Week 18 has arrived across the NFL. For some teams, it’s the end of the line for the 2023 season and the unofficial kickoff of the offseason. Others are fighting for playoff berths or seedings and won’t go into offseason mode for at least another week.
Either way, we’ve got some help on the way for all 32 teams in the latest 1-round 2024 NFL mock draft projections.
The draft order is the actual NFL standings and slotting entering the Week 18 action. No trades in this one. As always, projections at this time of the year are about ideas and concepts, not steadfast predictions; we haven’t seen all of the upcoming head coaching and GM changes that are bound to come, after all.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
This selection plays off the idea that the Bears opt to move on from Justin Fields at quarterback. That decision hasn’t been made yet, of course. If the Bears brass decides to trade Fields, and there should be a decent market for his services, replacing him with the deep-ball accuracy and savvy decision-making of the Heisman-winning Daniels would be a fun option.
2. Washington Commanders: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Commanders could stick with Sam Howell, but leading the league in both sacks and interceptions generally doesn’t portend well for the long term. Williams won’t be for every scheme, but his playmaking ability over the last two years is undeniably promising for any franchise looking for a new face.
3. New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
In this scenario, the Patriots opt for the early consensus top overall prospect in Harrison to help bolster an offense that sorely needs playmaking oomph.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Turner’s athletic profile, pass rush proficiency and intelligence both on and off the field are easy selling points. The Cardinals can use an impact pass rusher with a high floor.
5. New York Giants: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Giants have to make a decision on Daniel Jones coming off knee surgery. If they choose to get his replacement, Maye’s mobility and intermediate-range accuracy are a good fit to not have to overhaul the offense from Jones.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
New GM, new head coach and they’ve already got their franchise QB in Justin Herbert. Makes for a situation where taking a high-end player with a “safe” feel to him makes a lot of sense. That’s Alt.
7. Tennessee Titans: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The only issue with the Titans taking the very talented Nittany Lions tackle is that they can’t somehow clone him and have Fashanu on both sides of the line. There might not be a more obvious need for any team picking in the top 10, though it’s not Tennessee’s only one.
8. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Bowers presents quite the conundrum in mock drafts. He’s going to be a universally accepted top-5 overall talent, but no matter where you project the Georiga superstar to land, the fans of that team are likely to hate the selection. Sorry for giving you a fantastic talent, Jets fans…
9. Atlanta Falcons: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
If the Falcons still need a quarterback after free agency, Nix would be a great fit in Arthur Smith’s strange attack. Nix’s precision and uncanny ability to throw away from pressure should garner a lot of love from NFL teams.
10. Chicago Bears: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The concept of pairing the silky Nabers with his college QB, Jayden Daniels, on a Bears team that sorely needs playmaking talent is a very appealing choice.
11. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
On sheer talent and performance, Penix belongs higher than No. 11 overall. But the lengthy, serious injury issues and advanced age are real complicating factors in projecting where Penix lands. In this scenario, the Raiders take the huge risk for the potential huge reward.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Another player who is difficult to slot due to injury issues clouding the outlook, Latu might be the best defensive prospect in the entire draft. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is from the school of analytical valuation, and that says take the risk.
13. New Orleans Saints: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
A stick cover man with an enforcer-like mentality, Arnold can be the ringleader of a Saints defense that needs some youthful invigoration.
14. Denver Broncos: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Newton showed the consistent ability to impact and disrupt opposing offenses, looking more athletic in his final season at Illinois, too. The needy Broncos would have to consider themselves lucky to land a player of his caliber this late in the first round.
15. Seattle Seahawks: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Barton played tackle at Duke, but he’s handily the top center prospect in this class. And the last class. And the draft class before that, too. Barton could also play guard, where Seattle faces losing both 2023 starters to free agency, too.
16. Cincinnati Bengals: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Verse might not fill Cincinnati’s bigger hole to the inside of the D-line, but his ability to alter how the offense blocks can help. I had WR and CB here in various drafts but opted to go with Verse
17. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
I’m a sucker for big, crafty wideouts who are open even when they’re well-covered. I think Kyler Murray would like that, too.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
DeJean is a polished outside CB prospect who can also swing to safety if needed. Pittsburgh can use his playmaking and speed to help shore up the secondary.
19. Green Bay Packers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins brings a lot of toughness to the Packers secondary, both physical and mental. In a division with a lot of prolific wideouts, having someone at CB who can lose one rep and not let it ruin their day is important.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Coleman is a little enigmatic, but his big-play ability and potential to blossom with more stable coaching are undeniable. The Bucs could need to overhaul their entire WR corps in the next two years, and he’s a good starting point.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
Thomas often gets lost in the deep, talented wideout class. His ability to separate and also turn routine catches into highlights would fit nicely with the Colts and young QB Anthony Richardson.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Robinson is a prospect with a wide potential draft range entering the process, and this is at the higher end. The Jaguars would certainly benefit from his speed around the edge and nose for creating chaos.
23. Los Angeles Rams: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Look up “war daddy” in your football dictionary and Fuaga might very well be pictured. He’s got power and attitude, and the technical polish is ready to see immediate action for the Rams, too.
24. Buffalo Bills: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami FL
Kinchens stepped up his all-around play and plays with a confidence that should blend into a Bills secondary that has heavily relied on aging safeties.
25. Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
This could wind up looking awfully early for Paul to come off the board, but his raw talent could also have the Cougars phenom off the board by this point, too. He can play in front of Mahomes very well for a long time.
26. Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
One of my favorite player comparisons for McKinstry is Darius Slay when the Eagles vet was coming out of Mississippi State. Blending into a secondary that has to get younger quickly is something McKinstry should be able to do right away.
27. Detroit Lions: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell hasn’t faced much in the way of NFL-caliber competition at either WR or QB, but he’s dominated at Toledo for the last two seasons. He’s got the speed, length and physicality to translate it to the NFL, too. If Aaron Glenn returns as the Lions defensive coordinator, outside corner is far and away the team’s biggest need.
28. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
The Texans youth movement continues with an intriguing interior presence who can help 2023 first-rounder Will Anderson thrive even more thanks to Sweat’s oft-dominant play.
29. Miami Dolphins: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
Drafting a guard in the first round might not spike the fan meter, but the Dolphins have to do something about their left guard play. Beebe is as NFL-ready of a pass blocker as you’ll find at guard and has perennial Pro Bowl type of potential.
30. Dallas Cowboys: Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami FL
Taylor has the bulk the Cowboys need on the inside but he can also attack up the field with it, too. He could be a nice scheme fit and Taylor’s arrow is pointing up.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Bulldogs behemoth has surprising range for his size, and he consistently finishes what he starts. That’s a trait the 49ers tend to covet up front.
32. Baltimore Ravens: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham’s work at right tackle for the Crimson Tide demonstrates a lot of what the Ravens look for in their linemen. I had two different CBs listed here before settling on Latham, who makes it because it’s hard (right now) to see a player of his status fall out of the first.
