NEWSLETTER
It’s Draft Week! After months of anticipation, the NFL’s premier offseason event is finally here.
We know how the first overall pick will go, but beyond that, we have a ton of unpredictability. Who will Washington take second? Will Arizona or LA trade back? Will Minnesota or Denver trade up? Let’s go run through another 2024 NFL Mock Draft to kick off Draft Week.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams – USC
As mentioned above, nothing will likely change on this front before April 25th’s 1st Round. Sure, anything can happen, but this is just about the lock of all locks. We have less than a week until Caleb Williams becomes the Chicago Bears’ new starting quarterback and steps into a pretty great situation for a rookie quarterback.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels – LSU
Throughout NFL Draft season, so many rumors get thrown out there, and it can be hard to decipher what’s real and what’s a smokescreen. I still think the Commanders will go with Jayden Daniels, as the ceiling is so high there. That said, Washington hosted four quarterbacks together over the last few days, so they’re doing their research and keeping their options open. It’s likely Daniels, but nothing is certain until Roger Goodell announces the pick.
3. New England Patriots: QB J.J. McCarthy – Michigan
As momentum for J.J. McCarthy picks up, I think there’s a very realistic chance he ends up with New England as the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. McCarthy is now a proven winner, and he was an integral part of changing the attitude and culture of Michigan football. McCarthy is very fundamentally sound, and he’s got a great work ethic, Jim Harbaugh RAVED about him at the owners’ meetings. The ceiling may seem higher for Drake Maye, but given McCarthy’s momentum and the intangibles that the league has been loving recently, it feels very possible we see the Michigan QB in the top three.
4. *TRADE* Minnesota Vikings (via Cardinals) – QB Drake Maye – North Carolina
The Cardinals could absolutely stay in this spot and take Marvin Harrison Jr, but as we saw last year they’re not afraid to trade down and load up on assets. They’re a team that needs A LOT of help, and Minnesota could get desperate for a quarterback. With teams like the Broncos, Giants, or even Raiders potentially lurking to move up for a QB, Arizona could play their cards right and facilitate a Vikings move up to fourth for a big draft haul in return.
5. *TRADE* Chicago Bears (via Chargers) – WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
If Marvin Harrison Jr falls past the fourth pick, I expect the Bears to be highly interested in moving up for the star wideout. Ryan Poles has been very good about accumulating assets as the Bears GM, but when it’s been time to go get a player he thinks he needs, he’s not afraid to do it. The Chargers need a lot of help, and Harrison Jr could certainly be a fit but they also need much more than just him. There has been more smoke the last few days about the Bears moving up if Harrison falls to this point I hope they do.
6. New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers – LSU
After missing out on the top four rated quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, the Giants have to pivot, so they go with the next best thing and draft an electric wide receiver in Malik Nabers. The former LSU Tiger gives New York a number one target on the outside and a playmaker that they desperately need, especially after Saquon Barkley left for Philly. They still have holes on offense and need a big bounce back from Daniel Jones, but Nabers is a great start in getting some potential star power on their offense.
7. Tennessee Titans: LT Joe Alt – Notre Dame
The Titans need help on both lines of scrimmage. Joe Alt was outstanding at Notre Dame, and he came away as one of the big winners at the NFL Combine. The farther along we get in the draft process, the more momentum Alt seems to gain. While we kind of knew he was a great athlete, his Scouting Combine performance confirmed that and then some. Tennessee grabs the former Fighting Irish standout to anchor their OL.
8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA
The Falcons have their quarterback; now it’s time to address the other side of the ball. Defense is the pick for them here in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, but I have them going with a different EDGE. Latu is gaining steam and rising back up draft boards, plus he has a connection with Falcons DC Jimmy Lake from college. I’d be interested to see if any team tries to come up and get ahead of the Bears for Rome Odunze. Right now though, I think they keep the pick and go EDGE.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (via Bears): TE Brock Bowers – Georgia
Bowers very well might be the best player in this draft. He’s a tight end but also has the athleticism of a wide receiver. The Chargers need weapons, and if they choose to trade back and pass on Harrison Jr, Bowers is just about as much of a sure thing as there is in this draft. He’d be a perfect fit in Jim Harbaugh’s offense where the tight end plays a vital role, and he’d be a huge help to Justin Herbert as a new go-to target.
10. New York Jets: WR Rome Odunze – Washington
The Jets addressed the tackle position this offseason – granted with more of a short-term solution – which frees them up to have a little more flexibility with the 10th overall pick. Rome Odunze is the total package at wide receiver and would give Aaron Rodgers another dangerous target to work with on the other side of Garrett Wilson.
11. Arizona Cardinals: (via Vikings): EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama
The Cardinals – now with three first-round picks after the Vikings trade – address a pick need with one of the top pass rushers in the draft. They need multiple pieces on both sides of the ball, so going with one of the best players at a premier position helps check a lot of boxes for Arizona. Their first pick in a very active first round gives them a big-time playmaker on defense.
12. *TRADE* Philadelphia Eagles (via Broncos): CB Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo
The Eagles’ defensive collapse was pretty unbelievable last season and, among other issues, was the biggest reason why they flamed out so hard down the stretch. The Broncos might still want a quarterback, but taking one at 12 is a bit of a reach, and a move back would net them more assets to help rebuild a depleted roster. Mitchell might be the most complete corner in this draft and has skyrocketed up draft boards in the last few months.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: OT JC Latham – Alabama
The Raiders need to continue to bolster their offensive line, and Latham gives them the opportunity to do that after some chaos ensues in front of them. Now, this is the Raiders we’re talking about so anything can happen here, and honestly, a move back wouldn’t shock me either, but for right now while it might seem ‘boring’ for Raiders standards, grabbing Latham at 13 would be a win.
14. New Orleans Saints: OT Olu Fashanu – Penn State
The Saints need help on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Given what’s left on the board, I think they’ll go offensive line in this spot. Fashanu is a rock-solid option to jump in at left tackle and could easily be the first or second tackle off the board. Several teams would love to add him, and New Orleans does that with the 14th pick.
15. Indianapolis Colts: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama
The Colts need help in the secondary, specifically at the cornerback position. Terrion Arnold gives them a young, talented option who can slot in and be a shutdown corner from day one. He’s lightning-fast, has elite ball skills, is very good at getting off blocks, and doesn’t have a ton of glaring weaknesses. The Colts would be thrilled to select him here.
16. Seattle Seahawks: OL Troy Fautanu – Washington
Fautanu has been fast-rising up NFL Draft boards so far this offseason, and his fit with the Seahawks seems too perfect. He was a tackle at Washington but probably projects more as an interior lineman at the NFL level. The Seahawks can give him a look at multiple positions and see where he fits best. Fautanu feels like a lock to be a rock-solid NFL offensive lineman; it just feels like a matter of where.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Cooper DeJean – Iowa
The Jags collapse was a brutal one down the stretch, and it really amplified their NFL Draft needs. They most certainly need a little more help on offense, but defensively, the team struggled mightily in the last few weeks. Taking a defensive player as versatile and solid as DeJean at this spot instantly makes the Jags a better unit and gives them a lot of flexibility going forward.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Brian Thomas Jr. – LSU
There are a few different routes the Bengals can go here, but with the uncertainty surrounding Tee Higgins, I think they go with a receiver here. Brian Thomas Jr. is the total package and would be a great compliment opposite Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals have never been hesitant to surround Joe Burrow with the best weapons possible, and I think they follow that trend here.
19. Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State
The Rams need help rebuilding their defense, and with plenty of options at EDGE in this first round, they grab Jared Verse out of Florida State. They could go the cornerback or offensive line route, but if Verse were to fall back to them here I think his ceiling at this valuable of a position is too much to pass up on for a team that needs help in a lot of areas. If you can get to the passer, it makes everything easier on the rest of your defense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: OL Graham Barton – Duke
I’ve had Pittsburgh going cornerback here for a while now, but momentum seems to be trending toward them addressing the offensive line. Graham Barton was a rock-solid lineman at Duke and he will provide whatever team he lands with a ton of position versatility. That makes him a perfect fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they will likely look to improve the protection in front of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.
21. Miami Dolphins: DT Byron Murphy II – Texas
Miami needs help on both lines of scrimmage pretty badly. I think the ceiling for Byron Murphy II combined with the loss of Christian Wilkins to the Raiders in free agency diverts them down this path. Murphy had an outstanding year for Texas and is a problem in the interior of the defensive line. He had five sacks last season, but is also a force against the run and will help free things up for the rest of the defense.
22. Denver Broncos (via Eagles): QB Bo Nix – Oregon
Personally, I like Michael Penix Jr a little more as a prospect than Nix but I think Nix’s fit with Sean Payton and his scheme works really well. Nix has a ton of experience, he was incredibly accurate, and he took care of the football last year at Oregon with just three interceptions compared to 45 TD passes. If the Broncos are picking in this spot or somewhere in the 20s, I would expect them to take Nix.
23. Arizona Cardinals (via Vikings): CB Nate Wiggins – Clemson
After taking someone who can go get the quarterback earlier in the first round, the Cardinals select a player who can take the ball away in Nate Wiggins. Arizona needs to rebuild most of its defense, and grabbing one of the top EDGE rushers as well as one of the top playmaking corners in this draft would be a home run for Jonathan Gannon headed into his second season.
24. Dallas Cowboys: T Amarius Mims – Georgia
Amarius Mims was one of the big winners at the NFL Combine, with his 40-yard dash and shuttle times, along with his massive frame. He’s a bit of a risk in terms of durability, but I think with how he performed in Indy he’s exactly the type of player Jerry Jones would fall in love with. Huge frame, athletic, and can get a shot at either tackle. Dallas would love to take him here.
25. Green Bay Packers: T Jordan Morgan – Arizona
The Packers have done a good job re-building a decent offensive line, but the missing piece is that franchise left tackle especially now that David Bakhtiari’s time in Green Bay is done. Jordan Morgan has the chance to be that, and he would come into a situation that would be very friendly for a rookie tackle. It’s an already strong offensive line and it’s a very well-coached offense. There are some things to work on, but given the situation in Green Bay, I love the fit.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State
The Bucs have their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, back in the fold. Mike Evans was brought back with a brand new deal as well. Tampa could go with some OL help here, but they need impact players at premier positions on defense and Chop Robinson gives them just that. Robinson had a great year at Penn State and had, at times, been projected as the top EDGE in this draft. He’d be a great fit at Tampa as the EDGE rusher they really need to complement a very strong interior defensive line.
27. Arizona Cardinals: WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas
Really it could be the dealer’s choice of the receivers still left at this spot for Arizona, but I really like AD Mitchell. He’s got the full package – big frame, fast, very good route runner, can go up and get it and beat you over the top. Mitchell gives Kyler Murray and the Cardinals a versatile playmaker that they desperately need.
28. Buffalo Bills: WR Xavier Worthy – Texas
Xavier Worthy’s record-setting 40-yard dash time will more than likely get him picked in the first round; it’s just a matter of where. Stefon Diggs has left Buffalo and Gabe Davis signed with Jacksonville. That means the Bills need to add an explosive playmaker. Xavier Worthy is the definition of that. He clearly has elite speed, he can beat anyone over the top, and he feels like a perfect match for Josh Allen and his gunslinger mentality.
29. Detroit Lions: DT Jer’Zhan Newton – Illinois
Detroit needs some help defensively as we saw from the NFC Championship game. They could go the cornerback route here, but Newton’s high ceiling would be too much for the Lions to pass on here, especially with how we saw them draft last year. They’re going to take whoever they think is the best player on the board, premier position or not. Newton if he makes it here I think would be that player.
30. *TRADE* Las Vegas Raiders (via Ravens): QB Michael Penix Jr – Washington
No matter how many quarterbacks people seem to project to go in the first round, so often it ends up being even more than expected. The Raiders signed Gardiner Minshew to a two-year deal, but their future is far from set at QB. They have the draft capital to trade back into the first round, and Penix has several traits that a team can fall in love with. Would anyone be shocked to see the Raiders make a bold move for a QB?
31. San Francisco 49ers: WR Ladd McConkey – Georgia
I believe this is the first time I’ve had him going in the first round. With the Brandon Aiyuk uncertainty in San Francisco, a receiver is certainly an option for the Niners here. McConkey has impressed teams during the draft process, he’s got great hands, and he feels like a fit in the 49ers offense. Not a lot would surprise me here – including a trade back – but for now, I think they could go the WR route.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Troy Franklin Jr. – Oregon
This is a tricky spot for Kansas City. L’Jarius Sneed is off to Tennessee which means they could go try and pick his replacement in this spot. But they still need help at receiver. Rashee Rice’s status is in limbo as he deals with legal issues following a car wreck. Franklin was a touchdown machine for Oregon last year and has great YAC potential. Being a secondary option to Travis Kelce feels like a great fit for Franklin.
