2024 NFL Mock Draft: Kent Weyrauch’s Final Picks & Predictions (5.0)

This is it! The final edition of my mock draft series for the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. Thank you for reading my content this year, I hope you enjoyed it.

My final mock draft is a predictive mock with no trades. So let’s jump right in!

Kent Weyrauch has been in the top 10% of experts for the FantasyPros Mock Draft Accuracy Contest over the last three years.

    2024 NFL Mock Draft (Round 1)

    1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams (QB – USC)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    1 21.4 1 2 6.74 95.86

    Slam dunk.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye (QB – UNC)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    2 21.6 4 17 6.5 87.78

    The model hath decided. Drake Maye goes to the Washington Commanders to lead them into the next era. Maye’s tool represents a beacon of hope.

    NFL Draft Profile 

     

    3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels (QB – LSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    3 23.4 3 22 6.73 92.43

    Between being a 5-year player, having suspect sack peripheral metrics, a dangerous play-style, and the model, I’ve finally decided that Jayden Daniels may in fact being going third overall. The Commanders AND Jaydens’ camp’s antics have been strange, so he’ll land on the Patriots.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – OSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    4 21.7 3 4 6.83 87.82

    Despite Ossenfort’s trading frenzy last year, I think he has every right to stay in this spot and draft a generati— very, very good wide receiver with pedigree.

    NFL Draft Profile 

     

    5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers (WR – LSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    5 20.7 7 15 6.86 92.2

    Malik Nabers’ 93.1 receiving grade topped all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) receivers with 50+ targets. His route running is extremely crisp and his explosion out of breaks creates targetable separation. I think there is merit to the idea that some teams view him as the WR1 in this class. The Chargers could use warm bodies in general, and Nabers far exceeds that threshold.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze (WR – UW)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    6 21.9 4 12 6.74 90.67

    In many other recent draft classes, Odunze could stake a claim as the WR1, but having Harrison and Nabers ahead of him is no discredit to him. In regards to being last on a position run, I think the Giants would rather take a bonafide talent like Odunze over McCarthy.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt (OT – ND)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    11 21.1 3 9 6.49 87.46

    It’s hard to put any other player here, and I just haven’t seen enough steam on other offensive tackles in this class to justify flipping the positional order. The model soured on Alt a bit relative to this position, but not enough to push me off the pick.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner (EDGE – ALA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    10 21.2 6 7 6.72 84.08

    I want it to be known I still think Rome Odunze is in play here, but betting markets believe that either EDGE or CB is more likely. The Falcons have completed a top-30 visit with Dallas Turner, who is regarded by most to be the most complete EDGE prospect in this class and a great fit in a Raheem Morris defense. Additionally, they have also not met with the other rumored match — Laiatu Latu.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    9. Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers (TE – UGA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    7 21.4 3 9 6.71 95.82

    I’m going to be honest, this is a bit gutsy and not a common selection. The Bears will run a lot of 12/13 personnel this year and still need a longer-term outlook for receiving options. Brock Bowers operates as a TE/slot WR hybrid with top-tier run-after-catch ability.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    10. New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga (OT – OSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    15 22.1 3 6 6.48 83.38

    The Jets signed tackles, but they’re old and fragile. In the interim, Fuaga could play guard in a pinch. In his junior season with the Oregon State Beavers, Taliese Fuaga was awarded first-team all-American honors, where he allowed just 12 pressures and zero sacks all season, per PFF.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy (QB – MICH)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    8 21.2 3 20 6.4 82.5

    While it’s possible — and probably likely — that the Vikings trade up for a quarterback like Drake Maye, in this mock they sit on their heels after Maye goes 2nd overall. Their reward is JJ McCarthy, who has done nothing but win his entire football career.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    12. Denver Broncos: Laiatu Latu (EDGE – UCLA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    14 23.3 6 9 6.5 84.29

    Laiatu Latu is just a fun prospect. If I had a magic wand, I’d wave away his neck injury and watch the butterfly effect of him getting drafted in the top-5 of the 2022 NFL Draft.

    NFL Draft Profile 

     

    13. Las Vegas Raiders: Terrion Arnold (CB – ALA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    9 21.1 6 9 6.45 85.2

    The Raiders still need help on the offense line, but their secondary situation isn’t much better — if at all. Terrion Arnold’s prowess in a zone-heavy scheme makes for a great pairing.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    14. New Orleans Saints: Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT – PSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    18 21.4 0 4 6.45 84.43

    With Ryan Ramczyk’s medical status up in the air, the cap-strapped Saints will probably want to solidify their offensive line. Trevor Penning has failed to be reliable in both play and availability. Olumuyiwa Fashanu allowed zero sacks at Penn State and had an amazing 3.5% pressure rate in true pass sets, per PFF.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell (CB – TOL)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    12 22.8 2 4 6.47 90.42

    Quinyon Mitchell was easily among the biggest winners at the NFL Combine this year thanks to his blazing 4.33 forty time. At Toledo, Mitchell provided versatile utility in coverage where he allowed more than 50 receiving yards just twice last season, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Not many non-P5 prospects are drafted in the first round but Mitchell has a great case to go in the top 15 this year.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II (DT – TEX)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    13 21.6 4 7 6.48 83.28

    The Seahawks desperately need some beef in the middle of their defense. Byron Murphy brings beef with attitude. The disruptive force and game-changing playmaking ability have caused his draft stock to skyrocket.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean (CB – IOWA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    17 21.2 4 6 6.36 85.02

    Cooper DeJean boasts fantastic instincts and ball-tracking skills, which he uses to play as one of the most natural ballhawks of this class. After being medically cleared and posting some nice workouts, teams should be ready to buy in.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham (OT – ALA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    20 21.2 4 8 6.71 86.67

    This is a similar situation to the Jets, where the Bengals brought in Trent Brown at right tackle on a one-year deal. However, Brown has struggled to stay healthy his entire career and is unlikely to be the long-term option. JC Latham was a stalwart starting right tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide over the last two seasons, where he allowed just 26 pressures and two sacks on 960 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.

    Oh, and Duke Tobin loves his big school guys:

    NFL Draft Profile 

    19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse (EDGE – FSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    16 23.5 5 7 6.73 83.6

    After Aaron Donald’s retirement, it might be trendy to take a defensive tackle here. However, they see Jared Verse as a value here. Last year, Verse was mocked in the first round before returning to school where he put together a career-high 11 sacks, per PFF.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – LSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    24 21.6 0 10 6.47 85.98

    Two LSU receivers in the first round. Nabers is an obvious lock to go in the first round but Brian Thomas Jr.’s 17 receiving touchdowns last season opened peoples’ eyes to his receiving prowess. He’s lightning-fast for his size and arguably has the widest catch radius of this entire class.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    21. Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton (OG – DUKE)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    22 21.9 3 8 6.46 89.78

    Graham Barton is likely going to be a tackle-to-guard convert in the NFL. His arm length and wingspan came in as bottom-third measurements relative to the other offensive linemen at the NFL Combine. The Dolphins need help nearly across the board on the offense line, and Barton’s versatility will help there.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB – ALA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    21 21.6 8 10 6.39 83.02

    He should go first overall for his name alone. Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry was so elite at Alabama that opposing offenses targeted him half as often during his junior season on roughly the same amount of coverage snaps. They didn’t even want to try.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    23. Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Newton (DT – ILL)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    19 21.6 3 4 6.36 82.88

    Even though Brian Flores created a decent defense from a bottom-10 defensive personnel group, he’d still enjoy getting a guy like Johnny Newton in the trenches. He plays all the way across the line, which will work well in the Vikings multiple fronts.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims (OT – UGA)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    25 21.5 5 8 6.42 82.15

    Amarius Mims is a physical specimen. At 6-foot-7.5 and 340 pounds, he powered through a 4.33-second shuttle drill at the NFL Combine. The downside is he lacks the experience other first-round offensive tackles bring to the table but he has excelled when he plays.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    25. Green Bay Packers: Troy Fautanu (OT – UW)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    28 23.5 9 17 6.47 85.94

    Though a left tackle by trade, Troy Fautanu has a versatile set of traits that could allow him to play either side at guard or tackle. The Packers are going through a transition in the post-Bakhtiari world, and Fautanu’s wingspan will allow him to play left tackle if needed.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson (EDGE – PSU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    30 21.3 8 14 6.5 82.81

    With a top-flight wide receiver taken at five in this mock, the Cardinals turn to the defensive side of the ball. Chop Robinson’s 4.47 forty-yard dash had scouts talking at the NFL Combine and his in-game motor is second-to-none.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    27. Arizona Cardinals: Nate Wiggins (CB – CLEM)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    23 20.7 3 7 6.43 83.34

    Cornerback is one of the Cardinals’ top needs and Nate Wiggins will gladly oblige his talents. Wiggins’ versatility and coverage skills mesh well with the Cardinals mixed coverage shells and defensive looks.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    28. Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell (WR – Texas)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    26 21.6 2 4 6.35 80.94

    After trading Stefon Diggs, this need becomes much more pressing for the Bills. In free agency, they signed Curtis Samuel to a mid-range deal and still have Khalil Shakir. Neither of them has the traits to be a top wideout, in my opinion. Adonai Mitchell’s combo of size and speed is unmatched in this receiver class and his upside makes for a solid pairing with Josh Allen in the coming years.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    29. Detroit Lions: Xavier Worthy (WR – TEX)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    31 21 6 15 6.29 88.02

    Every NFL Draft first round must have a “fast boi” receiver. Xavier Worthy may be fast but his production is just as impressive. Through three seasons at Texas, he collected 26 receiving touchdowns and averaged 14.0 yards per reception.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    30. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton (OT – OU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    29 21.9 6 8 6.41 82.58

    Tyler Guyton steps in as the Ravens’ right tackle on day one. Standing at 6’7.5″ and 322 pounds, Guyton is a mountain of a man that packs more athleticism than you realize.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    31. San Francisco 49ers: Jackson Powers-Johnson (C – ORE)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    27 21.3 5 8 6.36 84.69

    Jackson Powers-Johnson moved around the line in his first two seasons with the Oregon Ducks but ultimately found his stride at center. He allowed just one pressure on 497 pass-blocking snaps in his final year. The 49ers desperately need some inside help, and Powers-Johnson can provide that anywhere on the interior.

    NFL Draft Profile 

    32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey (WR – OU)

    Model Rank Age Top-30 Visits Total Visits NFL.com Grade NextGen Grade
    33 22.5 3 4 6.4 80.04

    NFL Draft Profile 

    More 2024 NFL Mock Drafts

    Here are a few predictions for the 2024 NFL Draft. We’ll continue to add our 2024 NFL Mock Drafts leading up to the start of Round 1.

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