The NFL Draft order is starting to round into its final form as we are in conference championship week. The Bears have hired their offensive coordinator. Does that indicate, one way or another, what they’ll do with the first overall pick? With April’s NFL Draft field officially set, let’s get to our latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams – USC
As of right now, I feel like the Bears are still trending toward selecting Caleb Williams with the top pick and moving on from Justin Fields. The Shane Waldron hire as offensive coordinator probably doesn’t indicate one direction or the other. While I’m not sure a decision has been made internally yet, it feels like this is the direction they might be leaning, granted, maybe only slightly.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye – North Carolina
New ownership, New GM, new head coach, new QB. The Commanders bring in Drake Maye to be the new franchise quarterback for an organization looking to turn over a new leaf next year. I’m intrigued to see if they push for a trade-up to the top spot, but as of now, I think it’s Maye that they end up with as their signal caller next year.
3. New England Patriots: QB Jayden Daniels – LSU
Three quarterbacks in a row! The Patriots need to address their QB situation, and though they miss out on the top two choices in this year’s NFL Draft, the electric Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels will still be sitting there for them with the third pick. With a new head coach in Jerod Mayo running the show, the Pats push the reset button at quarterback and go for a fresh start.
4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
The Cardinals fall to the fourth overall pick but stiꩲll end up with arguably the best player in this dr🌠aft. Kyler Murray is very likely back for another year, so Arizona goes best player available to get a big-time weapon on the outside.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: TE Brock Bowers – Georgia
The Chargers round out the top five, drafting a player who should be Justin Herbert’s best friend for the next several years. Bowers is an absolute monster and provides Herbert with a consistent, reliable target in an offense that desperately needs one. The Chargers could add a receiver here, too, but Bowers might be too much of a sure thing to pass up.
6. New York Giants: WR Rome Odunze – Washington
While the Giants might not be able to answer their QB question at sixth overall, they get the next best thing and draft a legitimate top wide receiver, which is something they’ve been missing for a while. Rome Odunze is the total package and an incredibly complete wide receiver… Whoever is calling the signals for the Giants next year will have themself a very dangerous target.
7. Tennessee Titans: LT Olu Fashanu – Penn State
The Titans need help on both lines of scrimmage, and thanks to how things shook out with the NFL Draft order this week, the top two offensive tackle prospects on the board fall to them at number seven. They go with Olu Fashanu out of Penn State to anchor their offensive line and improve a group that’s allowed the fourth-most sacks in the NFL this season.
8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State
The Falcons still need a quarterback, but they have some talented pieces on both sides of the football. Offensively, they have some weapons, and defensively, they’re not a bad unit, but they could definitely use some help getting to the quarterback. They use this pick to grab the first EDGE off the board in a first round that’s going to be loaded with them.
9. Chicago Bears: WR Malik Nabers – LSU
The Bears could also go with an EDGE or a left tackle here, and it wouldn’t surprise me, but I think Ryan Poles will want to surround his new quarterback with as many weapons as possible. DJ Moore is a fantastic WR, but the Bears still need to add to their offense, so they do that with the explosive Malik Nabers out of LSU.
10. New York Jets: LT Joe Alt – Notre Dame
With Olu Fashanu off the board, the Jets go ahead and grab the next best tackle on the board to help protect Aaron Rodgers and his repaired Achilles! Even with a healthy Rodgers this season, the Jets would have had an uphill climb with their instability on the offensive line. Grabbing Alt with the 10th overall pick gives the Jets a massive u🅠pgrade at a premier position heading into a very important 2024-25 season.
11. Minnesota Vikings: EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama
The Vikings still have some quarterback uncertainty as well, but with where they’re at in the draft, I think they should bring back Kirk Cousins to work with the talented group of receivers and add a difference-maker on defense. Danielle Hunter’s future in Minnesota is uncertain after this season. If he’s gone, they’ll most certainly need an impact pass rusher. If he stays, they still need some help on the other side. Dallas Turner fills a big need for the Vikings.
12. Denver Broncos: QB J.J. McCarthy – Michigan
The Broncos have made it clear they want to move on from Russell Wilson in the offseason, and that opens them up to draft a quarterback. McCarthy feels like a perfect fit in Sean Payton’s system. He was smart with the football in his time at Michigan and made big throws when he had to. He’s dangerous with his legs and has experience running a pro-style offense.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Bo Nix – Oregon
The Raiders have their head coach in Antonio Pierce, and now they need to get him a quarterback. While Las Vegas likely won’t be in play for one of the top three quarterbacks off the board, they elect to go with Bo Nix and his tons of experience to be their guy. He might not have the ceiling as some of the quarterbacks higher up the board, but he grew a ton as a signal caller in his time at Oregon and should be able to come into Vegas and be a steady hand under center for them.
14. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA
The Saints need to add in a lot of different spots, and with their spot in the draft going with one of the top EDGE rushers available makes the most sense. It’s one of the most valuable positions in football, and with Cam Jordan on the back nine of his career, New Orleans could certainly stand to bring in an explosive player to line up on the opposite side.
15. Indianapolis Colts: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
While the Colts would like to get another weapon for Anthony Richardson on the offense, they need some help at cornerback as well. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the top-rated corner in this draft and fills a very big need for Indianapolis. McKinstꦐry is a very complete player and can make an impact on day one for a Colts defense that needs playmakers.
16. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State
Seattle needs EDGE help, and they get it with the 16th pick in the NFL Draft in Penn State’s Chop Robinson. They have been looking for consistency at that position all year, and Robinson can come in right away next year and be their best pass rusher on that defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Nate Wiggins – Clemson
The Jags collapse was a brutal one down the stretch, and it really amplified their needs. They most certainly need a little more help on offense, but defensively, the team struggled m﷽ightily in the last few weeks. Taking the top-rated cornerback left on the board and a big-time playmaker on defense fills a nee♓d and helps get the Jags back on the right track.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Keon Coleman – Florida State
As much as the Bengals would like to bring back Tee Higgins, it just might not be feasible. Higgins is going to get WR1 money, and rightfully so. With Joe Burrow getting his new contract and Ja’Marr Chase next in line for a megadeal, I think the Bengals let Higgins walk and take his replacement with Keon Cole♎man. Coleman has had a fantꦆastic year for the Seminoles and is a similar receiver to Higgins. He would be a perfect fit to slot in with Cincinnati.
19. Los Angeles Rams: OT JC Latham – Alabama
You really can’t go wrong in the NFL Draft with Alabama, and JC Latham is one of the highest-rated tackles in this class. The Rams could use a little help in the trenches, and Latham can step in on day one and provide it. While there are some other holes to fill out on the roster, Latham is too good of a prospect to pass up at this spot. LA has a few other needs to address, but a solid tackle to fill out their offensive line is a good direction to go.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Cooper DeJean – Iowa
The Steelers need to add a corner to play opposite of last year’s draft pick, Joey Porter Jr, so they grab a versatile defensive back in Cooper DeJean. DeJean has the speed, size, and instincts to fit in on day one as a starter in the NFL, and he feels like a perfect fit for Mike Tomlin’s defense in Pittsburgh.
21. Miami Dolphins: OT Taliese Fuaga – Oregon State
The Dolphins need help on their offensive line. With the 21st pick, they take a tough, hard-nosed tackle to anchor that unit. Fuaga has a massive 6’6, 334 lb frame. He didn’t allow a sack last season at Oregon State. He’s a perfect fit to come in and start day one for Mike McDaniel and his versatile offensive scheme.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama
The Eagles’ collapse down the stretch of the season was certainly something to behold. I still think they have a very talented roster. However, defensively their glaring need for help in the secondary got exposed. Philly really needs to add a shutdown corner, and Terrion Arnold has a very high ceiling. The Eagles grab him here to try and help out their defense.
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Troy Franklin – Oregon
With C.J. Stroud having an amazing rookie year, the Texans go out and reward him in the NFL Draft by adding a big play machine in Troy Franklin. Franklin averaged over 17 yards per reception last season at Oregon and scored 14 touchdowns. He’s a true playmaker that can straight-up fly. Add him to the receiving corps and continue to build up that offense for Stroud.
24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Amarius Mims
You really can’t go wrong drafting a Georgia lineman, and Amarius Mims is a MONSTER. The Cowboys will likely have some moving parts on the offensive line. Adding the 6’7, 340 lb tackle from Georgia makes a lot of sense. Mims missed a few games with an ankle injury this season, but he’s fine now and has looked every part of a first-round pick at tack♋le. He’s got that massive frame, he’s explosive off the ball, and he is very athletic for his size.
25. Green Bay Packers: EDGE Bralen Trice – Washington
Lukas Van Ness hasn’t really worked out like the Packers had hoped. 31-year-old Preston Smith could end up being a cap casualty. Bralen Trice had a phenomenal season with Washington, and it makes sense here. He’s a complete player as an EDGE in his ability to defend both the run and the pass. While Green Bay probably still wants to add to the OL, Trice may be the better option in this slot.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo
About a month ago, I’m not sure anyone expected the Bucs to be picking this far back in the first round, but here we are! There are a few different areas of need for Tampa. Who they take will just depend on what their draft board looks like. Mitchell has fantastic instincts. He’s a physical corner that can come in day one and help out the Bucs secondary.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Jer’Zhan Newton – Illinois
The Cardinals need help just about everywhere on defense. While the value might not be there at some of the premier positions this late in the first round, Jer’Zhan Newton is a very good interior defensive lineman and can anchor Arizona’s front seven from day one. The Cardinals still will need to add on the edge, but Newton checks every box for them here.
28. Buffalo Bills: DL Byron Murphy II – Texas
The Bills will need help at receiver and on the interior of their defensive line. With Newton off the board, Buffalo goes with Byron Murphy II out of Texas to help firm up their front line. The showed they definitely need help in the middle, and Murphℱy provides that. With DaQuan Jones hurt th💖is year and likely on the way out this offseason, Murphy would be a logical fit late in the first round for the Bills.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas
The Chiefs desperately need to add a playmaker to their receiver room, and Mitchell gives them just that with their first-round NFL Draft pick. He’s a big target for Patrick Mahomes to look for at 6’4, 196 lbs. Mitchell is a complete receiver, a great route-runner, and can do just about whatever Andy Reid asks him to do offensively. This pick would also help open things up for last year’s WR draft pick Rashee Rice, who’s gotten better and better as the year has gone on, and only make things easier on Travis Kelce. Adding Mitchell would be a huge win for Mahomes, Kelce, and the Chiefs offense.
30. Detroit Lions: DL Leonard Taylor III – Miami
Aidan Hutchinson has been everything the Lions have hoped for on the edge, but they need to add some help to the defensive line still. Leonard Taylor III would fit right in on the interior of the Lions’ defensive line and add some nastiness to the front seven. With the top EDGE rushers off the board in this mock draft, the Lions grab an interior DL that fits in right away in Detroit.
31. San Francisco 49ers: OT Jordan Morgan – Arizona
Addressing the opposite side of Trent Williams makes sense for San Francisco at the end of the fi♏rst round. Colton McKivitz hasn’t done anything special in replacing Mike McGlinchey. Morgan gives them a player who can slot in on the right side immediately and make the transition to the left tackle when Trent Williams calls it a career.
32. Baltimore Ravens: WR Brian Thomas Jr – LSU
The Ravens round out the first round, adding a high-ceiling receiver to their offense to help out Lamar Jackson. Baltimore has a very deep roster, but outside of Zay Flowers, their long-term outlook at receiver is a little cloudy. 🔯Thomas can come in and give them a little more security and longevity in their receiver room.
