2024 NFL Draft mock post Free Agency Frenzy
NFL free agency frenzy destroyed everything we thought we knew about the 2024 NFL Draft and any previous mock drafts begin to feel even worse than irrelevant.
Naturally, it's time for an updated mock draft to ease our desires.
This mock was supposed to be a single round with no trades... however, that prospect was thrown out the window immediately after the week we went through. So, once again, we are mocking the first two rounds in the draft with trades... A LOT of trades.
And before you ask, yes - the Arizona Cardinals were wheelin' and dealin' throughout the mock.
As always, feel free to roast me and tell me why I'm an idiot. But in the meantime, enjoy this mock that spent several hours trying to put together.
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina)
The pick: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC
Justin Fields has officially been traded away which leaves a clear path for Williams to be the number one overall pick.
There will be some who want this pick to be Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels for the sake of argument, but until the pick is one of those two, I find it hard to believe it to be a reality. Williams is borderline generational. This is a no-brainer pick.
2. Washington Commanders
The pick: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU
The Daniels hype train is going wild, but it's understandable given his otherworldly talent. The Commanders need someone with his electricity to energize this team and this fan base. With new ownership in place, this makes too much sense.
3. New England Patriots
The pick: Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
Maye is still QB2 for me and it's a shame how overthought he is right now. Maye is QB1 in most classes, but just so happens to be in an extremely top-heavy class with generational athletes.
Nonetheless, Maye is a franchise quarterback and if the Patriots are hell-bent on staying at three, then this is the perfect pick.
4. TRADE: Minnesota Vikings (via Arizona)
The pick: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
Trade:
Minnesota receives pick 4
Arizona receives picks 11, 23, and a 2025 first-round pick
Our first (of many) trades in this mock is by our beloved Cardinals thanks to the Vikings, who have tipped their hand that they will 110% be moving up on draft day for their quarterback. The price to get a quarterback goes beyond the draft value chart, but acquiring three first-round picks is always a slam dunk.
McCarthy is growing on me as I watch him more and more. He spins the ball as well as anyone in this class. Put him on a team with established talent and he'll thrive.
Assuming Justin Jefferson stays with the team along with Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson - that's as established as it gets for a rookie quarterback.
In this fit and with Jefferson staying, I like McCarthy's odds to be Offensive Rookie of the Year.
5. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals (via LAC)
The pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., Quarterback, Ohio State
Trade:
Arizona receives picks 5 and 110
LAC receives picks 11, 66, and a 2025 second-round pick
BAM!!
Right when you think the Cardinals have moved out of the running for MHJ, they get aggressive and move right back up to get the freak prospect that fans are pining for.
There's smoke that the Chargers want to trade down, and we saw last year that Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort will move up and down the board as he sees fit.
In this mock, Ossenfort locked up two extra first-round picks on top of all the picks he's already stocked up in his cupboard. Time to be aggressive and get your guys.
MHJ is one of the best talents we've seen at the position in the last ten years. No brainer to pick him and even more so to move up for him a the right price.
6. New York Giants
The pick: Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, LSU
I don't care who is at quarterback for the Giants in 2024 because they have next to nothing to throw to as it stands. Nabers, like Maye at quarterback, is WR1 in most classes that aren't as talented as this one. He's an elite prospect who is as explosive as anyone else in this draft class. Nabers can get fans excited the same way Odell Beckham Jr. did ten years ago.
7. Tennessee Titans
The pick: Joe Alt Jr., Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
This is a pick that I'll continue to mock for the remainder of the cycle, barring something unforeseen. The Titans need to continue improving their offensive line, and here waiting for them is the class's top lineman. Easy fit.
Although Rome "DOOMSDAY" Odunze is available, the investments the Titans have made at wide receiver this past week should tell us that they plan to stick with veterans at the position. Therefore, they need to invest in their line to keep their quarterback upright.
8. Atlanta Falcons
The pick: Dallas Turner, Edge Rusher, Alabama
Perhaps no team was as aggressive as the Falcons were in improving their team after spending a fortune on Kirk Cousins. His addition instantly turns the dirty birds into contenders in the NFC South. The next task will be to beef up a woeful defense.
Turner is overlooked only because of how stacked this class is offensively. On defense, Turner argues to be the first defender off the board, and with good reason. An elite pass rusher, the Alabama product juices up a pass rush that hasn't been good for the better part of a decade.
9. Chicago Bears
The pick: Olu Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State
Now that they have their franchise quarterback, the Bears must set him up for success. They started that process by acquiring Keenan Allen via trade and lining him up opposite D.J. Moore. Next on the to-do list is to keep him clean in the pocket.
Fashanu's stock is difficult to gauge, but I still believe him to be a top-15 pick at worst. Plugging him in across from last year's day-one pick Darnell Wright should give the Bears bookend tackles to give Caleb Williams plenty of time to throw the football.
10. New York Jets
The pick: Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia
This one just feels like so much fun if I am being completely transparent.
The Jets have made heavy investments in the offensive line, including signing future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Tyron Smith. The name of the game now is adding weapons for Aaron Rodgers and there aren't any better on the current board than Bowers.
Bowers isn't the freak athlete that Kyle Pitts was coming out, but he's by far the better prospect. Bowers is worthy of a pick much higher than ten, but the positional value will weigh him down a bit. Gang Green doesn't mind adding a day-one Pro Bowl talent to their win-now roster.
11. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers (via Arizona)
The pick: Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington
Trade:
LAC receives picks 11, 66, and a 2025 second-round pick
Arizona receives picks 5 and 110
The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen within days of each other and now have next to nobody in the wide receivers room both in terms of proven talent and flat-out players (just four on the roster). To be completely frank, you're going to need much more than that.
While the team had MHJ sitting on their laps, the smoke is they want to trade down. They did so and acquired an extra (early) third and a future second-round pick. All of that and they still ended up with the man I have dubbed "DOOMSDAY."
Odunze profiles as a WR1 and has ironically drawn pro comparisons to the aforementioned Allen. Odunze is immediately the top receiver on this team and helps make the transition away from Allen and Williams slightly less dramatic.
12. TRADE: Seattle Seahawks (via Denver)
The pick: Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher, UCLA
Trade:
Seattle receives picks 12 and 136
Denver receives picks 16, 81, and 118
A pick that I have made consistently, I now believe the Seahawks need to move up a few picks to ensure they acquire Latu's services.
It's not an earth-shattering trade, but the Seahawks are still aggressive to go up and get the shiny new pass rusher for first-year head coach Mike Macdonald's defense. Latu can line up all over the place and Macdonald will have a field day with the versatility he brings to the pass rush.
13. Las Vegas Raiders
The pick: Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama
Had Latu been available, I likely would've slotted him to the Raiders. They'll take the compensation prize and take CB1 in the draft class.
Arnold is a rangy cover man with ball skills and the Raiders need a true number-one guy on the perimeter. Plug-and-play, people.
14. New Orleans Saints
The pick: Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle, Oregon State
The Saints could also be thinking edge rusher here, but Fuaga isn't supposed to be available here and a need exists at tackle. In Fuaga, you have an instant, high-end starting right tackle, which is worth its weight in gold considering today's versatile pass rushers.
I truly think Fuaga is the best tackle for instant success, although he may not have as high of an upside as guys like Alt or Fashanu.
15. Indianapolis Colts (via Seattle)
The pick: Quinyon Mitchell, Cornerback, Toledo
The Colts need help on defense like a fish needs water. Although I like what they have in place, they need youth throughout and Mitchell is a breath of fresh air.
A stingy and physical cover man, Mitchell brings a nastiness to the position that the Colts need outside.
16. TRADE: Los Angeles Rams (via Denver)
The pick: Jer'Zhan Newton, Interior Defensive Line, Illinois
Trade:
LAR receives picks 16 and 121
Denver receives picks 19, 83, and a 2025 third-round pick
Aaron Donald called it good on his Hall of Fame career and the Rams now have the obstacle of filling the void he left. And to be clear, nobody is replacing Donald. Rather, they need someone who can make his loss a bit easier to manage.
This means they'll need to be assertive in getting players who can bring intensity to the position. If that means moving up a few picks, then so be it.
Newton has long been one of the darlings of the draft and his stock is carried among people. The Rams won't have any issue sliding Newton into Donald's place and having him rush the passer with rookie breakouts Kobie Turner and Byron Young. That's a dynamite trio of young players.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
The Jaguars would've loved to have seen Newton here, but they won't mind grabbing a sliding Latham to be the successor of Cam Robinson, who has seemingly been in trade talks for years now. With the Latham pick, they can finally make that a reality.
A receiver would be nice here, but the Jags brought in Gabe Davis on big money and have a stable of guys who can get the job done. So, beefing up their offensive line is smart business. Across from last year's day-one pick Anton Harrison, the Jags have young and cheap bookend tackles for Trevor Lawrence.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
The pick: Byron Murphy II, Interior Defensive Line, Texas
Replacing D.J. Reader is going to be much more difficult than some may think, so the Bengals will be pretty happy to see Murphy available here.
Reader was a nasty run stuffer who wasn't truly a difference-maker as a pass rusher. Murphy can bring that edge to the line after breaking out for five sacks in 2023.
The Bengals must continue investing in their defense to keep up with their offense if they want to remain heavy contenders for a championship. Murphy helps them do that while also getting younger and cheaper.
19. TRADE: Denver Broncos (via LAR)
The pick: Brian Thomas Jr., Wide Receiver, LSU
Trades:
Denver receives picks 16, 81, and 118 - Seattle receives picks 12 and 136
Denver receives picks 19, 83, and a 2025 third-round pick - LAR receives picks 16 and 121
The Broncos successfully traded down twice and ended up with two extra thirds this year and one more next year. All of that, and they still wound up with a top dog at receiver to catch passes from... well, whoever is throwing the football.
Thomas paced college football in touchdown receptions last season with 17 and his big size and post-up ability was a huge factor in that. Across from 6'4" Courtland Sutton and 6'4 Tim Patrick, the 6'3" Thomas will fit in well with this group.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
The pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Interior Offensive Line, Oregon
Another pick that I will continue to make until it happens, the Steelers have two new quarterbacks to compete for the starting gig in 2024 with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, so now they must get them a great signal caller on the offensive line.
Powers-Johnson has improved his stock so much that he could very well be off the board by the time the Steelers pick. If he's here, they should run to the podium. If they feel he won't be available, they need to make some phone calls and move up to get him.
21. Miami Dolphins
The pick: Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Florida State
Like Olu Fashanu, Verse's stock has been difficult to get a consistent gauge on, but he's a sure-fire first-round pick and a day-one impact guy. The Dolphins desperately need someone like that for their pass rush.
Yes, the team has Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips, but both are recovering from season-ending injuries and may not be available at the start of the season. The Dolphins need to generate a pass rush from somewhere and Verse excels in that department.
Even when Chubb and Phillips eventually return, adding Verse to that rotation is deadly. And in today's NFL, you can never have too many pass rushers.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
The pick: Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson
Georgia's Kamari Lassiter was calling my name here, given the Eagles' recent bias toward the Bulldogs defenders, but I don't think they anticipated Wiggins's stock to rise the way it has and for his availability to be present here.
The Eagles have some buyer's remorse after sinking major cash into extensions for Darius Slay and James Bradbury, so now they need to find a way to get younger and cheaper. The long and physical Wiggins is a perfect guy to develop and start as an eventual successor.
23. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota)
The pick: Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa
Trades:
Arizona receives picks 11, 23, and a 2025 first-round pick, Minnesota receives pick 4
Arizona receives picks 8 and 109 - Atlanta receives picks 11, 90, and 104
The Cardinals have been busy birds, no pun intended, and spoiler alert -- they aren't done yet. But as of now, the Cards have acquired a future first-round pick by trading down and then immediately moved back up to get the guy they would've taken before. That's good business.
Now, Jonathan Gannon needs to beef up his defense and it starts with getting high-character guys who can do a bit of everything No matter if you put DeJean at corner (where he should play) or safety, you're getting a rangy dude who has serious play-making ability.
DeJean would be a fan-favorite from the moment he stepped onto the field.
24. Dallas Cowboys
The pick: Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
The legendary Tyron Smith is gone and the Cowboys must now look for his replacement. Guyton is one of my draft darlings and his fit with the Cowboys feels too good to be true; so much so that I wouldn't be surprised if he got picked higher.
Allow me to copy/paste what I said about the Steelers making sure they get Jackson Powers-Johnson and apply it to the Cowboys getting Guyton:
"If he's here, they should run to the podium. If they feel he won't be available, they need to make some phone calls and move up to get him."
25. Green Bay Packers
The pick: Tyler Nubin, Safety, Minnesota
The Packers just invested cash into Xavier McKinney but that hasn't stopped them from hammering home at the position before. After all, they did the same thing in 2019 when they signed Adrian Amos to a big contract and then drafted Darnell Savage in the first-round the same offseason.
Time is sometimes a flat circle, and we find ourselves here again.
Unlike Savage, Nubin is far less of a project and can comfortably start across from McKinney. With 13 interceptions in the last four seasons, Nubin is a ball hawk waiting to explode onto the scene.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The pick: Chop Robinson, Edge Rusher, Penn State
Mark my words, Robinson will sneak his way into the first-round whether you believe he deserves it or not. There simply aren't many freaky athletes like him and the untapped potential will always have teams salivating.
The Buccaneers made a similar investment a couple of years ago with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, but he hasn't fully arrived yet. Pairing him with Robinson is quite the gamble, but if it pays off the Bucs could have one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league.
27. TRADE: Indianapolis Colts (via Arizona)
The pick: Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
Trade:
Indianapolis receives picks 27 and 186
Arizona receives picks 46, 82, and a 2025 second-round pick
One more trade for the Cardinals, as the Colts offer a generous trade package to come up and get quarterback Anthony Richardson his bodyguard at left tackle.
Mims is an enormous human being at 6'8"/340lbs and plays much better than you'd anticipate for someone as massive as he is.
You can't put a price tag on ensuring your quarterback's protection, and Richardson is coming off a season-ending injury. Keeping him upright is the top priority, and moving up for Mims should show their intentions in doing so.
28. Buffalo Bills
The pick: AD Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Texas
Curtis Samuel is a really fun addition to the Bills' offense, but they still need one more big-play receiver for Josh Allen to throw to. In both a literal and figurative way, Mitchell is exactly the big weapon the Bills need to add.
Mitchell ran a freakish 4.34 on the 40-yard dash and stands at 6'2" and 205lbs. Couple that with his ability to play above the rim and you have a perfect compliment to this offense.
At worst, he's cheaper Gabe Davis. At best, he's a more athletic George Pickens.
29. Detroit Lions
The pick: Mike Sainristil, Cornerback, Michigan
Sainristil isn't everybody's cup of tea, but the homegrown talent with a knack for turnovers could have the full attention of the Lions.
The Lions defense has some good pieces in place and they must continue adding to it to ensure they can keep pace with the rest of the elite teams in the NFC. Sainristil may not be the biggest or most athletic cornerback in the room, but he plays bigger than his size and has a knack for intercepting the football.
30. TRADE: Las Vegas Raiders (via Baltimore)
The pick: Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Washington
Trade:
Las Vegas receives pick 30
Baltimore receives picks 44, 112, and a 2025 first-round pick
Antonio Pierce would love to reunite himself with Jayden Daniels, but it would take him moving mountains to somehow trade up for him. Instead, the Raiders move back into round one and get their quarterback of the future.
I couldn't care less about the supposed "red flag" Penix has because he's a good kid with great talent at the position. I believe that Penix is an instant starter and has perhaps the highest floor of any of the quarterbacks in this class. He's a safe option who can help you win now.
For a Raiders team that always seems to perform better than their perceived talent, adding Penix feels like a great solution to their current problem at the position.
31. TRADE: Denver Broncos (via San Francisco):
The pick: Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon
Trade:
Denver receives pick 31
San Francisco receives picks 76, 81, and a 2025 first-round pick
That's right, we have one more trade-up to get a quarterback on day-one of the draft and secure a fifth-year option. Poetically, it's another AFC West team, but the Broncos are even more desperate than the rival Raiders are.
Sean Payton made the executive decision to move on from Russell Wilson and with the current room in place, he absolutely cannot leave the first-round of this draft without a quarterback. Nix just so happens to not only be worth moving up for but feels like a perfect fit for Payton's offense.
Nix has big receivers to work with, including Brian Thomas Jr. whom they added earlier. With an offense that matches his skillset nicely, Nix could be in for success early on in his career. This is by far the best landing spot and scenario for both Nix and the Broncos.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
The pick: Kamari Lassiter, Cornerback, Georgia
Is L'Jarius Snead coming back to the Chiefs or is he going to be traded? No matter how it shakes out, the Chiefs can always continue to keep the position deep with talent. Lassiter is a fantastic value at the end of round-one and fills a need should the team move off of Snead.
But in the event they keep Snead, the prospect of having those two along with Trent McDuffie is a disgustingly good scenario.
Round two:
33. Carolina Panthers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama
34. New England Patriots: Ladd McConkey, Wide Receiver, Georgia
35. Arizona Cardinals: Graham Barton, Interior Offensive Line, Duke
36. Washington Commanders: Troy Fautanu, Interior Offensive Line, Washington
37. Los Angeles Chargers: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tight End, Texas
38. Tennessee Titans: Zach Frazier, Interior Offensive Line, West Virginia
39. Carolina Panthers (via NYG): Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State
40. Washington Commanders: Darius Robinson, Edge Rusher, Missouri
41. Green Bay Packers (via NYJ): Jordan Morgan, Offensive Tackle, Arizona
42. Houston Texans (via Minnesota): Payton Wilson, Linebacker, NC State
43. Atlanta Falcons: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Cornerback, Missouri
44. TRADE: Baltimore Ravens (via Las Vegas): Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Oregon
45. New Orleans Saints: Chris Braswell, Edge Rusher, Alabama
46. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals (via Indianapolis): Adisa Isaac, Edge Rusher, Penn State
47. New York Giants (via Seatle): Kinsley Suamataia, Offensive Tackle, BYU
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Braden Fiske, Interior Defensive Line, Florida State
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathon Brooks, Running Back, Texas
50. Philadelphia Eagles: Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ricky Pearsall, Wide Receiver, Florida
52. Los Angeles Rams: Javon Bullard, Safety, Georgia
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Jonah Elliss, Edge Rusher, Utah
54. Cleveland Browns: T'Vondre Sweat, Interior Defensive Line, Texas
55. Miami Dolphins: Roman Wilson, Wide Receiver, Michigan
56. Dallas Cowboys: Trey Benson, Running Back, Florida State
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T.J. Tampa, Cornerback, Iowa State
58. Green Bay Packers: Edgerrin Cooper, Linebacker, Mississippi State
59. Houston Texans: Ruke Orhorhoro, Interior Defensive Line, Clemson
60. Buffalo Bills: Kiran Amegadjie, Offensive Tackle, Yale
61. Detroit Lions: Devontez Walker, Wide Receiver, North Carolina
62. Baltimore Ravens: Christian Haynes, Interior Offensive Line, Connecticut
63. San Francisco 49ers: Khyree Jackson, Cornerback, Oregon
64. Kansas City Chiefs: Blake Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
