The 2023 NFL season will be here in just a matter of weeks. That’s where most of the focus is right now, but it’s never-ever too early to look ahead to the 2024 NFL draft.
Next year’s class is especially loaded with elite QB prospects, wide receivers and defensive linemen. You might as well familiarize yourself with the big names, because these guys could very well end up being difference-makers for your franchise.
Before we get started, just a note that the 2024 NFL Draft order is courtesy of Tankathon. With that said, let’s dive into our second edition of the way-too-early 2024 NFL first-round mock draft.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
How could the Cardinals pass on this five-star QB prospect and move forward with the injury-prone and ultra-inconsistent Kyler Murray?
The 2019 first overall pick has had enough chances to cement himself as a top-tier QB. It hasn’t worked. Williams is practically a sure-thing to succeed at the NFL level and would elevate this franchise to a level that Murray isn’t capable of.
2. Arizona Cardinals (From Houston Texans): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
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Taking the dynamic and explosive Ohio State product — the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison — would make Williams’ transition to the NFL that much easier.
Harrison is probably the most NFL-ready prospect of this draft. What a joy he would be working with another future superstar in Williams.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The first year of the Tom Brady era shall be painful, but it’ll be worthwhile if the Bucs get their hands on a top 2024 QB prospect. Maye is a big-armed dual-threat QB who could do wonders with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans has his top targets in Tampa Bay.
4. Los Angeles Rams: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Rams’ o-line was a big-time strength in their Super Bowl 56 championship season, but it was practically non-existent in their dismal 2022 campaign.
Fresh in their memory, the Rams go with the best all-around offensive lineman and pass blocker in the Penn State product. Even if Matthew Stafford is winding down his career, Fashanu can be a cornerstone piece for the Rams’ rebuild.
5. Indianapolis Colts: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Colts were happy to snag their QB in Anthony Richardson this year. The focus for the 2024 draft should be to find a grade-A playmaking weapon to help Richardson.
The Georgia tight end totaled 20 touchdown receptions over the Bulldogs’ 2021 and 2022 national championship-winning seasons. Think Richardson and company would like a pure winner like Bowers in that offense?
6. Washington Commanders: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Washington’s patient approach towards taking a quarterback early pays off, as the Texas Longhorns’ signal-caller falls into their laps.
An efficient pocket passer, Ewers would have a nice set of playmakers in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Brian Robinson Jr. Finally, the Commanders have a new quarterback to get excited about.
7. Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
The first defender off the board is a good one. And the Atlanta Falcons are lucky to have him.
After all, this is a team that finished second-last in sacks last season, with a measly 21 in 17 games. That’s barely a sack a game! Seems like they could use a pass-rushing stud like Jared Verse.
The transfer from Albany set the ACC on fire with nine sacks for Florida State in 2022. Another season like that, and he’s a top 10 pick for sure!
8. Green Bay Packers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Packers haven’t taken a wide receiver in round one since 2002, when they took Javon Walker. It’s long overdue for the streak to end, especially with a young QB in Jordan Love replacing veteran Aaron Rodgers as the guy in Titletown.
Egbuka and Christian Watson would form an enticing 1-2 duo to help Love grow as a passer. Both are big-bodied receivers with the ability to stretch the field and do a LOT of damage in the red zone with their contested catch skills.
9. Tennessee Titans: Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama
The Titans have built up one of football’s best front sevens under head coach Mike Vrabel. Why not make a strength even greater, however, when you can take a do-it-all game-wrecker like Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner?
Adding Turner to a front seven consisting of superstar Jeffery Simmons and veteran stalwarts Harold Landry and Arden Key could help this Titans’ defense return to top-10 status.
10. Chicago Bears (From Carolina Panthers): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Chicago Bears have made it a priority to give Justin Fields all of the pieces he needs to thrive as an NFL quarterback…
But the job is not done!
Playing in those Chicago winters with a mobile quarterback, the Bears will need to build a strong ground game. And that starts with the offensive line. Adding one of the best available tackles in Notre Dame’s Joe Alt will go a long way towards helping this team rise to the top of the NFC North.
11. Las Vegas Raiders: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Raiders could go a number of ways here, including quarterback. But the secondary is also a big work in progress. So adding the guy with the best name in this year’s draft class makes sense.
Kool-Aid McKinstry is a pure ball-hawker who also overwhelms opposing receivers with his giant 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. With Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert on their schedule twice every season, getting a lockdown corner should be near (or at) the top of the Raiders’ wish list.
12. Chicago Bears: J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
After addressing the offensive side of the ball with pick no. 10, the Bears go defense two picks later by taking the Ohio State pass-rusher.
Tuimoloau showed an ability to make the big play at times last year, especially during his breakout performance against Penn State — when he racked up two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a touchdown.
After finishing dead-last in sacks last season, this is an easy choice for the Bears.
13. Denver Broncos: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
The Broncos signed Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers this offseason to fix up an atrocious o-line that allowed 63 sacks a year ago.
Well, the job’s not done just yet. Veteran tackle Garett Bolles hasn’t been able to build off a career year in 2020. Makes sense for the Broncos to cut ties after 2023 and take a polished prospect like Alabama’s J.C. Latham.
At 6’5″, 330-pounds, the incredibly athletic lineman could be a huge asset who can play at both the right and left tackle position.
14. New England Patriots: Maason Smith, DL, LSU
We will say this: If Mac Jones flops big-time in what’s essentially a make-or-break year, the Patriots could totally take a QB in round one. But we don’t think Jones will unravel, at least not enough for the Pats to consider a change.
Bill Belichick usually prioritizes defense in the first round. Here, he takes hulking LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith to round out a scary d-line led by Matthew Judon, Christian Barmore and Josh Uche.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Steelers used their 2023 first-round pick on Broderick Jones, giving the o-line one promising piece to build around. But one more star-level lineman could help this Pittsburgh offense reach new heights down the road.
Pairing Johnson with Cooper Beebe would keep Kenny Pickett clean and upright for the long haul. And that’s what you want for your young quarterbacks in today’s NFL.
16. Minnesota Vikings: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
With Kirk Cousins seemingly on his way out, it makes sense for the Vikings to take a QB with their 2024 first-round pick.
There are a number of QBs that Minny could consider her, including Michael Penix Jr., Spencer Rattler, Riley Leonard and J.J. McCarthy (among others), but we’re going with Oregon hot-shot Bo Nix.
You’ve got to think a young offensive genius like Kevin O’Connell could do special things with a Nix-Justin Jefferson-Jordan Addison core.
17. Houston Texans (From Cleveland Browns): Bralen Trice, DE, Washington
Houston traded up with Arizona to snag Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3 overall this year. They add one more powerful pass-rusher for DeMeco Ryans with their first-rounder courtesy of the Browns, giving the Houston head coach a scary-good Trice-Anderson Jr. pass-rushing duo.
18. Los Angeles Chargers: Chop Robinson, DE Penn State
Khalil Mack is getting up there in age and is no longer a game-changing star. The Bolts need another explosive pass-rusher to complement Joey Bosa, and they find one here in the big 6-3, 250-pound Robinson.
19. New Orleans Saints: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Saints struck gold when they got Chris Olave in the first round a year ago. Now that they’re fully invested in Derek Carr, let’s give him one more prolific young pass-catcher to round out an already strong offensive unit.
Olave is the slick route-runner and deep threat burner. Worthy is the big-bodied red zone threat who can perfectly complement Olave, giving Carr a beautiful 1-2 duo in the passing game.
20. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Daniel Jones had a career year in 2022 without anything close to a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout. They trade for standout tight end Darren Waller and used a third-round pick on Jalin Hyatt, but a 6-foot-3 deep threat like Rome Odunze could take the Giants’ passing game to another level.
Odunze’s speed would make him the ideal fit for “Danny Dimes’” big arm.
21. Detroit Lions: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
The Lions’ passing defense has been a problem for a while now. They did sign Emmanuel Moseley, CJ Gardner-Johnson and Cameron Sutton this offseason — before using a second-round pick on Alabama safety Brian Branch.
It’s a good start, but we can’t classify any of those guys as pure lockdown artists like King. The Penn State star had 15 pass defenses and three picks in 2022. His football IQ and athleticism would make King the ideal addition to that up-and-coming Detroit D.
22. Miami Dolphins: Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Miami may have a dangerous cornerback duo in Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey, but they need more than Jaelan Phillips and Emmanuel Ogbah to consistently get after the quarterback.
Newton would help the ‘Phins defense in trying to stop the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow in the stacked AFC.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
With Brandon Scherff getting up there in age, 2024 would be the ideal time for the Jaguars to address the interior offensive line.
Walker Little and Cam Robinson are a solid duo at tackle, but a steady guard presence like Jackson could quickly turn this o-line into the NFL’s best. Trevor Lawrence would certainly be happy, no?
24. New York Jets: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Jets have plenty of foundational young pieces and a veteran QB in Aaron Rodgers to help them win-now. But A-Rod isn’t gonna play forever, and this just feels like the perfect opportunity for the Jets to draft and groom his successor.
Playing under Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy is a smart decision maker with good reads on the opposing defense. Learning behind Rodgers for a year or two would help McCarthy prepare for the NFL level.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Seattle brought back old friend Bobby Wagner on a one-year deal, but it doesn’t hurt to work on a succession plan here. Trotter Jr.’s elite athleticism and football brains make him the ideal on-field general for Pete Carroll’s defense.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State
The Ravens have struggled to replace the production of sacks specialist Matt Judon, who left for the Patriots in 2021. Odafe Oweh and Patrick Queen haven’t come along as advertised in that front seven, so don’t be shocked if the pass rush is Eric DeCosta’s main goal next year.
The Ravens value character and football IQ, especially when it comes to taking defensive players. Enter Michael Hall Jr., a nasty and feisty defensive tackle who can single-handedly wreak havoc in the trenches.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Leonard Taylor III, DL, Miami
With DeMarcus Lawrence getting up there in age, this feels like a good opportunity for the Cowboys to draft another pass rusher to complement all-world star Micah Parsons.
Taylor can line up anywhere on the d-line and excel as both a pass-rusher and run-stopper. The thought of Taylor joining forces with Parsons would be a terrifying thought for the rest of the league.
28. Buffalo Bills: Javon Bullard, DB, Georgia
Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are in their 30s, and Tre’Davious White doesn’t look like an All-Pro-level corner anymore. The Bills definitely need a new young grade-A cover man to build around, and Bullard — who can play corner or safety — fits the mold of a Sean McDermott defense.
29. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
It feels like any cornerback that joins the 49ers goes on to enjoy great success. But with no glaring flaws on the roster, the 49ers could take the best player available and add this elite cover corner out of Ohio to form a dangerous trio alongside Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.
30. Cincinnati Bengals: Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The Bengals have hinted that they won’t be able to pay No. 2 receiver Tee Higgins what he’s worth, a pending free agent. Fan favorite Tyler Boyd is also entering his contract year, and nobody should be surprised if the Bengals decide to go younger at receiver here.
Ja’Marr Chase is Joe Burrow’s go-to guy, but imagine having a 6-foot-7 giant in Florida State’s Johnny Wilson as his second receiver? Chase draws enough attention from opposing defenses as is, but how could any one team cover Chase AND Wilson in the red zone at the same time?
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State
The Eagles already have Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter ready to succeed veteran Pro Bowlers Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham on the d-line. But Davis and Carter are both interior defensive linemen, and Philly will need fresh juice off the edge to complement their future star defensive tackle duo.
The 6-foot-4 Sawyer would form a terrorizing “big three” alongside Carter and Davis. Moving on from Cox and Graham will be a lot less painful from a football standpoint.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
With JuJu Smith-Schuster gone, the Chiefs hope that 2022 second-rounder Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney or rookie Rashee Rice can step up as the new WR1.
Only time will tell if any of those guys are able to step into that role.. Either way, the Chiefs should take a chance on a speed-burner and slick route-runner like Nabers who could immediately do damage in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense.
