 Austin Booker DL Kansas • 6'6" / 245 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 92nd POSITION RNK 8th The Texans defense was great last year, but it was largely the result of smart, cheap free agent signings. A lot of them may be hitting the market again.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma • 6'7" / 322 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 6th Tyron Smith is moving on after a decade plus in Dallas, so the Cowboys will need to keep restocking the offensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Troy Fautanu IOL Washington • 6'4" / 317 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 56th POSITION RNK 4th If the Packers move on from David Bakhtiari, they'll need to restock the offensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Adonai Mitchell WR Texas • 6'2" / 205 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 36th POSITION RNK 8th Another blazing Texas WR, the Bucs can add more WR talent even with Mike Evans back in the fold.

From Houston Texans Round 1 - Pick 27 Darius Robinson EDGE Missouri • 6'5" / 285 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 6th Arizona should/will be in the business of adding more defensive players after grabbing an offensive star early in the draft.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Ladd McConkey WR Georgia • 6'0" / 185 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 55th POSITION RNK 11th The Bills need some speed and help at wide receiver with Gabe Davis possibly moving on. McConkey would step in and fit perfectly with Josh Allen from jump street.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo • 6'0" / 193 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st Brad Holmes is a big fan of defensive back play, and the Lions are in need of a cornerback.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Kris Jenkins DL Michigan • 6'3" / 310 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 53rd POSITION RNK 4th Freak athlete, and defensive line is a position of need for the Ravens with their impending free agents.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Graham Barton OT Duke • 6'5" / 314 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 46th POSITION RNK 8th I would never put it past Kyle Shanahan to try and grab some offensive line help given the importance of his system working in sync.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Troy Franklin WR Oregon • 6'3" / 180 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 49th POSITION RNK 9th The Chiefs might address wide receiver in free agency, but they certainly need to consider doing it in the draft as well.