Prisco's final 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Giants trade up for Drake Maye; Vikings let QB come to them

OK, so here is some explaining for those who don't follow along, and judging by the past few days that means most of you. 

This mock draft is a predictive mock draft, not a who-they-should-take mock. It's just a plain, old predictive mock, one that you can grade for accuracy (and I really don't give a crap how it works out). This how I think it will go, not how it should go. There's a difference.

Now back to my mock. 

For all our predictive mocks, we start 1-0. That's because the Chicago Bears will be drafting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. That's easy.

It gets a lot tougher.

I have LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels going second to the Washington Commanders, but I shake it up some after that. I have the New York Giants going up from No. 6 to No. 3 to draft North Carolina's Drake Maye. They make a deal to give up No. 6, a second-rounder this year and next year to the New England Patriots to go get Maye.

The Pats, in return, add much-needed draft capital and then take Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 6, a player they are supposedly enamored with in talking to people around the league. It would be a win-win for both teams, even if I think Maye is better.

The second trade I have in this mock is the Philadelphia Eagles going up to a corner. I have them trading up with the Denver Broncos to the 12th spot to land Alabama corner Terrion Arnold. They would give up their first-round pick -- No. 22 -- a second this year (No. 50) and fourth in 2025 to make the deal. 

Denver would trade back and take Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and add some much-needed draft picks to their books. 

So there you have it, the basics of my 2024 final mock draft. Do what you will with it -- and I am sure you will scream about it when it's blown up three picks into 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

From Carolina Panthers Round 1 - Pick 1 Caleb Williams QB USC • 6'1" / 215 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3633 RUYDS 121 INTS 5 TDS 41 They have been locked in on him from the start. Will he end up being their first true franchise passer since Sid Luckman? It's been a long time, Chicago.

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 have a great opportunity to land their quarterback, no matter which one they take. But I think the right one is Daniels and the word is they agree. He will be electric.

Mock Trade from New England Patriots Round 1 - Pick 3 Drake Maye QB North Carolina • 6'4" / 225 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3608 RUYDS 449 INTS 9 TDS 33 The Giants make the bold move to go up and get Maye, beating the Vikings to the punch. Daniel Jones can give you another year and this move might give the current regime a chance to stay on longer -- and we know how that matters.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State • 6'4" / 205 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st REC 67 REYDS 1211 YDS/REC 18.1 TDS 15 They had offers for this pick, but in the end I think they stay put and take Harrison. He would give Kyler Murray a true No. 1 receiver.

Round 1 - Pick 5 JC Latham OT Alabama • 6'6" / 342 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 5th I put him here because Jim Harbaugh loves offensive linemen and I think he's a better fit for what they want to do than Joe Alt, who is a left tackle. Latham is also a better run blocker, which is what Harbaugh loves to do.

Mock Trade from New York Giants Round 1 - Pick 6 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan • 6'3" / 219 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th PAYDS 2991 RUYDS 202 INTS 4 TDS 25 The Patriots move down, add some picks, and still land a quarterback. McCarthy is a guy teams like a lot more than I do. The word around the league before the draft is that the Patriots really like him.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Joe Alt OT Notre Dame • 6'8" / 322 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 2nd The Titans end up with their left tackle in this draft. Alt is a big, physical blindside protector for Will Levis. The Titans line would be so improved in 2024.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama • 6'3" / 247 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 1st They need to find and edge player and Turner has the tools to be a top pass rusher. I think his best football is coming on the next level. Their leading returning sacker from last season had six sacks. This would work.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Malik Nabers WR LSU • 6'0" / 200 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 2nd REC 89 REYDS 1569 YDS/REC 17.6 TDS 14 They would be thrilled to see him fall to this spot. Nabers might be better than Harrison in the long run. This would be a great pick for Williams if it falls this way.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Rome Odunze WR Washington • 6'3" / 215 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 92 REYDS 1640 YDS/REC 17.8 TDS 15 They could consider offensive tackle or even tight end Brock Bowers here, but I think they take a wide receiver in this spot to amp up the passing. Odunze would be a nice complement to Garrett Wilson for the long run.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington • 6'3" / 215 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 5th PAYDS 4903 RUYDS 8 INTS 11 TDS 39 The Vikings don't make the move to get a quarterback and sit here and take Penix. I think this is a move that will work out well for them in the long run.

Mock Trade from Denver Broncos Round 1 - Pick 12 Terrion Arnold CB Alabama • 6'0" / 199 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd The Eagles go up to get the best corner in the draft. They had issues in coverage last year and age is creeping up in a big way at corner for them. Their pass defense has to improve.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon State • 6'6" / 324 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 3rd The Raiders need help at right tackle and Fuaga could be a plug-and-play guy. He would give them a physical mauler on the right side.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT Penn State • 6'6" / 312 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st They have major problems at tackle, so this makes a ton of sense. They get a left tackle who excels in pass protection, which is something they badly need.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Brock Bowers TE Georgia • 6'4" / 230 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st REC 56 REYDS 714 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 7 Taking Bowers would give second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson a nice weapon to work with for the years to come. All young quarterbacks need a crutch and Bowers would be that for Richardson.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Byron Murphy II DL Texas • 6'0" / 306 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st The Seahawks have to get a nice inside pass rush and Murphy is a lot like Baltimore's Justin Madubuike, who was the key to the Ravens front. New Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald coordinated that Baltimore defense.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo • 6'0" / 193 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 1st The Jaguars have issues at corner and Mitchell would give them a guy who can step in and play right away. Tyson Campbell is entering the final year of his contract and Ronald Darby isn't a kid.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Amarius Mims OT Georgia • 6'8" / 350 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 4th They signed Trent Brown to a one-year deal to play right tackle, but Mims would be their guy for the long haul and may actually win the job next season. He doesn't have a lot of experience, but the talent is there.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd The Rams need to amp up their outside pass rush, so taking the hometown kid would work. There is talk the Rams could be leaning offense, but with Latu here they would have to take him.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Graham Barton OT Duke • 6'5" / 314 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 6th The Steelers have had a storied history when it comes to centers and they now have a hole there. Landing Barton would fill it as he moves inside from tackle.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State • 6'4" / 260 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd They have injury issues with their edge players, so getting one here would be a nice pickup. If Verse fell this far, they would likely race the card to the podium.

Mock Trade from Philadelphia Eagles Round 1 - Pick 22 Bo Nix QB Oregon • 6'2" / 217 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 38th POSITION RNK 6th PAYDS 4508 RUYDS 234 INTS 3 TDS 51 The Broncos move down, add some picks, and take a young quarterback in the Drew Brees mold. Sean Payton won a lot of games with Brees. They have to get a young passer.

From Houston Texans Round 1 - Pick 23 Johnny Newton DL Illinois • 6'2" / 295 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 2nd The interior of their defense lacks a player who can push the pocket. Newton can be that guy to give Brian Flores a nice inside player.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Troy Fautanu IOL Washington • 6'4" / 317 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 1st He can play guard or tackle, which would give them options on how they prefer to play Tyler Smith. If he is here in this spot, it would be a heck of pick.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Cooper DeJean CB Iowa • 6'0" / 198 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 4th They like guys who can be versatile and DeJean is that type of player. The Packers could also consider offensive line here, but I think DeJean makes too much sense.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Chop Robinson EDGE Penn State • 6'3" / 254 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 4th They lack a dynamic edge player, although YaYa Diaby has talent, so why not add to it? Robinson might end up being the best pure edge rusher in this class. They also could move him all around the front seven.

From Houston Texans Round 1 - Pick 27 Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma • 6'7" / 322 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 36th POSITION RNK 7th Getting a starting tackle this late would be a heck of a move. The Cardinals could then move Paris Johnson to the left side and let Guyton play right tackle.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU • 6'2" / 209 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 4th REC 68 REYDS 1177 YDS/REC 17.3 TDS 17 He is big and can run, which the Bills badly need. They would consider edge or corner here, but Thomas fits a major need and would give Josh Allen a No. 1 receiver.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Jaden Hicks S Washington State • 6'1" / 215 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 56th POSITION RNK 3rd Hicks is the type of player who can do a lot of things, which is why I think he would be a good fit. They took Brian Branch last year and Hicks could provide more versatility for the back end.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Jordan Morgan OT Arizona • 6'5" / 311 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 9th They could consider receiver Xavier Worthy here, but in the end I think their line needs more help. Morgan could play right tackle or slide inside to guard.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Darius Robinson EDGE Missouri • 6'5" / 285 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 5th When in doubt, the 49ers like to pick defensive linemen in the first round. Robinson is an impressive looking edge who can slide inside on passing downs in some situations. He looks like a 49ers player.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Kingsley Suamataia OT BYU • 6'4" / 326 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 40th POSITION RNK 8th They pass on receiver here -- they can get one or two later -- to take a tackle who can step in and play on the left side. Tackle was a major issue last year for the Chiefs.

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.