The final draft order is now in place, with the Super Bowl concluding. I wrote a pre-postseason mock draft before the playoffs started, but a lot has changed then with draft order, rumors, and trade talks, so this is the first official mock draft of the 2024 season. As I have stated in the previous mock draft, this is from the point of view of what I think teams will do in their positions, not what I want them to do. For example, I think Brock Bowers to the Jets would be a game-changing move, but many rumors suggest they are set on drafting an offensive tackle. Let's dive in.
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams - QB, USC
With all the new rumors and buzz around the league, it seems the Bears are ready to part ways with Justin Fields. They are demanding a "historic haul" for the pick, and it doesn't seem like any teams are ready to offer up a package that lives up to those standards. That said, Caleb Williams is the top prospect in this draft, and it would be shocking if Chicago went any other route.
2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye- QB, UNC
The Commanders might be one of the teams trying to bundle a historic package for Caleb Williams since they hired his senior offensive analyst, Kliff Kingsbury. It is pretty odd that Kingsbury would allegedly join the Raiders as an offensive coordinator and then pull out and join the Commanders. He must think they have a real shot at the #1 pick, meaning he would get to work with Caleb again. This is something to watch for, but I'm sold on the Bears sticking with Williams for now. In that case, the #2 pick is between two QBs, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. I believe they will go with Maye here. Maye is a gunslinger with a league-ready build (6'4, 220 lbs.). Washington has plenty of weapons in Mclaurin, Dotson, and Samuel, who can do damage with the ball in their hands.
3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels- QB, LSU
There have been talks about the Patriots being open to trading down if the price is right and going the veteran route with a quarterback. But New England needs to add some spice to their offense. They need a dual-threat quarterback. They have limited weapons, so they need someone who can improvise and make plays with his arms and legs. Bill Belichick is gone, and Mayo has the chance to add a new dynamic to this football team.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.- WR, OSU
It's hard to see the Cardinals going in any other direction here. Marquise Brown is a free agent, and after an extremely disappointing 2023 season, they will likely let him walk. Kyler needs an elite weapon, and that's who they can grab with the 4th overall pick. Harrison Jr. is the consensus #1 WR in the class and will immediately impact this offense.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers- TE, Georgia
In my previous mock, I had them take Joe Alt here to protect Justin Herbert. Their offensive line play has been below average, so getting a top tackle would make sense here. But the more I got to thinking about it, the Chargers need a spark to this offense. Brock Bowers might be the best tight end ever evaluated coming out of college, and the Chargers need to add some youth to their offense. They can't go wrong with this pick. Keenan Allen will be 32 going into the 2024 season and has a history of injuries. When he isn't on the field, that offense doesn't operate remotely the same at all. If he has a production drop-off or gets hurt again, they can't leave Herbert without weapons. Bowers makes much sense here, as he is a generational talent.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers- WR, LSU
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. New York has 0 wide receivers that scare any opposing teams. The only weapon teams had to gameplan for was Saquon Barkley. Oh, and by the way, he is a free agent who is leaning on getting out of there (the smart thing to do). The Giants are in an awful position and need as many playmakers as they can get. Nabers wowed the country this year, totaling 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns on 89 receptions. He should be a no-brainer in this position.
7. Tennessee Titans: Rome Odunze- WR, Washington
This offense doesn't have much firepower outside of DeAndre Hopkins (who will be 32 this season). Derrick Henry is a free agent and is more than likely gone. If Will Levis is the future, they need to provide him with a top weapon in this draft. If they get Tee Higgins in free agency, my pick would change to an offensive tackle, but Tennessee isn't the most attractive team to join.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner- EDGE, Alabama
Quarterback is a much-needed position for this team, but I think they will end up with Justin Fields, so no need to draft one. Instead, they need to polish up their beyond-awful pass rush. They were dead last in pass rush at a 31% success rate last year, and Dallas Turner would make an immediate impact.
The 6'4 monster had ten sacks this year and looks to build on that in the league.
9. Chicago Bears: Joe Alt- OT, Notre Dame
If all goes as planned, the Chicago Bears could end up being the team with the best draft class in 2024. Drafting Caleb Williams and then providing him with (in my opinion) the most NFL-ready tackle would be a fantastic start. This is such a deep class of wide receivers, so they don't need to reach on one. Protecting your franchise QB with such a dominant tackle seems to be the key to success. They can get a WR in free agency or with their next pick afterward.
10. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu- OT, Penn State
The Jets have expressed serious interest in Taliese Fuaga, but I can't believe that if Olu is still on the board, they won't roll the dice with him. He is an elite pass protector and is quick on his feet. That offensive line was terrible last year, and Rodgers can't afford to get hurt again. Getting the best pass blocker in the draft should be the move over Fuaga if it comes to it.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Jared Verse- EDGE, FSU
I've been between quarterback, cornerback, and an edge defender for this pick. But as time goes on, I think Verse would be the most fitting pick here. Justin Jefferson just recently stated he wants to know the future of the quarterback position before deciding if he wants to stay in Minnesota. He has also voiced his opinion that he wants the team to bring back Kirk Cousins. This is a deep cornerback draft as well. There is elite talent across the board at that position, so they can address that next pick. Also, Jared Verse has superstar written all over him. With the likely loss of Danielle Hunter, they have a big hole to fill, and Verse can step right in.
12. Denver Broncos: Terrion Arnold- CB, Alabama
Denver loves to run man coverage and tends to blitz at a high rate. This challenges their secondary to play tight defense, and outside of Patrick Surtain, they don't have another corner who can lock it down. Like Surtain, Arnold also went to Alabama, so Denver knows what type of player they're getting here. I was going to go with a quarterback here, but it seems like they are trying to get Russell Wilson back in the building, so that's something to keep an eye on.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: J.J McCarthy- QB, Michigan
Although I'm hesitant about McCarthy, he seems to be rising up draft boards after Michigan took home the championship this year. Head Coach Antonio Pierce also stated that he "wants to be aggressive" in the QB search. Wilson seems like he's going back to Denver, Baker appears like he wants to stay in Tampa, and Cousins is looking on track to stay as well. The draft seems like the way to go, and McCarthy can get a real shot, having such a high-caliber receiver in Devante Adams to throw to.
14. New Orleans Saints: Laiatu Latu- EDGE, UCLA
No change here from the pre-postseason mock. Cam Jordan and Demario Davis are bound to decline soon enough and must prepare for that future. Latu has had some severe injuries in the past but dominated this year, totaling 21.5 tackles for loss, which led the country.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Wiggins- CB, Clemson
Nate Wiggins would fit perfectly with the Colts for two reasons. One, Indianapolis is in desperate need of cornerback help. And two, they run a lot of zone defense, where Wiggins thrived at Clemson. He should be able to be a plug-and-play Day 1 starter for Indy.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy- IDL, Texas
Murphy's name is continuing to climb the draft boards and for good reason. The 6'1, 310lb defensive lineman is arguably the best run-stopper in the class, and that is exactly what the Seahawks need. Seattle allowed 138 rushing yards per game, ranking them 31st, only behind Arizona.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kool-Aid McKinstry- CB, Alabama
Jacksonville gave up 239 passing yards per game last year, resulting in the 26th most passing yards allowed. They desperately need to address the CB room, and Kool-Aid is the guy. They need a player who can excel in man coverage, which he provides. The division is also loaded with wide receiver talent, so getting a true lockdown is necessary here.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga- OT, Oregon State
Another team that is going to be put in a tough spot. Jonah Williams and Tee Higgins are set to hit the free agent market, leaving the Bengals with a tough call - protect Burrow or get him a weapon. With the injury history and concerns, I think they must replace Williams first and see if they can bring back Tee or get another WR through free agency/draft.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Cooper Dejean- CB, Iowa
The Rams are thin at cornerback and need an impact player. That division is loaded with weapons, and someone will have to cover them. LA gave up 231 passing yards per game last year. They also need an offensive tackle, but I think they must establish their defense again.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bo Nix- QB, Oregon
Pittsburgh has no answer at quarterback currently. Kenny Pickett is not the answer, and Mason Rudolph is nothing but a backup in this league. If they don't acquire Justin Fields via trade, then they have no choice but to draft a promising QB. Nix is extremely accurate; he finished the season with a 77.2% completion percentage.
21. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Guyton- OL, Oklahoma
There aren't many holes on this team, but the one area they could improve the most is the offensive line. Tua must be protected for the deep route timing to work. Guyton is a monster. He is 6'7, weighs 330 lbs., and had a stellar year. Guyton allowed just three quarterback hits and zero sacks throughout 662 snaps.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell- CB, Toledo
The Philly secondary was abysmal this past season, and filling this draft must be the priority. It's one of the most underrated corners in the 2024 class. He is excellent in zone coverage and will help spark this defense. Bradberry and Slay are both getting older, so replacing them is necessary.
23. Houston Texans: Troy Fautanu- IOL, Washington
After a promising rookie season, CJ Stroud appears to be the franchise guy for years to come. He played so well that you wouldn't even realize the offensive line was not the best. The guard is their weak spot, and Fautanu can start Day 1 this season. He played tackle and guard in college, so he can move around wherever and be versatile in protecting Stroud.
24. Dallas Cowboys: JC Latham- OT, Alabama
With Tyron Smith testing free agency, the Cowboys can replace the veteran with a similar player. JC Latham is 6'6, 360 lbs. and is an absolute force. Latham's potential is off the charts, and I believe he can be the best OT in the class if developed correctly. Tyron Smith is 33, and replacing him with someone 20 years old sounds like a good move to me.
25. Green Bay Packers: Jer'Zhan Newton- IDL, Illinois
The Packers are another team that needs help drastically in defending the run. They allowed 128.3 rushing yards per game, which will keep them from making a Superbowl run if they don't fix it. Teams will run all over them until they address the situation. Jer'Zhan is a physical presence who cannot only stop the run but can also rush the passer.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keon Coleman- WR, FSU
I can't think of a better Mike Evans replacement than Keon Coleman. Both have very similar jump ball playstyles that tend to run lots of go routes and pose a threat to defenses. Evans wants $25-$30 million, so there is a good chance his departure from Tampa Bay actually happens.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Kamari Lassiter- CB, Georgia
They got their playmaker on the offensive side of the ball with Marvin Harrison Jr.; now it's time to get a playmaker on the defensive side. He excels in both man and zone and is a great tackler. High IQ player who led the Georgia secondary this year. He is a very versatile player that can play all over the field.
28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas- WR, LSU
With Gabe Davis hitting free agency and the Stefon Diggs rumors of him being upset with his role on the team, wide receiver seems like a sure thing here. He has the potential of being what the Bills hoped Davis would be—a big receiver who can go up and grab it over defenders. Oh, and not to mention, he led the nation in touchdowns with 17. Remember the name.
29. Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson- EDGE, Penn State
Outside of Hutchinson, the Lions don't generate too much pressure. Chop is an explosive edge defender rumored to be in the 4.5-4.6 40-yard dash range. He is great at disrupting the passer and would provide another threat on the outside for Detroit.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Amarius Mims- OT, Georgia
Standing at 6'7, 340 lbs. Amarius Mims is not someone defenders will want to stand face-to-face with. He is a little raw compared to the other tackles in this class, but Mims would be a solid pick-up here with all the other top ones off the board. Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley will be in their 30s, and it can't hurt to develop an animal like Mims to replace them.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Kamren Kinchens- S, Miami
Hufanga is coming off a torn ACL, and Gipson will be 34 when the season starts. With all the offensive linemen taken before them, the 9ers should roll the dice and draft the most talented safety. Kinchens is an absolute ball hawk who is as athletic as they come. The secondary was shaky in the playoffs and can be improved with this pick right here.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell- WR, Texas
They drafted Rashee Rice last year, and he grew into the number 1 option down the stretch of the season. Drafting Mitchell here would give them an outside threat, adding another dynamic to their offense. Mitchell is 6'4 and could finally give Mahomes a real WR2. A receiver with Mitchell's talent and the best QB in the game makes for a dangerous combination.
(Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
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