There’s a run on quarterbacks in every NFL Draft. This year, it could happen mere moments after Roger Goodell hears his first boo-birds in Detroit.
Longtime scout and current NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah spoke with reporters on Wednesday during his annual pre-combine conference call. Jeremiah covered a lot of ground, including revealing what likely will happen with the top three picks.
Daniel Jeremiah Reports “Expectation” for Top Three Picks
Jeremiah has USC QB Caleb Williams atop his latest prospect rankings, with receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. slotted at No. 2. And during the conference call, he made a case for Harrison, Rome Odunze, and Malik Nabers being the three best players available in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, Jeremiah ultimately believes the top three picks will be used on quarterbacks. The Bears, Washington Commanders, and New England Patriots hold the first three selections, respectively.
“I think when it’s all said and done, it feels like, to me, that you’re going to have the three quarterbacks go one, two, three when we get down to it,” Jeremiah said. “Whether that’s New England taking one, or either them or Washington trading out and somebody coming up.
“It just feels to me, talking to people around the league, that seems to be the expectation.”
Some draft experts have LSU’s Jayden Daniels ranked ahead of UNC’s Drake Maye, who entered last season as the consensus second-ranked QB prospect. But Jeremiah still believes Maye is the better prospect and likely will go second overall to the Commanders.
What, then, could happen at No. 3?
The Patriots Are One of the NFL Draft’s Biggest X-Factors
New England will probably stay at No. 3 and select its next franchise quarterback. The Patriots can’t hitch their wagons to Mac Jones, regardless of what offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said during his introductory news conference on Wednesday.
Jeremiah also believes the Patriots should take a QB with the third pick. But he acknowledged other QB-needy teams, such as the New York Giants (sixth overall) and Las Vegas Raiders (13th overall), could present New England with a tempting trade offer.
Jeremiah said the Giants likely would need to part with their first- and second-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft, along with their second-rounder in each of the next two years, to land the third pick. The Raiders, meanwhile, would need to offer this year’s first-round pick, a first-round pick in each of the next two years, and a third-round pick in 2025.
GET DRAFTING: Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
So, a lot still could happen at No. 3. And there is still a chance, albeit slim, that the Chicago Bears stand by Justin Fields and trade the No. 1 overall pick.
But by the time the team at No. 4 is on the clock, Jeremiah expects Williams, Maye, and Daniels all to be off the board.
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