(Marvin Harrison / WR / Ohio State)
The first 18 picks are locked in after the end of the regular season. The order of the remaining picks will be determined by the results of the playoffs with the Super Bowl champion selecting #32, the final pick of the first round.
NOTE: This mock draft does not consider trades. Trades will be included in future mock drafts.
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan from April 25 – 27.
1. Chicago (from Carolina) Marvin Harrison / WR / Ohio State
The Bears have quite a decision to make. The 2024 NFL Draft figures to have one of the best QB classes in decades but the Bears have a promising young passer in Justin Fields. Do you go ahead and draft competition for Fields or go acquire a weapon for Fields to deploy in the offense? It seems likely that the Bears trade the #1 pick for the second year in a row but for purposes of this mock draft, SNS has Chicago selecting Harrison, the potential generational talent, to give Fields a big, fast, and physical WR to deploy in the pass game.
2. Washington Caleb Williams / QB / USC
The Commanders appear to be in full rebuild mode after Edges Chase Young and Montez Sweat were traded away at midseason and coach Ron Rivera and his staff were fired at the end of another disappointing campaign. QB Sam Howell was NOT the problem in Washington, but he also does not appear to be the solution. Washington will have several potential quality QBs to choose from including potentially Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix, Bo Nix, Michael Pratt, and Jayden Daniels. The Commanders decide to go with the 2022 Heiman Trophy winner Williams who has a complete tool set and has a playing style similar to KC’s Patrick Mahomes.
3. New England Drake Maye / QB / North Carolina
The Patriots are starting anew with Bill Belichick no longer the coach after 24 years with New England. The Patriots have many needs but no need is bigger than finding a franchise QB. Mac Jones’ two years as the starter has proven to be a failure and it it is time to move on. Maye is a great prospect with the arm, accuracy, mobility, and leadership to become a true franchise QB.
4. Arizona Rome Odunze / WR / Washington
The Cardinals, unlike the three teams who are picking in front of them, has an established QB and surrounding Kyler Murray with better talent is the way to go with this pick. Odunze is a smooth athlete in the mold of Larry Fitzgerald and gives Murray a dangerous outside receiver in an offense that desperately needs a playmaker.
5. LA Chargers Mekhi Wingo / IDL / LSU
Many things went wrong this past season in Los Angeles. But the drop in the quality of the defense was a primary contributor. Wingo is an athlete with size who plays the IDL with a rare level of athleticism and is good against both the run and pass. Mingo provides the Chargers with an interior threat to complement Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa on the edges.
6. NY Giants JJ McCarthy / QB / Michigan
The 2023 season was a train wreck for the Giants and the season-ending injury suffered by QB Daniel Jones was certainly a contributing factor. But Jones was struggling mightily and the offense completely bogged down before his injury. The Giants would consider drafting a WR here but decide to draft the uber-talented and mega-winner QB JJ McCarthy.
7. Tennessee Olumuyiwa Fashanu / OT / Penn State
The Titans are in full rebuild mode after firing coach Mike Vrabel and the pending free agency of Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. It appears likely that the team will try to build around QB Will Levis, at least in the short-term. The Titans’ offensive line has been an increasing problem over the last few years and additional talent is needed to get this offense going again. Fashanu offers an intriguing combination of size and athleticism to lock down the OLT for the next decade.
8. Atlanta Joe Alt / OT / Notre Dame
The Falcons would love to select a QB here, but much like last year, the best QB talent may be off the board when Atlanta selects at #8. Atlanta has a very good run blocking offensive line but has difficulty protecting the QB. Alt is a second-generation NFL offensive lineman (his father, John, was an All-Pro in the 90’s) with the length and athleticism to man the QB’s blind side.
9. Chicago Dallas Turner / Edge / Alabama
The Bears, having already added Harrison, decide to give Edge Montez Sweat a running mate in the explosive former 5-star recruit. Turner has a great burst and bend and has yet to reach his potential. Turner figures to be a better pro than college player.
10. NY Jets Jordan Morgan / OT / Arizona
NY’s season derailed quickly with the season-ending injury suffered by Aaron Rodgers. But QB play was far from the only issue last year. The Jets’ offensive line needs reinforcements and an upgrade. Drafting Morgan gives them a young, athletic OLT to provide improved protection for NY’s QBs.
11. Minnesota Jayden Daniels / QB / LSU
Minnesota’s season quickly derailed after Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury, primarily due to subpar QB performances. Cousins is scheduled to become a free agent and it is not certain that the Vikings will attempt to re-sign him. Regardless, the QB depth must be improved in the off season. The reigning Heisman winner, Daniels, has a very good arm, displays outstanding timing and accuracy, and is a fantastic athlete with great mobility outside the pocket.
12. Denver Bo Nix / QB / Oregon
Denver has given up on Russell Wilson and has no clear heir apparent in the Mile High City. This is when the depth and talent of this year’s QB class begins to show. Nix did not seem like an NFL QB after his stint at Auburn but the last two years in Eugene have done wonders for his confidence. Nix has a very good arm, is athletic and fast, is very accurate, and he plays poised and in control of the offense.
13. Las Vegas Cooper DeJean / CB / Iowa
The Raiders would like to select a QB here but with Aidan O’Connell going into his second year in the NFL and no obvious QB to select at #13, decide to improve their secondary with the addition of the Hawkeye CB. DeJean, if drafted in the first round, would be the first white CB picked in the first round in decades. DeJean has length, ball skills, savvy, and short area quickness to start at CB for the next decade.
14. New Orleans Brock Bowers / TE / Georgia
The Saints do not really need a TE but decide that Bowers is too good to pass on. Bowers is the best TE prospect scouted in decades and is a potential generational talent that gives Derek Carr an elite talent to deploy in the Saints’ offense.
15. Indianapolis Kool-Aid McKinstry / CB / Alabama
Indy’s future is bright with Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor, and Michael Pittman under long-term contracts. By adding McKinstry, the Colts get an impressive athlete with the length and reaction skills to become a true lockdown corner.
16. Seattle Jared Verse / Edge / Florida State
Seattle is starting anew with Pete Carroll no longer coaching the Seahawks and they could go a number of ways here with pick #16. Verse is a proven college edge with the size and strength to stop the run and the burst and bend to threaten the QB in the pocket.
17. Jacksonville Kelvin Banks / OT / Texas
Jacksonville’s offense faltered down the stretch and the inability of the offensive line to either open up holes in the run game or protect Trevor Lawrence in pass protection. The 2024 NFL Draft figures to be especially deep on the offensive line so the Jags should be able to address the line deficiencies. Banks has the length and feet to line up at either OLT or ORT in the NFL.
18. Cincinnati Kris Jenkins / IDL / Michigan
The Bengals had a surprisingly strong showing this past season considering they played nearly the entire season without Joe Burrow. But the run defense was a sieve last season and there is a need to infuse some youth into the defensive line. Jenkins, son of former Carolina Panther all-time great, Kris Sr., has the size, strength, and quickness to be a similar type of player as a pro.
19. LA Rams Tyler Nubin / S / Minnesota
The Rams were the hottest team in the league prior to losing to the Lions in the Wildcard Round and much of that is due to the excellent talent evaluators employed by LA. Finally, LA owns their 2024 first round pick. Fortunately, the Rams have no serious needs to fill through the draft so they decide to select the best safety prospect in this draft. Nubin has good size, range, ball skills, and is extremely experienced and gives the Rams a young prospect to develop in the secondary.
20. Pittsburgh T’Vondre Sweat / IDL/ Texas
Sweat is the most accomplished run stuffing IDL available in April’s draft and he brings tremendous size and strength to any team’s defensive line. Pittsburgh runs a 3-4 defense and having a huge run stuffing IDL like Sweat has been missing since the retirement of Casey Hampton.
21. Miami Cooper Beebe / IOL / Kansas State
Miami’s explosive offense was derailed in the cold and wind of Kansas City and their inability to move the ball between the tackles was nonexistent. Miami found that their style of offense, although highly entertaining, does not play well in bad weather. Beebe, the top IOL available in April’s draft, would help solve these issues. He has size, strength, and athleticism and looks like a perennial Pro Bowl player.
22. Philadelphia Sedrick Van Pran / IOL / Georgia
Reports out of Philadelphia have Jason Kelce retiring, ending his Hall of Fame career. The Eagles have drafted centers Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens over the last few seasons but decide to dip into the well a third time with the drafting of the Georgia All-American center, Van Pran. Van Pran has the versatility to slide over to guard, like Dickerson and Jurgens, but is best at center
23. Houston (from Cleveland) Cedric Gray / LB / UNC
The Texans get another asset from the Deshaun Watson trade and decide to use it on the best off the ball LB available in this draft. Gray has plenty of experience, solid instincts, speed, range, and coverage ability to give Houston a valuable weapon to deploy in the passing game.
24. Dallas Troy Fautanu / OL / Washington
The Cowboys’ offensive line needs an injection of youth and by selecting Fautanu, Dallas gets a versatile lineman with the feet and mobility to play OLT but may be best suited to playing OG in the NFL.
25. Green Bay Nate Wiggins / CB / Clemson
Green Bay could go offensive line here but decide to select the Clemson Tiger CB. Wiggins has good length and fluidity and could become a true lockdown CB with more experience.
26. Tampa Bay Patrick Paul / OT / Tulane
Tampa’s offense, especially running the ball, struggled all season long and the line play needs to improve. Paul has outstanding length and good lateral agility and will allow Tristan Wirfs to move back to ORT, where he is one of the best OTs in the NFL.
27. Arizona (from Houston) Laiatu Latu / Edge / UCLA
With the second of their two first round picks, the Cardinals decide to improve the quality of their pass rush with the selection of the former UCLA Bruin. Latu is experienced and extremely productive and offers the bend and quickness to be a productive NFL pass rusher.
28. Kansas City Xavier Worthy / WR / Texas
Kansas City’s WR corps has been a problem spot all season long with dropped passes being the most notable issue but also the receivers have difficulty getting open against man coverage. By drafting Worthy, the Chiefs address both issues. Worthy has reliable hands and would be the most explosive Chiefs’ WR since Tyreek Hill left years ago.
29. Buffalo Bralen Trice / Edge / Washington
The Bills could select a CB or a safety here but decide to select the former Washington Husky defensive end. Trice looks the part and really came on in the second half of the season as Washington played for the National Championship earlier this month.
30. Detroit Terrion Arnold / CB / Alabama
The Lions have improved the quality of the run defense this season and even though the pass rush has been strong, the pass coverage has been lacking. Arnold has length, fluidity, and physicality desired in an outside CB and would fill a major need in Detroit.
31. San Francisco Zak Zinter / IOL / Michigan
The 49ers have a complete team without any major needs. Zinter suffered a season-ending injury for the National Champions but the injury is not career threatening and Zinter is still a great prospect. San Francisco has the luxury to allow him to heal before feeling the pressure to put him in the starting lineup at the start of next season.
32. Baltimore Keon Coleman / WR / Florida State
Every year it seems that a top prospect falls through the cracks and drops into the Ravens’ lap. In this mock, that prospect is Coleman, a tall WR with a large catch radius, soft hands, and fantastic body control. Baltimore could use a RB and will consider Audric Estime (Notre Dame), MarShawn Lloyd (USC), and Blake Corum (Michigan) at #32 overall.
* Carolina and Cleveland do not have first round selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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(Keon Coleman / WR / Florida State)
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