We seem to say it every year, but 2024 truly is an incredibly unpredictable year when it comes to the NFL Draft. My lone 2024 mock draft includes the Raiders trading up for a quarterback. The intrigue starts at No. 2, and I went in a different direction there and throughout the entire mock.
1. CHI (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The league doesn’t want the anticipation to decrease ahead of draft night with knowledge of the selection explicitly coming out, but it would be the draft shock of the century if Caleb Williams doesn’t go No. 1 overall at this point.
2. WAS: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The most likely pick for the Commanders is Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, who sounds like the clear preferred choice for head coach Dan Quinn. But I could see first-year general manager Adam Peters wanting Drake Maye. Ultimately, if that is the case, J.J. McCarthy is a potential compromise. New Washington ownership has talked a lot about wanting people with a history of winning, and McCarthy has won in high school and college.
3. LV (mock draft w/ NE): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
In this scenario, I believe the Patriots would take a monstrous offer from the Raiders if Vegas does indeed send one. Antonio Pierce loves Jayden Daniels, and the pair spent time together at Arizona State. It’d be fun to watch the electric quarterback in matchups with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert within the division.
4. ARI: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
A trade back is a definite possibility for Arizona, but they’ve been linked to Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. all offseason. He’s the most likely selection if they stay at No. 4.
5. LAC: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Many expect Jim Harbaugh to want to beef up the offensive line, but my guess is they’ll have choices there early on Day 2—and the opportunity to draft a weapon like Malik Nabers typically only comes with a high pick like this, which the Chargers hope to not have again any time soon.
6. NYG: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
After the Chargers take Nabers, I’ll guess that the Giants regime decides to pull the trigger on Drake Maye, perhaps partly in an effort to buy themselves more time beyond 2024.
7. TEN: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans added to the skill positions with Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard during free agency, and they look to shore up the blindside with Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt.
8. ATL: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
Similarly, the Falcons added skill to the offense in Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore this offseason. Dallas Turner gives them more prowess off the edge defensively.
9. CHI: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
This was a tough one, as I could see the Bears adding to the offensive line here. But Rome Odunze gives their new quarterback another target to go along with veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
10. NYJ: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Aaron Rodgers acquisition aside, I was not high on the Jets’ decisions last offseason. This year is another story, with Mike Williams, Tyron Smith, John Simpson, and Morgan Moses all joining the offense in high-upside moves. They continue to add there with versatile tight end Brock Bowers.
11. MIN: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah sounded sincere when indicating last week that the Vikings are not going to overpay to move up for a quarterback and would be happy with value options. I firmly believe that Kevin O’Connell would mesh perfectly with Bo Nix, who will make the right decisions and deliver the ball accurately in his attack.
12. DEN: Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA
Assuming the health checks out, which it sounds like it has, Laiatu Latu is probably going to be selected higher than people might think. With Nix gone, Denver could use his ability in Vance Joseph’s defense. Keep an eye on a potential trade-back as well if the Broncos want to make up for not having a second-round pick.
13. NE (mock trade w/ LV): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
The issue with moving the Patriots this far back is that they clearly want a quarterback. However, head coach Jerod Mayo has spoken bluntly about the work to be done in building the roster. In a trade with the Raiders, they would get a package of picks and still add an intriguing triggerman in Michael Penix Jr.
14. NO: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Olumuyiwa Fashanu might get top-ten consideration (perhaps from the Bears), but the Saints would be thrilled to get him here at a position of need.
15. IND: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Many seem to agree that Colts general manager Chris Ballard would be intrigued by the traits of Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Indy is a definite trade-up team (for a receiver) to keep an eye on, too.
16. SEA: Troy Fautanu, G, Washington
Troy Fautanu played for new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at Washington, and he can compete for a Day 1 starting spot on the interior offensive line.
17. SF (mock trade w/ JAX): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
There has been a ton of smoke for a Brandon Aiyuk trade, and this is a straight up Aiyuk-for-No. 17 deal between the 49ers and the Jaguars. San Francisco drafts a cheaper replacement while keeping the No. 31 pick as well.
18. CIN: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
Jared Verse just feels like a perfect fit as a Bengal that would jump into the pass rush rotation led by Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Cincy knows the importance of the pass rush long term.
19. LAR: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Rams are an interesting team, set to make their first first-round pick since selecting Jared Goff first overall in 2016. Maybe they’d trade down an accumulate more picks after doing a nice job in the middle rounds in recent years, but Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga feels like a home-run fit with Sean McVay in LA.
20. PIT: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Receiver and center are more immediate needs for the Steelers, but JC Latham opening lanes for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren is a fun scenario. Pittsburgh can be patient with him (or another option like Amarius Mims), but they should be set at the bookends for years with Broderick Jones the likely long-term left tackle.
21. MIA: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
The Dolphins lost Christian Wilkins to the Raiders during free agency, and Johnny Newton would be a replacement to pair with Zach Sieler on the defensive interior. The offensive line is a definite possibility here, too, if Miami has someone high on the board there.
22. PHI: Terrion Arnold CB, Alabama
Alabama’s Terrion Arnold can play all over the defensive backfield, and he should have the ability to make a Year 1 impact on an Eagles squad looking to contend.
23. MIN (from HOU via CLE): Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
I’ve seen Vikings fans want Byron Murphy at No. 11 if they don’t move up for one of the “consensus” top four quarterbacks, but there’s likely a chance that he’s available in this range. It’d be too risky to flip this and hope the quarterback you like drops, in my opinion.
24. DAL: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Cowboys aren’t sure what they’re doing with their offensive line positioning, but the towering Amarius Mims is someone they can mold into their franchise left tackle while keeping Tyler Smith inside.
25. GB: Graham Barton, G, Duke
Green Bay signed 2022 rushing champion Josh Jacobs, and drafting Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton beefs things up for a team that ultimately wants to win with physicality.
26. TB: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Bucs somewhat surprisingly traded cornerback Carlton Davis to the Lions, and it’d be a surprise if they don’t end up with a corner on one of the first two nights of the draft. Cooper DeJean profiles as someone that head coach Todd Bowles would like to deploy defensively.
27. ARI (via HOU): Chop Robinson, OLB, Penn State
The lightning-quick get-off Chop Robinson possesses is the type of juice that’s missing from Jonathan Gannon’s defense right now.
28. BUF: WR Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
A handful of wide receiver options are in the mix for the Bills here, but Ladd McConkey is another separator for Josh Allen, which would help in crunch time in tough games. Attempting to cover McConkey and Dalton Kincaid on third downs would be major challenge for defenses.
29. DET: Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri
Darius Robinson was the first-round invitee that seems to have the best chance of dropping to the second round, but he’s someone that feels like a natural culture fit with the Lions. I’ll say he walks the stage in Round 1, with Detroit circling back for a cornerback on Day 2.
30. BAL: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Keon Coleman could certainly go a bit higher than this, including potentially to Buffalo. However, he’s currently the betting favorite for the Ravens’ first pick and would add more size to the group with Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, and Rashod Bateman.
31. SF: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Even while trading away a player like Aiyuk to do it, getting a first-round haul of Brian Thomas Jr. and Kingsley Suamataia would be a nice start for San Francisco. Suamataia is the type of player general manager John Lynch would want in the program.
32. KC: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
I feel like Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is someone the Chiefs might like, but Bama cover man Kool-Aid McKinstry is available here and joins Steve Spagnuolo’s defense after they traded L’Jarius Snead to the Titans.