Consensus 2024 NFL Mock Draft: NFC squad lands J.J. McCarthy; Broncos, Raiders pass on quarterbacks

There are plenty of questions to be answered about the 2024 NFL Draft's first round with less than two weeks to go. What will be the succession of quarterbacks selected after Caleb Williams? Will the Giants draft a quarterback? Will the Vikings and Broncos find trade partners in order to move up to select a quarterback? These are just a few of the questions that remain mysteries with the draft slated to kick off on Thursday, April 25. 

To gain some clarity, we decided to take a look at 12 mock drafts from analysts at CBS Sports, ESPN and NFL.com. We then created our own mock draft, listing each player who was mocked the most times at each specific spot in the first round. While some of the results were somewhat predictable, there were a few surprises. One of the biggest surprises was the Raiders and Broncos passing on Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. despite their obvious questions at quarterback. 

Here's a look at which positions were selected most in the first round. No running backs, inside linebackers or safeties were picked. 

• OT: 8 
• WR: 7
• EDGE: 5 
• QB: 4 
• CB: 4
• DL: 2 
• TE: 1 
• IOL: 1 

Let's take a look at our consensus mock draft, with the real draft taking place next Thursday night from Detroit.

Round 1

2024 NFL Mock Draft

From Carolina Panthers Round 1, Pick 1 Caleb Williams QB USC • 6'1" / 215 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3633 RUYDS 121 INTS 5 TDS 41 No surprise here. The Bears replace Justin Fields with the top-rated QB prospect in the draft. Williams' glittering college career included 93 touchdowns against just 14 picks. He'll look to take full advantage of a restocked Bears offense.

Round 1, Pick 2 Jayden Daniels QB LSU • 6'4" / 210 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3608 RUYDS 449 INTS 9 TDS 33 It was close, but more experts have Daniels going to Washington over Maye. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Daniels put up video game-like numbers during his final season at LSU. He tossed 40 TDs, completed over 72% of his passes and also ran for 1,134 yards and 10 scores.

Round 1, Pick 3 Drake Maye QB North Carolina • 6'4" / 225 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 3rd PAYDS 3812 RUYDS 1134 INTS 4 TDS 50 Maye lands in New England after lighting up the ACC during his two years as North Carolina's starting QB.

Round 1, Pick 4 Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State • 6'4" / 205 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 67 REYDS 1211 YDS/REC 18.1 TDS 15 The first non-quarterback selected is the draft's top-ranked wide receiver prospect. Harrison rewrote the Buckeyes' career receiving record book despite playing with multiple quarterbacks during his Ohio State career.

From Los Angeles Chargers Round 1, Pick 5 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan • 6'3" / 219 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th PAYDS 2991 RUYDS 202 INTS 4 TDS 25 The Vikings trade up to acquire McCarthy, who will look to take advantage of a Minnesota offense that features wideouts Justin Jefferson and 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison.

Round 1, Pick 6 Malik Nabers WR LSU • 6'0" / 200 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 2nd REC 89 REYDS 1569 YDS/REC 17.6 TDS 14 Instead of a QB, Big Blue gives Daniel Jones a talented wideout to throw to.

Round 1, Pick 7 Joe Alt OT Notre Dame • 6'8" / 322 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd The Titans beef up their offensive line by adding Alt, who is hoping to duplicate his father's career as a Pro Bowl offensive tackle.

Round 1, Pick 8 Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama • 6'3" / 247 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st Atlanta addresses its pass-rush issues by selecting Turner, who racked up 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last fall.

Round 1, Pick 9 Rome Odunze WR Washington • 6'3" / 215 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 92 REYDS 1640 YDS/REC 17.8 TDS 15 Chicago immediately gives Williams another weapon to throw to. Odunze joins a Bears receiving crops that already includes Keenan Allen and DJ Moore.

Round 1, Pick 10 Brock Bowers TE Georgia • 6'4" / 230 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st REC 56 REYDS 714 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 7 The experts feel that the Jets will select either a tight end or offensive tackle with this pick. The slight edge went to tight end and Bowers, who could bring another dimension to the Jets' passing attack.

From Minnesota Vikings Round 1, Pick 11 JC Latham OT Alabama • 6'6" / 342 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 5th The majority of the experts feel that this pick will come down to either tackles Latham or Taliese Fuaga despite the Chargers' obvious needs at receiver.

Round 1, Pick 12 Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo • 6'0" / 193 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 1st Just about every expert considered the Broncos taking QB Bo Nix, but few actually pulled the trigger. Instead, a small majority have the Broncos taking a CB with the pick. It just so happens that the top-rated prospect fell to them in this scenario.

Round 1, Pick 13 Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon State • 6'6" / 324 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st Like the Broncos and Nix, multiple experts have the Raiders taking a QB: Michael Penix Jr. But more experts have Las Vegas using this pick to help shore up a offensive line that needs help.

Round 1, Pick 14 Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT Penn State • 6'6" / 312 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st The Saints get an offensive lineman who didn't allow a sack in 365 pass-blocking snaps in 2023.

Round 1, Pick 15 Terrion Arnold CB Alabama • 6'0" / 199 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 2nd Arnold goes to Indianapolis after a highly productive college career at Alabama. Last year, he picked off five passes and batted down 12 more for the SEC champs.

Round 1, Pick 16 Troy Fautanu IOL Washington • 6'4" / 317 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st Fautanu won't have to travel far to continue his football career. He's a Pro Bowl-caliber player who saw time at both tackle and guard in college.

Round 1, Pick 17 Byron Murphy II DL Texas • 6'0" / 306 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st If Arnold isn't selected by now, rest assured that the Jaguars will take him with this pick. If he's gone, it's expected that the Jaguars will use the pick on either a wideout or defensive lineman.

Round 1, Pick 18 Johnny Newton DL Illinois • 6'2" / 295 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 2nd Murphy was a popular pick here, but if he's off the board, and the Bengals are still thinking IDL, several experts have them taking Newton, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Round 1, Pick 19 Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd The majority of experts have the Rams taking Latu, who had 23.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles during his two seasons at UCLA.

Round 1, Pick 20 Graham Barton OT Duke • 6'5" / 314 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 4th Pittsburgh gets an experienced college lineman who made 38 starts at Duke. Barton has experience at both tackle and center.

Round 1, Pick 21 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State • 6'4" / 260 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 2nd Miami bolsters its pass rush by acquiring Verse, who racked up 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in two years at FSU.

Round 1, Pick 22 Cooper DeJean CB Iowa • 6'0" / 198 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 3rd Most experts have the Eagles selecting DeJean, who had a whopping three interception returns for scores in 2022.

Round 1, Pick 23 Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU • 6'2" / 209 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 4th REC 68 REYDS 1177 YDS/REC 17.3 TDS 17 The Chargers get their coveted receiver with this pick. Experts were split between Thomas and Texas wideout Adonai Mitchell.

Round 1, Pick 24 Amarius Mims OT Georgia • 6'8" / 350 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 4th Mims falls to the Cowboys, who don't pass up the chance to select him despite their other needs at receiver and cornerback. Mims' addition should bolster Dallas' running game.

Round 1, Pick 25 Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma • 6'7" / 322 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 5th Expect the Packers to take either an OT or CB here, depending on how things shake up.

Round 1, Pick 26 Chop Robinson EDGE Penn State • 6'3" / 254 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 51st POSITION RNK 8th Darius Robinson also got some consideration, but Chop Robinson was ultimately the pick. He has a high motor and should help increase Tampa's pass rush in '24.

Round 1, Pick 27 Darius Robinson EDGE Missouri • 6'5" / 285 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd After not getting selected by Tampa Bay, Robinson takes his talents to Arizona. Last fall, Robinson was the anchor of a talented Missouri defense that led the Tigers to an 11-2 record.

Round 1, Pick 28 Adonai Mitchell WR Texas • 6'2" / 205 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 6th REC 30 REYDS 478 YDS/REC 15.9 TDS 3 Buffalo finds a wideout who can help replace Stefon Diggs, and they didn't have to trade up to acquire him.

Round 1, Pick 29 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Alabama • 5'11" / 199 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th A few experts have the Lions going either OL or WR with this pick, but the majority think Detroit will select one of the top available corners.

Round 1, Pick 30 Jordan Morgan OT Arizona • 6'5" / 311 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 38th POSITION RNK 6th Quite a few experts have the 49ers going with a CB, but if the Lions take Kool-Aid, Baltimore might decide to address its other pressing need at OT.

Round 1, Pick 31 Ladd McConkey WR Georgia • 6'0" / 185 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 6th REC 30 REYDS 478 YDS/REC 15.9 TDS 3 Speaking of Morgan, he was a popular pick for the 49ers here. But if he's gone, McConkey might be the pick if he's still on the board, especially if the 49ers decide to trade Brandon Aiyuk.

Round 1, Pick 32 Ja'Lynn Polk WR Washington • 6'1" / 203 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 5th REC 55 REYDS 845 YDS/REC 15.4 TDS 11 Corner and receiver are the two biggest positions experts feel the Chiefs will pick from. Most think that Kansas City will select Polk, who put up solid numbers during his final year at Washington.