HQ Spotlight: Caleb Williams NFL Draft Prospect Preview

If Justin Fields has a strong second half of the 2023 season and convinces Chicago he's the long-term answer, maybe you go in another direction. Otherwise, you take Williams here, who is the best prospect in this draft class.

The Giants are on the hook for at least one more year with Daniel Jones, who tore his ACL and is done for the season. But even if they bring him back in 2024, Drake Maye should be the heir apparent.

The Patriots will have to trade up for one of the top 2 QBs -- or trade down for QB3 -- because their current 2024 starter isn't on the roster. But since there are no trades in this mock draft, they take the best offensive lineman -- also a huge need -- in Fashanu.

Kyler Murray didn't miss a beat in his return from an ACL injury that sidelined him some 11 months. And if he convinces Arizona that he's the long-term answer, they're taking Marvin Harrison Jr. here. Ask Josh Allen and Joe Burrow if they appreciated their respective organizations going out and getting game-changing receivers.

The Bears get their QB1, and now they get a bookend to Montez Sweat off the edge.

The Packers, like a lot of teams in the top half of the first round, could be in the QB market. It's still too early to think about QB3 here, so in the meantime they grab Alt, who has had a fantastic season for the Irish.

Mims missed a large chunk of the 2023 season with an injury, but he returned against Ole Miss in Week 11 and has all the tools to be a dominant right tackle in the NFL.

The Titans have a ton of needs, including offensive line, but they target the best CB in the draft to bolster a secondary that has Kristian Fulton and Sean Murphy-Bunting possibly hitting free agency after the season.

Verse's sack numbers are down from a season ago, but you could argue he's a more complete player in 2023.

It feels like Sam Howell has a chance to be the guy in Washington, and Brock Bowers is a tight end in name only. He can line up anywhere, including RB, and be a difference-maker.

This WR class is insanely deep, so Nabers lasting until the No. 12 pick feels like stealing.

If Aaron Rodgers is under center for the Jets in 2024, protection will be priority No. 1. JC Latham has been dominant this season for the Crimson Tide.

Odunze has had a breakout season for the Huskies, and the Broncos need to add some juice to the WR room.

Wiggins is a long, athletic corner who specializes in blanket coverage downfield. He needs to improve as a tackler, but the Chargers need to add depth to the position after the J.C. Jackson signing didn't work out.

Anthony Richardson will be back in 2024, and giving him a jump-ball, downfield target like Coleman is only going to make this offense that much more explosive.

No player has done more for his draft stock than Jayden Daniels; we all knew he could run, but he's shown continued improvement as a passer and has a legit case to be QB3 in this class.

Newton played on an Illini defense last season that included No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon and Day 2 selections Quan Martin and Sydney Brown. The defensive lineman will be the next in line to hear his name called early in the draft.

Egbuka's numbers are down this season, in part because of injury and in part because that's what happens when C.J. Stroud leaves for the NFL. But catching passes from Joe Burrow seems like the quickest way to get Egbuka back to his 2022 form.

HQ Spotlight: Michael Penix Jr. NFL Draft Prospect Preview

Penix Jr. has an injury history, but he has been healthy the past two seasons for the Huskies. And more than that, he has played out of his mind, not only as the best deep-ball passer in this class but also his ability to throw with anticipation and accuracy, and even win with his legs when he needs to.

The biggest issues facing Latu will be if he's cleared medically after a neck injury sidelined his career a few years ago. On the field, he has been unstoppable all season.

You will not find a player with a higher motor, and when you couple that with Tuimoloau's twitch, speed and power, he's going to be a problem at the next level for NFL offensive tackles.

Lassiter feels like a Dan Quinn cornerback -- he's long and he's physical, both in coverage and in run support. The ball production isn't there yet, but that'll come.

King had a rough day against Ohio State, but he's shown first-round talent over the past two seasons. In Pittsburgh, he'll be reunited with Joey Porter Jr.

The Texans traded up for Will Anderson Jr. in the spring, and he's been as advertised. This time, they stay put and land another edge rusher in Chop Robinson, who is as active a pass rusher as you'll find in college football.

Paul is raw but athletic, and he's certainly earned his way into the first-round conversation.

Trice is a proven commodity who has come on as of late; he's a high-motor player who needs to expand his pass-rush arsenal, but he's a designated pass rusher from Day 1.

The ball-hawking DeJean can line up just about anywhere (and he's an asset in the return game, too), and that versatility and rare athleticism are what make him such an enticing prospect.

Fuaga is having a fantastic season for Oregon State, and while he's excelled at right tackle, some NFL teams think his future may be at guard. Either way, he's a first-round talent.

Rome Odunze gets a lot of the pub for the Huskies -- and rightly so -- but do not sleep on Polk, who has eight touchdowns through the first 10 games of the season and is a threat to all three levels.

Nubin is a ball-hawking safety who can provide some pop when coming downhill in run support.

Mitchell, a Georgia transfer, is another in a long line of big, physical, fast, twitched-up WRs in this draft class. The Chiefs have had mixed results finding consistent play from their young WRs in a post-Tyreek world, but Mitchell has a chance to be really good, really early in his NFL career.

Corley is one of our favorite players in the entire class, and our comp for him is Deebo Samuel. He can line up inside or out, and the thought of a WR room of A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith and Corley is fun to think about unless you're one of the other three teams in the NFC East.

The Bears go with the most intimidating, productive edge rusher in the class instead of going quarterback with the No. 1 selection. Latu is NFL ready.

Harrison Jr. is this good ... to be a receiver going No. 2 overall. This would be the earliest a wideout was picked since Calvin Johnson in 2007.

HQ Spotlight: Caleb Williams NFL Draft Prospect Preview

The Patriots are ecstatic to be able to land Williams here. He has franchise-quarterback talent.

Mock Trade from: CHI

The Falcons can't wait around and hope Desmond Ridder develops. So they get aggressive to land the promising Maye from North Carolina. Chicago decides against picking a quarterback, instead taking the extra picks to continue to build around Justin Fields.

Daniels is the front-runner for the Heisman and a fun, electrifying draft prospect who's going to fly up boards. The Giants must address quarterback. Now.

Nabers is a complete wideout who can win in a variety of ways. The Titans have to inject some dynamic receiver talent to this team beyond DeAndre Hopkins.

Fashanu would be the perfect addition as the Commanders enter Year 3 of the Sam Howell era.

Mock Trade from: ATL

Newton is the best interior pass rusher in the class, and those types have been getting picked early in recent drafts.

Alt is the squeaky-clean offensive line prospect I could see the Packers gravitating toward during the pre-draft process.

Odunze looks better and more spry every week. He could ultimately go this high in April.

Fuaga is a masher on the edge, and prioritizing the offensive line is smart for the Jets.

Robinson could actually go higher than this because of his athletic gifts. Either way, the Chargers would be smart to continue to add youthful talent to the pass rush.

Even though the Rams have loved three-receiver sets in the Sean McVay era, Bowers is a freaky specimen who'd bring a new wrinkle to the offense.

McKinstry is the alpha-type cornerback the Raiders have needed for a very long time now.

Wiggins would give the Colts a young, lockdown corner, which is precisely what this defense needs.

DeJean is a fun playmaker in the defensive backfield.

If the Bengals see Tee Higgins sign elsewhere in free agency, Coleman's big-bodied frame would be the natural replacement in Round 1.

Legette would provide the Bills with more YAC capabilities in their pass game.

Latham would provide the Saints with stability at either tackle or guard and he's very close to being "NFL strong" already.

HQ Spotlight: Bo Nix NFL Draft Prospect Preview

Nix's athleticism would be accentuated by Kevin O'Connell's boot-action system.

The Cardinals get an advanced and explosive edge rusher to help anchor the defensive front.

Barton would bring polish and grittiness up front in Seattle.

It's a Penn State reunion in the Steelers secondary. Joey Porter Jr. and King usher in a new, lockdown era at cornerback in Pittsburgh.

Verse and Will Anderson would be one heck of a young, edge-rushing tandem in Houston for a long time.

Morgan is a sizable, athletic pass-pro specialist who could be worked seamlessly into Miami's offense.

Taylor is too naturally talented for the Cowboys to pass on him here. Would be a fun addition inside defensively for Dallas.

Kinchens and Tal Hufanga next to each other would be a blast of a safety tandem.

Egbuka would add more advanced wideout talent to the Jacksonville offense.

The Chiefs scare everyone by selecting a small and super-speedy wideout near the end of the first round. They need receiver reinforcements.

Trice is an advanced butt-kicker on the outside with an NFL-caliber frame and refined pass-rush moves.

Nubin is a three-down safety who can do it all. Would be a mirror image of Kyle Hamilton for the Ravens defense.

Elliss is an emerging edge rusher in this class and the Eagles will want to continue to prepare for the future at that position.

HQ Spotlight: Caleb Williams NFL Draft Prospect Preview

Justin Fields is expected to return to the field this week, but is it too little, too late? Chicago will have a chance to take a quarterback No. 1 overall and it may be too much to pass up a second consecutive year.

There was doubt about Daniel Jones ' viability as a long-term starter when he signed his extension. Following his ACL injury, there is no less concern. New York will have to eat a grandiose amount of dead salary cap but it is a small price to pay if Drake Maye ends up being the quarterback many expect he could be.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is arguably the best talent available in the 2024 NFL Draft, but does that matter if he is catching passes from Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe? The Patriots have to be hopeful that they find themselves in a position to draft one of the two top quarterback prospects.

When a new homeowner moves in, they often have a different vision of how to decorate the space. Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort are the new homeowners and they could move on from D.J. Humphries and save money toward the salary cap while likely upgrading at the position.

Chicago traded for and signed Montez Sweat to a lucrative contract extension but Yannick Ngakoue has given them nothing. The addition of Dallas Turner allows them to have a potentially dynamic duo.

The David Bakhtiari experience may be over in Green Bay but there is a tantalizing off-ramp with the addition of Joe Alt.

Los Angeles' offensive tackles have had two of the highest beaten rates in the NFL this season, according to TruMedia. JC Latham allows them to upgrade on one side of the line.

Brock Bowers is the lone remaining blue-chip talent. If Will Levis is the future then they need to surround him with the skill talent that may give him a chance to succeed.

Atlanta likes heavy-handed pass rushers who can set the edge and Jared Verse falls into that category. The Falcons have added some older veterans at the position but it is not a viable long-term solution.

After moving on from Chase Young and Montez Sweat, Washington has a need for rushing the passer. Laiatu Latu may end up being the best out of this draft class.

HQ Spotlight: Quarterback Rising Up Boards

Baker Mayfield is replaced in Tampa Bay with J.J. McCarthy. It was a Michigan quarterback that led the Buccaneers to the promised land last time so perhaps lightning strikes twice.

The top-10 selections were not kind to a New York team that desperately needs offensive tackle help. The Jets select Amarius Mims, who is young and inexperienced, to upgrade the ceiling of their protection.

Jer'Zhan Newton infuses some youth into a unit that was not long ago a strength for the Broncos. Newton is a high-motor player who will help establish the culture in Denver.

J.C. Jackson never became what the Chargers had hoped when they signed him. His spot in the lineup has not been filled with a long-term candidate. Kool-Aid McKinstry is a good value midway through the first round.

Michael Pittman Jr. is scheduled to be a free agent at season's end. If the two parties can not come to terms, Malik Nabers is a good partner for Josh Downs.

The thought of Las Vegas taking another cornerback in the first round has to be terrifying for Raiders fans but the reality is that it remains a position of need for the AFC franchise despite adding Patriots castoff Jack Jones this week.

It was learned Wednesday that Cooper DeJean's season, and potentially Iowa career, is over. Buffalo adds him in the first round to fill out its secondary.

Tee Higgins and Cincinnati will likely part ways after the season, which creates a need in that offense. Keon Coleman is a big-bodied receiver who can win jump balls down the field.

New Orleans adds a powerful rusher to its repertoire. Cam Jordan is 34 years old and has two years remaining on his contract. The Saints have a quality rotation of rushers until JT Tuimoloau eventually takes over.

Arizona adds an edge rusher with higher upside to Jonathan Gannon's defense.

The Joshua Dobbs story has been fun but the reality is that Kirk Cousins will be a free agent after the season and the organization could opt for a change. Jayden Daniels has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in football.

Dallas retools at wide receiver with CeeDee Lamb and Emeka Egbuka. The franchise has struggled to find a reliable complement to Lamb since the departure of Amari Cooper.

Pittsburgh probably has some offensive soul-searching ahead but there is no question that the addition of more protection is a sound investment.

DeMeco Ryans is not going to settle for one or two pass rushers. He wants an Army. Bralen Trice paired with Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr. is a solid foundation.

Injuries have plagued Miami's cornerback room. So the Dolphins add more depth in the form of Ohio State's Denzel Burke.

Seattle adds a ballhawk who can help capitalize on the chaos created by a surprisingly active defensive front over the past month. The Seahawks have already invested in the unit with the additions of Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon in back-to-back years.

Jacksonville clears the deck and starts anew with Calvin Ridley and Rome Odunze. The Jaguars have to figure out their protection issues this offseason, though.

San Francisco needs to make multiple changes to its offensive line this offseason. Replacing Colton McKivitz with Kingsley Suamataia is Stage 1 of the transformation.

Marlon Humphrey and the entire Baltimore secondary has struggled to stay healthy. Kalen King adds some depth to the unit.

Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai are slated to hit free agency. If one or both leave, then it creates a void in Detroit's offensive line. Enter Graham Barton, who has played left tackle for the Blue Devils but projects inside.

Kansas City adds depth to its interior defensive line with the addition of Michigan's Kris Jenkins.

Jordan Morgan has played left tackle for Arizona but projects inside. His versatility is an asset for a Philadelphia team that is not afraid to move players around to get the five best on the field. Jason Kelce, Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll are all pending free agents.