Almost all of the top NFL free agents of 2024 are off the market now. And with several blockbuster trades completed, we now have a very good idea of what all 32 NFL teams will do during draft weekend.
So without further ado, we present the ninth edition of our 2024 NFL first-round mock draft.
So let’s dive right into it.
1. Chicago Bears (From Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams
The Justin Fields trade to Pittsburgh all but confirms that the Bears are making Caleb Williams the first overall pick in 2024. There isn’t anything to think about at this point.
Williams, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Khalil Herbert and D’Andre Swift? The future certainly hasn’t looked this bright for Bears nation in quite some time.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
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Drake Maye felt like a virtual lock at No. 2 here, but the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner has seen his stock skyrocket. It’s starting to feel like Kliff Kingsbury would prefer to work with a dual-threat QB like Daniels, similar to what he had with Kyler Murray in Arizona.
Daniels feels like the safer pick than Maye, and his upside is just a bit higher. It’s practically a coin-flip, but Daniels feels like the smarter selection here.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye
Unless the Pats get a can’t-miss offer for the No. 3 pick, they have an easy choice here: Stand pat and take whoever remains between Daniels and Maye.
There’s no guarantee that New England will be in a good spot to draft a top QB prospect next year. May as well get your guy now and start grooming him. If he’s not NFL-ready? Well, that’s why you just signed Jacoby Brissett!
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.
If the Patriots surprise everybody and take a non-quarterback at No. 3, then Arizona could very well trade this pick to a QB-needy team. But in an ideal world, they just stay here at No. 4 and watch Harrison Jr. fall into their laps.
Receiver is this team’s biggest need, and Harrison Jr. is the best pass-catching prospect in quite some time. He would immediately single-handedly change the dynamic of this Arizona passing game that is devoid of game-wrecking receivers.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Rome Odunze
One can argue that the Bolts need to prioritize the o-line here, but the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams suddenly open up a glaring need for a receiver.
It’s not just a position of need. It’s also the player. Odunze is not far off from Harrison Jr. as a prospect.
He too has future all-pro written all over him. Pairing the Washington product with Justin Herbert’s gunslinging arm would ensure that the Chargers offense is in good hands for years to come.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers
The Giants can blame the quarterback, the o-line, the defense, the coach or the GM. Here’s the cold hard truth: They haven’t had a 1,000-yard wide receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018.
So what else can the G-Men do with this pick? Of course it has to be the best remaining wideout, and LSU’s Malik Nabers would immediately give this Giants passing game an explosive piece to recharge the offense.
If Daniel Jones can’t show any improvement with a guy like Nabers, THEN Big Blue knows they have to-have-to get a new QB.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt
The signing of Calvin Ridley means the Titans don’t have to worry about a receiver here. They can take the most NFL-ready offensive tackle in Notre Dame’s Joe Alt.
Now you have Alt AND 2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski manning the edges of the o-line for the long-term future? These Titans will be back to bully-ball before long!
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner
By winning the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes in free agency, the Falcons offense is practically complete and ready for takeoff.
That means taking the best edge-rusher available to shore up a never-ending weakness. Dallas Turner and Grady Jarrett would be a menacing tandem that could help Raheem Morris’ defense emerge as a top-10 group.
9. Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers
Can’t have too many weapons in today’s NFL. We know Caleb has two superstar wideouts in Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, but adding the best tight end of this class to the offense would be a nightmare scenario for the rest of the NFL.
Keeping in mind that Allen’s entering his age-32 season, the Bears should think long-term with Williams’ supporting cast. Bowers is the perfect piece to ensure immediate success for Williams.
10. New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu
We know the Jets brought in Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson to beef up a leaky o-line.
But with Smith on a one-year deal, this feels like a golden opportunity to draft + develop the franchise’s next great blindside protector. Even if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have much playing time left, the next Jets QB will flourish that much more with Fashanu protecting him.
11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy
Don’t be shocked if the Vikings trade up to get their QB. But with teams with the No. 4 to No. 10 picks NOT needing a QB, it’s reasonable to think that Minnesota can get their guy without having to move.
McCarthy is a polarizing prospect, but someone’s gonna bet on his upside. Hard to think of the cons of throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson with offensive guru Kevin O’Connell calling the plays.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix
This may be a reach, but the Broncos have to do something at QB after releasing Russell Wilson. Sean Payton spent 15 years with Drew Brees and knows what it’s like to have a pure pocket passer with grade-A pinpoint accuracy.
Nix may need some time to hone his craft at the pros, but he’s worth taking a chance on. A future Hall of Fame head coach mentoring Nix? The Oregon product could be in much worse situations.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Terrion Arnold
Trevon Moehrig and Nate Hobbs have emerged as quality defensive backs in a Raiders defense that finished ninth in scoring a year ago. That said, they could use a pure shutdown cover corner to take the defense to another level, and Arnold checks off that box.
A defensive-minded coach like Antonio Pierce will love Arnold’s work-ethic, character and high football IQ to give Vegas its first elite cornerback since Nnamdi Asomugha more than a decade ago.
14. New Orleans Saints: Troy Fautanu
Ryan Ramcyzk’s career is in jeopardy with a nagging knee injury, and 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has been a complete bust up to this point.
In other words, help is needed at offensive tackle. Derek Carr took way too many shots last year, so let’s plug in the Washington product as a day one starter in New Orleans.
Fautanu allowed just two sacks in 1,231 pass-blocking snaps over his final two years of college, per Pro Football Focus.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu
The pass rush is the Colts’ biggest strength, but they do need some help at linebacker. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Latu is tailor-made for a Colts defense anchored by DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam.
I mean, 23.5 sacks and five forced fumbles over his last two years speaks for itself.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Taliese Fuaga
The departure of Damien Lewis further stresses the Seahawks’ need to address the o-line — a weakness that has been here for as long as we can remember.
Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga is a plug-and-play prospect who didn’t allow a single sack over his final two seasons of college football. Think Geno Smith would be happy with a guy like Fuaga?
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinyon Mitchell
The Jaguars had the seventh-worst pass defense last season and lost two quality starters in Rayshawn Jenkins and Darious Williams. So yeah, some cornerback help would be terrific!
Mitchell has the skill set to be a Jalen Ramsey-esque shutdown corner in this league. He’s also a certified ball-hawker specialist, with 37 pass breakups and six interceptions over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: J.C. Latham
We could see a receiver here, but the Bengals will find it tough to pass on a hard-nosed, in-your-face offensive tackle like Alabama’s JC Latham.
He has some work to do as a pass-blocker, but he makes up for it as a five-star run-blocker. The upside is tremendously high, and the Bengals should bet on it.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Michael Penix Jr.
This might be a reach, but it also just feels like the perfect landing spot for Penix Jr. He’s a boom-or-bust prospect and certainly won’t be ready to start in 2024.
But learning behind Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay for two-three years before getting the reins? Worth a shot if you ask us. The Rams don’t have any major weaknesses elsewhere, so it’s worth rolling the dice on Penix’s skill set and trusting McVay to unleash him as a star.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Adonai Mitchell
Trading Diontae Johnson means Pittsburgh needs another WR to help out Russell Wilson and George Pickens.
The Steelers have a rich history of finding stud pass-catchers with their day two and three picks, but Omar Khan will have a difficult time passing up on Mitchell’s talents. Pickens is trouble for opposing teams as is. Now imagine adding the speedy Texas wideout and deep threat specialist to the mix.
21. Miami Dolphins: Jer'Zhan Newton
The Dolphins shocked everybody by letting superstar defensive tackle Christian Wilkins leave in free agency, even though the franchise tag was an option.
Their only excuse for letting Wilkins go is to find a replacement in the draft. So how about Illinois product Jer’Zhan Newton? He’s an explosive pass-rusher who would immediately shore up a vulnerable Miami run D that will implode without a competent Wilkins replacement.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean
Only Washington had a worse pass D last year than Philadelphia. The solution is simple here: Take the best remaining cornerback in the No.22 spot.
Iowa’s Cooper DeJean has excellent versatility, similar to Jalen Ramsey, Tyrann Mathieu and Kyle Hamilton. With his size and reach, he can easily step up and emerge as Philly’s new superstar shutdown corner.
23. Minnesota Vikings (From Houston Texans via Cleveland Browns): Jared Verse
Losing four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter in free agency after a career year stings big-time in Minnesota. But they can ease the pain by taking an explosive edge-rusher like Verse, who racked up 18 sacks over his last two years at Florida State.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims
Tyron Smith’s surprising departure leaves a giant void on the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Georgia’s Amarius Mims is a near-complete prospect with grade-A run-blocking and pass-blocking skills. With Smith working alongside Tyler Smith, Dallas’ o-line would be well-positioned to continue dominating for the next decade.
25. Green Bay Packers: Brian Thomas Jr.
Pretty amazing that the Packers made the playoffs and reached the Divisional Round despite not having a single receiver with 800 yards. At some point, the front office has to wake up and actually get a true WR1 for Jordan Love, right?
LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. is a prolific home run threat who caught 17 touchdown passes last year, not to mention he averaged 17.3 yards per carry. A receiving trio of Thomas, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed would be nightmare fuel for opposing defenses.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins
The Bucs traded away Carlton Davis to the Lions, making an already-vulnerable pass defense significantly worse. GM Jason Licht shouldn’t hesitate to take the best remaining cornerback, which is Wiggins in this exercise.
27. Arizona Cardinals (From Houston Texans): Tyler Guyton
Arizona used the No. 6 pick last year on Paris Johnson Jr., but there’s still lots of work to do on that o-line. Buy pairing Johnson with Tyler Guyton, Arizona would have two young cornerstones on that o-line for years to come. We know Kyler Murray would love this pick
28. Buffalo Bills: Byron Murphy II
The Bills’ defense has undergone a giant facelift this offseason, so don’t be surprised if they go with the top remaining defensive player here.
With Von Miller past his prime and Leonard Floyd departing in free agency, it wouldn’t hurt to add another defensive linemen to the group. The 308-pound Murphy single-handedly wreaks havoc in the run-stopping game and can be an ideal complement to Ed Oliver and Terrel Bernard.
29. Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson
The Lions have a budding superstar in Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive line, but they’re sorely lacking in game-wrecking pass-rushers after him. Here’s their chance to address the weakness and put Detroit one step closer to toppling the 49ers in the NFC.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Bralen Trice
Baltimore’s stingy defense has lost three veteran stalwarts in Geno Stone, Tyus Bowser and Patrick Queen. They gotta add some more youth on this unit, and another edge-rusher would be just perfect for new defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Trice had seven sacks last season and led the Huskies to a national championship game appearance. A player with his confidence and swagger could be the final piece needed to help Baltimore finally get over the playoff hump.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Kool-Aid McKinstry
The 49ers have needed another capable shutdown corner for quite some time now. As we saw in the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City, the pieces just aren’t there to hold up with a prolific passing game.
Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry would be a fun fit in the secondary with Charvarius Ward with Talanoa Hufanga. Nevermind his low INt totals in college. Opposing QBs were too darn scared — and rightfully so — to test McKinstry.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy
We know the Chiefs just signed Hollywood Brown, but he’s only on a one-year deal. And who knows how much longer Travis Kelce plays?
Pairing Worthy withRashee Rice would give Patrick Mahomes two dynamic long-term weapons to make sure this offense doesn’t miss a beat. Somehow, the back-to-back defending champs will have just gotten even more dangerous in the passing game.
Which 2024 NFL draft prospect do you want your team to select with their first pick?
