Top QB prospect falls out of top 10 in latest mock draft

It would not be surprising if the first three players off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft are quarterbacks. However, NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes it may not be the three quarterbacks everyone else thinks it will be.

In Brooks' latest mock draft, he has USC QB Caleb Williams heading to the Chicago Bears and LSU QB Jayden Daniels going to the Washington Commanders. But with the third overall pick, he predicts the New England Patriots to select Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy.

"Given Tom Brady's success with the Patriots, taking McCarthy — the best quarterback in Michigan history — could be the move for Eliot Wolf," Brooks writes. "Despite his inexperience as a passer, McCarthy's athleticism, intangibles and winning pedigree could fit Jerod Mayo's profile for a QB1."

McCarthy's draft stock has risen drastically since he led the Wolverines to a national championship. He also threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions from 2022-23.

Many believe he could be a top-five pick, but Brooks seems the first to think that McCarthy will go in the top three.

As a result, the player who begins to fall is UNC QB Drake Maye, who currently ranks as the second-best quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' big board.

Brooks believes Maye could not only fall out of the top three but entirely out of the top 10, landing him with the Minnesota Vikings at pick No. 11.

Maye is a little raw with just two years of starting experience, but he's been impressive, throwing for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in the past two seasons.

So, it would still be surprising if he fell outside the top 10. If he fell out of the top five, several teams would likely be interested in moving up for him.

The Vikings could be one of them since they have two first-round picks (Nos. 11 and 23) and Brooks could be connecting the dots.

Brooks notes that he isn't projecting any trades, but Maye falling past the quarterback-needy New York Giants is also unexpected.

On Tuesday, Giants owner John Mara "supported" the idea of drafting a quarterback at pick No. 6.