INDIANAPOLIS — Now that the 2024 scouting combine is in the proverbial barn, those NFL personnel people who are still here (not to mention those who didn’t even come in the first place) will both confirm their priors about all the draft prospects in Indy, and take the new information they’ve gleaned to redefine their boars to whatever degree.
There’s also time and room here to discuss impending free agents with the new league year just 10 days away…
…NOT THAT ANY NFL TEAMS IN THE FINE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS ARE ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL TAMPERING BECAUSE THAT NEVER HAPPENS…
…in an entirely hypothetical sense, of course.
The point is, a lot of things change after this week, and all boards and mocks should reflect that in some form or fashion. In this post-combine mock, we have some stuff based on things we’ve heard, and stuff we’re just spitballing because it would be cool if it happened.
The Commanders trade with the Bears for Justin Fields, and decide in the shocker of the draft to take LSU receiver Malik Nabers over Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. as the first receiver. Harrison goes to the Cardinals with the fourth overall pick, and with the Bears taking Brian Thomas Jr. ninth overall, that’s quite a day for LSU!
The Raiders move up with the Patriots and take LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the third overall pick. The Patriots still get their next franchise quarterback a bit later with Michael Penix Jr.
With Fields in the nation’s capital, the Broncos trade for Sam Howell, and go EDGE with their 12th overall pick after designating Russell Wilson as a post-June 1 cut to manage his massive dead cap hit.
Yes, Texas’ Xavier Worthy broke the combine scouting record with a 4.21 40-yard dash, and yes, it shows up on tape, but focus drops are a problem, so I don’t think this elevates him as much as people may think — especially in a receiver class that is absolutely prosperously deep.
With all that out of the way, here’s my two-round post-combine mock draft, published just in time to head to the airport.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2. Washington Commanders: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
3. Las Vegas Raiders (from New England Patriots): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
6. New York Giants: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
7. Tennessee Titans: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
8. Atlanta Falcons: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
9. Chicago Bears: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
10. New York Jets: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
11. Minnesota Vikings: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
12. Denver Broncos: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
13. New England Patriots (from Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
14. New Orleans Saints: Johnny (Jer'Zhan) Newton, DL, Illinois
15. Indianapolis Colts: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
16. Seattle Seahawks: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
19. Los Angeles Rams: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
21. Miami Dolphins: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo