The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET in Detroit. After weeks and months of analysis and speculation, NFL teams will select 32 players in the first round to join their teams.
The Arizona Cardinals, along with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, have two selections in the first round.
Quarterbacks are expected to be selected with the first three selections.
But how will it go?
Below are my final projections and predictions for the first round.
Chicago Bears: USC QB Caleb Williams
There is no secret here. The Bears traded Justin Fields and Williams has only visited Chicago. They need a quarterback and Williams is the best in the draft.
Washington Commanders: LSU QB Jayden Daniels
The Commanders traded away Sam Howell in the offseason and are not interested in coming off the pick. Daniels had the best season among quarterbacks in contention here, winning the Heisman Trophy. North Carolina’s Drake Maye will be under consideration but most feel confident Daniels will be the pick.
New England Patriots: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
The Patriots could trade out of the pick with a big enough offer, but anybody trading up would be targeting a quarterback. Maye is the guy.
Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Because they traded down a year ago and traded back up, many feel that the Cardinals will do it again. They have been connected to teams looking to potentially trade up and select a quarterback, like Minnesota, Denver or Las Vegas.
However, they need a receiver and Harrison is the best one in the draft.
(MOCK TRADE) Minnesota Vikings: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings move up here to get a quarterback. They move up from No. 11 overall and give the Los Angeles Chargers, who had the pick, No. 11, a Day 3 pick this year and a first-round selection in 2025 so the Vikings move up to No. 5.
They take McCarthy, the fourth quarterback in five selections.
New York Giants: LSU WR Malik Nabers
While the Giants probably wanted McCarthy, they go with Nabers, who many believe could have a higher ceiling in the NFL than Harrison.
Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
The Titans need a tackle and Alt is the best of the group. This pick feels natural.
Atlanta Falcons: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
While Alabama’s Dallas Turner was the favorite with minus odds to be the eighth pick, Latu’s odds have shortened in recent weeks. Both are +200 to go eighth overall. With the shift in odds, the Falcons, who need a good pass rusher, take the most polished in the class.
Chicago Bears: Washington WR Rome Odunze
The Bears have a great set of weapons for Williams — De’Andre Swift at running back, tight end Cole Kmet and receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and now Odunze.
New York Jets: Georgia TE Brock Bowers
The Jets could go tackle here or another defensive player, but Bowers gives them sure production as a rookie to help Aaron Rodgers on offense.
(MOCK TRADE) Los Angeles Chargers: Penn State OT Olu Fashanu
After moving back to No. 11 and picking up extra picks this year and a first-round pick next year, they go with tackle help to protect QB Justin Herbert. He gives left-right tackle versatility. Coach Jim Harbaugh would be very familiar with Fashanu because of the Big Ten connection.
(MOCK TRADE) Arizona Cardinals: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
The Cardinals are aggressive in finding pass-rushing help and love Turner. They are thrilled when the Falcons take Latu. They send Denver picks Nos. 27, 35 and 104 for Nos. 12 and 76.
The Broncos want to trade back because they have their eyes on another quarterback but don’t want him at No. 12 and don’t have a second-round pick.
Las Vegas Raiders: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
The Raiders could go QB but with four off the board, they will instead go defense. They can make their secondary very good with Mitchell, the most athletic cornerback of the class.
New Orleans Saints: Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
Fuaga gives the Saints toughness on the offensive line, which they need to protect Derek Carr.
Indianapolis Colts: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
The Colts add a stud cornerback for their defense.
Seattle Seahawks: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
The Seahawks have not had a great edge presence in years. They hope Verse can be that guy.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
Getting offensive line help would be useful, but if the Jags can cover and defend better, it will be better for Trevor Lawrence.
Cincinnati Bengals: Washington OT Troy Fautanu
The Bengals now have a young, talented replacement for Jonah Williams, who signed with Arizonain free agency.
Los Angeles Rams: Texas DL Byron Murphy Jr.
Murphy isn’t Aaron Donald, who retired this offseason, but you see flashes of what Donald did well in him.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama OL JC Latham
With both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields now at quarterback, the Steelers make sure to give them protection with the steady play of Latham.
Miami Dolpins: Illinois DL Johnny Newton
The Dolphins lost Christian Wilkins in free agency but can replace him with the best defensive player in the Big Ten.
Philadelphia Eagles: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
The Eagles’ secondary is aging. They add Wiggins, who is athletic and fearless despite a lean frame.
Minnesota Vikings: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
The Vikings lost Danielle Hunter and added Jonathan Greenard in free agency. They can pair him with the super-athletic Robinson.
Dallas Cowboys: Georgia OT Amarius Mims
This pick makes too much sense for the Cowboys, who need tackle help.
Green Bay Packers: Duke OL Graham Barton
The Packers need help at multiple positions on the line to protect Jordan Love. Barton played tackle in college but is projected to be able to play across the line, so the Packers get needed versatility.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: West Virginia C Zach Frazier
Tampa needs a center badly. Frazier is going to be good from Day 1.
(MOCK TRADE) Denver Broncos: Oregon QB Bo Nix
The Broncos’ patience pays off. They get a quarterback in Nix and added a second-round pick in the trade back.
Buffalo Bills: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
After trading Stefon Diggs, the Bills need an alpha receiver and, outside of Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, Mitchell has the traits to be that guy.
Detroit Lions: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The Lions could go with Oregon O-lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, but McKinstry being on the board is too good to pass up.
Baltimore Ravens: LSU WR Brian Thomas
Speed! He gives the Ravens breakaway speed to throw down the field, adding him to the weapons that Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews are.
San Francisco 49ers: Missouri DL Darius Robinson
The Niners parted ways with Arik Armstead and now get to replace him with a defender with the same inside-out versatility.
Kansas City Chiefs: Georgia WR Xavier Worthy
After a questionable receiving corps in 2023, the Chiefs now have Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown (signed in free agency) and Worthy, the fastest player ever at the NFL combine. That speed at receiver is going to be a problem for everyone in the league.
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