The 2024 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away and while the top overall pick seems to be locked in, there are questions surrounding the rest of the class.

While it’s expected for USC quarterback Caleb Williams to be taken first overall by the Chicago Bears, there’s still plenty of top talent at that position in this draft.

So naturally, with that much good talent, there could be a gold rush for quarterbacks in this class – with names like Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, and Drake Maye all up for grabs.

Last year, four of our sportswriters gave their crack at who they thought would be the first ten names taken off the board. We were horribly wrong, so why not try it again?

Here’s the thoughts of our MailSport writers on who is going within the first ten picks of this year’s draft.

Alex Raskin

USC quarterback Caleb Williams

1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams (QB, USC)

2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)

3) New England Patriots: J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)

4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State)

5) Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)

6) New York Giants: Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

7) Tennessee Titans: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)

8) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner (OLB, Alabama)

9) Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)

10) New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, (OT, Penn State)

With the Chicago Bears all but guaranteed to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall, the 2024 NFL Draft won’t really begin until the second pick, when the Washington Commanders will have a trio of quarterbacks to consider.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye had been considered a favorite to go second overall, but the combine and strong pro days by LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy have clouded the Commanders’ decision.

Daniels’ edge over McCarthy and Maye could come down to his accuracy. Not only did the reigning Heisman winner complete a whopping 72.2 percent of his passes in 2023, but he’s also credited with proper ball placement, which allows receivers to accumulate yards after the catch.

‘Jayden Daniels, I think that skillset that he has gives me the most hope,’ former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and scout Merril Hoge told DailyMail.com.

McCarthy, one of the draft’s risers, has an excellent change to leapfrog Maye in New England, where the national champion could follow in the footsteps of another Wolverine, Tom Brady. Maye, meanwhile, has drawn some criticism for his ball placement and could be better served to play as a backup behind someone like the New York Giants’ Daniel Jones before becoming an NFL starter.

Jayden Daniels could be selected second overall by the Washington Commanders

One of the best fits in the 2024 draft comes at No. 4, where the Arizona Cardinals can add elite wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State. Thanks to the presence of Kyler Murray, Arizona has no need for a quarterback, and can instead focus on improving an offense and defense that ranked 24th and 31st, respectively.

From here, things get far murkier. The Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets could all use a tackle, such as Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Olu Fashanu. But the temptation to add elite talents at wide receiver, such as Washington’s Rome Udenze or LSU’s Malik Nabers, could be too much to ignore.

Pay particular attention to Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner, who will likely be the first defensive player taken. Given the abundance of quarterbacks, receivers and offensive tackles atop the draft, Turner could easily slide down to No. 8, where the new-look Falcons are hoping to improve.

The Bears can give Williams a new weapon at No. 9 by either taking a receiver, such as Udenze, or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

Perhaps no team is better situated to address a pressing need as the New York Jets, who should be able to bolster their offensive line with Fashanu or Oregon State left tackle Taliese Fuaga. Bowers is also a possibility for the Jets, as is Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.

Jake Fenner

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy

1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams (QB, USC)

2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)

3) Minnesota Vikings (from New England Patriots): J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)

4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr (WR, Ohio State)

5) Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)

6) New York Giants: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)

7) Denver Broncos (from Tennessee Titans): Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

8) Atlanta Falcons: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)

9) Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner (OLB, Alabama)

10) New York Jets: Olu Fashanu (OL, Penn State)

Once again, use this mock draft as an exercise if a team that is really hungry for a quarterback decides to move up in the draft – or in this case, two teams that are really hungry for a quarterback.

The New England Patriots need a number of things. Yes, they need a quarterback, but they also need pass catchers and offensive line help. Sticking a rookie in as a day-one starter without those latter two things might be a bad idea.

ESPN’s Mina Kimes floated a hypothetical trade where the Vikings give the Patriots picks 11 and 23 in this draft as well as multiple future draft picks to move up to number 3. The Patriots have been vocal about their admiration for Jayden Daniels in the lead up to this draft process. If Daniels is gone and the Vikings come calling with this offer, they should accept and they can draft a good wideout or offensive lineman with those other two picks.

Plus, a player like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. could still be around when the Patriots pick again with the second pick of the second round. I could even see them using either 11 or 23 to move back into the top-10 to draft a wideout, but that’s a bit too complicated.

Either way, the Vikings move up to take the most overhyped QB prospect in this class in J.J. McCarthy. He’s been praised a lot for a passer that averaged under 200 yards a game, but apparently there’s a number of intangibles he possess that is drawing attention to him.

The Denver Broncos need for a quarterback could require them to trade up for Drake Maye

The Cardinals need a wideout, so they get the best in the draft in Marvin Harrison Jr. The Chargers need an offensive tackle, so they get the best in the draft in Joe Alt.

Then we enter a weird situation with the Giants: they could take Drake Maye, but they also need pass catchers and Daniel Jones’ contract is too big to move on from or cut right now. Drafting Malik Nabers will give them some help in the wideout department, so I think they’ll take him there.

That leaves the Denver Broncos – who don’t have a starter after they cut Russell Wilson. They’ll most assuredly be looking to trade up and Tennessee could be a perfect trade partner. Denver will have to give up the 12th overall pick and likely at least a second plus more draft compensation, but they’ll pay that to take Drake Maye.

Atlanta takes Odunze to give Kirk Cousins more options to catch passes, the Bears luck into getting a top edge rusher in Dallas Turner, and the Jets get Aaron Rodgers some pass blocking help with Olu Fashanu from Penn State to round out the top-10.

Max Winters

Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner

1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams (QB, USC)

2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)

3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr (WR, Ohio State)

5) Minnesota Vikings (from Los Angeles Chargers): J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)

6) New York Giants: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)

7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)

8) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner (OLB, Alabama)

9) Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)

10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)

There’s not a lot of mystery around the first pick this year. Caleb Williams has been wined and dined (literally) by Chicago and, with Justin Fields out of the picture, they must take the best quarterback in this class. Williams is that guy.

Things then start to get interesting at No. 2. There’s been some speculation that J.J. McCarthy could crash the top three but the Commanders’ choice really boils down to Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye.

Daniels has proven himself to be a strong passer and rusher and, while they need to do a lot of work to give him a dangerous offense, I think he ends up with the Commanders. That means Maye goes to the Patriots to lead the post-Bill Belichick era and finally be Tom Brady’s replacement after they got burnt by Mac Jones.

Many have speculated whether it would be the Arizona Cardinals who trade picks with the Vikings so Minnesota can land McCarthy. But it surely makes sense for them to keep hold of this pick and land Marvin Harrison Jr. The guy is a stud and will instantly transform Arizona’s receiver room, which is currently threadbare.

Instead of trading with the Cardinals, I think the Vikings will actually use their two first-round picks (No. 11 and the No. 23 they got from the Texans last month) to trade with the Chargers and move up to No. 5.

Kirk Cousins is gone and, while they still have arguably the best receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson, they need a new long-term quarterback. McCarthy proved himself to be a winner at Michigan, he’ll have plenty of weapons in Minnesota and a QB-friendly head coach in Kevin O’Connell.

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers could be on the radar of the New York Giants

After the chaos of picks two, three, four and five, I think the next three seem pretty obvious.

Malik Nabers is heading to New York to instantly transform a Giants offense that was largely terrible l last season. The Titans will get much-needed help on their offensive line thanks to Joe Alt and the Falcons will land the best defensive player in the class in the form of Alabama edge Dallas Turner.

After taking Williams with the first pick, the Bears are back on the clock at No. 9 and – with Rome Odunze still on the board – it makes sense to hand their new quarterback a welcome gift. Keenan Allen may have arrived but time is not on his side. By drafting Odunze, the Bears will have two long-term offensive stars on their roster.

Rounding out the top 10 is Brock Bowers to the Jets. He is the standout tight end in this class and, if last season proved anything, New York’s offense is light on players who can catch the ball – aside from Garrett Wilson.

Eric Blum

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr

1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams (QB, USC)

2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)

3) Minnesota Vikings (from New England Patriots): Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr (WR, Ohio State)

5) New England Patriots (from Los Angeles Chargers): J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)

6) New York Giants: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)

7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)

8) Atlanta Falcons: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)

9) Chicago Bears: Olu Fashanu (OL, Penn State)

10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)

The fit for Caleb Williams with the Commanders would be immaculate, and I debated them trading up one slot with a new head coach and ownership to make a splashy move to land the local kid.

Unless Williams proves to be the next Patrick Mahomes, not even the next Russell Wilson would be sufficient, Washington needs as many assets as possible and stays put. The Commanders get a phenomenal consolation prize in Jayden Daniels. Then things get spicy.

Minnesota has teased too heavily its desire to land a top quarterback in the draft not to trade up. The Vikings still have arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson. So they trade up to No 3 and get Drake Maye.

Trading back and getting more assets has been the Patriots’ draft strategy for years, until they offload some to gain a valuable piece, like they will at No 5.

The Arizona Cardinals are on an island in the top 10. They do not need a quarterback and will just take the best player left on the board, and maybe the best player overall in the draft in Marvin Harrison Jr.

New England does have a major need at quarterback. While waiting until later in the first round to offload less capital sounds nice, passing on McCarthy, with other teams looming would be too much. They send the pick they just acquired to the Chargers, who will bide their time to select anyone.

The Giants wish they could take a quarterback so badly. Daniel Jones is not the answer, but his contract will be too tough to move around. Here comes a 5-12 season!

Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt is viewed as the best lineman in this year’s NFL Draft

Even with New York selecting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers here, Jones has to get him the ball for him to be effective in year No 1.

The Titans need help in several spots, and they take a foundational piece that is not flashy in Notre Dame OT Joe Alt. Tennessee could be another team that trades back, with the Denver Broncos possibly continuing the run on quarterback’s with Oregon’s Bo Nix. The Titans stay put however.

Atlanta wants to give new quarterback Kirk Cousins an immediate chance to make a playoff run. Taking Odunze completes the top trio of wide receivers by a country mile in the draft.

The Bears were hoping Odunze would fall to them at No 9, but the Falcons passed on Dallas Turner, who falls out of the top 10. Instead of giving Williams someone to catch the ball, the Bears need all the offensive line help they can get and take the best one available in Olu Fashanu.

To round out the top 10 are Aaron Rodgers and pals, sorry, I mean the New York Jets. There is no team in the NFL under its current structure with a shorter window to win with it than the Jets.

Instead of taking an offensive lineman, which is the team’s biggest team, they swing big to give Rodgers another weapon in the passing game in Brock Bowers. Bowers is the only tight end in the draft with Travis Kelce-esque potential. And I don’t mean the ability to date Taylor Swift.