One of the most exciting times of the year is the beginning of the NFL mock draft season. As the NFL regular season reaches the final weeks, we start to get an idea of where teams might land in the draft order next April and what they might need in the opening round.
College football has reached its championship weekend, and the speculation around who will land where is about to begin. Here’s our first-round mock draft and the very first edition in a series of 2024 NFL mock drafts.
We’ll be attributing specific focus to 11 teams in this draft but covering all 32 picks in the first round as well. Focused players will be highlighted, with an extensive summary of the pick’s reason.
Caleb Williams: QB USC, Bears
The Chicago Bears can’t pass on a talent like Caleb Williams. Justin Fields might be traded at the end of the year, and Chicago could look to start again with a new coaching staff, new quarterback, and new narrative.
- Marvin Harrison Jr.: WR, Ohio State, Cardinals
Marvin Harrison is the best wide receiver in the draft and one of the best talents available. Arizona needs to rebuild its offense around Kyler Murray, and adding a weapon like Harrison Jr. would be a great place to start.
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Drake Maye: QB, North Carolina, Patriots
The New England Patriots season has been a disaster, and I’d expect a major overhaul in the offseason. Bill O’Brien’s play calling has been dismal, to say the least, but Mac Jones hasn’t made it any better with his constant turnovers and failure to get into a rhythm.
The Patriots have flip-flopped between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe for two seasons now and need to make a big move to get out of mediocrity and back into contention in a loaded AFC East.
Taking a big swing at Drake Maye with their first-round pick feels inevitable at this point, and he should go there and take over as a day-one starter.
Maye has been a top-two name in the draft all year and hasn’t done anything this season that would hurt his chances of being one of the first names off the board.
At six foot four and 230 pounds, Maye possesses the best prototypical size teams seek in an NFL prospect. He’s had superb seasons at UNC in back-to-back years, with all the tools you’d be looking for in a top-five draft pick.
At times, Mac Jones has struggled to fit the ball into tight windows with enough velocity, but that won’t be a problem for Drake Maye. He can throw downfield, find the sidelines, and make those tight window throws against aggressive NFL coverage.
Maye does a good job of avoiding incoming pressure, getting outside of the pocket, and resetting himself before firing downfield. It all looks very natural to him, and his fluid hips and underappreciated mobility should also be a key factor in his evaluation.
- Dallas Turner: EDGE, Alabama, Bears
Dallas Turner is a game wrecker, and I’d love to see how he would like lined up opposite the Bears’ new acquisition, Montez Sweat. Turner is one of the most feared pass rushers in college football and a guy who deserves to be a top-five selection.
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Jared Verse: EDGE, Florida State, Commanders
Jared Verse comes off the board just one pick after Dallas Turner, with quality pass rushers coming at a premium in this year’s draft. It’s no secret that the Washington Commanders will be in the market for blue-chip talent coming off the edge, and Verse fills the void.
- Malik Nabers: WR, LSU, Giants
What a great year it’s been watching Malik Nabers go to work at LSU, and he now rightfully gets selected inside the top 10. The New York Giants wide receiver room is abysmal, and they must address it early.
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J.J. McCarthy: QB, Michigan, Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield has done a good job in Tampa Bay, and at this point, it feels like the writing is on the wall for Kyle Trask. In response, the Bucs should keep Baker as their interim starter for next season while drafting J.J. McCarthy as the team’s long-term future.
McCarthy has commanded the Michigan offense extremely well for the past two seasons, and while supported by a very talented run game and sturdy offensive line, he’s done more than enough to get plenty of looks as a top-ten draft pick.
While Baker appears to put his entire body into every throw, J.J. McCarthy’s arm strength and natural throwing motion make him look the real deal on Saturdays. He’s got a great deep ball and can find his receivers downfield consistently, rarely missing the mark on a ball thrown 20+ yards in the air.
In addition, he’s got great experience in play-action sets. He has great size to play at the next level, and if he adds a little weight before the draft, teams will look to him as an ideal candidate for their franchise.
The Tom Brady Super Bowl era is now truly over, and it’s time to shake things up in Tampa. The Bucs have dealt with mediocrity for the past couple of years and should now be looking to start a new chapter with a high-end quarterback.
- Joe Alt: OT, Notre Dame, Jets
Mekhi Becton can be a great tackle in this league when he’s healthy. The Jets need to add another tackle to play on the opposite end of the line, and protecting Aaron Rodgers will be a priority next season as they head into take two of their seasons with the Hall of Fame QB.
- Kool-Aid McKinstry: CB, Alabama, Chargers
Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of the best lockdown corners in college football, and the Chargers defense desperately needs additional help in their secondary. It’s been one of the worst units in football this season, and the Chargers look to correct it here.
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Olumuyiwa Fashanu: OT, Penn State, Titans
Will Levis could be the future for the Tennessee Titans, but there will be no way of finding out if the offensive line is a revolving door going into next season.
Tennessee’s offense this year has crumbled under the endless pressure allowed by the line, and it’s something they desperately need to fix. The Titans have yet to replace the consistency of Taylor Lewan, who retired in 2022 after complications from an injury.
In 2024, they need to begin rebuilding that line, especially if they think they’ve found their guy at quarterback. Will Levis has made some nice plays when given the time to do so but often has a defensive lineman or three in his face before he’s had time to get his eyes downfield.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu hasn’t allowed a single sack in his 20 starts at left tackle at Penn State. He’s the perfect size for an offensive tackle in the NFL, with the length to control pass rushers and keep them out of the backfield.
He’s very strong and packs a punch that can stun an edge rusher and take them out of a play. Not only that, but he’s equally significant in the run game, showing his athleticism in reaching the second level and finding defenders to block downfield.
His skill set perfectly fits what the Titans would be looking for, and he could be a huge piece for Derrick Henry if he’s still in town in 2024.
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Bo Nix: QB, Oregon, Raiders
Josh McDaniels brought in Jimmy Garoppolo to be the next quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, but now that he’s been fired, it’s not likely that Jimmy G will stick around for next season, either.
The more likely scenario is a first-round draftee coming in as the future starter, and Bo Nix has now put his name into that conversation after what has been his best year yet at the college level.
Nix has led one of the most efficient and dangerous offenses in college football all season, helping the Oregon Ducks score 42 points per game so far. He’s in his fifth year in college, and this year has shown the maturity to avoid making almost any mistakes and putting his team in a position to win.
He’s a talented quarterback who has excelled since transferring to Oregon, throwing 64 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in the last two seasons combined. Not only that, but he’s also a talented runner, taking off for over 500 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2022 and adding another six TDs on the ground in 2023.
Nix is the type of quarterback you can build your offensive system around. He’s got great pocket presence, and his release helps him to get the football out fast to hit an open man. With his years of experience, you can see Bo Nix moving the defense with his eyes, understanding that he needs to give himself those extra few inches to fit the football into a tight window.
For the Raiders, 2024 signals the beginning of a new era. Mark Davis will want to get the hire right, and then allowing that new GM and coach to find the right quarterback becomes the next step. Bo Nix would be a great fit and one the fans could get excited about.
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J.C. Latham: OT, Alabama, Saints
The New Orleans Saints have been using Andrus Peat to cover at left tackle in 2023, needing to find a long-term starter at the position so Peat can move back to his natural position at guard.
The Saints’ offense has been underwhelming this season, and if they’re serious about Derek Carr and his $150 million contract, they need to invest significantly into the offensive line.
JC Latham has given up one sack in two full seasons while starting at Alabama, and that’s not at all easy to do while playing in the SEC.
Latham has started at right tackle for the Crimson Tide in each of his last two seasons but possesses all the tools to eventually convert to left tackle, where he would likely play for the Saints.
The third-year lineman is six foot six and 335 pounds, and on tape, he looks even bigger than that. He’s a big man who could swallow defensive linemen with his long arms and freakish strength.
He’s strong, with a great anchor, and is never knocked backward as a result. He also can get downfield in the run game with impressive lateral movement and athleticism.
Latham will be a great addition for whoever drafts him, but the Saints get him here to add a much-needed piece to their offensive line.
- Amarius Mims: OT, Georgia, Packers
With a run of offensive tackles flying off the board, the Green Bay Packers take action here to find the long-term replacement for David Bakhtiari, who is likely to move on at the end of the season.
- Taliese Fuaga: OT, Oregon State, Rams
The run of tackles continues, and this time, the Rams get in on the action-selected Taliese Fuaga out of Oregon State. Fuaga is a big man, standing six foot six and 335 pounds, and has been the Beavers’ starter for the past two seasons at right tackle.
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Keon Coleman: WR, Florida State, Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have enjoyed a wealth of success in recent years with a lot of talent at wide receiver. The combination of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd has been unstoppable at times, and the team has been spoiled with the presence of so many weapons for quarterback Joe Burrow.
This offseason, they’re going to have some decisions to make. Tyler Boyd will be a free agent, and so will Tee Higgins. With Ja’Marr Chase’s new deal right around the corner and Joe Burrow having already gotten paid, it’s unlikely that the Bengals will be able to keep both guys.
So, with that in mind, turning their attention to the top talent in the draft makes sense, and Florida State’s Keon Coleman is about as good as it gets.
Coleman has proven that he has some of the best hands in college football this year. He’s got great size, standing six foot four and 215 pounds, and would likely come in as the ideal replacement for Tee Higgins if he goes and gets paid in free agency.
The Florida State WR is incredibly smart. He knows how to set up defenders and get lost in coverage by manipulating space and making a move when a corner turns his back.
His body control in the air and athleticism to levitate above the ground and make a catch are exceptional, and he’d be an elite partner for Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense.
- Cooper DeJean: CB, Iowa, Bills
Kaiir Elam hasn’t really worked out in Buffalo, and they need to dip back into the pool of available corners to add another starter. Buffalo have needed help at the position all season, even trading for Packers corner Rasul Douglas before the deadline. They get a good one from one of the country’s best defenses in 2023.
- Jer’Zhan Newton: DT Illinois, Cardinals
The Cardinals’ rebuild continues in the trenches. They have 12 picks in this year’s draft, including two first-rounders. A star receiver and a talented nose tackle are a great start to their draft.
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Brock Bowers: TE, Georgia, Broncos
Brock Bowers will be one of the most scouted talents in this year’s draft, with a unique skill set at tight end. He’s one of the best pass-catching talents we’ve seen in a while and easily the best in this year’s class.
The Denver Broncos are lacking any real identity on offense. Jerry Jeudy has been a name floated in trade conversations for the past year because he hasn’t quite made an impact, and every time it feels like Courtland Sutton is about to break out, he trails off again.
Drafting Brock Bowers gives Russell Wilson a definitive target over the middle of the field. His production at Georgia over the past three seasons has been remarkably consistent, and he’s the sort of talent you can rely on to get you out of trouble when you need somebody to make a play.
He’s six foot four and 240 pounds, and the way he moves for a guy of his size is quite something. He’s somewhat of a route technician who possesses rare fluidity for a player in his position. Bowers will be able to work against and set up NFL safeties from day one, and his prowess in the red zone will be a real problem for defensive coordinators to scheme against.
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Jayden Daniels: QB, LSU, Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have dynamic playmakers at wide receiver, tight end, running back, and on the defensive side. But they are missing the most important element of what makes an NFL team special in today’s landscape. Not having the right triggerman at the quarterback position has hindered Atlanta from being one of the better teams in the NFC this season. The selection of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels gives the Falcons a long-term option. And if he replicates what he accomplished at LSU, the Falcons could emerge as runaway favorites to win the NFC South for many years.
- Chop Robinson: EDGE, Florida State, Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have great interior talent on their defensive line but need to add additional pass rushers if they want to get consistent pressure. Chop Robinson fills a much-needed gap here.
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Michael Penix Jr: QB, Washington, Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will likely bring Kirk Cousins back for the 2024 season, but he has yet to get a long-term commitment from the team this time, and the torn Achilles certainly won’t help in that regard.
It feels like the Vikings are primed and ready to bring in a rookie quarterback early in the draft, with a great wide receiver corps and a top-five tight end already in place and ready to go.
Michael Penix Jr. has certainly earned himself some money this season, having one of the best years of any quarterback in college and being mentioned in the conversation for the Heisman trophy.
Penix is a strong-armed quarterback with great size, boasting a dominant presence in the pocket. He’s six foot three, 215 pounds, and left-handed, with great vision and accuracy to boot.
The Washington quarterback has now had back-to-back seasons with superb production, elevating his game even further after transferring from Indiana ahead of the 2022 season. In the past two years, Penix has thrown for over 8,000 passing yards, 61 passing touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
Penix is a true pocket passer who doesn’t scramble at all but does have great mobility in evading pressure and extending plays. He reads the game well, plays smart football, and can survey the field and make rapid decisions to release the football quickly and consistently.
Pairing Michael Penix Jr with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson would result in certain fireworks.
- Cooper Bebe: OG, Kansas State, Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have struggled to contain pressure consistently this season and added a huge interior guard here in six-foot-five, 335-pound Cooper Beebe.
- Kingsley Suamataia: OT, BYU, Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Broderick Jones last year, beginning their offensive line rebuild. This year, they add Kingsley Suamatia out of BYU, a former five-star recruit who has played at a high level both at right tackle in 2022 and left tackle in 2023. That versatility will be very appealing to NFL scouts.
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Emeka Egbuka: WR, Ohio State, Texans
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has taken the league by storm this season, emerging as the frontrunner for the Offensive Player of the Year and a candidate for the league MVP.
The Texans drafted extremely well in 2023, with Tank Dell also looking like a superstar in the making and one of Stroud’s favorite targets early on.
What’s terrifying about this Texans team is that they have much room to improve. Adding one of Stroud’s top targets while playing at Ohio State makes a lot of sense and helps improve a wide receiver room with space for one more starter.
Emeka Egbuka scored 1,039 yards and nine touchdowns last season, catching passes from C.J. Stroud. A reunion in Houston would potentially add a 1,000-yard receiver as a rookie and somebody Stroud would already have extremely strong chemistry with.
Egbuka runs a low 4.4 40-yard dash, with great on-field speed and an aggressive style that reminds me of the competitive nature I saw in Amon-Ra St. Brown at USC. He’s not just fast; he plays the game fast, and that’s not all he can do either.
Egbuka often fights through tackles for additional yards, and he’s a willing blocker too, when the Buckeyes decide to attack on the ground. Everything Egbuka has done will serve him well at the next level, possessing a great attitude for the game and a competitive edge that the Texans would love to have in the building.
- Graham Barton: OT, Duke, Dolphins
In what’s likely to be a very busy round for offensive linemen, the Miami Dolphins draft yet another with Graham Barton out of Duke. Protecting Tua must be the Dolphins’ number one priority, and they address it in the first round.
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Donovon Jackson: OG, Ohio State, Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have attributed a lot of focus to their defense in recent years, but it’s time to focus on the offensive line and add a piece for the future. Zack Martin isn’t around forever, but for now, Donovon Jackson will compete to play left guard.
Coming out of Ohio State, Jackson has started the last two seasons at left guard and held his own position for two straight years.
Jackson has a strong base in pass protection and enough power in his arms to drive defenders out of their rush lanes. He’s aggressive in the run game, finds the second level well, and would serve as a great addition to a Cowboys offense that now looks like one of the best in the league.
- Nate Wiggins: CB, Clemson, Lions
The Detroit Lions offense has everything it needs to succeed, and they could easily afford to spend every pick they have in the 2024 draft on defense. Nate Wiggins is a long corner who can play on the perimeter, giving them the desperately needed coverage.
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Denzel Burke: CB, Ohio State, Jaguars
Jacksonville’s front seven has been their best unit this season, but they let themselves down in the secondary and desperately need to address it in the offseason. They play the run well and have great pieces upfront but lack a starter at corner and safety.
Denzel Burke is a six-foot-one corner with long arms and three years of experience as a starter on the perimeter. He has great hips and athleticism and can run stride for stride with elite-level receivers, which the Jaguars should be looking for in the draft.
Burke might be the most athletic corner in the draft, with exceptional vertical ability and hands to play the football in contested situations. Even if he loses a step, he has tremendous recovery speed and could easily be a number-one corner in the NFL as a plug-and-play starter in his rookie year.
- Xavier Worthy: WR, Texas, Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs need to upgrade their wide receiver room desperately. This year it just hasn’t worked, and while Rashee Rice appears to be developing, they need to continue to add talent. Xavier Worthy has been producing touchdowns at a high level since his freshman year and should do the same in the NFL.
- Kalen King: CB, Penn State, 49ers
The 49ers front seven is as devastating as ever, allowing them the freedom to spend draft picks in the secondary. Kalen King had a great year at Penn State in 2022 and could easily see the first round in the 2024 draft.
- Rome Odunze: WR, Washington, Ravens
One of the biggest reasons for Washington’s success this year is Rome Odunze coming off the board to the Baltimore Ravens late in the first round. Baltimore continues to add talent to their new-look spread offense, proving difficult for NFL defenses.
- Andrew Mukuba: S, Clemson, Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles should have held onto C.J. Gardner-Johnson but let him leave in free agency in the summer. Without him, and with Sean Desai developing his own style on defense, it’s become clear the team has gaps to fill in the secondary. With a stacked roster, the Eagles can address that need in the first round.
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