The Top 10 - Way Too Early Mock Draft: What Does Your Team Need?
As we close the book on the sixth week of the NFL season, the landscape of languishing teams are beginning to come into focus. As fan bases become more disenchanted with their franchise, we take a look ahead with hope, and explore the top ten selections that could be made if the 2024 NFL Draft was to happen today.
Pick 1 - Chicago Bears (VIA Carolina Panthers) - QB, Caleb Williams (USC)
If the Chicago Bears are picking 2nd overall, it is clear that Justin Fields is not the franchise's future. Williams offers not only the stability of a long-term signal caller but the potential to be a generational talent at the next level.
Pick 2 - Chicago Bears - WR, Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
DJ Moore is having a sensational season, but getting Williams help here will be critical. Marvin Harrison also has the generational upside of being a Hall Of Fame talent like his father, and has averaged 19.5 yards per reception so far this season.
Pick 3 - Denver Broncos - CB, Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)
The Broncos would certainly love to move on from Russell Wilson, but his contract complicates things. They instead choose to pair Alabama prospects here, as McKinstry starts across from superstar cornerback Pat Surtain II to form the most fearsome young outside duo in the NFL.
Pick 4 - Arizona Cardinals - EDGE, Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
Similarly, the Cardinals would love to move on from Kyler Murray, but are hamstrung by his debilitating cap situation. Instead, they snag Latu to be the face of their defense, and bring his unrelenting 23.3% pass rush win rate to the Cardinals defensive line.
Pick 5 - New York Giants - QB, Drake Maye (North Carolina)
Even withstanding Daniel Jones' awful contract extension, the only hope for this front-office's salvation with fans is to select Drake Maye. The quarterback position has been a colossal failure, and is severely limiting a team with a solid defense and a superstar left tackle. Maye would bring immediate hope to a franchise with some of the most frustrated fans in the NFL.
Pick 6 - New England Patriots - QB, Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
Bill Belichick is in the twilight of his career, and cannot hope to tolerate Mac Jones' inept quarterback play any longer. He has thrown seven interceptions and fumbled twice already this season. Instead, Penix has achieved a 93.3 PFF overall grade so far in this collegiate season and provides a far higher ceiling than the best version of Mac Jones.
Pick 7 - Minnesota Vikings - QB, Bo Nix (Oregon)
Alternatively, Kirk Cousins is a high-floor quarterback that the Minnesota Vikings are getting frustrated with. They assembled a contending roster, that seemed to be held back by their quarterback's slightly above average play. Bo Nix would provide them with a very accurate quarterback that has an adjusted completion percentage of 85.6%, as well as 17 touchdowns to just one interception through six contests this season.
Pick 8 - Tennessee Titans - OT, Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State)
If Olu Fashanu had of declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, he likely would have been the first tackle off the board. He is already a fantastic pass protector, and has size that leave scouts itching to plug him in immediately as a bookend left tackle. According to Onward State, Fashanu has not allowed a single sack in his collegiate career. As the Titans likely move to Malik Willis or Will Levis as their future starter, the Penn State tackle allows them to have security of a franchise blind side protector.
Pick 9 - Green Bay Packers - OT, Amarius Mims (Georgia)
The Green Bay Packers must look to eventually replace the oft injured offensive tackle David Bakhtiari. While he is an elite talent at the position, he continues to miss significant time and leaving the Packers to scramble to protect their signal caller. Mims provides the versatility to play left or right tackle, and incredible size at 6'7", 340 pounds. If Bakhtiari can return to the field, Mims would likely begin his career as a road-grading right tackle, that could turn to the left side if needed in the future.
Pick 10 - Los Angeles Chargers - TE, Brock Bowers (Georgia)
If it wasn't for all of the quarterback-needy teams, as well as the diminished value of the tight end position, Bowers could be a top 5 pick. And although the Chargers have a plethora of holes across the roster, Bowers and Herbert could be a seriously deadly combination. The Georgia bulldog would join weapons such as Austin Ekeler, Quentin Johnson, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to provide an absolute nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators.
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