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Heisman win propels Daniels past Williams in latest mock draft

LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels poses for photos with the Heisman Trophy during a press conference in the Astor ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Heisman win propels Jayden Daniels past Caleb Williams in latest mock draft

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 12/11/23

While many NFL Draft experts still have USC quarterback Caleb Williams penciled in as the No. 1 overall pick next April, there’s a growing congregation of pundits who believe Williams is no longer a lock to go at the top of the draft.

Count Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports among them, as he has Williams falling out of the top five and being picked after both North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels in his latest mock draft.

Trapasso projects that the Chicago Bears will grab Maye with the No. 1 overall pick, and he has the New England Patriots shocking the world by picking Daniels No. 2 overall. In this scenario, Trapasso has Williams falling to pick No. 6, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade up from pick No. 10 with the New York Jets to land their QB of the future.

“We shouldn't be so sure Caleb Williams is going to be the first quarterback off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft,” Trapasso wrote. “Heck, he might not be the second off the board. And let this mock also serve as a reminder that in most of the last decade, a ‘surprise’ quarterback has ultimately been picked in the top three selections. In 2024, that may very well be LSU's Jayden Daniels.”

"I think Jayden Daniels is gonna be the steal of the draft..

Everybody is gonna talk about Caleb Williams and Drake Maye but the guy to look out for is Jayden Daniels" ~ @KirkHerbstreit #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/fS0Yo8nFTr
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 8, 2023

Daniels’ 2023 numbers were even better than those of LSU’s last Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow. Daniels accounted for 4,946 total yards, 50 total touchdowns and four interceptions with a completion percentage of 72.2 compared to Burrow’s 2019 season in which he totaled 4,614 yards, 48 touchdowns and six interceptions with a completion percentage of 78.3.

His accuracy could make Daniels a more intriguing option for the Patriots with the second pick than Williams, who completed 68.6% of his passes for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions.

New England ranks 20th in the NFL in completion percentage this season (62.9%) and is tied for the second-most interceptions thrown (15).

After the Patriots’ selection of Daniels, Trapasso has Williams being passed on by the Arizona Cardinals, who take Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the Washington Commanders, who grab Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, and the Bears again, who go with UCLA edge-rusher Laiatu Latu.

Other teams inside the top 10 who could move up for Williams should he fall past New England at No. 2 include the New York Giants (currently No. 7), the Tennessee Titans (No. 8) and New Orleans Saints (No. 9) — all of whom don’t have a sure-fire franchise quarterback in place.

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