The 2024 NFL draft starts tomorrow and there feels like there is more up in the air than normal in this class. It’s not that no one knows mostly which players should go in the first round, but there a lot of ways the board can fall.
A lot of it is riding on how the quarterback dominoes and how the offensive tackle class end up falling. There are a lot of tackles and wide receivers, and people have them rated completely differently.
Here is our final full first round mock draft, featuring some surprising trade action:
1
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
There’s not much to say about Williams at this point that hasn’t been said before. This pick has been suspected for a while and has been pretty much confirmed ever since the Bears traded away Justin Fields.
2
Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
This is where things start to get interesting and competitive. Here, we have the Commanders going with Maye because of his arm talent. He has the makings of a classic franchise quarterback.
3
New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Patriots end up with the more exciting player in Daniels. The Heisman winner made himself a lot of money at LSU this season as he wasn’t a first-round player entering the year. He is a dynamic runner and has a lot of potential as a thrower. The arm strength is there, the doubters will point to processing and consistent accuracy.
4
Minnesota Vikings (trade): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
TRADE
Arizona Cardinals receive: 2024 Round 1, Picks 11 and 23
Minnesota Vikings receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 4
This is the type of pick that can scare a fan base. He probably has the tools to succeed at the next level, but never really got to show it in college. The Vikings desperately need another quarterback though, so they cash in on their two first rounders and hope that it works out.
5
Los Angeles Chargers: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Harrison is one of the best and safest wide receiver prospects that we have seen in a long time. The Chargers luck out that the Cardinals decided to trade out in this mock and end up with a franchise guy for Justin Herbert.
6
New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
We considered having the Giants trade up for a quarterback earlier, but instead they sit still and give Daniel Jones a weapon. Nabers dominated at LSU in a stacked offense, becoming the career receiving yards leader at a school with plenty of legacy at the position.
7
Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt is your prototypical franchise left tackle. He’s young and has a great size/athleticism combination. He’s the type of player that you draft and then don’t have to worry about for a long time.
8
Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
Turner is the most exciting, and first selected, defender in this draft. Some believe him to be better than his former teammate and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson. He’s ultra fast and was incredibly productive in college.
9
Indianapolis Colts (trade): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
TRADE
Chicago Bears receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 15 and 2024 Round 3, Pick 82
Indianapolis Colts receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 9
Odunze would be very intriguing for the Bears here, but instead they pick up another Day 2 selection in this draft and move down a couple of spots.
The Colts grab another piece for their offense and build out a wide receiver room that now holds two talented big-bodied players in Odunze and Michael Pittman.
10
Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Fuaga is the best right tackle prospect in this draft class. He’s a bit of a jack of all trades at tackle, good at pretty much everything you would ask for. He’s a mauler but also has brains and athleticism.
The Jets did sign some veteran tackles this offseason, but the Oregon State product ensures the position is taken care of for a long time.
11
Arizona Cardinals (trade): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell is the Dallas Turner of cornerbacks. He checks pretty much every box, especially after dominating the competition at the Senior Bowl.
12
Denver Broncos: Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
Latu isn’t the popular pick to be the second edge defender taken in the draft, but he does scream Broncos. He has some medical questions, but has been healthy and ultra-productive for the last two years of his college career. He is pro-ready.
13
Las Vegas Raiders: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
While Alt is the most sure-fire guy at tackle in this class, Fashanu might have the highest ceilings. He is ultra athletic and young, but can also step in on Day 1 to protect their quarterback. Another team finds their franchise tackle.
14
Cincinnati Bengals (trade): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
TRADE
New Orleans Saints receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 18 and 2024 Round 3, Pick 80
Cincinnati Bengals receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 14 and 2024 Round 5, Pick 175
The Bengals trade up to add more fire power to their offense and the Saints trade down to pick up a much-needed second Day 2 draft pick.
Browers is as much of a lock of a prospect that there can be, but tight end isn’t as valuable as other positions so he dropped a bit. In the right scheme, though, he can be very much worth trading up for.
15
Chicago Bears (trade): Johnny Newton, DL, Illinois
Newton is an exciting pass rusher from the interior. A lot of people have the Bears doubling up on top offensive weapons, but here they secure one of the best players in the trenches to bolster their defense.
16
Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse, DE, FSU
The Seahawks grab Verse and lock up one of their defensive end spots for years to come. He is as ready to compete in the NFL as you could ask for from a defender.
17
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
There is some disagreement on whether DeJean should play at cornerback or safety at the next level. The good news for the Jaguars is that they could use him at either position and just give him the best chance to succeed with his skill set.
18
New Orleans Saints (trade): Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Saints are able to pick up another draft pick and still snag one of the draft’s top offensive tackles. He’s enough of an athlete to succeed wherever the Saints need him. That type of positional versatility is key when your line is in as bad of shape as the Saints’ is.
19
Los Angeles Rams: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
Murphy has an elite speed/strength combination that would make any defensive coordinator salivate. He is more of a run-first guy than Newton is, but should still have no issue getting to the quarterback.
20
Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mims’ NFL career could end up going any number of ways. He has some medical red flags and is super raw, but if he pans out he will be a dominant offensive tackle for a long time.
21
Dallas Cowboys (trade): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
TRADE
Miami Dolphins receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 24 and 2024 Round 5, Pick 174
Dallas Cowboys receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 21 and 2024 Round 6, Pick 198
Cowboys trade up for a great athlete to pair with Trevon Diggs. He also has some slot versatility that will let him roam around the defense and cover different types of receivers with success.
22
Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins showed off his elite speed at the NFL combine with his 4.28 40-yard dash. That alone might be good enough for him to go in the first round for some teams, but he also has the other tools to secure his spot. The Eagles lucked out with him falling this far.
23
Arizona Cardinals (trade): Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
The Cardinals bolstered their defense earlier and now the trade down allows them to go after the best interior offensive lineman available in the draft. He likely grades out best as a center, but does have some guard flexibility.
24
Miami Dolphins (trade): Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Barton could end up at any number of spots at the next level, which is perfect for a Dolphins team that doesn’t have a lot of lineman that they would characterize as franchise players. He’ll give them the chance to put him wherever they need him the most.
25
Buffalo Bills (trade): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
TRADE
Green Bay Packers receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 28 and 2024 Round 4, Pick 133
Buffalo Bills receive: 2024 Round 1, Pick 25 and 2024 Round 5, Pick 169
The Bills take advantage of one of the drafts biggest slippers in this mock. Thomas has a great size and speed combo that led to him leading the country in touchdown catches. After trading away Stefon Diggs, Buffalo needs another top guy.
26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
While he isn’t the best athlete at the position in the draft, he might just be the most pro-ready. He’s been starting in the SEC for three years, which is not something that Nick Saban took lightly during his time at Alabama.
27
Arizona Cardinals (trade): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Now the Cardinals, with their third selection in the first round, grab an exciting receiver. They were able to pick up an extra first round selection and still get someone that people believe could become a great WR1, albeit not to the same level as Harrison.
28
Green Bay Packers (trade): JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham is another one of these super young, super athletic offensive tackles but he is a little bit less ready for the next level than the other guys. The Packers could have him learn a little bit and cut down on the penalties. He’s pretty much everything you would want out of the mold of an offensive tackle, though.
29
Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
Here is the first big shock of the first round. The Lions take the ultra-athlete edge rusher out of Penn State. Robinson wasn’t very productive in college, but it’s hard not to get excited about a 6’3, 254-pound guy that can run a 4.48.
30
Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Paul is another guy that could sneak into the first round based on how intriguing he is. He’s a mountain of a tackle at 6-foot-7, 331-pounds but does not sacrifice athleticism. It’s a bit of a swing as a lot of people like some of the more higher-floor guys left on the board, but it’s a swing that Baltimore can afford to take.
31
San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Speaking of the other offensive tackles, Guyton goes to San Francisco. He’s another very raw player that checks all of the physical boxes. He has only been playing the position since college, so the 49ers will have to give him some time to solidify.
32
Kansas City Chiefs: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
It’s not the wide receiver that is expected to go here by many, but Franklin is a very intriguing guy that could easily slip into the first round. He’s tall, fast and runs very well.
