It’s early into the college football season, and we’ve already seen several risers, especially at quarterback. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking to see at least four go in the top 15 of the 2024 NFL Draft. With Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers playing at a high level and several teams needing a quarterback, the demand will be high in this class. Here’s a look at how the draft could shake up after the first few weeks of the season.
Latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Using reverse Super Bowl 58 odds, here are the selections for every team in the first round of the latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
1) Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
So far this season, Caleb Williams has 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s the early favorite to win the Heisman, and there’s no reason to think anyone will supplant him as the top player in the draft.
The Cardinals’ offense isn’t very good, but Williams is as close to a generational prospect as you get. The bigger story here is what Arizona does with Kyler Murray. Williams is too good to keep off the field as a rookie, so either Murray becomes the backup, or the Cardinals trade him and take a massive cap hit.
2) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The best defensive prospect in the draft, Jared Verse picked up right where he left off last season. Verse’s tape against LSU was excellent, and he looked even more explosive.
The Cardinals could pair Verse with second-round pick BJ Ojulari, giving them a young and promising pass-rush duo. If Jonathan Gannon’s defense is going to be good, they need a blue-chip talent like Verse to get after the quarterback.
3) Indianapolis Colts: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Indianapolis has a good receiving corps. However, Marvin Harrison Jr. would take that group to the next level. Anthony Richardson has flashed early in his career, but he’ll need an elite receiver to reach his ceiling.
Harrison has the combination of a high floor with the upside to be a top-five wideout in the NFL. The offensive line could be addressed here, but Harrison is just too good to pass up.
4) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
If Justin Fields doesn’t take the next step this season, Chicago could look to take a quarterback in the top five. With trades, Drake Maye is most likely gone by pick No. 4, but the Bears will have the ammunition to get as high as No. 2.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Watchlist
Even if Maye is gone, Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers could be options. Fields is exciting and can run, but he hasn’t developed into a high-end passer. It’s still early, but Ryan Poles didn’t draft Fields, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them make a trade and draft a quarterback.
5) Tennessee Titans: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Titans have one of the worst offensive lines, and new left tackle Andre Dillard struggled in Week 1. Olumuyiwa Fashanu is a clean prospect who excels in pass protection and is consistent. If the Titans move on from Ryan Tannehill, they’ll want to protect their young quarterbacks. Fashanu and Peter Skoronski would solidify Tennessee’s left side of the line for the next decade.
6) Las Vegas Raiders: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
In terms of upside, it doesn’t get much better than Amarius Mims at offensive tackle. He can play either tackle spot, but he’d fit in nicely at right tackle where Las Vegas needs to upgrade. Mims first stood out in the College Football Playoff against Ohio State, and the natural tools have been on full display this season. He’s going to test off the charts, and when it is all said and done, he could be the first non-quarterback off the board.
7) Washington Commanders: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Going into Alabama and being the best player on the field is incredibly difficult, but Quinn Ewers was fantastic last week against the Crimson Tide. He was in complete control all game, showing off his unreal arm talent.
His two deep touchdowns will get a lot of praise, but he had several “wow” throws and could have put up even bigger numbers had his receivers caught a few passes that should have been touchdowns. Ewers passed his toughest test of the season with flying colors. Sam Howell can be a solid player, but Ewers could make this a playoff team.
8) Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
After taking Maye in the top five, Poles gets him a difference-making tight end. Brock Bowers is on the same level as Kyle Pitts as a prospect and could easily be the best tight end in the NFL.
Chicago needs a pass rusher, but with none good enough to go this high, getting a weapon of Bowers’ caliber is a no-brainer. He and Cole Kmet would be a good duo, and adding DJ Moore to the mix and Drake Maye’s transition to the NFL wouldn’t be too hard.
9) Los Angeles Rams: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
After tearing his ACL last November, many didn’t know when Jordan Morgan would return this season. Well, he played in Week 1 and performed well in Week 2 against Mississippi State. His foot quickness looks even better from last year, and he didn’t lose a rep.
To see Morgan come back so early and play so well is a testament to his work ethic. His natural power, ability to mirror in pass protection, and tenacity he plays with will have teams viewing Morgan as a top-10 pick. The Rams’ offensive line looked solid in Week 1, but they are missing a franchise left tackle that Morgan can be.
10) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Steelers’ defensive front is excellent, but they have a lot of questions in the secondary outside of Minkah Fitzpatrick. Kool-Aid McKinstry is a scheme fit and is next in line in the long lineage of Alabama cornerbacks.
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith’s ability to get after the quarterback could make things easier for McKinstry’s transition, too. The hope would be McKinstry and Joey Porter Jr. could man the outside cornerback spots for the Steelers for years to come.
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Shedeur Sanders won’t make it to 11 with how he has played this season. Tampa Bay could look to move up to take a quarterback, as Baker Mayfield isn’t the long-term answer.
Sanders has been the biggest riser in college football through two weeks. His accuracy to all field levels, ball placement, and touch shows he is a high-floor player. Sanders is just a solid athlete, but what he can do as a passer is hard to find.
12) New England Patriots: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Patrick Paul, a player I thought would have a Tyree Wilson-level rise, has done nothing but dominate this season. His athleticism for a 6’7” tackle is rare, and he has taken his run blocking to the next level.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Big Board
It wouldn’t be shocking if Paul doesn’t give up a sack or quarterback hit all season. New England has always coveted size and length at the tackle position, and they desperately need to address the position this offseason. Paul would allow Trent Brown to move back to right tackle and help make things easier on quarterback Mac Jones.
13) New York Giants: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Even though he was great at Michigan State, Keon Coleman had his coming out party on prime time against LSU in Week 1. His hands, jump-ball ability, and play strength will translate to the next level.
He is a threat after the catch and breaks a lot of tackles. The Giants are missing an X receiver, and Coleman can be that for them. That performance against LSU may have cemented himself as WR2 in the class.
14) Minnesota Vikings: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Elite athletes with ball skills and physicality don’t last long on draft night, which is why this might be even too low for Cooper DeJean. With Harrison Smith potentially retiring and Cam Bynum being a free agent this offseason, the Vikings’ safety group could look a lot different.
DeJean could ease the transition, and his pro comparison is Harrison Smith, but DeJean is much faster. He’d also be the Vikings’ top outside cornerback if they chose to play him there. Wherever he plays, DeJean will quickly be the best player on a Vikings defense that needs a lot of help.
15) Denver Broncos: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
A better prospect than 2023 first-round pick Anton Harrison, Tyler Guyton has everything teams look for in a high-upside left tackle. He has flown under the radar after not starting most of last season. On the field, though, his size, loose hips, and athleticism show a player with first-round upside.
Right now, Guyton is playing right tackle for the Sooners, but he has played left tackle, and his tools suggest that is his best spot at the next level. Garett Bolles is getting up in age, so Denver could look for his long-term replacement. This would be a smart decision in what is arguably the best offensive tackle class in recent memory.
16) Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Coleman, OG, TCU
One of the cleanest prospects in the draft, Coleman has four-position versatility. Seattle has their tackle spots secured for the future, but their guard group could be a little muddy after the season. Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes are impending free agents, so the Seahawks could lose both starters.
Coleman would slot into one of those spots and has the talent to be a Pro Bowl-caliber guard. TCU’s left guard from last season, Steve Avila, went 36th. With his success so far, it looks like he should have been a first-round pick. Teams won’t make that same mistake, which is why Coleman goes this high.
17) Atlanta Falcons: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Falcons hit a home run with A.J. Terrell a few years back and could return to Clemson to get their other outside cornerback. Nate Wiggins is fast, long, and fluid, similar to Terrell coming out. His tape was inconsistent last season, but the flashes were great.
Wiggins was great in the opener against Duke, and he may have taken a jump. Atlanta could look to add an edge rusher, but the value is more on Day 2 at that position.
18) Green Bay Packers: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Green Bay has valued defenders at big schools as of late in the first round, but they could look to address the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft. Current right tackle Zach Tom is very good, but his best position could be center. JC Latham could also play guard. With how the Packers have constructed their roster, they could benefit from adding more talent along the offensive line.
19) New Orleans Saints: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Jer’Zhan Newton is better than Calijah Kancey, another undersized defensive tackle prospect who went in the first round last season. He has a quick first step, natural power, and consistently wins the leverage battle. His production and tape are the best of any defensive tackle in the country.
Newton can play a similar role to Khalen Saunders and eventually take over his spot alongside Bryan Bresee.
20) Jacksonville Jaguars: Maason Smith, DT, LSU
Even though he hasn’t played much in his career, Smith’s tools will be too hard to pass on in the first round. Due to a suspension, he couldn’t play against Florida State in the opener, but with LSU’s schedule, Smith will get plenty of chances to show his upside.
As a true freshman, Smith was one of the best defensive tackles in college football and would be much higher on this list if it weren’t for a torn ACL that limited him to eight snaps last year. Smith, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Foley Fatukasi would give Jacksonville a good trio up front.
21) Houston Texans (Via CLE): Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
A team with weaknesses on both sides of the ball, the Texans need to prioritize helping out C.J. Stroud. Nico Collins and Tank Dell look like starting-level players, and the Texans expect a lot from John Metchie III, but they are still missing a true No. 1 option.
Emeka Egbuka gets overshadowed by Marvin Harrison Jr., but he has played with Stroud and can do a lot with the ball in his hands. With the success of Ohio State receivers, Egbuka is a safe player who could be Stroud’s top weapon for the foreseeable future.
22) Los Angeles Chargers: Yahya Black, DT, Iowa
For years, the Chargers have struggled to find quality defensive tackles. Their edge rush duo is solid, but they can’t get penetration inside. Yahya Black is 6’5”, 315, with excellent length and power to push the pocket.
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He’s great at stacking and shedding offensive linemen and has the acceleration to get to running backs in the backfield. Black would be a massive addition to a defense that needs a lot of help.
23) Baltimore Ravens: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Ravens’ cornerback room is down to just Marlon Humphrey as a clear starter. Mitchell has 4.3 speed, length, and ball skills. Playing in the MAC, Mitchell hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves, but his film has been fantastic throughout his career. Mitchell checks every box teams look for in an outside cornerback, and he’s a necessary addition to take the pressure off Humphrey and the Ravens’ safeties.
24) New York Jets: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
This season, Joe Alt has gotten stronger and improved as a run blocker. He is a bit of a waist bender, but his length and foot quickness will help mitigate that at the next level. Duane Brown will only be with the Jets through this season, and if Aaron Rodgers is going to come back, they need to draft a left tackle in the first. With Rodgers out the whole season, the Jets will likely pick higher, but Alt is a solid option in the 20s.
25) Detroit Lions: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
An undersized cornerback, Kalen King wins with high-level instincts and explosiveness. He is a loose enough athlete who easily changes direction and constantly makes plays on the football.
How King fairs at the NFL Combine will determine how high he goes. His tape is arguably the best of any cornerback in the class, but teams still covet measurables at the position. As long as King is 5’11” and runs in the 4.40s, he will be a first-round lock.
Detroit was usually mocked a cornerback for the 2023 Draft, and they have a solid group but no true No. 1 on the outside.
26) Miami Dolphins: Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami (FL)
Keeping Leonard Taylor in Miami would be a smart move for the Dolphins. After signing Zach Sieler to an extension, it looks like Miami will let Christian Wilkins walk this offseason. Taylor is a disruptive force with a knack for getting after the quarterback. A former five-star recruit, Taylor has flashed immense upside, and he would lessen the blow of losing Wilkins.
27) Cincinnati Bengals: Bru McCoy, WR, Tennessee
With Tee Higgins most likely gone after the season, the Bengals must replace him. Bru McCoy has a lot of similarities to Higgins in that he doesn’t drop passes and excels in contested catch situations. McCoy is a big X receiver but a loose athlete for his size. He’d be a perfect fit in Cincinnati’s offense and would excel with a quarterback as accurate as Joe Burrow.
28) Dallas Cowboys: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn loves players with versatility, and Michael Hall can play all over the defensive front. He has success as a 1-tech, 3-tech, and even plays outside as a defensive end.
Hall Jr. is incredibly fast and a gifted athlete for his size. He has violent hands and an excellent swim move. His acceleration allows him to convert pressures into sacks, too. Dallas took Mazi Smith in the first round last season, and taking Hall would give them a young and exciting defensive tackle duo.
29) Buffalo Bills: Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
Only the second defensive end off the board, Chop Robinson is a pure speed rusher. He is bendy and does a good job winning the outside track. Robinson needs to get stronger to hold up in the run game, but worst case, he will be a solid pass rusher at the next level.
Buffalo has Gregory Rousseau on one side but has questions at their other spot. Von Miller is hurt and 34 years old. The Bills will need to find his replacement soon.
30) Kansas City Chiefs: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
The Chiefs have done a poor job of drafting receivers the past few years and need to get the position right for their offense to continue being a juggernaut. Malachi Corley is elite with the ball in his hands and has a lot of similarities to Deebo Samuel.
Head coach Andy Reid will be able to get the most out of how special Corley is after the catch. Corley has great hands, can separate, and has the talent to finish as the Chiefs’ No.1 receiver by the end of his rookie season.
31) Philadelphia Eagles: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Malik Nabers was good in his showdown against Florida State but didn’t play to the level of Keon Coleman. He is worthy of being a first-round pick, but Nabers isn’t a high-end separator, which may concern some teams.
Philadelphia needs more help at safety and linebacker, but they don’t value those positions in the first round. Nabers is a high-upside pick that a team in the Eagles’ position can take.
32) San Francisco 49ers: J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, UCLA
The best team in the NFL has few needs. However, Brandon Aiyuk looks too expensive to keep long-term, so San Francisco will need a wideout to pair with Deebo Samuel.
J. Michael Sturdivant opened up this season with 136 yards against Coastal Carolina and looks even faster on film this season. He can win vertically with his elite speed and is excellent after the catch. As conference play starts, expect Sturdivant to put up big numbers and rise up boards.