NFL Mock Draft 2024: A Midseason Look at First-Round Picks

If we’re arguing about whether it’s too early to put up the next set of holiday decorations, then it’s not too early to start talking about next year’s NFL draft.

The Panthers have already given the Bears a massive gift, as the first-rounder in 2024 that Carolina traded away is currently on track to be the No. 1 pick. In trading up for Bryce Young last spring, the Panthers have put Chicago in the driver’s seat for the top selection for the second consecutive year—and the Bears just might be tempted to take their own shiny new quarterback this time around.

They won’t be the only ones in the market for a franchise passer, so it’s a good thing the 2024 class is expected to be loaded with talent at the game’s most important position (even if Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers both go back to school). It’s unfair to expect a trio of Hall of Famers from this group, but in terms of quantity, it could challenge the legendary 1983 class that put six quarterbacks into the first round.

Wide receivers and offensive tackles should also come off the board early and often, but it wouldn’t be shocking if the first round comes and goes without a single running back or off-ball linebacker hearing their name called. Ditto for safeties and interior offensive linemen.

Keeping all that in mind, here’s an early look at how the first round of the 2024 NFL draft could unfold, using the latest updated pick order after Week 10 results.

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1.

Chicago Bears (from CAR)Team Needs: edge, OL, WRQB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 230 pounds

Maye has been consistently rising to challenge Williams as the projected first pick.

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

Whichever team ends up picking here, the debate will be fierce between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. While Williams might have the higher ceiling and rare playmaking ability, Maye has been the more consistent performer this season, and has all the physical and mental traits to be worthy of the top selection. Unless Justin Fields plays lights-out down the stretch, he could be headed elsewhere as the Bears draft his replacement.

2.

New York GiantsTeam Needs: WR, QB, CBQB Caleb Williams, USC

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 pounds

Yes, the Giants just signed Daniel Jones to a long-term extension last offseason, but he’ll be returning from a torn ACL. If New York picks this high with a chance to land either Williams or Maye, the Giants would be wise to start over at quarterback and just do their best to mitigate the financial impact of moving on from Jones’s contract. 

3.

New England PatriotsTeam Needs: QB, OT, WROT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Height: 6'6"
Weight: 317 pounds

If both the top quarterbacks come off the board, the Pats would still have an opportunity to choose between two elite prospects at positions of need. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best overall prospect in the entire class, it won’t be surprising if Bill Belichick opts to address the offensive trenches instead with a franchise left tackle in Fashanu.

4.

Arizona CardinalsTeam Needs: WR, CB, DLWR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 205 pounds

Harrison has been in conversation as a Heisman contender. 

Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports

This would be the ideal scenario for the Cards, who could land the best player in the class while filling one of their biggest needs. The son of a Hall of Famer, Harrison has all the traits to eventually join his dad in Canton and would give Kyler Murray the true No. 1 receiver he needs to take Arizona’s offense to the next level.

5.

Chicago BearsTeam Needs: edge, OL, WREdge Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 265 pounds

Losing out on both Harrison and Fashanu would be a bummer, but the Bears would still have an opportunity to fill a big need if the board falls this way. Even after the trade for Montez Sweat, Chicago’s defensive front could still use another impact player off the edge on the opposite side. Latu’s injury history warrants some concern, but he’s been dominant all year long at full strength.

6.

Green Bay PackersTeam Needs: OT, S, DLOT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

Height: 6'8"
Weight: 322 pounds

David Bakhtiari will be 33 next season, and given that he’s struggled to stay healthy in recent years, Green Bay could be looking for his successor at left tackle. Alt’s dad was a Pro Bowl offensive tackle in his day, and Alt has the kind of polished, pro-ready skill set that makes sense given his bloodlines. He’d be a plug-and-play replacement without much drop-off, if any.

7.

Los Angeles RamsTeam Needs: QB, edge, CBEdge Dallas Turner, Alabama

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 242 pounds

Quarterback will be the wild card here, but if the Rams want to ride with Matthew Stafford for another year (or if they don’t like the available options at this point), they’ll have plenty of other needs to fill. The best route in this scenario is to grab an edge rusher to pair with Aaron Donald’s interior dominance, and Turner’s combination of athleticism and versatility has led to big numbers this year.

8.

Tennessee TitansTeam Needs: OL, CB, LBTE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 240 pounds

Offensive line is a much bigger need, but considering what’s left on the board at this point, the Titans could go for the best player available instead of reaching. Bowers is a top-five talent in this class and, while detractors will complain about “positional value” when a tight end is taken in the top 10, Bowers is a dynamic playmaker who’s absolutely worthy of this slot.

9.

Atlanta FalconsTeam Needs: QB, edge, CBQB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 202 pounds

McCarthy and Michigan have been in the spotlight his season.

Matthew O’Haren/USA TODAY Sports

This offense is loaded with playmakers, but Atlanta needs the right quarterback to take full advantage of that talent at the other skill positions. McCarthy is a complete passer who knows how to make plays inside or outside of the pocket, throws with accuracy and efficiency, and boasts an underrated ability to impact the game with his athleticism.

10.

Washington CommandersTeam Needs: OL, edge, TEEdge Chop Robinson, Penn State

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 254 pounds

This offensive line needs a ton of help, but after trading away both Chase Young and Sweat, the Commanders would find a better match of need and value here on the edge of their defensive front. Robinson has the most explosive first step in this year’s deep class of edge defenders, plus the polished technique to make an immediate impact at the next level.

11.

Tampa Bay BuccaneersTeam Needs: QB, OL, LBQB Jayden Daniels, LSU

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 210 pounds

This offseason will be full of big decisions for the Buccaneers, but none bigger than what to do long-term at quarterback. If they’re not fully committed to Baker Mayfield with a new contract, they could opt to dip into a deep quarterback class for a younger, cheaper alternative. There are multiple options worthy of consideration here, but Daniels has been the most electric player in college football this year, and his development screams potential superstar at the next level.

12.

New York JetsTeam Needs: OL, TE, WROT Amarius Mims, Georgia

Height: 6'7"
Weight: 340 pounds

Whenever Aaron Rodgers returns, the Jets are going to want better protection for him so they can hopefully avoid another serious injury. Mims has missed a decent chunk of this season with an injury of his own (he just returned after having ankle surgery in September), but when fully healthy, he’s a massive mauler who dominates in the run game and has impressive athleticism for his frame.

13.

Denver BroncosTeam Needs: CB, OT, WRCB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195 pounds

Patrick Surtain II is one of the best corners in the league, but the Broncos could use an upgrade across the field. McKinstry may not have the gaudy production some expected this season, but his impressive physical tools and playmaking ability (he’s also an explosive return man) should still make him the first player off the board at his position.

14. 

Los Angeles ChargersTeam Needs: edge, CB, TEEdge Jared Verse, Florida State

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 260 pounds

Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack give the Chargers a marquee tandem coming off the edge, but Mack will be 33 next season and carries a cap number around $38 million. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Los Angeles go younger and cheaper with Bosa’s new running mate in Verse, who is one of the most complete edge rushers in the class.

15.

Indianapolis ColtsTeam Needs: WR, CB, SWR Keon Coleman, Florida State

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 pounds

Coleman missed a game in early November with an unknown injury but returned to face Miami last week.

Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat/USA TODAY Network

This is a fantastic scenario for the Colts, who have a potential superstar quarterback in Anthony Richardson but could lose their top pass-catcher (Michael Pittman Jr.) to free agency. This receiver class is full of first-round talents, giving them plenty of worthy candidates here, but Coleman’s combination of size, athleticism, physicality and leaping ability gives him the edge.

16.

Las Vegas RaidersTeam Needs: Literally everythingQB Bo Nix, Oregon

Height: ​6'2"​
Weight: 217 pounds

Who knows what the overhaul will look like in Vegas this offseason, but one thing is for certain: Before they can worry about any other needs on the roster (and there will be many), the Raiders need a franchise quarterback. Enter Nix, the most experienced player in college football history, who has shown marked improvement every year and is delivering a stellar 2023 campaign.

17.

Buffalo BillsTeam Needs: WR, S, DLDL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Height: 6'2"
Weight: 295 pounds

There are worthy prospects at other positions of need available here, but the best match of need and value is along the interior defensive line, where the Bills may be able to steal the best prospect in this year’s class. Newton is an explosive, disruptive defender who spends the majority of his time in opposing backfields—and he should be off the board much earlier than this.

18.

Cincinnati BengalsTeam Needs: OL, WR, TEWR Rome Odunze, Washington

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215 pounds

This would be a massive win for the Bengals, who could see their wide receiver depth gutted in free agency. If that happens, Cincinnati would love to land a blue-chip pass-catcher like Odunze, who is a top-10 overall prospect in this draft. He’d make an ideal WR1 on any NFL team, but in Cincy, he’d take over for Tee Higgins as Joe Burrow’s elite second weapon opposite Ja’Marr Chase.

19.

New Orleans SaintsTeam Needs: OL, WR, QBOT JC Latham, Alabama

Height: 6'6"
Weight: 360 pounds

Latham is one of the top-ranked offensive linemen in the country.

Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY Network

Don’t count out quarterback or wide receiver here, but neither of those positions will do much good if the offensive line isn’t improved in a big way next year. Latham has the kind of power and strength you’d expect from a blocker his size, along with impressive explosiveness and agility for such a massive presence in the offensive trenches.

20.

Arizona Cardinals (from HOU)Team Needs: WR, CB, DLCB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

Height: 6'2"
Weight: 185 pounds

After landing an athletic playmaker for their offense in the top five, the Cardinals can do the same for the other side of the ball with their additional first-rounder. Wiggins has ideal height and length, plus a nose for the football that means he’s a big play waiting to happen, making him an ideal fit for Arizona’s biggest need on defense.

21. 

Minnesota VikingsTeam Needs: QB, edge, CBQB Michael Penix Jr., Washington

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 213 pounds

We’re all gonna enjoy this ride on the Joshua Dobbs train as long as it lasts, but the Vikings will have some big questions to answer in the offseason about the long-term plan at quarterback. Penix is a first-round talent with a late-round injury history (including multiple torn ACLs), but similar to Tua Tagovailoa, he’s an elite southpaw passer with a sky-high ceiling when healthy.

22.

Dallas CowboysTeam Needs: OL, CB, WRWR Malik Nabers, LSU

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 200 pounds

There are more pressing needs in Dallas than a No. 2 receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb, but if the board falls this way, the Cowboys could have their hand forced by the abundance of value available among the pass catchers. Nabers is an explosive playmaker who excels after the catch, and he would be even more dangerous with opposing defenses having to worry about Lamb.

23.

Pittsburgh SteelersTeam Needs: QB, CB, DLCB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 196 pounds

Pittsburgh stole a blue-chip corner (Joey Porter Jr.) at the top of the second round in the 2023 draft, but it needs another one if this secondary wants to take the next step. Arnold has been anything but second fiddle to McKinstry this season, establishing himself as a first-round talent in his own right while shutting down SEC receivers.

24.

Houston Texans (from CLE)Team Needs: DL, WR, OLWR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 206 pounds

Egbuka returned from an ankle injury earlier this season after missing three games.

Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network

The depth of this receiver class is the gift that keeps on giving, as C.J. Stroud gets another weapon to make sure he continues his rapid ascension into the upper stratosphere of NFL quarterbacks. Egbuka would be long gone at this point in most other draft classes, making his well-rounded skill set a massive steal for one of the NFL’s most quickly improving teams.

25.

Miami DolphinsTeam Needs: OL, DL, TEOT Patrick Paul, Houston

Height: 6'7"
Weight: 315 pounds

Tagovailoa continues to prove that he can play at an MVP level when healthy, so protecting him should remain Miami’s top priority. That starts with finding a long-term solution at left tackle beyond Terron Armstead, who has struggled to stay healthy himself. Paul has a huge frame and a massive wingspan, with power and athleticism that gives him a limitless ceiling.

26.

Seattle SeahawksTeam Needs: edge, LB, OLOL Graham Barton, Duke

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 314 pounds

The Seahawks will be prime candidates to trade out of the first round and get back some of their missing picks, but if they stay here, this feels like a John Schneider–Pete Carroll pick. Barton can play all five positions along the offensive line, and though he’s most experienced at tackle, his pro projections are better as an interior blocker, which is where Seattle has the biggest need.

27. 

Jacksonville JaguarsTeam Needs: DB, edge, WRDB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 207 pounds

There are plenty of directions the Jaguars could go here, but in this scenario, the need and value point them to the secondary. DeJean is one of the most versatile and athletic prospects in this class, with the ability to line up anywhere in the defensive backfield (and even at linebacker), as well as big-play potential in the return game.

28.

San Francisco 49ersTeam Needs: RT, CB, SOT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

Height: 6'6"
Weight: 334 pounds

The 49ers’ secondary needs a boost at both levels, but an immediate upgrade at right tackle is easily their biggest need. This scenario gives San Francisco the perfect candidate for the job in Fuaga, one of the fastest-rising prospects in the class. He’s huge, he’s physical and he’s been as dominant as any offensive lineman in the country this season.

29.

Baltimore RavensTeam Needs: CB, DL, OLCB Kalen King, Penn State

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190 pounds

The Ravens need an infusion of young talent at corner, and this year’s class is deep enough to give them some strong options, even if they’re picking this late in the first round. King has the experience and polish to start from Day 1, and would somehow be the first Nittany Lion defensive back ever drafted in the first round.

30.

Detroit LionsTeam Needs: CB, edge, DLEdge JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 270 pounds

Tuimoloau has 28 tackles so far this season, already tying his total in 2022.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network

Aidan Hutchinson has quickly become one of the most dominant and disruptive edge defenders in just his second NFL season, but the Lions need a more consistent presence across from him. Tuimoloau is a stout run defender who can also collapse the pocket with power and sound technique, and he’s got a knack for getting his hands on the ball and creating big plays.

31.

Kansas City ChiefsTeam Needs: OT, WR, DLOT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

Height: 6'7"
Weight: 328 pounds

Another playmaker wouldn’t hurt, but what Patrick Mahomes needs most is an upgrade at left tackle who will consistently protect his blind side. Guyton checks every box when it comes to projecting a successful starter at the next level, and he’d give the Chiefs an immediate upgrade at a premium position.

32.

Philadelphia EaglesTeam Needs: Anything but another Georgia BulldogWR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 205 pounds

What do you get for the team that has everything? Another explosive playmaker, of course. Thomas, a prospect who is flying up the board thanks to a stellar 2023 campaign, is a big, athletic pass-catcher who can stretch the field and create matchup problems for opposing defenses. Adding him to a room that already includes A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith would be unfair.

Teams without a first-round pick

Carolina Panthers

Team Needs: Any and all help for Bryce Young

WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 227 pounds

Adam Thielen is playing admirably, but he’ll be 34 next August, and rookie Jonathan Mingo has yet to prove he’ll be ready to take over as Young’s primary target in 2024. This offense needs an explosive WR1 with size and speed, and Legette checks both boxes. It’s hard to watch his film and not see shades of Philadelphia’s Brown.

Cleveland Browns

Team Needs: DL, OT, LB

DL Brandon Dorlus, Oregon

Cleveland needs an interior disruptor to make opposing offenses pay for focusing all their protection efforts on Myles Garrett. The Ducks’ defensive front has been dominant all year long, and Dorlus is the engine that drives that unit. He’s a versatile defender who can line up inside or on the edge, giving the Browns some flexibility to move him around up front.