• Vikings make a splash with extra first-round ammo: After securing the Texans' No. 12 overall pick, Minnesota moves up even further to draft Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

• Seven quarterbacks come off the board through three rounds: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy kick things off with the first four picks.

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Post-free agency NFL mock drafts hold a special place in my heart, as there is no more speculation about how team needs might change.

With every team having made moves that will surely impact their draft strategies, here is a three-round 2024 mock draft that includes trades for both future draft picks and current players.

Williams was always the choice, and now that Justin Fields is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, we can write this one in pen.

The great QB2 debate rages on, and reports indicate plenty of teams are split between Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Jayden Daniels. Ultimately, Maye is the better quarterback prospect, so until I'm confidently convinced otherwise, he is the No. 2 pick.

New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had this to say about draft strategy when speaking with CBS News Boston in mid-January: “What I will say is this: We’re gonna draft the best player for a position that is very important. You put the pieces together.”

For him to say that at that time means the Patriots were confident in not only Caleb Williams but also Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels to be franchise quarterbacks. Mayo likely doesn't express that thought if New England isn't planning on taking whichever quarterback is left on the board, even if it's the QB3 of that group.

Vikings receive Pick No. 4 and a 2025 fifth-round pick; Cardinals receive Pick Nos. 11, 23 and a 2025 third-round pick

The Vikings didn’t trade for the Texans' No. 23 overall pick just to hear Roger Goodell say their name twice on Day 1. They’re eyeing a trade-up for their quarterback of the future and can now give a team picking in the top five an enticing deal. I ultimately think that is with the Arizona Cardinals. In doing so, Minnesota pairs the budding McCarthy with Kevin O’Connell, and McCarthy is put in a comfortable situation to not start right away with Sam Darnold also in the mix.

The Chargers would likely love to move back, potentially entertaining a Vikings offer of two first-round picks if it came to that. But if Minnesota trades up to No. 4, Los Angeles may not want to pass on Harrison after moving on from wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen in free agency.

The Giants will be in the trade-up market for a quarterback, but if they stick at No. 6, I think it’s a receiver over an offensive lineman since they brought in a few veterans in free agency to give them good flexibility at tackle and guard. From what I have heard, Odunze has been acing interviews on top of his excellent NFL scouting combine performance. His size would add something new to the Giants' starting receiver lineup.

After listening to Titans head coach Brian Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon talk at the NFL scouting combine about their desire to improve team speed this offseason, I thought this pick could be one of the top receivers. But all the money they gave to Calvin Ridley — in addition to already rostering DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks — brings me back to the offensive line. Tennessee targets OT1 here and forms one heck of a left side of the line with Alt and Skoronski, along with the newly signed Lloyd Cushenberry III at center.

The Falcons hit the free agency quarterback prize of Kirk Cousins, so there is no threat of them selecting a quarterback in the first round. And after a few wide receiver additions in free agency, as well, look for them to eye the defensive line, specifically the hyper-athletic edge rusher Dallas Turner.

“You’re telling me Caleb WIlliams is going to get to throw to D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Malik Nabers?”

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you.

The Tyron Smith signing does not change my opinion that the best pick for the Jets at No. 10 is Troy Fautanu. Fautanu is a versatile offensive lineman who can start at both guard and tackle in the NFL. That flexibility will be important, with two older offensive tackles set to start for the team in 2024. Fautanu could even get reps at left guard, and if anything happens to Smith, he can kick out to tackle and the newly signed John Simpson can step in. Investing in that offensive line depth is better than drafting tight end Brock Bowers.

Cardinals receive Pick Nos. 11, 23 and a 2025 third-round pick; Vikings receive Pick Nos. 4 and a 2025 fifth-round pick

The Cardinals took a nice deal to move down from No. 4 to No. 11 in this mock draft and, in doing so, grab themselves a CB1. They signed Sean Murphy-Bunting to a three-year deal, but that shouldn’t stop them from drafting a player of Mitchell’s caliber. He posted elite coverage grades in each of the past two seasons.

Broncos receive Pick Nos. 22 and 53; Eagles receive Pick No. 12 and a 2025 third-round pick

Look, you can’t tell me Howie Roseman doing something like this is too crazy to predict. With no second-round pick, the Broncos could aim to move back from No. 12 if they can’t trade up for a quarterback. The Eagles have an extra second-round pick, which could make this a deal. In doing so, Philadelphia — which has always looked ahead when it comes to building in the trenches — could draft a player like Fuaga, who could start at guard early on and then kick out to right tackle when Lane Johnson retires.

The Raiders should be aggressive in trading up for a quarterback, but with no deal done here, they attack a major area of need by selecting a potential CB1 in Arnold.

Fashanu brings some concerns about how he deals with power, but he’s a fantastic athlete and a great pass protector who can still develop that power as a young player. The Saints can’t just roll into next season under the assumption that Trevor Penning will get substantially better.

This is a common mock draft choice, but it’s an easy one to make if Bowers falls this far — which I believe is realistic. Bowers could be in for plenty of early targets from quarterback Anthony Richardson.

If not Bowers, one of the top cornerbacks could be in the mix here.

The Seahawks would love to get Troy Fautanu here, but with him off the board, they opt for another interior offensive lineman who can play guard and center — and one who dominated at both spots at the Senior Bowl.

Letting Calvin Ridley head to a division rival was a major fumble by the Jaguars. They signed Gabe Davis, but he struggled last season as a WR2. Mitchell is the kind of elite athlete that general manager Trent Baalke tends to gravitate toward.

The Bengals have two major trench needs: replacing D.J. Reader on defense and replacing Jonah Williams on offense. Here, they address the offensive tackle need, as it is harder to hit on those players outside of the first round. Latham is a natural fit, playing at Alabama as a starting right tackle, where Cincinnati has a void.

Aaron Donald‘s retirement is disappointing for the Rams, but alas, he has chosen to ride off into the football sunset on the road to the Hall of Fame. The Rams know how important top-notch interior play is. That’s why I see Newton as being high on their board. He earned elite cumulative PFF grades in both pass rush and run defense over the past two seasons.

An offensive lineman could also be high on the Steelers’ board for the first round — interior offensive line and perhaps offensive tackle — but DeJean fills a major roster hole with a player Pittsburgh will love due to his versatility and physicality.

Miami lost Christian Wilkins in free agency and could need to replace that juice on the interior. Murphy is an incredibly talented and athletic three-technique defensive tackle who can quickly get off the ball as a pass rusher and hold the line well for a guy of his size.

Broncos receive Pick Nos. 22 and 50; Eagles receive Pick Nos. 12 and a 2025 third-round pick

The Broncos would likely love to come out of the first round with a quarterback. Getting into the top five this year would be difficult for them with no second-round pick to offer, so instead I have them trading back, getting an extra second-round pick and still drafting a quarterback they can build around. I like the idea of Nix, one of the most cerebral passers in the country, getting to work with Sean Payton, who orchestrated plenty of methodical offenses with Drew Brees in New Orleans.

Cardinals receive Pick Nos. 11, 23 and a 2025 third-round pick; Vikings receive Pick No. 4 and a 2025 fifth-round pick

The Cardinals' second first-round pick is a pass rusher — the best one in college football over the past two years, to be exact. Latu isn’t the most athletic edge rusher in this class, but his production would be tough to pass up for Jonathan Gannon's 3-4 defensive front.

After losing Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz to free agency, the Dallas Cowboys will need to shuffle their offensive line. As a player who can play all five spots on the line, Barton would be an excellent choice for Dallas to build its “best five” for 2024 and beyond.

Even after signing Xavier McKinney in free agency, the Packers could still use another high-impact safety. The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea of filling the back end of this defense with playmakers. Nubin is experienced, productive and talented. He is worthy of a first-round pick.

There aren’t many better scenarios for the Buccaneers than somehow coming away with Jared Verse at Pick 26. The Florida State product is talented enough to go much higher than this, but after free agency, I can now see him and Laiatu Latu falling a bit. That doesn’t make them any worse as players, though. Verse would be an immediate starter in Tampa Bay.

27. ARIZONA CARDINALS: DI Braden Fiske, Florida State

Fiske was the talk of the town at the scouting combine, leading all defensive tackles in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump. His tape shows a player who wins off speed and one-gap pressure as a pass-rusher. After free agency, the Cardinals have some size on the interior. Now, they need some speed.

This is a very common pairing, but after moving on from Gabe Davis, the Bills need a consistent field-stretcher. Thomas ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 209 pounds — so, yeah, he’ll do.

After losing Jonah Jackson in free agency, the Lions could need a starter along their interior offensive line. Morgan played tackle at Arizona, but his best position in the league is likely at guard. Most importantly for this pairing, he’s a tough player who came back from a torn ACL very quickly to get back on the field and compete last season.

“Mr. 4.21” likely booked a ticket to the first round with his record-breaking 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. I could see the Ravens as a potential landing spot. Getting that constant deep threat on the field would open things up for Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews underneath.

Mims has one of the craziest builds you will have ever seen — in a good way — at 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds. His talent and potential are too good to escape the first round. He also played right tackle in college, which aligns with a potential starting spot for the Niners.

The Chiefs will have plenty of options at the back end of the first round, but if Guyton is available, I like the idea of drafting him to develop him as a good depth player if they need him and a potential starter in 2025 and beyond. Guyton is a smooth mover and a very competitive player but needs time to become a more fundamentally sound blocker.