With the 2024 NFL Draft now just two weeks away, it’s the perfect time for us to pump out a brand new mock draft.
We have two projected trades alone in the top-10. How does the board play out in the latest exercise? Let’s dive into our 11th edition of the 2024 NFL first-round mock draft.
Which player will your favorite team select in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft?
1. Chicago Bears (From Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams
Sorry to be unpredictable, but we’re not out of our minds here. The Bears traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, knowing darn well that they were taking the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner first overall.
It’s been a while since the Bears had the chance to take a five-star QB prospect in the draft. GM Ryan Poles won’t overthink this as he puts a cherry on top of a dazzling offseason in the Windy City.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
It’s either Daniels, Drake Maye, or JJ McCarthy with this pick. But as we’ve said several times now, Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury has a successful history of working with dual-threat quarterbacks.
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As such, Washington will have a tough time passing on a QB who threw for 40 touchdowns while racking up 1,134 rushing yards in his Heisman Trophy-winning season.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Projected Trade With New England Patriots): Drake Maye
Projected trade alert! The Vikings acquire the No. 3 pick from New England in exchange for the No. 11 and No. 23 picks AND a 2025 first-round pick.
With that pick, the Vikings get their new franchise QB in Drake Maye. Yes, it’s a hefty price to give up, but the big-armed QB would be in position to succeed right away with Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison as his weapons.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo hinted that the team could prioritize picks over a QB this year, noting that a rebuild is more about the signal-caller position. Three firsts to move down eight spots in a deep 2024 NFL draft would be savvy work by GM Eliot Wolf.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.
A million mock drafts have the Cardinals trading this pick and moving down. While it remains a possibility, GM Monti Ossenfort is gonna find it hard to pass on a generational wide receiver prospect like Harrison Jr.
Kyler Murray looked like his old self throwing to rising star tight end Trey McBride. Throw in a future all-pro wideout into the mix, and Murray could emerge as a truly elite signal-caller. That’s how much of an impact Harrison Jr. will make.
Also Read: RUMOR: Chicago Bears Are Now Taking Calls To Trade Their First-Round Pick At The 2024 NFL Draft
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Rome Odunze
Plenty of folks are making the case for the Bolts to take an offensive lineman here…but just who would Justin Herbert throw to otherwise?
Odunze isn’t far off Harrison Jr. as a prospect. He’ll immediately step in as the new WR1 for Herbert, who lost Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. The Bolts can always address the o-line in the later rounds.
6. New York Giants: J.J. McCarthy
This would be a dream scenario for the G-Men. Stand pat at No. 6 and watch one of the “big four” quarterbacks slip into your laps anyway.
The Giants can get out of Daniel Jones’ contract after next year. It doesn’t at all hurt for McCarthy to hold the clipboard in his rookie year before taking over as the Giants’ starting signal-caller next year.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt
We just keep coming back to Alt with the Titans. 2023 first-round pick Peter Skoronski is a rising star at offensive tackle, but adding Alt on the other side would give Will Levis — or Tennessee’s next long-term QB — a dream pairing for years to come.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner
The Falcons already signed Kirk Cousins as the final piece to complete their puzzle on offense. They’ve needed a stud edge-rusher for a while, and new head coach Raheem Morris will love a big character guy like Turner to lead the turnaround on defense.
Turner is a plug-and-play guy in the 2024 NFL draft who would make an immediate impact on a team that’s trying to win now.
9. Chicago Bears: Malik Nabers
Wouldn’t be shocked if Chicago traded down here. But if Nabers is here, Poles will find it awfully tough to pass on another future all-pro weapon who would form a dream tandem with Williams for years to come.
Remember, Keenan Allen is on the wrong side of 30 and has just one year left on his contract. Doesn’t hurt the Bears to load up at receiver here.
10. Las Vegas Raiders (Projected Trade With New York Jets): Michael Penix Jr.
Projected trade alert! The Raiders acquire the No. 10 selection from the Jets in exchange for the No. 13 and No. 77 picks.
With the pick, Antonio Pierce gets his QB of the future in Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. This may feel like a big-time reach to some, but the Raiders have met with Penix and reportedly love what he could bring to the table.
Gardiner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell can be the bridge QBs for one year before Penix gets his shot. Here’s the new franchise QB for the up-and-coming Raiders to build around and challenge Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs.
11. New England Patriots (Projected Trade With Minnesota Vikings): Olu Fashanu
Patriots fans won’t find this pick that exciting. But with the top three receivers off the board, New England adopts Bill Belichick’s old philosophy of strengthening the trenches to set up a prolific ground game.
The Pats’ o-line has been an issue for a while now. They re-signed the versatile Mike Onwenu, but adding Fashanu would assure grade-A pass protection for New England’s next franchise quarterback.
12. Denver Broncos: Brock Bowers
Don’t be shocked if it’s a QB here. But if Bowers is available to the Broncos at No. 12, an offensive-minded coach like Sean Payton will want to jump at the opportunity to take the best tight end prospect in a generation.
Bowers is renowned for his route-running versatility and red zone damage, with 26 TD receptions over his three years at Georgia. Denver hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2019, but this future All-Pro immediately changes that.
The Broncos can get their QB later. You can’t pass on Bowers if he’s available in this spot in the 2024 NFL draft.
13. New York Jets (Projected Trade With Las Vegas Raiders): Taliese Fuaga
The Jets already added Morgan Moses, John Simpson and future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith to fix up the o-line. But there’s no way you pass on Fuaga if he’s somehow available here…in the event the Jets trade down that is.
Fuaga didn’t allow a single sack in 716 pass-blocking snaps over his final two years at Oregon State, per Pro Football Focus. Aaron Rodgers would love this plug-and-play guy who’d immediately bolster the pass protection group in front of him.
14. New Orleans Saints: J.C. Latham
It just feels too obvious: The Saints picking the best remaining offensive tackle.
This roster doesn’t have any other pressing weaknesses, and they remain in win-now mode with Derek Carr and company.
With Ryan Ramcyzk’s career up in the air, and with 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning struggling to find his footing, the Saints have to take an NFL-ready tackle. Latham would slot in beautifully with Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz.
Also Read: 5 Teams Set To Crush The 2024 NFL Draft And 5 That Are Totally Screwed
15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold
Arnold deserves to go higher, but it just feels like most teams won’t be keen on taking a cornerback this early.
That’s not a problem for Colts GM Chris Ballard, who bolsters an already stout secondary with the best all-around corner in this class. A special defensive weapon to guard against the onslaught of elite QBs in the AFC.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu
Seattle’s already-leaky o-line lost standout Damien Lewis to Carolina in free agency.
That means taking the best remaining tackle available, which is Troy Fautanu in this exercise. The local kid and Washington product is NFL-ready and would immediately provide a boost for Geno Smith and the Kenneth Walker-led ground game.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinyon Mitchell
The Jaguars haven’t had a pure shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey, who last played for this team five seasons ago. Here’s their chance to find the next Ramsey in Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, who could single-handedly take this secondary from “mediocre” to “elite” in short time.
18. Denver Broncos (Projected Trade With Cincinnati Bengals): Bo Nix
Projected trade alert! The Broncos receive the No. 18 pick from Cincinnati in exchange for…a dandy of a haul! HEAR US OUT!
Denver gives up the No. 77 pick, star wide receiver Courtland Sutton and their 2025 first and third-round picks to Cincinnati for the No. 18 pick.
Worried that the Los Angeles Rams will take the top remaining QB available, the Broncos make a blockbuster trade and get their man for Sean Payton. Nix has drawn comparisons to Drew Brees with his slick accuracy and smart reads.
So the Broncos come away with a dream pass-catching duo of Nix and Bowers in this exercise. Cincy gets three early-round picks AND a former 1,000-yard wideout in Sutton, who could be valuable insurance if they end up trading Tee Higgins.
And if Higgins stays? Well, a Higgins-Sutton-Ja’Marr Chase trio is nothing to scoff at.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu
Aaron Donald’s retirement leaves the Rams in desperate need of another edge-rusher.
Byron Young and Kobie Turner emerged as a dynamic pass-rushing tandem in 2023. Let’s complete the youth makeover on the front seven here by adding Latu — who had 23.5 sacks over his final two seasons at UCLA — to the mix.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr.
The Steelers need a running mate at wideout for George Pickens after trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina. They can stand pat here and take the best-remaining receiver in a deep class like the 2024 NFL draft.
Like Pickens, Thomas Jr. can stretch the field with his game-breaking speed and contested catch abilities. He would open up the offense for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields — ensuring that Johnson’s departure isn’t felt one bit.
21. Miami Dolphins: Byron Murphy II
Wouldn’t be shocked if Miami went with a corner here, but there’s a gaping hole in the middle of the defensive line after they curiously let Christian Wilkins walk to free agency.
Murphy is a prolific run-stopper who can complement Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb on the d-line. That would make for one terrorizing pass-rushing trio in a scary AFC.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean
The Eagles had the second-worst pass defense a year ago. Bringing back old friend CJ Gardner-Johnson was a nice move by GM Howie Roseman, but adding a big-bodied shutdown corner like DeJean could help this secondary regain its elite 2022 form.
DeJean, Gardner-Johnson and Darius Slay might give Philly the best defensive back trio in the NFC.
23. New England Patriots (Projected Trade With Minnesota Vikings): Adonai Mitchell
Here’s the offensive weapon you wanted, Patriots fans.
New England can’t reach this much for a QB with all the top prospects off the board. So let’s find a new WR1 by getting Texas speed-burner Adonai Mitchell, who will make life that much easier for Jacoby Brissett in 2024.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson
The o-line has been Dallas’ main strength for a while now, and Jerry Jones will do all he can to make sure it stays that way.
This move just makes perfect sense. The Cowboys have a void at center after losing standout Tyler Biadasz to the rival Commanders in free agency. Powers-Johnson is ready to start and could flourish immediately with proven stars Zack Martin and Tyler Smith already in the trenches there.
25. Green Bay Packers: Amarius Mims
It would be a shock if the Packers didn’t use one of their early round picks on an offensive tackle.
They released former All-Pro David Bakhtiari in a cap-saving move, and GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t bother to find a replacement in free agency. So in this exercise, the Pack can stay put at No. 26 and take the top remaining tackle, which is Amarius Mims at this point of the board.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jared Verse
This would be a great value pick for the Bucs. Verse is a consensus top-15 prospect, but other teams’ primary needs would allow Todd Bowles’ squad to stand pat and let the explosive edge-rusher fall into their laps.
27. Arizona Cardinals (From Houston Texans): Jer’Zhan Newton
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon knows the importance of building up a stingy front seven. Arizona is devoid of playmakers there, but the No. 27 pick allows them to land Newton — a pure run-stopping menace who also wreaks havoc as a pass-rusher up the middle.
28. Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy
The Stefon Diggs is essentially assurance that Buffalo will take a wide receiver in the early rounds. If Xavier Worthy is available here, then the Bills have their new WR1 to enure Josh Allen doesn’t lose a beat.
29. Detroit Lions: Nate Wiggins
Acquiring Carlton Davis via trade with Tampa Bay was a nice way to bolster the leaky pass defense, but more help is needed.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wiggins is a physical corner who uses his tremendous size to lock up opposing WR1s. A Davis-Wiggins pairing would give Detroit to Pro Bowl-caliber corners that could make this secondary elite in short time.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Chop Robinson
The departures of Jadeveon Clowney and Tyus Bowser emphasize the Ravens’ need for more pass-rushing help. The scrappy Chop Robinson would form a dangerous tandem with rising superstar Justin Madubuike.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton
Even with Trent Williams, the 49ers’ offensive line struggled to contain the Chiefs’ powerful pass rush in Super Bowl 58. Surely, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan took note of that.
Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton stands out as a run-blocker, which is music to the ears of Christian McCaffrey. But he’s also rock-solid as a pass-blocker and could be the final piece needed to help the 49ers get over the Super Bowl hump.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey
Marquise Brown is only on a one-year deal, and the Chiefs should prepare for a potentially lengthy Rashee Rice absence over his off-the-field issues.
This is the Chiefs’ chance to secure a long-term WR1 for Patrick Mahomes, who guided KC to a second straight Super Bowl without a single 1,000-yard receiver last year.
McConkey could easily step in and emerge as Mahomes’ long-term No. 1 receiver as KC aims to continue its dynastic run.
Also Read: BREAKING: Top NFL Draft Prospect T’Vondre Sweat Arrested In Texas
