2024 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders trade up for Michael Penix Jr.; Chargers land two pass catchers

We’re not going to overcomplicate this. Williams has been earmarked for the Bears the second they secured the top pick and Chicago has done a nice job crafting its roster around its new franchise QB in free agency.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is a tantalizing prospect who has a dynamic playmaking ability with both his arm and legs. New Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury should have a field day tapping into his dual-threat ability.

While de facto GM Eliot Wolf did say the Patriots were “open for business,” I think they’d have to be blown away to trade this pick. Personally, I’d stand pat and take the at-bat by drafting Maye, who has a ceiling that is too rich to pass up on.

This is where things could get interesting in terms of trades with QB-needy teams now looking to move up, but I have the Cardinals holding firm at No. 4 and securing the top wideout in the draft. After losing Hollywood Brown in free agency, Arizona needs to give Kyler Murray some pass-catching help, and what better way to do that than with Marvin Harrison Jr. coming to town?

This might be the most unoriginal trade-up this draft cycle, but there’s a reason why so many people are pinpointing this spot to be where the Vikings make their move. It just makes sense. L.A. doesn’t need QB and needs to bring aboard young/cheap talent, so moving down is a logical step. The Vikings get themselves a fascinating QB prospect who has won essentially everywhere he’s gone in his football life.

The Giants could flirt with the idea of taking a QB at No. 6 if McCarthy was still on the board, but with the Vikings trading up ahead of them, they address a massive need by adding an elite pass catcher in Nabers. He arrives in New York as the clear No. 1 option for Daniel Jones.

This almost feels as locked in as Caleb Williams to the Bears. Tennessee has added at the skill positions all offseason to help Will Levis in Year 2 and now the Titans further those efforts with the top offensive tackle in the class.

Atlanta spent the bulk of its offseason thus far addressing the offense, most notably by adding Kirk Cousins as its quarterback. Now, the Falcons turn to the draft to address the defense and add an explosive pass rusher in Turner.

It feels borderline illegal for a team to come out of Day 1 of the draft with Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, but here the Bears are. They did add Keenan Allen via trade earlier this offseason, but the veteran is only under contract for one more year. Odunze presents Chicago with an opportunity to give Williams a top-flight running mate for years to come.

Michael Penix Jr. is one of the more mysterious prospects in this draft due to the simple fact that it seems like nobody knows where he’ll come off the board. His range spans from the backend of the top 10 to the top of the second, but we have the Raiders swooping in with a trade-up to bring the Washington product to Las Vegas. The Raiders jump ahead of the Broncos to secure Penix and New York gains some capital without drastically moving down the board.

With the Jets moving down to may way for the Raiders to land Penix, Brock Bowers falls directly into the Chargers’ lap, giving them a much-need pass-catching weapon for Justin Herbert.

Denver isn’t able to get into the QB frenzy but does address a key need in the secondary by adding the top corner on the board after a season where the Broncos ranked in the bottom third in the league in passing yards allowed.

The Jets did a good job of addressing their offensive line issues this offseason by adding tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, but neither one is signed beyond the 2024 season. That still makes tackle a key need entering this draft and they fill it by bringing aboard Fuaga.

Another team that could be the QB market, but in this mock New Orleans opts to fill its need along the offensive line with Latham. The Alabama prospect comes in as the heir apparent to Ryan Ramczyk.

Debated going receiver here for Indy, but I like the Colts bolstering their secondary in the first round. Indy’s pass defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in 2023 and Mitchell could come in and help occupy one of the boundary spots at corner opposite JuJu Brents.

Not sure a pass rusher is the biggest need for Seattle, but I think the Seahawks opt to take the best player available with Verse still on the board. Could be a Day 1 impact player off the edge for the Seahawks.

Wide receiver is a need here for Jacksonville, but so is the interior of the defensive line. Murphy presents an opportunity to add an explosive player along its front.

Cincinnati added Trent Brown this offseason, but the veteran tackle is on a one-year deal and has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons. With Fashanu still available, the Bengals to should be running to the podium to secure long-term protection for Joe Burrow.

The Rams are in the post-Aaron Donald era and need to try and recoup some of his production at pressuring the quarterback. While no one player will be able to do what Donald did, adding Latu isn’t a bad start off the edge.

The Steelers have two new quarterbacks on the roster and they use the draft to help protect whoever wins the starting job by bringing aboard a versatile lineman in Fautanu, who can play tackle or kick inside.

Mims is a massive offensive tackle prospect standing 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 340 pounds. He can play either side of the line and could prove to be the successor to the oft-injured Terron Armstead.

Draft analysts note that Jean could move to safety at the NFL level, but the Iowa corner does inject youth into a secondary that has both Darius Slay Jr. and James Bradberry both getting up there in age.

Remarkably, Brian Thomas Jr. is still on the board and — similar to Brock Bowers earlier this round — the LSU receiver falls right into Jim Harbaugh’s lap. Coming away with Thomas Jr. and Bowers completely overhauls Los Angeles’ offense after moving on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams earlier this offseason.

Powers-Johnson gives Dallas some versatility along the interior of its offensive line as the Oregon product has the ability to play center (his main position for the Ducks) or kick to guard. He’d be a logical replacement for Tyler Biadasz, who signed with Washington in free agency.

It’d be wise for Green Bay to address its secondary with the likes of McKinstry to deepen a unit that struggled to stay on the field last season.

A swing for the fences type of addition for Tampa Bay off the edge as Robinson has a high ceiling thanks to his elite traits.

Arizona addressed its big need on offense at No. 4 with Harrison and come back around late in the first by addressing a key need on defense. Wiggins comes in as a highly athletic corner, who should be able to come in and start on the boundary.

Bills GM Brandon Beane recently said the team doesn’t need a true No. 1 to be successful. While that may be true, the Bills still need some wideouts for Josh Allen to throw the ball to and Mitchell could be a nice addition to cushion the blow of losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason.

Newton continues what has been a youth movement in recent drafts for the Lions along their defense line.

Baltimore has needs all along its offensive line, which has been gutted this offseason. Barton played left tackle in college but has the versatility to move around the line.

Something will need to give between the 49ers and star wideout Brandon Aiyuk. By adding a young, talented, and cost-effective receiver in McConkey, San Francisco gives itself some flexibility with Aiyuk without running the risk of being thin at receiver.

The Chiefs could put this pick up for sale for teams looking to try to get the fifth-year option with a prospect. If they do make the selection, solidifying the offensive line with Guyton wouldn’t be a bad move at all.