NFL Analysis
3/18/24
15 min read
NFL Mock Draft 2024: Latest Predictions After First Week of Free Agency
Free agency has undoubtedly changed the NFL landscape and will have a massive impact on the draft in April. What could Round 1 look like now that the first week of free agency is completed?
Here is our updated 2024 NFL mock draft.
2024 NFL MOCK DRAFT
1. Chicago Bears
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: There are no changes at the top, as Caleb Williams is the consensus No. 1 pick. He'll have a new weapon to throw to after the Chicago Bears traded for Keenan Allen on Thursday. Surrounding Williams with talent at the skill positions will allow him to succeed immediately in the NFL.
2. Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 210 pounds
Class: Senior
Fit: The Seattle Seahawks traded for Sam Howell, so there is no doubt that the Washington Commanders will take a quarterback at No. 2. However, the signing of Marcus Mariota could help signal which passer is picked here. Jayden Daniels is the better fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and should be able to produce immediately with all of the Commanders’ weapons.
3. New England Patriots
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 230 pounds
Class: RS Sophomore
Fit: Could the New England Patriots shock us all and go with another Michigan quarterback here? That has been the scuttlebutt around the league, but we aren’t buying it. Drake Maye is the superior quarterback prospect, and the Patriots should be running to the podium if he is available at No. 3.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: Outside Williams to the Bears at No. 1, there might not be a more secure lock in Round 1 than Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona desperately needs a No. 1 receiver, and just this week, they lost Marquise Brown (free agency) and Rondale Moore (trade). Harrison Jr. might be the best overall player in this class, but with three quarterbacks drafted in a row, he falls to No. 4.
TRADE
MIN receives: Round 1 (No. 5)
LAC receives: Round 1 (No. 11), Round 1 (No. 23), 2025 Third-Round Pick
5. Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 219 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Minnesota Vikings acquired pick No. 23 from the Houston Texans on Friday, which signals they want to trade up in Round 1. The Philadelphia Eagles did this in 2016 when targeting Carson Wentz in Round 1. The talk around the league is that J.J. McCarthy will be a top-five selection, and this would be how that gets done.
6. New York Giants
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 200 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: If Malik Nabers falls to No. 6, this would be a home-run selection for the New York Giants. New York needs a No. 1 receiver, and Nabers isn't that far off as a prospect from Harrison Jr. Expect Rome Odunze to be considered for the Giants at No. 6 as well.
7. Tennessee Titans
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 324 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The first surprise of the draft comes at No. 7, with the Tennessee Titans drafting an offensive lineman. That's not a surprise, as they've been expected to pick an offensive tackle here. But the selection of Taliese Fuaga over Joe Alt would undoubtedly be a shock. However, Fuaga is worthy of a top-10 pick. His size, athleticism and power could better fit what Bill Callahan wants at left tackle, so don’t be surprised if Fuaga is the first offensive tackle off the board in April.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 247 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: After making significant upgrades on offense in free agency, including the signing of Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons can use the draft to focus on their defense. Dallas Turner is the best defender in the class. He would be an excellent fit in Raheem Morris' defense. The Falcons need a premiere edge rusher, and Turner could be a 10-sack player as a rookie.
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9. Chicago Bears
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 321 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Bears don’t really need a left tackle, with Braxton Jones playing well in Year 2. But Joe Alt is too good of a value to pass up here. With four quarterbacks and two wide receivers picked in the top six, it allows a talent like Alt to fall to No. 9. The Bears can start Alt at left tackle and solidify their offensive line in front of Williams.
10. New York Jets
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 212 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Fit: Now that the New York Jets signed Tyron Smith and acquired Morgan Moses (via trade), the offensive line isn't the No. 1 priority. Instead, they can add a playmaker to pair with Garrett Wilson. Rome Odunze is one of the cleanest players in the draft and would be a fantastic No. 2 receiver in New York.
It seems unlikely that he will fall this far in April's draft, but that's the case here, with four quarterbacks and two offensive tackles selected in the top nine picks.
11. Los Angeles Chargers
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 243 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: Early in the draft process, Brock Bowers was almost always mocked to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5. But his stock has taken a hit after not working out at the NFL Combine or Georgia's Pro Day. Still, grabbing him at No. 11 after the Chargers traded down would be quite the pickup for Jim Harbaugh.
12. Denver Broncos
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 195 pounds
Class: Senior
Fit: The Denver Broncos miss out on the top four quarterbacks in this draft and have to pivot to defense in Round 1. The Broncos select Quinyon Mitchell to pair with Patrick Surtain II to give them one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL.
13. Las Vegas Raiders
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 189 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Las Vegas Raiders must find a No. 1 cornerback to pair with Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones. They luck out with Terrion Arnold falling to No. 13. While he isn’t the most outstanding athlete at cornerback, he’s tough, physical and fundamentally sound. Arnold can play in the slot and outside, making him a steal at No. 13.
14. New Orleans Saints
Byron Murphy, IDL, Texas
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 297 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: You can make a strong case that Byron Murphy II is this draft class's most complete defensive player. On top of solid production, Murphy tested off the charts at the NFL Combine and projects as a high-end pass rusher in the NFL.
The New Orleans Saints need more interior pass rush and pairing him with Bryan Breese would make them challenging to block up front.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 209 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard prioritizes athleticism above everything else. There might not be a receiver in this class who would be more appealing to him than Brian Thomas Jr. At 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, Thomas ran a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He is somewhat raw as a prospect, but pairing him with Michael Pittman Jr. for the next several seasons would give Anthony Richardson suitable weapons on offense.
16. Seattle Seahawks
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 317 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Seattle Seahawks are intent on improving their trenches with new head coach Mike MacDonald. They could use a player like Troy Fautanu, who can play multiple offensive-line positions. Fautanu played left tackle at Washington, but he could play right tackle in the NFL or either guard spot.
He is similar to Alijah Vera-Tucker, whom the Jets selected at No. 14 in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fautanu is a rising prospect who should be a top-16 lock by the time we get to April.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Jacksonville Jaguars missing out on re-signing Calvin Ridley this offseason was quite surprising. That loss will hurt their offense if they don't address receiver early in the draft.
Adonai Mitchell would be a great long-term fit with Christian Kirk, as Mitchell can play on the outside and stretch the field. Running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Mitchell has the size and athleticism to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 312 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: Olu Fashanu's draft stock has fallen a bit during the offseason, but he is still a plug-and-play tackle with a lot of upside. He would be the starting right tackle in Cincinnati with Orlando Brown Jr. on the left side.
This isn't the best fit for either the player or the team, but he is too good of a value to pass up here for the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 18.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 254 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: Aaron Donald announced his retirement last week, so the Los Angeles Rams would love to see a player like Murphy fall to replace him. But that didn't happen, and instead, they pivot to Jared Verse, one of the most well-rounded pass rushers in the draft. Upgrading the pass rush has to be priority No. 1 for the Rams during the draft and Verse falling to No. 19 gives them a steal.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 313
Class: Senior
Fit: The Pittsburgh Steelers cut starting center Mason Cole ahead of free agency and have yet to address that spot. Until they do, it’s foolish to project any other position in Round 1 for the Steelers other than center. Zach Frazier is a sneaky pick for Pittsburgh because he's a perfect fit in Arthur Smith's offense. He's got the athleticism to get to the second level and the toughness to fit in well with the Steelers' culture.
21. Miami Dolphins
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 207 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Miami Dolphins overhauled their secondary this offseason, but they could use another versatile defensive back. Cooper DeJean can play all over the secondary, including in the slot. Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller are in the later stages of their careers, so DeJean would be the perfect young cornerback to pair with them for the 2024 season.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 173 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Philadelphia Eagles addressed several weaknesses in free agency, but cornerback was not one of them. Darius Slay and James Bradberry were both liabilities at the end of the season, and the Eagles need to get more athletic at cornerback. Nate Wiggins ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, precisely the speed Philadelphia has lacked.
23. Los Angeles Chargers
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 342 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: After trading back from No. 5, the Chargers ended up with Odunze and JC Latham. This is not bad at all for Jim Harbaugh in his first draft. Latham could be a Day 1 starter at right tackle for the Chargers and give Harbaugh more size on the offensive line.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 334 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Dallas Cowboys lost Tyler Biadasz in free agency and have yet to replace him. Jackson Powers-Johnson is a massive center who can drive defenders off the ball. The Cowboys want to be a more balanced offense moving forward, and having an anchor in the middle of their offensive line like Powers-Johnson would significantly improve the unit.
25. Green Bay Packers
Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 313 pounds
Class: Senior
Fit: The Green Bay Packers could use more help on their interior offensive line, and you can make a case that Graham Barton is the most versatile player in this class. He played most of his career at left tackle but has experience playing guard and center. Barton could be a Day 1 starter at guard or center for Green Bay and give Jordan Love even more help on the interior of the offensive line.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 265 pounds
Class: Senior
Fit: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit on YaYa Diaby last year, but they need to add a pass rusher opposite him now that Shaq Barrett is no longer with the team. Laiatu Latu could go higher than this if his medicals check out, but there is a chance he could fall some on draft day. Latu is the most refined rusher in the class and could instantly impact Tampa Bay as it tries to continue its streak of NFC South titles.
27. Arizona Cardinals
Jer'Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 295 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: After addressing their wide receiver need at No. 4 with Harrison Jr., the Cardinals return in Round 1 and select Jer’Zhan Newton. Earlier in the draft process, Newton was widely considered a top-20 pick, but a broken foot revealed during the NFL Combine medical process dropped him a bit in mocks. Newton is a dominant interior rusher and is a significant value this late in Round 1.
28. Buffalo Bills
Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296 pounds
Class: Senior
Fit: Wide receiver was the Buffalo Bills' biggest need going into the offseason, but the additions of Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins could allow them to go elsewhere in Round 1. Plus, they missed out on the top five receivers in this class, so it might make more sense to wait until Round 2.
Darius Robinson would be a fantastic fit in Buffalo because he can play multiple positions on the defensive line and rush the passer. He's only getting better and would help Buffalo's run defense immediately.
29. Detroit Lions
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 325 pounds
Class: Senior
Fit: The Detroit Lions always want to be strong on the offensive line, and losing Jonah Jackson (Rams) is a significant loss. Jordan Morgan would be a fantastic fit in Round 1 as a potential replacement. Morgan played left tackle at Arizona but has the athleticism and power to kick inside. He could also be a possible replacement for Taylor Decker. But for now, he is a Day 1 starter at guard.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 340 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: The Baltimore Ravens have lost multiple starters on the offensive line in free agency, and they traded starting right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets for a Day 3 pick exchange.
Getting Amarius Mims at No. 30 is an outstanding value, and he could be a dominating run blocker in Baltimore's system. His lack of experience causes him to fall in this draft, but this would be a home-run selection for the Ravens.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 254
Class: Junior
Fit: The San Francisco 49ers have been searching for a pass rusher opposite Nick Bosa for a while. They finally find one in Chop Robinson. While he isn't an every-down defensive end (yet), Robinson has one of the quickest first steps you will ever see. He is incredibly athletic and brings more pass-rush prowess to a team that needs a steady complement to Bosa.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 322 pounds
Class: Junior
Fit: Tyler Guyton has all the physical tools to be a star tackle in the NFL, but his footwork and hand placement need a lot of work. The Kansas City Chiefs could be the perfect landing spot for him, as he is a much better pass blocker than a run blocker at this stage of his development.