Expecting the unexpected is the only certainty regarding the NFL draft.

Sure, a few picks will proceed as envisioned, but there's a reason why the event is so difficult to predict. One massive trade or off-the-wall selection creates a butterfly effect that permeates throughout the entire process.

In order to best ascertain what could happen, Bleacher Report's team of NFL analysts and scouts—Alex Ballentine, Gary Davenport, Brad Gagnon, Cory Giddings, Matt Holder, Derrik Klassen, Kristopher Knox, Moe Moton, Brent Sobleski and Brandon Thorn—decided to take bold stances on what everyone can expect when things start to go off the rails, with a trade into the top five by a quarterback-starved franchise being the most popular projection.

But which team will trade up? Which quarterback prospect will it target? Who is willing to trade down?

Furthermore, plenty of other movement and surprises should be expected throughout the event, which starts Thursday in Detroit. The B/R team didn't back down from making specific declarations that go against the grain.

Most Surprising Pick

Ballentine: Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will land with Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead took a big swing in 2021 to bring in Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions, and it resulted in a Lombardi Trophy. It would make sense that he goes a bit unconventional to find his next star at the position.

Aaron Donald's retirement is another step toward a new era in L.A. After watching Washington's Michael Penix Jr. rip deep shots to Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan the last two seasons, Snead and Sean McVay have to see some Stafford in his game.

There are about five or six teams that we see talked about as quarterback landing spots ad nausem, but ESPN's Field Yates tabbed the Rams as a "sleeper" team to target a signal-caller in the first two rounds.

Stafford is 36 years old and missed chunks of the 2019 and 2022 seasons with various injuries. New backup Jimmy Garoppolo isn't exactly the epitome of durability.

Penix comes with risks considering his age and injury history, but so did Stafford.

Davenport: Washington Commanders Select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with second overall pick

Gagnon: New England Patriots don't take a quarterback at No. 3

Giddings: Las Vegas Raiders select Penix in first round

Holder: Atlanta Falcons still draft a quarterback

Klassen: Los Angeles Chargers select Georgia tight end Brock Bowers instead of an offensive lineman or wide receiver

Knox: Washington Commanders select McCarthy at No. 2

Assuming the Bears take USC's Caleb Williams at No. 1, Washington will have a difficult choice to make at No. 2. The Commanders need a quarterback, and Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye seem to be the two logical options.

However, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported in March that several league executives believe GM Adam Peters would prefer Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

Though the Commanders have met with the Michigan signal-caller, the buzz has quieted over the last few weeks. Sometimes, when the noise stops, it's the result of a franchise trying to mask its intentions.

I wouldn't advocate for the Commanders taking McCarthy over Maye or Daniels, but I can envision Peters seeing in McCarthy shades of another QB he had a hand in drafting—Brock Purdy—and flipping the switch on the pick.

This might not be an absolute stunner, but I'd say seeing a prospect who was barely in the first-round conversation a few months ago going at No. 2 would qualify as surprising.

Moton: Chicago Bears select Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II with ninth overall pick

Over the previous five drafts, defensive tackles who became top-10 picks recorded double-digit sacks on the collegiate level or generated buzz as elite prospects (Jalen Carter).

Byron Murphy II didn't check either box.

Without a doubt, the Texas product should be a first-round pick, though ninth seems a bit high for a one-year starter who's slightly undersized at a non-premium position.

However, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus called the 3-technique position "the engine" of his defense, and Murphy has the skill set to fill that role.

In the ninth spot, the Bears could take an edge-rusher to complement Montez Sweat or a wide receiver who can take on a prominent role in the passing attack after Keenan Allen's contract expires next offseason.

Usually, edge-rushers and wide receivers rank higher on priority lists, but if Eberflus has major input on the Bears' pressing needs, Murphy could be the pick at No. 9.

Sobleski: New York Giants pull trigger on first-round quarterback to replace Daniel Jones

Thorn: Chargers select Alabama right tackle JC Latham with fifth overall pick

It's no secret that new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman want their offense to revolve around a run-first, downhill scheme that will favor bigger, powerful blockers.

Looking back at Harbaugh's most successful teams with the San Francisco 49ers, his right tackle was Anthony Davis who was a rising star before abruptly ending his career after just a few seasons. he was a mauling, dominant run-blocker in a similar mold as Alabama right tackle JC Latham.

With the Chargers having a replaceable-level starter at the position now in Trey Pipkins III, the team could upgrade the position with a player tailor-made for this scheme.

Biggest Draft-Day Trade

Ballentine: Cincinnati Bengals trade Tee Higgins to Carolina Panthers

Davenport: Minnesota Vikings move into the top five to land a quarterback

At this point, it almost feels like it will be more of an upset if this trade doesn't happen. From the moment the Minnesota Vikings acquired No. 23 from the Houston Texans, speculation has run rampant that they would package it and No. 11 to move up and draft a quarterback.

It's almost as if fans and pundits alike don't believe Minnesota's professed confidence in San Darnold—likely because they have seen Darnold play.

If I were Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort, it would take a lot to get me to pass on Marvin Harrison Jr., but the Los Angeles Chargers have holes all over the place—including the trenches on both sides of the ball.

That can't sit well with Jim Harbaugh, who could easily be planning to stockpile picks as Chargers brass makes smores at the RV Park.

Gagnon: Las Vegas Raiders trade up for a quarterback

Giddings: Vikings trade up to select Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

Holder: Antonio Pierce and Raiders swing big for LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has made it no secret that he would like to reunite with the quarterback he recruited to Arizona State, Jayden Daniels.

Pierce calls himself a "go-getter" and has no issues making a trade to address the most important position on the field.

While there was a report that the head coach and general manager Tom Telesco don't see eye-to-eye about making a move for a rookie signal-caller, between Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert, Telesco has had a top talent at quarterback.

The GM knows how important it is to get that position right, and Daniels gives the Raiders a better opportunity to win than Gardner Minshew II or Aidan O'Connell.

Meanwhile, New England Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf recently reiterated that they are open to trading the No. 3 overall pick. Las Vegas might have a difficult time outbidding Minnesota but since we're working off the premise of making a bold prediction, Telesco and Pierce won't let Wolf hang up the phone and they make a big trade to bring Daniels to the Raiders.

Klassen: Denver Broncos jump into the top six for a quarterback

Knox: Dallas Cowboys trade into the top 10 for a pass-catcher

Moton: Vikings trade up to No. 5 and select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye

Sobleski: Vikings move into top five for their franchise quarterback

Someone is going to make a move into this year's top 10 to select one of the elite QB prospects. It feels as inevitable as Thanos. But it's still difficult to decipher exactly which team it will be at what spot for whom.

The Vikings are the most likely option based on A) the organization's desperate need for a starting quarterback and B) they already made a move to get a second first-round pick to have the ammunition necessary to make a deal happen.

Obviously, the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders are in play here as well, but neither presents the same leverage or assets as the Vikings.

As such, Minnesota will do what most expect and complete a deal to land a new franchise quarterback, either with the fourth or fifth overall pick.

Thorn: Washington Commanders trade all the way back into the first round with Tennessee Titans to select Notre Dame's Joe Alt

Outside of the second overall pick, the Washington Commanders are armed with five selections in the top 100 and a glaring hole at left tackle to fill.

Considering they did not address the position in free agency and assuming they will have a new franchise quarterback in place with the No. 2 pick, securing a long-term blindside protector will be a vital piece of their rebuild under new general manager Adam Peters.

They could land a viable starter there if they held tight at the top of the second round, but they have the ammo and need to land a real difference-maker who would bolster their ability to hit the ground running with a high-end rookie quarterback.

Biggest Steal of the Draft

Ballentine: TE Theo Johnson, Penn State

Davenport: LB Payton Wilson, North Carolina State

Gagnon: CB Johnny Dixon, Penn State

Giddings: RB Isaac Guerendo, Louisville

In a historically weak running back class, Isaac Guerendo turned the combine on its head, becoming only the second-ever participant to record a 4.33 or better in the 40-yard dash at 220-plus pounds. Alongside a 41.5" vertical jump, the Louisville product's athletic testing is in rarefied air.

While he will already be 24 years old prior to the season, he saw a minimal workload throughout his collegiate career, emerging as a late-season breakout for the Cardinals in 2023.

With such little mileage, Guerendo's best football is ahead of him and his skill set will allow him to provide immediate value to his new team. With minimal options at the position this year, those in the market can find great value in him.

Holder: Edge Jonah Elliss, Utah

Klassen: RB Audric Estimé, Notre Dame

Audric Estimé is my top running back and a top-50 player on the Bleacher Report big board.

The reality is the Notre Dame product won't go that high. There's a shot no running back goes in the top 50. But he is especially unlikely after running a 4.71 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, though he improved his (unofficial) time at the Fighting Irish's pro day.

Estimé's tape is just too good for me to care about any of that. He is a thick, well-built back with reliable vision, balance and way more speed than his testing indicates. He will be a good starting back in the NFL.

Knox: QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

I don't think Spencer Rattler will be a particularly late selection, but in a year with a half-dozen other quarterbacks getting plenty of buzz, he's getting surprisingly little.

The South Carolina product has plenty of experience, more than enough arm talent and can win from both inside and outside the pocket.

Being a smaller QB at 6'0" and 211 pounds may have a lot to do with the lack of buzz surrounding Rattler. So, too, could the fact that he's been a fairly prolific college player since 2020—the media tends to favor the hot new commodity.

I see a lot of similarities with Baker Mayfield, both in terms of size, play style and potential career arc. Mayfield wasn't the gem of the 2018 draft, but he's had his bright moments and carved out a better career than a couple of fellow first-rounders from that class.

I won't be shocked if Rattler is firmly in the "solid starter" category a few years from now while one or two of the first-round QBs are written off as busts.

The riskiest part of calling Rattler a "steal" is that he might not land in a situation that gets him on the field early enough to justify it. Denver might be his ideal landing spot.

Moton: WR Jalen McMillan, Washington

The team that takes Jalen McMillan—perhaps on Day 2—will get a potential No. 1 wideout at great draft value.

In 2022, he led the Washington Huskies in catches (79) and touchdown receptions (nine) over potential 2024 first-rounder Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk.

Unfortunately for McMillan, he missed multiple games because of a knee injury this past season and he's not a big-play receiver like Polk, so his overall collegiate numbers won't jump off the screen.

Yet he has the speed to outrun defenders. He's also capable of lining up on the outside or in the slot. As a three-year starter, the Washington product has some polish to his game, particularly as a route-runner.

In the NFL, physical defenders may try to slow him down with press technique, though his agility and ability to create separation should serve him well against any defender.

If McMillan goes to a team that fully utilizes his versatility and designs plays that get him out in open space, he can lead a pass-catching group in multiple receiving categories.

Sobleski: WR Malik Washington, Virginia

Thorn: IOL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State

Hottest Draft Take

Ballentine: Georgia tight end Brock Bowers isn't selected in top half of first round

Everyone loves Brock Bowers. He's been hyped as an elite draft prospect since his freshman year at Georgia, and he checks all of the boxes. The problem is that positional value makes it risky to take a tight end in the top 10 regardless of talent.

Kyle Pitts was considered a sure thing and has fallen short of expectations. T.J. Hockenson also went in the top 10 and was traded to Minnesota before he really emerged as one of the best at the position. Eric Ebron is the only other one drafted in the top 10 since 2007.

Unfortunately for Bowers, he's part of a class that includes multiple good quarterbacks along with elite offensive tackles and wide receiver prospects, so he quickly takes a back seat in the top 10. Once you get outside the top 10, the fits are harder to picture.

The Indianapolis Colts are the first team that makes sense that doesn't need a quarterback. But they also need help at two premium positions in cornerback and edge-rusher.

Don't be shocked if Bowers slides come draft day resulting in a massive steal for someone.

Davenport: Half-a-dozen quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round

Given the importance of the position, this might not seem like that hot a take. But there has only been one draft in league history where six QBs were taken in Round 1: the fabled 1983 draft, where John Elway, Todd Blackledge, Jim Kelly, Tony Eason, Ken O'Brien and Dan Marino were selected in that order.

That's right. Dan Marino was the sixth quarterback drafted that year.

There's just about zero question that the first three picks will be signal-callers, even if there is now some disagreement about which three it will be. A fourth will follow soon thereafter, whether that's J.J. McCarthy or he supplants Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels (Caleb Williams is going No. 1—that's happening).

But there are also several other QB-needy teams picking outside the top 10 that could be tempted to reach for Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix. Even if they slide a little, someone is going to want to pull a Lamar Jackson and trade back into Round 1 to get that all-important fifth-year option.

All six will be gone by the time Day 1 ends.

Gagnon: Chicago Bears should trade out of No. 1 spot

Even Round 1 is a crapshoot, and the capital the team could gain by selling off the top pick (Caleb Williams) is off the charts. Plus, they'd easily be able to land another first-round-caliber QB in the top 10. It's just about playing the numbers.

Giddings: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will be traded on draft night

Holder: Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson is closer to a third-round pick than first

Klassen: North Carolina's Drake Maye is QB1

Maye has been my top quarterback for a majority of the draft cycle. To be clear, that has little to do with Williams. I'm as in on Williams as anyone else; I just also happen to think Maye is an exceptional prospect.

He is 6'4", 226 pounds of explosive athleticism and outrageous arm talent. His film is littered with the pre-snap cognition, pocket management and downfield aggression you see from most of the league's best quarterbacks. That's a skill set I am willing to bet a franchise on.

Knox: Teams should be trying to trade out of the late first round

Moton: Cincinnati Bengals trade up for Bowers, who falls outside of the top 10

Sobleski: USC's Caleb Williams shouldn't be No. 1 overall pick

Thorn: As many as eight centers from this class will start a game within the next two years

Off-the-Wall Prediction

Ballentine: New York Jets trade up for Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Davenport: New York Giants won't draft a wide receiver until Day 3.

Gagnon: Dallas Cowboys draft a quarterback in the first round

I think Dallas is just about done with Dak Prescott, and in this case, it can apply the ultimate pressure. Recent actions also indicate the Cowboys already think they're good enough to compete in 2024 or are ready to throw in the towel. In either event, they don't need to draft somebody who is sure to make an immediate impact.

Giddings: UCF's Javon Baker will become a 1,000-yard wide receiver

In such a deep wide receiver class, talented players can easily slip past the radar of the draft community. Enter Javon Baker, who arrived at UCF in 2022 following a stint at Alabama and immediately became the Knights' top receiving option.

He posted a whopping 21.9 yards per catch in 2023, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in a run-heavy UCF offense. He thrives when contested, pairing supreme body control, strong hands and the ability to elevate and attack the ball.

However, he's not just a red-zone threat, as he's consistently proved to be a real threat after the catch. Baker's catch radius and skill set will make him a popular target at the next level, so don't be surprised when the 22-year-old challenges the 1,000-yard mark early in his professional career.

Holder: Texas defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat goes undrafted

On the field, T'Vondre Sweat is worthy of at least a Day 2 pick. He's a gap-filler against the run and has potential as a pass-rusher since it's hard to stop a mountain of a man when bullrushing. That's a big reason why he won the Outland Trophy this season.

However, the Texas product has failed the pre-draft process.

It all started at the Senior Bowl where he was the only player who didn't weigh in. There were already concerns about his weight and that made it seem like there was something to hide. At the combine, he tipped the scale at 366 pounds, which was reportedly his playing weight in 2023, but even that's still pretty heavy and he moved better as a 340-pound junior.

To make matters worse, Sweat was arrested for a DWI just weeks before the first round of the NFL draft. In his draft guide, The Athletic's Dane Brugler noted that scouts have expressed concerns about him being a "class clown" and a "party animal" in college, so the recent run-in with the law didn't do his draft stock any favors.

Long story short, there are a lot of red flags with Sweat off the field that will likely cause him to slide on draft day. Don't be surprised if teams don't want to risk potentially wasting a pick on a guy who has been failing tests recently.

Klassen: Jacksonville Jaguars select Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell over LSU's Brian Thomas Jr.

Knox: A big-name receiver gets traded on opening night

Moton: Arizona Cardinals select Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4, then trade back up for Rome Odunze

Sobleski: Indianapolis Colts into Top 10 to draft a weapon to help in Anthony Richardson's development

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is known for his calm and collected demeanor when it comes to draft.

He held his water last year when so many thought the organization should trade up a spot or two to ensure it landed its future franchise quarterback. But the GM remained patient, didn't surrender any assets and got his guy in Anthony Richardson.

This year is different, because Richardson is now in place. The clock has started. The Colts' primary goal should be to build as good of a surrounding cast as possible within the confines of the next four years when the signal-caller's rookie deal expires (including a fifth-year option pickup).

The incoming crop is loaded at the top with three wide receivers in Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington Rome Odunze, as well as Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who can immediately enter a lineup as an offensive top target.

Pair one of those names with the re-signed Michael Pittman Jr., and the Colts just went from intriguing to downright dangerous.

Thorn: 20 offensive lineman will be selected among the first two rounds