NEWSLETTER
Draft Day is finally here! We’ve taken quite a few cracks at what the first round could look like, and this will be the last one before the NFL Draft kicks off tonight! It still feels like a really unpredictable first round, especially in the top ten. How will things unfold? Judging off reports, draft odds, and gut feelings, let’s take a look at one more 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams – USC
We’ve known this for a while now. No analysis is really needed. We’re just hours away until Caleb Williams is officially a Chicago Bear.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels – LSU
It’s not nearly as certain as Caleb to the Bears, but this feels like, barring a massive shift, Jayden Daniels will be the pick here.
3. New England Patriots: QB J.J. McCarthy – Michigan
I’ll admit that the momentum for this pick seems to be shifting more toward Drake Maye, but J.J. McCarthy’s odds to go here have shortened a bit over the last week – though Maye is the favorite still. McCarthy, to me, just feels like a Patriots pick. He’s a proven winner and he’s got rave reviews as a leader. I could be wrong here, but I really think there’s a chance the Pats swerve to McCarthy.
4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Ohio State
Earlier this week I had the Cardinals trading back, then the Bears moving up for MHJ. The brief momentum that was there seemingly has died down. Could someone get really desperate and move up here for Drake Maye? Sure. But I think unless the Cardinals are totally blown away by an offer, they take Harrison Jr. happily.
5. *TRADE* Minnesota Vikings (via Chargers): QB Drake Maye – North Carolina
If Maye gets to this point, I’d expect Minnesota to go all in to move up for him. They need a quarterback and reportedly love Drake Maye. The Chargers need a lot of picks to begin rebuilding. These two feel like perfect trade partners.
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. Will they check in on the possibility of trading up? Possibly. But it really feels like they take Nabers and get a big-time playmaker.
7. Tennessee Titans: LT Joe Alt – Notre Dame
The Titans need a tackle desperately. Their offensive line was brutal last year. Joe Alt is the highest-rated tackle in this Draft and would be a home run for Tennessee here.
8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama
The Falcons, if they keep this pick, will almost certainly go with an EDGE, it’s just a matter of which one. Atlanta defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake coached Laiatu Latu at Washington, so there’s a connection there. But that’s also where Latu’s career was nearly derailed by injuries, so Lake knows those risks as well as anyone. I think they take Turner, but Latu wouldn’t surprise anyone.
9. Chicago Bears: WR Rome Odunze – Washington
This NFL Draft scenario has been the most talked about for quite some time now, and it just makes the most sense. You took Caleb Williams first overall. Drafting Odunze gives the Bears one of the best WR units in the league. Pair the two rookies up from day one and let them grow together.
10. New York Jets: TE Brock Bowers – Georgia
This one also just feels like it’s meant to be. Bowers has elite potential, and he’s a perfect fit for the Jets, who have some talented weapons. If you add Bowers to that offense, things could get dangerous with a healthy Aaron Rodgers.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (via Vikings): OT JC Latham – Alabama
I’m torn between Latham and Olu Fashanu here. But I think between the two of them, Latham might fit more with what Jim Harbaugh wants to do – pound the rock. Both are great tackles, and you can’t go wrong with either, in my opinion, but Latham is just a mauler in the run game, and I think he’s a Harbaugh guy.
12. *TRADE* Philadelphia Eagles (via Broncos): CB Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo
The Eagles’ idea of moving up for their favorite cornerback in the NFL Draft is gaining steam this week. I think the Broncos want Bo Nix, but they probably don’t want to reach on him here. The Eagles get aggressive about their choice of cornerback.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Michael Penix Jr – Washington
I think this is the earliest I’ve had Penix going in this series. While I think he’s a bit of a reach here, the Raiders have never had a problem reaching in the draft. It’s no secret that Vegas is a fan of Michael Penix Jr, and I think instead of rolling the dice on a potential trade back into the end of the first round, they just grab him here. They probably should go with a tackle, but it’s the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints: OT Olu Fashanu – Penn State
The Saints need help on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Fashanu, at one point, was the top-rated tackle in this draft, and he’s an elite pass protector. If he falls to 14, it could be a home run for New Orleans.
15. Indianapolis Colts: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama
I wouldn’t be shocked if teams were trying to move up for a tackle here, but the Colts could really use a corner, and Terrion Arnold is the top-rated one in this draft for some.
16. Seattle Seahawks: OT Taliese Fuaga – Oregon State
Fuaga is an absolute beast, especially in the run game. He is a right tackle but could probably also start at guard if that’s where Seattle feels they have the bigger need. With Seattle needing offensive line help, Fuaga would be a really solid addition.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: DB Cooper DeJean – Iowa
The Jags need help in the secondary and DeJean can step in and help them out at multiple positions. Whether that’s outside a corner, in the slot, or even at safety, DeJean is a player who can fit wherever Jacksonville needs him to in the secondary. He’s also a great asset in the return game.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Brian Thomas Jr – LSU
Thomas Jr. is a big target, outstanding at tracking the ball, and has great speed. With Tee Higgins wanting out of Cincinnati, the former LSU star would be a very solid replacement for the Bengals offense.
19. Los Angeles Rams: DT Byron Murphy II – Texas
The Rams need help on defense, especially on the line after Aaron Donald’s retirement. They could go with an EDGE here as well, but if Murphy II is still here (and he very well could go earlier) he feels like the safer pick and gives the Rams their Donald replacement.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: OL Troy Fautanu – Washington
Fautanu has been an interesting prospect. Some drafts have him going as high as the top ten. The Steelers need help in a few spots on the OL, and Fautanu can slot in at multiple positions as a day-one starter wherever he’s needed.
21. Miami Dolphins: OL Graham Barton – Duke
Similar to the Steelers, the Dolphins need help in multiple spots on the offensive line and Barton can provide them just that. He played a lot of tackle at Duke, but it seems like he can play just about any spot – center included – that he’s asked. It might not be the sexiest pick for Miami, but he’d check a lot of boxes.
22. Denver Broncos: QB Bo Nix – Oregon
Sean Payton loves Bo Nix. This would be the ideal scenario for him and the Broncos. Trade back and also get the quarterback they want.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (via Vikings): EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA
The Chargers brought back both Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, but those guys won’t be playing the whole season, in all likelihood, given their injury histories. Plus, Mack is 33 years old and is by no means a long-term answer. Los Angeles at this spot should go best available, and whether that’s Latu or Jared Verse is up to them, but if these two are on the board here, I think the Chargers will take one of them.
24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Amarius Mims – Georgia
The Cowboys need to build back up their offensive line, and Mims feels like a Jerry Jones pick. He’s got a HUGE frame at 6’8, 340 lbs, and he also tested great at the combine. There’s a durability risk attached, but that wouldn’t bother Jerry Jones I don’t think.
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.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State
Verse falling here would be the Bucs’ dream scenario. He’s got an incredibly high ceiling, played his college football in Florida, and can come in from day one and fill a big need.
27. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State
The Cardinals got their new top wide receiver at fourth overall, and now they add another premier position with Chop Robinson at EDGE. Arizona needs to build up the defense, and Robinson provides a solid start.
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.
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, 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.
30. Baltimore Ravens: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
The Ravens feel like they get one of the steals of the first round every year, and McKinstry here could be just that. He was the top-rated corner in this draft class just a few months ago, and the ceiling is incredibly high. Taking an elite Nick Saban-coached cornerback and bringing him into the Ravens culture seems like a perfect fit.
31. San Francisco 49ers: WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas
The Niners could take several different routes here. I could easily see them going with a tackle or defensive lineman, but given the uncertainty of Brandon Aiyuk’s situation and Deebo Samuel’s durability issues, Kyle Shanahan could use another weapon on offense. Mitchell is the total package at WR.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Tyler Guyton – Oklahoma
They could certainly go with a receiver here, too, but this is a deep receiver draft, and they did just fine without a surefire WR1 last season. I think they strengthen their OL with a tackle in Guyton who could easily go higher than this.
