NEWSLETTER
Happy New Year! The Bears have officially locked up the first pick in the NFL Draft thanks to a Panthers loss and a Cardinals win. Looks like we’ll be in for yet another offseason of trade talks and rumors surrounding that first pick. Let’s get to our 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. *TRADE* New England Patriots (via Chicago Bears): QB Caleb Williams – USC
Thanks to a Cardinals upset win, they dropped back behind the Patriots in the NFL Draft order. With both the Commanders and Patriots in need of a quarterback, they’ll be in the center bidding war for the top pick, and with Justin Fields also building momentum I think the Bears move off it. The Pats part ways with a massive haul, but they get the top QB on the board in this year’s draft.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye – North Carolina
Not the worst consolation prize after missing out on the trade for first overall. The Commanders don’t have to part ways with a ton of future assets, and they bring in Drake Maye to be the new franchise quarterback for an organization looking to turn over a new leaf next year. With new ownership and likely a new coach, Washington goes full reset with a new QB too.
3. Chicago Bears (via New England Patriots): WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
This is a debate that isn’t going anywhere, but after what we’ve seen from Justin Fields lately I’m fully of the belief that Justin Fields and whatever trade haul you can get for the number one pick (likely three more first-rounders) is better than Caleb Williams, especially for a team that’s looking to start winning in 2024. The team clearly wants Fields, the fans clearly want Fields, and coming off one of his best passing games as a pro, I think we’re back to trending toward a Fields return to Chicago.
4. *TRADE* New York Giants (via Arizona Cardinals): QB Jayden Daniels – LSU
With the top two quarterbacks off the board, the Giants get a little desperate to get their quarterback and move up a spot with the Arizona Cardinals. New York grabs Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels to be their next quarterback. His dual-threat ability works in Brian Daboll’s offense and his loads of experience at the college level can help him be ready to start day one.
5. Arizona Cardinals (via New York Giants): WR Malik Nabers – LSU
One pick after LSU’s quarterback goes off the board, the Cardinals take his top target. In what’s emerging as a loaded wide receiver NFL Draft class, Nabers has gained a ton of momentum on draft boards in the last month or so. The Cardinals miss out on the top two QBs on the board, but with Kyler Murray’s contract still tough to get out of, rolling with him another year and getting him a WR1 makes a ton of sense.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: TE Brock Bowers – Georgia
There are a lot of different directions the Chargers could go at six, they have a lot of needs to fill and likely will have a lot more by draft time since they’ll have to shed a bunch of salary in the offseason. They need a sure-fire win with this pick. Brock Bowers is as close to that as anyone in this draft. He can be Justin Herbert’s top target, a reliable tight end can be a quarterback’s best friend. Bowers is a hugely helpful pick for Herbert and an offense that will have some new leadership.
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. 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 eighth overall pick gives the Jets a massive upgrade at a premier position heading into a very important 2024-25 season.
9. 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 with Laiatu Latu falling to them and the ninth pick.
10. Chicago Bears: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State
After adding arguably the top talent in the NFL draft at third overall (in addition to a bundle of picks), the Bears address another position of need by going with one of the top EDGE rushers available. With Montez Sweat on the other side, Verse would be in a great spot to come in on day one and be a difference-maker for a Bears defense that’s getting better and better each week.
11. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
The Raiders need a whole lot of help across the roster, and they kind of need this pick to be a sure thing. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the top-rated corner in the NFL Draft and can come into Vegas and be an impact player on day one. I think they’ll be involved in trying to move up for one of the top three quarterbacks on the board, but if they miss out on them, going with a corner from Alabama isn’t a bad consolation prize.
12. Minnesota Vikings: EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State
The Vikings still have some quarterback uncertainty as well, but with where they’re at in the draft I think they bring back Kirk Cousins to work with the talented group of receivers and go 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. Chop Robinson fills a big need for the Vikings.
13. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Bralen Trice – Washington
I think Trice might be the most complete EDGE in this draft. He’s got a massive frame. He can get to the passer and defend the run equally well. He’s a perfect fit on the other side of Cam Jordan. He used the Sugar Bowl as a statement game with two sacks and three tackles for loss against Texas, and he’ll get another chance on the biggest stage in college football against Michigan next week.
14. 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.
15. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama
Seattle needs EDGE help and they get it with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft in Alabama’s Dallas Turner. They have been looking for consistency at that position all year, and Turner can come in right away next year and be the best pass rusher on that defense.
16. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Rome Odunze – Washington
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 in Rome Odunze who falls into their lap with the 16th pick. Odunze has a ridiculously high ceiling and is a complete receiver. Burrow throwing to Chase and Odunze could be very dangerous.
17. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): CB Nate Wiggins – Clemson
The Cardinals grabbed a potential star wideout with their opening pick in the first round, with their next pick they grab one of the top playmaking corners in this draft. They could use some help in a few different spots defensively but with the run on the top EDGE rushers done, they take one of the top corners to help Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Kalen King – Penn State
Joey Porter Jr has had a solid rookie campaign, but Pittsburgh needs someone to play on the other side and Kalen King is the best option available. While they need help in a few other areas of the roster as well, the corner out of Penn State is a great pick for the Steelers at 18th and helps make Mike Tomlin’s defense that much tougher.
19. Green Bay Packers: OT Taliese Fuaga – Oregon State
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 and has a lot of depth. 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.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama
The run on corners continues as the Bucs take the second Alabama cornerback of the first round. Tampa needs help at the EDGE position as well, but with what’s left on the board there’s a lot more value at corner with the 20th pick. Terrion Arnold goes to Tampa and improves that defense from day one.
21. Indianapolis Colts: CB Cooper DeJean – Iowa
While the Colts would like to get another playmaker for Anthony Richardson on the offense, they need some help at cornerback as well and Cooper DeJean is probably too good of an option to pass up on. He can play corner, and he can also probably play safety if need be. DeJean finished the season injured, but that’s not expected to affect him come draft time.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr – LSU
With Calvin Ridley being a question mark to be back next season, there’s a good chance the Jaguars will be looking to add weapons to their offense for Trevor Lawrence come draft time. Thomas Jr had a great year for LSU (ok, pretty much everyone did on that offense) and gives the Jaguars a playmaker on the outside.
23. 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 on with the 22nd pick. LA has a few other holes to fill, but a solid tackle to fill out their offensive line is a good direction to go.
24. 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 all the way to the 24th 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.
25. 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 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. Philadelphia Eagles: S Kamren Kinchens – Miami
One area that seems to be becoming a need for the Eagles is help in the secondary. An explosive, playmaking safety is never a bad way to go and Kam 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.
27. 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 in this mock draft, the Lions grab an interior DL that fits in right away in Detroit.
28. 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.
29. 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 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 is very athletic for his size. He’s exactly what the Dolphins need to help that offensive line.
30. Dallas Cowboys: CB Denzel Burke – Ohio State
The Cowboys will likely look to add a cornerback, and in this year’s draft, we’ll probably see a bunch of names floating around the last few picks of the first round. Trevon Diggs is an amazing corner, but he’s recovering from a torn ACL. Stephon Gilmore is aging. Denzel Burke can come in and play right away, or add some much-needed depth to a position where they need it.
31. San Francisco 49ers: OT Graham Barton – Duke
The Niners take a versatile tackle from Duker who can slot in on both sides, but also play the interior as well. Trent Williams is elite, but he’s not getting any younger. Colton McKivitz hasn’t done anything special in replacing Mike McGlinchey. Barton gives them a player who can slot in on the right side immediately or play where needed, and make the transition to the left tackle when Trent Williams calls it a career.
32. *TRADE* Las Vegas Raiders (via Baltimore Ravens): QB Michael Penix Jr – Washington
The Raiders missed out on the top three quarterbacks early in this draft. They missed out on trading up for C.J. Stroud in last year’s NFL Draft. Finally, they make their move and get back into the first round to grab Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. Penix Jr was outstanding in the Sugar Bowl against Texas and made several NFL throws. He’ll have another chance to do so in the National Championship game next week. Penix Jr stays out west and the Raiders pay the price to get their quarterback.
