Which teams will hit a home run in the 2024 Draft?
The 2024 NFL Combine has come and went with its usual bombast, which means that it is time to fully kick 2024 NFL Mock Draft season into high gear. Rebuilding teams like the Chicago Bears and contenders like the Baltimore Ravens will both be trying to add future stars.
With the top of this year’s quarterback class standing out as one of the best collections of talent at the position in years alongside historically deep classes at offensive tackle and wide receiver, this is a good year to be looking for an impact player on that side of the ball.
While there is certainly much that will change over the next few months, the top players in this class are starting to take shape. Now that many prospects have become household names with impressive testing scores, it’s time to look at the first round and see where the top names will end up.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: QBs dominate top of order
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams seems to be the favorite for the Bears’ top pick, and it doesn’t take much effort to see why. With All-World arm talent, playmaking ability, and deep accuracy, trading Justin Fields and acquiring Williams could help Chicago kick off their next era in grand style. If he fixes his pocket presence, the Bears will truly be in business.
2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
If you were to build a quarterback in a lab, Maye is that ideal prospect. With ideal size at 6-4, an arm that will be Top 10 in the league instantly, and plus escapability, Washington could find their franchise quarterback with this pick. Maye and Kliff Kingsbury could write their names all over the Commanders’ record books.
NFL Mock Draft: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye go 1-2
3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Patriots would move on from Mac Jones by picking a player who is the complete opposite in Daniels. Pairing impeccable downfield accuracy with electric playmaking, Daniels will overcome concerns about his slight frame and only one year of truly elite production to help set Jerod Mayo up for success in New England.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
Harrison is considered the top player at any position in the draft by many and the best wide receiver prospect in years, making this a no-brainer pick for Arizona. Harrison will enter the league as a premier downfield target and playmaker after the catch, giving Kyler Murray the perfect No. 1 receiver he needs to get the Cardinals back to respectability.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Chargers will try to build from the inside out under Jim Harbaugh, prioritizing skill at the line of scrimmage. Not only would Bowers be a solid blocker at a position of need, but his unique receiving skills are so special for his size that Justin Herbert could land a No. 1 target who helps carry the Los Angeles passing game as Keenan Allen ages.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
With New York likely to give Daniel Jones one more shot (against all odds), the least they can do is getting him better skill position players. Nabers has elite speed and challenges Harrison for the best route-running in this class. The Giants can throw Nabers into the lineup right away and watch his explosion cause problems for defenses.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Tennessee needs to get Will Levis some help, either at wide receiver or offensive tackle. Alt’s giant 6-8 body and light feet make him the top prospect in this class. With Bill Callahan serving under his son Brian with the Titans, Alt can be trusted to keep Levis upright while the respected offensive line coach works his magic.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
After Turner ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, he confirmed that he isn’t leaving the top half of the first round. Atlanta needs a difference-maker up front, and Turner’s unique blend of speed and power makes him a natural for Raheem Morris’ defense. The Falcons’ defense is underrated already, and adding Turner would make them genuinely impressive.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
It’s easy to see a receiver like Odunze having success in the pros, as he has an NFL-ready 6-3, 215-pound frame with 4.4 speed and the best hands in this class. A wide receiver room led by Odunze and DJ Moore should make it easy for Williams to jump right in and start throwing darts all over Soldier Field.
NFL Mock Draft: NY Jets opt for offensive line over wide receiver
10. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Jets’ need for offensive linemen is as dire as any team in the league, and Fashanu might be the best pass protector in the draft. Even after his 2023 season wasn’t as impressive as his 2022 campaign, New York needs an ultra-athletic tackle like Fashanu to keep Aaron Rodgers upright in a pivotal season.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
If the Vikings don’t end up drafting a quarterback, they need to address a thinning defensive line that could also use a Danielle Hunter replacement. Verse was purely unblockable at times this season, and with 31 reps on the bench press, his upper body strength for a speed rusher is remarkable. Minnesota’s defense wouldn’t skip a beat adding Verse into the mix.
12. Denver Broncos: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
McCarthy has a ton of flaws, as he never needed to win games with his arm alone in college and lacks amazing deep accuracy. The Broncos still need to find a replacement for Russell Wilson, and Sean Payton will likely be very interested in bringing a young signal-caller with a plus arm, great mobility, and accuracy on the move to Denver.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
With many of the top prospects at quarterback off the board, Antonio Pierce brings the best cornerback in the draft to Las Vegas. Arnold has tremendous physcialty and football awareness, which should help him be the defensive bac who finally gives the Raiders some much-needed skill in the secondary.
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
New Orleans needs to nail the draft to add talent while being strapped for cash, which could lead Dennis Allen to go the safe way on the offensive line. Fuaga is an absolute mauler up front, and his physical dominance could be enticing enough for the Saints to add him and overlook the fact he’s likely a pure right tackle.
NFL Mock Draft: Quinyon Mitchell, Brian Thomas Jr. rise after strong NFL Combine
15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
You have to be a premier athlete to be picked this high as a Group of Five defensive back, and Mitchell’s 4.33 40-yard dash may have turned the Colts’ heads. Chris Ballard has typically put an emphasis on high-end athletes, and Indianapolis’ secondary could come together with Mitchell and JuJu Brents using their size on the outside.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
If Latu’s medicals check out, Mike Macdonald and the Seattle coaching staff might sprint to the podium to select him. Latu’s speed and surprising technique that helped him get the most out of his frame make him perfectly built to be a speed rusher in the pros. The Seahawks could get the edge Pete Carroll’s defense lacked in their last few years.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
Jacksonville may need to get Trevor Lawrence one more impact receiver no matter what happens with Calvin Ridley, and Thomas running a 4.33 40-yard dash at 6-3 and 205 pounds was impressive to some as Xavier Worthy setting the record in that event. The Jaguars have needed a physical X receiver for some time, and Thomas can fill that role with great verticality.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mims has injury and inexperience working against him, but blowing up the Combine with his massive 6-8 and 340-pound frame might make him the top priority for Cincinnati. With Jonah Williams likely leaving an already weak offensive line, the Bengals might swing for the fences by taking Mims.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Robinson is a bit undersized, but his speed makes him an edge-bender that will give NFL tackles issues if they don’t get out of their stance quick enough. Los Angeles needs defensive talent anywhere they can get it, and Robinson’s floor as a disruptive speed rusher makes him a first-round lock and prime Rams target.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Steelers have the opportunity to form one of the best young cornerback tandems in the league with Wiggins and Joey Porter Jr. for the next half-decade. Wiggins’ 4.28 40-yard dash only reaffirmed the 6-2 corner’s incredible athletic ability. Pittsburgh’s already stout defense would be even more difficult to throw on.
NFL Mock Draft: Ravens rival Steelers add more secondary depth
21. Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton, IOL/OT, Duke
Miami needs multiple new offensive linemen at both the tackle and guard spots, and Barton has the versatility needed to fill both spots to varying degrees of success. Barton’s pass protection last year was clearly first-round quality, and the Dolphins need the best line possible to get the most out of Tua Tagovailoa.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
While DeJean’s late-season injury prevented him from doing any athletic testing, Philadelphia likely hasn’t forgotten how utterly dominant his tape as an outside corner was. The Eagles’ secondary played a huge role in their collapse late in the season, and DeJean’s penchant for big plays is what Vic Fangio needs.
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Johnny Newton, IDL, Illinois
The Texans need one more standout defensive lineman to complement Will Anderson, especially with Jonathan Greenard hitting free agency. DeMeco Ryans always had tremendous interior pressure with his 49ers defenses, and Newton’s game-wrecking skill inside would be much appreciated in Houston.
24. Dallas Cowboys: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The impending loss of Tyron Smith in free agency makes what was already a need for the Cowboys even more important. Latham checked all the boxes in Indy from a physical point of view, and his ability to completely wash players out of games will give Dallas a possible franchise left tackle or immediate upgrade at right tackle.
25. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
There may be no player who helped themselves at the Senior Bowl more than Guyton, who proved to be almost impossible to knock off his game when he gets set in pass protection. The Packers may have something in Jordan Love at quarterback, and keeping him protected must be the top offseason priority for Green Bay.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
While no one will confuse the 165-pound Worthy, who set records with a 4.21 40-yard dash and 1.39 10-yard split, for Mike Evans, Tampa Bay needs to land a standout receiver if he bolts in free agency. Is he limited? Sure. But his speed is quite literally unprecedented, and the Buccaneers would love to bring him into the fold.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans): Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas
Jonathan Gannon might be a defensive coach, but a rebuilding Arizona team gave him precious little to work with on that side. Murphy may not be a tremendous run-stuffer due to his size, but his disruptive play will make quarterbacks jittery in the pocket and establish him as a key part of the Cardinals’ rejuvenation.
28. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Even with the questions about his long speed lingering, Coleman’s ability to move after the catch and pull down jump balls will interest a Buffalo team who needs a No. 2 receiver next to Stefon Diggs. With Gabe Davis likely gone, Coleman could have a solid rookie season with a player like Josh Allen getting him the ball.
29. Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Very smart and extremely effective in both man and zone coverage, McKinstry’s high-floor combination of skills will appeal to teams like Detroit who need more depth in a secondary that eroded at the end of the season. The Lions have a solid front seven, but Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn need a piece like McKinstry to build around in the secondary.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Fautanu’s length at the Combine proved he won’t have to convert to guard, but his fantastic athleticism and powerful punch in pass pro sets make him a very easy projection to the pros at either guard or tackle. The Ravens need a Ronnie Stanley succession plan and a John Simpson upgrade, and Fautanu can check both of those boxes for Baltimore.
NFL Mock Draft: Ravens improve offensive line with Troy Fautanu
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
Despite their tremendous offensive numbers, San Francisco’s lack of quality between the tackles showed up during the Super Bowl. Powers-Johnson might be one of the safest players in the draft, as he gave up just four pressures last year. A plug-and-play starter this late in the first round will be very enticing for the 49ers.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Chiefs managed to get bailed out by Patrick Mahomes and their defense in their Super Bowl chase despite some genuinely poor play at wide receiver, Multiple new names are needed in Kansas City, and they can start the process with someone who has quality height (6-4) and speed (4.35 40-yard dash) in Mitchell.
Best Remaining: QB Bo Nix, RB Trey Benson, WR Troy Franklin, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, OT Jordan Morgan, IOL Zach Frazier, EDGE Darius Robinson, IDL T’Vondre Sweat, LB Payton Wilson, CB Kamari Lassiter, SAF Tyler Nubin