I love the NFL Draft. If you are reading this article, there is a high chance you do as well. For the last three decades, I have devoted the entire draft weekend to emotional investment. Its placement in the calendar falls perfectly to feed our football-starved lives, and like spring, it signifies new hope for the season ahead.
As a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, this was our Super Bowl for 20 years. Several fanbases can relate.
I am never hesitant to accept the honor of contributing draft content to a site I hold as highly as Footballguys. This place has been a ritual and routine of my football journey for over a decade, and it is humbling to have a small role in continuing to grow this community. I have done mock drafts for myself for years, and the opportunity to share them with an audience is special.
Thank you.
2024 Final Mock
1. Chicago Bears - Caleb Williams (QB - USC)
Hey, I got one right.
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels (QB - LSU)
Every bit of information points to this pick. Daniels has arguably the highest ceiling of any quarterback in the draft. In a division against Philadelphia and Dallas, Washington has to swing for the fences.
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye (QB - North Carolina)
The quarterback roulette between Maye, J.J. McCarthy, maybe Jayden Daniels, and the Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, and maybe Commanders is the hardest part of this draft to peg. These decisions will have a ripple effect throughout the entire draft. The involvement of Patriots ownership in the decision pushes hard toward a quarterback. Passing on a national championship-winning Michigan product is not easy. At the end of the day, Maye has a ceiling as high as any prospect, and the value is too high to move out.
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR - Ohio St.)
The Cardinals are flushed with picks and need to add elite talent. Expect the Vikings to be aggressive, but the godfather offer it would take the Cardinals to move off is unlikely to come.
5. Minnesota Vikings - J.J. McCarthy (QB - Michigan)
Trade: Pick 5 for Picks 11, 23, 2025 4th
Ultimately, the Vikings most likely path could mirror the Bills in the 2018 draft. Armed with two first-round picks, the Bills exhibited patience and could move from 12 to 7 to select Josh Allen without giving up their second first. But the presence of the Giants forces the hand of Minnesota. If they believe in McCarthy, and predraft rumors point that to be true, these picks are small price.
6. New Orleans Saints - Joe Alt (LT - Notre Dame)
Trade: Picks 6, 2025 4th for Picks 14, 45, 2025 2nd
The Saints have a massive need for tackle, and pick 14 potentially sits outside of a run. They have been active in calling for a move-up. If they give assets to get into the tier, they may as well go to the top.
7. Tennessee Titans - Malik Nabers (WR - LSU)
The Titans have repeatedly been linked to a tackle. This could mirror the Bengals' decision between Ja'Marr Chase and Penei Sewell in many ways. The wide receiver from LSU was the correct decision then and helped Brian Callahan obtain the Titans' coaching job.
8. Buffalo Bills - Rome Odunze (WR - Washington)
Trade: Pick 8 for Pick 28, 2025 1st
The Falcons are facing the potential loss of a pick in the Kirk Cousins tampering investigation and are in a prime trade-out spot. Buffalo has been coy about its intentions but finds itself in a position to take a significant swing at a key position.
9. Chicago Bears - Byron Murphy II (DT - Texas)
This is a prime trade-back spot, assuming the first eight picks are closer to sanity. Murphy has heated up as a potential option closer to the draft, and the league has emphasized interior pass rush.
10. New York Jets - Taliese Fuaga (OL - Oregon St.)
The Jets have been extensively linked to Brock Bowers. In this scenario, the emphasis on immediate production and a non-premium position push them in a different direction.
11. Los Angeles Chargers - J.C. Latham (OL - Alabama)
Latham could be in play if the Chargers sit at pick 5. He projects as a right tackle, allowing Rashawn Slater to remain at left tackle. Expect them to build through the trenches. Landing Latham or a similar caliber tackle after moving back is a win.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Olumuyiwa Fashanu (LT - Penn St.)
Trade: Pick 12 for Pick 24,56
The Cowboys are staring down the barrel of expensive extensions at quarterback, wide receiver, and pass rusher. They project to move Tyler Smith outside to take over Tyron Smith's departure. An aggressive move up here allows them some cost certainty at a premium spot while keeping strength with Smith inside.
13. Miami Dolphins - Brock Bowers (TE - Georgia)
Trade: Pick 13, 112 for Pick 21, 55
Teams may be nervous about Bowers not representing a traditional tight end. The Dolphins have shown a willingness to work outside of the box. Throwing Bowers into this offense is tossing gasoline on a bonfire.
14. New York Giants - Terrion Arnold (CB - Alabama)
The Giants are positioned to take CB1 after a move back, easing pressure off 2023 1st-round pick Deonte Banks. Adding an additional second-round pick gives them an opportunity to take a shot on offense after passing on it at six.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Xavier Worthy (WR - Texas)
Perhaps a high valuation vs consensus on Worthy, but NFL teams have always valued speed, and Worthy is potentially the fastest in the league.
16. Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner (EDGE - Alabama)
Trade: Pick 16, 81 for Pick 28, 43
The Falcons jump around the board and still land the player they are favored to take at pick eight. Turner is a great scheme fit, and adding a future first in addition to this selection would be a win.
17. San Francisco 49ers - Troy Fautanu (OL - Washington)
Trade: Pick 17 for Brandon Aiyuk, Pick 124
Fauntanu popped up with a medical flag, potentially separating him from the rest of the top-tier tackle pack. He can take over for Trent Williams long term and has the flexibility to slot into his best fit in the short term.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - Amarius Mims (OT - Georgia)
The Bengals have targeted massive offensive tackles and Mims fits that bill. Their long term future at the position is wide open, this represents a great developmental opportunity.
19. Los Angeles Rams - Graham Barton (OL - Duke)
The offense is a safe bet for the Rams, considering Sean McVay's leaning. Barton has the flexibility to find his best long-term fit on the line.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Quinyon Mitchell (CB - Toledo)
Mitchell and Terrion Arnold have run neck and neck as CB1 in the class. He would pair with Joey Porter Jr Jr. to give the team a young, high-upside duo.
21. Las Vegas Raiders - Michael Penix Jr. (QB - Washington)
The Raiders are said to be enamored with Penix Jr. Moving back here slots him into a more natural value position while adding additional draft capital.
22. Philadelphia Eagles - Nate Wiggins (CB - Clemson)
Wiggins brings length and coverage ability to a secondary that struggled badly in 2023.
23. Los Angeles Chargers - Jer'Zhan Newton (DT - Illinois)
The Chargers lack any meaningful inside pass rush. Newton fixes that immediately.
24. Denver Broncos - Bo Nix (QB - Oregon)
Bo Nix, at pick 11, is rich. Moving back allows the Broncos their quarterback and desperately needed pieces for a rebuild.
25. Green Bay Packers - Tyler Guyton (T - Oklahoma)
Left tackle is a significant need. Given the rest of the line talent moving off the board, the Packers' hand is likely forced.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jared Verse (EDGE - Florida St.)
Verse has the talent at a premium position to go much higher. The Buccaneers hit home runs on the line in 2023 and continue to build talent at the position.<
27. Arizona Cardinals - Laiatu Latu (EDGE - UCLA)
Jonathan Gannon's defensive scheme desperately needs an improved pass rush. Given injury concerns, Latu falls a bit, but there is great value here.
28. Seattle Seahawks - Cooper DeJean (CB - Iowa)
DeJean has drawn Eric Weddle comparisons. He is a versatile piece for new coach Mike Macdonald's scheme.
29. Detroit Lions - Mike Sainristil (CB - Michigan)
Sainristril is a big play waiting to happen. He is a great culture fit for the Lions and will immediately be a local fan favorite.
30. Baltimore Ravens - Brian Thomas Jr. (WR - LSU)
The Ravens have five wide receivers under contract, and their third receiver is Tylan Wallace. Rashod Bateman is entering a potential contract year. Thomas is a great value created by the depth of the receiver class.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Chop Robinson (EDGE - Penn St)
Robinson is a high-level athlete who immediately works into the 49ers pass rush rotation.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Patrick Paul (OT - Houston)
As much as we would all love a wide receiver, the Chiefs have valued linemen highly. Long-term left tackle is a significant need. Paul's athleticism gives him a high ceiling.
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