The NFL Draft beings tomorrow so what time is better than now to release my final mock draft for the 2024 season? Unlike my previous editions, I have projected multiple trades in this final version. Those trades will be indicated with the selection!
Chicago Bears via Carolina Panthers - Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Easy enough. This has always been the direction the Bears were going to take. Any speculation that the team would opt to continue on with Justin Fields and trade out of this pick have been put to rest when the team moved Fields to Pittsburgh. I’ve always said, if the goal was to make the playoffs for the Bears, keeping Fields and trading back for a haul of picks would make sense. However, if the goal was to win the Superbowl, drafting Williams was the answer and here we are. Caleb Williams, you are a Chicago Bear.
2. Washington Commanders - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina - The general consensus around the community is that Jayden Daniels will be the selection here. I just don’t like that. Maye is the better prospect. If you were to build today’s NFL quarterback in a lab, the result would be Maye. He’s 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds. Yes, the playmaking ability and flashiness of Daniels is appealing but if any organization should know the risk of taking a quarterback built like Daniels, it’s the Commanders. Maye played in the air-raid in college and does not get the credit he deserves for his running ability as well. Give me the guy built to be an NFL quarterback here.
3. New England Patriots - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU - That leaves Daniels there for the Patriots to take. Don’t get me wrong, what Daniels did last season can’t be ignored. In the SEC against pro-level defensive players each-and-every-week, he was able to put together one of the greatest statistical seasons in college football history. What scares me off of Daniels is not only his build being just 210 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame, but his lack to consistently operate within the pocket. He too has an inconsistent throwing motion but that can be altered with proper coaching at the next level.
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State - Baring a trade into four for a quarterback, this seems like the next sure thing beyond Williams to the Bears. There’s no doubt that the Cardinals need to add a playmaker to this roster. DeAndre Hopkins has been gone for some time and Hollywood Brown has also left the team to join Kansas City. This leaves a rather weak receiving room. Enter Harrison Jr. who is a generation receiving prospect. I’ve often compared Harrison Jr. to Cardinals’ legend Larry Fitzgerald. An elite route runner with soft hands that can make any catch on the football field. Harrison Jr. is also a better athlete than Fitzgerald was. That should be enough for the Cardinals to give Kyler Murray his go-to-guy for many years to come.
5. Denver Broncos via Los Angeles Chargers (Projected Trade) - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan - With everyone pointing towards the Minnesota Vikings being the team that moves up to take a quarterback, I think we all forget that the Broncos are in a much more desperate situation. The Broncos easily have the worst quarterback room in the NFL that is led by newly acquired Zach Wilson. The Broncos already missed on the Russell Wilson trade and fans will be hounding for the team to make a move. McCarthy has some elite arm talent and can push the football all over the field. He’s also very good in the pocket and uses his agile feet and build to allude pressure while maintaining his throwing motion. He also just feels like a Broncos’ quarterback, doesn’t he?
6. New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU - The New York Giants sit tight and miss out on the run of four quarterbacks within the first five selections. That’s fine though as they’re then able to grab an elite receiving prospect. If it wasn’t for Harrison Jr., Nabers could be a top five selection in this draft. Nabers is an explosive route-runner with the ability to shift gears at any given time. He’s an elite athlete with 4.35 40-yard-dash speed, a 42-inch vertical and a 129-inch broad jump. With all of this, he too has elite ball skills. He’s the type of receiving talent the Giants have been missing since Odell Beckham Jr.
7. Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame - The Titans may be the real winners if the Chargers are to move back from five as Alt to Los Angeles seems like an ideal fit. Either way, the Titans move forward with Will Levis as their quarterback and what they need to do is keep him upright. Levis is not afraid of pressure and not afraid to take hits, which is arguably his biggest downfall. I think a lot of that has to do with his sub-par pocket presence. Either way, Alt is as good of a tackle prospect as you’ll find. He’s a monster of a man at 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds. He has the length to be an elite NFL left-tackle and is an exceptional athlete for his size.
8. Indianapolis Colts via Atlanta Falcons (Projected Trade) - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington - Let’s have some fun. The Colts have done a great job with drafting receivers lately. They were able to ink Michael Pittman Jr. to a three year deal and seemed to have hit with Josh Downs in last year’s draft but there is still room for improvement. The Colts need to provide Anthony Richardson with as much as they possibly can. Don’t get me wrong, I am as big of a Richardson fan as you’ll find, but to get the most out of his elite arm talent, they’ll need to give him as many options as possible. Odzune plays with an unmatched confidence that can’t be put into a number. He attacks the ball at all levels and has both the body control and hands to make every catch on the football field.
9. Chicago Bears - Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas - The Bears are going to have to juggle the demands of having Caleb Williams as their franchise quarterback and keeping him content. They could use this pick to do that but this team still has massive holes all over the football field. They are in desperate need of a consistent pass-rush. In this draft, the edge talent pool is much deeper than the interior defensive line. Let’s also not forget that Justin Jones and his 720 snaps he played last season left this off-season as well. Murphy has elite athletic skills. He has a rare combination of both speed and strength. His first step is unmatched in this draft as well. It is both explosive and quick that allows him to be disruptive behind the line of scrimmage before the play even begins.
10. New York Jets - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia - The Jets have a small window to make this Aaron Rodgers experiment work and are already a year delayed with the Achilles injury. With that being said, they need to get him as many weapons as possible. Bowers is the ideal fit. Bowers can best be described as a ‘freak.’ He has a rare combination of athleticism, size and strength. He’s best with the ball in his hands after-the-catch. The perfect fit for the Jets and Rodgers.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama - The Vikings could reach here for either Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. but that wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do. Instead, they opt to take the best pass rusher this draft has to offer to replace Danielle Hunter who has since joined the Houston Texans. Turner put on an absolute clinic at the NFL Draft Combine. He ran a 4.46 40-yard-dash and a 1.54 second ten-yard-split. He also posted a 40.5-inch vertical and a 127-inch broad jump. He combines this elite athleticism with an elite change-of-direction skill-set that will have even the best of NFL tackles second guessing.
12. Los Angeles Chargers via Denver Broncos (Projected Trade) - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State - With the best of the receivers off the board, the Chargers can wait to grab one of the next tier in this draft. Instead, they look to improve their offensive line. If we know anything about new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh it is that his style of football is dominated by the running game. Fuaga is also arguably the best run-blocking tackle prospect in this entire draft. Fuaga may best be a right-tackle in the NFL or a guard, but he’ll do either at an elite level. This is a match made in heaven for Harbaugh and he’ll be more than happy to leave Thursday with Fuaga and added draft capital.
13. Las Vegas Raiders - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo - Why does Mitchell seem like the perfect Raiders’ selection? Mitchell comes with elite speed, running a 4.33 at the NFL Draft Combine. He has okay height and length but nothing to write home about. What he does do better than anyone else in this draft however is process the game. He has exceptional field vision in zone coverage and is great in predicting the next move at any given time on the football field. He also is a sound and sure tackler. He’s known for not only his tackling ability but his willingness to do so.
14. New Orleans Saints - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State - This one is simple. The Saints seemed to have missed with their Trevor Penning selection in 2022 and veteran Ryan Ramczyk continues to struggle with knee troubles. They need to address their offensive line to help Derek Carr succeed. Fashanu comes with the ideal height and weight to be an NFL offensive tackle. He combined this with natural athleticism. He blocks both the run and pass equally as well.
15. Atlanta Falcons via Indianapolis Colts (Projected Trade) - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA - The Falcons lack a consistent pass rush. Their defense was much better a season ago than what the numbers suggest. However, that defense lacked a quality pass rush. The Falcons combined for just 42 sacks last season, tying them for the 11th-fewest in the NFL. Latu possesses the needed size to be an NFL edge rusher. He combines that with an impressive initial burst that allows him to gain the edge along with his quickness.
16. Seattle Seahawks - Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois - The Seahawks did bring back Leonard Williams but on just a one-year deal. Beyond Williams, the interior of this Seahawks’ defensive line is lacking. Newton also adds the ability to play across the defensive front. He’s described as a major disruptor at the line of scrimmage. He utilizes his heavy and impactful hands to a tee. With everything he brings, and the ability to slide into any position on the defensive front would be a welcome addition to the Seahawks.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa - The Jaguars have done some good things via free agency. They filled some big holes and one of them was adding Ronald Darby at cornerback. However, their secondary is still lacking, especially with the rest of the division getting better around them. DeJean is an athletic specimen who can play all across the secondary. May it be on the outside or in the slot or even at safety. He’s the perfect fit for a team looking to fill multiple holes.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - JC Latham, OT, Alabama - There was much speculation that the Bengals would move on from Tee Higgins with the amount of money he would demand. However, they opted to use the franchise tag on him and all signs point toward him playing in Cincinnati in 2024. The Bengals need to capitalize on what could be the final year with both Higgins and JaMarr Chase. Instead, they could look to sure up an already sound offensive line with Joe Burrow returning from yet another injury.
19. Los Angeles Rams - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State - The retirement of all-time great Aaron Donald has left the already weak Rams’ defense in a worse situation. With both Murphy and Newton off the board to fill the void, the Rams will look to add an edge presence. The Rams finished last season with the ninth fewest sacks in the NFL. Verse is arguably the best in this class when it comes to bull-rushing opposing offensive tackles into their quarterbacks. He is also competent against the run. He’s simply one of those guys that disrupts plays every time he’s on the field.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Graham Barton, C, Duke - The Steelers have put together an interesting quarterback room with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Now, they need to work to protect them. The Steelers need a center to cornerstone their offensive line after cutting 2023 starter Mason Cole and Barton is the best in this class. Barton can also play any position on the offensive line. The versatility combined with his athleticism can’t be ignored. He is a bit on the taller side when it comes to traditional centers but many teams have suggested that they love him as a snapper.
21. San Francisco 49ers via Miami Dolphins (Projected Trade) - Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington - The 49ers are in need of some help on their offensive line. With the run of offensive talent in this draft, one of the top offensive line prospects will make their way out of the top-20 and the 49ers will jump at the opportunity. Fautanu is a plug-and-play type of guy but doesn’t have the size to be a tackle. He’ll best be a guard or center in the NFL and the 49ers’ need help at every position of their offensive front.
22. Philadelphia Eagles - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson - Wiggins, in my opinion, is being a bit slept on in this class. He is the best cover corner in the draft and has blazing speed with a 4.28 40-yard-dash. On top of that, he comes with a 6-foot-1 frame. The Eagles have an aging secondary that needs attention sooner rather than later. Wiggins’ biggest downfall is his weight at 173-pounds but he has room to add some muscle and then in turn, improve as a tackler.
23. Minnesota Vikings via Houston Texans - Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington - It’s time for the Vikings to take a stab at one of the two remaining quarterbacks on the board. It’s between Penix and Nix but I believe Penix comes with a better upside. Penix comes with an effortless throwing motion that combines with elite arm talent. He has a great touch on deep balls and possesses a leadership characteristic that can’t be taught. There are obviously concerns with injury and how he played in the National Championship game but again, that’s why he’s being drafted here and not much earlier.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M - It may come to a surprise to most to see an interior linebacker going in the first round but there is a reason the Cowboys have met with nearly every high-end linebacker in this draft. Cooper comes with elite speed with a 4.51 40-yard-dash which allows him to play sideline-to-sideline. He also is extremely long, coming with an 80 1/8th-inch wing span. He was a disrupter on the football field during his time in college playing in the SEC. He’s the best linebacker this draft has to offer.
25. Green Bay Packers - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia - Mims is far from the most polished tackle prospect in the draft but what he does bring is elite size. He’s 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds and comes with the longest wingspan of any tackle in this draft. Simply put, you don’t find prospects with this size and length too often. If the Packers can get Mims right, this is one of those high-ceiling stabs you take late in the first round that could very well work out in the long run.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State - It’s easy to look at the stats for Robinson and brush him off. However, his tape tells a different story. He brings elite speed, quickness and explosiveness to the position, something that will have Head Coach Todd Bowles drooling over. Robinson has 4.48 40-yard-dash speed. He’s a bit on the raw side but everything is there for Robinson to excel at the next level.
27. Arizona Cardinals - Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri - The Cardinals recorded just 33 sacks as a team last season, placing them with the third fewest. With a second first round selection in this draft and adding a premier pass catcher with the first, they get a chance to grab an edge rusher here. Robinson has the ability to play both on the edge and on the interior of the offensive line. For a team struggling across their defensive front, the versatility of Robinson will be welcomed.
28. Buffalo Bills - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU - The Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, opening a massive void on their roster. Thomas Jr. is a massive body at 6-foot-4 who used his frame to lead the nation in receiving touchdowns with 17. He combines that with elite speed, running a 4.33 40-yard-dash. He has the ability to start-and-stop on a dime as well and has elite length for the position. Josh Allen will love throwing the football to Thomas.
29. Detroit Lions - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama - Cornerback Cam Sutton was released by the Lions following the issue of a warrant for his arrest. Now, the Lions will need to look for a CB2 via the draft and luckily for them, Arnold is on the board. Arnold co-led the SEC last year with interceptions (5) and led the entire SEC in targets ending with an incompletion (43.) He also didn’t allow a single touchdown last year on 445 coverage snaps. Doing this in the SEC is rather impressive.
30. New York Giants via Baltimore Ravens (Projected Trade) - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon - The Giants jump into the back-end of the first round to take a stab at Nix. They got their star receiver of the future already in this draft with Nabers and without owning their early second rounder selection this year (although they own 47,) they need to get aggressive rather than wait for Nix to fall to them. Nix is the most experienced of the quarterbacks in this class and with that comes an improved pocket presence and processing speed. With his top-tier pocket presence and pocket mobility, he has an innate ability to extend plays under duress.
31. Miami Dolphins via San Francisco 49ers (Projected Trade) - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma - As with my analysis of Mims a bit earlier, Guyton possesses the type of size that can’t be taught. He’s 6-foot-8 and 322 pounds with an above-average wingspan. He brings superior athleticism with his size with his display of nimble footwork. He’s explosive off the snap and has a broad range as a puller. Terron Armstead is returning to Miami this year but he has proven that he can’t stay on the field. The Dolphins get a raw tackle prospect with elite size while adding a bit of draft capital with this move.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas - I know the Chiefs went out and signed Hollywood Brown this off-season, but their receiving corps is still one of the weakest in the league. Rashee Rice too is facing some legal trouble and he will almost certainly see a suspension from the NFL. Mitchell led the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns a season ago with 11. He’s very good in both the red zone and on deep balls. He is one of those receivers that seems to show up when the pressure is on the most as well.