The NFL is full steam ahead into the playoffs as more and more teams clinch or get eliminated every week. If you are a fan of the latter, chances are you’ve already turned your attention to the upcoming NFL Draft and are on to next year. You’re in luck; it’s time for another mock draft.
Approaching the end of the season, it’s time to start firing up the PFN Mock Draft Simulator and get to work fixing your team.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Given all the question marks facing Justin Fields and his future with the team, it’s cleaner for the Bears to simply move on and start anew. Caleb Williams is a natural playmaker with plenty of arm talent and athleticism to boast. With what is likely to be a new staff in the building, Williams gets a chance to shine with players like DJ Moore around him.
2) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
While Bill Belichick’s status as head coach is uncertain, their quarterback room is one without a solution. In Weeks 10, 12, and 13, the Patriots did not allow more than 10 points in any contest and still lost each one. They haven’t had a 300-yard passer since Week 1. Something has to change in that room, making Drake Maye a potential ideal fit in this spot.
3) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals keep winning with Kyler Murray under center, and they need to add more around him to sustain it. Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the best wide receiver prospects in recent memory and would take over the WR1 role in Arizona right away.
4) Washington Commanders: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
We’ll see if Sam Howell is the team’s starting quarterback for next season, but regardless of who’s under center in 2024, they have to be protected better.
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Choosing between Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu is a true personal preference. Alt is an elite pass protector and can be a stalwart franchise left tackle for a decade.
5) Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Sure, the Bears have Cole Kmet at tight end. That shouldn’t stop them from adding one of the best playmakers in the upcoming draft in Brock Bowers to give their new quarterback another weapon to go along with Moore. We all saw the Robert Tonyan drop this weekend.
6) New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The first step in rebounding from this abysmal 2023 season for the Jets is fixing their offensive line to provide as much protection as possible to reduce the risk of another injury to Aaron Rodgers. Fashanu, one of the best pass-protecting tackles in recent memory, could step right in at left tackle and lock that role down for years.
7) New York Giants: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Jayden Daniels‘ draft stock is still ultimately up in the air, but there’s no real reason the Giants should pass on him here, considering all their issues at quarterback. Daniels is the perfect playmaker that Brian Daboll covets.
8) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Yeah, the Chargers have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and spent a first-round pick on Quentin Johnston last year. Should that change the math here? Not. One. Bit.
Malik Nabers is one of the most explosive receivers to hit the draft in recent years and simply glides across the field. He adds a totally different element to that offense that Justin Herbert really needs.
9) Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
If the Titans are fully onboard with Will Levis at QB, their next priority should be to get their offensive line sorted out. JC Latham is a powerful mover in the run game and has the athleticism to be a top-flight right tackle in the NFL.
10) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Falcons have struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season, a stat that has held their unit back from being a great one. Dallas Turner is one of the best pass rushers in this upcoming draft and would be a building block outside for the team to build its pass rush plan around.
11) Green Bay Packers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
With the way that Jordan Love is playing, the Packers need to get aggressive in protecting him and move ahead of teams interested in an offensive tackle.
Amarius Mims is a huge, powerful tackle with excellent fluidity out of his stance that I believe can play at either tackle spot.
12) Las Vegas Raiders: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
With all of the quarterbacks gone, the Raiders pivot to another area of need by adding another talented playmaker at wide receiver. Pairing Keon Coleman with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers gives the Raiders a diverse skill set at receiver for whoever their next quarterback will be.
13) New Orleans Saints: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Saints’ offense desperately needs another playmaker at wide receiver to emerge opposite of Chris Olave, given Michael Thomas’s inability to stay healthy. We’ll see if the staff remains in New Orleans, but this need is a must for the team going into 2024.
Rome Odunze can step right in outside and fill that void and can be the long-term Thomas replacement.
14) Denver Broncos: Jer’Zahn Newton, DT, Illinois
The Denver Broncos could go anywhere here, but one thing that has stood out to me on film preparing for this mock has been their defensive line’s inability to generate disruptive plays. Denver is giving up the most rushing yards per game and yards per rush in the league by a significant margin, and we saw that play out Saturday night when they were bullied by the Lions.
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Jer’Zhan Newton is the best defensive tackle in the class by a rather comfortable gap and would add a difference-maker up front for the Broncos.
15) Seattle Seahawks: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Seattle has two glaring issues have cropped up on their defense: Their corner play outside of Witherspoon and their safeties not named Quandre Diggs.
Cooper DeJean is a top-tier athlete who can play both outside, in the slot, and as a safety out in space. His versatility creates different solutions to personnel problems that Seattle has struggled with this season.
16) Pittsburgh Steelers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Steelers’ cornerback room has been oft-maligned this season in several games. While Joey Porter Jr. has shown flashes, the rest of that unit has not, and several players at the position are slated to hit free agency. Nate Wiggins is an excellent blend of length and quickness who could be an instant boost to that secondary.
17) Arizona Cardinals: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
No team is allowing a higher completion percentage than the Cardinals this season, and just five teams have allowed more passing touchdowns. Per Sports Info Solutions, only the Washington Commanders are a worse pass defense by EPA. With the Cardinals retooling both sides of the ball, Kool-Aid McKinstry can slide right in as the team’s top corner.
18) Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The pressure is on for the Bills to find playmakers on the offense, and they have to do it fast. The Bills wide receiver room has been remarkably inconsistent outside of Stefon Diggs, and it’s high time they invest properly into that spot.
Brian Thomas Jr. is a height/weight/speed freak at 6’4″, 205 pounds, that also boasts blazing explosiveness. His combination of athleticism and elite catch rate would be a welcome boost to a Bills offense needing that kind of playmaker outside.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Tampa Bay will also likely look to figure out their long-term QB situation this offseason. For now, the team has struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season and needs some help on that side of the ball.
Laiatu Latu slips a bit here due to his concerning medical history, but he can be the top pass rusher for a Buccaneers defense that needs one to emerge.
20) Minnesota Vikings: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
With Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, and D.J. Wonnum all slated to hit free agency, it’s important the Vikings make moves to replenish their pass rush room. Minnesota nabs an explosive athlete in Chop Robinson for Brian Flores to draw up pressures and create havoc with.
21) Los Angeles Rams: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Rams are in the playoff hunt but are being actively hurt by their cornerback room. Competent passing offenses have been able to pick on their corners this season, and it could limit the Rams’ ceiling in the playoffs. They sorely miss Jalen Ramsey’s presence in the secondary.
Quinyon Mitchell is an elite athlete at corner who thrives in man coverage and can be the Rams’ long-term future at cornerback.
22) Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Indianapolis Colts’ cornerback room is gearing up for plenty of turnover, and they need talent at the position.
Terrion Arnold is a quick, competitive corner who can give the Colts a versatile and physical corner they can play outside or in the slot.
23) Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Right tackle Jonah Williams is set to be a free agent, and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is allowing the most pressures in the NFL. It’s safe to say that throwing money at the offensive line in free agency hasn’t solved the Bengals’ issues in pass protection.
The team needs a real investment in young talent along their O-line if they want to keep Joe Burrow free of any more injuries. Tyler Guyton can step right in and serve as a talented anchor at right tackle.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
It’s been hard watching the Jaguars operate offensively this year, as the offensive line has consistently dragged their performance down often. Added to the inconsistent wide receiver play and frustrating play-calling under Press Taylor, it’s caused the Jaguars’ offense to wildly underperform expectations.
Graham Barton can play virtually any spot on their offensive line, but I’d project him to start at center for the Jaguars.
25) Kansas City Chiefs: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
The Chiefs will need more than one wide receiver in the offseason and opt to make it a priority here early on in this mock.
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Troy Franklin‘s stock will vary from team to team, but he would give the Chiefs the consistent playmaker they envisioned when they traded for Kadarius Toney.
26) Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Sure, Houston could invest more in their defense. However, it would be pretty fun to see the Texans invest in reuniting Emeka Egbuka and pair him with C.J. Stroud. Houston has Noah Brown set to hit free agency, and Robert Woods has just one year left on his deal. Egbuka could step right in and turn the Texans’ wide receiver corps into a position of strength.
27) Detroit Lions: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The pass rush for the Lions has been lackluster at best and could really use a boost with a dynamic pass rusher in the fold. Jared Verse is one of the best in the class, boasting a superb combination of explosiveness and power.
28) Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Howie Roseman has only drafted trench players, wide receivers, and quarterbacks in Round 1 throughout his career, but maybe after this year, he’ll finally adjust.
Denzel Burke is a smooth and competitive corner outside who can shadow WR1s. Darius Slay and James Bradberry are aging and getting closer to the end of their contracts, and it would be prudent for the Eagles to get ahead of that now.
29) Miami Dolphins: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The interior of the Dolphins’ offensive line has been a struggling unit and will undergo even more turnaround in the offseason. Troy Fautanu can play tackle in a pinch but ideally comes right in at guard and locks down that spot for the Dolphins for several years.
30) Dallas Cowboys: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Tyron Smith has played like an All-Pro this season and should be extended. However, it’s getting closer to a time when Dallas has to invest in his long-term replacement. I do not believe that should be Tyler Smith because his best long-term outlook is at left guard.
Suamataia is a freak athlete at 6’6″, 325 pounds and has some high-level tape as a run blocker and in pass protection despite switching from right to left tackle this season. Regardless of whether Smith is extended or not, this would be a wise investment given his recent lack of durability. He also adds additional insurance at right tackle in case Terrence Steele continues to play at his current level.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
It is high time the Colton McKivitz experiment at right tackle ended for the 49ers. Taliese Fuaga is arguably the best run blocker in this class and would fit right in with Kyle Shanahan’s zone-heavy offense.
32) Baltimore Ravens: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Jadaveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy are set to hit free agency, leaving the Ravens’ pass rush with Odafe Oweh and a list of question marks. Bralen Trice is a powerful and physical pass rusher who really fits what the Ravens tend to look for in prospects. His name will appear in the first round more and more the closer we get to the draft.
