Like every year, there are certain expectations of how the 2024 NFL draft board will play out, but all it takes is one unexpected move—one team zigging when everyone else zags—to shake everything up.
There are a plethora of quarterback talent with the top-three projected to go with the first three picks overall in most mock drafts. However, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. might be the best overall player in the entire draft. So a team reaching for him earlier than expected could kick-start a domino effect of change down the board.
For a team like the New England Patriots, they need one of the top-three quarterbacks, a high-end wide receiver and one of the top offensive tackles in the draft. A team with so many needs and the option to trade down can be incredibly unpredictable in this situation.
In this mock draft scenario, the Patriots swing a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, another quarterback-needy team that could be looking for an opportunity to trade up on the board.
Here’s how things shook out:
1
Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC
The Bears don’t complicate things here with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Williams’ potential is off the charts as a possible generational talent that could finally put the Bears’ franchise over the top. So long, Justin Fields.
Hello, Caleb Williams.
2
Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
The Commanders are arguably the most quarterback-needy team in the draft. Caleb Williams being off the draft board makes their job easier to select Maye out of North Carolina. They’ll need him to be more Justin Herbert than not if they have any hopes of turning their struggling franchise around.
3
Atlanta Falcons: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
The Falcons trade up to No. 3 overall for their quarterback. They have the offensive pieces in place to be competitive, but Desmond Ridder isn’t getting the job done under center. It’s time to see where a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback like Jayden Daniels can take the offense.
4
Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Kyler Murray needs offensive weapons, and the Cardinals manage to come away with the best on the board with Marvin Harrison Jr. The former Ohio State standout is an elite prospect with an exceptional talent ceiling. Harrison hasn’t even taken an NFL snap yet, and people are already discussing his chances of becoming a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
5
Los Angeles Chargers: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Los Angeles must do a better job of protecting quarterback Justin Herbert under center. All of the offensive weapons in the world are meaningless if you don’t have the right quarterback to get them the ball. The Chargers had to learn that lesson the hard way in 2023. They make a major effort to shore up those issues by drafting Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5 overall.
6
New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers, LSU
A year after extending quarterback Daniel Jones, the Giants go out and get him a major offensive weapon in LSU’s Malik Nabers. It doesn’t matter who is under center if the Giants don’t have reliable receiving options. They can start the journey towards changing that with Nabers on the roster.
7
Tennessee Titans: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
Will Levis may or may not be the long-term option at quarterback for the Titans. At the very least, they give him a major offensive line boost by selecting Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu to help solve the protection issues up front. Fashanu is a mauler in the trenches and every quarterback’s best friend.
8
New England Patriots: WR Rome Odunze, Washington
In this scenario, the Patriots make the decision to trade down from No. 3 to stockpile more draft picks and fill out their roster. They often neglected or flat out missed at the receiver position during Bill Belichick’s 24-year run. This is a chance for them to finally hit a home run by taking one of the most explosive playmakers in the draft.
9
Chicago Bears: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
With Caleb Williams at quarterback, the Bears double dip on the offensive side of the ball by giving their newest signal-caller a major weapon at tight end with Georgia’s Brock Bowers. This prospect is a matchup nightmare in every sense of the word. He can block, catch and line up anywhere as a receiver.
10
New York Jets: OT JC Latham, Alabama
The first order of business for the Jets is protecting their 40-year-old quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. There’s no championship contention without the former Green Bay Packer legend on the field. JC Latham is a powerful offensive tackle that would aid in keeping Rodgers upright in the pocket.
11
Minnesota Vikings: EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
Dallas Turner still being on the board at this point makes for an easy draft decision for Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The former Alabama defensive standout is a legitimate game-wrecker that can help bring the fear element back to the Vikings’ defense.
12
Denver Broncos: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Russell Wilson’s time in Denver came and went like the wind. It’s time for the Broncos to go in a different direction, and they do so by taking a shot on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It’s a risky pick this early in the draft, but they need to beat other quarterback-needy teams to the punch.
13
Las Vegas Raiders: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
The Raiders are dangerously thin at cornerback. Signing Jack Jones and reuniting him with coach Antonio Pierce was a stroke of genius. So they continue to bolster the defensive backfield by drafting Alabama’s Terrion Arnold in the first round.
14
New Orleans Saints: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
The goal for the Saints should be keeping quarterback Derek Carr from getting pounded like a pinata in the pocket. They could make great strides towards succeeding in that effort with Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga joining the offensive front. As time has proven, defense alone isn’t nearly enough for the Saints to have a fighting chance.
15
Indianapolis Colts: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
There’s never a wrong time for a team to boost their pass rush, and that’s exactly what the Colts do with this pick. Laiatu Latu is a high-motor EDGE player that would serve as a permanent annoyance for opposing quarterbacks. His arrival would be terrifying with a defense that already had the fourth-highest sack percentage in the NFL last season.
16
Seattle Seahawks: DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
The Seahawks didn’t think Jer’Zhan Newton would still be on the board at this spot, which makes their draft choice pretty easy. Newton instantly upgrades their defensive front by giving them a dynamic playmaker that can push the pocket. He’s a problem on the field that would instantly improve Seattle’s win rate in the trenches.
17
Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
Speaking of defensive problems, the Jaguars come away with one of their own by selecting Florida State’s Jared Verse. There was a time when the Jaguars had one of the NFL’s most feared defenses. It’s time to get back to that kind of football in Jacksonville, and going after a proven playmaker like Verse is a great start.
18
Cincinnati Bengals: OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
Outside of Tom Brady, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is the only other player that has knocked Patrick Mahomes out of the playoffs. Cincinnati probably would have been a Super Bowl contender if Burrow was healthy in 2023. They must do everything in their power to keep him healthy next season, and that starts with drafting a dominant tackle, like Washington’s Troy Fautanu.
19
Los Angeles Rams: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Another offensive tackle comes off the board with the Los Angeles Rams taking Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton. Imagine Matthew Stafford having even more time in the pocket to find his playmaking receiving targets. Guyton would only make the team better.
20
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
The Steelers took Joey Porter Jr. in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. A year later, they’re using a premium pick at the cornerback position once more to select Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. The defensive backfield in Pittsburgh would be a young and feisty group heading into next season.
21
Miami Dolphins: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The Dolphins have invested too much money in their offense to watch it implode the way it did in the playoffs last season. Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims would give them more bite to their bark along the offensive front. Miami ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing offense last season. Adding an offensive force like Mims up front would only make them better in run-blocking and pass-protection.
22
Philadelphia Eagles: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Nate Wiggins joining a defensive backfield in Philly that already has Darius Slay is downright terrifying. Surprisingly, the Eagles had the third-worst passing defense in the NFL last season. They need to improve drastically to give themselves a chance of getting back to Super Bowl contention.
23
Houston Texans: DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
Byron Murphy II staying in Texas would be a cool story. He attended DeSoto High School and then signed for the University of Texas. Getting drafted to the Houston Texans would be the perfect transition in his football career. Nick Caserio did a fantastic job drafting on the offensive side of the ball last season. Murphy could be another success story for the Texans’ general manager on defense this time.
24
Dallas Cowboys: OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
The Cowboys love their big and powerful offensive linemen. They get another player that fits that mold with Arizona’s Jordan Morgan. Dallas’ main priority is creating lanes for their running backs and giving quarterback Dak Prescott as much time as possible in the pocket.
25
Green Bay Packers: S Cooper DeJean, Iowa
The Packers love taking defensive players early, and this situation is no different with the team selecting cornerback Cooper DeJean out of Iowa. DeJean is a proven playmaker on the backend of the defense. He’s a ball-hawk with a knack for batting down passes and coming up with takeaways. The Packers could use more of both in 2024.
26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Mike Evans could be gone in 2024, and the Buccaneers could be looking to get younger and cheaper at receiver. Keon Coleman will help keep the explosive element alive in the Tampa Bay offense. The former Seminole hauled in 11 touchdown receptions last season.
27
Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State
After coming away with a major offensive weapon earlier in the draft, the Cardinals are on the board once again, and this time, they go after an impactful player on the defensive side of the ball. Penn State’s Chop Robinson can cause chaos in an offensive backfield, and the Cardinals are a team that could use a little chaos these days.
28
Buffalo Bills: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Stefon Diggs’ future with the Bills is up in the air, but regardless of his status, it’s time to start looking towards the future. Buffalo must exhaust every resource to get quarterback Josh Allen as many offensive weapons as possible. LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. is a big-bodied target that would serve as an excellent security blanket for one of the best quarterbacks in the game.
29
Detroit Lions: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The Lions obviously love Alabama players considering they took both running back Jahmyr Gibbs and safety Brian Branch in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL draft. They get another Alabama standout here with cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Detroit had the second-worst passing defense in the NFL last season. So they’ll need all of the help they can get in shoring up those issues in 2024.
30
Baltimore Ravens: OG Graham Barton, Duke
Graham Barton is a versatile offensive guard that can play in multiple spots along the interior part of the line. That makes him instantly valuable for a Ravens team that does most of their damage running the football. Barton can help keep running lanes open for quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ committee of running backs.
31
San Francisco 49ers: OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
The 49ers already have the best tackle in football in Trent Williams. But then again, the veteran All-Pro offensive lineman is 35 years old, and BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia is good enough to swing from both tackle positions. There’s plenty to like from this pick for the 49ers.
32
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
The Chiefs need a massive upgrade at the receiver position. Just because Patrick Mahomes is good enough to overcome the team’s offensive shortcomings doesn’t mean he needs to continue doing it. Texas’ Xavier Worthy is a consistent separator with the playmaking abilities Chiefs fans will love.
