It’s good to be back with my second mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft! In this one, we won’t be doing any trades but we will be talking in some detail about how some rosters are structured. In addition to that, we’ll go over some scenarios that potentially could happen in the coming weeks. Here is my latest first-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft. Below we dive into a few notable NFL Draft prospects and where I think they’ll be selected.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB – LSU)
It’ll be interesting to see how these quarterbacks fall this year. One that is certainly on the rise is Jayden Daniels from LSU. He’s got the desired mobility to extend plays beyond the pocket but he doesn’t always need to do that. There are plenty of throws on tape where he stands tall and looks confident as ever in the pocket. The ball really jumps out of his hand when throwing it deep and he showed that when he’s got NFL talent around him, he can deliver positive results on a high level. He’ll need to get stronger to withstand the contact he’ll see in the NFL but seeing him withstand two seasons in the SEC is a positive sign for NFL decision makers.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR- Ohio State)
The best player in the 2024 NFL Draft is Marvin Harrison Jr., from Ohio State, so certainly there’s a chance he’s off the board already. Until the Bears commit to Justin Fields or another quarterback (trade or free agency) with the No. 1 overall pick, it’s hard to imagine Harrison Jr., going first overall. After all, the last time we saw a receiver go first overall was Keyshawn Johnson in the 1996 NFL Draft. That said, Harrison Jr., is one of the best receivers we’ve seen during the draft process. For a player that is 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, his speed, fluidity and acceleration is some of the best I’ve seen. He tracks the ball well and consistently catches the ball away from his body. As the Cardinals hit the reset button on a variety of positions, they seem likely to retain Kyler Murray and adding a true number one receiver would do wonders for him.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Jer’Zhan Newton (IDL – Illinois)
One of the main questions surrounding the Falcons will be about who their next head coach will be in 2024. But another question will be if they even have this pick. There’s some speculation that they could use this pick to trade for Bears quarterback Justin Fields. For now, I think they look into adding more talent to their defensive line to pair with Grady Jarrett. Additionally, Jarrett is coming off a torn ACL and isn’t getting any younger. By selecting Newton, the Falcons get an active interior defender that has violently quick hands. His motor is always on the go and he’d be a spark plug for a Falcons defense that already has plenty of talent.
12. Denver Broncos: Michael Penix Jr. (QB – Washington)
It’s hard to say what the Broncos are prepared to do at quarterback but this offseason will be all about figuring that out. Sitting in a position to potentially draft a quarterback, I think the Broncos will attempt a move up for Caleb Williams or they’ll land on Michael Penix Jr. from Washington. He’s got a big arm and the ball pops out of his hand with plenty of velocity. Additionally, his mobility is a big-plus as he can extend plays beyond the pocket. He’ll need to throw with more touch and find ways to become more efficient when attacking the middle of the field but under Sean Payton, it could happen. Health and age will be a concern for plenty of teams but the Broncos should be prepared to win now and Penix could help with that.
For more NFL Draft content, drop me a follow on X @RussNFLDraft!
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
