NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears currently hold two top-five picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. And after the Patriots win on Thursday Night Football, Chicago’s chances at the first overall selection increased a ton. Will they take a quarterback or go a different route? And how about the Cardinals. Are they committed to Kyler Murray, who’s looked good for them, or will they jump on a quarterback?
There are so many questions to answer, and these projections will change about a million times before April’s draft. Let’s get the ball rolling!
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. *TRADE* New England Patriots (via Chicago Bears): QB Caleb Willams – USC
Now that they’re in the two spot, the Patriots get aggressive and grab the top quarterback in the draft. The Bears get what they want and move back a spot and pick up a boatload of picks to do so. New England will likely have a new head coach and a new general manager who will want to put their stamp on the organization. They do that by trading up for Caleb Williams.
2. Chicago Bears (via New England Patriots): WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
I know Harrison said recently that returning to school was an option and that Ohio State would make him a generous NIL offer, but I’ll believe he’s not going to the draft when I see it. He’s the most talented player in this draft. Last year’s 2nd Overall Pick C.J. Stroud signed a deal worth $36.2 million guaranteed. Ohio State can’t offer that. The Bears pick up draft picks by moving down and add a massive weapon to their offense.
3. *TRADE* New York Giants (via Arizona Cardinals): QB Drake Maye – UNC
With Caleb Williams already off the board, the Giants move up and get the second-highest-rated QB on the board in Drake Maye. I know Daniel Jones signed his new deal after last year, but the out for the Giants of that contract comes after year two. With Jones coming off a knee injury and Brian Daboll clearly not being all in on him, New York gets aggressive to grab their potential franchise QB in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
4. Washington Commanders: LT Olu Fashanu – Penn State
The Commanders need help on both of their lines. They appear to have their quarterback of the future, or at least one that they’ll roll with into next year. They have some decent weapons for Sam Howell. Now they need to protect him. Washington has given up the second-most sacks in the NFL. They grab the top-ranked tackle on the board to protect their QB and provide some stability up front.
5. Chicago Bears: QB Jayden Daniels – LSU
For the first time in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft series, I have the Bears taking a QB and moving on from Justin Fields. The rest of the offense has weapons with the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. The offensive line has been very solid late in the season. I think Jayden Daniels will rocket up draft boards similar to Anthony Richardson. The Bears reset the clock at the quarterback position and Ryan Poles picks his guy, while also adding draft picks by trading back from #1 to #2.
6. 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 newly 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 sixth overall pick gives the Jets a massive upgrade at their most important position on the OL heading into a very important 2024-25 season.
7. Arizona Cardinals (via New York Giants): TE Brock Bowers – Georgia
I think Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best talent in this draft. If you told me you thought it was Brock Bowers, I wouldn’t really argue with you. That dude has been a MONSTER for his entire career at Georgia. The Cardinals, I think, will roll with Kyler Murray for at least another year. They drafted their LT last year. Now they go get a weapon that can be an elite tight end in the NFL.
8. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA
This draft has a decent amount of EDGE depth, but the top-end talent might not be what it has been in previous drafts. The Titans need help just about everywhere. Ideally, they’d like to grab some help for their young quarterback in Will Levis, but they need help getting to the quarterback as well. Tennessee goes best player available at #8 and grabs Latu when he falls to them.
9. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State
The Saints need help on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and with Latu going eighth the run on the EDGE position has officially begun. Jared Verse had a very good year for Florida State and has been ranked the top 2024 NFL Draft EDGE prospect in some places. The Saints grab their eventual Cam Jordan successor with the explosive pass rusher from Florida State at #9.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Malik Nabers – LSU
A second LSU Tiger rounds out the top ten in this 2024 NFL mock draft as the Bucs select Malik Nabers. Tampa needs help just about everywhere. They need to get younger and faster. Nabers helps them in those areas. The quarterback position is still a question mark…for now. That said, without a surefire QB around at No. 10, the Bucs get the next best thing in an elite weapon for whoever is their signal-caller in 2024.
11. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Bo Nix- Oregon
The Raiders need some help everywhere. It’s still uncertain if they’ll roll with Antonio Pierce as their head coach next year or look elsewhere, but I think either way, they’d ideally like to take QB. Aiden O’Connell has been okay, but he’s not the franchise guy. We know what Jimmy Garoppolo is. Vegas takes their quarterback and keeps Bo Nix out west.
12. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Rome Odunze – Washington
Odunze has been phenomenal this year and is a massive reason why the Huskies are in the College Football Playoff. Yes, the Chargers took Quentin Johnston in the first round last year, but he hasn’t lived up to the billing. I think the Chargers will have a new head coach next season and one that’s likely offensive-minded. Keenan Allen is still very good but is getting older. Mike Williams has trouble staying healthy. I think the Chargers take an elite talent that can do it all in a stacked WR draft class.
(Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
13. Denver Broncos: EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama
The Broncos need help on both sides of the line, and could use another corner. With how the board has gone so far, I think Sean Payton grabs the top EDGE rusher on the board. Can’t go wrong drafting Bama! The Broncos have some pieces offensively. They addressed the offensive line in free agency last year, and while they could use some help there, they also need help on the defensive line. Turner’s ceiling is too high for Denver to pass on here, so the Broncos draft their disruptor.
14. Buffalo Bills: DT Jer’Zahn Newton – Illinois
The Bills will need help at receiver and on the interior of their defensive line. If Newton falls to the 14th pick, I think Buffalo will grab him in a heartbeat. He’s a top-ten-ranked player overall in this draft, according to PFF, but positional value could see him fall a bit. With DaQuan Jones hurt this year and likely on the way out after this season, Newton seems like the obvious choice for the Bills to fill that need in this mock draft.
15. Seattle Seahawks – EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State
The Seahawks added to the interior of the DL this year with Leonard Williams, but now they address the EDGE position and snag one of the top pass rushers left on the board. Chop Robinson has had a really good year for Penn State and provides a spark for Seattle at a position they need help with in their quest to catch San Francisco.
16. Los Angeles Rams: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
The Rams need to rebuild their defense, and getting the top cornerback on the board is certainly a start. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the top defensive back in the draft and he gives the Rams their Jalen Ramsey replacement. While the Rams could go a few different directions here, I think they take the highest-rated player left on the board and get a lockdown corner.
17. 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.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Nate Wiggins – Clemson
The Steelers can use some help in a few different places, but a playmaker at cornerback might top the list. Nate Wiggins gives Mike Tomlin and his defense just that. Wiggins can come in and play right away opposite Joey Porter Jr and give Pittsburgh a dynamic duo at cornerback that they should be set with for the foreseeable future.
19. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE JT Tuimoloau – Ohio State
The Falcons need to address a few different positions. I think if (and in this mock draft scenario, when) the Bears move on from Justin Fields, Atlanta would be the most likely landing spot. So with the quarterback position addressed via the trade market, the Falcons grab an incredibly well-rounded EDGE rusher to address a position of need and help them get to the quarterback more.
20. Green Bay Packers: OT Taliese Fuaga – Oregon State
With Jordan Love looking more and more like the QB of the future, I think the Packers make an investment in their young QB and grab a stud left tackle. Green Bay’s receiver room is really coming along. They have a good defense. Picking up their favorite of the remaining tackle prospects here makes sense. David Bakhtiari has played just 13 games over the last three seasons. It’s time for the Packers to pick up his replacement, and I think they do that with Fuaga.
21. Minnesota Vikings: QB JJ McCarthy – Michigan
Whether or not Kirk Cousins comes back next year, it’s time to find his successor. While I think Michael Penix Jr. has a higher ceiling, he’s a little bit more of a project and needs some development. I think McCarthy can step in on day one for the Vikings if needed, especially with the weapons around him, and fit into Kevin O’Connell’s offense. However, he’d also benefit from a year or two behind Cousins. He’s well-rounded, he can make throws on the run, and is accurate. Whether it’s to start ASAP or to learn for a year, Minnesota feels like an ideal landing spot for the Chicagoland native.
22. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): EDGE Bralen Trice – Washington
With their first pick in the first round, the Cardinals grabbed one of the most talented offensive players in the draft with Brock Bowers. With their second first-round pick, Arizona grabs some defensive help for Jonathan Gannon and grabs the big-bodied, explosive EDGE rusher Bralen Trice out of Washington. Trice can defend the run, and he’s a very good pass rusher as well. He’s exactly the type of player the Cardinals would like to build their defense around.
23. Indianapolis Colts: CB Kalen King – Penn State
The Colts have been one of the biggest surprise teams in the NFL season, but they still have a few areas of need to address in the 2024 NFL Draft. Cornerback is arguably their biggest need and Kalen King can provide them immediate help in the secondary. The time will come to address some needs on the offensive side of the ball to help out Anthony Richardson, but going with the top corner left on the board here makes a lot of sense.
24. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
With C.J. Stroud having an amazing rookie year, the Texans go out and reward him in the NFL Draft by adding his former Ohio State teammate Emeka Egbuka to his receiver corps. While he’s often overshadowed by Marvin Harrison Jr., Egbuka is a really talented player who’s an incredibly complete receiver and is an NFL-ready prospect. Reunite him with Stroud and continue to build that offense.
25. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas
The Chiefs really need to add a playmaker to their receiver room, and Mitchell gives them just that with the 25th pick in the NFL Draft. 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.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars: DB Cooper DeJean – Iowa
While Jacksonville is in the midst of another solid season and a likely playoff run, they do have a few different needs they can fill in the first round. Defensive back makes a lot of sense for them at #26, and Cooper DeJean provides them with a talented and versatile option. DeJean can play corner or he can likely make the move to safety. He can return punts as well as we’ve seen from Iowa. He’s coming off an injury but that shouldn’t be an issue come draft time.
27. Dallas Cowboys: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama
Dallas can use some help in the secondary, and Terrion Arnold would be a great fit with their 1st Round NFL Draft pick. Trevon Diggs is an amazing corner, but he’s recovering from a torn ACL. Stephon Gilmore is 33 years old. Arnold has had a phenomenal season for Nick Saban and his draft stock is quickly rising. He fills a big need for the Cowboys.
28. Detroit Lions: DL Leonard Taylor III – Miami
Aidan Hutchinson has been everything the Lions have hoped for on the edge, but they need to add some help to the defensive line still. Taylor would be a very solid fit on the interior of the Lions defensive line, and be a boost to a defense that’s started to show some holes down the stretch of the NFL season. With the top EDGE rushers off the board, the Lions grab an interior DL that fits in right away in Detroit.
29. San Francisco 49ers: OT JC Latham – Alabama
The rich get richer, and the dominoes fall in favor of the 49ers as one of the top tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft falls to them at the back end of the first round. Trent Williams is elite, but he’s not getting any younger. Colton McKivitz hasn’t been great ranking as PFF’s 42nd-best qualifying tackle is pass-blocking efficiency. Latham gives them a player who can slot in on the right side right away, and make the transition to the left when Trent Williams calls it a career.
30. *TRADE* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Baltimore Ravens): QB Michael Penix Jr – Washington
The Ravens are one of the deepest teams in the NFL, and with Leonard Taylor III off the board, they trade back to stockpile picks. The Buccaneers have no quarterback of the future at this point. Next year they’ll likely have a new head coach. They missed out on the first run of quarterbacks in the top 10 of this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, but they trade back into the end of Round 1 with a package based around the 41st overall pick and take the top QB left on the board to pair with Malik Nabers who they took 10th overall.`
31. Miami Dolphins: OT Amarius Mims – Georgia
You really can’t go wrong drafting a Georgia lineman, and Amarius Mims is a MONSTER. Miami needs help on the offensive line, and the 6’7, 340 lb tackle from Georgia can be just that for them. Mims missed a few games with an ankle injury this season, but he’s at full strength now 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 is very athletic for his size. He’s exactly what the Dolphins need to help that offensive line.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: S Kamren Kinchens – Miami
The Eagles don’t have many holes on their roster, so they have the luxury of being able to go several different directions with their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. An explosive, playmaking safety is never a bad way to go and Kinchens is just that. He’s a high-motor player. He flies up and closes quickly in playing the run. He’s versatile in the pass game being able to defend both as a high safety and in the slot. His ability to do a bit of everything in the secondary makes him a perfect pick for Philly to round out the 1st Round of the NFL Draft.
