Analysis
5/1/23
13 min read
Way-Too-Early 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Who Will Land Caleb Williams?
Offense will carry the day in the 2024 NFL Draft, at least according to The 33rd Team's way-too-early 2024 NFL mock draft. The top five picks next year are projected to come from that side of the ball, starting with quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. Two more quarterbacks will be taken by the 12th pick.
The 33rd Team's Scouting Department, led by T.J. McCreight, determined the draft order based on their current assessment of each team's roster, and how they think the 2023 NFL season might play out. A former player personnel executive for the Philadelphia Eagles and former director of college scouting for the Indianapolis Colts, McCreight has nearly 25 years of NFL scouting experience.
He is joined in the department by three scouts:
- Kevin Cohn, a former scouting assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars and assistant director of player personnel for the University of Connecticut.
- Justin Casey, who worked for the Arizona Cardinals in football administration and then as the senior player personnel executive for the Montreal Alouettes.
- Evan Pritt, a former scouting assistant for the Eagles and former player personnel assistant for the University of Maryland.
The 33rd Team 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask battling for the starting quarterback job. Caleb Williams put up rare numbers during the 2022 season for USC. The Oklahoma transfer and Heisman Trophy winner passed for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions while completing 66.6 percent of his throws. He also rushed for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns.
 2. Los Angeles Rams
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Matthew Stafford is getting older and has had some injuries. The Los Angeles Rams need to find their quarterback of the future, and they do so in North Carolina's Drake Maye. Maye has good size at 6-foot-5 and good arm strength, allowing him to make every throw on the field. He completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He also rushed for 698 yards and seven touchdowns.
 3. Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
If quarterback Kyler Murray misses significant time in 2023, the Arizona Cardinals could be in a prime position to take Marvin Harrison Jr., who possesses the polish of his Hall of Fame dad with size and length (he's 6-foot-3) his dad could only dream of. In his first season as a starter for the Buckeyes, he posted 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 TDs.
 4. Indianapolis Colts
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Indianapolis Colts picked their quarterback in 2023, and now they will need to address the offensive line to protect him. Joe Alt has NFL bloodlines, as his father John was a Pro Bowl offensive lineman. Joe Alt has the size (6-foot-7), length and athleticism to be a top-level offensive tackle to build around.
 5. Tennessee Titans
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, OT
In 2023, the Tennessee Titans picked a guard and a quarterback in the first two rounds of the draft. In 2024, they will address the tackle position. Fashanu decided to stay in school this year and perhaps could have been a first-round pick. He should go in the top 10 in 2024 and will be asked to protect Will Levis (scouting report).
 6. Arizona Cardinals
*From Houston
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
It came as a bit of a surprise when Jared Verse decided he wanted to stay at Florida State for another season. Verse quickly emerged onto the scene after starting his career at FCS Albany. If he can have another productive season to add to his nine-sack 2022 campaign, he should be a candidate to go in the top 10 next year. Arizona needs to overhaul its roster, and Cardinals fans can get excited about the prospect of adding Verse and Marvin Harrison Jr. in the first round.
 7. Green Bay Packers
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois, IDL
The Green Bay Packers almost always go defense with their first draft pick. Newton is a versatile interior defensive lineman with production against both the run and the pass. He had 5.5 sacks last year, 61 total tackles and received a variety of second-team All-American awards. The Packers continue to get younger up front.
 8. Chicago Bears
Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington
The Chicago Bears addressed the offensive line, cornerback and interior of their defensive line in the 2023 draft. Now, they get a chance to add a difference-maker on the edge. At 6-foot-4, 267 pounds, Trice is a big-edge defender, who dominated in his first year as a full-time starter for the Huskies. He's a power rusher with great hand usage and a relentless motor.
 9. New England Patriots
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
We've known about Brock Bowers for two years. The explosive and versatile tight end has been incredibly productive for the defending back-to-back national champion Bulldogs. He already has 20 career-receiving touchdowns in college. It may come as a surprise the New England Patriots are picking inside the top 10 for the first time in more than two decades, but there are no more softballs in a gauntlet of an AFC East. The Patriots reload with a talented player at No. 9.
 10. Las Vegas Raiders
Ga'Quincy McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Las Vegas Raiders added Jakorian Bennett (scouting report) from Maryland in the 2023 draft, but need to keep re-tooling their secondary. Kool-Aid McKinstry has been productive for the Crimson Tide, with 18 career pass breakups, two interceptions and 65 total tackles. In an AFC West with elite passing attacks in Kansas City and Los Angeles, the Raiders know how important it is to get guys who can defend down the field.
 11. Washington Commanders
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
The Washington Commanders did not address the quarterback position in the 2023 draft and look poised to let Sam Howell show whether or not he can be a starting NFL quarterback. If he struggles, expect them to make a move for a quarterback in the '24 draft. Michael Penix Jr. has a ton of experience with 30 starts under his belt between Indiana and Washington. The lefty has been productive with 8,838 passing yards and 60 TDs.
12. Atlanta Falcons
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
J.J. McCarthy has the tools to do everything on the football field with a big arm and rushing ability. He needs to refine his game because he has been erratic at times, but he has a chance to be a highly touted prospect in next year's draft. Similarly to Washington, the Atlanta Falcons are going to roll with a young quarterback, Desmond Ridder. They have put some nice pieces around Ridder through the draft in the past couple of years, so if he does not progress, expect them to be in the quarterback market.
 13. Houston Texans
*From Cleveland
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Houston Texans find themselves taking the "other" wide receiver from Ohio State in this draft and reuniting Emeka Egbuka and C.J. Stroud (scouting report). Ohio State has become a receiver factory, producing a plethora of talent during the last several years, and it is no surprise they have multiple prospects once again. Egbuka may have been overshadowed by Harrison Jr., but he had a productive 2022 season with 1,151 yards and 10 TDs.
 14. Chicago Bears
*From Carolina
J.T. Tuimoloau, IDL, Ohio State
General manager Ryan Poles has emphasized the importance of building the Bears from the inside out and holds true to that with this selection. J.T. Tuimoloau has the ability to play the run and provide production rushing the passer. The Bears need guys who can get after the quarterback, and this will help them keep building toward that.
 15. Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
The Minnesota Vikings need to get younger at the edge position, so they take a talented prospect from Alabama. Dallas Turner has the ideal size (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) and length of an NFL pass rusher. He has put up solid numbers with 12.5 career sacks. He should be able to build on a productive 2022 campaign and situate himself nicely as a top-15 pick.
 16. Denver Broncos
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Denver Broncos have to figure out their tackle position. Garrett Bolles has had a rollercoaster of a career, at times looking like a franchise cornerstone, and at others, you question why they keep running him out there. Mims is a massive man and looks like an NFL tackle. Mims has not cracked Georgia's starting lineup but is expected to do so this season. With a productive season don't be surprised to see him enter the draft. Not many guys who look like this hang around college.
 17. Baltimore Ravens
Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Marlon Humphrey will be 27 when the 2023 season starts, so the Baltimore Ravens go corner to find his eventual replacement. They took a corner later in the '23 draft, but a team can never have enough of them. DeJean had 75 tackles and five interceptions in just one full season as a starter at Iowa. The Ravens get a productive player with a nose for the football.
 18. Miami Dolphins
J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
This is not necessarily a need pick for the Miami Dolphins, but with uncertainty as to how long Terron Armstead has left, Miami takes his future replacement. Latham has the size (6-foot-6, 325 pounds), length and thickness of an NFL tackle. Latham played right tackle last season, but he could make the switch to the left side.
 19. New Orleans Saints
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The New Orleans Saints waited until Round 6 to pick a wide receiver in 2023, but in 2024 they turn to Rome Odunze from Washington in the first round. Odunze has excellent size (6-foot-3) and hits top speed quickly. He has confidence in his hands and can snatch the ball on the run without gearing down. He's an interesting player after the catch because he has shown the ability to make people miss, pull away and lower his shoulder to fight for yards.
 20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dontay Corleone, IDL, Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Keeanu Benton (scouting report) in the second round in 2023, but they load up on the defensive front with the Bearcats' Dontay Corleone. Corleone can clog up the middle and is a good athlete for his size. He is a productive player who disrupts the passer and gets around the football.
 21. New York Giants
Kamren Kinchens, SAF, Miami (Fla.)
The New York Giants did not pick a safety in the 2023 draft until the seventh round, but in 2024 they take Kamren Kinchens from Miami. Kinchens is a ball-hawking safety who had six interceptions in 2022 while showing off his instincts, hands and ball skills. Some have compared him to fellow Hurricane Ed Reed.
 22. Detroit Lions
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The Detroit Lions did not pick a wide receiver until Day 3 in 2023, but they will go in that direction in 2024. Florida State's Johnny Wilson is a unicorn at 6-foot-7. He will be difficult to cover in the red zone and down the field. The power forward/wide receiver has the hands and ball skills to make plays at all three levels and will make a difference for this offense.
 23. Los Angeles Chargers
Leonard Taylor, IDL, Miami (Fla.)
The Los Angeles Chargers did not address the defensive front in 2023, but in 2024, they turn the card in on Miami's Leonard Taylor. Taylor is a disruptive player who has top-level movement skills for his size (6-foot-3, 305 pounds). He has natural hands and can unlock his hips with ease. Taylor plays hard and is not an easy player to control for four quarters.
 24. Jacksonville Jaguars
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The Jacksonville Jaguars could be looking for a cornerback, and they find a good one in Denzel Burke from Ohio State. Burke has the size, feet, speed and instincts NFL teams are searching for at this position. He has clean eyes and gets a jump on plays because of his outstanding instincts. He has the potential to be a shutdown corner in the NFL.
 25. Seattle Seahawks
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Jeremiah Trotter's father was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and played 12 years in the NFL. Trotter Jr. does not have ideal size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), but he has explosive speed and top-level change of direction ability. Scouts love Trotter Jr.'s instincts, awareness and production. He finds the football in both the pass and run game at Clemson, and he should continue to do so in the NFL.
 26. Dallas Cowboys
Raheim Sanders, RB, Arkansas
The Dallas Cowboys are committed to running the football, and they need several backs in their rotation. They picked Deuce Vaughn (scouting report) in 2023 to complement Tony Pollard, but they could use a back with the size of Arkansas' Raheim Sanders. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Sanders can pound defenders with his strength and toughness, and he has enough speed to pull away from defenders. He has shown soft hands and the ability to pluck the ball in the passing game. He would be a nice fit for this offense and a bit of a different flavor.
 27. Green Bay Packers
*From New York Jets
Zion Nelson, OT, Miami (Fla.)
The Packers got this pick from the Jets and select the talented Zion Nelson from Miami. Nelson has the size (6-foot-5, 318 pounds), length and movement skills teams look for in an offensive tackle. Scouts like his punch, strength and toughness to get movement in the run game. He should be a plug-and-play offensive lineman who will start for several years.
 28. Cincinnati Bengals
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
The Badgers' Braelon Allen will be another back to pound the football for the Cincinnati Bengals and take some pressure off of quarterback Joe Burrow. Allen has excellent size and clean feet to plant and drive up the field. He has the strength and toughness to run through arm tackles and will be able to shorten the game in the fourth quarter and close out wins.
29. San Francisco 49ers
D.J. James, CB, Auburn
The San Francisco 49ers could use another young, talented corner to plug into this defense, and they go to Auburn to find their man. D.J. James chose to return to school for the 2023 season, and it should help improve his draft position. James is a smooth athlete who has natural eyes and instincts to read routes and route combinations. He may not have rare top-end speed, but his other traits help make up for that.
 30. Kansas City Chiefs
Nazir Stackhouse, IDL, Georgia
Nazir Stackhouse may have been a bit overlooked at Georgia with all of its elite talents, but scouts are intrigued by his strength and sneaky athletic ability, and that will appeal to the Kansas City Chiefs. Many think he is going to have a breakout 2023 season and become another Bulldog first-round pick. You see flashes of his ability; he needs to put it all together and play more consistently.
 31. Philadelphia Eagles
Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
The Philadelphia Eagles use two tight end sets to put defensive coordinators in a bind. Cade Stover was an outside linebacker for the Buckeyes who moved to tight end. He showed flashes in 2022, and his potential is obvious. With all of the attention toward Ohio State's talented wide receiver group, Stover should have opportunities to get the football thrown his way. Look for Stover to take a major step this season and show scouts he could land in the first round.
 32. Buffalo Bills
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Buffalo Bills did not select a wide receiver until Day 3 in 2023, but in the 2024 draft, they draft Texas receiver Xavier Worthy to close out the first round. Worthy has a slight frame, but he is an explosive player who consistently finds the end zone. He also has been a return man for the Longhorns and must be accounted for on that unit.
