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Dan Benton

2024 NFL mock draft: Wild Giants-Lions trade shakes up Round 1

The 2023 NFL season is officially over and the 2024 NFL Combine is next up on the yearly schedule. That event will provide teams with a first-hand look at many of the 2024 NFL draft prospects and help them compile their big boards.

While the results of free agency will most certainly impact the plan of each general manager, mock drafts are still being conducted and released at a fever pitch.

Those of us at Giants Wire decided to conduct a mock draft of our own using the Pro Football Focus simulator. All settings were left on default and the only added rule we implemented was that we could not initiate a trade. We could, however, accept trades offered to us (based on the NFL draft value chart).

We selected only for the Giants. All other picks were made by AI based on positional needs, positional value, and “randomness.”

Here are the wild Round 1 results.

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers) – Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Chicago Bears officially pull the plug on Justin Fields and make the obvious choice of Caleb Williams first overall.

2. Washington Commanders - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Commanders are widely expected to take a quarterback here but in this simulation, they instead opt for superstar wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

The new Patriots regime starts over fresh with quarterback Drake Maye, who is likely to start on Day 1 over Mac Jones.

4. Arizona Cardinals - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

After missing out on Harrison Jr., the Arizona Cardinals take the second-best wide receiver in the draft — Malik Nabers.

5. Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Quinn Harris/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Chargers upgrade their offensive line with one of the best — if not the best — tackles in the draft.

6. Detroit Lions (from New York Giants) - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions initiated a trade that sent four total picks to the New York Giants. With that pick, they overdraft cornerback Cooper DeJean.

Lions receive: No. 6 overall pick

Giants receive: No. 29, No. 61, and No. 73 picks in 2024 and a Round 2 pick in 2025.

7. Tennessee Titans - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Titans are locked in at quarterback and must now beef up their offensive line. Taliese Fuaga is a nice addition.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons snag the best tight end in the draft in Brock Bowers, pairing him with Kyle Pitts for a very unique combination.

9. Chicago Bears - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

New quarterback? Check. A top wide receiver in Rome Odunze to pair with Caleb? Check.

10. New York Jets - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets have several needs but opt to pair Sauce Gardner with Nate Wiggins.

11. Minnesota Vikings - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings need to beef up their trenches and in Round 1, they focus on the offensive side of things with the selection of Olu Fashanu.

12. Denver Broncos - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Terrion Arnold’s stock is on the rise but this still seems a little early for him. The Denver Broncos, at least according to this simulation, disagree.

13. Las Vegas Raiders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

Jayden Daniels’ surprise slide ends with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13.

14. New Orleans Saints - Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

The New Orleans Saints take the biggest gamble of the first round with defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, who is trending in a positive direction but perhaps not top 15.

15. Indianapolis Colts - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts help load up on defense by adding Dallas Turner, one of the best edge rushers in the draft.

16. Seattle Seahawks - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks make it back-to-back edge rushers off the board with the selection of Laiatu Latu.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Quinyon Mitchell brings some versatility to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ secondary. He play in the slot or on the outside.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Michael Chang/Getty Images

The mid-round run on edge rushers continues with Jared Verse going to the Cincinnati Bengals.

19. Los Angeles Rams - JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

The Los Angeles Rams go with offensive tackle JC Latham after missing out on a trio of edge rushers.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

With Diontae Johnson’s future in question, the Pittsburgh Steelers land wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

21. Miami Dolphins - Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Dolphins are another team who could be on the lookout for edge rushers but instead, take offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson a bit higher than he’s projected to go.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles don’t have a glaring need at offensive tackle but in this sim, they went with Amarius Mims anyway. Perhaps the value was too good to pass up.

23. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns) - Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Jer’Zhan Newton is one of the draft’s top interior defensive linemen and he ends up with the Houston Texans.

24. Dallas Cowboys - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys match need with value and land Kool-Aid McKinstry to add to their secondary.

25. Green Bay Packers - Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Troy Franklin is capable of taking the top off an opposing defense and gives the Green Bay Packers a true deep threat.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers add a quality anchor to their offensive line, pairing Troy Fautanu with Tristan Wirfs.

27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans) - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Guyton is a plug-and-play option for the Arizona Cardinals, who add much-needed pass protection with this pick.

28. Buffalo Bills - Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Payton Wilson has some potential medical concerns but if those check out, the Buffalo Bills get one of the draft’s top players at his position.

29. New York Giants (from Detroit Lions) - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Giants get a haul for the No. 6 overall pick and end up landing quarterback J.J. McCarthy anyway. This would be an ideal scenario for general manager Joe Schoen, who can address multiple other positions with the added picks.

30. Baltimore Ravens - Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens, long known for their tough defense, add a legitimate run-stopping safety in Tyler Nubin.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Most analysts believe cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is a Day 2 player but in this sim, the San Francisco 49ers don’t wait and snag him near the end of Round 1.

32. Kansas City Chiefs - Graham Barton, OT, Duke

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs may be Super Bowl champions but they have issues along the offensive line and at wide receiver. They address one of those concerns with offensive tackle Graham Barton.

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