There’s been a lot of discussion about Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, which player will end up as QB1, and what that could mean for the franchises at the top of the draft who are faced with that decision. Here’s what I’ll say: I’ve watched nearly every snap for both Williams and Maye this season because it’s a frequent topic of conversation each with on “With the First Pick,” the NFL Draft podcast I co-host with former Viking general manager, Rick Spielman. And Williams is the best prospect I’ve seen since I started covering the draft for CBS back in 2018. Rick thinks Caleb is the best prospect he’s seen since at least Andrew Luck in 2012:
That said, I’ve talked to people in the league that think Maye goes first, in part because of the perception that Williams’ father may be too involved. I’ve also talked to teams that can’t imagine Williams, solely on his talent, isn’t QB1. Others have warned me that it will be closer than some people might think; Maye’s 2022 tape is good and some of the inconsistencies we saw from him earlier in the 2023 season have more to do with learning a new offense.
Put another way: While I may favor Caleb, the race for QB1 appears to be wide open, which, if nothing else, will make things a lot more interesting over the next 163 days.
In the meantime, this WR class is stacked, which is why I have eight going in Round 1. Keep reading to see all 32 picks in version 3.0 of my mock draft.
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen to the latest episode below!
