2024 NFL Draft: Way too early mock draft has Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. teaming up, Bucs finding Brady’s successor

Our way too early look at the 2024 NFL Draft with a full first-round mock draft headlined by Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., Drake Maye and more.

As one draft goes, so begins draft season for the following year. The 2023 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday and the immediate look is to the 2024 NFL Draft, one billed with superstar talent at the top, particularly with two quarterbacks like USC Heisman-winner Caleb Williams and North Carolina star Drake Maye at the top of the class.

Obviously, there is quite a bit that can change from one end-of-April to the next. Some of the underclassmen might not declare, prospects with high hopes for the 2023 college football season might not deliver on that promise, and numerous other factors such as injuries, off-field concerns and so on can all crop up.

But based on what we know now and the best 2024 NFL Draft-eligible players in college football that we’ll be watching — and using the draft order put forth by the PFF Mock Draft simulator, largely based on 2023 odds — it’s time to dive into the Way Too Early 2024 NFL Mock Draft and see what fans could be looking forward to for next season.

Early 2024 NFL Draft mock draft: Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. team up on Cardinals, Drake Maye fills Tom Brady’s shoes

Put simply, Caleb Williams is the closest thing we’ve seen to Patrick Mahomes in a quarterback prospect. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and just five interceptions at USC a year ago while rushing for over 300 yards and 10 scores as well. He has a cannon and is both fast and athletic, but his best asset is his creativity and prowess out of structure. He’s a magician evading pressure, throwing off-platform and making plays.

If the Cardinals indeed end up with the No. 1 pick, a likely outcome given Kyler Murray’s injury and the state of the roster, it’ll be fascinating to see if they pass on Caleb Williams or try to find a way to eschew Kyler.

Pick via Texans

Some of the talk throughout the 2023 draft process as people watched Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was that NFL teams were already salivating over Marvin Harrsion Jr.

The obvious son of the Colts legend, Harrison Jr. takes NFL bloodlines to the next level. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound pass-catcher has elite separation and route-running already with plus athleticism. His ability to track the football and even win in contested-catch situations is unreal. With DeAndre Hopkins on his way out, the Cardinals replace him with a prospect who has an even higher ceiling.

It was wise of the Buccaneers to not get over their skis in the 2023 draft by reaching to replace Tom Brady and fill out a roster that is going to undergo big changes in the coming years. In the 2024 NFL Draft, though, they need to get their QB if they’re on the clock and Drake Maye is there.

The Tar Heels star broke onto the scene last year, his first as the starter, by carrying a much-worse-than-the-record-says UNC team with 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and just seven interceptions through the air while also leading the team in rushing with 698 yards and seven scores. He has a strong arm, great athleticism, and showed improvement as a decision-maker. He can be a franchise quarterback in Tampa.

Jim Irsay got his man in Anthony Richardson. Now the Indianapolis Colts need to protect him and work to rebuild what was once an elite offensive line that has now fallen by the wayside in many aspects, left tackle chief among them.

Joe Alt has been a monster at Notre Dame with his 6-foot-8, 315-pound frame. He moves well given his size but is a bulldozer in the run game, even if he also excels in pass protection as well. This feels like as can’t-miss as an offensive tackle prospect is going to get.