Well the wait is finally over everyone. This Thursday is the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft. It seemed like only yesterday we were talking about how far away the draft was. Now, it’s time for some magic to happen. This will be the last mock (obviously), and it will only have one round. Nothing fancy here, just ending on a high note.
I’ll have my pen and paper in hand as well as my initial grades on all the picks. I just can’t wait. I’m so excited. Welcome to my final mock of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pick 1 – Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams (QB/USC)
The most shocking pick of the draft, I know… Look I get it, it’s pretty much a locked in thing now. Feels stupid to talk about at this point, but yeah he’ll be the number one pick this year. Couldn’t have asked for a better situation either having weapons like D’Andre Swift, DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
Pick 2 – Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels (QB/LSU)
Remember when a lot of people and I mean “a lot” of people had Drake Maye here. Seems like yesterday. He could honestly still be the pick here, but all signs are pointing to Jayden Daniels being the pick here. He’s got the talent and the skill set that Kliff Kingsbury and that Commanders front office is gonna love.
Pick 3 – New England Patriots
Drake Maye (QB/UNC)
Part of me still believes this is going to be a trade down spot with Minnesota, but since we can’t have them on these mocks, then the next best option is either Drake Maye or Marvin Harrison Jr. Honestly, it wouldn’t shock me if one went over the over. They need both. I would like to think it would be the receiver here, but quarterbacks are more valuable. So I’ll go Drake Maye here.
Pick 4 – Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR/Ohio State)
The phones will definitely be ringing off the hook for Arizona to trade out of this pick, but the asking price they want is three firsts. Nah. Plus, you have the opportunity to take the best receiver prospect we have seen in quite some time in Marvin Harrison Jr. It makes the fans happy, it makes Kyler Murray happy, and it makes me happy.
Pick 5 – Los Angeles Chargers
Malik Nabers (WR/LSU)
The choice here will depend on what Coach Harbaugh wants to do on the offense. Tackle or wide receiver? If it were me, I would go receiver to give Herbert some confidence. I know it’s a deep receiver class, but taking the number two guy is still taking a top guy.
Pick 6 – New York Giants
Rome Odunze (WR/Washington)
The Giants could do the funniest thing in the world and take J.J. McCarthy to replace Daniel Jones. However, they should do the smart thing and finally improve that receiver core. They need a big body receiver to finally help the Giants out. Rome Odunze is that guy!
Pick 7 – Tennessee Titans
Joe Alt (OT/Notre Dame)
This is pretty cut and dry. The Titans are still in desperate need of offensive lineman. Peter Skoronski was a great addition to the guard role, but now they need that tackle to complement him. Joe Alt is regarded as the best tackle in this class. Pair him up with Skoronski and maybe Will Levis won’t get murdered this upcoming season.
Pick 8 – Atlanta Falcons
Jared Verse (EDGE/Florida State)
I have been going through this pick over and over again, and I think I finally settled on which edge rusher the Falcons should pick; Florida State’s Jared Verse. Guy has amazing talent, and he can instantly better the pass rush in Atlanta finally.
Pick 9 – Chicago Bears
Dallas Turner (EDGE/Alabama)
Since the receivers are off the board here, the Bears could trade back (which is what I think they should do), or they could stay put and take the next edge prospect in Alabama’s Dallas Turner. Guy is an athletic freak and pairing him up with Montez Sweat is a dream come true for that defense.
Pick 10 – New York Jets
Troy Fautanu (OT/Washington)
I’ve continually mocked Brock Bowers here to give Aaron Rodgers more weapons, but you have to make sure he has “working” ankles for their supposed run at the big one. Fautanu plays tackle and guard. He can easily start at guard and maybe take over if one of their old man tackles go down.
Pick 11 – Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy (QB/Michigan)
Crazy how they could get their guy here instead of trading up. Look, I know that’s not how it works because of the value of quarterback, but I just don’t see why they would need to move up for this guy. However, they need a quarterback. Darnold isn’t the answer, and McCarthy would have a a great situation coming in with good skill players and the best wide receiver in the league.
Pick 12 – Denver Broncos
Brock Bowers (TE/Georgia)
The Broncos have two options. They could trade back in the later part of the first round, get some more draft capital, and take Bo Nix. The second thing they could do is take the best player available. That would be Georgia’s Brock Bowers. Their tight end group is okay, but adding Bowers could be helpful for whoever does play quarterback.
Pick 13 – Las Vegas Raiders
Terrion Arnold (CB/Alabama)
Rumors are surfacing that the Raiders could trade up to take one of the main quarterbacks, but since we don’t do trades, they have to stay put. To me, taking Penix or Nix here is not the option. They have problems in their secondary. You could argue Mitchell here, but the safer option might be Alabama’s Terrion Arnold.
Pick 14 – New Orleans Saints
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT/Penn State)
Olu could go earlier here in the draft, but certain draft board outcomes have him going here at fourteen to the Saints. Couldn’t have been a better selection though. The Saints are in need of some major offensive line help on both sides. Trevor Penning is a bust, and Ryan Ramczyk could be on the verge of retirement. Olu is the perfect pick here.
Pick 15 – Indianapolis Colts
Quinyon Mitchell (CB/Toledo)
The Colts are on the board, and they are in need of some help in the secondary. They are notorious for taking athletic freaks of nature with high RAS scores. So they should have no trouble in selecting the standout corner from Toledo. Mitchell has amazing talent. You could argue who did he face in college being from Toldeo, but this kid is going to be something. They have to take him here.
Pick 16 – Seattle Seahawks
Byron Murphy II (DT/Texas)
The Seahawks needed some help on the interior offensive line, but I think it’s personally too early to take Graham Barton or Jackson Powers-Johnson. So they go with the next biggest need; defensive tackle. Now it’s about who they take. To me, Byron Murphy II would be the splash pick that they would love to have in their organization.
Pick 17 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Laiatu Latu (EDGE/UCLA)
The Jaguars have a number of needs including corner and receiver. However, they are in a prime position to take an amazing edge prospect in UCLA’s Laiatu Latu. The medicals might be an issue, but imagine that she group with him, Josh Allen and Trevon Walker. Sounds like a recipe for success to me.
Pick 18 – Cincinnati Bengals
JC Latham (OT/Alabama)
The Bengals have multiple options they could go with here, but the safest option would be to go get some more offensive line help. The Browns are a nice addition with Orlando and Trent, but adding Latham could strengthen that offensive line core. Rumor has it, he could also move to guard which could also help them.
Pick 19 – Los Angeles Rams
Cooper DeJean (CB/Iowa)
The Rams could look to immediately replace Aaron Donald, but it might be too early to take Johnny Newton here. I’m coming with a different pick here in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. They are in need of corner help, but just acquired some in Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White. They could transition him to free safety though which could be a smart move on their part.
Pick 20 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Taliese Fuaga (OT/Oregon State)
If Fuaga lasts this far, you better believe the Steelers would be running that card up to the podium. Fuaga is an exceptional run blocking right tackle and exactly the kind of guy offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is looking for. Put him in at right tackle, move Broderick Jones back to left tackle, and get Dan Moore off the damn field.
Pick 21 – Miami Dolphins
Amarius Mims (OT/Georgia)
The Dolphins also have gaping holes along the offensive and defensive lines. To me, they have to go offensive line and finally add some help to make sure Tua has something to stand on. Mims is raw, but he has the potential to be something amazing in the NFL if given the time.
Pick 22 – Philadelphia Eagles
Nate Wiggins (CB/Clemson)
He may be undersized, but it is no secret that the team got absolutely cooked in the secondary. They need help back there, and Wiggins is the best one available. With the aging corners in Darius Slay and James Bradberry, this is truly the best option for them.
Pick 23 – Minnesota Vikings
Jer’Zhan Newton (DT/Illinois)
The Vikings already took their quarterback of the future, and now they will select a strong defensive tackle in Johnny Newton. Flores will absolutely love this kid in the Minnesota system. They desperately need some help on the defensive line, so this is a win-win.
Pick 24 – Dallas Cowboys
Brian Thomas Jr. (WR/LSU)
Dallas shocks the world here and decides to take the touchdown machine; Brian Thomas Jr., the LSU product. It’s not an odd choice given they let go of Michael Gallup, but they are in major need of offensive line help. Jerry strikes yet again with the iron on hot coals.
Pick 25 – Green Bay Packers
Graham Barton (IOL/Duke)
The Packers could use a corner here to back up Jaire Alexander, but I have them going with a tackle hybrid in Graham Barton. Kid played every offensive line role in the book. He can learn the ropes and start at tackle to give them some help before possibly switching to guard.
Pick 26 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB/Alabama)
The Bucs could go with two choices on the defense here with either Kool-Aid McKinstry or Chop Robinson. To me, they should go with the immediate replacement for Carlton Davis. Kool-Aid honestly should go higher than this, but this just the way the cards were dealt.
Pick 27 – Arizona Cardinals
Darious Robinson (EDGE/Missouri)
The Cardinals took Marvin Harrison Jr. with their first pick, and now they get the edge/defensive tackle hybrid in Darious Robinson. Luckily, the Cardinals are in need of both positions. So, this is in fact the dream scenario that Arizona can have if they select Darious Robinson here.
Pick 28 – Buffalo Bills
Adonai Mitchell (WR/Texas)
With Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis officially out of Buffalo, the Bills have basically guaranteed that they are going to take a wide receiver in the first round. Some takes are going around now that Mitchell is hard to deal with due to some blood sugar issues. This is stupid. Take the kid, and he will perform.
Pick 29 – Detroit Lions
Chop Robinson (EDGE/Penn State)
The Lions will look to address the defense here. But, are they going cornerback or edge rusher. To me, I know you lost Cam Sutton, but you gained Carlton Davis from Tampa Bay. They need to add another pass rusher to work alongside Aidan Hutchinson. Chop should be able to do that.
Pick 30 – Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Guyton (OT/Oklahoma)
Guyton is a bit of a project, but the Ravens have done well in developing offensive line talent. He can come in and try to fill in the role that Morgan Moses left behind. I think with the right time, this kid could really be something great in years to come.
Pick 31 – San Francisco 49ers
Jackson Powers-Johnson (IOL/Oregon)
The 49ers miss out on some tackle prospects and a lot of round one potential edge talent. To me getting an interior linemen is the next best thing. Jackson Powers-Johnson has been sliding down some boards with some medical concerns, but considering their center is 31 years of age this isn’t a bad move at all. He can start in at guard and eventually take over the center position.
Pick 32 – Kansas City Chiefs
Ladd McConkey (WR/Georgia)
With the issues involving Rashee Rice, the Chiefs are going to be looking to go receiver early and give Mahomes a weapon to rely on. To me, the best receiver left is Georgia’s Ladd McConkey. Kid is an amazing talent from Georgia. He reminds me of just a smaller Cooper Kupp. He’s a great route runner and that’s what the Chiefs need to complement the vertical threat of Marquise Brown, and the aging Travis Kelce.
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