With the 2024 NFL Draft week upon us, it’s time to produce our final mock draft. As usual, there is a ton of intrigue at the top of the board. The Chicago Bears have the #1 pick after owning it last year but trading it to the Carolina Panthers. We are all but certain of the direction in which Chicago is going, but things could get interesting immediately thereafter. Trades are expected to be fast and furious, too, so fasten your seatbelts for a wild ride on Thursday night. 

A chaotic first round is probably in the cards (when is any first round not chaotic?), but let’s try to sort it out by projecting picks 1 through 32. 

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Like Bryce Young to the Panthers in 2023, the first pick of the NFL Draft appears to be a slam dunk. Only time will tell if it’s the right choice (early returns suggest Carolina did not make the right one). Anything other than Williams here would be an absolute shocker.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

This is where the draft really begins. We pretty much know that Washington is going with a quarterback, but it remains to be seen if it will be Daniels, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy. Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, comes with the highest upside.

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

The NFL Draft is expected to begin with quarterback, quarterback and quarterback. At least 2 of the top 4 signal-callers will still be on the board when New England selects at #3. McCarthy is making a surge up big boards, but Maye would be the smarter move. 

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

This is where the festivities could really heat up. It’s also where the run on quarterbacks could end. However, there is no guarantee that Arizona keeps the pick. Could some other team give the Cardinals a haul in hopes of taking another QB off the board? If they keep it, Harrison is the play.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Like the Cardinals, the Chargers are also candidates to trade down if there are quarterback-needy franchises that need a dance partner. If they stand pat, the Bolts need some help in the pass-catching department. Head coach Jim Harbaugh would be wise to select Nabers.

6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Giants can really dictate the remainder of the first round because they could draft a quarterback – or they could go in an entirely different direction. Right now it sounds like there are other teams more desperate for QBs. If that is true, the G-Men should improve their offense at wide receiver.

7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Tennessee drafted its quarterback of the future (and the present) in Will Levis last year. Now the Titans are free to address other areas of need – perhaps the most glaring of which can be found on the offensive line. Alt is the cream of the crop when it comes to the 2024 OT class.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama

One way or the other, I think McCarthy is going to the Vikings. If it isn’t at #4 or #6, they could trade with the Falcons and move up to #8. If Atlanta stays where it is, however, selecting the best pass-rusher in the class makes the most sense. This franchise has been hopeless in that department for many years.

9. Chicago Bears: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

Could we see a bit of a run on edge rushers in the latter stages of the top 10? Although #9 may be a little early for Verse, it is by no means out of the question especially if Turner goes in the #8 position. Verse has the experience to step in right away and produce for Chicago’s defense.

10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Bowers could be off the board as early as #5 to the Chargers. If he doesn’t, I still don’t think he gets past the Jets at #10. The former UGA tight end was absolutely awesome during his 3 years of college football. He would make an instant impact in New York, providing much-needed help for Aaron Rodgers. 

 

11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

12. Denver Broncos: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

14. New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

16. Seattle Seahawks: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

19. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu, LB, UCLA

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, C, Duke

21. Miami Dolphins: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

23. Minnesota Vikings: Chop Robinson, LB, Penn State

24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

25. Green Bay Packers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

27. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson, LB, Missouri

28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

29. Detroit Lions: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

30. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

31. San Francisco 49ers: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina