This Mock 2024 NFL Draft Is Dominated By This Major Position
With the NFL Draft drawing closer with each passing day the picture is starting to become clearer. There is expected to be a run of quarterbacks in the early part of the draft with gifted passers like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy all projected to be top-five picks. Let's get into my mock draft.
Pick 1: Chicago Bears via Carolina Panthers: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Chicago has known who they were picking since the first pick was locked in via the Carolina Panthers. Caleb Williams often has the title "generational" placed on him and he is nothing short of that. His combination of arm talent, mechanics, and football IQ are hard to find in one prospect. Williams' has it.
Pick 2: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The second overall pick is where the 2024 NFL Draft starts. We know it'll be a quarterback but which one is the debate between North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels? The Commanders roll with the upside Daniels offers with his athleticism.
Pick 3: New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Patriots are in a position where they have to sit and wait to see who is left on the board. The consolation prize is Drake Maye. Maye has the prototypical frame for an NFL quarterback with a strong arm.
Pick 4: Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals are in a prime position at pick four. They could trade down if they want or they can stick and pick who many view as the best player in the entire draft.
Pick 5: Los Angeles Chargers -> Minnesota Vikings - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Chargers Receive:
2024: Pick 11 and 108
2025: R1 and R3
Vikings Receive:
2024: Pick 5
2025: R3
J.J. McCarthy has shot up draft boards and Minnesota has been the consensus team connected to him. McCarthy is an unknown prospect based on his film at Michigan where he wasn't asked to do much but did show flashes of big-time throws on tape.
Pick 6: New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Giants wide receiver room to say lightly is underwhelming. Nabers is best after the catch forcing 30 missed tackles this past season.
Pick 7: Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt is a monster of a man at 6'8, 322 who also has a strong football IQ having over three years of starting experience at left tackle.
Pick 8: Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
With Atlanta moving to a 3-4 defense under new Head Coach Raheem Morris adding an edge rusher seems likely. There is a debate on which of the top three edges in the class will go first between Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, and Laiatu Latu who all offer different skill sets. I went with Turner, the Alabama product due to his physical mold and ability to drop into coverage that Morris covets from his edge defender.
Pick 9: Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
This is a dream scenario for Chicago if the draft shakes out this way. Caleb Williams gets to throw to a wide receiver core of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze in year one.
Pick 10: New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Every team covets an offensive lineman with a mean streak. Fuaga is a dominant run blocker who drives defenders into the ground and stops bullrushes firmly in their tracks.
Pick 11: Minnesota Vikings -> Los Angeles Chargers - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Chargers trade down earning extra capital and still get a blue-chip talent. Brock Bowers is a matchup nightmare where he is too fast for a linebacker to cover and too big for a corner.
Pick 12: Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
While this is high for Nix to be drafted teams typically place larger value on quarterbacks. Nix does bring experience having over three years of starting experience and rarely puts the ball in harm's way.
Pick 13: Las Vegas Raiders: Olumuyima Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Fashanu is an elite athlete at left tackle. His footwork is smooth in pass protection and is a smooth mover in space.
Pick 14: New Orleans Saints: Bryon Murphy III, DT, Texas
Murphy is a versatile three-down lineman with strong hand-fighting skills to rush the quarterback from inside and is a roadblock in the run game having a strong base.
Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell has strong eye discipline reading the quarterback's eyes and attacking the ball with quickness. No one is better at disrupting the play than him.
Pick 16: Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Jared Verse is a nightmare to block off the edge. His bull rush is powerful featuring violent hands using hand chops and mixes this with his speed well.
Pick 17: Jacksonville Jaguars: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Laiatu Latu has the best film of any of the defensive linemen in the class and has every right to be a top-ten pick based on his film. My only concern is that he medically retired from football due to having neck fusion surgery. If his injury concerns aren't truly an issue his name will be called before this.
Pick 18: Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
JC Latham has all the physical traits to become a Pro Bowl tackle. His combination of power and speed is elite. He needs to develop a strong anchor however.
Pick 19: Los Angeles Rams: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
The retirement of Aaron Donald leaves a hole in the middle of the Rams' 3-4 defense that requires a disruptor in the middle. While Newton is undersized his combination of get-off-speed and pass-rush moves makes him the perfect fit.
Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Arnold's athletic upside gives him all the tools to be a lockdown corner giving the Steelers a formidable duo with him and Joey Porter Jr.
Pick 21: Miami Dolphins: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
When Amarius Mims is on the field he has some of the best tape in the class. However, injuries have been a concern but if he can overcome the injury bug the sky is the limit.
Pick 22: Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
This is a match made in Heaven. Cooper DeJean is a Swiss army knife that can move around the secondary which new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will get the most out of.
Pick 23: Minnesota Vikings via Cleveland Browns: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
After trading up for J.J. McCarthy the Vikings are back on the clock. While Fautanu played tackle for the Huskies his future is on the interior of the line. He's a smooth mover in space who can line up in any spot on the offensive line.
Pick 24: Dallas Cowboys: Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
Thomas Jr had his break-out season for LSU this year where he amassed over 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns helping Jayden Daniels win the Heisman.
Pick 25: Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
A lot like Fautanu who played tackle in college likely moves to the interior, Barton will follow suit. He has an explosive get-off with a mean streak as a run blocker.
Pick 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
JPJ is my favorite interior offensive lineman in the draft class. In 497 pass-block snaps this season he allowed zero sacks, zero hits, and one pressure.
Pick 27: Arizona Cardinals: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Cardinals already addressed a massive hole at wide receiver with Marvin Harrison Jr. They do the same here but this time for the secondary. Wiggins can flat our move with the best body control at the position. He is also a fiery competitor who will challenge Marvin Harrison Jr in practice.
Pick 28: Buffalo Bills -> San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Bills Receive: Pick 31 & WR Brandon Aiyuk
49ers Receive: Pick 28 & 2025 R2
Guyton is still inexperienced as a tackle but has the athleticism to grow. He mirrors the edge defender well and needs to clean up hand placement.
Pick 29: Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Arguably the best name in the entire draft, McKinstry has the size and length to play outside corner who thrives both in man and zone coverage.
Pick 30: Baltimore Ravens: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
At 6'4 196 you wouldn't think Mitchell would be as fleet as he is. His release is quick, he's smooth at breaking off the route, and his acceleration is smooth down the field.
Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers -> Buffalo Bills: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Lassiter was efficient in his third season with the Dawgs where he only allowed 15 receptions, 136 yards, and a 48.7 passer rating when targeted.
Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
McConkey isn't the most athletic wide receiver but he wins with smooth footwork and different release packages. He will quickly become one of Patrick Mahomes favorite weapons.
Round One Recap
Pick 1: Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Pick 2: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Pick 3: New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Pick 4: Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
Pick 5: Los Angeles Chargers -> Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Pick 6: New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Pick 7: Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Pick 8: Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Pick 9: Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Pick 10: New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Pick 11: Minnesota Vikings -> Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Pick 12: Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Pick 13: Las Vegas Raiders: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Pick 14: New Orleans Saints: Byron Murphy III, DT, Texas
Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Pick 16: Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Pick 17: Jacksonville Jaguars: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Pick 18: Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Pick 19: Los Angeles Rams: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Pick 21: Miami Dolphins: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Pick 22: Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Pick 23: Minnesota Vikings via Cleveland Browns: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Pick 24: Dallas Cowboys: Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
Pick 25: Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
Pick 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Pick 27: Arizona Cardinals: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Pick 28: Buffalo Bills -> San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Pick 29: Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Pick 30: Baltimore Ravens: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers -> Buffalo Bills: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
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