Jordan Reid's first 2024 ESPN NFL mock draft has the Cardinals taking ... a QB in Caleb Williams

We are far, far away from 2024 NFL Mock Draft SZN.

But that doesn’t mean the buzz can’t start. Because the possible prize for the NFL’s worst team is Caleb Williams, the USC quarterback who could be a once-in-a-generation talent worth tanking for. In Christian D’Andrea’s first 2024 mock, he had Williams going to the Tom Brady-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here’s where it gets interesting: In Jordan Reid’s first ESPN 2024 mock, he has Williams going to … the Arizona Cardinals. His reasoning makes sense, but it would make sense given their situation with Kyler Murray heading into the 2023 NFL season. Here’s what he wrote:

The Cardinals are in clear rebuild mode with the league’s worst roster on paper. Quarterback Kyler Murray remains sidelined following a torn ACL, and with his timetable still uncertain and a new regime in place, Arizona could consider offloading his massive contract and selecting an elite QB prospect in the draft. It’s a tricky situation — Murray has a $51.9 million cap number in 2024, and the team would face a huge dead-money hit if it moved on — but Williams is special.

The junior is a problem-solver as a passer, seemingly always making the right play, even in adverse situations. And when playing within the confines of the offense, Williams has an explosive and compact release that enables him to make all types of throws. He threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdown passes last season.

Don’t forget to check out our 2024 Mock Draft!