NEWSLETTER
Another week closer to the 2024 NFL Draft. We had a few big news drops this week in terms of draft declarations. Caleb Williams took his time but entered himself into the draft on the final day to do so. The Ohio State Buckeyes had a trio of potential first-round picks decide to stay in school. Let’s get to our latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams – USC
As of right now, I feel like the Bears are still trending toward selecting Caleb Williams with the top pick and moving on from Justin Fields. I think whoever the offensive coordinator ends up being could be an indicator of which way GM Ryan Poles is leaning, but there’s no hire there yet. While I’m not sure a decision has been made internally yet, it feels like this is the direction they might be leaning, granted, maybe only slightly.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye – North Carolina
New ownership, New GM, new head coach, new QB. The Commanders bring in Drake Maye to be the new franchise quarterback for an organization looking to turn over a new leaf next year. I’m intrigued to see if they push for a trade-up to the top spot, but as of now, I think it’s Maye that they end up with as their signal caller next year.
3. New England Patriots: QB Jayden Daniels – LSU
Three quarterbacks in a row! The Patriots need to address their QB situation, and though they miss out on the top two choices in this year’s NFL Draft, the electric Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels will still be sitting there for them with the third pick. With a new head coach in Jerod Mayo running the show, the Pats push the reset button at quarterback and go for a fresh start.
4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
The Cardinals fall to the fourth overall pick but still end up with arguably the best player in this draft. Kyler Murray is very likely back for another year, so Arizona goes best player available to get a big-time weapon on the outside.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Rome Odunze – Washington
Moving all the way up to the top five, the Chargers use the selection to go and get Justin Herbert a potentially elite weapon on the outside. Los Angeles has some talent at receiver, but it is aging and injury-prone. Rome Odunze didn’t have the best national championship game, but he had an unreal season and has been gaining some serious momentum in terms of draft stock.
6. New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers – LSU
While the Giants might not be able to answer their QB question at sixth overall, they get the next best thing and draft a legitimate top wide receiver, which is something they’ve been missing for a while. Malik Nabers is one of the most explosive players in this draft and has a ton of big play ability. Whoever is calling the signals for the Giants next year will have themself a very dangerous target.
7. Tennessee Titans: LT Olu Fashanu – Penn State
The Titans need help on both lines of scrimmage, and thanks to how things shook out with the NFL Draft order this week, the top two offensive tackle prospects on the board fall to them at number seven. They go with Olu Fashanu out of Penn State to anchor their offensive line and improve a group that’s allowed the fourth-most sacks in the NFL this season.
8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA
The Falcons still need a quarterback, but they have some talented pieces on both sides of the football. Offensively, they have some weapons, and defensively, they’re not a bad unit, but they could definitely use some help getting to the quarterback, so they take the highest-rated EDGE in the draft in Laiatu Latu.
9. Chicago Bears: TE Brock Bowers – Georgia
The Bears unfortunately miss out on the top three wideouts in this draft class, but they end up with one of the most talented overall players in Brock Bowers. Yes, they already have Cole Kmet, but Bowers is a weapon, and offenses often use multiple tight ends. The Bears still need to address a target on the outside to play opposite D.J. Moore, but Bowers and Kmet together could create as good of a tight-end tandem as there is in the league.
10. New York Jets: LT Joe Alt – Notre Dame
With Olu Fashanu off the board, the Jets go ahead and grab the next best tackle on the board to help protect Aaron Rodgers and his repaired Achilles! Even with a healthy Rodgers this season, the Jets would have had an uphill climb with their instability on the offensive line. Grabbing Alt with the 10th overall pick gives the Jets a massive upgrade at a premier position heading into a very important 2024-25 season.
11. *TRADE* Las Vegas Raiders (via Minnesota Vikings): QB J.J. McCarthy – Michigan
After winning the national title at Michigan, McCarthy’s stock is already on the rise, and I think he’s someone that will continue to gain buzz as we get closer to draft time. Jim Harbaugh is exploring NFL jobs, and while right now the Chargers are the favorites to land him don’t rule out Vegas. If that happens, the Raiders jumping a division rival to grab a QB they want isn’t out of the question. Could McCarthy and Harbaugh reunite in the NFL?
12. Denver Broncos: QB Bo Nix – Oregon
The Broncos have made it clear they want to move on from Russell Wilson in the offseason, and that opens them up to draft a quarterback. Nix feels like a perfect fit in Sean Payton’s system. He was smart with the football in his time at Oregon; he’s got a ton of experience and can start day one, and he’s dangerous with his legs. The next run on quarterbacks begins with Nix to Denver.
13. Minnesota Vikings (via Las Vegas Raiders): EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama
The Vikings still have some quarterback uncertainty as well, but with where they’re at in the draft, I think they should bring back Kirk Cousins to work with the talented group of receivers and add a difference-maker on defense. Danielle Hunter’s future in Minnesota is uncertain after this season. If he’s gone, they’ll most certainly need an impact pass rusher. If he stays, they still need some help on the other side. Dallas fills a big need for the Vikings, and they’re able to add draft capital by trading back a couple of spots as well.
14. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State
The Saints need to add in a lot of different spots, and with their spot in the draft going with one of the top EDGE rushers available makes the most sense. It’s one of the most valuable positions in football, and with Cam Jordan on the back nine of his career, New Orleans could certainly stand to bring in an explosive player to line up on the opposite side.
15. Indianapolis Colts: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
While the Colts would like to get another weapon for Anthony Richardson on the offense, they need some help at cornerback as well. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the top-rated corner in this draft and fills a very big need for Indianapolis. McKinstry is a very complete player and can make an impact on day one for a Colts defense that needs playmakers.
16. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State
Seattle needs EDGE help, and they get it with the 16th pick in the NFL Draft in Penn State’s Chop Robinson. They have been looking for consistency at that position all year, and Robinson can come in right away next year and be their best pass rusher on that defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Nate Wiggins – Clemson
The Jags collapse was a brutal one down the stretch, and it really amplified their needs. They most certainly need a little more help on offense, but defensively, the team struggled mightily in the last few weeks. Taking the top-rated cornerback left on the board and a big-time playmaker on defense fills a need and helps get the Jags back on the right track.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Keon Coleman – Florida State
As much as the Bengals would like to bring back Tee Higgins, it just might not be feasible. Higgins is going to get WR1 money, and rightfully so. With Joe Burrow getting his new contract and Ja’Marr Chase next in line for a megadeal, I think the Bengals let Higgins walk and take his replacement with Keon Coleman. Coleman has had a fantastic year for the Seminoles and is a similar receiver to Higgins. He would be a perfect fit to slot in with Cincinnati.
19. Los Angeles Rams: OT JC Latham – Alabama
You really can’t go wrong in the NFL Draft with Alabama, and JC Latham is one of the highest-rated tackles in this class. The Rams could use a little help in the trenches, and Latham can step in on day one and provide it. While there are some other holes to fill out on the roster, Latham is too good of a prospect to pass up at this spot. LA has a few other holes to fill, but a solid tackle to fill out their offensive line is a good direction to go.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Cooper DeJean – Iowa
The Steelers need to add a corner to play opposite of last year’s draft pick, Joey Porter Jr, so they grab a versatile defensive back in Cooper DeJean. DeJean has the speed, size, and instincts to fit in on day one as a starter in the NFL, and he feels like a perfect fit for Mike Tomlin’s defense in Pittsburgh.
21. Miami Dolphins: OT Taliese Fuaga – Oregon State
The Dolphins need help on their offensive line, and with the 21st pick, they take a tough, hard-nosed tackle to anchor that unit. Fuaga has a massive 6’6, 334 lb frame. He didn’t allow a sack last season at Oregon State. He’s a perfect fit to come in and start day one for Mike McDaniel’s versatile offensive scheme.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama
The Eagles’ collapse down the stretch of the season was certainly something to behold. I still think they have a very talented roster, but defensively their glaring need for help in the secondary got exposed. Philly really needs to add a shutdown corner, and Terrion Arnold has a very high ceiling. The Eagles grab him here to try and help out their defense.
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Troy Franklin – Oregon
With C.J. Stroud having an amazing rookie year, the Texans go out and reward him in the NFL Draft by adding a big play machine in Troy Franklin. Franklin averaged over 17 yards per reception last season at Oregon and scored 14 touchdowns. He’s a true playmaker that can straight-up fly. Add him to the receiving corps and continue to build up that offense for Stroud.
24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Amarius Mims
You really can’t go wrong drafting a Georgia lineman, and Amarius Mims is a MONSTER. The Cowboys will likely have some moving parts on the offensive line, so adding the 6’7, 340 lb tackle from Georgia makes a lot of sense. Mims missed a few games with an ankle injury this season, but he’s back to full strength and has looked every part of a first-round pick at tackle. He’s got that massive frame, he’s explosive off the ball, and he is very athletic for his size.
25. Green Bay Packers: CB Kalen King – Penn State
The Packers run has been incredibly impressive down the stretch, and the longer the season has gone on the better their offense has looked. While they could still stand to add some help on the offensive line, the secondary is also a spot they may want to address. Given what’s left on the board at each position, Kalen King makes sense for them here.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo
About a month ago, I’m not sure anyone expected the Bucs to be picking this far back in the first round, but here we are! There are a few different areas of need for Tampa; it will just depend on what their draft board looks like. Mitchell has fantastic instincts. He’s a physical corner that can come in day one and help out the Bucs secondary.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Jer’Zhan Newton – Illinois
The Cardinals need help just about everywhere on defense. While the value might not be there at some of the premier positions this late in the first round, Jer’Zhan Newton is a very good interior defensive lineman and can anchor Arizona’s front seven from day one. The Cardinals still will need to add on the edge, but Newton checks every box for them here.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas
The Chiefs desperately need to add a playmaker to their receiver room, and Mitchell gives them just that with their first-round NFL Draft pick. He’s a big target for Patrick Mahomes to look for at 6’4, 196 lbs. Mitchell is a complete receiver, a great route-runner, and can do just about whatever Andy Reid asks him to do offensively. This pick would also help open things up for last year’s WR draft pick Rashee Rice, who’s shown some flashes this season, and only make things easier on Travis Kelce. Adding Mitchell would be a huge win for Mahomes, Kelce, and the Chiefs offense.
29. Buffalo Bills: DL Leonard Taylor III – Miami
The Bills will need help at receiver and on the interior of their defensive line. With Newton off the board, Buffalo happily grabs Leonard Taylor III to fill a big need. With DaQuan Jones hurt this year and likely on the way out after this season, Taylor would be a logical fit late in the first round for the Bills.
30. Detroit Lions: OL Graham Barton – Duke
Barton is one of the most versatile offensive linemen in this draft and a very good football player. Detroit might need to add to the interior of their offensive line. Barton can play tackle or guard and gives Dan Campbell options up front. Drafting a potential guard in the first round might not be the best positional value, but the Lions showed in last year’s draft they want to take the best players regardless of position.
31. San Francisco 49ers: OT Jordan Morgan – Arizona
Addressing the opposite side of Trent Williams makes sense for San Francisco at the end of the first round. Colton McKivitz hasn’t done anything special in replacing Mike McGlinchey. Morgan gives them a player who can slot in on the right side immediately and make the transition to the left tackle when Trent Williams calls it a career.
32. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Bralen Trice – Washington
Trice is a very complete EDGE defender who would fit really well with Baltimore’s defense. He can rush the passer and play the run equally well. He’s got a massive frame and is explosive off the ball. He may not be the flashiest player, but he does so many things well and would be a very “Ravens” pick to round out the first round.
