CLEVELAND, OH — With the 2024 NFL Draft this coming Thursday up in the Motor City, there are so many last-minute things that can happen that’ll shake things up and cause nothing but chaos and drama. As we all know, Draft Night is always unpredictable and to always expect the unexpected. That being said, here are my first, last and final pre-draft thoughts before heading into The D.
1.) Uncertainity about Caleb Williams won’t affect his draft selection at No.1: Yes, yes, yes! I have heard all the rumblings about his so-so pro day out in USC–I would know, since I was over there at LAFW–but per my sources, he looked average.
Yet even with such as a marginal workout in front of a large Bears contingent that flew in from the Windy City, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winning QB to the Bears is a stone-cold lock. Unless the Bears front office suddenly gets cold feet, or there is a suddenly discovered CW OnlyFans account that surfaces out of the blue, be prepared to hear his name called first.
2.) Don’t sleep on Jayden Daniels going No.2: With Williams all but a lock at No.1 to the Bears, this is where the draft gets really interesting. Yes, the Commanders–for now–need a QB, for new head coach Dan Quinn, but which one? Drake Maye? J.J. McCarthy? Not at No.2.
Michael Penix Jr. Bo Nix? Defintely a reach. Despite his slender frame, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU makes the most sense for Washington.
3.) Which team will reach for J.J. McCarthy? If the No.2 pick is where the draft starts, then grab your popcorn! QB needy teams such as Minnesota at No.11 and No.23 (from CLE via HOU), New York Giants at No.6 and the Denver Broncos at No.12 are the leading candidates to try to move up for the national champion winning QB out of Michigan.
Despite only posting two 300-yard games in his two years as a starter for the Maize and Blue, McCarthy is the hottest–and most polarizing–prospect heading into the draft, which conveinently, is a short 48-minute drive from downtown Detroit.
4.) Could No.9 Be in Play? Suppose if there is a QB such as the afrorementioned Nix, Maye–or even Penix Jr. who might be a reach–still on the board. If you’re the Bears, do you trade it for more picks to help stock up around Williams, or use it to draft another position of need?
While it would be tempting to give Caleb another weapon on the outside such as Malik Nabers out of LSU, Rome Odunze out of Washington, or even a game-changing tight end such as Brock Bowers out of Georgia that’ll help open up the middle of the field, Chicago could look to target someone to protect him in looking at 6’8, 321-pound tackle of of Notre Dame in OL Joe Alt.
5.) Patriot Games? Is Maye The Guy In Foxboro? The first post-Beliichick draft in two decades could potentially be the biggest, and the one with the most pressure on it, thanks to missing on Mac Jones. Rookie head coach Jerod Mayo needs to build and mold the Patriots in his own image. And with that, they need a perfect quarterback to lead them back to relevance.
With Willams all but a lock at No.1, it is looking like the Patriots will take whomever Washington doesn’t take a No.2. But somehow, if Daniels drops to them at No.3, do you they take him, and run the risk of subjecting his slight 6’4 210-pound frame to the harsh and brutal AFC East defenses of New York, Buffalo and Miami?
It’s a tough call, but if you’re going to compete against the likes of Josh Allen, Tua and Aaron Rodgers, you need your own answer to them.
And I think the 6’4, 229-pound Maye out of North Carolina, is the perfect fit for New England, as he is mobile, athletic enough, and has a good arm that can make NFL-level type of throws. In his final year in Chapel Hill, Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
One additional element that Maye will bring to the Patriots, that neither Brady or Jones ever did was his ability ro run and extend plays, as he carried the ball 112 times for 449 yards and nine touchdowns. So, depending on what type of system, Mayo is going to run in New England, they would be wise to tailor it to Maye’s strengths as both a passer and runner.
Those are my thoughts for now. See you in Detroit!