The biggest weekend in the NFL is upon us. Super Bowl Sunday is finally here. The Chiefs and 49ers will go at it while the remaining 30 NFL teams are already preparing to reach the pinnacle of sports.
The most logical path to a championship is to build through the NFL Draft. The remaining teams around the league have their Super Bowl in late April, as they’ll get the chance to select from the most promising prospects in the sport.
2024 NFL Mock Draft with Trades
Round 1
1. Washington Commanders: Caleb Williams (QB – USC) ***MOCK TRADE ALERT***
Williams is granted his wish and gets to go home. Born and raised in Washington D.C., Williams avoided going to Chicago, where the chatter was that he would be unhappy to go. Instead, he reunites with Kliff Kingsbury, the new Commanders’ offensive coordinator, who was USC’s offensive analyst last season. His skill level is unquestioned, but his mental makeup has raised eyebrows this past season. The Commanders give up a massive trade package to get their franchise quarterback. Now, let’s see if Williams can handle it.
2. Chicago Bears: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – Ohio State)
The Bears decide to build around Justin Fields and are rewarded with a haul from the Commanders to move down one spot and draft the best player in this draft class. Marvin Harrison Jr. can dominate from anywhere on the field. He is an elite route runner who possesses outstanding contested-catch skills. MJH and Fields reunite from their Buckeyes days and wreak havoc.
3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels (QB – LSU)
Patriots fans will witness an entire overhaul of their beloved franchise. With Bill Belichick gone, rookie head coach Jared Mayo stamps his arrival with the selection of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is a proficient passer and a runner, with 1,134 rushing yards leading all college quarterbacks.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Drake Maye (QB – UNC) ***MOCK TRADE ALERT***
The Falcons see an ideal opportunity to grab a potential franchise quarterback and call the Cardinals to select North Carolina’s Drake Maye. The Falcons finally wised up and moved on from Arthur Smith. New Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is a familiar face, and fantasy managers had to love how Morris praised Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. Morris made an excellent hire in Zac Robinson as their offensive coordinator, who served as the passing game coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams to orchestrate the offense.
They hope that Maye can bring his NFL QB prototypical 6-foot-4, 230-pound size with good accuracy and excellent field vision and translate his skills into elevating the highly skilled offensive weapons in the Falcons offense.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers (WR – LSU)
With Jim Harbaugh coming to town. The entire roster is open to change this season. We could see the Chargers move on from Austin Ekeler and go in many directions here. Should they grab an offensive lineman to protect franchise quarterback Justin Herbert? Or give Herbert a reliable weapon? There was some consideration going with Brock Bowers, but instead, the Chargers looked outside and selected LSU stud wideout Malik Nabers.
Keenan Allen missed the last four games of the 2023 season but proved healthy by dominating The Pro Bowl. Allen and fellow wideout Mike Willaims can’t seem to stay on the field, and Quentin Johnston was a bust. The Chargers get Herbert, a bonafide athletic wideout who rivaled Marvin Harrison Jr. as the top college wideout.
6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze (WR – Washington)
The Giants can go a couple of different paths here, but they will ride out Daniel Jones as their quarterback. Jones had no one reliable to throw the ball to, so HC Brian Daboll provided Jones with Huskies wideout Rome Odunze. The game tape and production display enthusiasm for Odunze to be the WR1 for Jones in his rookie season.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt (OT – Notre Dame)
The Titans will look very different in 2024. They hired former Bengals OC Brian Callahan as their new head coach, who will attempt to upgrade an anemic offense across the past few seasons. Callahan will look to develop quarterback Will Levis into his offensive system. There is no better way to bring a young quarterback along than to protect him. The Titans select Joe Alt, the top tackle prospect in this draft class, to protect Levis’ blindside.
8. Arizona Cardinals; Olu Fashanu (OT – Penn State)
The Cardinals move down a couple of spots and grab the offensive lineman with the ideal left tackle build at 6’6″ and 319 lbs. His elite athleticism makes Fashanu very adept in the running and passing games. With Kyler Murray entrenched at quarterback now, the Cardinals need to protect him and build the offense around him.
9. Chicago Bears: Taliese Fuaga (OT – Oregon State)
He is a powerful and agile blocker who excels at pass protection but can dominate in the run game by mauling anyone in his path. Justin Fields has hit the lottery with the Bears’ selections. He is an elite weapon in MJH and a tackle that will protect him. Win. Win.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers (TE – Georgia)
Aaron Rodgers is somewhere smiling right now. Combine the all-world tight end Brock Bowers with wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall, and you have a very explosive offense. Bowers will make Rodgers’ return smoother as a drop-off option who can make splash plays. He is a mismatched weapon who will elevate the Jet’s offense.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner (EDGE – Alabama)
The draft fell perfectly for the Vikings. They are desperate for help on the EDGE, with Danielle Hunter probably in another uniform next season. Skilled speed pash rusher who should elevate into a better all-around defender in the NFL.
12. Denver Broncos: Laiatu Latu (EDGE – UCLA)
Sean Payton would love to go quarterback here. Everyone knows he wants to, but instead, he looks at this giant board and drafts an impact player on defense with UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu. He returned from a potentially career-ending injury to lead the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8). He became the first UCLA player to win the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks awards. His motor and determination are contagious and will uplift a dismal defense.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Terrion Arnold (CB – Alabama)
He is a competitive, fiery defender who will combine his on-field intelligence with physical style to be an impact starter on day one.
14. New Orleans Saints: Jared Verse (EDGE – Florida State)
He displays immense bursts and will create plays defending both the run and the pass. Verse rivaled Dallas Turner as the best EDGE defender in this draft. Verse will step into a prominent role in the Saints’ defense.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Wiggins (CB – Clemson)
The Colts defense was atrocious last season. They have holes across the board with a glaring need for an elite corner. Enter Nate Wiggins. Wiggins has outstanding speed and great instincts and will step into the starting lineup on day one.
16. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy (QB – Michigan) ***MOCK TRADE ALERT***
The Vikings had to come away from this draft with a quarterback. They connect with the Seattle Seahawks here and dangle Danielle Hunter and pick swaps, and voila, the Vikings have their quarterback of the future. McCarthy is dangerous as a runner and is an accurate passer, completing 72.3 percent of his throws. With Kirk Cousins changing addresses this season, McCarthy finds an encouraging path with Kevin O’Connell leading his development.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean (CB – Iowa)
The Jaguars can go in several directions here, including wide receiver and offensive line to help Trevor Lawrence. Instead, they decide to upgrade their porous defense with the pick of cornerback Cooper DeJean. Dejean did not allow a touchdown in 388 snaps of coverage. He was one of the best defensive players in the country. His versatility as a return specialist adds value to this selection.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: J.C. Latham (OT – Alabama)
Joe Burrow has been under siege since he entered the league behind poor offensive lines. The Bengals upgrade his protection by grabbing J.C. Latham here. Latham combines high IQ with elite athleticism to be one of the best tackles in this draft. The Bengals should be running to the podium for the Latham pick.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Bralen Trice (EDGE – Washington)
The Rams are desperate for any help on defense. At a minimum, Trice, who has an excellent motor, can step in and be the designated rusher as he grows into a more well-rounded defender.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Quinyon Mitchell (CB – Toledo)
Mitchell’s excellent instincts led the second-team All-Ameican to produce 37 pass deflections and six interceptions across the past two seasons. Mitchell will combine with last year’s draft pick, Joey Porter Jr., to produce a menacing cornerback duo.
21. Miami Dolphins: Troy Fautanu (OL – Washington)
Fantastic athlete for an interior lineman. His versatility will work out perfectly with the Dolphin’s offense, which desperately needs help up front offensively.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB – Alabama)
Besides having a cool name, McKinstry fills a massive void for the Eagles. He has a high ceiling with top-notch speed and can play inside and out. Add his ability to make splash plays in the return game, and the Eagles have a difference-maker with their first-round selection.
23. Houston Texans (via CLE): Jer’Zhan Newton (DL – Illinois)
Newton is the best pass-rushing interior defensive lineman in this draft, compiling 13 sacks and 23 TFL combined across the past two seasons. He won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and tied for the NCAA lead in pressures from the defensive tackle position last season (44). The Texan’s defense will look even more formidable up the middle next season.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton (OT – Oklahoma)
Guyton excels at pass blocking and will fit in well with the Cowboys, who allowed Dak Prescott to throw more and help him lead the league in touchdown passes.
25. Green Bay Packers: Amarius Mims (OT – Georgia)
Every season, we project the Packers take an offensive lineman. A shaky track record and inconsistent dedication to their line have slowed them down. The emergence of Jordan Love should push the Packers to provide Love with better protection so he can continue to grow and thrive.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darius Robinson (EDGE – Missouri)
Versatile defender who will make an impact on day one for the Buccaneer’s defense. He could be viewed as a tweener, but his motor will allow Robinson to be a difference-maker.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – LSU)
The Cardinals continue to build around Murray with an athletic playmaker who will stretch the field with this top-tier speed. Brian Thomas Jr. should cement himself as the WR1 reasonably early in his rookie season and a rookie wideout to target in your fantasy drafts.
28. Buffalo Bills: Troy Franklin (WR – Oregon)
His elite speed provided Bo Nix with a legit deep threat. Troy Franklin tied third in the FBS in receiving touchdowns (14) and sixth in receiving yards (1,383) last season. Franklin enters the Gabriel Davis role in Bills’ offense and opens the field for Josh Allen and Bill’s other weapons.
29. Detroit Lions: Kamari Lassiter (CB – Georgia)
The Lions were the feel-good story this season, but they must improve the cornerback position. Offenses were putting up Madden-type stats via the pass on the Lions’ defense. They look to Georgia, where they select the aggressive, physical Kamari Lassiter, whose quickness and instincts should translate well in the NFL.
30. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix (QB – Oregon) ***MOCK TRADE ALERT***
The Denver Broncos move back into the first round by trading into the Baltimore Ravens spot here to get Bo Nix to run Sean Payton’s offense. Here’s hoping Payton can mold Nix into his quarterback for the next decade. Nix has a solid base to build upon with a cannon arm and tremendous footwork. He needs to develop his QB IQ along with his decision-making. Payton can help take Nix to the next level.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman (WR – Florida State)
Prime size for an NFL WR. Excellent catch-point skills and provides physicality from the wideout position playing opposite Rasheed Rice, giving Partick Mahomes another explosive weapon.
32. San Francisco 49ers: Demeioun Robinson (EDGE – Penn State)
An explosive speed rusher whose athleticism will allow Robinson to impact passing downs. However, Robinson needs to work on his power moves to step into an everyday role. The Niners welcome their replacement for the disappointing Chase Young.
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