It’s time to go back to the basics. While I’ve enjoyed exploring different angles and wild trade scenarios, it’s been a while since I’ve done a normal predictive mock draft. So, approximately one month out from the big weekend, where do things stand in the 2024 NFL Draft?
In this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, quarterbacks, receivers, and offensive linemen fly off the board early, leaving talented edge rushers and defensive backs for contenders later in the first round.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Barring some last-minute shocker, this is the pick at No. 1, and there isn’t any use pretending otherwise. Caleb Williams has superstar potential if he can overcome some of the inconsistencies like holding the ball too long and inviting pressure.
Justin Fields is gone, Williams is a Bear, and he’ll have more help as a rookie than Fields ever got in Chicago.
2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Commanders have been extremely tight-lipped with their preference between Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, leading to some potential intrigue at the No. 2 overall pick.
Under the direction of Kliff Kingsbury, I think either quarterback could succeed, so I’m projecting my top overall signal-caller to the Commanders here. Daniels’ pressure-to-sack ratio isn’t great, but he’s got electric feet and a great deep ball.
3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Drake Maye isn’t just a consolation prize if he falls to three, as all three top quarterbacks have the potential to be special. Maye is an excellent processor who excels when he’s passing in phase.
He can also break the pocket and still deliver accurately on the run, however, and could end up the top passer in this class.
4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
There have been rumors circulating about the Cardinals’ willingness to trade out of the fourth spot. With Marvin Harrison Jr. on the board, I think it will take a massive haul for Arizona to accept.
However, there are a few quarterback-needy teams who would be willing to try. Still, I have the Cardinals staying put and taking the best player in the draft.
5) Minnesota Vikings (From LAC): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Trade: Vikings get pick Nos. 5 and 69, Chargers get Pick Nos. 11 and 23
It’s possible there’s enough interest in J.J. McCarthy to drive up the price, but simply swapping first-round picks would be a colossal overpay for the Vikings on most trade value charts, and they’ll need something in return.
In this case, that’s Los Angeles’ third-rounder. McCarthy has an extremely high floor and could excel in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. This is the far more likely scenario than last week’s fun, but slightly unrealistic bid for Justin Herbert.
6) New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
I agree with many of the pundits who indicate Malik Nabers would be the first receiver off the board in most drafts and have no problem mocking him to the Giants again.
I really like New York’s group of receivers, but as it currently stands, there’s no clear-cut No. 1 option. Adding Nabers to the fray allows several role players to play as role players and improves the receiving room in more than one way.
7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
I’ve never felt so confident in a team so low in the draft drafting a particular player (which naturally means Tennessee will go a different direction).
Over 40% of both Ryan Tannehill’s and Will Levis’ pressures came with the left tackle partially responsible. Those totals are first and second-most in the league, eight points ahead of Joe Burrow. Tennessee nabs Joe Alt to right the ship.
8) Atlanta Falcons: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
I feel fairly confident that Atlanta will target an Alabama defender, but which one is a mystery to me.
Dallas Turner will be available if the Falcons decide to beef up their pass rush, but Terrion Arnold continues to creep up my board, and I think he’s the type of corner Atlanta would covet.
9) Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
In watching Chicago’s offseason moves, I think the Bears need one more playmaker to put Williams in a truly positive situation, and Brock Bowers fits that bill.
MORE: Should the Bears Trade the No. 9 Pick?
He can flex out as a bigger slot receiver, creating mismatches in the process, or play as an in-line tight end. Bowers excels after the catch giving the Bears a versatile playmaker.
10) New York Jets: Troy Fautanu, G, Washington
While I don’t think signing veteran Tyron Smith takes away New York’s need for a rookie offensive lineman, I do think it gives a clearer picture of the type of lineman the Jets are looking to take.
Troy Fautanu is probably a guard at the next level, and that’s what he’d play as a rookie, but he can slide out to tackle if that’s the direction New York wants to go.
11) Los Angeles Chargers (From MIN): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Part of the reason I think the Chargers are a prime trade-down candidate is that their needs line up well with the draft.
Here, the Chargers collect an extra first-round pick and still get one of the top receivers in the draft in Rome Odunze. He’s a big body who excels with the ball in the air, giving Herbert a young replacement for Mike Williams.
12) Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Bo Nix fits really well with what Denver wants to do on offense. He’s not Drew Brees, but he excels at maximizing yards after the catch for his receivers, something Russell Wilson really struggled with last year.
Nix, while probably not a first-round talent, fits really well with Denver.
13) Las Vegas Raiders: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Raiders made a splash in free agency by signing Christian Wilkins at defensive tackle but haven’t addressed the offensive line yet, something that’s easy to do if Olu Fashanu falls. Las Vegas still needs a quarterback, but it makes sense to wait until Day 2 and take one of the solid passers there.
14) New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The board falls well for the Saints here, who have needs at OT, EDGE, and DT. I think Dennis Allen wants his team to become more physical, and Taliese Fuaga fits the bill. He’s a bully in the running game who got better in his rare true pass-set reps as his career went on.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Our first edge rusher goes at 15, making the Colts another happy middle-of-the-first-round team.
MORE: Top EDGEs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Jared Verse has the highest pass-rushing upside in the class, and as the rest of the division prioritizes receivers and offensive line this offseason, I think it makes sense for Indianapolis to sacrifice some run defense for extra pop in the pass rush.
16) Seattle Seahawks: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Seahawks have become known for zigging in the draft while others zag, and while the need for an edge rusher might not be quite as high on their list of priorities, the value for Dallas Turner here might be too much to pass up.
Turner falls in this mock not due to a lack of talent or upside but rather because of a logjam of quarterbacks, receivers, and offensive tackles in the top 15.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
I’ll admit, I was surprised that Calvin Ridley didn’t re-sign with Jacksonville, and this is the first time I’ve mocked a receiver to the Jaguars.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
I’ve written time and again that the key for Jacksonville at 17 is not any particular position but rather getting more physical as a team. Keon Coleman, at 6’3″, 215 pounds, does just that.
18) Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
At this point, I think the Bengals are best set up to take the best player available and find a spot for him. That being said, JC Latham is likely an upgrade over the rotation at right tackle and could slot in as an immediate starter.
19) Los Angeles Rams: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Rams have a couple of pressing needs, namely at corner and edge rusher, so Laiatu Latu could be the pick here. However, this time, I’m giving Los Angeles a corner with great length, athleticism, and ball skills in Quinyon Mitchell, upgrading a pass defense that struggled down the stretch.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
If the Steelers are going all-in with Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields), they’ll need some more reinforcements on the offensive line. Amarius Mims is inexperienced, but when he was on the field, he was outright dominant and could have the highest ceiling of any tackle prospect in this year’s class.
21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (From MIA): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Trade: Dolphins get pick Nos. 26 and 89, Buccaneers get pick No. 21
Laiatu Latu could go anywhere from No. 8 to No. 100, depending on what teams learned about his medical history.
That being said, in this mock, he’s a premiere talent who falls into the 20s, and Tampa Bay makes a move, shipping off one of their two late third-rounders to move up five spots. Latu was ultra-productive in college, and if he stays healthy, he’s a steal in this range.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, S, Iowa
Philadelphia’s secondary was soft down the stretch last year, and that’s an adjective that will never be used to describe Cooper DeJean. While he’s rehabbing a broken leg, DeJean hasn’t been able to work out for teams.
Had he been healthy, he would have put up ridiculous testing numbers to go with a physicality that pops on tape. It doesn’t matter where Dejean plays for Philadelphia, he’ll make that defense better.
23) Los Angeles Chargers (From CLE via HOU via MIN): Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
It’s no secret that Jim Harbaugh wants to be physical up front and run the ball, so while Los Angeles likely needs a second receiver in the draft, taking the physical Jackson Powers-Johnson is more its style. Powers-Johnson is much younger than the rest of this class and yet looks like a veteran.
24) Dallas Cowboys: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
There are other more pressing needs, but Byron Murphy II just feels like the type of player the Cowboys want on their roster. Murphy excels at shooting gaps but still displays excellent power. He’s known more as a pass-rushing threat but still adds plenty to the run defense, which Dallas struggled with down the stretch.
25) Green Bay Packers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Green Bay went full send on addressing the receiver room in last year’s draft, and it paid huge dividends. Now, I’d expect the same type of doubling down on the defensive side of the ball, specifically the secondary.
MORE: Top CBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Nate Wiggins weighed in too light for my liking at the NFL Combine, but that was likely so he could shave a few hundredths off of his blazing 40-yard-dash time. Wiggins has a high motor and great athleticism.
26) Miami Dolphins (From TB): Graham Barton, G, Duke
Graham Barton has experience at several spots along the line, but his experience and talent as a zone blocker are what set him apart for Miami. Barton lacks elite physical traits, but he has excellent technique and versatility that make him an asset to a team that has completely gutted its offensive line.
27) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Arizona is in good position to wait patiently and take BPA, as the Cardinals have holes across the roster. Kool-Aid McKinstry‘s lack of one elite trait has somewhat pushed him down draft boards, but whoever ends up with the Alabama star is going to get a great player.
28) Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Several draft experts I really respect are extremely high on Brian Thomas Jr. I’m not willing to put him in the conversation for top three receiver in this draft, but Thomas has some elite traits, namely his deep-ball ability and aggression with the ball in the air.
This is not a player comp, but the Bills would use him similarly to how they used Gabe Davis.
29) Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Detroit finds itself in a position it hasn’t been in during my lifetime: Good enough to selectively upgrade its team rather than try to build toward a contender.
Accordingly, the Lions would like to have another athletic edge rusher, but don’t need to reach for one. Here, Chop Robinson falls perfectly into their grasp.
30) Baltimore Ravens: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Darius Robinson is a massive edge rusher who took his game to another level in 2023. Baltimore might look in the direction of a receiver that it likes, but in a class this deep, the Ravens can get a quality starter later in the weekend.
Robinson is a high-level run defender who can also drive his blocker and cave in pockets against the pass.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
I’m not sure about the fit with Tyler Guyton in San Francisco, but I’ve said that — and been wrong — about several past draft picks for the 49ers. Guyton towers over defenders, and when he keeps his feet and hips in check, he’s as good as they get as a pass blocker.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
I had fully expected to continue mocking wide receivers to the Chiefs until the actual draft, but they surprised me by signing Hollywood Brown. There’s no clear weakness on the reigning Super Bowl champions, so the Chiefs once again have the luxury of going with the best player available.
After a run on edge rushers, tackles, and receivers, Johnny Newton — a top-15 player on my board — drops to Kansas City, giving the Chiefs one of the best interior duos in football.
2024 NFL Mock Draft | Teams Without a First-Round Pick
33) Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Panthers are not going to contend this season (I’m a Charlotte native, I can say that), so the only goal is to properly evaluate Bryce Young. New GM Dan Morgan and Co. addressed the offensive line in free agency, so now it’s time to get Young multiple receivers in a deep draft class.
Adonai Mitchell is prioritized over a couple of other potential options here because of his ability to actually get open, something Carolina’s receivers rarely did last season.
42) Houston Texans (From MIN): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
As a South Carolina graduate, I’ve watched Xavier Legette since high school. His skill set matches perfectly with the Texans.
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Legette’s ability to use his speed and acceleration to separate on longer routes like overs and crossers give him big-play potential, and there are few receivers as strong as him at the catch point.
54) Cleveland Browns: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
In a thinner defensive tackle class, Ruke Orhorhoro is a guy who started to separate himself at the end of last season.
He’s versatile, playing everywhere from the nose position to a 5-technique, and was unheralded on a strong defensive line. Orhorhoro has rare athleticism with a 9.90 RAS and got better and better as his career progressed.
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!