The Super Bowl 58 champion has been crowned, and so another epic NFL regular season is in the books.
It’s already time to follow Bill Belichick’s philosophy and turn the page to next season. The immediate focus is on free agency and the trade market, but the 2024 NFL Draft will also be here right before you know it.
So with the final order of the draft set, let’s dive into our post-Super Bowl edition of the 2024 NFL first-round mock draft.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams
Justin Fields may develop into a superstar QB some day, but the Bears need to take the guy with higher upside. Drafting Williams also means the benefit of having a franchise signal-caller on a rookie deal for the next five years.
Get extra draft capital for Fields, then take the best QB available here in Williams. Should be a no-brainer for the Bears brass.
2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye
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No team has an easier choice in the draft than the Commanders. Sit there and happily take whichever QB remains between Williams and the North Carolina signal-caller.
Maye’s frame, arm and dual threat style have drawn comparisons to the likes of Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. Yeah, something tells us a team in QB purgatory like the Commanders will want this kid.
3. New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr.
We’re torn between Harrison Jr. and Jayden Daniels here. Then we remembered that the Patriots’ next quarterback won’t be put in position to succeed with this current supporting cast — hence why they need to take the best wide receiver prospect in a generation.
Plus, nobody said they can’t trade up to take another QB like JJ McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr. later on. Bottom line: This rebuild needs to start with Harison Jr.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Rome Odunze
The Cardinals’ should be excited about the idea of a Kyler Murray-Trey McBride tandem for a full season. Now add a future all-pro wideout in Odunze to the offense, and the sky will be the limit for this group.
Odunze’s frame, slick speed and football IQ has drawn comparisons to Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald. Think Arizona fans would like him?
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt
The Chargers already have one stud offensive tackle in Rashawn Slater, but the rest of the o-line leaves a lot to be desired. Pair Slater with Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, and Justin Herbert may soon be the beneficiary of football’s best offensive tackle duo.
Not to mention that Alt would help greatly bolster the Chargers’ lackluster ground game, too, regardless of whether or not Austin Ekeler returns.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers
We wouldn’t hate it if the Giants took a quarterback here, but Big Blue desperately needs a game-changing wideout they haven’t had since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018.
Nabers averaged a ridiculous 17.6 yards per catch at LSU last season. There’s a case to be made that the Giants should keep Daniel Jones and pair up that deep arm of his with Nabers’ elite ability to stretch the field.
7. Tennessee Titans: Olumuyiwa Fashanu
The Titans allowed 64 sacks last season, with Will Levis taking 28 in just nine games. Clearly, reinforcements on this unit are needed.
The Titans used their 2023 first-rounder on Peter Skoronski, who has future all-pro written all over him. Now add a top-two tackle from the 2024 class to the mix, and the Titans will have a super-bright long-term outlook in the trenches.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Jayden Daniels
What a dream scenario this would be for the Falcons. The third-best QB in the class falls to them at No. 8, giving new head coach Raheem Mostert a dynamic dual-threat signal-caller to headline the offense.
Daniels, Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Drake London and Kyle Pitts? We’re all game for that offensive nucleus. And Daniels’ arrival would immediately make the Falcons the team to beat in the NFC South.
9. Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner
Having secured their new franchise QB at first overall, the Bears can now focus on addressing the defensive side of the ball.
Montez Sweat proved to be a savvy trade deadline pickup for Ryan Poles. Adding Turner to the mix gives Chicago two five-star edge-rushers that can take over a game at any given moment.
10. New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga
It took the Jets just a few minutes of Aaron Rodgers’ debut to pay the price for neglecting the offensive line last offseason.
Not this time. They have to take the best offensive lineman available in the draft, which is Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Chop Robinson
Wouldn’t be shocked if Minnesota eyed a quarterback here, but they’re going to need another pass-rusher if Danielle Hunter departs in free agency.
A do-it-all disruptor in the trenches like Robinson is tailor-made for Brian Flores’ defense.
12. Denver Broncos: Brock Bowers
Bowers has been widely graded as a top-five prospect in this draft. But as everyone knows, teams are rarely prioritizing tight ends early in the draft, so take your pick on where the Georgia product lands.
Denver especially could use Bowers’ explosive game-changing skills. They haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver or rusher since 2019. He’d immediately step in as the new go-to weapon in Mile High City.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Laiatu Latu
The Raiders already have Maxx Crosby and hope that 2023 first-rounder Tyree Wilson will emerge as a superstar as well. Well, you can’t have too many elite pass-rushers in today’s NFL — especially when you deal with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in your division.
A defense-first coach like Antonio Pierce will love Latu’s character and tireless work ethic as a run-stopper and dynamic pass-rusher.
14. New Orleans Saints: Bo Nix
This would be perfect for the Saints. Sit pretty at No. 14 and watch a quarterback with championship pedigree fall right into their laps.
Nix isn’t quite NFL-ready, but there’s no harm in sitting behind Derek Carr for a year or two before taking over the reins. With no other clear-cut weaknesses on the roster, the Saints can afford to prioritize the future here.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Cooper DeJean
The Colts had the 24th-ranked pass defense last year, and that was a key reason why they just-missed-out on a postseason berth.
The solution is easy: Taking the top cornerback on the board. For this exercise, it’s Iowa product Cooper DeJean — who racked up 13 pass defenses and seven interceptions over his final two seasons of college ball.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Jer'Zhan Newton
The Seahawks had the second-worst rush defense in 2023, allowing a pathetic 138.4 yards on the ground per contest. IN other words: HELP WANTED.
Illinois product Jer’Zhan Newton is the best run-stopping interior defensive linemen in this class. He’s everything the Seahawks need. New head coach Mike Macdonald, who comes from a defensive background, will love a wreaker of havoc in the trenches like Newton.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kool-Aid McKinstry
Tyson Campbell had an awful 2023 season, and the Jaguars’ pass defense fell apart as a result.
The Jags need a pure lockdown corner like McKinstry, who displays elite coverage and ball-hawking skills. If he comes as advertised, the Jaguars will have found their next Jalen Ramsey.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Jared Verse
Lou Anarumo’s defense is hard to solve because he only needs to send three or four rushers to get to the quarterback. Trey Hendrickson is among the game’s elite edge rushers already, but imagine how much scarier this defense would be with Verse in the fold.
The Florida State product had nine sacks last season and would automatically excel in a defense that doesn’t have to blitz to create constant pressure.
19. Los Angeles Rams: J.J. McCarthy
Matthew Stafford has fought numerous injuries and is about to enter his age-36 season, so this feels like the perfect time for the Rams to draft and develop his successor.
Michigan’s JJ McCarthy isn’t the most naturally athletic or gifted passer in this class, but he has a high football IQ and big-game experience. Take this year’s national championship-winning quarterback and let him learn from Stafford for a year or two before taking over. Perfect scenario.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrion Arnold
The Steelers struck gold when they took Joey Porter Jr. with the No. 32 pick last year, but the rest of the cornerback room is spotty.
Arnold is a top-flight ball-hawker who had 12 pass breakups last season. He and Porter Jr. could easily form the league’s top cornerback duo — not to mention the presence of Swiss Army Knife safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Talk about a match made in Heaven.
21. Miami Dolphins: Byron Murphy II
The Dolphins lack of depth in the front seven was exposed after Jaelan Phillips’ unfortunate season-ending injury. It further emphasized the Dolphins need to add more beef on the defensive line, which brings us to Byron Murphy II.
Murphy is rock-solid as a run-defender and posted five sacks in his final year at Texas. Murphy, Phillips and Christian Wilkins would be a nightmare of a pass-rushing trio for opposing defensive linemen to work with.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins
The Eagles secondary went from a strength in 2022 to absolutely unwatchable in 2023. Vic Fangio was a great hire at DC and all, but there is no way the unit will improve with the same personnel.
Clemson corner Nate Wiggins would inject some much-needed youth, extra speed and athleticism on an ageing Philadelphia defense. Wouldn’t be surprised if he was an All-Pro in year one with Fangio guiding him.
23. Houston Texans (From Cleveland Browns): Bralen Trice
Houston hit a home run last year by trading up into the No. 3 spot for Will Anderson Jr. That young man has future superstar written all over him, but imagine how much scarier this defense would get with Trice lining up with Anderson.
Trice had 17 sacks over his final two years at Washington. His big-game experience would mesh nicely on an up-and-coming Houston team looking to come now.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Troy Fautanu
With Tyron Smith nearing the end of his career, the Cowboys need to think long-term on the offensive line. They already have one young cornerstone on that unit in Tyler Smith — so adding Fautanu would have Dallas set up well in the trenches with Tyron and Zack Martin getting up there in age.
25. Green Bay Packers: J.C. Latham
It just feels like the Packers will cut ties with injury-prone and past-his-prime tackle David Bakhtiari. If that ends up happening, taking an offensive tackle is a no-brainer for GM Brian Gutekunst.
And it’d be a big-time win for the Pack if Alabama star JC Latham fell to them in the 25th spot.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quinyon Mitchell
The Bucs secondary was surprisingly the weak link in 2023 despite the presences of Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis and pending free agent Antoine Winfield Jr.
Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, who racked up 37 pass defenses over his last two seasons of college, would fit perfectly in Todd Bowles’ aggressive and opportunistic defense.
27. Arizona Cardinals (From Houston Texans): Amarius Mims
Arizona used its 2024 first-round pick on Paris Johnson Jr., who had an uneven rookie year. Even if Johnson comes as advertised, he’s only one man. The rest of the Arizona offensive line leaves a lot to be desired.
So taking Georgia’s Amarius Mims here would suddenly give Arizona two potential franchise building blocks on the o-line. Mims is a plug-and-play guy who would immediately make life easier for Kyler Murray.
28. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman
We swear…if the Bills don’t actually commit to finding a capable No. 2 wide receiver to help Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs this offseason…
If the Bills don’t make a big splash in free agency or the trade market, the pick has to be the top remaining wideout on the board. Coleman and Diggs would be a nightmare of a tandem for opposing defenses.
29. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
If the Lions had a better secondary, they wouldn’t have blown that 17-point lead to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
With no other real weaknesses on the roster, the Lions have to go with a defensive back here. Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is a grade-A cover corner whose low INT totals shouldn’t fool you. Opposing quarterbacks are just too smart to not throw in his direction.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Brian Thomas Jr.
The Ravens hit the jackpot when they used their 2023 first-round pick on Zay Flowers, but more receiving help is needed for the AFC runner-ups.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Thomas Jr. averaged 17.3 yards per catch and had 17 touchdowns in his final year at LSU. His ability to stretch the field and produce in the red zone would make Thomas the ideal complement to Flowers.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Kamren Kinchens
The 49ers’ secondary was surprisingly the main weak link during the regular season. Losing Talanoa Hufanga late in the season to an injury didn’t help matters, and his absence further emphasized the 49ers’ lack of defensive back depth.
Miami safety Kamren Kinchens would immediately take care of that. Kinchens AND Hufanga could easily form football’s top safety tandem in short, time, too. And we haven’t even mentioned Charvarius Ward yet.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell
Like Baltimore with Flowers, the Chiefs found a stud wide receiver in last year’s draft with Rashee Rice. But the receiver room after Rice and Travis Kelce leaves a lot to be desired, and another weapon would go a long way for Patrick Mahomes and company.
Mitchell’s stats don’t pop out as much as other top receivers in this class, but his game tape is simply a sight to behold. The 6-foot-4 Mitchell averaged 15.4 yards per reception and had 11 touchdowns last year. If KC uses him rights, they could have a mini Mike Evans on their hands.
Which prospect are you hoping your favorite team will land in the 2024 NFL Draft?
