“I look at Washington as a place, like Mahomes to Kansas City, (Joe) Burrow to the Bengals, or even C.J. Stroud to Houston, where they haven’t had ‘The Guy’ in a long time. You can be that guy there.” – Simms on Washington taking LSU QB Jayden Daniels at No. 2 in his mock draft
“I think New England wants to trade out of there. They have to take a quarterback…but I don’t think they’re comfortable taking any of these guys at No. 3.” – Simms on the third pick
“I think Minnesota’s desperate. They’re going to get somebody in there that they feel like can run their offense…I certainly think J.J. McCarthy fits Kevin O’Connell’s offense.” – Simms on Minnesota taking Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy at No. 3 in his mock draft
NBC Sports’ 2024 NFL Draft Coverage Continues This Week Across NBC Sports Platforms
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 23, 2024 – With the NFL Draft two days away, beginning this Thursday, April 25, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms has released his first-round mock draft on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast.
Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, was joined by NBC Sports’ Connor Rogers on Simms Unbuttoned to offer evaluation, insight and analysis on the draft’s top prospects and each team’s needs heading into the draft. Simms’ first-round mock draft features quarterbacks being taken with each of the top three picks – USC’s Caleb Williams at No. 1, LSU’s Jayden Daniels at No. 2, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy at No. 3 – and six quarterbacks being drafted within the top 13 picks.
On draft night, Simms and co-host Ahmed Fareed will record instant reaction videos to every pick in Round 1, with the full podcast released overnight. A bonus draft recap/reaction episode of Simms Unbuttoned will be available Monday, April 29.
For Simms’ complete breakdown of his first-round mock draft, click here to watch the full episode of Simms Unbuttoned. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Simms has provided a position-by-position breakdowns of the top prospects. Click here for a full playlist of Simms’ positional rankings along with more NBC Sports NFL Draft analysis.
This Friday, April 26, at Noon ET on Peacock, NBC Sports NFL analyst and fantasy sports pioneer Matthew Berry will look ahead to the impact draft picks will have on next season’s fantasy football landscape on Fantasy Football Happy Hour.
During the draft, Berry, along with co-hosts Jay Croucher and Connor Rogers, will report from the Fantasy Football Happy Hour set in Stamford, Conn., providing instant video analysis and reactions for select offensive player draft picks on the NFL on NBC YouTube channel, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports Fantasy website; their discussion will be also available as a podcast to be released overnight.
For a more detailed schedule of NBC Sports’ NFL Draft content, see NBC Sports’ full 2024 NFL Draft content schedule below.
For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel for free, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET every weekday, Chris Simms Unbuttoned, The Rich Eisen Show, Brother from Another, and The Dan Patrick Show. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.
The following is Chris Simms’ first round mock draft:
1) Chicago: USC QB Caleb Williams | 17) Jacksonville: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins |
2) Washington: LSU QB Jayden Daniels | 18) Cincinnati: Washington WR Rome Odunze |
3) Minnesota: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy* | 19) Seattle: Oregon State G Taliese Fuaga* |
4) Arizona: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. | 20) Pittsburgh: Penn State T Olumuyiwa Fashanu |
5) LA Chargers: Notre Dame T Joe Alt | 21) Miami: Duke G Graham Barton |
6) NY Giants: LSU WR Malik Nabers | 22) LA Rams: Missouri DT Darius Robinson* |
7) Tennessee: Alabama T J.C. Latham | 23) New England: Georgia T Amarius Mims* |
8) Atlanta: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner | 24) Dallas: Oklahoma T Tyler Guyton |
9) Chicago: UCLA EDGE Laitu Latu | 25) Green Bay: Iowa S Cooper DeJean |
10) NY Jets: Washington EDGE Troy Fautanu | 26) Tampa Bay: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse |
11) New England: UNC QB Drake Maye* | 27) Arizona: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold |
12) Denver: Oregon QB Bo Nix | 28) Buffalo: LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. |
13) Las Vegas: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. | 29) Detroit: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson |
14) New Orleans: Texas DT Byron Murphy II | 30) Baltimore: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell |
15) Indianapolis: Georgia TE Brock Bowers | 31) San Francisco: Washington T Roger Rosengarten |
16) Philadelphia: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell* | 32) Kansas City: Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton |
*Via trade | |
Quarterbacks: Simms on Caleb Williams to the Bears at No. 1: “This is done. He’s extremely talented. When you look at Chicago and go back to the GM (Ryan Poles), the fact that he came from Kansas City, he’s seeing this guy who’s got some of the (Patrick) Mahomes-ish types of traits. It’s a no-brainer.” On Jayden Daniels to the Commanders at No. 2: “I look at Washington as a place, like Mahomes to Kansas City, (Joe) Burrow to the Bengals, or even C.J. Stroud to Houston, where they haven’t had ‘The Guy’ in a long time. You can be that guy there.” On discussions surrounding the second pick: “I had somebody that I really trust and connected to the situation text me and say, ‘It will not be Drake Maye at No. 2.” On discussions surrounding the third pick: “I think New England wants to trade out of there. They have to take a quarterback…but I don’t think they’re comfortable taking any of these guys at No. 3.” On J.J. McCarthy to the Vikings via trade at No. 3: “I think Minnesota’s desperate. They’re going to get somebody in there that they feel like can run their offense…I certainly think J.J. McCarthy fits Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Play-action game, crossers over the middle, that’s what J.J. did at Michigan.” On Drake Maye to the Patriots via trade at No. 11: “This is a spot where he can develop. I don’t think they’re comfortable with him at No. 3 … (Head coach) Jerod Mayo, at the NFL Owners Meeting (in March), bringing up that Drake Maye is raw and has some things to work on – that was my first big signal.” On Bo Nix to the Broncos at No. 12: “The more time has gone on, the more I’ve liked him. The decision-making, the throwing, he really can play the position. (Head coach) Sean Payton needs somebody that can play now.” On Michael Penix Jr. to the Raiders at No. 13: “The pure talent is there. He was made to throw that football with his left hand…I think he’s ready to go and you can start a new era there.” Wide receivers: On Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Cardinals at No. 4: “The floor is very high with him. Safe pick, good pedigree – he has all the skills and is a damn good player. I know he’s not my No. 1 receiver but he’s good and that’s why I’m feeling him going No. 4.” On Malik Nabers to the Giants at No. 6: “To me, it’s the most glaring thing on the Giants roster – they don’t have someone that can make guys miss. I think Nabers all the way here and that would be awesome for the Giants to add him to the Daniel Jones tool set.” On Rome Odunze to the Bengals at No. 18: “Everybody likes Odunze, I just think everybody likes him in a different area.” On Adonai Mitchell to the Ravens at No. 30: “Size and speed, (the Ravens) don’t really have a guy like him. I think it’s a little bit more of a look at the future and a little bit more of a dependability pick here.” Tight end: On Brock Bowers to the Colts at No. 15: “Bowers fits a lot of things there. He’s extremely talented and I honestly thought about a lineman here, but I just felt like Bowers is the right fit for the Colts and how they’re going to run their offense.” Offensive Line: On T Joe Alt to the Chargers at No. 5: “It’s (head coach Jim Harbaugh’s) first pick in his first draft – Notre Dame tackle, you can’t go wrong. Alt is definitely one of the safest picks in the draft.” Defense: On EDGE Dallas Turner to the Falcons at No. 8: “Dallas Turner has some traits about him that are very, very special. Another guy that I’d say could be a superstar but has a very high floor, too…He might not be what we think he might be, but I don’t think the word ‘bust’ will be a part of the conversation.” On EDGE Laitu Latu to the Bears at No. 9: “You know what’ll help a young quarterback? When the other team only scores nine points and you just have to score 10 to win. The guy is such a good player, and he fits right into a need for this team.” On DT Byron Murphy II to the Saints at No. 14: “For me, without a doubt, one of the best players in this draft. The Saints need some difference-making, young studs on defense and that’s why I think they stick with (defensive) tackle at this pick.” On CB Quinyon Mitchell to the Eagles via trade at No. 16: “I think you could argue this is the best player in the draft. Good corners are not easy to find. This guy is special, and I think the Eagles are going to make a move here with their embarrassment of riches.” NBC SPORTS 2024 DRAFT CONTENT SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 24 · Pro Football Talk Live – Florio and Simms (7 a.m. ET on Peacock) · Simms Unbuttoned – #AskMeAnything NFL Draft/prop bets episode with guest Jay Croucher · Brother from Another – Michael Smith and Michael Holley Thursday, April 25 – Round 1 begins at 8 p.m. ET · PFT Live – Florio and Simms (7 a.m. ET on Peacock) · Simms Unbuttoned – Simms and Fareed reaction videos to every pick in Round 1 (full podcast released overnight) · Pro Football Talk – Florio instant reaction videos to every pick in Round 1 · Fantasy Football Happy Hour – Berry, Croucher, and Rogers reaction videos to offensive player picks in Round 1 (full podcast released overnight) Friday, April 26 · PFT Live – Florio with guest Devin McCourty (7 a.m. ET on Peacock) · Football Night in America Podcast – Jac Collinsworth, Rodney Harrison, and Tony Dungy break down all the action from Round 1 · Brother from Another – Michael Smith and Michael Holley recap Round 1 · Fantasy Football Happy Hour – Berry, Croucher, and Rogers reaction videos to offensive players picks in Rounds 2 and 3 (7 p.m. ET) Monday, April 29 · PFT Live – Florio and Simms (7 a.m. ET on Peacock) · Simms Unbuttoned – Simms and Fareed react to draft · Fantasy Football Happy Hour – Berry, Croucher, and Rogers react to draft · Brother from Another – Smith and Holley (3 p.m. ET on Peacock) Tuesday, April 30 · PFT Live – Florio and Simms (7 a.m. ET on Peacock) · Football Night in America Podcast – McCourty and Simms break down the full NFL Draft -NBC SPORTS- |