NFL mock draft roundup: Two top-five trades for non-QBs?

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 NFL.com's Chad Reuter, Pro Football Focus' Brad Spielberger and CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli.

Pick No. 1 (Chicago Bears)

Reuter, Spielberger, Fornelli: USC QB Caleb Williams

Now that Justin Fields is officially gone and 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)

Reuter, Fornelli: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

The debate seems to be ongoing for who the second quarterback off the board will be. Two of the "experts" think it will be Daniels. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner 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.

Spielberger: UNC QB Drake Maye

On the other hand, Spielberger believes Maye will be the second quarterback taken. Maye is a little raw with just two years of starting experience, but he's been impressive, nonetheless, throwing for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions the past two seasons.

Pick No. 3 (New England Patriots)

Reuter: UNC QB Drake Maye

Spielberger: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

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

If the Patriots aren't in love with who is left, they could trade down to acquire more draft compensation with several holes to fill. The Vikings seem poised to make a trade up after adding a second first-round pick (No. 23) in a deal with the Texans. Minnesota must find its next quarterback after watching Kirk Cousins head to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. 

Pick No. 4 (Arizona Cardinals)

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

If New England doesn't budge, however, the Vikings could strike a deal with the Cardinals. McCarthy's draft stock has been rising ever since he led the Wolverines to a national championship and now many believe he could be a top-five pick. McCarthy threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions from 2022-23.

Spielberger: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

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

Fornelli: Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt (traded to Tennessee Titans)

Here's the first shocker of the latest mock drafts. While several teams are looking to trade up for a quarterback in this draft, Fornelli thinks the Titans could move up to land their franchise's next cornerstone tackle in Alt, who he says "is the best of the bunch." The massive 6-foot-8, 322-pound offensive tackle allowed just four sacks in his collegiate career.

Pick No. 5 (Los Angeles Chargers)

Reuter: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Chargers need to restock QB Justin Herbert's weapons after trading WR Keenan Allen to the Bears and releasing WR Mike Williams, who has since signed with the Jets. Harrison Jr. is the best of the bunch and him falling to No. 5 would be Los Angeles' dream scenario.

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

If Arizona is unwilling to move down, Minnesota may look to strike a deal with the Chargers. Whatever scenario plays out, the "experts" seem to believe the Vikings are going to be aggressive to land their next quarterback.

Fornelli: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (traded to New York Jets)

Another surprising top-five trade-up for a non-QB. New York recently added Mike Williams to its wide receiver room, which already included 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson. But the Jets are going all in with a healthy Aaron Rodgers returning in 2024. Trading up for the best wide receiver in the draft would support that idea.

Players on the rise

Reuter: Oregon QB Bo Nix (No. 12 to Denver Broncos)

Nix has been viewed as high as a top-10 pick to as low as a second-rounder. Where he will land is still up for debate, but he is certainly an intriguing prospect after having a breakout season in 2023, passing for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The Broncos need a quarterback and Nix may just turn out to be head coach Sean Payton's guy.

Reuter: Texas WR Xavier Worthy (No. 19 to Kansas City Chiefs)

Spielberger: Texas WR Xavier Worthy (No. 22 Philadelphia Eagles)

Worthy has been rising up draft boards since posting the fastest 40-yard dash (4.21 seconds) in NFL Scouting Combine history. He is more than just a speedster too, leading the Big 12 in receiving yards (2,755) and receiving touchdowns (26) over the past three seasons.

Players falling

Reuter: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (No. 33 to Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Nix, Penix Jr. has been mocked all over the place since the beginning of the offseason. The difference between the two, however, is Penix Jr. has been falling outside of the first round as of late. He is intriguing after leading the Huskies to a national championship appearance in 2023, but this quarterback-rich draft could force him to fall. Penix Jr. threw for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23.

Surprise picks

Spielberger: LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. (No. 12 to Denver Broncos)

Thomas Jr. proved to be a true difference-maker after leading the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns in 2023 and posting 68 receptions for 1,177 yards. However, Denver needs to address its quarterback situation with just Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci under contract in 2024. Neither is the long-term answer. Trading up or staying put to land their next franchise quarterback makes much more sense for the Broncos.