A lot has changed in the NFL since we published our last 2024 first-round mock draft.
The standings, for starters. Also, some prospects have seen their draft stocks rise — while others have dropped.
As always, the 2024 NFL Draft order is courtesy of the good folks at Tankathon. So with that, let’s dive into our Week 15 edition of the 2024 NFL first-round mock draft.
1. Chicago Bears (From Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams
Justin Fields’ improved play in the second half will leave the Bears’ brass with a tough decision.
But ultimately, it’ll be too hard to pass on a five-star talent and sure-thing in Williams, whose ceiling is levels higher than Fields’.
Chicago could always trade this pick or go with Marvin Harrison Jr. first overall, but if the draft were held today? They’d have to take last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. The potential is just too high.
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2. New England Patriots: Drake Maye
The Patriots need a cultural reset from top to bottom. Fortunately, they’ll get themselves a king-sized chess piece to begin the rebuild with a top-three pick here.
North Carolina’s Drake Maye has franchise quarterback written all over him. He may take a year or two to put it all together, but Maye is the strong-armed QB that this dull Patriots seem sorely needs.
Maye has to be the pick for New England if Williams is off the board, pure and simple.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Kyler Murray was at his best when he had a true game-changing superstar wideout in DeAndre Hopkins. And the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison perfectly fits that bill that Hopkins fulfilled for Arizona.
Harrison Jr. is the best wide receiver prospect in a generation. A sure-bet to be the first QB taken off the board. Pair him with Murray, and watch some beautiful offensive fireworks in The Desert for years to come!
4. Washington Commanders: Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Many Commanders fans are surely begging for the team to address the D with their first-round pick, but they won’t win jack any time soon if the o-line isn’t fixed up.
Sam Howell has put together some good performances on a lousy team that allowed him to take a ridiculous 58 sacks over Washington’s first 13 games.
Per Pro Football Focus, Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu didn’t allow a single sack in 2022 or 2023. In other words, precisely the player this team needs that can cement the o-line in DC for a longggggg time.
5. Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers
With two first-round picks, the Bears have limitless options. We have them taking Williams at No. 1 overall, so let’s find another explosive pass-catching weapon in Brock Bowers to give this offense limitless potential.
DJ Moore is having a career year in Windy City. Now imagine how high this offense could fly with a generational tight end prospect in Bowers. For once, the Bears’ offense would be must-watch TV — be it with Williams or Fields behind center next year.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Jayden Daniels
Jimmy Garoppolo was a giant flop, and rookie Aidan O’Connell was, well, a fourth-round pick for a season. Vegas has to roll the dice on a QB here, and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner would bring a fresh wave of excitement for a team that has sunk to irrelevance.
Daniels would be in a good spot to produce right away with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and hopefully Josh Jacobs as his weapons.
7. New York Jets: J.C. Latham
The Jets ignored the o-line this offseason and paid the price dearly — with Aaron Rodgers’ suffering a season-ending Achilles tear minutes into his New York debut after being sacked by Leonard Floyd.
Addressing the o-line is the No. 1 goal ahead of Rodgers’ return in 2024. Per PFF, Alabama tackle JC Latham has allowed just one sack in 925 offensive snaps since 2022. THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is a franchise-changing offensive tackle the Jets desperately need.
8. New York Giants: Joe Alt
2022 first-rounder Evan Neal has been a complete bust up to this point, and the G-Men can’t wait on him any longer. Rather than wait on Neal, how about taking a near-sure-thing in Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt?
Alt is an ultra-reliable pass-blocker but also arguably the best run-blocker in this draft. That’s perfect for a Brian Daboll-coached offense that puts plenty of emphasis on the ground game
9. Tennessee Titans: Malik Nabers
DeAndre Hopkins has formed nice chemistry with rookie QB Will Levis, but the Titans are lacking quality pass-catchers behind “Nuk.” 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks hasn’t been able to stay healthy through his first two seasons, and the Titans can’t just cross their fingers and hope it comes together.
LSU wideout Malik Nabers is an elite deep threat who averaged 18 yards per catch while racking up 14 touchdowns this season. Couple Nabers’ speed with Levis’ big-arm, and Mike Vrabel’s offense suddenly has a promising long-term outlook.
10. Los Angeles Chargers: Kool-Aid McKinstry
Another year, another season of the Chargers’ defense playing well below expectations. Some things never change.
Well actually, it could change if they get a stud lockdown corner in this defensive back-heavy draft. Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry is a dangerous ball-hawker who can lock up the opposing team’s WR1 with relative ease.
Exactly what this secondary needs, given all the top QBs they have to deal with in the AFC.
11. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr.
Kind of amazing that Atlanta remains in playoff contention despite mediocre QB play from Desmond Ridder.
Now imagine what Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson could do if they had a dynamic QB like Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. He’s a boom-or-bust guy, but it’s a risk worth taking for a team that’s simply an above-average signal-caller away from being a Super Bowl contender.
12. New Orleans Saints: Rome Odunze
Saints fans fed up with Derek Carr may want a QB here, but his contract means he can’t realistically be released until 2024. So the focus here should be to add another weapon for Carr and his eventual replacement.
Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara already give New Orleans two explosive game-changers on offense. Adding Washington wideout Rome Odunze — a dangerous deep threat and elite red zone weapon — to the mix might help the Saints offense regain its elite form for the first time in the post-drew Brees era.
13. Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse
Seattle’s defense has been atrocious all-season long despite a combination of veteran stalwarts and young studs. If there’s one thing Pete Carroll’s group needs here, it’s another edge rusher.
Enter Florida State’s Jared Verse, who just hit nine sacks for the second straight year. He’s a plug-and-play guy who’d form a scary 3-headed pass-rushing monster alongside Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu.
14. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu
The Rams found a new stud pass-rusher to complement Aaron Donald in rookie Byron Young. Like Seattle, let’s make that a three-headed monster by taking UCLA star Laiatu Latu — who has 23.5 sacks dating back to last year.
Latu, Young and Donald together would be one way of slowing down the prolific Eagles, 49ers and Cowboys offenses that are utterly dominating the NFC landscape.
15. Denver Broncos: Dallas Turner
Vance Joseph’s defense has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround since coughing up a 70-burger to the Dolphins back in Week 3.
Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper have been nice stories here in 2023, but another edge rusher is needed if they’re to close the cap with AFC heavyweights like Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo and Cincinnati. Alabama’s Dallas Turner could help take this pass rush to a new level alongside Bonitto, Cooper and Zach Allen.
16. Arizona Cardinals (From Houston Texans): Jer'Zhan Newton
Arizona has to — HAS TO — take a defensive player with one of their two 2024 first-round picks. They lack any Pro Bowl-caliber players outside of Budda Baker, and a defensive-minded coach like Jonathan Gannon knows how much quality defensive linemen matter.
Having oversaw a beast of a pass-rushing group in Philadelphia, Gannon can begin the Cardinals’ d-line overhaul here by taking Illinois standout Jer’Zhan Newton.
17. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman
The Bills are in desperate need of a new WR2 to complement Stefon Diggs — especially with Gabe Davis likely to leave in free agency.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Coleman has racked up 18 touchdowns over his last two collegiate seasons. His size and contested catch skills would make Coleman the perfect No. 2 receiver and complement to Coleman.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Cooper DeJean
Lou Anarumo’s defense has taken a step back this year, and the lack of a true lockdown corner is a key reason why. They can fix that right here by taking Iowa Hawkeyes corner Cooper DeJean — who brings superb ball-hawking skills to complement his lockdown abilities.
19. Green Bay Packers: Taliese Fuaga
The Packers are most certainly preparing to move on from the oft-injured David Bakhtiari, who turns 33 next year.
That leaves a gaping hole at offensive tackle — one that can be easily filled by Oregon State’s hulking 6-foot-6, 334-pound star. Jordan Love will come to love Fuaga’s pass-blocking game in year two as the Packers’ starting QB.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bo Nix
Baker Mayfield has fared better than expected as the Bucs’ starting QB, but he has a limited ceiling and isn’t the long-term answer.
In an ideal world, Tampa drafts a QB and develops him for one year before handing him the reins in 2025. Oregon’s Bo Nix could sit behind Mayfield or a different bridge QB for a year and then get his hands on the offense.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Wiggins
If the Colts had some better coverage guys in the secondary, they’d potentially be in first place in the AFC South right now.
That’s okay, they can fix the issue by taking Clemson corner Nate Wiggins here. The physical 6-2, 185-pound standout has the ideal combination of size, speed and football smarts to be an all-pro-level corner in this league.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Chop Robinson
With Danielle Hunter potentially leaving in free agency, Brian Flores’ defense will need a new star pass-rusher to build around. OR, they could keep Hunter and pair him up with Penn State’s Chop Robinson — a steady pass-rusher who’s also arguably the top run-stopper in this class.
With or without Hunter, the Vikings can really use Robinson.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu
The Steelers need another cornerstone player on the o-line to help 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones — especially someone who excels as a run-blocker.
Washington’s Troy Fautanu would fit perfectly in Pittsburgh’s 2-back offense carried by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. And maybe his presence will help Kenny Pickett finally break out in what’s shaping up to be a make-or-break 2024 season.
24. Houston Texans (From Cleveland Browns): Kalen King
Despite a low-key breakout season by 2022 third overall pick Derek Stingley Jr., the Texans’ pass defense remains one of football’s worst. Perhaps Houston is just one more reliable cover corner away from reaching “elite defense” level.
King, Stingley Jr. and rising star Will Anderson Jr. headlining that defense for years to come? Sign us up!
25. Kansas City Chiefs: Emeka Egbuka
Travis Kelce is getting up there in age, and Rashee Rice is the only Chiefs receiver making plays and avoiding constant mind-numbing mistakes. So yeah, the Chiefs have to address that position here.
Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka would give Mahomes not one…not two…but three explosive pass-catchers. His presence just might help this offense regain its near-unstoppable form.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kamren Kinchens
The Jaguars’ defense hasn’t lived up to its high talent level this year — especially the secondary.
They could go receiver here if Calvin Ridley isn’t retained, but we’d like to see a versatile defensive back to help combat the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow in the AFC. Kinchens is the most polished safety in this draft and could form a super tandem with Andre Cisco.
27. Detroit Lions: Leonard Taylor III
The Lions have a budding star in 2022 second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson, but he can’t do it all alone in the trenches — as we’ve seen this year when the Lions face top-notch offenses.
Don’t let the low sack totals fool you. Miami Hurricanes’ defensive linemen Leonard Taylor III is a one-man wrecking-crew, especially as a run-stopper. His physicality and hard-hitting style make him TAYLOR-MADE — see what we did there?! — for Dan Campbell’s defense.
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Burke
The Darius Slay-James Bradberry pairing was football’s top cornerback duo a year ago. That hasn’t been the case this year, and Bradberry’s awful season should lead to him getting cut or traded.
That means Philly’s vulnerable secondary will need a new starter — preferably a younger and athletic guy to complement the ageing Slay. Enter Ohio State’s Denzel Burke — a versatile corner that can line up anywhere who especially excels as a playmaker on the ball
29. Miami Dolphins: Bralen Trice
Miami is loaded on offense and has a top-tier cornerback duo in Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. If there’s one hole to fill, it’s the edge rusher position to help Christian Wilkins and Bradley Chubb.
Throw in the presence of Jaelan Phillips, and Trice’s arrival might give Miami the best front seven in all of football. Isn’t that what you want with a gauntlet of elite quarterbacks in the AFC?
30. Dallas Cowboys: Quinyon Mitchell
Dallas has no pressing weaknesses and could go anywhere. DaRon Bland has stepped up beautifully in the absence of All-Pro corner Trevon Diggs…but what if Dallas had a THIRD ball-hawking specialist patrolling that secondary?
Toledo corner Quinyon Mitchell has racked up…wait for it…a ridiculous 37 pass defenses over his last two seasons. Yeah, that’s a guy who would flourish in Dan Quinn’s opportunistic defense.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Amarius Mims
Trent Williams is still the best offensive lineman in the game — but he’s not getting any younger at the age of 35. This would be a luxury pick for the 49ers, who could use the opportunity to draft and develop its next franchise blocker in the post-Williams era.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Morgan
With no clear-cut weaknesses, the Ravens could go anywhere here. But at this point, they should have an eye on Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Ronnie Stanley can’t be trusted to stay healthy, and fellow offensive tackle Morgan Moses will be 33 next year. Draft Morgan and groom him for a starting job in 2025. Win-win for everybody.
Which 2024 NFL draft prospect are you hoping your favorite team will draft?
