When Mel Kiper speaks this time of year, people listen. Such is the case with his latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, which was released Tuesday morning. Kiper has been synonymous with the NFL Draft for decades, and when he projects five quarterbacks in the first round, it raises eyebrows.
Mel Kiper Selects 5 QBs in First 12 Picks of Latest Mock Draft
The consensus top three quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft are USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and UNC’s Drake Maye.
Each quarterback is widely expected to be picked at the top of the first round, and in Kiper’s latest mock, he has Williams going No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, Daniels No. 2 to the Washington Commanders, and Maye at No. 3 going to the New England Patriots.
Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy has been gaining a ton of steam in recent weeks as a draft prospect, and Kiper has him going to the Minnesota Vikings at 11th overall. After McCarthy, however, is where things get interesting.
There have been mixed opinions as to whether a fifth quarterback will be selected on the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft. Kiper, meanwhile, is of the belief that Oregon’s Bo Nix will be selected by the Denver Broncos at No. 12, which can be viewed as a bit of a surprise.
Kiper’s projection of five quarterbacks going this early in the draft would be quite unusual. In the last decade, there have only been two drafts where five QBs were taken in the first round (2021 and 2018), and the last time when that many went in the first 12 picks was 1999.
NFL World Reacts to Kiper’s Mock Draft
When things begin to shift away from where many have thought it was going to go for months, to a reality that may include McCarthy and Nix in the top 15, the NFL world is going to react to the news.
Social media was ablaze Tuesday morning as word got out of the selections.
Kiper and DJ coming out with 5QB mocks in the same day 🧐 Nix here at 12 https://t.co/gmNnymUALv
— Sean Balzer (@SeanBalzer) March 19, 2024
There seems to be somewhat of a consensus building for first-round quarterbacks.
“Kiper and DJ coming out with 5QB mocks in the same day 🧐 Nix here at 12.”
Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting Bo Nix at 12. This seems like the overall consensus now that Nix is being linked with Payton in Denver https://t.co/u19NDAyu9O
— Jordan Lopez (@JordanTLopez) March 19, 2024
With what at one time seemed far-fetched, has begun to feel like a natural fit.
“Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting Bo Nix at 12. This seems like the overall consensus now that Nix is being linked with Payton in Denver.”
J.J. McCarthy to the Vikings at No. 11. Kiper calls Minnesota "the most interesting team in the draft" given its glaring need at QB.
Per @AlbertBreer, the Vikings are sending two QB coaches to Michigan pro day on Friday and already have a private workout scheduled for next week. https://t.co/0YL0wVYsK8
— Aaron McMann | MLive.com (@AaronMcMann) March 19, 2024
“J.J. McCarthy to the Vikings at No. 11. Kiper calls Minnesota ‘the most interesting team in the draft’ given its glaring need at QB. Per @AlbertBreer, the Vikings are sending two QB coaches to Michigan pro day on Friday and already have a private workout scheduled for next week.”
KEEP READING: Jayden Daniels 2024 NFL Draft Landing Spots
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
