The conclusion of one NFL season concurrently sees the start of another. With the Super Bowl complete, the 2024 NFL Draft evaluation process has kicked into another gear.
While the NFL Scouting Combine, pro days, and private workouts are yet to kick off, pre-draft showcases across the country are complete—we’ve reached the thick of it, folks. With scheme fit, personal prospect evaluations, and information gathered from within league circles in mind, here is a peek into where teams could go in April in this 2024 NFL mock draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears (via CAR)
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
As much as I'd like to see Chicago continue to build around Justin Fields, the likelihood that Caleb Williams is the pick has become increasingly higher as the weeks churn on.
2. Washington Commanders
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Time will tell as to what Washington ultimately does here, but I don't envision them getting cute if they stay and take a QB. The popular pick is LSU's Jayden Daniels. Still, conversations within league circles have reiterated that OC Kliff Kingsbury isn't looking to utilize a QB as a major portion of his run game—thus detaching Washington from Daniels. Maye is immediately the most talented QB Washington has had since taking Robert Griffin III back in 2012.
3. New England Patriots
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
While a trade-back is becoming increasingly possible as the weeks churn on, starting fresh with a dynamic talent like Jayden Daniels is an excellent start to the process under newly minted head coach Jerod Mayo. The Patriots need to add talent around Daniels, but getting him in the building is absolutely a start.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
My No. 1 player in the class, I love the fit of Marvin Harrison Jr. to Arizona with Kyler Murray under center. The talent on offense has improved drastically over the last few seasons, and head coach Jonathan Gannon seemingly has the Cardinals on the right path moving forward. Harrison Jr. is a transcendent talent with all the tools in the chest to become one of the league's elite WRs in rapid fashion.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Others may get cute on their 'OT1' in the class, but Joe Alt is as technically refined as they come. He is a plug-and-play athlete at either tackle spot. I expect the Jim Harbaugh Chargers to dominate the line of scrimmage, and Alt can help form one of football's elite tackle tandems with Rashawn Slater.
6. New York Giants
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Malik Nabers is an electric talent with the explosiveness to take it the distance at a variety of depths. He can align in the slot or on the perimeter and further provide an extension of the run game if needed. He'll become a QB's best friend early on in his career.
7. Tennessee Titans
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
With Peter Skoronski already in place on the left side, adding the uber-athletic Olu Fashanu could form the league's top left side of the line. While he remains raw in certain areas technically (hand carriage and consistent punch timing), the Penn State product touts sensational footwork in pass pro with a performance ceiling as lofty as any talent (regardless of position) in the entire class.
8. Atlanta Falcons
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
J.J. McCarthy's eval remains fluid for many, but extrapolating his efficiency and underrated ability as an athlete showcases a lock-down day-one pick. Michigan's offense predicated itself on running the football, but with the likes of Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Tyler Allgeier to use at his disposal, I like the potential of McCarthy as a Falcon.
9. Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Caleb Williams, D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze? Sign me up. That's a heck of a trio to threaten defenses for a long, long time. Odunze is everything teams look for a modern-day 'X' on the outside. He's excellent.
10. New York Jets
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
While Brock Bowers' name has been thrown around all over the place—in the top five, here at No. 10, or beyond the top 20—I expect him to be a top-10 selection when we get to April. A nightmare to counter at the tight end spot, he's been pro-ready for years and would provide a heck of a chess piece for the Aaron Rodgers-led offense. His presence would take eyes off of Garrett Wilson and, congruently, boost the ground game as well with lighter bodies in the box.
11. Minnesota Vikings
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
My CB1 in the class, Terrion Arnold's willingness in press-man is a match made in heaven for the aggressive Brian Flores. The Alabama product has the length, footwork, fluidity, and can run hip to hip with wideouts 30 yards downfield. He's as nuanced a cover corner as they come in the class.
12. Denver Broncos
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Laiatu Latu will not blow anyone away when we get to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, but he's just a flat-out stud of a football player. One of the most nuanced pass rushers to enter the league in some time, Latu's hands, flexibility, and twitch will give opposing tackles nightmares for years. I wouldn't be surprised if he teases with 10-plus sacks a year for a decade.
13. Las Vegas Raiders
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Internal conversations have painted a clear picture of where Las Vegas could go come springtime. Head coach Antonio Pierce is looking to add "alphas" to his roster, per an AFC scout, and Taliese Fuaga fits the mold as an overpowering run blocker who can live on the right side of the line of scrimmage. He's an add for both the present and future of the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Seeing Tyler Guyton live at the Senior Bowl was a special treat for those in attendance. Humans shouldn't move the way he does at his size (6-foot-7, 328 pounds), and I wouldn't be shocked if he's off the board even sooner. A former H-Back at TCU, Guyton is a special type of athlete whose ceiling is immense.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Speaking of Senior Bowl standouts, Quinyon Mitchell silenced any doubters during his week in Mobile. As explosive an athlete as you'll find in the corner class this spring, Mitchell has the prowess to make plays in zone and the stickiness to mirror even the most dynamic of route-runners. Don't let the helmet decal fool you.
16. Seattle Seahawks
Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
With Mike Macdonald now pressing the buttons in Seattle, adding a pass rusher like Dallas Turner seems like good business. The Seahawks have a talented youth-infused secondary, why not add to the front four with a twitched-up athlete who can rush the passer with success for years to come?
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas
If you're taking a defensive tackle this high, you envision the player thriving on all three downs. For Byron Murphy II, it's exactly the type of player he is and the ideal fit for a Jacksonville defensive line that needs more pop. The former Longhorn not only clogs gaps in the run but can dominate isolated opportunities against centers and guards.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Whether JC Latham makes a living at tackle or guard, his latch strength and fundamental power will overwhelm opposing linemen for a long time. One of the more physically imposing linemen in the class, Latham was excellent in his years in the SEC and would be an excellent add with the goal of keeping Joe Burrow upright.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Los Angeles desperately needs talent at corner. Nate Wiggins is a bit light at 185 pounds soaking wet, but man can he play the football and make it look easy on the outside. The NFC West is no joke, and Wiggins would be a much-welcomed addition to counter the high-flying Seahawks, uber-versatile 49ers, and improving Arizona offenses.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Love the fit here under Mike Tomlin. With Joey Porter Jr. already in place, not forcing Kool-Aid McKinstry to align opposite of a team's WR1 each snap would allow him to ease into the speed of an NFL attack. He plays a little high at times, which can elongate his transitions, but I expect McKinstry to feed off of Porter Jr. quickly and evolve into an excellent secondary piece.
21. Miami Dolphins
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
I can't sit here and say Tua Tagovailoa is the future in Miami—and neither is Mike White or Skylar Thompson. Enter Michael Penix Jr., an advanced vertical passer who will lift the ceiling off of opposing secondaries on a consistent basis. Landing inside an offense with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is an excellent cast for any quarterback, let alone one that's proven he can rip it to a multitude of spots on the football field.
USA-Today Images
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Bralen Trice flat out isn't talked about enough. He touts a power-laden game that's a bit of a throwback at the position, but the film is sensational and I don't expect it to take long for his game to translate. We know Eagles GM Howie Roseman has a fix for adding players at premium positions on day one and the expectation for this year should be no different.
23. Houston Texans (via CLE)
Johnny Newton, IDL, Illinois
Houston is going to be around for a long time under DeMeco Ryans. With that being said, adding a player like Johnny Newton won't sway the masses or put butts in seats, but he's a highly athletic man mover at 1/3-tech that will only make things easier on talents like Will Anderson Jr. outside the tackle.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
The premier center in the class, Jackson Powers-Johnson was flat-out sensational at the Senior Bowl. He's a fit for any scheme and touts the blend of athleticism and strength to both displace and anchor against varying skill sets.
25. Green Bay Packers
Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
One of the most versatile linemen in the class, Barton is still looked upon as one of the premier centers in the class despite three straight years of success at left tackle. The former Blue Devil plays with outstanding technique and can play with the best of them in space. He's the type of player you start and don't think twice about it for the next decade.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tyler Nubin, SAF, Minnesota
Tampa Bay needs additional pop on the back end, and Minnesota's Tyler Nubin has the skill set to make an impact at all three levels. With Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal expected to entertain free agency, Nubin would fill an immediate hole while providing an impact as both a downhill defender in the box and a centerfield type of safety in Todd Bowles' scheme.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU)
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Troy Fautanu has an All-Pro type of ceiling at either tackle or guard. It's all about footwork with Fautanu, who will never engage into a third kickstep or get caught off-balance at tackle. Adding him and Paris Johnson Jr. in the last two drafts is an excellent path to fortifying the front five in the desert.
28. Buffalo Bills
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
We all know how the NFL works, and players of Keon Coleman's size, stature, and athletic profile simply don't last long on boards. This is an ideal fit in Buffalo where the attention would be on the All-Pro in Stefon Diggs and tight end Dalton Kincaid. Coleman wouldn't be asked to shoulder the load from day one—a role he could thrive in working with Josh Allen.
29. Detroit Lions
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
I have a few concerns with Cooper DeJean as a man corner—a reason why he's available here—but his skill set inside a Dan Campbell defense is exciting, to say the least. Detroit needs corners, and DeJean not only can provide a boost in limiting explosive plays but is the most nuanced and physical run defender in the class as well. He'll make an impact in a variety of ways at the NFL level.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
With Odell Beckham Jr. and Devin Duvernay expected to explore suitors in free agency, LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. would provide another explosive piece alongside Zay Flowers to complement tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely up the seam. Thomas has to improve his release package against press-man, but he checks a ton of boxes as a high-level vertical threat for a pro offense.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The departure of Mike McGlinchey went overlooked because of the overall success on offense, but the need at RT is overwhelmingly evident for San Francisco. Enter the former Georgia Bulldog Amarius Mims to align right away on the right side. He is someone with the athleticism to slide over to left tackle whenever Trent Williams decides to hang 'em up for good.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Another year, another Super Bowl ring for Patrick Mahomes. And in this case, another draft where Kansas City finds themselves in a luxury spot to add an immediate playmaker who may go overlooked by teams with bigger needs at different spots. Xavier Legette was excellent in the SEC, looked more than the part at the Senior Bowl, and is a three-level threat that will expand a playbook. For Kansas City and Mahomes, I like the fit.
