We are exactly one month away from the 2024 NFL Draft, and free agency has given us more clarity on team needs and how things might play out in Round 1. This mock includes a surprising order for the quarterbacks and a trade up into the top five.
1. CHI (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The “debate” is finally over with Justin Fields traded to Pittsburgh, and Williams will step into an offense with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen—not to mention the chance to add another weapon as early as No. 9 overall. It will be exciting to see how Williams performs as a rookie, but expectations are high for the entire team in 2024.
2. WAS: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
I continue to go back-and-forth between Daniels and Drake Maye here, and as stated previously, Washington trading back might fall more in line with the vision new owner Josh Harris typically has. If they stay put, the Commanders go with a quarterback in Daniels that Dan Quinn called a “game-changer” last month.
3. NE: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
This is where the craziness happens, and maybe all the buzz around McCarthy will turn out like Will Levis—who dropped to the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s easy to imagine New England viewing McCarthy as a winner with untapped potential as a passer, though, and he’d fall in line with the apparent plan of allowing a rookie to sit behind Jacoby Brissett.
4. ARI: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort made it known last week that they are open for business here, but is he willing to drop outside the top ten to likely lose the chance of adding one of the top-line wideouts from this year’s class? Despite momentum for Malik Nabers, Harrison Jr. remains the favorite to be the first wide receiver taken next month.
5. MIN (mock trade w/ LAC): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Minnesota trading for the No. 23 overall pick was almost certainly a precursor to moving up into the top five, and Kevin O’Connell’s offense would be an ideal fit for Maye to reach his potential. The Vikings hiring Josh McCown—who coached Maye in high school—as their quarterbacks coach is more fuel to the fire.
6. NYG: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
I believe all the smoke around the Giants wanting a quarterback has been just that, and Nabers would be a game-breaking weapon to help replace what was lost with Saquon Barkley now in Philadelphia. The offense could turn around in a hurry if Daniel Jones is healthy and Darren Waller returns.
7. TEN: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Tennessee addressed wide receiver by swooping in to sign Calvin Ridley on a lucrative long-term deal, so they seem to be locked into an offensive tackle here. I still think last year’s No. 11 overall pick Peter Skoronski is a better fit outside, but the Titans are keeping him at left guard and could take Alt to play the blindside.
8. ATL: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
Turner was here in the last mock with the expectation that Kirk Cousins would be going to Atlanta, so there’s no reason to change the thinking here. I would just say that Laiatu Latu shouldn’t be slept on as a potential top-ten pick to either the Falcons or Bears if they are comfortable with his medicals.
9. CHI: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Keenan Allen is on a one-year deal for Chicago, so if they view Odunze as a top-flight prospect worth selecting, it’d be tough to pass up the idea of him and DJ Moore growing with Caleb Williams. The Chargers moving back up for Odunze also feels like a possibility.
10. NYJ: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
I have not agreed with a lot of the offseason moves by Joe Douglas in previous years, but he’s arguably pushed all the right buttons this month with Mike Williams, Tyron Smith, John Simpson, and Morgan Moses. Bowers could be the final piece to remake the offense as Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) returns.
11. LAC (mock trade w/ MIN): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
If the Chargers end up being the team that trades back with Minnesota, it’s a decent bet that they will address offensive tackle and wide receiver on Day 1. In this scenario, they start out by taking Fuaga to bookend Rashawn Slater and make Trey Pipkins III perhaps the NFL’s best swing tackle.
12. DEN: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Nix to Denver has been the pairing in all three mock drafts, and the Broncos not yet addressing the position this offseason signals to me that they are targeting a rookie. Interestingly, Sean Payton said this offseason that he thinks Denver “will be really good” at finding a quarterback while “a lot of people [in the league] aren’t”—and he also said he doesn’t care how prospects are viewed by others.
13. LV: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Las Vegas is the primary team I wouldn’t rule out making a Godfather offer to get to No. 2 or No. 3 for Jayden Daniels—and Antonio Pierce has spoken openly about that desire. There might be nothing they can do to make it happen, though, and Arnold would be another potential impact defender added along with star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
14. NO: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
I still believe Fashanu is the best offensive tackle in the class, but there are enough people believing he will slip to slot him in this range. With the Saints, I love the fit protecting Derek Carr, and it’s difficult to trust Trevor Penning for a team that—once again—has deep playoff expectations.
15. IND: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell checks the athleticism boxes that Chris Ballard wants from his draft picks, and the playmaking cornerback is also a scheme fit for Gus Bradley. Wide receiver might also be an option depending on how they feel about Alec Pierce’s development.
16. SEA: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Seattle could decide to gamble here by waiting on Penix with the hopes that all the quarterback slots have been filled, and they did just acquire Sam Howell to be the No. 2 behind Geno Smith. However, he’s worth taking in the top 20 and obviously had a ton of success with new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb—who held the same role for the Huskies.
17. JAX: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Jacksonville signed Ronald Darby in free agency and might have a hidden gem in Amani Oruwariye as well, but cornerback is the heavy expectation here. DeJean has major versatility, and like the thinking with Quinyon Mitchell in Indy, he’s the kind of athlete that Trent Baalke covets.
18. CIN: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Bengals have two huge offensive tackles in Orlando Brown Jr. and Trent Brown, but the latter turns 31 before the draft and was signed to a one-year deal—so tackle is very much in play. Latham or Amarius Mims would each hit the “monster” criteria to protect Joe Burrow, and the Alabama product gets the nod with more experience and durability.
19. LAR: Jared Verse, OLB, Florida State
Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Cardinals, Malik Nabers to the Giants, Bo Nix to the Broncos, Michael Penix Jr. to the Seahawks, and now Verse to the Rams have been the same in every mock—and Los Angeles can add the rookie to a young crew of pass rushers trying to make up for the loss of Aaron Donald.
20. PIT: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Pittsburgh has a massive hole at the pivot and limited options to fill it, so Powers-Johnson could be their top target in the first round next month. Based on their history, the Steelers will probably feel good about hitting on a wide receiver to pair with George Pickens in the second or third round.
21. MIA: Graham Barton, G, Duke
Miami might need to have a home-run draft to reach the playoffs for the third year in a row, and Barton would be a tremendous start as an option at any position on the offensive line. Personally, I would like him best at guard, and that’s likely where he would play for Mike McDaniel.
22. BUF (mock trade w/ PHI): Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
I agree with those who believe Josh Allen could use another wide receiver, but Buffalo should feel confident about him making plays in January no matter who he’s throwing to. Can the same be said for the defense getting a late stop? Latu is an elite prospect that Brandon Beane can strike on if the medicals cause him to fall.
23. LAC (mock trade w/ MIN from HOU via CLE): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Again, the Chargers could be a team that leaves Round 1 with an offensive tackle and wide receiver if they trade down, and Thomas would be an extremely exciting addition for Justin Herbert. In his final college season, Thomas went for a 68/1,177/17 line.
24. DAL: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Dallas says that Tyler Smith is an option at left tackle (after originally saying he’d stay at guard), but I would think they’d prefer not to move him. Mims could go much higher than this based on his upside, and he notably practiced quite a bit on the blindside for Georgia despite starting at right tackle for them.
25. GB: Chop Robinson, OLB, Penn State
Pass rusher isn’t necessarily a need for the Packers with Lukas Van Ness drafted in the first round last year to develop behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith—but the Packers have proven to be a team that has an eye towards the future. You can never have too many pass rushers, so if Robinson’s upside is too good to pass up, they’ll take him.
26. TB: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The surprise trade of Carlton Davis to the Lions created a hole at cornerback for Todd Bowles’ defense, and Wiggins—assuming Tampa Bay feels good about his play strength—could be a natural replacement. I would expect the Bucs to double up at the position next month.
27. ARI (via HOU): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Everyone seems to view Murphy as a first-round lock and someone that can go much higher than this, so he gets the edge over Johnny Newton to be the first defensive lineman selected. Arizona signed multiple interior players in free agency, but they would hope Murphy is a standout option up front.
28. PHI (mock trade w/ BUF): Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Philadelphia has had an outstanding offseason, and depth at wide receiver is no longer an issue with DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell signed to fill in behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. However, McConkey would be a best-player-available pick and give the Eagles an unstoppable trio.
29. DET: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The unfortunate domestic violence situation that resulted in the release of Cam Sutton creates a need at cornerback just when it looked like Brad Holmes had filled every possible void on the roster—but things play out nicely in this mock with McKinstry arguably being the best overall player on the board, at least defensively.
30. BAL: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Baltimore has expressed confidence in Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor was a great re-signing ahead of free agency; but the big-bodied Coleman and electric Zay Flowers are the perfect complementary duo for the future, and they’d get meaner for January with Derrick Henry also in the fold.
31. SF: Troy Fautanu, G, Washington
Fautanu has drawn buzz as high as the top ten, but just like there can’t be 150 prospects selected on Day 2, some guys will fall below media expectations on the first night of the draft. San Francisco could start Fautanu at either right guard or right tackle.
32. KC: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Last year’s third-round pick Wanya Morris might be someone the Chiefs have confidence in starting at left tackle in 2024, but I love Suamataia, and it’s easy to picture him protecting Patrick Mahomes for the next decade. Wide receiver is the other possibility with a few options to still choose from on the board.