NFL mock draft roundup: Confusion grows around pick No. 2

With less than two weeks until the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 in Detroit, the experts are releasing their last few mock drafts.

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 Gennaro Filice, Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson and USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz.

Pick No. 1 (Chicago Bears)

Filice, Monson, Middlehurst-Schwartz: USC QB Caleb Williams

Monson writes this is the "surest pick in the draft" and he's right. The Bears need to replace QB Justin Fields after trading him to the Steelers, and Williams is the obvious choice. 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)

Filice: UNC QB Drake Maye

The debate for who the second quarterback off the board will be is clearly ongoing with all three experts going with a different name. Filice believes Maye could be "déjà vu at No. 2" like C.J. Stroud was overthought in the lead-up to last year's draft. He's thrown for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions the past two seasons.

Monson: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

Monson thinks there's some truth to the NFL liking McCarthy "more than the public or the media." His draft stock has been rising ever since he led the Wolverines to a national championship and threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions from 2022-23.

Middlehurst-Schwartz: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Middlehurst-Schwartz admits this pick is "a long way away from a consensus," but at the same time, thinks it would be difficult to pass up on a player of Daniels talent. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023.

Pick No. 3 (New England Patriots)

Filice: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Monson: LSU QB Jayden Daniels (traded to Denver Broncos)

There are several quarterback-needy teams that could try to trade up into the top five. Monson thinks it will ultimately be the Broncos, however, while "all of the focus" has been on the Vikings.

Middlehurst-Schwartz: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

Pick No. 4 (Arizona Cardinals)

Filice, Monson, Middlehurst-Schwartz: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

All three experts agree for the first time since pick No. 1. The Cardinals need to give QB Kyler Murray a true No. 1 wide receiver. Harrison Jr. would be that and then some after posting 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns from 2022-23.

Pick No. 5 (Los Angeles Chargers)

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

Middlehurst-Schwartz: UNC QB Drake Maye (traded to Minnesota Vikings)

There's no arguing against those who believe the Vikings are planning a trade-up with their two first-round picks (Nos. 11 and 23). Filice is among them and for good reason as Minnesota seems willing to go all in on a rookie to begin life after QB Kirk Cousins.

Monson: Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt

The Chargers may opt to add to QB Justin Herbert's depleted arsenal after the losses of wide receivers Keenan Allen (Bears) and Mike Williams (Jets) this offseason. However, many think new head coach Jim Harbaugh is bringing a run-first mentality to Los Angeles and will bolster its trenches with Alt, who allowed just four sacks in his collegiate career.

Players on the rise

Filice: Georgia TE Brock Bowers (No. 10 traded to Tennessee Titans)

Monson: Georgia TE Brock Bowers (No. 10 to New York Jets)

Bowers is one of the biggest mysteries of the draft. He's one of the best tight end prospects in recent memory but has been mocked across the first round with other positions like quarterback and wide receiver being valued more. Still, Filice and Monson believe he'll be a top-10 pick when it's all said and done. Bowers had 175 catches for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns in three years at Georgia.

Players falling

Filice: Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu (No. 17 traded to Denver Broncos)

Monson: Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu (No. 12 traded to New England Patriots)

Middlehurst-Schwartz: Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu (No. 14 to New Orleans Saints)

Entering the offseason, Fashanu was viewed, by most, as a top-10 pick. However, the experts seem to think he could fall a bit in a draft class that is rich with offensive tackle talent. The massive 6-foot-6, 319-pound offensive tackle has not allowed a sack in more than 680 pass-protection snaps over the past two seasons.

Surprise picks

Filice: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (No. 30 traded to Las Vegas Raiders)

Some have argued that the Raiders should go quarterback at pick No. 13, but if they aren't in love with the remaining options, trading back into the first round could be the move. Filice believes Las Vegas could strike a deal with Baltimore to land Penix Jr. He may have an "extensive injury history," but he also led the Huskies to a national championship appearance last season and threw for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23.

Monson: UNC QB Drake Maye (No. 9 traded to Minnesota Vikings)

Over the past couple of weeks, some think that Maye's draft stock has been falling. However, it's hard to imagine him falling past pick No. 5 or 6. This would be an ideal scenario for the Vikings, but another team would likely jump them for the UNC product before he would fall this far.