Post-free agency NFL mock draft roundup: QB-needy teams get aggressive

Free agency didn't disappoint, and although it isn't over yet with several big-names still available, the picture is starting to become clearer for this year's draft.

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 Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema, CBS Sports' Kyle Stackpole and NBC Sports' Kyle Dvorchak.

Pick No. 1 (Chicago Bears)

Sikkema, Stackpole, Dvorchak: USC QB Caleb Williams

Now that Justin Fields is officially a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Williams will be a Chicago Bear. 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)

Sikkema: UNC QB Drake Maye

The Commanders also traded their quarterback from the 2022 draft class, Sam Howell, to the Seattle Seahawks, making it even more obvious that their first pick will be QB. The debate seems to be ongoing for who the second quarterback off the board will be. Sikkema believes it will be Maye, who has thrown for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions the past two years.

Stackpole, Dvorchak: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

However, the other two experts think it will be the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. Daniels is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023.

Pick No. 3 (New England Patriots)

Sikkema: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Stackpole: UNC QB Drake Maye (traded to Minnesota Vikings)

The Vikings watched QB Kirk Cousins head to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Minnesota has since signed QB Sam Darnold to a one-year deal, but it also traded the Texans for their first-round pick (No. 23). With two picks on night one, many like Stackpole believe the Vikings will attempt to trade up and land their next franchise quarterback.

Dvorchak: UNC QB Drake Maye

Pick No. 4 (Arizona Cardinals)

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

If the Patriots, who recently dealt QB Mac Jones to the Jaguars, are locked in on a quarterback at No. 3, No. 4 could be Minnesota's target. McCarthy's draft stock has been rising ever since he led the Wolverines to a national championship and now many believe he could sneak into the top five. McCarthy threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions from 2022-23.

Stackpole, Dvorchak: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

This is the ideal scenario for the Cardinals, who are in desperate need of adding to QB Kyler Murray's arsenal. Harrison Jr. would be the true No. 1 wide receiver Arizona has been missing, posting 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns from 2022-23.

Pick No. 5 (Los Angeles Chargers)

Sikkema: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

If Harrison Jr. is still somehow available at No. 5, it's a no-brainer for the Chargers, especially after trading Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears and releasing Mike Williams as a salary cap casualty.

Stackpole: LSU WR Malik Nabers

If Harrison Jr. isn't available, however, Nabers may be the next-best wide receiver in the draft, having posted 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023.

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

If the Cardinals are unwilling to move off No. 4, the Vikings may look to strike a deal with Los Angeles. Either way, it seems as though Minnesota is going to be aggressive to land its next quarterback.

Players on the rise

Sikkema: Florida State DL Braden Fiske (No. 27 to Arizona Cardinals)

Fiske seems to be rising up drafting boards after an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine where he led all defensive tackles in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump. He currently ranks as the No. 39 overall prospect on PFF's big board after posting 102 tackles, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles the past two years at two different schools (FSU, Western Michigan). Fiske could be a first-round pick when it's all said and done.

Stackpole: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy (No. 6 to New York Giants)

McCarthy almost seems to be a lock as a top five pick at this point, but if he does fall, the Giants could be waiting. New York is locked in with QB Daniel Jones for at least another year after handing him a four-year, $160 million deal last offseason. However, McCarthy could help relieve some of the pain.

Players falling

Stackpole: Washington WR Rome Odunze (No. 11 traded to New England Patriots)

Dvorchak: Washington WR Rome Odunze (No. 11 traded to Los Angeles Chargers)

The debate for who the second-best wide receiver is ongoing as well, but Nabers seems to the favorite as of now. Odunze has been viewed by most as a top 10 pick for much of the offseason. However, two of the experts think he could fall out of it due to quarterback-needy teams trading up. Odunze has 167 catches for 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns from 2022-23.

Surprise picks

Sikkema: Oregon QB Bo Nix (No. 22 to Denver Broncos)

In Sikkema's mock draft, he has the Broncos trading back to No. 22 with the Philadelphia Eagles to add an extra second-round pick. However, he still has Denver landing its next quarterback. Nix threw the most touchdowns (45) in college football last season while protecting the ball very well with just three interceptions.

Dvorchak: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (No. 23 traded to New England Patriots)

In Dvorchak's mock draft, he thinks the Patriots could not only trade back to land a No. 1 wide receiver in Odunze but then use the extra draft capital to trade back into the first round to land his college teammate. Reuniting Odunze with Penix Jr. is intriguing as the two played a large role in getting the Huskies to a national championship appearance in 2023. Penix Jr. threw for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23.