Still, we wonder will the prior relationships between Vikings QB Coach Josh McCown and QB DRAKE MAYE and Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce and QB JAYDEN DANIELS mean those teams are more desperate to trade up?

First, McCown and Maye –  this from Alec Lewis in The Athletic last month:

The genesis of the connection between McCown and Maye is wild in itself. In January 2010, McCown, who was a backup for the Carolina Panthers that season, simply walked into Chadwick’s office. Chadwick, who was then coaching at Marvin Ridge High School in the Charlotte suburb of Waxhaw, was startled.

“‘Hey, I’m Josh McCown,” he said. “I play for the Panthers. I want to get into coaching when I’m done playing. Is there anything I can do to help you out?”

They talked. Chadwick realized they shared similar views on football, coaching and human development. Over the next three years, when McCown wasn’t bouncing around the NFL as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, he filled up water buckets, painted lines on the field and offered words of wisdom to players when necessary. A five-year family hiatus to Texas separated McCown from Chadwick, but McCown returned to Charlotte in January 2018 as his sons, Owen and Aiden, were nearing high school age.

Now reunited, McCown and Chadwick started a quarterback training camp, and that’s when a tall, skinny kid with a bazooka of an arm showed up. Chadwick and McCown, now coaching at Myers Park, needed a quarterback. They subtly offered hints between pointers that they felt Maye could thrive with them. Maye ultimately transferred to their school.

That fall, McCown backed up young quarterback Sam Darnold with the New York Jets. Chadwick graded McCown by charting each of his plays and providing comments through a spreadsheet. Often, Chadwick said, McCown would watch Maye alongside Darnold, and they’d offer some collective feedback.

“Him and Sam were watching every game,” Chadwick said. “Drake was the starter. Owen, Josh’s son, was our junior varsity quarterback. They were watching everything and breaking down every one of our games.”

After the 2018 season, McCown retired from the NFL. He spent the summer working with Maye and his sons. Then he received a call from the Philadelphia Eagles, who desperately needed a backup. McCown obliged, partly because of the circumstances. Philadelphia’s off day was Monday, so McCown would fly to Charlotte after each game, arrive at Myers Park on Monday and install the offense with the players that day. He’d then fly back to Philadelphia to begin his work week. The Eagles finished practice at noon Friday, so McCown would then hop on a flight back to Charlotte, put on his Myers Park cap, review the playsheet and serve as a sounding board for Maye on the sidelines.

McCown prioritized preparation in conversations with Maye. Once, Chadwick remembered, McCown identified that the opposing defense was about to bring an all-out blitz. He hollered to Maye: “Hey, you’re going to get zero! Have a plan!”

“Should we tell him the plan?” Chadwick asked McCown.

“No,” McCown said. “He’s got it. He’ll have one.”

Maye checked before the snap, and the play resulted in a positive gain.

All of these moments swirled through Chadwick’s conversations with McCown in Indianapolis. Maye’s competitiveness came up frequently with teams. Chadwick told the basketball tale that McCown knew better than anyone else. Others asked about Maye’s footwork and mechanics. Chadwick even heard the topic surfaced in a meeting the Vikings had with a quarterback trainer.

Seated across the table from Vikings staffers, the trainer talked about how he felt Maye’s arm action and movement had elongated during his time at North Carolina. The trainer added that he felt Maye’s high school film appeared more fluid, that his footwork and release looked more whippy and quick.

The Vikings staffers began to laugh. The trainer asked what was so funny. They pointed to McCown in jest: “Well, our new quarterbacks coach actually spent some time with him when he was in high school.”

Adam LaRose of ProFootballRumors.com:

As the countdown to the draft enters its final days, Jayden Daniels remains the subject of considerable speculation at the top of the board. The Heisman-winning quarterback is in position to be selected as early as second overall by the Commanders, but links to the Raiders have been made throughout the offseason.

Daniels began his college career at Arizona State, where he played under Antonio Pierce. The latter is now in place as the Raiders’ head coach, and Las Vegas has frequently been named as a team to watch regarding a move up the order in general and one targeting Daniels in particular. Recent reports indicated the LSU product is interested in a reunion with Pierce, something he spoke publicly about.

“I don’t know how they’re gonna pull it off,” Daniels said during an appearance on the Nightcap Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson when asked about landing with the Raiders. “But I mean that’s above my pay grade… A.P. just as a human being, he’s the right coach for that team. You know, just him and the intensity that he brings. He challenges people. He was challenging me at 18.

“So I know if I was to go to the Raiders — I’m not saying I’m gonna go there or I wanna go there, I wanna go wherever my name is called — if I was to go to the Raiders, I know as soon as I step foot, he’s gonna challenge me.”

Multiple signs have pointed to Daniels remaining the favorite to be Washington’s choice, and the QB-needy Commanders are not expected to trade out of the No. 2 slot. Even if the Raiders (currently positioned to pick 13th) pull off a costly move up the board, the team could be consigned to drafting another passer capable of competing for the starting role. If a swap making Daniels available was deemed to not be a feasible option, Vegas could look at other Day 1 prospects and rely on Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew under center.

WASHINGTON

The oddsmakers are now thinking it will be the name of JAYDEN DANIELS that The Commish will cry out with the second pick.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The bettors are speaking, again.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has regained his standing as the favorite to be the second overall pick in the 2024 draft. The latest DraftKings odds update has Daniels at -160. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is at +150.

Just a few days ago, Maye and Daniels had identical odds of -115, after Daniels had been the clear favorite. The shift happened after Washington brought four of the top quarterback prospects to town for a joint visit.

The betting trends are typically a reflection of the mood as dictated by the news and the vibe that comes from it. Currently, the mood is that it will be Daniels at No. 2.

That doesn’t mean the Commanders will be the team to take him. Maybe someone will trade up to the No. 2 spot.

Now is the time for everyone to keep their cards close to the vest. On Thursday night, everyone will start showing their hands. And it could get very interesting.

ATLANTA

Matt Ryan has retired as a Falcon.  Let the clock start ticking for the Hall of Fame debate.  Michael Rothstein’s story at ESPN.com is full of the numbers we can talk about for the next five years:

After 15 seasons, four Pro Bowls and a Most Valuable Player award, former Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan announced his retirement Monday, officially ending the career of one of the most durable and consistent players of his generation.

Ryan made the announcement in a video statement posted to social media by the Falcons.

“So today, 16 years after being drafted, my childhood dream has officially come to an end. I’m honored to retire as a Falcon,” he said.

He added, “You have no control in this profession in where you start. I am so lucky that my start and my finish was here in Atlanta.”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank, in a statement released Monday, said he firmly believes Ryan should be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, “and I look forward to that day.”

During a news conference Monday, Blank added, “This is an exceptional football player, but probably more exceptional as a human being, as a husband, as a father, as a great friend. He’s been a beloved friend to me during that period of time. … He’s one of our own and he’s certainly one of Atlanta’s own.”

Ryan said during the news conference that it’s an honor to be mentioned among the best athletes to compete in Atlanta, including Dominique Wilkins, Chipper Jones and “name any pitcher from the Braves.”

“To be part of that conversation is special to me,” he said.

Ryan, 38, started all 234 games he played during his career, including every game for the Falcons from 2010 until Oct. 27, 2019, when he missed a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks because of an ankle injury.

In all, he missed just three games in Atlanta, where he became the team’s all-time leader in almost every passing category.

Ryan led the NFL in completions twice (2019, 2020), attempts once (2020) and completion percentage once (2012). In his career, he completed 65.6% of his passes for 62,792 yards, 381 touchdowns and 183 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 93.6.

He finished his career fifth in NFL history in completions (5,551) and attempts (8,464), seventh in yards, ninth in touchdowns, eighth in passing yards per game (268.3), ninth in sacks taken (488) and 39th in interceptions.

Ryan’s 46 game-winning drives are sixth in NFL history — two ahead of his good friend Matthew Stafford, who becomes the active leader in game-winning drives with 44. Ryan’s 38 career fourth-quarter comebacks are fourth of all time, trailing just Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger — and three more than the new active leader, Stafford.

Each season from 2011 to 2020, Ryan completed at least 61% of his passes for over 4,000 yards and at least 20 touchdowns. In 2021, his last year in Atlanta, he held up two of those marks, completing 67% of his passes and throwing 20 touchdowns, but missed the 4,000-yard mark by 32 yards.

The Falcons opened up the possibility of trading Ryan in March 2022 when the team pursued a Deshaun Watson swap. Watson was eventually dealt to Cleveland, but in pursuing him the Falcons also discussed moving on from Ryan — allowing him to seek out potential trade candidates. General manager Terry Fontenot said after the Falcons eventually traded Ryan that they wanted the veteran quarterback to be involved in those discussions “because he deserves that. He’s earned the right to be involved in that.”

The landing spot ended up being Indianapolis, where Ryan was traded for a third-round pick in the 2022 draft. Ryan started 12 games for the Colts in 2022 in what ended up being his final playing season in the NFL, completing 67% of his passes for 3,057 yards and 14 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.

Indianapolis released Ryan in March 2023, and last season he became an in-game analyst for CBS Sports.

Ryan’s best year came in 2016, when he led Atlanta to the Super Bowl. He was named the league’s MVP and a first-team All-Pro after racking up career-highs of 4,944 yards, a 69.9% completion rate and 38 touchdowns. He led the NFL in passer rating (117.1) and QBR (79.6) that season.

By then, Ryan had become a mainstay in Atlanta after being picked No. 3 in the 2008 draft out of Boston College. Atlanta was seeking a stabilizing presence at the position after three quarterbacks — Joey Harrington, Chris Redman and Byron Leftwich — started games during a 2007 season marked by the suspension of Michael Vick on dogfighting charges and the 13-game tenure of coach Bobby Petrino, who told Falcons players of his resignation in a letter as he jumped to college football at Arkansas.

Ryan was the first draft pick of new head coach Mike Smith, who ended up becoming the franchise’s coaching leader in wins (66).

Ryan finished his first season earning 44 of 50 votes to become the Offensive Rookie of the Year, completing 61.1% of his passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading the Falcons to the first of his six playoff seasons in Atlanta. He led the team to one Super Bowl — a 34-28 loss to New England on Feb. 5, 2017 — and one other NFC Championship Game.

Ryan said Monday of the Super Bowl loss during which the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead, “It hurts.”

“It’s one of the things, I think that’s always a part of you. Falling short of what you ultimately set out to do is tough. But that’s life. There’s so many things in your life that are gonna go that way. You’ve got to pick up and move on,” he said.

In the postseason, Ryan completed 67.5% of his passes for 2,672 yards, 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He played his last five postseason games without throwing a pick.

Ryan ended up as Atlanta’s career leader in wins (120), passing yards (59,735), touchdowns (367), completions (5,242) and attempts (8,003). His 65.5% completion rate with Atlanta is the highest among quarterbacks who started more than one season for the franchise.

Actually, the DB has been involved in Matt Ryan HOF debates for a number of years.

We are firmly in the camp that says he is indeed Hall of Fame enshrinement worthy, although perhaps not in his first year of eligibility.

Those opposed always cite the number zero – as in Super Bowls won.

The DB can think of Jim Kelly, Dan Fouts and Warren Moon as enshrines who also have zero Super Bowls won.  We’re not looking to kick them out, so Ryan needs to be evaluated on more than the unfortunate turn of the 28-3 game.

SAN FRANCISCO

Is John Lynch’s talk about “bloodlines” a hint at who the 49ers might draft?  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

This year’s draft pool includes the sons of four former 49ers, and the brother of one current 49er: Luke McCaffrey (son of Ed, brother of Christian), Brendan Rice (son of Jerry), Terique Owens (son of Terrell), and Frank Gore Jr.

49ers G.M. John Lynch was asked on Monday how he feels about the sons of former NFL players entering the league.

“Well, I believe in bloodlines,” Lynch said. “I really do. I mean, I think there’s evidence that you should. Then you have to step away from that and you have to evaluate it. And that’s sometimes difficult to do and that’s why a lot of different eyes, a lot of different perspectives. And that’s what we try to do when we have our R&D look at it, we have our coaches look at it, we have our scouting look at it, we try to hit it from a variety of measuring points and inflection points as to how you grade these guys because you don’t want to do it just off that. That wouldn’t be smart.

“But, these guys, there’s some inherent pressure on who their dad is, but there’s also some good genes and I think that matters. And so, it’s exciting that you have all these great, I mean, we’re talking Hall of Fame players and great players and brothers of players and it’s really fun. T.O. was out here at the local pro day and his son Terique performed really well and that was pretty cool. I saw him running at me and I played against T.O. a lot and there was something in that stride that was very familiar. It was something about the gait. And it’s crazy how those things translate. Is that just gene pool? Is that modeling the way they watch their dad run? It’s interesting to me but it’s a fun element to this year’s draft that I think is going to be interesting to watch to see how it unfolds.”

The bloodlines coupled with the comfort and familiarity with being in and around NFL locker rooms and practice fields and games will help. But the raw, objective ability also must be there.

The challenge is to balance perceived ability with the intangible benefit that comes from having a direct family connection to a former NFL player, especially when (in this case) three of the incoming players are the sons of current or future Hall of Famers and the other is the brother of a future Hall of Famer.

DENVER

New uniforms for the Broncos!  This at The Athletic:

The Denver Broncos revealed their new uniforms, with many images splashed across social media Monday. It marks the first time the team has introduced a full uniform redesign since 1997.

The franchise posted images of three uniforms: Sunset Orange, Midnight Navy and Summit White.  The uniforms feature a design on the sleeves that represents a mountain peak. The Broncos also unveiled new helmets, one white and blue, which feature the Broncos logo but contain the emblem 5280, a nod to the city’s “mile high” moniker.

The team’s logo and orange-and-blue color scheme remain the same.

The Broncos changed their helmet design and logo to their iconic Bronco in 1997, and also switched their home jersey to navy at that time. In 2012, Denver kept its navy helmet and Bronco logo, but changed its primary home jersey color to orange.

“Part of the process that we went through was talking about what’s important to the Broncos, what’s important to the Broncos fan base,” team president Damani Leech said last month about the team’s new look. He added that the team solicited opinions from 10,000 people through email surveys ahead of the design process.

“Wanting to evolve and be new and different, but also being respectful of our history and traditions, understanding our surroundings from a geographic standpoint,” Leech said. “There will be nods to that I think people will be really excited about.”

“It’s time for a change,” Broncos owner Greg Penner said in March. “We think we’ll have something that honors Broncos Country and our fans will be pleased with. … It was an interesting process that Carrie (Walton Penner) was deeply involved with, (as) I was, coaches, some of our players. So we got a lot of feedback, also from the fans, and I think we’re going to have something we’ll be excited about.”

Leech previously said he and other team executives traveled to Nike’s headquarters in Oregon as part of a process that began in January of 2023, months after the new ownership group took over the team.

The Broncos also released a throwback uniform which features their traditional orange and blue colors.

Paul Lukas of UniWatch has a full breakdown with pictures here.

White, orange and navy jersies.  White, orange and navy pants.  So nine combinations.

Technically it is Sunset Orange, Summit White and Midnight Navy – which generally look like Orange, White and Navy.

The main helmet is navy, but there is an alternate white helmet.

With the two helmets they have 18 different combinations, one for each game and the playoff opener.

And there also is an Orange Crush throwback uniform, with a lighter blue.  Lukas:

As had been expected, the new set includes, at long last, an “Orange Crush” throwback, which is a joy to behold. If the players actually wear those striped socks, I’ll weep with joy (but I’m not holding my breath).

That noise you hear in the background is a few million people saying, “They should just go back to these full-time.” Yup.

Here’s the overall review from Lukas:

Overall: All the triangles and “5280”s are tiresome, and the zigzag is silly, and the alternate uni is a bust. But the basic primary looks could’ve been a lot worse. Only a middling-to-lower NFL uni set (it would probably rank at about No. 22 out of 32, give or take), but still an upgrade over the outgoing set, and not the utter disaster I was fearing. Let’s think of it this way: John Lennon, when discussing Phil Spector’s mixes of the Let It Be album, once said, “When I heard it, I didn’t puke.” That’s pretty much how I feel here.

KANSAS CITY

If his new contract terms are any indication, Andy Reid plans on coaching for at least six more years.  Jason Owens of YahooSports.com:

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has a new deal.

So do team president Mark Donovan and general manager Brett Veach. The Chiefs announced Monday that they have signed all three to contract extensions.

The Chiefs didn’t announce terms of the deals but vowed in the announcement that “the leadership team of the Chiefs will remain in place for the long-term future.” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Reid’s extension runs through 2029 and makes him the NFL’s highest-paid head coach. Veach’s deal also runs “through the end of the decade,” per the report.

The news arrives months after the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in five seasons under the leadership group, and it puts to rest prior speculation that Reid was considering retirement. Reid confirmed shortly after February’s Super Bowl victory that he intended to return, and now he has a new deal in place to ensure that he does.

Donovan joined the Chiefs’ executive suite in 2009 and became team president in 2011. He previously worked as a senior vice president for the Eagles from 2003 to 2008 while Reid was Philadelphia’s head coach. Veach worked on Reid’s coaching staff and as a scout for the Eagles from 2004 to 2009.

The Chiefs hired Reid as head coach in 2013 and Veach as general manager in 2017, the year they drafted Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have been to the playoffs each season since, reaching four Super Bowls and winning three.

NEW ENGLAND

There are said to be three “franchise quarterbacks”, maybe four, in this draft.  The Patriots draft third.  They desperately need a quarterback.  So, like the Steelers did with Ben Roethlisberger in 2004, they’ll just take the one that’s left (or JJ McCARTHY if they value him highly), right?

Jori Epstein of YahooSports.com wonders if they will trade down instead:

Eliot Wolf made the comment one week before NFL Draft night.

So deriving too much from the New England Patriots personnel chief’s remarks is risky business.

But after Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters said he felt “great” about staying at No. 2 overall and “I don’t see a lot of scenarios where we’d trade down, to be honest with you,” Wolf’s contrasting remarks stood out.

“We’re open to anything,” Wolf said last Thursday. “Moving up, moving down. We’re open for business in the first round, and in every round.”

Are the Patriots realistically considering trading the No. 3 pick? And if so, what should be driving their decision?

Yahoo Sports spoke with league executive and coaching sources to better understand the dynamics at play for the Patriots. Here are answers to the five biggest questions facing the Patriots, based on league insight.

1. What would prompt a team to trade a pick as valuable as No. 3 overall?

One NFC executive noted wisely: Trading the third overall pick is “well-precedented.” The Arizona Cardinals dealt the third overall pick to the Houston Texans last season, the swap of No. 3 overall and No. 12 overall costing Houston the No. 33 overall pick and first- and third-round picks in 2024. In 2021, the San Francisco 49ers sent No. 12 overall, first- and third-round picks in 2022 and their first-round pick in 2023 to Miami to move up nine spots.

The trades differed in that the 49ers selected quarterback Trey Lance while the Texans selected edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. But both trade-up teams sought a quarterback in the draft in which they traded up. Each trade-down team was set at quarterback (Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa) for the near future.

One NFC assistant coach said a team trading down from No. 3 overall tends to do so for one of three reasons: The team doesn’t see much difference in value between the two draft slots; the team believes their target player will be available at the later spot; or a team is in rebuild mode rather than win-now mode and thus are “playing the long game by acquiring a premium pick in next year’s draft.”

2. How well do the Patriots fit into this model?

The Patriots need a quarterback sorely, after trading away first-round pick Mac Jones before his rookie contract expired and struggling with Bailey Zappe. Already they’ll be looking at the third-best quarterback on the board given the Chicago Bears at No. 1 and the Washington Commanders at No. 2 also traded away their starting quarterbacks, not to mention quarterback-needy teams who may jump ahead in the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders. So there likely is significant difference in optionality.

And while many on the outside believe the Patriots have work to do with a rebuild, team owner Robert Kraft seems eager to cleanse himself of 2023’s bad taste. Wolf echoed the desire to compete now in his media conference.

Is his roster ready to support a rookie quarterback?

“I definitely feel like we can support that,” Wolf said.

3. So why would the Patriots listen to offers?

The Commanders might as well be on the board with the open secret that the Bears are taking USC’s Caleb Williams first overall. The Commanders therefore know their options and had the luxury of going through the pre-draft evaluation process knowing who they can take and how they can envision a team-building strategy around that.

The Patriots are left to make a series of contingency plans. Listening to trade offers makes sense regardless of how they ultimately fall.

“The value of the draft pick is probably maximized by hearing out all of the options for that pick,” one NFC executive said. “Why cut off that option unless you’re 100% sold on a guy?”

One AFC executive said they’d be surprised if the Patriots traded away the pick, posturing the floor should be three first-rounders and a player or other similar compensation. An NFC executive said looking at past pick trades isn’t a reliable sample size, since the value of any given pick changes from year to year based on prospects available and team needs. No. 3 hit different in 2021 and 2023, and it will this year.

“New England needs a quarterback,” the AFC executive said. “If I’m New England, I’m taking a QB.”

4. So why would the Patriots take a trade offer?

The answer comes down to the Patriots’ evaluations of the quarterbacks: How many do they really believe in and how desperate are they to get the future of their team in the building as soon as possible? Wolf said the team would be comfortable taking one of the third- or fourth-best quarterbacks; head coach Jerod Mayo, similarly, said if they take a quarterback at the No. 3 overall pick, they’re drafting one whom they believe can be their future.

But the widely considered No. 2 and No. 3 prospects, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye, don’t merely represent a difference in degree of skill. They represent different routes to success, different play styles, what many around the league refer to colloquially as different flavors.

If the Patriots want a quarterback with Daniels’ demonstrated mobility, is it better to amass picks than to settle for another one?

If the Patriots prefer the style that Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy share more closely, perhaps they’d trade down to get McCarthy, capitalizing on the desperation of later-drafting teams.

It’s worth noting that Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was replaced this offseason in Cleveland by a coordinator whom some in the league believe is more likely to capitalize on Deshaun Watson’s run-pass option threat. Does the Patriots’ hire of Van Pelt speak to a belief they have on what quarterback style fits their system?

All of this has been and will continue to be discussed in Foxborough, Mass. Soon, the franchise’s leaning will be revealed.

“We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft,” Wolf said. “We’re drafting to develop the team. The more picks we have the better. But if there’s an opportunity to move up and strike, if the board kind of recommends it, then we won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on that either.”

NEW YORK JETS

The Jets have gotten something, anything from the Broncos for QB ZACH WILSON says Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

The New York Jets, who thought they had the quarterback position locked up for more than a decade when they drafted Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick in 2021, traded him to the Denver Broncos on Monday, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Based on their original investment, the Jets got pennies on the dollar — they will receive a sixth-round selection (No. 203) in this week’s NFL draft from the Broncos, who in addition to Wilson will get a seventh-round pick (No. 256). The Jets and Broncos are splitting the $5.5 million Wilson is due this season with each team paying $2.75 million, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The trade means that only one of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2021 draft remains with his original team — Trevor Lawrence, who was picked No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The other four — Wilson, Trey Lance (No. 3 pick), Justin Fields (No. 11) and Mac Jones (No. 15) — have all been traded.

The Jets-Wilson breakup came as no surprise, as the franchise announced Feb. 28 that it had granted him permission to speak to other teams about a potential trade. Wilson wanted a fresh start after three tumultuous seasons, including last year as a backup. The Jets told him as far back as last season that they would try to accommodate him, sources said.

It took longer than expected, leaving Wilson in limbo and prompting him to skip the first week of the Jets’ voluntary offseason program.

The trade leaves Aaron Rodgers, 40, coming off Achilles surgery, and newly signed backup Tyrod Taylor, 34, as the only quarterbacks on the roster. The Jets might draft a quarterback after the first round with the hope of developing him for their post-Rodgers future.

Wilson will be a free agent in 2025 because the Broncos aren’t expected to exercise his fifth-year option for $22.4 million. That decision must be made by May 2. He is due to make $5.45 million in 2024, fully guaranteed, in the final year of his contract.

The move gives the Broncos flexibility as they rebuild their quarterback position following the release of Russell Wilson. The Broncos hold the No. 12 pick in the first round and are expected to select a quarterback at some point during the draft. They also have veteran Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games last season, on the roster.

“Look, I mean, do we have to draft a quarterback?” Broncos coach Sean Payton said last week. “You’d say, man, it sure looks like we have to draft a quarterback and yet, it’s got to be the right fit, the right one. And if you had the tip sheets as to who everyone else was taking, it would be easier to answer that question. … That’s the puzzle here.”

General manager George Paton said last week that the Broncos don’t want to “force” the pick when they select a quarterback.

“Otherwise, we’ll be in this position next year and the years after,” Paton said. “You want to get the right player at 12. Our first pick we’ve got to hit on, whether it’s a quarterback, whether it’s a tackle, a receiver, you name it, we need to get an impact player.”

The Broncos released Wilson in March after two ill-fated seasons. As a result, the Broncos took on an $85 million dead-money charge against their salary cap over the next two seasons, $53 million of that in 2024. The Broncos did not sign a quarterback in free agency.

Since Peyton Manning retired after the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 win to end the 2015 season, the team has started games with 12 different quarterbacks — 13 players overall as running back Phillip Lindsay started a game in the Wildcat formation in 2020 when Denver had no quarterbacks in uniform because of violations of COVID-19 protocols.

In terms of the salary cap, the Jets will clear $2.75 million in space, meaning Wilson will count $8.43 million on this year’s cap in dead money.

It was a trying three years for Wilson, 24, who underwent knee surgery in 2022, got benched twice that season, was replaced by Rodgers in 2023 and saw his leadership ability questioned at times.

The last blow came in February when owner Woody Johnson delivered this zinger at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas: “We need a backup quarterback. We didn’t have one last year.”

Johnson softened his stance at the March owners’ meeting, saying, “I feel badly about Zach in some ways” because he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to spend a year learning from Rodgers. “He’s never had that.”

THIS AND THAT

2024 DRAFT

NFL.com’s Lead Draft Writer, Erik Edholm, has his Final Mock Draft of 2024.

1  Chicago Bears (via CAR)

Caleb Williams                                       USC · QB · Junior

Nothing has changed on this front. If the Bears are indeed rejecting every overture for the pick, it only reinforces the belief that Williams is the future of the franchise.

2    Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels                                       LSU · QB · Senior

I got a little cute in my last mock draft, trying to jump the snap count by bumping J.J. McCarthy up to the No. 2 slot as a way to get ahead of the curve. I sensed he was going to rise to this general area eventually. But it feels like Daniels is the Commanders’ man. His age and experience make sense for a team with Marcus Mariota as the presumed other starting option.

3    New England Patriots

Drake Maye                                            North Carolina · QB · Sophomore (RS)

Some of the negativity hurled toward Maye in the pre-draft process has felt like overkill to me. The Patriots can take their time grooming him, but it might not be long before Maye could unseat Jacoby Brissett once we get a feel for what this Patriots offense has to work with.

4  Minnesota Vikings                            PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS

J.J. McCarthy                                          Michigan · QB · Junior

After Joshua Dobbs was traded from Arizona to Minnesota last season, the Cards and Vikes swap again in this mock projection. Arizona can’t turn down two firsts this year (plus, a 2025 middle-round pick sweetener), even with some enticing receivers on the board. The Vikings make the bold move up and would provide McCarthy with a very QB-friendly landing spot.

5  Los Angeles Chargers

Marvin Harrison Jr.                                    Ohio State · WR · Junior

I feel like I keep hearing people say Jim Harbaugh is going to build the team “his way” and would never take a receiver this high. I get it, but I also don’t really know what other direction they’d head in other than trading down or taking Joe Alt and possibly moving Rashawn Slater to right tackle. Or Harrison can just be a big-play, play-action target for Justin Herbert. That works, too.

6  New York Giants

Malik Nabers                                                LSU · WR · Junior

The Giants’ QB interest feels real, and they’d have the shortest trip up to pick one if they want. It likely depends on how big their offer is and how much they appreciate Drake Maye, who has been talking to Eli Manning and Daniel Jones, interestingly, during the pre-draft journey. But if a QB isn’t in the cards in Round 1, they could take arguably the most explosive playmaking receiver in the draft in Nabers.

7  Tennessee Titans

Joe Alt                                                   Notre Dame · OT · Junior

Every year, there’s a pick that just feels almost too easy to slot, and this year, it’s Alt to Tennessee. Now, that’s no guarantee it’ll happen — and I’d be curious to see what might go down if Alt is off the board by this point. If he is there, Alt is an easy plug-and-play choice at left tackle, giving the Titans a highly promising duo along with Peter Skoronski on that left side.

8  Atlanta Falcons

Byron Murphy II                                      Texas · DT · Junior

Raheem Morris saw firsthand what pairing Kobie Turner with Aaron Donald did for the Rams last year, and he could find a similar pairing in Murphy and Grady Jarrett. It’s not the edge rusher everyone seems to want for Atlanta, but Murphy is a viable pressure source who can line up in multiple techniques. This might feel early to some, but I think he’s a star in the making.

9  Indianapolis Colts                               PROJECTED TRADE WITH CHICAGO BEARS

Brock Bowers                                         Georgia · TE · Junior

If the Bears could get more Day 2 ammunition, I think they’d strongly consider moving down here. For the Colts, it would be a rare move up, but if GM Chris Ballard wants Bowers, he might have to get aggressive to move in front of the Jets. Bowers would be an excellent security blanket for Anthony Richardson and could become Dallas Clark 2.0.

10  New York Jets

Rome Odunze                                         Washington · WR · Senior

It might be too tough for general manager Joe Douglas to pass on Odunze, even with Mike Williams on board and O-line worries still not completely addressed, in my opinion. The Jets likely can’t count on Williams to stay healthy for a full season, and Odunze might be the perfect bookend to Garrett Wilson in time.

11 Arizona Cardinals                                 PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Quinyon Mitchell                                        Toledo · CB · Senior

After missing out on the top receivers early on, the Cardinals can wait for their next two firsts in the 20s to address that spot. Instead, they nab one of the top two corners — a huge need spot in Jonathan Gannon’s defense. Mitchell’s length and athleticism will be a big help against tough NFC West receivers.

12  Philadelphia Eagles                            PROJECTED TRADE WITH DENVER BRONCOS

Terrion Arnold                                         Alabama · CB · Sophomore (RS)

The Eagles have two second-rounders; Denver has zero. A trade here makes sense for both teams if the Eagles are determined to land one of the two top corners. After Mitchell went off the board one pick before, GM Howie Roseman swoops up to nab yet another Alabama player. Some things never change.

13  Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Penix Jr.                                      Washington · QB · Senior

Can the Raiders be sure Denver (or another team) won’t snag Penix before it’s too late? If they’re determined to land Penix, this might have to be the play here. Tom Telesco’s first pick as Raiders GM is shaping up to be an utterly fascinating one.

14  New Orleans Saints

Taliese Fuaga                                         Oregon State · OT · Senior

The Saints are desperate for O-line help, so much so that I keep thinking a trade up might make sense. Fuaga falling into their laps would give them much-needed power and insurance at tackle.

15  Chicago Bears                                  PROJECTED TRADE WITH INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Dallas Turner                                          Alabama · Edge · Junior

Sliding back six spots and picking up another Day 2 pick here, the Bears would land a player who probably would have been on the table at No. 9. Turner would be a good complement to Montez Sweat and give Chicago a boost to the pass rush, which is one of their bigger defensive questions heading into the draft.

16  Seattle Seahawks

Troy Fautanu                                              Washington · OT · Senior

I think there’s a strong case for Fautanu being the best-case scenario at this pick. He can start out at guard and move to tackle eventually if the Seahawks want. Mike Macdonald will have to wait a bit for defensive help, but he adds a quality blocker. If Michael Penix Jr. was still on the board, I was going to consider him here.

17   Jacksonville Jaguars

Nate Wiggins                                               Clemson · CB · Junior

Wiggins doesn’t quite have the length or mass the Jags typically want at the position, but he does possess the speed, playmaking ability, effort and upside to make this a smart pick. Jacksonville needs immediate corner help, and the AFC South is suddenly loaded with WR talent.

18  Cincinnati Bengals

JC Latham                                                  Alabama · OT · Junior

This might be the ideal fit for Cincinnati’s needs. Latham has youth and size, two things the Bengals typically love, and they can crosstrain him at right tackle and guard if they want. Trent Brown might be the starting tackle right now, but they’ll need a fallback plan.

19  Los Angeles Rams

Laiatu Latu                                                    UCLA · Edge · Senior

There’s a chance GM Les Snead messes with us all with this selection — which is set to be the Rams’ first first-rounder since they took Jared Goff first overall in 2016 — and trades out again. Or maybe Snead moves up. I think everything is on the table here. But Latu also makes sense in this spot. The Rams are seeking rush help, and a Latu-Byron Young pairing would keep NFC West tackles quite occupied for 60 minutes per week.

20  Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyler Guyton                                                  Oklahoma · OT · Junior (RS)

The Steelers might ultimately be tempted to wait for center help, which is why I passed on Graham Barton and others. It’s not clear whether or not they would try Guyton at right tackle, which is where he played the majority of the time in college and where last year’s first-rounder, Broderick Jones, spent most of his rookie season. Guyton’s Day 1 readiness will be tested as he competes for a starting job in Pittsburgh, but even if he has to spend some time as a backup like Jones did a year ago, he has the rare tools to develop into a star.

21  Miami Dolphins

Olumuyiwa Fashanu                                        Penn State · OT · Junior (RS)

This was a shade lower than I imagined Fashanu going, but the Dolphins won’t complain. We can assume they’ll want to find Terron Armstead’s possible replacement. Could Fashanu — who played left tackle exclusively in college — kick inside if needed? Maybe. But the talent would be too enticing to pass on here either way, I suspect.

22   Denver Broncos                       PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Bo Nix                                             Oregon · QB · Senior

The public discourse around Nix varies. Some people think he fits nicely in Denver. Others don’t think it would work quite as well. Most people seem to think Round 2 is more likely for Nix. That feels right to me, too, but if Penix goes as high as he does in this mock, the Broncos might not want to risk another team swooping in for Nix. They’re clearly a tough team to peg right now. But one way or another, the Broncos are getting a quarterback, and I don’t foresee them getting too precious about it.

23  Arizona Cardinals (via CLE thru HOU) PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Brian Thomas Jr.                                   LSU · WR · Junior

If the Cardinals can come away with a starting corner and wide receiver with their first two picks, it would be a home run — and there’s still one more choice to go for them in this mock. I’ve maintained that Thomas rates closer to the top three receivers than he does the next tier down, and he’d immediately be a top option for Kyler Murray.

24  Dallas Cowboys

Amarius Mims                                           Georgia · OT · Junior

The ultimate boom-bust prospect in Round 1, Mims has special traits and could be an absolute monster in time. But with a mere eight starts under his belt, all at right tackle, Mims also carries some serious risk. The Cowboys are the type of team that trusts its scouting department to find moldable talents that can be developed into starters, and there’s an OL vacancy that requires filling.

25  Green Bay Packers

Cooper DeJean                                       Iowa · DB · Junior

The Packers got an up-close look at what kind of impact Brian Branch had for the Lions in the NFC North, and I think DeJean can play a similar role for the 2024 Green Bay defense. He’s capable of playing safety, nickel or outside corner, all three of which are positions of need for the Packers; DeJean also has special-teams value. I considered both lines of scrimmage here, but DeJean makes sense.

26  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chop Robinson                                       Penn State · Edge · Junior

There’s some buzz that Robinson could go off the board sooner than this. As for the Bucs, they don’t appear to be married to one position, but this pick would check off boxes in terms of both value and need. Adding one more athletic rusher to the mix might really make this pass-rush unit sing in time.

27  Arizona Cardinals (via HOU)

Jared Verse                                          Florida State · Edge · Senior

Arizona keeps playing the hits. If the Cardinals’ draft unfolded this way and they somehow snagged Verse this late, it would make for a huge haul in Round 1. Verse might never be a huge sack producer, but he’s a tough, tone-setting edge who can help round Arizona’s work-in-progress defense into form.

28  Buffalo Bills

Adonai Mitchell                                      Texas · WR · Junior

If the Bills can make a reasonable trade up for Thomas, I think they would try. GM Brandon Beane is nothing if not aggressive when he sees an opportunity arise. But if Buffalo (which currently has no third-round pick) can’t get up high enough, taking Mitchell here would be a good consolation. He’s a big-play weapon with a knack for clutch performances who might really take off with a big role in the Bills’ offense.

29  Detroit Lions

Zach Frazier                                            West Virginia · C · Senior

It was between Frazier and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry for this spot, and it was a close call. But during the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era, the Lions have tended to use their first-round picks on their kind of guy, and Frazier just screams Lions. He has the same gritty makeup as injury-prone C Frank Ragnow and can provide Detroit with depth at all three interior spots.

30   Baltimore Ravens

Graham Barton                                     Duke · OL · Senior

Barton could be the first center drafted, and there are other teams I could see jumping on him ahead of this spot. But in this scenario, he goes after Frazier and falls to the Ravens, who have center covered (by Tyler Linderbaum) but do have starting jobs open elsewhere on the line. Barton might fit best at guard, though he also has 34 college starts at left tackle, so Baltimore could try him outside, too. Either way, he’s a tough, smart and ornery blocker who has the makeup to settle in as a quality pro.

31  San Francisco 49ers

Jer’Zhan Newton                                    Illinois · DT · Senior

If you’re worried Newton’s skill set overlaps too much with that of Javon Hargrave, consider that Hargrave is set to hit the salary cap at more than $28 million in the 2025 season — when he’ll be 32 years old. As a relentless scheme-wrecker, Newton would help alleviate the Niners’ need for pressure. The DT class drops off noticeably after this.

32  Kansas City Chiefs

Ladd McConkey                                   Georgia · WR · Junior (RS)

Even with the addition of Hollywood Brown, the Chiefs can use as many reliable, efficient receivers as possible, especially in light of Rashee Rice’s off-field issues. They’ve tried to wedge several uni-taskers into the rotation, so why not take a shot on a versatile, polished, shifty, multi-position receiver who also has strong special-teams value in McConkey?

– – –

Mike Florio throws out a ProFootballTalk.com Mock Draft from his secret sources – with no explanations:

I don’t put it together. I don’t even make changes to it. I outsource it to people I trust. People whose names you would recognize.

For anything we get right, I deserve no credit. For anything that’s wrong, I won’t be able to escape the blame. I get it.

Which is why I almost didn’t do it. One of these years, I won’t. It’s a tool for framing discussion, or whatever. We have all the discussion we need. And the world has more mock drafts than it could ever want or need.

Here’s one more. Go ahead and say how bad it is, or whatever. Everyone’s a genius before the picks are made. And then the picks are made, and that’s all that matters.

1. Chicago Bears: USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

2. Washington Commanders: LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.

3. Minnesota Vikings (projected trade with Patriots): North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: LSU receiver Malik Nabers.

6. New York Giants: Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt.

7. Tennessee Titans: Alabama tackle JC Latham.

8. Atlanta Falcons Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.

9. Chicago Bears: Penn State tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

10. New York Jets: Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga.

11. New England Patriots (projected trade with Vikings): Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

12. Buffalo Bills (projected trade with Broncos): Washington receiver Rome Odunze.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse.

14. New Orleans Saints: Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy.

19. Los Angeles Rams: UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Duke center/guard Graham Barton.

21. Miami Dolphins: Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.

23. New England Patriots (projected trade with Vikings): Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

24. Dallas Cowboys: LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

25. Green Bay Packers: Georgia tackle Amarius Mims.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette.

27. Arizona Cardinals: Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan.

28. Denver Broncos (projected trade with Bills): Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

29. Las Vegas Raiders (projected trade with Lions): Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Texas receiver Xavier Worthy.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw.

Will the Patriots really be able to trade down to 11 and still get McCarthy?

– – –

Garrett Podell of CBSSports.com plays a funny game here – the perfect pick:

The gap between when the NFL begins its new league year in mid-March, and when the draft takes place at the end of April feels like an eternity.

However, we’ve made it! This is the week the 2024 NFL Draft will finally take place. Since the league’s 32 teams have or are in the process of finalizing their draft boards, let’s take a closer look at who the ideal pick could be for each NFL team.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t necessarily a mock draft, which is a projection of what will happen when the first round of the 2024 kicks off Thursday night. This is a breakdown of the top player for all 32 teams if the draft board fell the way they are desperate for it to fall. To maintain a level of realism, a player can only be named two times as an ideal pick. There is in an effort to illustrate somewhat reasonable draft locations for each prospect.

1. Chicago Bears (via trade with Carolina Panthers)

Caleb Williams                         USC • QB • #13

Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears’ latest and greatest savior. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, stands alone as the only college quarterback since 2000 to throw for 30-plus passing touchdowns and run for 10-plus touchdowns while throwing five or fewer interceptions in multiple seasons.

No one in college football had more total touchdowns than Williams’ 120 during the span of his college career (2021-2023), and Chicago has him set up to score plenty more in the Windy City while throwing to D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and perhaps another quality pass catcher they could acquire in Round 1 of this draft.

2. Washington Commanders

Caleb Williams                           USC • QB • #13

The Washington Commanders appear to not yet have a consensus on which quarterback they would like to draft with the second overall pick. They hosted four quarterbacks at one time last week for a visit: North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.

However, they would clearly much prefer the Bears select Maye or Daniels first overall, which would allow them to select the D.C. native, who attended Gonzaga College High School .

3. New England Patriots

Drake Maye                                    UNC • QB • #10

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Much of the 2024 NFL Draft cycle has seen LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, receive a lot of hype and buzz after a stat-stuffing fifth and final college football season. However, Maye put up comparable numbers to Daniels from 2022-2023 despite a lesser supporting cast, handles pressure better and he is two years younger. Maye is the QB2 in this draft class.

4. Arizona Cardinals                     

Marvin Harrison Jr.                     OHIOST • WR • #18

The Arizona Cardinals need to help Kyler Murray out and equip him with a legit No. 1 receiving option. Michael Wilson and Trey McBride are nice complementary pieces, but Arizona needs an alpha. Harrison Jr. is that guy.

Just take a look a his resume:

Back-to-back unanimous All-American (2022-2023)

Most receiving touchdowns in college football the last two seasons (28)

Only player in Big Ten history with 14 or more receiving touchdowns in multiple seasons

Third-most receiving yards in college football the last two seasons (2,474)

The phrase “generational” gets thrown around loosely in the lead-up to drafts, but Harrison Jr. is worthy of the label.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Marvin Harrison Jr.                          OHIOST • WR • #18

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New Los Angeles Chargers head Jim Harbaugh’s quote about how the offensive line is of the upmost importance has many projecting that he would like to select someone like Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt fifth overall. The Chargers are certain to draft multiple offensive linemen in this draft, but they have a glaring need at wide receiver after parting with both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason.

Harbaugh faced off against Harrison Jr. in each of the last three seasons as the head coach at Michigan, so he knows exactly how special he is.

6. New York Giants

Jayden Daniels                                  LSU • QB • #5

Drake Maye likely doesn’t make it to sixth overall where the Giants pick. Ditto for Daniels, but New York would ideally love to get their hands on one of the top three quarterback prospects in this class.

Daniel Jones took a major step back in 2023, throwing more interceptions in six games (six while tossing only two touchdowns) than his 16 games played during the 2022 season (15 passing touchdowns to five interceptions). He also tore his ACL in 2023. Daniels would provide a much higher playmaking ceiling than Jones, whose 6.5 air yards per pass attempt since 2022 ranks as the second-lowest in the NFL ahead of only Matt Ryan’s 6.0 in the same span. Daniels averaged 10.2 air yards per pass attempt during the 2023 season.

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.

7. Tennessee Titans

Joe Alt                                            ND • OL • #76

The Tennessee Titans allowed the third-highest quarterback pressure rate in the NFL last season (42.3%) and in 2022 (39.7%). They need offensive line help. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is the draft’s best option at the position. The 2023 unanimous All-American registered the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade by an FBS offensive lineman (90.7) in 2023, and he only allowed one sack on 740 pass-blocking snaps since 2022.

This is one of the easiest picks in the entire draft.

8. Atlanta Falcons

Dallas Turner                              BAMA • LB • #15

The Atlanta Falcons’ pass rush could use more juice after ranking 25th in the league in quarterback pressure rate (32.7%). Adding Turner, a 2023 consensus All-American, on the edge with Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata on the interior could lift their defense to another level.

9. Chicago Bears

Malik Nabers                             LSU • WR • #8

The Chicago Bears failed their last two first-round pick quarterbacks, Justin Fields and Mitchell Trubisky, in part because they weren’t equipped with strong supporting casts. Chicago will change that this draft, and they could have the opportunity to potentially take Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze ninth overall. If Nabers is on the board at nine overall, he gets the edge as the slightly more fluid route runner.

10. New York Jets

Malik Nabers                          LSU • WR • #8

Sure the Jets signed Mike Williams this offseason, but Williams turns 30 in October and is coming off a torn ACL injury he suffered in 2023. It would make all the sense in the world for the Jets to take Nabers or Odunze if either is available, and they would probably opt for Nabers because of his route-running versatility, something Aaron Rodgers and every quarterback values.

11. Minnesota Vikings

Drake Maye                                UNC • QB • #10

No, Maye won’t last until the 11th overall pick. However, with the Vikings armed with multiple first-round, are clearly angling up to get a long-term replacement for Kirk Cousins. Ideally, they would love to trade into the top three and likely take Maye.

New Minnesota quarterbacks coach Josh McCown coached Maye in high school at Myers Park in Charlotte, and he is the No. 2 quarterback in this draft.

12. Denver Broncos

J.J. McCarthy                           MICH • QB • #9

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton and Russell Wilson butted heads so much in two seasons together in Denver that the Broncos felt comfortable cutting the quarterback and eating a historic $85 million in dead money.

Payton clearly wants a quarterback who will run his offense as called and make play after play from inside the pocket. McCarthy has the right frame (6-foot-2 1/2, 219 pounds), his arm strength is solid and he is comfortable in the pocket. However, much of his evaluation of what he will in the NFL is projection because he wasn’t tasked with a whole lot of the offensive load in a run-first offense at Michigan. McCarthy is somewhat of a blank slate, and Payton can program him to his liking in the NFL.

13. Las Vegas Raiders

Jayden Daniels                             LSU • QB • #5

The Raiders would need to trade up to acquire Daniels, but he would certainly be Las Vegas’ ideal pick. The Raiders currently have 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell and journeyman Gardner Minshew as their top two quarterback options at the moment.

Las Vegas’ new head coach Antonio Pierce and Daniels spent time at Arizona State together since Pierce was the Sun Devils’ recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach when Daniels started at QB there from 2019-2021. Daniels made it clear how much Pierce meant to him in his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“It was great,” Daniels said of his meeting with Las Vegas at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Obviously going in there, I already knew Coach Antonio Pierce, but just overall meeting the whole staff, meeting everybody, it was a great energy. Just being able to sit down and talk ball. … My time with A.P. … He is who he is. People see it now, but he was the same when I was in high school weighing 150 pounds. He believed in me. He recruited me. He gave me an opportunity. Our relationship goes beyond football.”

14. New Orleans Saints

Rome Odunze                                WASH • WR • #1

The New Orleans Saints have offensive line needs, but they are entering 2023 with Miami Dolphins castoff Cedrick Wilson Jr. as potentially one of their three starting wide receivers in 2024. If Odunze, who led all of college football in receiving yards (1,640) and catches of 20 or more air yards (23), somehow dropped to 14, New Orleans would select him in a heartbeat to help elevate their passing game for quarterback Derek Carr alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

15. Indianapolis Colts

Terrion Arnold                                BAMA • DB • #3

The Colts could go a few different directions here, but they’ve gone incredibly young at corner with 2023 second-rounder JuJu Brents and 2022 undrafted free agent Dallis Flowers. Selecting Arnold, a 2023 First Team All-American and the SEC’s co-leader in interceptions (five), would allow them to add another young player albeit one who would provide blue chip talent to the secondary.

16. Seattle Seahawks

Troy Fautanu                                WASH • OL • #55

The Seattle Seahawks ranked 25th in quarterback pressure rate allowed in 2023 (40.2%). They could use offensive line help. With this pick of Washington’s Troy Fautanu, new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who was Washington’s offensive coordinator during the CFP runner-up season in 2023, would reunite with one of his Huskies players who could in line up at any of the five offensive line spots.

Fautanu was the 2023 Morris Trophy winner (best offensive lineman in the Pac-12) , and he only allowed two sacks on 1,161 pass-blocking snaps since 2023. This could help get quarterback Geno Smith closer to his Pro Bowl level play from the 2022 season.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

Taliese Fuaga                                  OREGST • OL • #75

The Jacksonville Jaguars struggled to run the football in 2023, averaging 96.8 rushing yards per game (24th in the NFL) as well as the second-lowest total rushing expected points added per game in the entire league (-5.19).

Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga was college football’s highest-graded run blocker by PFF last season (90.8), and he can play guard or offensive tackle. His addition could lead to a much more balanced offensive attack for the Jaguars, which would help alleviate some of the pressure on quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s shoulders.

18. Cincinnati Bengals 

Brock Bowers                                       UGA • TE • #19

The Cincinnati Bengals have Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the outside, but with receiver Tyler Boyd still out on the free agent market, the Bengals could use some pass-catching help over the middle. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers —  the SEC’s all-time tight end leader in catches (175), receiving yards (2,538) and receiving touchdowns (26) — would fill that void and then some.

He is also the first college football player with over 25 receiving touchdowns and five or more rushing touchdowns in a career since West Virginia’s Tavon Austin did so from 2009-2012. Providing another dynamic weapon for Joe Burrow is how the Bengals could keep up in an uphill climb in the AFC.

19. Los Angeles Rams

Jared Verse                                     FSU • DL • #5

The Los Angeles Rams lost one of the best pass rushers of all time this offseason with the retirement of three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Verse brings an anger and ferocity to his pass rush similar to Donald, and he possesses a well-timed first step to go along with sledgehammer-like arms.

Verse led the ACC in sacks (18.0) and quarterback pressures (98) across the last two seasons. That’s elite production. He likely won’t drop this low, but if he did, the Rams would take him in a heartbeat.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

Olumuyiwa Fashanu                          PSU • OL • #74

Olu Fashanu has a case to be the draft’s best pass blocker: the 2023 consensus All-American didn’t allow a single sack on 697 career pass-blocking snaps. The Steelers could use a long-term anchor at left tackle opposite Broderick Jones at right tackle, and if he slid this far down, Pittsburgh would have a great offensive line set up for either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.

21. Miami Dolphins

Terrion Arnold                               BAMA • DB • #3

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The Miami Dolphins lost Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard as a salary cap casualty this offseason among others. Jalen Ramsey’s future in Miami after 2024 is unclear as the final year of his deal has a $26.2 million cap hit, and quarterback Tua Tagovalioa is poised to sign a long-term extension in the near future. There’s not really a chance of Arnold, the draft’s top cornerback prospect falling this far, but the Dolphins sure could use him in an AFC full of superstar quarterbacks.

22. Philadelphia Eagles

Quinyon Mitchell                            TOLEDO • CB • #27

Eagles Pro Bowl cornerbacks Darius Slay (33) and James Bradberry (turns 31 on Aug. 4) are on the wrong side of 30. They could use an injection of youth at the position. He has a bigger frame (6 feet, 195 pounds) and long arms (31 inches), and that allowed him to lead college football in passes defended (37). Mitchell would be a perfect pick for Philadelphia.

23. Minnesota Vikings (via Houston Texans via Cleveland Browns)

Drake Maye                                         UNC • QB • #10

See the Vikings’ pick entry at 11 overall for analysis.

24. Dallas Cowboys

Graham Barton                                  DUKE • OL • #62

The Cowboys let eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith and Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz walk in free agency this offseason, and Dallas hasn’t replaced them with anybody. Graham Barton played left tackle at Duke, but the 2023 Second Team All-American’s future position is likely on the interior at guard or center.

Should 2023 Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who played left tackle in college at Tulsa, be moved out to left tackle, Barton would be a perfect pick to fill the void at left guard.

25. Green Bay Packers

Cooper DeJean                               IOWA • DB • #3

Cooper DeJean was a 2023 unanimous All-American after allowing zero touchdowns on 374 coverage snaps last season. He also has the positional versatility to line up all over the secondary: DeJean was mostly an outside corner for Iowa in 2023 (614 snaps per Pro Football Focus, but he also spent time at nickel (23 snaps), strong safety (22 snaps) and even lined up along the edge of the defense line (27 snaps) as well as free safety (one snap).

DeJean would be a strong addition to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s aggressive defense that promises to use more man coverage and blitz concepts than predecessor Joe Barry. Lining up opposite Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander or new Packers safety Xavier McKinney could add even more juice the Green Bay secondary.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Laiatu Latu                                           UCLA • DL • #15

The Buccaneers moved on from Shaq Barrett this offseason, and they have yet to replace him with someone in free agency. Latu has an argument as the best edge rusher in this class since he had highest amount of sacks (23.5) as well as the top quarterback pressure rate, minimum 250 pass rushes, (21.4%) in college football in 2023.

He has a wide array of pass-rush moves at his disposal thanks to an explosive first step and nice handwork. Latu likely won’t be available at this spot unless a number of teams are spooked about a neck injury he had that caused him to briefly retire from football in 2021.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans)

JC Latham                                                BAMA • OL • #65

Keeping Kyler Murray upright should be a top priority for Arizona, and Latham is one of the top offensive tackles in this draft. He allowed just three sacks on 970 career pass-blocking snaps. Perhaps 2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr. could move over to left tackle, where he played at Ohio State, and Latham could hold down the right side like he has at Alabama the last few years.

28. Buffalo Bills

Brian Thomas Jr.                                  LSU • WR • #11

The Buffalo Bills desperately need a new top wide receiver after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. Brian Thomas Jr. is one of the best in this class at going deep (17.3 yards per reception in 2023), and he led college football in touchdown catches last season (17). Thomas would be a fantastic fit for quarterback Josh Allen’s downfield passing.

29. Detroit Lions

Byron Murphy II                                    TEXAS • DL • #90

Byron Murphy is the top defensive tackle prospect in this class even though he is slightly undersized in height (six feet-and-a-half-inch tall) and weight (297 pounds). He totaled the most quarterback pressures (45) and the highest quarterback pressure rate (17%, among those with least 250 pass rushes) among defensive tackles in college football in 2023.

Murphy’s presence inside could open up opportunities for Aidan Hutchinson to convert more of his quarterback pressures into sacks in 2024.

30. Baltimore Ravens

Amarius Mims                                        UGA • OL • #65

The Baltimore Ravens could use an uber athletic offensive tackle to develop with left tackle Ronnie Stanley missing a combined 36 games since 2020 and entering the final year of his contract in 2024.

Mims is a mountain, standing at 6-foot-8 while weighing 340 pounds, but he registered a solid 40-yard dash time (5.07 seconds) plus vertical (25.5″) and broad jumps (9’3″). Those are strong metrics at his size. The Ravens have options at their tackle spots, but Mims could be given a shot to start at right tackle as a rookie before taking over for Stanley in 2025.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Amarius Mims                                    UGA • OL • #65

Much of what makes Mims attractive to Baltimore applies for San Francisco. They were obviously right on the cusp of being the Super Bowl champion before losing to the Chiefs in overtime, and one of the reasons why they lost was because Kansas City All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and his teammates were able to affect quarterback Brock Purdy in key spots.

Mims could similarly slot in at right tackle and then take over at left tackle whenever 11-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams decides to call it a career.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

Adonai Mitchell                                   TEXAS • WR • #5

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have many glaring needs as they have won the last two Super Bowls. However, wide receiver is one of them. All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce turns 35 in October, and he had a down season by his standards. His seven-year streak with 1,000 or more receiving yards came to an end (984 in 2023), and he averaged a career-low 10.6 yards per catch.

Kansas City was able to sign former first-round pick Marquise Brown to a one-year deal in free agency, but Mitchell could be a long-term option. He would also help immediately with Rashee Rice, the team’s receiving touchdowns leader in 2023 (seven), facing a likely suspension to begin the season. Mitchell led the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns (11), and he was a critical downfield threat for the Big 12 champion Texas Longhorns (15.4 yards per catch). Patrick Mahomes would certainly enjoying throwing deep balls to Mitchell.