NFL mock draft 2.0: Bears snag Williams, Vikings trade up for QB
MIAMI, March 29 (UPI) — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye lead version 2.0 of my 2024 NFL mock draft, compiled after the scouting combine and major moves in free agency.
This edition features three projected trades, five quarterbacks being selected and wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers also inside the Top 5.
I expect the Minnesota Vikings to use their draft capital to trade up in the first-round order so that they can select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The New York Giants, whom I expect to select a wide receiver early on, could trade later draft picks to gain another first-round pick that could be used for quarterback.
I also could see a trade involving the Los Angeles Chargers’ No. 5 overall pick.
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49ers Send Heartfelt Message to Kyle Juszczyk for ‘Team First’ Decision
The San Francisco 49ers needed some breathing room for salary cap space, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk opened a hole for the team as he accepted a pay cut.
“It’s huge,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday at the annual NFL owners meetings in Orlando. “Kyle is a big part of this team, and has been since we got here. We would have hated to lose him. For Kyle to do that, it was great for us, great for him to stay with us. I’m really happy he decided to do that.”
Juszczyk had a five-year, $27 million deal with the team, which was scheduled to run through 2025. Amid his pay reduction, Juszczyk signed a two-year, $9.1 million deal as the 49ers will save $4 million in 2024.
“I think those are little things that give us an advantage,” 49ers owner and CEO Jed York said on Tuesday regarding Juszczyk. “To sort of stay in that mix, stay in that hunt where your window of winning a Super Bowl can be extended
because guys are willing to work with you to stay on the team and also give you the room to be able to go attract more people to be able to come in to the club.”
