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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Jeff Risdon

2024 mock draft: 2-round projections prior to NFL Week 10

USA TODAY Sports NFL Florida Bralen Trice Dallas Turner Joe Alt KoolAid McKinstry Laiatu Latu Leonard Williams Malik Nabers

It’s time to update the two-round mock draft ahead of one of the last big weekends of college football.

My first edition of the 2024 mock draft came out after Week 4. There has been quite a bit of football, both college and NFL, to impact the projections.

The draft order here is based on the current NFL standings entering Week 10. We’re still in the “presenting ideas and possibilities” phase of draft projections, too.

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

Taking a WR with the top pick is rare, but so is Harrison’s amazing talent. It could be too much for the Cardinals to pass on in hopes of still building around Kyler Murray.

2. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Maye gets the top quarterback nod here because of his playmaking ability and improved ability to avoid mistakes under pressure. The Bears have dealt with exciting but mistake-prone QBs for too long.

3. Chicago Bears: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

Latu is the most impactful pass rusher in the draft, and he appears to have successfully moved beyond his previous health issues. After trading for Montez Sweat, adding a bookend like Latu could finally give the Bears a formidable pass rush.

4. New York Giants: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Williams continues to make incredible plays with both his arm and legs. This looks like a “sprint to the podium” pick for the woebegone Giants.

5. New England Patriots: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Fashanu appears to be the high-floor, high-ceiling type of player the Patriots desperately need across the roster. Taking a premium offensive tackle is a safe projection across any potential change at head coach or quarterback, both of which have been rumored for New England.

6. Los Angeles Rams: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

The Rams first first-round pick since Jared Goff in 2016 sets up their replacement plan for Matthew Stafford. Their Week 9 glimpse of life without their aging, banged-up franchise QB was not pretty. McCarthy’s game isn’t always pretty either, but he’s taken a big step in processing the defense quickly and making better decisions with his passing and tuck-and-run abilities.

7. Green Bay Packers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

With such a young team and a lot of both talent and questions around the roster, the safest projection for the Packers is a bedrock offensive tackle like Alt. Scheme-diverse and capable of playing either side, Alt looks like a great fit.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

My early player comparison for Newton is longtime Bucs great Gerald McCoy. Why not try and make that magic happen again?

9. Denver Broncos: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Turner brings speed and sizzle to any defense, and that’s what the Broncos need on the edge. The tools are better than the unfinished product with Turner, but teams will covet betting they are the one to put it all together for such an athletic player.

10. Tennessee Titans: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

A big play waiting to happen, Coleman is one of the college season’s biggest risers. The Titans are transitioning to a big-play type of QB in Will Levis, so getting him better perimeter weapons would make some sense here.

11. Atlanta Falcons: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Even a month ago, the idea of Daniels being a top-20 overall pick seemed crazy. But he keeps elevating his status with excellent accuracy, derring-do and leadership by the week. It’s time for the Falcons to move on from Desmond Ridder.

12. Washington Commanders: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Another projection that seems out of line with the current thought on rankings, but Morgan has the kind of game that should age well in evaluations. The Commanders cannot neglect the offensive line if they want Sam Howell to thrive.

13. Indianapolis Colts: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Bowers is a tough projection to slot right now. He’s incredible gifted as a receiving weapon and a unique type of tight end, but he’s also injured and still hasn’t developed a great deal as a blocker.

14. Las Vegas Raiders: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

McKinstry would make a nice addition as a player who can capitalize on the pressure Maxx Crosby creates up front. His momentum has cooled a bit but Kool-Aid can still go very high.

15. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Not the biggest need for the Cardinals, but adding a high-end pass rusher is a smart risk here instead of potentially reaching at other positions. Verse hasn’t had a stellar 2023 but still figures to be very appealing in this range.

16. New York Jets: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Odunze would give whomever might be playing QB for the Jets a wide-bodied downfield target who can also turn a quick hitch into a big gain. Might be my favorite fit of this mock draft outside the top 10.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Kalen King, CB, Penn State

King is consistently so good all-around at everything a CB is asked to do. Others might have higher peaks, but this particular Chargers team would be wise to consider his lack of valleys.

18. Buffalo Bills: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Injuries have shown how thin the Bills are at cornerback, not a good trait for a team chasing the high-flying Dolphins in the AFC East. DeJean could be an instant starter if he maintains his current level of play for the Hawkeyes.

19. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Nubin has separated himself (to this point) as the top safety prospect. New Orleans can’t rely on Tyrann Mathieu playing forever. Right?!

20. Minnesota Vikings: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

It might finally be time to look for Kirk Cousins’ replacement at quarterback. Nix has shown similar abilities enough to make a seamless transition. This mock presumes that Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders stays in school.

21. Dallas Cowboys: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

Robinson rushing the passer to help balance the Cowboys defense around Micah Parsons is an intriguing idea. He’s got the athletic traits that won’t fall much outside the top-20.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Lassiter’s toughness for a 180-pound outside CB is impressive. He’s lacking ball skills but does everything else at a consistently high level.

23. Houston Texans (from CLE): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

Legette almost looks like a tight end with his size, but he’s got a lot of A.J. Brown to his game. Adding around C.J. Stroud seems like a smart way for GM Nick Caserio to roll here.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Paul has allowed his quarterback to be touched exactly once in the last 15 games, including zero sacks. The Bengals offensive tackle situation isn’t dire, but Paul’s high-end pass protection could be too good to pass.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami FL

Could the Seahawks replace one Leonard with another on the defensive interior? With recent trade acquisition Leonard Williams a pending free agent and not a lot of proven depth in place, it makes sense to consider the Miami strongman.

26. San Francisco 49ers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mims is a little off the radar now after being sidelined with ankle surgery, but he’s a nice fit for the Shanahan scheme. The non-starter depth chart all over the 49ers offensive line looks like a tryout list; it’s time to add some higher-end talent.

27. Miami Dolphins: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Wiggins continues to thrive even in Clemson’s down (for them) season. He’s a potential premium addition for a Dolphins team that sees a lot of passes thrown against them.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Nabers has the game to be the No. 2 wideout on some team boards; I have little doubt about that. The ridiculously deep wideout class pushes Nabers down here to what should be a grateful Jaguars offense.

29. Detroit Lions: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington

Trice is instant pressure on the opposing QB. He needs some positional discipline but as a flamethrowing pass rusher, there might not be a better one in this draft class. Pairing Trice with Aidan Hutchinson would be a nightmare for opposing QBs against Detroit.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

What do you get the deepest roster from 1-53 in the league? How about the best run-blocking tackle prospect since Penei Sewell. Fuaga’s biggest weakness, protecting against wide-9 pass rushes, is nicely mitigated by having Lamar Jackson at QB.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Chiefs have had some interesting fortunes with drafting wide receivers lately, enough that they can surely try another one. Egbuka’s durability has taken a little hit, but he’s a very capable all-around wideout.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami FL

True to Howie Roseman’s track record, this pick will likely be traded. If the Eagles stick, the BPA could be Kinchens and his playmaking range. Expect a redshirt year from whoever the Eagles pick first, as is their recent custom.