What’s Next: How Many USC Trojans Will Be 2024 First-Round NFL Draft Picks?

After not seeing a Trojan selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, USC is now on a run of four-straight years with a player drafted in the first 32 picks. Will that streak continue in 2024? (Yes. Duh.) But which other Trojans might join quarterback Caleb Williams in becoming a first-round pick?

When quarterback Caleb Williams is taken in the first round of the 2024 draft, it will match the longest consecutive streak of first-rounders produced by USC of all time. That’s likely a surprising stat considering USC’s rich NFL draft history and that this streak started during the final years of the Clay Helton era. But only in the 1993-97 drafts have the Trojans sent first-round picks to the NFL five years in a row.

Williams will join Austin Jackson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Drake London and Jordan Addison as first-round selections out of USC over the past four drafts. But will 2024 be the first draft since 2015 that multiple Trojans are selected in the first round?

A number of way-too-early 2024 mock drafts came out in the hours and days following the recently concluded 2023 NFL draft. Here’s a look at the Trojans listed and some thoughts on each.

Collecting the mock drafts from The Draft Network, USA Today, PFF, Pro Football Network and Sporting News, four different USC players were listed as first-round selections.

Caleb Williams

The most common was obviously Williams, who was listed between Nos. 1 and 3 in the various editions. Williams isn’t a lock to go No. 1 overall. But only because there is still a season to play out and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye will be in the discussion. Or a team without a need at quarterback could end up with the No. 1 pick. But if the draft were held today, Williams would be the No. 1 pick. And it would take longer to write his name on the card than to make the decision to pick him.

Joel Klatt recently discussed his top-10 players ahead of the 2023 season. He listed Williams No. 2 behind wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State. But there was no doubt about Williams when it comes to the draft.

“Williams is lethal, normally I say for a quarterback like surgical, he’s lethal,” Klatt said. “His athletic ability, ability to throw on the run, confidence, all of it….Dude is as good as it gets, he would’ve been the top pick in the draft, he would’ve been the top quarterback in the draft. Caleb Williams should’ve won the Heisman, he did win the Heisman, it’s hard to explain how good the guy is

Calen Bullock

Calen Bullock was mocked to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 25 by USA Today. He is No. 27 to the Dallas Cowboys by the Sporting News. And he was listed at No. 28 to the Cincinnati Bengals by PFF.

“Bullock was a first-team All-American for PFF this past season and was the third-most valuable one in the country according to PFF’s wins above average metric,” PFF said in the explanation of the pick. “His five interceptions tied for fifth among all FBS safeties. He can be the new center fielder in Cincinnati’s defense.”

Jonah Monheim

Jonah Monheim was the third USC Trojan listed as a first-rounder in the PFF mock draft. In that one, he gave the Trojans back-to-back first-round picks as he went No. 29 to the San Francisco 49ers.

After losing Mike McGlinchey, the 49ers need a new right tackle,” PFF said. “Monheim plays there for USC and was the second-most valuable tackle in the country, only trailing Joe Alt. Monheim totaled the most pass-blocking snaps in the country without allowing a sack or hit (570).

There was speculation at the end of last season and early this offseason that Monheim could shift into the interior and play guard for the Trojans in 2023. He also has the ability to play center at this level and the next. Clearly, staying outside at tackle would boost his draft stock.

Monheim would have another year of eligibility in 2024 should he want to use it. And there’s some projection here, because Monheim likely hasn’t earned a first-round grade at this point. But if he has a dominant year this fall, jumping into the draft likely isn’t out of the question. He’ll have put together a lot of tape in a dynamic offense. He’ll crush the interview process and NFL personnel will hear rave reviews from his USC coaches.

Mario Williams

Williams is slotted at No. 26 overall to the Dallas Cowboys in The Draft Network’s mock.

He missed two full games last season and finished with 40 receptions for 631 yards and five touchdowns.

There is a major opportunity for somebody or a few players in the USC wide receiver room to step into the role Jordan Addison held last year as the No. 1 receiver.

Nobody is the returning Biletnikoff Award winner, so none of the USC receivers will have that kind of hype heading into this season. But Williams, Brenden Rice, Dorian Singer and a few others are capable of having huge 2023 seasons. Caleb Williams is going to pile up completions, yardage and touchdown passes. And those stats are going to accumulate somewhere. If USC’s No. 1 wide receiver has the requisite size/speed for the NFL, he’s always going to be in that first-round discussion.

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