Mock Draft 1.0
Post Senior Bowl Mock Draft
2024 NFL DRAFT
Chicago Bears (via CAR) - Caleb Williams, QB
Chalk. Williams is the consensus #1 QB and Bears need a fresh start. This gives a better prospect to Chicago and resets the contract.
Washington Commanders - Drake Maye, QB
A similar situation to the Bears. Howell, like Fields, flashed at times and proved he might be there for the long run. However, given the way the season ended and where the Commanders are picking, I do not see them carrying on with Howell.
New England Patriots - Jayden Daniels, QB
This is where things become a little more interesting. Unlike the Bears and Commanders, the Patriots have an enormous need at WR, where potentially the draft's best player might be looking them in the face. BUT, their QB woes are even worse than Chicago's or Washington's. A case could be made for both of those teams keeping their respective QB for another year, but that is not the case with New England. They need a QB most of all and unless they find one via FA or trade, they will be grabbing one here.
Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
This is the easiest pick in this draft. Harrison Jr. is my #1 player in this year's draft and it is Arizona's biggest need.
Los Angeles Chargers - Brock Bowers, TE
This is where the Brock Bowers conversation starts. Recently, listening to Mike Renner, he kept talking about how much does a player move the needle for a team in their respective position. For a TE, that much lower than most. That would contradict this pick IF Bowers was just a TE, but he is much more than that. He is a weapon, capable of being a #1 target in an offense and dangerous with the ball in his hands.
New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR
Another no brainer. If their top two receivers are Wan'Dale Robinson and Jaylin Hyatt this year Daniel Jones or anyone for that matter will fail. Nabers could be a #1 WR in any other draft class, and he can change that offense in a hurry.
Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, T
To put it kindly, their bookends are bad. Radunz was better this year and I hope he can continue, but if your next best option is Chris Hubbard, you need to get better at the tackle position. Joe Alt could be the second coming of Joe Thomas in my opinion. You don't pass on that especially when you have the need there.
Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner, EDGE
I like Atlanta for a FA QB acquisition and with their offensive line and weapons, that makes defense their #1 priority. They are my top pick for a bottom ten team to make the playoffs next year and the addition of the best pass rusher in the class is going to play a good role in getting them there.
Chicago Bears - Rome Odunze, WR
Once again, need and availability. Odunze is here and the Bears need to help DJ Moore and Williams. With those two picks in the top ten and the way they improved their defense last year, they are also going to be a team to look out for.
New York Jets - Olu Fashanu, T
I feel like a broken record at this point. Best player remaining on the board and your biggest need. Get him and put the Mekhi Becton mistake behind you.
Minnesota Vikings - Cooper DeJean, CB
This was a hard one. The Vikings have really good pass catchers, but are just okay everywhere else. This is a BPA approach where you have a secondary that is not standing out and a player in Cooper DeJean that could do a lot of things to really make a big impact.
Also, while I wouldn't, I do acknowledge that QB could very easily be a pick here, even if they do sign Kirk to a new deal. Free agency will be very telling for what they decide to do.
Denver Broncos - Jared Verse, EDGE
Once again, QB could be in play here, I just don't know how the Wilson saga will play out. If you want him gone, best case scenario is a post June 1 trade which is unlikely and still leaves a $18 million dollar cap hit. More likely, they would cut him post June 1 and have $35 million dollars in dead cap space. You played well for a stretch with him in the middle of last year. Build off of that and try to make nice with hi through the remainder of his contract.
Las Vegas Raiders - Jer'Zhan Newton, DI
Vegas found themselves in no mans land at the end of last year. Not quite good enough for the playoffs, but they found a rhythm after Pierce took over. AOC looked good at times and honestly I think they could ride him another year and see what they have. Marcus Whitman pointed out that they could take Texans-Mills approach and use next year as an evaluation or rebuilding year. I think for a team that has missed on so many first round picks lately (Henry Ruggs, Alex Leatherwood, Damon Arnette, Clelin Ferrell) they need to a good solid player and not swing and miss again.
New Orleans Saints - Taliese Fuaga, T
There are a lot of reasons this pick makes sense. Trevor Penning is not the answer, Ryan Ramczyk has a large salary hit for a team that is going to have to perform a salary cap miracle, or the fact that they have no guards who can be considered solid NFL starters. Whatever way you want to look at it, Fuaga falling to them at 14 would be a dream come true.
Indianapolis Colts - Terrion Arnold, CB
If DeJean ends up playing safety in the NFL (that's a mistake, he's a lights out corner) Arnold would slide in as my top CB. He has inside/outside versatility and provides the Colts a lot of help in a defensive secondary that was in the bottom half of the league last year.
Seattle Seahawks - Laiatu Latu, EDGE
If Latu's medicals check out, the guy is going to be a stud. He might have the highest floor of any player in the draft, already proving that he can be a starting caliber edge defender in the NFL, with a bevy of pass rush moves and a great IQ. Once again, that’s his FLOOR, anything more than that and this dude will be a stud.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Quinyon Mitchell, CB
Darious Williams had a solid year for Jacksonville. Everyone else, not so much. Jacksonville needs to be able to slow down opposing Offenses and allow Trevor Lawrence and Co. to operate a well scripted game plan. A player like Quinyon Mitchell will go a long way in helping do that. He will be a day 1 starter and an instant impact.
Cincinnati Bengals - JC Latham, T
Latham has proven he can be a top tackle in this class and has guard flexibility early on. Cincinnati has an aging line and needs all over it. Latham would have the ability to fill any number of holes that line has and help out Joe Burrow.
Los Angeles RAMS - Nate Wiggins, CB
With Ramsey leaving for Miami this year, it really showed that LA's secondary needs more star talent in it. Their late round CBs over the last two years have been uninspiring and it leaves this team with a big hole in the secondary. Wiggins can be a shot of adrenaline back into that secondary. While he isn't the best run defender, he makes up for that by potentially being the stickiest corner in this class.
Pittsburg Steelers - JJ McCarthy, QB
This is where I am going to get blasted. Three teams that have a QB need pass on one, but PIT takes a QB? Let me explain. Pittsburg would have easily been a much more dangerous team if they had a threatening QB. If Kenny Pickett was the answer, they wouldn't have ridden Rudolph into the playoffs. This team has a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and is a QB away from being a powerhouse in the AFC again.
Miami Dolphins - Tyler Guyton, T
No starting QB had less time to throw last year than Tua, 2.33s per drop back. Tyler Guyton is a ridiculous athlete and is proving that his ceiling is just about as high as any other tackle in this class. If he can give Tua more time in the pocket, that Dolphins team will be even more dangerous next year.
Philadelphia Eagles - Ennis Rakestraw, CB
Bradberry and Slay are aging and not the cornerbacks they used to be. Ringo and Ricks both showed why they fell in last year's draft and they showed thoughout the season that they are not consistent starting caliber outside corners. Rakestraw can come in and be that imposing starting corner they so desperately need as well as learn from a couple of seasoned vets.
Houston Texans (VIA CLE) - Byron Murphy II, DI
Byron Murphy II has been on an elevator throughout this season, continuing to answer the bell and be a force for that Texas defense. It is pretty easy to see how his skill set and production are going to be heavily desirable. Plus, as NFLSE always points out, lets not forget how low the moving costs are going to be for the in state move.
Dallas Cowboys - Jackson Powers-Johnson, C
If Murphy was on an elevator, JPJ was strapped to a rocket over the last couple of months. This guy showed throughout the end of the college football season as well as the Senior Bowl why he deserves first round consideration. A Dallas line that has some expiring contracts and a need at center? The perfect landing spot for Powers-Jackson.
Green Bay Packers - Amarius Mims, T
As a Packer fan, I love David Bakhtiari. Dude was an absolute stud. But as a player that hasn't been able to stay on the field in any consistent fashion over the last three years, it makes his inevitable parting a little easier to swallow. The Packers will save $21 million dollars by cutting Bakhtiari, or in other words, there is no way he stays. Mims will have the opportunity to compete for a starting role day 1 and help build back a dominant Packer offensive line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB
Tampa Bay could easily go in a different direction. They have Dean and Davis and while both of them left a lot to be desired, they also have shown what they can be. Even so, they both are in the middle of their second contracts as NFL players and having a CB than can learn for two high quality pros would be a great way to grow as a rookie. Much like I have Rakestraw filling in the shoes of aging vets in Philly, McKinstry can do the same here.
Arizona Cardinals (VIA HOU) - Troy Fautanu, G
The Cardinals looked like they had some pieces in place to start to build around. Obviously getting Harrison Jr. with their first pick would already be a homerun. If they can find a way to continue to bolster that offense early and then fill in defense later, I think they will be moving through a rebuild very quickly. Fautanu might very well be the best guard prospect in this draft and will go a long way towards building that wall in front of Murray.
Buffalo Bills - Brian Thomas Jr., WR
If the Bills don't grab a receiver in the first round then they are stepping backwards. They are picking in a prime spot to grab one of the burner bros. Brian Thomas Jr is ranked ahead of every WR in last year's draft and would be an absolute steal for the Buffalo right here.
Detroit Lions - Graham Barton, G
The Lions could definitely take advantage of a defensive player right here. Maybe a T.J. Tampa, Tyler Nubin or even Darius Robinson. While all of those would be fine picks, they had Graham Glasgow line up in all three IOL positions last year, a player who wasn't even a week 1 starter. They need to help bring some stability to that line and Barton will do that. Whether it is guard or center, he will find a home along the Detroit line.
Baltimore Ravens - Troy Franklin, WR
The Ravens drafted a difference making WR last year and what happens...Jackson wins MVP. Do that again with field stretcher Troy Franklin and this offense will be even more scary. It is tough to point to specific needs that this team has so getting a weapon like Franklin would be a great way of making the most of the pick.
San Francisco 49ers - T.J. Tampa, CB
Charvarius Ward has been a difference maker for the 49ers since arriving in 2022. What they are lacking is an effective counterpart. T.J. Tampa is a big-bodied, smooth moving CB who can thrive in that CB2 role and potentially grow into a number one corner. This would help to extend San Fran's Super Bowl window by making the secondary that much better.
Kansas City Chiefs - Ladd McConkey, WR
How do you follow up winning the Super Bowl and set your eyes on a three-peat? By continuing to help Mahomes. KC has a variety of receiver types: The best Y-TE in the league with Kelce, a field stretcher in MVS, a true X wideout with Rice and their gadget player with Hardman. What are they missing, a true slot threat. McConkey has been making DBs look silly all year at Georgia and no doubt will be able to carry that production into the NFL due to his sure hands and masterful route running.
Newt Westen
Making a mock draft, easy right? Just head over to Mock Draft Database or PFF and fire up the simulator. Within two minutes you have a 32 pick mock draft in the book and you're on to the next thing. That's all fine and good, until you have to write up your picks and come up with reasoning for your picks and defend your pick.
Below is the first eve mock draft I have sat down with and looked through all 32 picks with a fine tooth comb and written a blurb for each. I am guessing people are still going to hate it. I made a dumb pick here or I left a great player on the board there. How could you reach on that player?!? What was he thinking? This guy is an idiot!
...sorry, got off on a little tanget there. The point is that I put a lot of work into this knowing that it is not perfect or going to make everyone happy. If you hate it, love it or want to complain about my grammar I would love to hear you do so. Click on the little X icon and have at me.
Until then, prost.