The NFL Scouting Combine starts this week, and the 2024 NFL Draft season is about to get heated up. This week, I’ll explore a possibility that may have become slightly more likely last week.
New England’s offensive coordinator left the door open for the Patriots to roll with Mac Jones in 2024, an idea that would make sense given that I don’t believe the roster is ready for a rookie quarterback. What if the Patriots select Marvin Harrison Jr. on draft day? In this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, I’ll explore the fallout of that potential scenario.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
I still don’t have Caleb Williams as my top quarterback, but given the news coming out of the league, we have to assume he’s the pick at No. 1 for the Bears. Williams excels out of phase and can make plays that dazzle. Chicago is quietly amassing solid talent around the quarterback and on defense, making them an intriguing team in the NFC.
2) Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
I’m falling more and more in love with Drake Maye and his ability to excel both within and outside of the play call. Maye is an accurate deep passer, and I think he has a higher floor than most people within the industry believe. Washington is a good landing spot if the Commanders are set on taking a quarterback.
3) New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
It’s hard to find another receiver prospect in recent years with Harrison’s hype. He’s big, fast, and has incredible body control. Many analysts have said — and I agree — that Harrison is in the Julio Jones or Amari Cooper range of elite receiver prospects.
If New England doesn’t feel ready to start its rookie quarterback clock, Harrison is a heck of a prospect who could add value with even a replacement-level quarterback at the helm.
4) Las Vegas Raiders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Trade: Cardinals receive No. 13, No. 44, 2025 first round, 2025 second round picks; Raiders receive No. 4 pick
With Jayden Daniels falling past the Patriots, who take the most popular mock draft pick for the Cardinals, Arizona decides to bail and listen to offers.
In this scenario, I’d expect the Cardinals to work the phones and squeeze an extra pick or two out of the Vikings, Broncos, Raiders, or even Falcons, depending on the outcome of free agency. Daniels could be electric in a new-look Las Vegas offense.
5) Los Angeles Chargers: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
I didn’t set out to make this a weird mock, but this is the first time I’ve mocked a defensive player to the Chargers.
MORE: Top CBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
The receiver class is so deep this year that I wonder if we could see some receiver-needy teams pass on a first-round pass catcher, knowing they’ll be able to take an immediate difference-maker on Day 2 or even Day 3.
6) New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Giants probably don’t fit that mold; finding another playmaker is priority No. 1 for Brian Daboll and Company. Malik Nabers has elite athleticism and took over games at times last season. What separates the Giants from other receiver-needy teams is that New York needs one impact playmaker more than it needs a couple of solid players.
The rest of the receivers can be excellent complements, but where is the player that scares defenses? Nabers can be that type of player.
7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
This is probably the most popular team-player combination in mock drafts outside of Caleb Williams to Chicago and for good reason. Joe Alt is a cornerstone left tackle who can completely change the way an offense operates. Locking down the left side of the offensive line is a must for the Titans.
8) Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
If the Falcons find a quarterback in the offseason — whether it be Justin Fields via trade, Kirk Cousins in free agency, or someone else entirely — Atlanta becomes a prime spot for a top corner or edge rusher.
Jared Verse‘s bend and pass-rushing explosiveness make him a prime target for a defense that needs a No. 1 pass rusher. Dallas Turner might fit a bit better, but Verse has tremendous upside.
9) Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
There seems to be a consensus about the top three receivers in the draft, with Rome Odunze being the last on the board. He’s a big target who can run and excels at making contested catches, something a rookie quarterback will love in the offense.
10) New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Jets have to figure out the tackle position if they want any chance at making the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers has to have a backside protector, and Olu Fashanu can be that guy. He has excellent athleticism and was solid in pass protection for the Nittany Lions.
11) Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Vikings really should take a quarterback here for a variety of reasons, but I can’t see the front office doing that unless they really love one of the guys in that middle tier of quarterbacks. Turner is the top edge rusher in the class, and his hand usage and ability to play both the run and the pass make him an excellent pick, even if the quarterback need may be more pressing.
12) Denver Broncos: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Laiatu Latu is the most talented edge rusher in the class with absurd stats these last two years for UCLA. Medical concerns may cause him to slide, but any team as high as the Cardinals at No. 4 could reasonably take him, as long as they’re comfortable with the medical history. An explosive pure pass rusher, Latu has the upside of a consistent double-digit sack artist.
13) Arizona Cardinals: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
After trading back and racking up on draft picks, the Cardinals have several ways they could go, including receiver, edge rusher, and corner. Here, I have them taking Quinyon Mitchell, whose Senior Bowl performance left no doubt that he could be one of the first defensive backs drafted in this class.
14) New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
New Orleans is one of the teams I’ve struggled to figure out as I do these mock drafts. Offensive tackle has been my most popular pick, and there’s a good amount of buzz around Taliese Fuaga being an earlier-than-expected pick. He’s big and nasty in the running game, giving New Orleans another tackle with an edge to his game.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
This is probably the fifth or sixth different team I’ve had taking Brock Bowers, and every time, I’ve thought, “This offense could really use a guy like Bowers.” He fits in so many different schemes, and getting Anthony Richardson another young target is a huge priority for the Colts this offseason.
16) Seattle Seahawks: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
If you’re a frequent reader of Pro Football Network, you may have noticed we changed Cooper DeJean‘s position. He has the athleticism of a corner but the ball-hawking and run-stuffing abilities of a safety. Giving the Swiss Army knife of a defender to a team like Seattle that likes to deploy their secondary pieces strategically makes a lot of sense.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas
This is the first time I’ve had Byron Murphy II going ahead of Johnny Newton, and while I still have Newton slightly ahead on my personal big board, I see the appeal of Murphy.
MORE: Top DTs in the 2024 NFL Draft
A talented interior pass rusher, Murphy can immediately upgrade Jacksonville’s defensive line and will flash the ability to get after the quarterback early in his career.
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Johnny Newton, IDL, Illinois
The aforementioned Newton doesn’t have to wait long after Murphy to hear his name called in this mock. B.J. Hill is a solid interior rusher, but in today’s NFL, teams need two or three high-level interior pass rushers to really excel as a defense.
19) Los Angeles Rams: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
I’m a big fan of Nate Wiggins‘ game and believe his speed, ball skills, and overall athleticism make him a high-ceiling corner in the NFL. He may need to add a few pounds to his leaner frame, but getting a guy who can match up in man against high-level receivers is a must in the NFC West.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of the four Tier 1A or 1B corners in the draft, and if any of them fall to the Steelers, I’d expect them to go in that direction. McKinstry doesn’t have any single elite trait, but he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses either and has a high floor as a starting corner.
21) Miami Dolphins: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
I fully expect the Dolphins to go with an offensive lineman in this spot, but I don’t have any indication of which spot on the line. Here, the best pure right tackle in the draft, JC Latham, falls, giving Tua Tagovailoa a true blindside protector. While Miami’s scheme is predicated around quick throws, I think having a strong pass-blocking right tackle could open up some things in the playbook.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
This may be me trying to get out ahead of the NFL Combine, but T.J. Tampa is a guy who could go earlier than people expect, especially if there’s an early run on corners. Tampa has excellent size, speed, and length that all project above the NFL average. He has some technical flaws in his game, but with some more coaching, he could be one of the better corners in the league.
23) Houston Texans (From CLE): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Call it a hunch, but I really do feel strongly that the Texans want one more top receiver. In this case, they take Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round, but it could mean taking a guy on Day 2 to be a potential starter.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Thomas was an elite red-zone threat in college and provides a nice combination of size and speed.
24) Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
There are some people within the industry — whom I respect greatly — with Amarius Mims as a top-five overall player. I’m not there yet, but the upside is undeniable. With fewer than 10 full games under his belt at the collegiate level, he’s already flashed dominant pass-blocking ability.
25) Green Bay Packers: Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington
Green Bay needs an offensive lineman to provide better protection for Jordan Love after addressing the needs at the skill positions last offseason. Grabbing a versatile blocker such as Troy Fautanu can help alleviate some of the stress at multiple positions and allow the Packers more flexibility in free agency.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson is one of the more talented centers to come out of the college ranks in the last few years and has few weaknesses in his game. Ryan Jensen retired, leaving a massive hole in the middle of the Buccaneers’ offensive line, and Powers-Johnson has Day 1 starting ability.
27) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
After securing a corner earlier in the first round and picking up some extra draft capital, the Cardinals decide to address the receiver position. Adonai Mitchell may climb draft boards after the NFL Combine as he never looked as athletic as he really is simply due to playing across from Xavier Worthy. Mitchell has the potential to be a high-end wide receiver No. 2.
28) Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The aforementioned Worthy goes here to the Bills only if Buffalo declines to re-sign Gabriel Davis. Worthy can absolutely fly and works well in short areas as well, giving him the versatility to improve an aging Buffalo receiver room.
29) Detroit Lions: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have already shown the willingness to go outside the expected on draft night. Jared Goff is approaching 30 and a new contract, likely in the $50 million range, and it may be worth a look at resetting the team’s championship clock by saving on a rookie quarterback like J.J. McCarthy and allowing him to sit for a year or two before taking over.
30) Baltimore Ravens: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
I really like the team fit of Chop Robinson to the Ravens, but so far he’s rarely fallen this far in any of my mocks. He’s an interesting study of athleticism and upside against production as he never performed to his best potential in college, often disappearing for large portions of games.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
I have the edge position as one of San Francisco’s biggest needs this offseason, and Darius Robinson would be an interesting one, given the size and versatility of the Missouri defensive lineman.
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Robinson’s NFL Combine performance will be interesting as he’s listed at 6’5″ and 295 pounds but still has some explosion off the edge.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
As Keon Coleman continues to slide down my board, he could find a perfect home with Kansas City. Coleman is explosive and one of the best receivers after the catch, but he needs a bit more consistency and nuance to his game, things that shouldn’t affect him too much with the Chiefs.
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!
