The 2024 NFL draft is now less than one month away. As we get into this stretch run and learn more about teams’ plans, mocks should – at least in theory – become more and more accurate as the big day approaches. For example, right now all signs point to the Vikings moving up in order to pick a replacement at quarterback for Kirk Cousins, who signed with the Falcons in free agency.
In our latest full first-round projection, that’s exactly what happened, with Minnesota trading up to the No. 4 overall spot to take the best quarterback on the board. They weren’t the only team that made an aggressive move up for a new franchise QB, though. Just a few picks later the Raiders also traded up into the top 10 and picked another highly-ranked quarterback prospect.
Let’s get to the mock. Here’s how all 32 picks played out.
2024 NFL mock draft: Seahawks go all BPA in 3 rounds
1
Chicago Bears: USC QB Caleb Williams
The Bears take Caleb Williams here again, and their fan base wonders whether they’ve finally landed a Peyton Manning or yet another Ryan Leaf. It’s a big If, but if Williams can replicate what he did at USC at the NFL level, Chicago will have their guy.
2
Washington Commanders: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
In our last league-wide mock draft, Washington went with LSU quarterback and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. This time around they go with Drake Maye from North Carolina, which is still a basketball school the last time we checked.
3
New England Patriots: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Patriots should probably be targeting a QB, as well. However, it’s hard to fault them for picking Marvin Harrison’s kid. He scored a remarkable 29 touchdowns over the last two seasons at Ohio State.
4
Minnesota Vikings (from Cardinals): LSU QB Jayden Daniels
The Vikings make their big move here by giving up a big haul to the Cardinals. Thanks to New England’s pick they surprisingly get Jayden Daniels to fall in their lap.
5
Los Angeles Chargers: Penn State OT Olu Fashanu
We may see several tackles get taken off the board in the top 10 picks. The Chargers are one team that desperately needs one – and here they get it right with Olu Fashanu, who posted the fourth-best pass blocking grade in the nation last year at OT.
6
New York Giants: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
As good as Fashanu is, usually Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is getting mocked ahead of him. The Giants make the safe pick here and finally get a left tackle they can build their line around.
7
Las Vegas Raiders (from Titans): Michigan QB JJ McCarthy
Here the Raiders make a surprise jump into the top 10, giving up a heavy load of draft capital to the Titans in the process. Once on the clock Vegas takes Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, who could compete with Gardner Minshew for their starting QB job right away.
8
Atlanta Falcons: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
The Falcons have a strong enough roster where they can make a luxury pick at this spot. Alabama’s Terrion Arnold is considered either CB1 in this class or 1b after Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, depending on who you ask.
9
Chicago Bears: LSU WR Malik Nabers
With this pick the Bears fill out their already-strong wide receiver room, adding Malik Nabers to the picture along with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. Whatever else happens, Williams won’t be able to say they didn’t get him receiver help.
10
New York Jets: Georgia TE Brock Bowers
The Jets take the top tight end in the 2024 draft class here with Georgia’s Brock Bowers. He gives Aaron Rodgers the true pass-catching threat at tight end that he hasn’t had since Robert Tonyan peaked in 2020.
11
Arizona Cardinals (from Vikings): Washington WR Rome Odunze
The Cardinals came out like bandits in this mock, beginning with a lucky stroke here to land Washington star Rome Odunze, who some people believe has a higher ceiling than Harrison.
12
Denver Broncos: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
With the (alleged) top five quarterback prospects in this class off the board, the Broncos go in a different direction and take the best edge rusher. Adding Dallas Turner gives them a boost where they’ve needed it since Von Miller left town.
13
Tennessee Titans (from Raiders): Alabama OT JC Latham
The Titans have a ton of work to do, but rebuilding their offensive line is a good place to start. JC Latham gives them a foundational piece at right tackle. He allowed just two sacks in three seasons at Alabama.
14
New Orleans Saints: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
With Dallas Turner off the board, the Saints settle for the next-best edge in the draft in Jared Verse. Along with Chase Young, Carl Granderson and a still-potent Cameron Jordan, New Orleans suddenly has one of the toughest pass rush units on paper in the league.
15
Indianapolis Colts: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
The run on edge rushers continues here with the Colts taking UCLA’s Laiatu Latu. Over the last two years Latu has totaled 23.5 sacks, 34 tackles for a loss and five forced fumbles.
16
Seattle Seahawks: LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The Seahawks throw a curve ball here and continue to build what’s already the strongest wide receiver room in the NFL. Drafting LSU’s 6-foot-5 vertical speedster Brian Thomas Jr. gives Seattle a head start on replacing Tyler Lockett and may allow them to sell high on DK Metcalf in a trade over the next few years.
17
Jacksonville Jaugars: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
With this pick Jacksonville gets another blue-chip piece for an already strong secondary unit that just added Darnell Savage in free agency. Quinyon Mitchell matches many of Terrion Arnold’s measurables and stats, making it hard to go wrong either way.
18
Cincinnati Bengals: Washington OL Troy Fautanu
The Bengals rejoice that Washington star Troy Fautanu falls this far. With Orlando Brown Jr. already on the blindside, Fautanu would project as the starting left guard for what should be a dramatically improved offensive line for Cincinnati in 2024.
19
Los Angeles Rams: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean
The Rams land one of the most-intriguing defenders in the draft here with Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. Over the last two years he’s posted seven interceptions and 13 pass breakups while lining up at practically every defensive position except for deep safety.
20
Pittsburgh Steelers: Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
The Steelers lost their starting right tackle to the Patriots in free agency, but they get an upgrade here in Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga. He should keep Pittsburgh’s potent rushing attack on point, having posted the highest run blocking grade in the nation in 2023 at his position.
21
Miami Dolphins: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
The Dolphins defensive line lost a lot of juice in free agency, but they get some of it back here with Chop Robinson. After transferring from Maryland, Robinson racked up 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for a loss in two years at Penn State.
22
Philadelphia Eagles: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
It seems like blasphemy for the Eagles not to draft a defensive lineman in Round 1, but they do have a need for fresh blood at cornerback with Darius Slay and James Bradberry now both over 30 years old. Nate Wiggins totaled three picks and 21 PBUs for Clemson the last two seasons.
23
Arizona Cardinals (from Vikings): Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
Arizona gets another key offensive piece to build around Kyler Murray, here. Jackson Powers-Johnson is the best center in this draft class and can play any interior position in a pinch.
24
Dallas Cowboys: Georgia OT Amarius Mims
Dallas doesn’t have a whole lot of roster needs, but an upgrade at right tackle is one of them. They get it with this pick in Georgia’s Amarius Mims, who did not allow a single sack or QB hit in college.
25
Green Bay Packers: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
Green Bay gets one of the most well-rounded cornerbacks in the draft here. Last season Kool-Aid McKinstry earned high grades for his coverage (87.7), run defense (83.0) and pass rushing (82.7).
26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Texas DT Byron Murphy II
Tampa adds to an already-lethal interior unit with potentially the top inside pass rusher in the draft. Last year Murphy posted a 91.5 pass rush grade to go with five sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss.
27
Arizona Cardinals: UConn G Christian Haynes
The Cardinals improbably manage to get three picks right in one round, completing the picture by scoring a big upgrade at right guard with Christian Haynes. Last year he allowed just one sack and one hit in 438 pass blocking snaps.
28
Buffalo Bills: Florida State WR Keon Coleman
Aside from Stefon Diggs the Bills really haven’t done much to give Josh Allen more weapons. They try to correct that here with Keon Coleman, who totaled 50 catches, 658 yards and 11 touchdowns last season at Florida State.
29
Detroit Lions: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
After his performance at the combine, it seems unlikely Michael Penix will last until Day 2 now. Detroit pulls the trigger at this spot, finally giving them their successor to Jared Goff. Penix getting to work in Ben Johnson’s offense could be something special.
30
San Francisco 49ers (from Ravens): Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
The 49ers need a new right tackle, so they take Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton after trading up one spot with the Ravens. Guyton allowed zero sacks in 2023 and just two total in three seasons.
31
Baltimore Ravens (from 49ers): Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
Getting Derrick Henry will help and he finally has a real WR1 in Zay Flowers, but Lamar Jackson needs more quality receivers to work with. The Ravens get him one here in Adonai Mitchell, who totaled 11 touchdowns in a breakout 2023 season for Texas.
32
Kansas City Chiefs: Texas WR Xavier Worthy
With the last pick in Round 1 the Chiefs take Mitchell’s teammate, Xavier Worthy. In 39 career games with the Longhorns he put up nearly 200 catches, 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns.
