2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

With Declaration Day in the rearview and All-Star games on the horizon, the first mock draft of 2024 has arrived!

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Chicago has a decision to make. Send 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields packing and select 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, or keep Fields and trade down to add a perimeter playmaker (or several). Regardless of who ends up turning the draft card in, Williams’ name is almost certain to be on it.

2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

The Commanders get their man in Maye. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder will succeed Sam Howell in D.C. just as he did in Chapel Hill.

3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

A new era of Patriots football will be led by the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. Daniels will be a slightly different signal caller than his predecessors in New England, boasting breakaway speed that tops out around 21 miles per hour.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The Cardinals have struggled to replace Larry Fitzgerald since the future Hall of Famer retired following the 2020 season. The son of a Hall of Famer himself, Harrison Jr. may well be the best player in the entire 2024 Draft class.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Tight ends are chronically undervalued in NFL Drafts, but considering both Super Bowl participants rely heavily on their playmaking tight ends, perhaps that’s a mistake. The Bolts would be wise to snag Bowers here, giving quarterback Justin Herbert and new head coach Jim Harbaugh a big-time weapon in the passing game.

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Giants should have their choice between LSU’s Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze at pick No. 6. Little separates the two in terms of draft grades, but Nabers’ explosiveness may give him the edge here. The former Bayou Bengal had at least one catch north of 35 yards in nine of his 13 games in 2023.

7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Offensive line needs to be a top priority for the Titans who will likely look much different next season in a post-Mike Vrabel/Derrick Henry era. Alt was a standout left tackle for the Golden Domers and will be Tennessee’s new anchor for the foreseeable future.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The Falcons will be in desperate need of a quarterback, but they could address the concern with one of the likely available veterans during March free agency. Instead, Atlanta may find it best to draft for value at another position of need by shoring up their defensive edge with another Alabama pass rusher.

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

If the Bears select USC’s Caleb Williams at No. 1, they should go get him help at No. 9. Fellow Pac-12 alum Rome Odunze is a complete WR1 prospect whose play has drawn comparisons to that of three-time All-Pro Davante Adams.

10. New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Jets’ 2023 season ended after just four plays when Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles’ tear while attempting to escape pressure. The Jets failed to draft an offensive lineman in the first round last year and can’t afford to do it again.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

The Vikings could go quarterback or defensive back here, but elect to give a boost to the pass rush instead - which may be a good idea as Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, and D.J. Wonnum are all free agents.

12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

With Russell Wilson on the outs, Sean Payton will turn the reins over to Nix, who has five years of big-time starting experience at Auburn and Oregon.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

The Raiders are always good for a Draft Day surprise. While pick-13 may seem too high for McCarthy in January, the National Championship-winning quarterback should test very well as the Draft approaches in April. And, not for nothing, all the dude does is win. He was 36-2 in high school and 27-1 as the starter at Michigan.

14. New Orleans Saints: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

Recipient of both the Hendricks and Lombardi Awards in 2023, Latu has been the most productive pass rusher in college football over the last two seasons with 23.5 sacks to his name. The Saints could use that kind of production, as New Orleans ranked 29th in the League in sacks last season.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

The Colts have room for improvement at just about every position on the defensive side of the ball. Murphy may be the top interior defensive lineman in the 2024 class.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

The Seahawks need to upgrade on both sides of the line of scrimmage and could find a key contributor just across town. Fautanu played tackle at UW but has the flexibility to play all five positions along the offensive line.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Jaguars’ late-season collapse exposed a number of holes, not the least of which being help in the defensive secondary. Wiggins is a long, speedy corner who should provide aid to a unit that needs to defend against the likes of CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis twice a year for the foreseeable future.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Joe Burrow must be protected at all costs. At 6-foot-6, 360 pounds, Latham should be a much-needed anchor on the right side of the Bengals’ offensive line.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The Rams could go in a variety of directions with this pick. Offensive tackle and even quarterback could be considered here, but if Arnold is available here, it could be the steal of the first round.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Pittsburgh went to the Georgia well last year with the selection of former UGA offensive tackle Broderick Jones at No. 14. The Steelers can have Bulldog bookends by selecting the 6-foot-7 Mims.

21. Miami Dolphins: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

A dominant run-blocker, Fuaga has good enough feet to play either tackle position, though some scouts project him to slide inside to guard at the next level. The Dolphins have needs along the offensive line and Fuaga’s upside is too good to pass on.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Cornerback play was a major weak spot for the Eagles in 2023. Kool-Aid has become something of a polarizing prospect but regularly faced top receiving talent and demonstrated good ball skills and sound instincts while doing it.

23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

“Fast hands” is the scouting report on Newton, who will be disruptive in the middle for the rejuvenated Texans.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

The Tyron Smith era is coming to an end in Dallas and Morgan provides a good swing tackle option to soften the blow. Morgan was a left tackle for the Wildcats but could move inside if needed.

25. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

The Packers draft defense in the first round and this year will be no different. DeJean will see plenty of action opposite Jaire Alexander, which should provide an excellent showcase for his playmaking abilities – DeJean had three pick-sixes in 2022.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State

The Bucs need help in the pass rush and Robinson is the best on the board. He offered more disruption than production in college.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Arizona picked Paris Johnson in the lottery last year and can snag a 6-foot-7 bookend with their bonus first-rounder this year. Guyton is massive but raw, making him something of a project, but his athleticism for a man his size could make him a steal at No. 27.

28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

The Bills need to get more weapons around Josh Allen and the “other” LSU wide receiver is just that. While Malik Nabers was the home run hitter, Thomas was the scoring machine, hauling in an FBS-best 17 touchdowns last season.

29. Detroit Lions: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The Lions hit on Brian Branch in the second round last year but the secondary still needs help. Detroit can come away with a steal this late in round one, as no cornerback forced more incompletions over the past two seasons than Mitchell.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington

Trice is another pass rusher whose impact can’t necessarily be measured in statistics. He did log 17 sacks for the Huskies over the past two seasons, but his knack for applying pressure is what could boost him into the first round.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Graham Barton, OG, Duke

The 49ers have very few holes in their lineup, but offensive line help is one of them. Barton played left tackle at Duke but will almost certainly slide inside to guard at the next level.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Reliable receiver play has been a challenge for the Chiefs since trading Tyreek Hill two years ago. Mitchell isn’t a burner like Hill, but he is a big, polished pass-catcher who can make spectacular plays when targeted.

Up Next: Senior Bowl Players to Watch

The 2024 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, February 3.