Daily Mail NFL Mock Draft: No surprises at the top as Caleb Williams goes No. 1 to Chicago... and more QBs follow in class FULL of offensive talent

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With less than 48 hours until Roger Goodell reads off the first name of the NFL Draft in Detroit, there's still plenty of mystery as to just exactly how the night will unfold.

Sure, pick No. 1 is more likely than not locked in thanks to the top play of Caleb Williams from USC. But beyond that, there remain questions: How many quarterbacks will be taken? Will any teams trade up?

Two of our writers decided to take their chance on trying to pick the first round of the draft right. We'll probably fail, but that's the fun in all of it.

Here is the DailyMail.com mock draft, a little over a day before the NFL Draft officially begins.

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina) - Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Shocking, I know.

Quite possibly the most obvious pick of the entire draft, the Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields in favor of starting over after benefitting from the Panthers' awful campaign in 2023.

After Carolina fell to the worst record in the league last year, the Bears found themselves with the top overall pick - and can take a quarterback who has already drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes.

All signs point towards the Chicago Bears drafting Caleb Williams first overall

2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

As much as the Commanders want to move up to get the local prodigy in Williams, retaining assets and getting one heck of a consolation prize makes too much sense.  

The pick here will be Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. The Commanders need a new direction at quarterback and they're hoping whoever the choice is here can lead Washington out of the signal-calling rotation the team has been under for more than three decades. 

Daniels is the slightly bigger risk, but comes with slightly bigger rewards. Pushing a few more chips in on Daniels is exactly what Washington should and will do to excite its fan base. 

Heisman winner Jayden Daniels is the prize for the Washington Commanders this year

MOCK TRADE: Minnesota Vikings send 11th and 23rd overall picks in this draft, plus a 2025 1st rounder to the New England Patriots for 3rd overall pick

With rumors indicating that the Vikings are high on one particular quarterback, and the Patriots at least interested in moving back, we get our first change to the first round in the form of this trade.

New England has been vocal about wanting Daniels, so if he's off the board, it's not clear what direction the Patriots will go. They want an expensive package to move out of the third spot - so both of Minnesota's first rounders this year plus a first next year appears to be the going rate.

3. Minnesota Vikings (via mock trade with New England) - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

New England has a lot of holes in their offense that need to be filled in this draft (essentially, everywhere but running back). That's to say, they are not just a quarterback away from being competitors.

You know who might be? Minnesota. The signal caller the Vikings are reportedly the highest on is Drake Maye, so they'll take him here.

The Vikings have a strong wide receiver corps and with the right quarterback, they could go a long way in the future.

The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback, so they trade up to take Drake Maye

4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

If Williams is not the most obvious pick of this draft, it is Marvin Harrison Jr. going to the Cardinals at No 4. 

Harrison might be the most talented player in the draft regardless of position. And the Arizona Cardinals would be the first team to pick that does not have a need at quarterback. 

Arizona does have a massive need at wide receiver, and one of the best pass-catching prospects of the last decade falls into its lap at fourth overall. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. may be the best talent in this draft and we think Arizona will get him

5. Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

To pick a wide receiver or an offensive lineman, that is the question for Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers.

They could go with Malik Nabers here and take the second-best wide receiver in the draft. LA needs pass catchers - with their WR1 currently Quentin Johnston, who had a sub-par rookie season. They could even entertain trade options for QB-needy teams.

But instead, I think they’re going to give Justin Herbert some more protection and will take the top offensive lineman in the draft in Joe Alt.

A Chargers team in need of offensive line help could look to Notre Dame's Joe Alt

6. New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

How the Giants wish this pick could be a quarterback and move away from Daniel Jones. But no, one massively over-performing season and New York set itself back several years. 

What's the next-best thing to resetting the quarterback clock? Getting said quarterback some major help. 

In most NFL Drafts, Nabers is talented enough to be the best wide receiver in the class. New York gets a steal at No. 6. 

Malik Nabers could be an elite receiving option that the New York Giants need

7. Tennessee Titans - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

I'm going to be honest here, I feel like there's going to be a trade at five or seven with a team that needs a quarterback (Denver's the obvious choice).

But there's two things: one, both the Chargers and Titans really need offensive line help - with Alt and Fashanu the two best linemen in the draft.

The other thing is that I don't think the Broncos have the requisite draft picks to win the rights to trade up. In simulations, they'd have to give up the 12th overall pick this year as well as next years first and second round picks to get a move up to 5 or 7. 

I don't think Denver will sell the farm to keep the cows, so for now, the Chargers and Titans pick at their spots. But don't be surprised if the Broncos make a trade with either Los Angeles or Tennessee to get J.J. McCarthy.

If the Tennessee Titans don't trade down from the 7th pick, they could take Olu Fashanu

8. Atlanta Falcons - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Falcons are the New York Jets without the chaos and a bigger window to have postseason success in (more on that later). 

The biggest similarity between the teams is their old starting quarterback with one final shot at glory. 

Atlanta will do anything to win possibly the worst division in football and have a chance at a playoff run.

Even though Dallas Turner is a phenomenal fit with the franchise and would be a day-one starter, the Falcons are too tempted to not give him a shiny new toy. Welcome Rome!

Rome Odunze could become a great pass catching option for Kirk Cousins and the Falcons

9. Chicago Bears - Dallas Turner, Edge rusher, Alabama

Well, if Odunze is gone, then the Bears will likely look to another big need with Dallas Turner at edge rusher.

In all honesty, while getting Odunze might be nice, it's not like the Bears desperately need a wide out now that they have Keenan Allen alongside DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet.

On the D-Line, however, they could do with an upgrade in the pass rush department and Turner should be able to provide that on day one.

The Chicago Bears can bolster their defensive pass rush with Dallas Turner

10. New York Jets - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

I considered trading back here, as it would be only a little risky. There is not a team with a huge tight-end need in the few spots right below them. 

That said, they could swap with Denver and get a little extra so the Broncos can get a quarterback. 

With Aaron Rodgers having possibly two good years in the NFL left, the Jets need to win now and will give him another huge weapon in who should be the only tight end taken in the first round, Brock Bowers.

By far the best tight end in the draft, the New York Jets could get a gem in Brock Bowers

11. New England Patriots (via mock trade with Minnesota) - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

It's almost not even worth entertaining this option. Like I said above, it's likely that a team who needs a quarterback will take McCarthy much higher up.

A much likelier option here at 11 for the Patriots is offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. If Fuaga is taken by the Jets, then I could even see Bowers being picked here.

But, the Patriots need a quarterback and if they trade back only for J.J. McCarthy to fall to them at 11th overall, then why wouldn't they take him.

A miracle would need to happen for the New England Patriots to take J.J. McCarthy 11th overall

12. Denver Broncos - Laiatu Latu, Edge rusher, UCLA

Denver needs to draft a quarterback in the early rounds, especially after trading for Zach Wilson. 

After swinging and missing to get one of the bigger names, the Broncos will try again later and address another need. 

Latu is a day-one starter that makes a ton of sense to play under Sean Payton. 

13. Las Vegas Raiders - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Projected starting cornerbacks Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones only managed three interceptions last season in a combined 20 games. The Raiders as a whole finished mid-table with 13 picks last year.

Quinyon Mitchell should help with that. He was elite in pass coverage for the University of Toledo the past two seasons - breaking up 37 passes and grabbing six interceptions.

He's also a fantastic athlete and the Raiders love to draft athleticism, so this seems like a perfect selection for them.

The Broncos could eye Laiatu Latu (L) while the Raiders could get Quinyon Mitchell (R)

14. New Orleans Saints - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

The Saints may get one of the steals of the first round by sitting and doing nothing. There is always one top-10 level talent that falls a little far.  

Due to the logjam of quarterbacks, Fuaga being that guys makes a lot of sense. 

In every sense, he can bring stability to a team that does not need much help to become good enough to get back into the playoffs.  

15. Indianapolis Colts - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

I briefly considered the Colts taking Brian Thomas Jr. of LSU here, but Indianapolis is in need of pass coverage help.

Indianapolis managed 15 interceptions last season, with most of those coming from safeties. They put up good numbers, but the Colts might look to upgrade one of their cornerbacks.

Terrion Arnold could be exactly what Indianapolis needs - with great instincts and elite ball skills that resulted in five interceptions for the Crimson Tide last season.

Top lineman Taliese Fuaga (L) could fall to the Saints while the Colts could get Terrion Arnold

16. Seattle Seahawks - Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas 

The Seahawks could go in several directions here, and could be a prime candidate  to trade down, keeping in line with the thinking that made former head coach Pete Carroll so effective. 

There is no way the Broncos trade back up to pick another quarterback this soon, or else it would be a tremendous match. 

Should Seattle stay put, it takes a low-risk, high-yield choice that it knows will fit in with its current roster. Murphy is a lock to be just that. 

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

With Calvin Ridley gone, the Jaguars are currently looking at a wide receiver unit of Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Zay Jones.

It's time to give Trevor Lawrence a receiver he can grow with, and Brian Thomas Jr can be that kind of player. 

He's a reliable deep threat that could be a perfect addition to a team that collapsed down the stretch of the season last year. 

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

If Thomas does not go to Jacksonville one pick earlier, this would be an easy choice. However, with a fourth wide receiver off the board, I don't see the Bengals reaching for No. 5. 

Joe Burrow is as valuable as a non-Patrick Mahomes asset is in the NFL and there is never enough offensive line help that you can get him. 

Fautanu is large and mobile and could even switch to guard if needed. This will not be a flashy pick, but it will be an effective one. 

L to R: Byron Murphy II of Texas, Troy Fautanu of Washington, Brian Thomas Jr of LSU

19. Los Angeles Rams - Jared Verse, Edge rusher, Florida State

Here's your replacement for the retiring Aaron Donald, Rams fans.

Verse put up 18 sacks the last two seasons and is more than capable of starting next season.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama

Protect Russell Wilson better than Denver did. It really is that easy. 

Latham becomes the latest member of the Crimson Tide's trenches to make waves in the NFL. 

21. Miami Dolphins - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Project Protect Tua Tagovailoa rolls on with another offensive line selection in Georgia's Amarius Mims.

Tagovailoa was sacked only 29 times last season (1.7 sacks/game) so adding Mims could reduce that number even more.

L to R: Jared Verse of Florida State, J.C. Latham of Alabama, Amarius Mims of Georgia

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Eagles feel more in flux than most good teams in the NFL after how last season ended. Let's not forget they started 10-1. 

A Jason Kelce-less Philadelphia side addresses its biggest need by getting help on the outside with Wiggins. 

23. New England Patriots (via mock trade with Minnesota) - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

In this mock, the trade with Minnesota helps to give the Patriots one of the two of the things they need the most: a quarterback and offensive line help.

They get that O-Line help in the form of Tyler Guyton - who's got plenty of upside and should provide an immediate boost to the Patriots' pass protection woes.

24. Dallas Cowboys - Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Newton will be a star, both literally and figuratively. 

Going to Dallas is a phenomenal fit for him and he'll see the field in a critical season for Dark Prescott in company as the team is starving for playoff success. 

L to R: Nate Wiggins of Clemson, Tyler Guyton of Oklahoma, Jer'Zhan Newton of Illinois

25. Green Bay Packers - Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa

DeJean played cornerback for Iowa last season, but has been listed on some mock drafts as a safety.

Either way, the Packers need both - so they could take him here and use him however they like.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chop Robinson, Edge rusher, Penn State

The Buccaneers are somehow still flying under the radar, maybe by playing in the horrible NFC South. 

Adding Chop Robinson here is a phenomenal move. He'll have at least six good years in the NFL. 

Both Cooper DeJean (L) and Chop Robinson (R) could be late-round gems for teams

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston) - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

The Cardinals caught the second-most interceptions in the league last season, but lost cornerbacks Marco Wilson and Antonio Hamilton.

With Sean Murphy-Bunting and Garrett Williams projected as starters right now, the Cardinals could go after the talented Kool-Aid McKinstry to fill in the gaps left behind.

28. Buffalo Bills - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

After losing Stefon Diggs to the Texans and Gabe Davis to the Jaguars, the Bills window to win a Super Bowl feels like it closed slightly. 

Adding another wide receiver feels like it has to be Buffalo's first-round choice, and that honor goes to Mitchell. 

Kool-Aid McKinstry could go to Arizona while Adonai Mitchell seems destined for Buffalo

29. Detroit Lions - Graham Barton, OL, Duke

More pass protection comes for Jared Goff, who was the fourth-least sacked quarterback in the league last season.

Barton will likely start as backup, but will be fantastic depth to one of the best offensive lines in the league thanks to his versatility.

30. Baltimore Ravens - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Flip a coin, whichever Texas receiver does not go at No 28 can be selected here. 

Worthy dazzled at the NFL Combine by setting the all-time record in the 40-yard dash. He's a first-round pick because of that hype. 

31. San Francisco 49ers - Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

Much like the Lions, the 49ers didn't surrender many sacks this past season - but they could still improve on the O-Line.

Jordan Morgan could provide a boost in both the run and pass blocking games, which could be welcome news as the Niners try and reach the Super Bowl again.

L to R: Graham Barton of Duke, Xavier Worthy of Texas, Jordan Morgan of Arizona

MOCK TRADE: Denver Broncos send 76th overall pick plus a 2025 1st rounder and a 2025 4th rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 32nd overall pick

I tried to have the Broncos come back into the first round at Nos. 20, 24, and 28 with this exact assortment of picks. 

It was finally accepted on try No. 4, and the Broncos get their quarterback to end the first round. 

32. Denver Broncos - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

The Chiefs will stay put at No. 32 if either Mitchell or Worthy is available here. But getting the Broncos first-round pick in 2025 is too valuable to pass up. 

Nix would have to be the team's starting quarterback if Denver comes back into the first round to get him. Sorry, Zach.

The Broncos need a quarterback and could trade up late to take Bo Nix with the last pick