With the NFL playoffs opening up soon and the college football regular season now over, it’s time to start looking toward college all-star games and the NFL Draft.
And with that, I’m doing my first NFL mock draft for the 2024 season.
I always say that if you want to do a good mock draft, you should always look toward future seasons and not just the next season because the best drafting teams sign free agents for the current season to handle immediate needs and always draft for future seasons, which we will do right here.
1-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Note: This article was published on December 25, meaning the NFL draft order being used is through the Sunday slate of Week 16.
1) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Intel: GM Ryan Poles didn’t draft Justin Fields, so there’s no allegiance to him. If Caleb Williams checks out well during the pre-draft process, he will be the selection.
This team must get the quarterback situation right going forward and for the future, which they haven’t done in decades.
Fields has his fifth-year option decision due by May 2, and Chicago would obviously decline it and look to trade him if they decide they’re going to draft Williams here.
Future Needs: DE, QB (past 2024), CB, G
2) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Intel: Arizona has a ton of needs for the future, but you can’t pass up a generational talent in Marvin Harrison Jr. His position is a dual need for 2024 and well beyond.
The Cardinals can address other positional issues as the draft progresses. Harrison hasn’t declared his intention to enter the draft yet or stay in school, but if he does leave, he won’t get past the Cardinals.
Future Needs: CB, OLB, G, WR, DT
3) Washington Commanders: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Intel: If you’re selecting this high in the draft, you’re probably not a very good team, and the Commanders fit that bill.
They have a ton of needs and could look at a variety of players here. The biggest needs are on the offensive line, edge rushers, and potentially quarterback depending on what happens with the front office and coaching staff after their season concludes.
MORE: Commanders 2024 NFL Draft Needs
But the best player here is Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and he can start right away at LT or RT and eventually replace veteran LT Charles Leno.
Future Needs: DE, LT, G, C, S, QB, LB
4) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Intel: From talking to a source with knowledge of the situation, third-year QB Mac Jones looked like he was clearly the player of the future at the position after having a stellar rookie season. But Jones dropped off badly during his second season due in part to questionable coaching and has been benched.
Drake Maye is very well-liked in the scouting community and makes perfect sense here to be their quarterback of the future.
Future Needs: LT, QB, CB, TE, WR
5) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Intel: It’s not exactly a secret that Tennessee has one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Joe Alt, who is widely regarded as one of the top tackles for this draft, would be the Titans’ left tackle for years to come.
Future Needs: LT, RT, C, OLB, CB, RB, DT
6) Los Angeles Chargers: Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
Intel: This is a tough call as we don’t know what type of defensive scheme the Chargers will run going forward until they hire a new head coach. However, it’s obvious that they are in need of pass-rushing help for the future.
Jared Verse, who is one of the top edge rushers available is the call here.
Future Needs: CB, RB, DT, OLB, TE, C, WR
7) New York Giants: Mailk Nabers, WR, LSU
Intel: This is yet another team with several current and future needs. GM Joe Schoen did say recently that the Giants planned to go with QB Daniel Jones for next season as their starter once healthy so that position doesn’t seem like a priority — at least not early on in the draft.
As for this selection, the best player on the board at a position of need for the future is clearly Malik Nabers, who is the most explosive of this year’s wide receiver group.
Future Needs: DT, G, WR, QB, RB, RT
8) Chicago Bears: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Intel: The Bears at least have DE Montez Sweat signed through 2027, but they need someone to line up on the other side. Laiatu Latu is widely recognized as the top edge rusher for this draft and would fill the void for 2024 and beyond.
MORE: Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
The only issue that Latu faces for being a potential top-10 pick is he’ll have to clear medically from an injury (neck) from a few years ago.
Future Needs: DE, QB (past 2024), CB, G
9) New York Jets: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Intel: The offensive tackle position for the Jets has been a problem for years, but JC Latham would be their LT for a long time. He would join C Joe Tippmann and G Alijah Vera-Tucker as the core of the offensive line for the future.
Future Needs: LT, RT, S, QB, WR
10) Las Vegas Raiders: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Intel: Las Vegas could go in a variety of ways here because they have so many needs from both sides of the ball. But one of the biggest future needs is at cornerback, where they only have the underrated Nate Hobbs as a starter.
As we reported weeks ago, the Raiders would not entertain any trade talk from teams that called on him. Kool-Aid McKinstry has the ideal size for the position and would be a starter for years to come for the Raiders.
Future Needs: QB, G, C, DT, RB, CB, DE
11) Atlanta Falcons: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Intel: Atlanta has been looking for someone to line up for the long haul at cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell. Nate Wiggins would be a solid match on the other side.
Future Needs: OLB, QB, CB, DT, WR
12) New Orleans Saints: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Intel: The great Cameron Jordan turns 35 in July, and while he’s signed through 2025, it’s hard to pass up an edge rusher like Dallas Turner here.
Future Needs: DE, S, WR, DT, G, QB
13) Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Intel: It would seem that fourth-year QB Jordan Love has shown enough to at least come back as the starter next season. He’ll only earn $6 million next season in total, so he’s quite cost-effective.
From talking to some pro scouting sources around the league this season, Love has definitely shown improvement this season. As for the pick here, Cooper DeJean fills a short-term and long-term need opposite veteran CB Jaire Alexander.
Future Needs: LT, CB, RB, S, DL
14) Denver Broncos: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Intel: While we’re told Denver is intrigued by third-round CB Riley Moss, he generally has only played on special teams this season. They still need to find the long-term starter opposite Pat Surtain II, and Terrion Arnold would be that guy.
Future Needs: DT, CB, S, OLB, TE, QB
15) Minnesota Vikings: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Intel: With starting QB Kirk Cousins unsigned for next season and coming off a significant injury (torn Achilles tendon), Jayden Daniels, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, would be the long-term franchise player.
Future Needs: QB, OLB, CB, DT, G, S
16) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Intel: The Cardinals are in dire need of edge-rushing help for head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense. Chop Robinson will be the easy call here and will start for years to come.
Future Needs: CB, OLB, G, WR, DT
17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Intel: We’re told Pittsburgh is very happy with rookie OT Broderick Jones. He’s proven he can play both tackle positions.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Big Board
Now they need someone to start on the opposite side. Taliese Fuaga would help the coaches to form a formidable tackle tandem for years to come.
Future Needs: OT, CB, G, C, DT, S
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
Intel: Cincinnati did not make much of an effort to re-sign Tee Higgins prior to the start of the season. Keon Coleman would be our selection to replace him for this upcoming draft.
Future Needs: WR, RB, TE, RT, DT
19) Indianapolis Colts: Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami (FL)
Intel: With starting DT Grover Stewart’s contract expiring in March, Leonard Taylor III would be our selection to replace him on the interior of their offensive line.
Future Needs: DT, DE, WR, CB, G, S
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Intel: Tampa Bay could go a few directions with this selection. But with veteran QB Baker Mayfield’s improved play this season, the Buccaneers could pass on drafting his position early and look toward selecting the best player on the board in Brock Bowers to upgrade their TE room.
Future Needs: QB, WR, TE, S, ILB, G
21) Seattle Seahawks: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Intel: Seattle addressed their much-maligned offensive line in recent drafts, so that’s no longer a need.
In fact, their issues remain on the defensive side of the ball.
Jer’Zhan Newton, who is widely recognized as one of the top interior defensive linemen for the 2024 NFL Draft, would start for years to come and fill a big need.
Future Needs: QB, DT, ILB, S, G, OLB
22) Jacksonville Jaguars: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Intel: With Calvin Ridley’s contract up in March and no one left on the roster to replace him, the Jaguars go with Rome Odunze here. He would be a solid value if he drops this far, and the Jaguars can simply address their interior OL issues later on.
Future Needs: WR, OLB, G, DT, CB
23) Los Angeles Rams: Amarius Sims, OT, Georgia
Intel: The Rams have not adequately replaced veteran LT Andrew Whitworth, who retired two years ago, so Amarius Sims, who possesses tremendous upside, is the selection here.
Future Needs: OLB, CB, QB, S, WR, G, RB, OT
24) Buffalo Bills: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (FL)
Intel: With both starting safeties well into their 30s and FS Micah Hyde unsigned for next season, Kamren Kinchens fills the void for the future.
Future Needs: S, DE, DT, WR, CB
25) Kansas City Chiefs: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
Intel: Veteran LT Donovan Smith signed a one-year deal, and the Chiefs badly need to address the future at this position. Thus, Graham Barton is the direction we’ll head here with this selection.
Future Needs: LT, DT, WR, RB, TE, CB
26) Dallas Cowboys: Troy Fautanu, G, Washington
Intel: While he started at left tackle this season and saw time at left guard in previous years, Troy Fautanu is expected to move inside permanently at the next level based on conversations we’ve recently had with scouting sources.
MORE: Top iOL in the 2024 NFL Draft
If the Cowboys eventually decide to move LG Tyler Smith to LT to replace Tyron Smith, they’ll need someone to start at LG for the long haul, so Fautanu makes perfect sense here. Plus, starting RG Zack Martin turns 34 next November, so they’ll have to eventually look for his replacement.
Future Needs: RB, LT, G, DE, ILB, CB
27) Houston Texans (From CLE): Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
Intel: With Jonathan Greenard’s contract up after this season and the clear need for edge rusher help, the Texans fill a future need here with Chris Braswell.
Future Needs: DT, DE, G, CB, TE
28) Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Intel: The biggest future need for Philadelphia is clearly at cornerback where both starters are over 30 years old.
Both veteran CBs James Bradberry and Darius Slay are signed through 2025, but the Eagles can get out of both deals after 2024 without owing them anything, so selecting a cornerback like Denzel Burke to start in 2025 and beyond is the call here.
Future Needs: CB, S, DE, ILB, RB
29) Miami Dolphins: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Intel: Oft-injured veteran LT Terron Armstead’s salary cap number goes from just over $9.2 million this season to over $20 million next season, which could be deemed too high considering he has missed 11 games over the last two seasons.
With that being the case and with Armstead turning 33 in July, Jordan Morgan makes perfect sense to select right here.
Future Needs: LT, G, S, TE, DT, ILB
30) Detroit Lions: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Intel: For this to be a Super Bowl-level team, the Lions must address two key positions on defense — edge rusher and cornerback. The underrated Bralen Trice, who possesses ideal size and the ability to play standing up or with his hands down, is the selection here.
Future Needs: OLB, CB, G, WR, DT
31) San Francisco 49ers: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Intel: As we noted in our trade deadline notebook, the 49ers were calling around for help at the CB position and checked into several players. What they were looking for was a potential upgrade over third-year CB Deommodore Lenoir.
However, they were unsuccessful in that attempt, so they’ll fill that need with Quinyon Mitchell right here.
Future Needs: CB, DE, RT, DT, TE
32) Baltimore Ravens: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Intel: When you’re picking this late in the round, that typically always indicates that you’re one of the best teams in the NFL. However, the Ravens are not without needs for the future.
They’ll look toward the long-term solution opposite veteran CB Marlon Humphrey, who will be Kamari Lassiter with this selection.
Future Needs: RB, DT, WR, CB, LT, RT, G
