What We Love And Hate About The Latest NFL Mock Drafts

NFL draft season, in effect for nearly a month, is kicking into high gear weeks before the first round on April 25 and that can only mean one thing: More mock draft shenanigans are afoot.

Mock drafts are what media companies do when they run out of ideas. But they get your attention because you don't mind wasting three minutes. So everyone does them.

I do one mock draft every year – one.

And it's always wrong. 

Like all the other analysts that do 4-5-6 mock drafts that are always wrong.

This is how I make sure I'm less wrong than the other guys!

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 2: Caleb Williams #QB14 of Southern California smiles while wearing "Draft Me" sunglasses during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

All Mocks Agree On Caleb Williams

The growth of mock drafts is so prolific that the draft gurus have begun introducing trades into their "work." They do it to be different. But that has made nailing what will actually happen nearly impossible.

To prove this, let's look at some of the latest mock drafts that include trades – there definitely will be trades during the first night of the draft – and see where they're possibly on the money. And where they're already blatantly wrong.

All the mocks are in agreement about Caleb Williams going to the Bears with the first overall pick. But there is serious disagreement on Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., with some mocks slotting him in the middle of the first round and others not in the first round at all.

After that, it gets interesting:

Sports talk radio station 1560, The Game, host Lance Zierlein, in the recording studio Tuesday, April 7, 2009, in Houston. ( Michael Paulsen / Chronicle ) (Photo by Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

The Rise Of Jayden Daniels

Mock Draft: Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

1. Bears --→ Caleb Williams.

2. Commanders --→ Jayden Daniels.

3. Patriots --→ Trade down with Giants at No. 6, with the Giants taking Drake Maye at No. 3.

4. Cardinals --→ Trade down with Vikings for picks No. 11 and 23, and then Minnesota selects J.J. McCarthy.

5. Chargers --→ Marvin Harrison Jr. 

What I love: The fact someone else is tying Drake Maye to the Giants, which Outkick did very eloquently last week … The fact Daniels is No. 2 here is smart because a month ago when all the mocks had him at No. 3 behind Drake Maye, OutKick reported Daniels was moving up … The Cardinals are definitely trying to sell the No. 4 pick and if they can add both a good WR and edge rusher, as Zierlein projects, that's a big win for the Cactus Crew.

What I hate: So the Patriots, with journeyman backup Jacoby Brissett penciled in as their starting QB, hate Drake Maye so much they'd rather trade out of the pick?

And then Zierlein has them picking a receiver at No. 6 instead of a QB? A lot of people in New England would be disappointed if this happened … Also, I think the Chargers are going to address the offensive line first, then wide receiver.

J.J. McCarthy will start the rest of the way for the Michigan Wolverines. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Vikings Trade For McCarthy, Jets Trade, too

Mock Draft: Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com)

1. Bears --→ Williams.

2. Commanders --→ Maye.

3. Patriots --→ Daniels.

4. Cardinals --→ Trade to Vikings for picks No. 11 and 23. Vikings take J.J. McCarthy.

5. Chargers --→ Trade to Jets for pick No. 10 and presumably a first next year or multiple No. 2s. The Jets take Marvin Harrison Jr.

What I love: McCarthy is definitely a riser, a fact OutKick first reported a month ago, and the fit for Minnesota makes sense … The Patriots get a QB in this one, so their fans won't be assaulting Gillette Stadium with knives and pitchforks on draft night. 

What I hate: Nothing wrong with this mock, but the Vikings picking a good-not-great college quarterback at No. 4 seems like some major projection of gifts still not seen … The Jets moving up in the draft, giving up resources to pick a receiver? In a draft that has maybe two or three elite receiver prospects?

Drake Maye responds to offers of money to transfer. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Three First Rounders For … Maye?

Mock Draft: Matt Miller (ESPN.com)

1. Bears --→ Williams.

2. Commanders --→ Daniels.

3. Patriots --→ Trade to Vikings for their two first-rounders this draft plus a 2025 first-round pick. The Vikes then select Maye.

4. Cardinals --→ Trade to Broncos for their 2024, 2025 and 2026 first round picks, and then coach Sean Payton picks McCarthy.

5. Chargers --→ Harrison Jr.

What I love: The audacity this mock projects among NFL teams is impressive, as the Patriots, Vikings, and Broncos make very difficult decisions. 

What I hate: So now someone is giving up three first-round picks for Maye? And three first-round picks for McCarthy? This would require multiple NFL front offices losing their minds on the same day. 

Can anyone recall the 49ers' giving up three first-round picks to trade up with the Dolphins to ultimately grab Trey Lance? How'd that work out?

Also, Miller says the Patriots can make the trade and not select a QB in the first round because Brissett is a solid bridge QB. But bridge to what? Some unnamed guy in 2025 who has to start and win right away because coach Jerod Mayo will be in Year 2 and needs to win to keep his job? 

My OutKick mock draft will debut April 22. That's the week of the 2024 NFL draft. It's also the first night of Passover. 

So it might be a perfect time to pass over that mock.