The Super Bowl is in the rearview mirror. Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on their third Super Bowl win. Only three to go to catch Pittsburgh and four to catch Tom Brady! The offseason is full of hope and dreams, and these first-round rookies are sure to turn some heads. Without further ado, it’s time for round one of the 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
2024 NFL Mock Draft – Version 1.0
1. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
He tops the 2024 quarterback rankings for a reason. Williams is slippery inside and outside the pocket, sound with his decision-making, and an immediate difference-maker.
2. Drake Maye, QB, Washington Commanders
There’s buzz around draft communities that Maye could fall . Don’t read into it too much, he’s a prototypical stud quarterback with all the arm talent in the world.
3. Jayden Daniels, QB, New England Patriots
Finally, the Mac Jones experience will end April 25. The last time three quarterbacks went top three was 2021, but Daniels is a far cry from Trey Lance as a prospect. His film study shows why he’s the clear choice.
4. Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Arizona Cardinals
This might be the most chalk pick in the draft. Above all Arizona desperately needs a playmaker. Harrison Jr is the best wide receiver prospect in years. Let’s not overthink this.
5. Malik Nabers, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Surely every mock draft will say “this is where the real draft starts”. Well, this is where the real draft starts. This Chargers team needs speed like we need air to breathe. Nabers has it in bunches.
6. Joe Alt, OT, New York Giants
Due to the depth of the wide receiver class, New York opts for a stalwart lineman early rather than a playmaker. Alt will enjoy his first legal beer in two weeks, but has been folding defenders like lawn chairs since he was a teenager.
7. Olu Fashanu, OT, Tennessee Titans
Despite the Brock Bowers rumors, the Titans opt to protect Will Levis . Fashanu is the dream fit for the Titans if they change from the Vrabel run it into the ground days.
8. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons miss out on the top three quarterbacks but don’t reach on the fourth. Turner is a more than acceptable consolation prize and can hopefully bolster their defense.
9. Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
The Bears add a complementary player to D.J. Moore, and punt their defensive struggles in 2025 and beyond. 2024 is all about building around Caleb, and Rome might build that in a day.
10. Brock Bowers, TE, New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers didn’t go to New York just to ride out into the sunset. They want to win big, and win now. Bowers adds an immediate contributor and is more useful in the blocking game than given credit for.
11. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy’s counting stats aren’t pretty. But then when you sort his plays by third and fourth down, when his team needs him most, he was a monster. Big time players make big time plays in big time situations, or something like that.
12. Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Denver Broncos
Following a season where they were the third worst team against the run, they add some beef in the middle of their defense. He’s not going to fill the hole every play, but he’s a freak athlete for 295 and will disrupt an offense’s rhythm.
13. Cooper DeJean, CB, Las Vegas Raiders
Would they love a quarterback? Yes. Would they love offensive line help? Also yes. But DeJean is the best corner in this class and will be able to feast with Maxx Crosby in front of him. Plug and playmaker.
14. Jared Verse, EDGE, New Orleans Saints
The Saints need a lot of things. Something about drowning in cap space and medium quarterback play stunts a team’s growth. They add a monster on the EDGE to keep games close.
15. Terrion Arnold, CB, Indianapolis Colts
Not nearly as cool a name as his teammate who will be picked later, but a better prospect. Nothing like adding an All-American corner at 15 in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
16. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Seattle Seahawks
This is one of my favorite team prospect pairings in the draft. Picture Kenneth Walker running behind Fuaga on third and short. It would bring a tear to the eye of old school grandpas all over the world.
17. Brian Thomas Jr, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Calvin Ridley isn’t a spring chicken, and what Christian Kirk is good at isn’t what Brian Thomas Jr does. He’s a lot of people’s WR4 in the class, and for a team lacking a size speed threat, the LSU product makes sense.
18. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals
As long as Burrow is on offense, they’ll be competitive on that side of the ball. Instead of searching for a Higgins long term replacement, they grab an EDGE with some of the best technique in the class.
19. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Los Angeles Rams
By and large the best corner, if not best player at the 2024 Senior Bowl. The Rams Super Bowl window could be closing, but they’ll keep running it back until Stafford hangs them up.
20. Nate Wiggins, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Joey Porter Jr. and Nate Wiggins might be redundant players. Or they could be two long, talented corners that hold down the defense for the next five years. I prefer the second option for this 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
21. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Miami Dolphins
Less than a year after being on the NFL Top 100, Dolphins fans are wondering how to move on from Xavien Howard . McKinstry isn’t as refined, but has the measurable and dog in him to get there.
22. JC Latham, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
It’ll be tough for Latham to fit in on the Philadelphia Bulldogs, but they have a history of drafting for needs a year away. Lane Johnson is approximately 75 years old, so they need to get his replacement in quickly.
23. Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is the man. Powers-Johnson is the man to protect the man. Another Senior Bowl riser, Powers-Johnson has positional flexibility and is built like a fire hydrant.
24. Amarius Mims, OT, Dallas Cowboys
Just copy and paste the Eagles reasons. They need to find an heir to the LT throne, and Mims probably needs an extra hour in the slow cooker anyway. Great fit to make sure Dak is safe for years.
25. Bralen Trice, EDGE, Green Bay Packers
The Packers love to swing on EDGE prospects that need some work. We’re still waiting on Van Ness, but while we wait they take another swing to make their defense even stronger.
26. Byron Murphy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is more a dream than a team need. Why not make a strength even stronger? They’d immediately have the most terrifying inside of the line in the league, and Vita Vea can move to fullback full time like the Lord intended.
27. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Arizona Cardinals
When in doubt, draft a Georgia defender. Lassiter is almost completely an outside corner, but he’s exceptional at it and plugs a hole on a roster primed to turn around in 2024.
28. Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Honestly? Ladd McConkey is higher in our rankings . But Coleman is going to set the Combine on fire and brings a freaky element to a receiving group full of question marks.
29. Darius Robinson, EDGE, Detroit Lions
Batman needs his Robin-son. The Lions pass rush has been solid, but adding another speed to power prospect with heavy hands is a step towards a dominant defense.
30. Ladd McConkey, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Oh yes. A separator who stays on schedule and can make some magic after the catch. No not Zay Flowers, but now they have two capable receivers and whatever Bateman turns into.
31. Jordan Morgan, OT, San Francisco 49ers
What does this team really need? If anything, this is a prime spot to trade out of for a QB hungry team to take a swing on Bo Nix. Instead, they grab a tackle for some immediate help.
32. Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice is a YAC, zone finding, stone cold killer. Worthy is Sonic the Hedgehog and will strike fear in the hearts of defenses everywhere. He’s not Tyreek Hill shifty, but the speed alone on this team wouldn’t be fair.
More 2024 NFL Draft
Main Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The post 2024 NFL Mock Draft – Version 1.0 appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football .