With the college football campaign complete, the 2024 NFL Draft evaluation process has kicked into high gear. With risers, fallers, and guys to ‘red dot’ as we move into the spring, we've reached the thick of it. 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 Carolina)
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The main pieces of Chicago's front office are back in '24, as should Justin Fields. He is not the problem in Chicago and the team won seven games this year. Marvin Harrison Jr. is my top prospect in the class and he would immediately boost the performance ceiling of the offense and introduce one of football's most dynamic 1-2 punches on the perimeter with D.J. Moore.
2. Washington Commanders
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Twelve years after taking Robert Griffin III with the second overall selection, Washington keeps Caleb Williams home (attended Gonzaga College High School in DC) to be the face of the franchise. It's a massive draft for Washington this spring (six picks within the top 105 selections) and I don't expect newly-minted exec Adam Peters to get cute.
3. New England Patriots
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
It's a full-blown restart in New England with Bill Belichick out. Crazy, right? Talent lacks in a multitude of spots for the Patriots and the only way to compete in the AFC East moving forward is to restart with fresh legs under center. Drake Maye not only looks the part at 6-foot-4 but has the skill set that should translate quickly to the NFL game. More talent is needed on the perimeter, however, if the Patriots want to provide themselves a clean window into Maye's evaluation early in his career.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Notre Dame's Joe Alt is my top tackle in the class, but this is a pick with Olu Fashanu's ceiling in mind within an improving Arizona roster. A year after taking the raw yet uber-talented Paris Johnson Jr on day one, GM Monti Ossenfort goes a similar route with Fashanu, one of the class' most gifted pound-for-pound athletes with an underappreciated game as a run blocker.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
More electricity for the Chargers on the perimeter. We'll see who ends up spearheading the roster *cough* Jim Harbaugh, but plugging in Malik Nabers to an offense in need of immediate impact playmakers will only raise the performance ceiling of the unit. Back-to-back years of WRs on day one isn't ideal, but the NFL is a 'what have you done for me lately' league, and lately, it hasn't been good enough from the players in uniform outside of Keenan Allen.
6. New York Giants
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The quicker New York moves on from Daniel Jones, the quicker they'll get back on the track toward relevancy. Jayden Daniels is an electric dual-threat talent with the processing ability to dissect defenses at multiple levels and the linear speed to outrun NFL secondary defenders. He expands a playbook and will keep defensive coordinators up late at night.
7. Tennessee Titans
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
There's a certain aura that surrounds Notre Dame linemen and Joe Alt fits the script to a T. Alt is physical, smart, and he's a technician at the tackle spot who I expect to make multiple All-Pro teams when it's all said and done.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
My EDGE1 in the class, Laiatu Latu won't blow you away with his athletic profile or 40 time, but his hands, strength, and unbelievably deep pass-rush repertoire is beyond his years. I expect him to dominate one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl and boost his stock into the top 10.
9. Chicago Bears
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Health threw a bit of a wrench into Mims' eval this fall, but at 100% he's one of the most gifted athletes in the 2024 class. A plug-and-play option at right tackle, I would kick Darnell Wright to the left side (where he accrued 934 snaps at Tennessee) and fortify Justin Fields' blindside and arm side for the next decade. Braxton Jones has been a nice story as a fifth-rounder in '22, but there's room for an upgrade after finishing in the top 40 in pressures allowed among all offensive tackles despite just 11 appearances.
10. New York Jets
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Aaron Rodgers looks like the plan moving forward in New York. Unlike Green Bay over the years, adding an offensive skill player like Brock Bowers to boost the offense would be good process from GM Joe Douglas. One of the most refined in-line and flex talents to enter the league in some time, Bowers is an "immediate mismatch nightmare" per an NFC Scout and would impact both the run and passing game for the Jets no matter who's under center moving forward.
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11. Minnesota Vikings
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Michael Penix Jr.'s eval remains iffy for me, but I love this spot if it were to come to fruition. Similar to his time at Washington with Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja'Lynn Polk on the outside, targeting the trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson presents a floor for immediate success. Improvement is needed in his mechanics (engaging core and lower half) and comfortability amongst chaos, but his fundamental arm talent is sensational and he is the class' top vertical passer available, showcasing excellent layering ability and the knack for changing speeds to attack different windows.
12. Denver Broncos
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
With Russell Wilson on his way out, Denver needs a quarterback. You don't need a herculean type of athlete to lead an offense and Bo Nix is one of the most cerebral, mature, and efficient signal-callers available. He remains underappreciated in this QB class.
13. Las Vegas Raiders
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
My CB1, Nate Wiggins has the goods to slide in right away on the outside in Las Vegas. His instincts, fundamental cover ability, and awareness in space pop off the screen.
14. New Orleans Saints
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
I wouldn't be shocked if Taliese Fuaga ends up being the top tackle from this class five years down the line. A man mover in the run game that can single-handedly distort his side of the line of scrimmage, more consistency in his pass sets will allow Fuaga to reach his potential quickly. I can't wait to see him at the Senior Bowl.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
One of the premier zone corners in the class, Cooper DeJean has the size, twitch, and physicality the Colts should love. As good as his trigger is in coverage when aligned seven yards off, DeJean's willingness to blow through someone's face mask against the run showcases a prospect who isn't afraid to stick his face in the mud. He's an impact player on all three downs.
16. Seattle Seahawks
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
There isn't a single edge rusher in the class that can match Chop Robinson's explosiveness at the snap. Like he's shot out of a cannon, Robinson can consistently threaten the outside shoulder, then stick his foot in the ground and work back to the inside to counter an overset. The trio of he, Boye Mafe, and Derick Hall (with more snaps) presents a heck of a youth-infused trio in Seattle.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jer'Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois
Gone are the days of creating push from just outside the tackle's shoulder. Jer'Zhan Newton is not only a multi-gap plugger in the run game but will draw double teams at 3-tech early in his career. Newton's addition creates favorable matchups for Travon Walker and, if re-signed, Josh Allen.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
With Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd expected to entertain free agency, Cincinnati needs a wideout to pair with Ja'Marr Chase. Rookies Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones both showed flashes this fall, but Rome Odunze is a 'WR1A' type of ballplayer on the perimeter who would force secondaries to pick their poison through the air.
19. Los Angeles Rams
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Whether JC Latham plays tackle or guard at the next level, he would offer Sean McVay's group a heck of a plug-and-play option with years of experience in the SEC. He's got vice grips for hands and his ability to consistently win the leverage battle presents an excellent foundation for success. He's got one of the strongest lower halves in the class.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Joey Porter Jr. and Kool-Aid McKinstry? Sign me up. I enjoyed the way McKinstry played off of Arnold this fall in Tuscaloosa and he and Porter Jr. would immediately present one of the league's most dynamic, young corner tandems.
21. Miami Dolphins
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
A former H-back at TCU, Tyler Guyton continues to rise as we get deeper and deeper in the process. One of the most fluid athletes in the class regardless of position, Guyton can win reps with his hands tied behind his back because his footwork is that good. Sliding him into an offense that's as diverse in its movement as any in football would allow Guyton to thrive. Love his game.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Bralen Trice may be the most underrated talent in the 2024 class. Look, I know, another edge rusher to Philadelphia, but I wouldn't be shocked if Trice sits atop all rookie edges next year in pressures. He's physical, nuanced in his approach, can set the edge in the run game, and plays with a battery pack in his shoulder pads. He takes every rep personally and I expect a team to make him a day-one pick.
23. Houston Texans (via CLE)
Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
A year after taking Will Anderson Jr. in the top three, why not add his former teammate in Dallas Turner to continue to build DeMeco Ryans' defense? Houston is going to be around a LONG time in the AFC, and adding a twitched-up sack artist like Turner will make the Texans that much better. Anderson Jr. on one side and Turner on the other? Ab-so-lutely.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
Whether it's at tackle, guard or center, I expect Graham Barton to evolve into one of the league's premier linemen in due time. While some scouts remain up in the air as to where Barton will land along the front five (keeping his eval fluid), he plays with sensational balance, footwork, and is never late to ID a stunt or free runner. It's not a sexy pick, but he's the type of player that helps win titles.
25. Green Bay Packers
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Throw away box scores, analytics, and advanced metrics, sometimes it's about being a flat-out ballplayer on the perimeter. That's Terrion Arnold. That's not to say his numbers weren't excellent, they were, but his game is pro-ready in space and Green Bay needs more bodies on the outside to counter the superstar talent at WR in the NFC North.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Jared Verse's game continues to evolve as he continues to mature. A transfer from Albany to Tallahassee, Verse doesn't tout a nuanced pass-rush repertoire or an electric get-off at this point in his eval, but his power and spring-loaded hands can throw grown men into the lap of a quarterback. He's a power-laden rusher with a developing game to win with speed and technicality.
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27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU)
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
This still may be too low for Xavier Legette. A physical specimen at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, he's a three-level threat that forces multiple defenders to bring him down in space. His stock is expected to SOAR after his week at the Senior Bowl.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
For Keon Coleman, I want to see an increased willingness to overpower defenders inside a phone booth when he's not in the air. Still, he remains one of the premier talents in the class and this spot with Patrick Mahomes is a perfect player-team scenario. A former standout on the hardwood, Coleman turns 50-50 balls into 90-10 opportunities and has the versatility to return kicks as well. His ceiling is immense.
29. Buffalo Bills
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Although Brian Thomas Jr. played second-fiddle to Nabers this fall, and rightly so, his unique combination of size and speed should sway a team to turn in his draft card on day one. He'd immediately become WR2 in Buffalo opposite of Stefon Diggs and would present another dynamic target for Josh Allen to feed early and often. More nuance is needed off the line of scrimmage in tempoing his route-running against different leverages/depths, but the fundamental talent/production is fantastic. Love the team fit as well.
30. Detroit Lions
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
A fast riser for me, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. may be the top corner in the class. He bolds many of the boxes teams look for in a perimeter stalwart and turning on his tape showcases the type of defender he can be in both man/zone at the NFL level. He takes reps personally on the perimeter and would be a heck of a fit inside Dan Campbell's defense.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Tackle/guard versatile, there's one word that comes to mind with Troy Fautanu: Footwork. It doesn't matter if you're playing football, hockey, or friggin' cricket, the ability to slide, anchor, and stop the feet of edge rushers at 235 pounds or 265 pounds is a unique ability. Trent Williams teased retirement after the NFC title game last year—if the Niners were to win it all, he could go out on top. Whether Williams is back or not, Fautanu has the position flexibility to immediately slide in and make an impact.
32. Baltimore Ravens
Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas
What a year it's been for the Baltimore defense. And what an unbelievable year it's' been for pending free agent Justin Madubuike within the guts of the front three. Similar in height/weight and skill set to that of Baltimore's former third-rounder, Byron Murphy II is one of the most explosive 3-techs in the nation. Should Madubuike depart, Murphy II can provide an immediate insurance plan for one of the league's most athletic front sevens.
