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.

After the Fields trade, the Bears have their sights set on the quarterback market in the draft and land on Maye, a polished, multiple-year starter with mobility and a strong arm.

The Cardinals get Murray a serious No. 1 on the perimeter with Harrison Jr.

HQ Spotlight: Caleb Williams NFL Draft Prospect Preview

This is about as good as the Patriots could've hoped for the draft to fall. Williams has franchise-quarterback capabilities.

Latu is the most NFL-ready rusher in the class. Strong, bendy, explosive. Perfect addition to the Bears defensive front.

Fashanu has All-Pro tackle upside and building the offensive line is imperative entering Sam Howell's second full season as Washington's starter.

Daniels is my pick for largest riser during the pre-draft process. Big recruit, super athletic, strong arm, two big seasons in the SEC. Yeah, it checks out.

Robinson is a special athlete at a premium position, and the Buccaneers need to get younger at that spot.

Alt may not have All-Pro upside but he's pro-ready which is exactly what the Jets should be looking for at tackle entering 2024.

It feels like Newton is going to test through the roof at the combine, and he's quite easily the best interior pass rusher in the class.

Nabers is an explosive three-level weapon, which is precisely what this Titans offense needs.

McKinstry is the exact cornerback the Raiders need in the secondary. Physical, alpha mentality on the perimeter.

The Saints are desperately in need of more electricity on offense. And Bowers would bring that at the tight end position.

Fuaga is a massive human being who moves other human beings with amazing ease. He feels like a future Packer.

Wiggins is another explosive, playmaking cornerback from Clemson. The Rams have to add more athleticism to the secondary.

The Bengals get the top big-bodied wideout in the class after Harrison Jr.

Kinchens is the premier three-down safety, and he's an athletic specimen to be selected this high. Buffalo will be in the safety market early in the draft.

After getting a top-tier offensive playmaker in Harrison Jr., the Cardinals get a dynamic, powerful, flexible edge rusher in Verse.

Latham will be one of the cleanest blocking prospects in the class, and the Broncos could use more reinforcement up front.

DeJean is a big play waiting to happen in the secondary, and the Falcons need more of that at cornerback.

HQ Spotlight: Bo Nix NFL Draft Prospect Preview

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

The Colts 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.

Trice is an ultra-refined pass-rush move karate master with his hands who'd generate a fun pairing with Will Anderson on the edge in Houston.

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.

Nubin is a do-everything safety prospect who has pieced together another fine season at Minnesota.

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

Legette is the gritty YAC monster the Chiefs would love in their offense.

Mims is a Project Y-type tackle prospect with the length and athleticism Kyle Shanahan will like for the future of a vital position.

Tuimoloau is the sizable defensive end the Ravens typically gravitate toward in the draft.

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.