NFL mock draft roundup: Elite playmakers are on the rise

From now until the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 in Detroit, the experts will release mock drafts on an almost weekly basis. 

This is your one-stop shop for the latest predictions, including the top-five picks, players rising and falling, surprise selections and potential trades.

The experts highlighted this week are NFL.com's Chad Reuter, CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo and Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick.

Pick No. 1 (Chicago Bears)

Reuter, DeArdo, Chadwick: USC QB Caleb Williams

Chadwick writes, "You can write this one in Sharpie," and rightfully so. The Bears need to replace QB Justin Fields after trading him to the Steelers, and Williams is the obvious choice. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has thrown for 8,170 yards, 72 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions from 2022-23.

Pick No. 2 (Washington Commanders)

Reuter: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

The debate for who the second quarterback off the board will be seems like it will come down to draft night at this point. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner has made a strong case for it to be him, throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023.

DeArdo, Chadwick: UNC QB Drake Maye

Some believe Maye's draft stock is falling, but two of these experts don't agree. Maye is a little raw with just two years of starting experience, but he's been impressive nonetheless, throwing for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions the past two seasons.

Pick No. 3 (New England Patriots)

Reuter: UNC QB Drake Maye

DeArdo, Chadwick: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Pick No. 4 (Arizona Cardinals)

Reuter: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy (traded to Denver Broncos)

The Vikings have been rumored to be gearing up for a trade-up after acquiring a second first-round pick. However, Reuter believes it will the Broncos that strike a deal with the Cardinals. McCarthy's draft stock has been rising ever since he led the Wolverines to a national championship. He threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions from 2022-23.

DeArdo, Chadwick: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

It would be difficult for Arizona to pass up adding the best non-QB in this year's draft, which is why the other two experts have the team staying pat. Harrison Jr. is the true No. 1 wide receiver QB Kyler Murray has been missing with 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns from 2022-23.

Pick No. 5 (Los Angeles Chargers)

Reuter: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Chargers need to restock QB Justin Herbert's arsenal after trading WR Keenan Allen to the Bears and releasing WR Mike Williams, who has since signed with the Jets. Harrison Jr. would do that and then some.

DeArdo: LSU WR Malik Nabers

If Harrison Jr. is gone, however, Los Angeles could turn to the second-best playmaker in the class. Although unlikely, some have even argued Nabers could go before Harrison Jr. after posting an impressive 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023.

Chadwick: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy (traded to Minnesota Vikings)

Here is another spot Minnesota's two first-round picks (Nos. 11 and 23) could come into play. The Vikings have a glaring need at the position and seem willing to go all in on a rookie to begin their life after QB Kirk Cousins.

Players on the rise

Reuter, Chadwick: Georgia TE Brock Bowers (No. 10 to New York Jets)

DeArdo: Georgia TE Brock Bowers (No. 12 to Denver Broncos)

Bowers is one of the biggest mysteries of the draft. He's one of the best tight end prospects in recent memory, but other positions like quarterback and wide receiver, which are valued more, could force him to fall. Last week, Bowers fell to pick No. 32, but these experts don't see that happening after he had 175 catches for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns in three years at Georgia.

Reuter: Texas WR Xavier Worthy (No. 17 traded to Kansas City Chiefs)

Worthy has been rising up draft boards since running the fastest 40-yard dash (4.21 seconds) in NFL Scouting Combine history. He is more than just a speedster, too, leading the Big 12 in receiving yards (2,755) and receiving touchdowns (26) over the past three seasons.

Players falling

Reuter: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (No. 33 traded to Las Vegas Raiders)

Penix Jr. has been mocked all over the place since the beginning of the offseason due to some medical concerns. During his time at Indiana  from 2018-21, he tore his ACL twice. Still, he is intriguing after leading the Huskies to a national championship appearance last season and throwing for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23.

Surprise picks

Reuter: Alabama OT JC Latham (No. 13 to Las Vegas Raiders)

DeArdo: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell (No. 13 to Las Vegas Raiders)

While the Raiders have several needs on their roster and Latham and Mitchell are two of the best at their respective positions, passing up on a quarterback could be a big mistake. There is a chance Oregon's Bo Nix or Penix Jr. falls to the second round, but why take that risk, which could result in Las Vegas being forced to roll with QB Gardner Minshew for all of 2024?