Collegiate Sports Department throws down first-round 2024 NFL Draft predictions

By Pierson VanGorp and Jack Walker

The 2024 National Football League is holding its draft in Detroit on Thursday, April 25, starting at 8 p.m. and this draft has some of the best prospects of all time. Big names including University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, Ohio State University wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and the University of Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt will showcase in the first round of the NFL draft. Here are a few predictions that we have for the first round of the draft. 

Pierson’s Predictions 

• The Vikings trade up to take Jayden Daniels

With the departure of QB Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings are looking to fix the hole at QB and I believe they will trade up to take a QB. Star WR Justin Jefferson’s monster contract is looming next year and it was confirmed that he has been involved as the future QB for the Vikings. The Vikings brought in QB Sam Darnold in free agency this offseason, but I see him as a backup and mentor to the new QB. I believe they will go for Daniels specifically because I see University of North Carolina QB Drake Maye going No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders. Daniels also played at Louisiana State University which is where Jefferson went to college. I can see the Vikings giving up two first round picks for the Patriots No. 3 overall pick. A Daniels and Jefferson combination in the NFC North would look scary and give the Lions and Packers some issues. 

• The Jets take a future Hall of Famer with Brock Bowers 

The New York Jets had one of the most disappointing seasons out of every team mainly due to QB Aaron Rodgers tearing his achilles in the first game of the season. However, they will look to bounce back this year as the division is slightly weaker since the Bills lost a copious amount of starters while the Dolphins blew their chance at making a run in the playoffs. Rodgers has won Most Valuable Player the last two election cycles and I can see him winning it again if the Jets take Bowers. Bowers is a generational tight-end prospect but for some reason his draft stock has been falling. With the Jets picking at No. 10, I can see the Jets taking Bowers. The Jets are thin at TE as they have the aging Tyler Conklin and young player Jeremy Ruckert so Bowers would be an immediate starter. This feels like a match made in heaven and Bowers would be the best TE Rodgers has ever had. 

• The Broncos take QB JJ McCarthy 

Now that QB Russell Wilson left Denver, the Broncos now need a QB that can help rebuild this low-end NFL team. Head coach Sean Payton wants a QB that will fit his system and replicate something similar to what Drew Brees achieved in New Orleans. Very recently, the Broncos traded for QB Zach Wilson from the Jets for essentially nothing. This makes me slightly concerned about this prediction but I think trading for Wilson means that he will mentor and compete for the QB one job. McCarthy’s name has been buzzing recently as some media members think he will be a bust while others think he will be a superstar in the right system. Regardless, his name has been mentioned in the early first round and I believe he will go in the top-15. I don’t believe he is a top-five pick because there are better QB prospects available but either the Raiders or the Broncos will be in a good position to take him. McCarthy had a 27-1 record as a starter at the University of Michigan while leading the Wolverines to their first National Championship this millenia so he is a proven winner. The question is can he do it when his team is not as talented compared to other teams. 

Jack’s Predictions 

• The Steelers trade pick 20 to the 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk

The Steelers receiving core got a little bit weaker over the offseason after sending Diontae Johnson to Carolina, but with Star 49ers’ receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s contract situation in the air, a trade could be on the horizon. A trade similar to this has occurred as recent as 2022, when the Titans sent star WR A.J. Brown to the Eagles when Philadelphia was on the clock at pick 18. With the Steelers taking a chance on veteran QB Russell Wilson, it would be best advised Pittsburgh builds as much help as possible around him. WR George Pickens produced a great season for the Steelers, posting over 1,100 yards. Acquiring Aiyuk would instantly push the Steelers receiving core into one of the better ones in the NFL. Aiyuk would immediately become the best receiver the Steel City has seen since Antonio Brown donned the black and yellow. 

• The Chargers are the first team to trade down

With the top four picks of the draft all but set in place, it seems like the draft really starts with the Chargers at pick number five. After trading long-time WR Keenan Allen to Chicago, it looks like Los Angeles could be heading towards a slight rebuild with new coach Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers will have a chance to trade down with a QB-needy team in order to gain more picks. With top WR prospect Marvin Harrison Jr. more than likely heading to the Cardinals, and the Chargers not needing a QB, it all but makes sense for the team to trade down. A potential bidding war for the fifth overall pick can speed up the potential Chargers rebuild. After trading down, the Chargers could take another offensive lineman to protect franchise QB Justin Herbert, and a WR to fill in Keenan Allen’s shoes.

• The Patriots shake up the Draft

Rarely are the Patriots ever in a position to shake up the draft, as this is the first time in 30 years that New England is selecting inside the top five. Out of all my predictions, this one is by far the least likely, but what if the Patriots opted against taking a QB with the third overall pick? It’s assumed that the Patriots will select either LSU QB Jayden Daniels or North Carolina QB Drake Maye, but it’s not set in stone like the first two picks seem to be. But in this prediction, the Patriots take Marvin Harrison Jr, the top non-quarterback prospect in the draft, who could one day become a Hall of Famer along with his father. Harrison is viewed by many as the best WR prospect since Calvin Johnson, who was drafted as the second overall pick in 2007. But, the Patriots wouldn’t be done in the first round after adding Harrison as the Patriots would trade back into the first round, taking Michael Penix Jr. to be the team’s new franchise QB. Penix has a couple of flaws heading into the draft, and talent is not one of them. Penix suffered multiple leg injuries in his college career, which granted him extra years of eligibility. Meaning Penix will be 24 entering his rookie season, which is not unheard of, but not ideal for a rookie QB. But, playing so many years in college means Penix will be ready from the jump, giving New England their new starting QB and Franchise WR. New England has been searching for their new 1-2 punch tandem since Tom Brady and Julian Edelman, and could possibly land it on Thursday Night, at the expense of shocking all of America.