2024 NFL Draft: CBS Sports shakes up latest mock ahead of College Football Playoff

The college football regular season is over, with bowl games and the College Football Playoff being all that remains. Games begin on Saturday and stretch all the way through the New Year. For many players, it will be the last time they play before heading off to the NFL.

With a look ahead to what could come this April, CBS Sports has updated their 2024 NFL Mock Draft. The order still has a long way to go but the picture is certainly becoming a lot clearer.

You might find a surprise at the top, with the two main quarterbacks likely dominating the NFL Draft discussion in the coming months. This is just the beginning, with plenty more to come before Roger Goodell calls a name in Detroit.

1. Chicago Bears – North Carolina QB Drake Maye

Chicago has the chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick for the second consecutive season. This time, it will be via the Carolina Panthers. Trading it away would certainly be an option but a reset at quarterback could be needed too.

Maye will compete throughout the process to earn the top spot over a few others. If able to win out, as projected here, he would head to the Windy City and hopefully become the franchise guy.

2. New England Patriots – LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Daniels now has a Heisman Trophy attached to his name. Winners of the prestigious award are used to being selected in this area of the NFL Draft and the LSU quarterback could be the latest.

Daniels is more than just his arm, being a dual-threat on the ground when the play breaks down. New England would potentially have a new style coming their way but the talent would be too hard to ignore.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

On Thursday, Harrison discussed the possibility of coming back to Ohio State for another season. Not being able to beat Michigan and win a Big Ten championship were his two main reasons.

However, if/when the wide receiver does decide to go to the NFL, he is likely to be the first non-quarterback selected. He was with Daniels in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, proving how special of a player he is.

4. Washington Commanders – Penn State OT Olu Fashanu

Fashanu made the surprising decision to come back for the 2023 season at Penn State. Had he declared for the last draft, he would have been a surefire top-10 pick.

Thankfully, his stock has not dropped and it’s maybe even increased. Fashanu has a chance to be the first offensive tackle off the board — something that’s certainly not easy to do.

5. Chicago Bears – Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson

Taking care of quarterback at No. 1, may as well add another elite player at an incredibly valuable position at No. 5. Robinson can certainly be someone who can be elite, being the only EDGE player inside the top 10.

Nobody has fewer sacks through Week 14 than the Bears. A pass rush is desperately needed in order to have the rebuild continue to move in the right direction.

6. Las Vegas Raiders – USC QB Caleb Williams

Yes, you have read this correctly. CBS Sports has Williams dropping out of the top five and somehow sliding to the Las Vegas Raiders. A major drop for a player a lot of draft experts have as the No. 1 overall pick.

Las Vegas tried the Jimmy Garoppolo experiment but if Williams is available, it would be easy to move on from. The search for a franchise quarterback would quickly be over.

7. New York Jets –  Notre Dame OT Joe Alt

Alt is a prospect NFL folks have been excited about for a couple of years now. He is finally eligible for the draft and is going to be a popular name as we get closer to the first round.

Named an All-American after the 2022 season, Alt would be just the latest Notre Dame offensive line product. Moving from South Bend to New York City is not exactly a bad deal either.

8. New York Giants – Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Bowers spent the latter half of the season injured, dealing with an ankle injury. Even when he got back onto the field against Alabama, he did not look 100% and was clearly struggling.

The tight end is still going to be considered one of the best playmakers in the cycle. If the Giants do wind up taking Bowers, they will be getting a high-caliber weapon for whoever their quarterback is during the 2024 season.

9. Tennessee Titans – LSU WR Malik Nabers

With his quarterback going No. 2 overall, Nabers has seen his own stock take off this season. A 1,000-yard season was somehow improved upon, finishing with 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns.

If Tennessee is going to roll with Will Levis moving forward, a true No. 1 receiver is needed. Nabers is expected to be the next great LSU product and could be rewarded with a top-10 selection.

10. Los Angeles Chargers – Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton

The top of the 2024 NFL Draft seems to be offensive-heavy, with Newton being CBS Sports’ first defensive selection. He would be heading out West to play for the Chargers — and maybe a newly hired head coach.

Newton has pass-rush ability but will line up on the interior. Not too many players in the class have his ability and should be in high demand in April.

11. Atlanta Falcons – Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
12. New Orleans Saints – UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
13. Seattle Seahawks – Texas WR Xavier Worthy
14. Los Angeles Rams – Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
15. Denver Broncos – Alabama OT JC Latham
16. Arizona Cardinals – Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
17. Buffalo Bills – Washington WR Rome Odunze
18. Cincinnati Bengals – Florida State WR Keon Coleman
19. Green Bay Packers – Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
20. Chicago Bears – Miami DL Leonard Taylor III
21. Indianapolis Colts – Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
22. Minnesota Vikings – Oregon QB Bo Nix
23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Penn State CB Kalen King
24. Houston Texans – Washington EDGE Bralen Trice
25. Kansas City Chiefs – Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Duke OT Graham Barton
27. Detroit Lions – Minnesota S Tyler Nubin
28. Philadelphia Eagles – Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter
29. Miami Dolphins – Washington IOL Troy Fautanu
30. Dallas Cowboys – Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
31. San Francisco 49ers – Georgia OT Amarius Mims
32. Baltimore Ravens – Iowa CB Cooper DeJean

Of the players in this mock draft, nine of them will play in the College Football Playoff. Plenty of talent will be lining up at the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl, hoping to win a national championship.