Pete Prisco 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Jets add firepower for Aaron Rodgers; Super Bowl hopefuls address defense

Free agency has come and gone for the most part, so mock drafts actually mean something.

Unlike our lead NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson, I am late to the process when it comes to doing mock drafts. I will do four: this one, another in two weeks, then my who-they-should draft mock (teams should really pay attention to that one) and then the final mock the day of the draft.

Wilson has done 4000 of them, but who is counting?

The only ones that make sense are those that come after free agency and the NFL Scouting Combine. So here is my Mock No. 1. It includes a major trade.

That trade has the Minnesota Vikings moving up to the fourth spot with the Arizona Cardinals to take North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. The Vikings would give up two first-round picks to do so, one of which they acquired in a trade two weeks ago from the Houston Texans, to land Maye. They would also have to sprinkle in a few more picks to sweeten the deal, but getting a franchise quarterback is a must.

In this mock, I have the quarterbacks going 1-2-3-4, with Caleb Williams going to the Chicago Bears with the first pick, followed by Jayden Daniels to the Washington Commanders at No. 2 and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy to the New England Patriots with the third pick. The Vikings would then take Maye.

The infatuation with McCarthy is strange in my eyes, but the league loves him, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go ahead of Maye. So for this mock, that's the way it will be — until we mock again in two weeks.

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 below!

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

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 It's becoming obvious that Caleb Williams is the pick for the Bears. They have had a nice offseason, and if he's the real deal, watch out for this team.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Jayden Daniels QB LSU • 6'4" / 210 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 3rd PAYDS 3812 RUYDS 1134 INTS 4 TDS 50 They are definitely taking a quarterback and Jayden Daniels should be the pick. He's the most-improved player I've ever seen in the draft process. That matters.

Round 1 - Pick 3 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan • 6'3" / 219 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 4th PAYDS 2991 RUYDS 202 INTS 4 TDS 25 Would I draft J.J. McCarthy here? No way. But he just seems like a Patriots quarterback -- a leader and a winner.

Mock Trade from Arizona Cardinals Round 1 - Pick 4 Drake Maye QB North Carolina • 6'4" / 225 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3608 RUYDS 449 INTS 9 TDS 33 They make the bold move to go get a quarterback, which they must do. Drake Maye is rumored to be their guy.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State • 6'4" / 205 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 67 REYDS 1211 YDS/REC 18.1 TDS 15 With Keenan Allen traded to the Bears and Mike Williams released, they need to get a receiver in the worst way. Marvin Harrison Jr. is considered by most to be the best.

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 The Giants lack a true playmaker outside, which is what Malik Nabers can be. I think he's the best receiver in this draft.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Joe Alt OT Notre Dame • 6'8" / 322 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd They took guard Peter Skoronski last year, so now they take Joe Alt to play next to him. The line in front of Will Levis suddenly would be much improved.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama • 6'3" / 247 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st The Falcons have seemingly been searching for a top-tier edge rusher for a decade. Dallas Turner has those types of skills. They did a lot for the offense in free agency, so now it's time to add to the defense.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State • 6'4" / 260 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd The Bears need to add an edge player opposite Montez Sweat. Jared Verse has the speed and power teams love. They could consider offensive line here, but edge makes more sense.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Rome Odunze WR Washington • 6'3" / 215 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 92 REYDS 1640 YDS/REC 17.8 TDS 15 They are trying to get more help outside to go with Garrett Wilson. Rome Odunze is a big target who would make a nice complement to Wilson's game -- even with the one-year signing of Mike Williams.

Mock Trade from Minnesota Vikings Round 1 - Pick 11 Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo • 6'0" / 193 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st They signed Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency, but you can never have enough corners. They also could look to add a receiver here, maybe Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU

Round 1 - Pick 12 Brock Bowers TE Georgia • 6'4" / 230 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 1st REC 56 REYDS 714 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 7 They don't get a lot out of the position, so taking Brock Bowers would make sense. They could also look to get help for their offensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon State • 6'6" / 324 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 3rd You can never go wrong taking a big, powerful offensive lineman. Taliese Fuaga would fit better on the right side than Olu Fashanu from Penn State.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT Penn State • 6'6" / 312 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st In this mock, Olu Fashanu falls down this far, which might be unlikely since he's so talented. The Saints have to fix their line, and he would go a long way towards doing that.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Terrion Arnold CB Alabama • 6'0" / 199 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 2nd They have two young corners they like, but in a division loaded with young passers on the rise, they need more. Terrion Arnold would be a nice addition.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Byron Murphy II DL Texas • 6'0" / 306 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st Taking an up-the-field type of player makes sense for new coach Mike Macdonald, who had Justin Madubuike in Baltimore. Byron Murphy II plays a lot like Madubuike.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU • 6'2" / 209 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 4th REC 68 REYDS 1177 YDS/REC 17.3 TDS 17 They tried to keep Calvin Ridley, but he went to Tennessee. So now they add a speedy, big player to go with Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. They could consider corner here as well.

Round 1 - Pick 18 JC Latham OT Alabama • 6'6" / 342 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 5th They need to get a long-term answer at right tackle and JC Latham is a perfect fit. He is a big, power player who will give them a nice right tackle even after they signed Trent Brown to a one-year deal.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd With Aaron Donald gone, they need to get help on the edge to help improve the rush. They have some good, young down players, but need edge help. Laiatu Latu can be that guy.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Troy Fautanu IOL Washington • 6'4" / 317 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st They need more help up front, and Troy Fautanu can play guard or tackle. He is a power player who fits the Steelers.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Amarius Mims OT Georgia • 6'8" / 350 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 4th Terron Armstead is getting up in the years and was said to be considering retiring, so it's time to get a long-term left tackle. Amarius Mims can play right guard in 2024 when Armstead is on the field.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Alabama • 5'11" / 199 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 3rd Corner is a big issue for them as age has become a problem with their starters. They need to get a young cover player who can improve the back end.

Mock Trade from Minnesota Vikings Round 1 - Pick 23 Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL Oregon • 6'3" / 328 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 2nd They need to get better inside and center Hjalte Froholdt is in the final year of his contract. Jackson Powers-Johnson would give them a nice player to develop the line around.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Nate Wiggins CB Clemson • 6'1" / 182 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 4th Corner help is needed with Stephon Gilmore gone. Nate Wiggins has outstanding cover skills, but some scouts have knocked him for his tackling. But he's not as bad on tape as that sounds.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Cooper DeJean CB Iowa • 6'0" / 198 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 5th They need help at corner and Cooper DeJean would make sense. He could also move inside to safety if they needed to do that down the road.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Graham Barton OT Duke • 6'5" / 314 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 51st POSITION RNK 8th The center spot was an issue for them last year, so taking Graham Barton makes sense. He played tackle last year, but most teams think he's better off inside.

From Houston Texans Round 1 - Pick 27 Xavier Worthy WR Texas • 5'11" / 165 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 32nd POSITION RNK 7th REC 75 REYDS 1014 YDS/REC 13.5 TDS 6 They need deep speed in their offense. Xavier Worthy blew away the 40-yard dash at the combine, so he could be that guy. He isn't big, but he can fly.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Troy Franklin WR Oregon • 6'3" / 180 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 48th POSITION RNK 10th REC 81 REYDS 1383 YDS/REC 17.1 TDS 14 Troy Franklin is thin, but he can fly. The Bills need a burner to help open up the passing game. Franklin has that type of ability.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Darius Robinson EDGE Missouri • 6'5" / 285 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th They signed Marcus Davenport in free agency to a one-year deal, but they need more help. Darius Robinson could be a major steal in this spot playing opposite Aiden Hutchinson.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB Missouri • 5'11" / 191 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 37th POSITION RNK 7th The Ravens need to inject some youth into their corner spot. They also lost Ronald Darby to the Jaguars in free agency. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. didn't test great, but he plays faster than his times.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Chop Robinson EDGE Penn State • 6'3" / 254 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 4th They signed Leonard Floyd, but they need more help rushing the passer. Chop Robinson has the speed that would show up in their defense.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Adonai Mitchell WR Texas • 6'2" / 205 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 5th REC 55 REYDS 845 YDS/REC 15.4 TDS 11 They signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal, but they need long-term help. Adonai Mitchell can stretch the field, which they need. Could also consider corner here.

The 2024 NFL Draft will take place from April 25-27 in Detroit. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly updated draft order and a regularly available look at the eligible prospects.