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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Jess Root

QB Jayden Daniels falls in new pre-free agency 1st-round mock draft

Jayden Daniels USA TODAY Sports Adonai Mitchell Caleb Williams Kirby Lee Marvin Harrison Jr Quinyon Mitchell Rome Odunze Cardinals Abe Lucas

Free agency will begin Monday with the two days of legal negotiating with impending free agents. That will impact what teams do in the draft.

Before free agency starts, we have a first-round mock draft in which three quarterbacks do not go with the first three picks. The New England Patriots take a receiver, presumably addressing quarterback in free agency or via trade, while Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, projected by some to go as high as second overall, falls in this mock draft.

Check out each pick below.

1. Bears (from Panthers): USC QB Caleb Williams

USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams talks with USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the first half of the game against No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

This is a no-brainer at this point. Justin Fields will be traded before this point.

2. Commanders: North Carolina QB Drake Maye

The Commanders need a quarterback and go from one North Carolina guy (Sam Howell) to another (Maye) and OC Kliff Kingsbury gets to work with another rookie.

3. Patriots: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) pushes off Minnesota Golden Gophers linebacker Devon Williams (9) as he runs down the field during the first half of their game on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at Ohio Stadium.

This projects the Patriots will already have their quarterback and so, rather than trading out of the pick, they take the best player in the draft in Harrison, to give their new QB a great young talent to throw the ball to.

4. Cardinals: Washington WR Rome Odunze

Odunze reminds many of Larry Fitzgerald. It would be fitting to have him go to Arizona, where Fitz played his entire career. Odunze’s playmaking down the field and size will be great for QB Kyler Murray.

5. Chargers: Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs after a catch during the third quarter as Auburn Tigers take on Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

The Chargers could go with Malike Nabers but instead go with the best tight end in the draft.

6. Giants: LSU WR Malik Nabers

Malik Nabers 8 dives for a ball as the LSU Tigers take on Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 25, 2023.

The Giants could make a play for a quarterback but instead will either continue to roll with Daniel Jones or acquire another one (perhaps Russell Wilson) before the draft.

7. Titans: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt

The Titans choose protection for Will Levis. Alt is the best of the group.

8. Falcons: Texas DL Byron Murphy II

The Falcons could go with a quarterback with Jayden Daniels on the board still. But perhaps having gotten one in the offseason, new coach Raheem Morris gets a big body to fill the defensive interior.

9. Bears: Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga

With a quarterback already selected, they give Williams a young stud who was immovable at the Senior Bowl to protect him.

10. Jets: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell

Mitchell was a stud at the combine and shone at the Senior Bowl. Pair him with Sauce Gardner to make that defense even better? Sure.

11. Vikings: Illinois DL Johnny Newton

The Vikings get a big guy for the defense with thief first pick in the draft.

12. Broncos: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean

The Broncos also pass on Daniels so they presumably will have acquired a quarterback already. Instead, they add DeJean to a defensive backfield with Pat Surtain.

13. Raiders: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold

Would you be surprised to see three cornerbacks drafted before three quarterbacks? I would, but the Raiders add defense here and get a physical corner.

14. Saints: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Daniels’ fall ends and it is a perfect spot. He stays in Louisiana.

15. Colts: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Wiggins blew away the combine with a 4.28-second 40.

16. Seahawks: Washington OT Troy Fautanu

The Seahawks have two young tackles in Charles Cross and Abe Lucas but Lucas has dealt with injuries and Fautanu could play inside. He gets to stay in Seattle after playing there collegiately.

17. Jaguars: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner

The first pass rusher comes off the board at No. 17. With Josh Allen on the franchise tag, adding Turner pairs two studs for a year and potentially allows Allen to leave in a year.

18. Bengals: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse

A second straight pass rusher comes off the board. The Bengals will pair Verse with Trey Hendrickson. That defense will be scary.

19. Rams: Penn State OL Olu Fashanu

Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) goes up against Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu (74) during the third quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.

The Rams brought back G Kevin Dotson. They add a tackle now.

20. Steelers: Alabama OT JC Latham

The Steelers add protection for whatever quarterback they end up going with.

21. Dolphins: Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson

Powers-Johnson can immediately start at center for the Dolphins.

22. Eagles: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

The Eagles drafted Nolan Smith last year. They are looking to trade Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick. Plug in Latu.

23. Texans (from Browns) N.C. State LB Payton Wilson

There is no question Wilson is a great talent and he will be great for DeMeco Ryans in Houston if he stays healthy.

24. Cowboys: Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Having good tackles is what the Cowboys do. They add a giant one in Mims.

25. Packers: Georgia WR Ladd McConkey

Giving Jordan Love more weapons? Aaron Rodgers probably can’t believe it.

26. Buccaneers: Duke OL Graham Barton

Barton projects as an interior lineman so the Bucs add youth inside to protect Baker Mayfield or whoever ends up as their starting quarterback.

27. Cardinals (from Texans): Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

With D.J. Humphries having torn his ACL, the Cardinals need a tackle. Guyton can slide in at right tackle and Paris Johnson can move over to left tackle.