Happy Monday of draft week! One of the most enjoyable weekends of the NFL calendar is almost upon us.
In my final mock draft, I’ll try to project what the teams themselves will do instead of mock drafting as I would if it were up to me. No trades in this mock either, just a straight down-the-board prediction. At each pick, who do I believe each team is most likely to select?
Now just a few days out from the draft, the intel we have on what each team is thinking is higher than ever. Sorting through what’s just a smokescreen and what might be real is one of toughest parts of doing mock drafts. Paying attention to the trends coaches and front offices set for themselves, as well as falling back on strong drafting practices, is a big help in this process.
We here at NFL Trade Rumors will keep the draft coverage coming the rest of this week and beyond. Follow us to stay up-to-date on all the happenings around the NFL as well as plenty of draft-related analysis!
Final 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
1 — Chicago Bears (CAR): USC QB Caleb Williams
The Bears usher in a new era in Chicago with this pick. Williams has earned the “generational” prospect tag for a reason. He’s an incredible quarterback and well-suited for the modern NFL game.
All indications are that Williams has completely separated himself from the rest of the quarterbacks in this class. The draft starts with Washington at No. 2.
2 — Washington Commanders: LSU QB Jayden Daniels
There’s a lot of smoke right now about who the Commanders will select with this pick. It seems all three of Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy are in play for them. I think Daniels is the best prospect of the bunch and that means he’ll ultimately be the pick here.
Daniels soared up draft boards over the course of the 2023 college season, putting up elite numbers in a highly explosive LSU offense. He’s a dynamic rushing threat, able to weave through defenses, burn them up the sideline and open up passing windows with the threat of his legs alone.
Daniels doesn’t have an elite NFL arm but it’s more than adequate for the league. He’s got a quick release with nimble footwork in the pocket. He throws with great touch on deep throws and can rip passes over the middle of the field. He’ll usher in a new era of Washington football.
3 — New England Patriots: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
Maye has elite arm talent and attacks the middle of the field well. He stresses defenses with his ability to threaten all areas of the field on any given play. He’s good outside of structure and can throw equally with touch or velocity. He has some worrying misses on tape, but the highs in his game are incredible.
The Patriots need a quarterback they can believe in after their last attempt to follow up on the Tom Brady era didn’t work. Maye can be the face of the New England franchise, providing a dynamism under center the Patriots haven’t seen in a few years.
4 — Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Son of the Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, Junior is a very different player from his father, but perhaps no less talented. Harrison Jr. is tall, standing at 6-4, but he has elite quickness, agility and bend. His release package and route-running ability are both legendary. He’s as complete and excellent a receiver prospect as you’ll ever find and should immediately be one of the best receivers in the NFL.
The Cardinals are still in the early stages of a rebuild and need to add talent all over the roster. Harrison Jr. is arguably the best player in the entire draft and will give their offense a serious boost. This is a no-brainer selection if Harrison Jr. is still available at this pick.
5 — Los Angeles Chargers: LSU WR Malik Nabers
New Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh has talked extensively about protecting franchise QB Justin Herbert and establishing a strong rushing attack. This is a very in character for Harbaugh, a hard-nosed, traditional head coach who values toughness and grit in his teams.
Even so, I have a hard time seeing them pass on a receiver of Nabers’ talent, especially with the Chargers’ receiving depth chart being as thin as it is. Their top three receiving options from last year’s team are no longer on the roster.
Nabers is an elite route runner with insane body control. His movement ability is truly special. He has the rare ability to accelerate as he changes direction, allowing him to slip away from coverage on a dime as they struggle to keep up. Nabers is a certified NFL WR1 and a can’t-miss prospect.
6 — New York Giants: Washington WR Rome Odunze
Odunze is a smooth mover for his size. Standing at 6-3 and 215 pounds, Odunze is tall and solidly built, with long arms to create a wide catch radius. He accelerates quickly and has excellent footwork, giving him a suddenness of movement rare for a player his size.
In most other classes, Odunze would be the surefire WR1. He just happens to be coming out the same year as Harrison Jr. and Nabers. Odunze is still an easy top-ten overall player in the class and an NFL-caliber WR1.
The Giants have been trying to upgrade their offensive weapons for some time. Odunze gives them a WR1 they can build around. He has the flexibility to play all three receiver positions and dominate while doing so.
7 — Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
Alt is among the safest picks in this draft. There isn’t a better blend of elite size, fundamentals and good tape than Alt. At 6-8 and 322, he can be out-leveraged occasionally as a result. But other than that, he has no weaknesses on tape. He’s sound in pass protection, using his massive stride length to quickly shut off rushing lanes and recover to prevent counters. He’s sticky in the run game, holding blocks at the point of attack and is a threat on the move.
The Titans need a quality tackle, and they take one here to pair with 2023 first-round selection Peter Skoronski. Together, they’ll lock down the left side of the Titans’ offensive line for hopefully years to come.
8 — Atlanta Falcons: Alabama ED Dallas Turner
After signing QB Kirk Cousins in free agency to elevate the offense, the Falcons can turn their attention in the draft to the defense. They need a second corner to play opposite AJ Terrell and they need some reinforcements in the defensive interior. But their biggest need is on the edge.
Enter Turner, a plus athlete with great bend out of Alabama. Turner is fast and twitchy, able to rush from a stand-up position or with a hand in the dirt. He’s still developing pass rush moves, but the few he has now he’s honed well. The Falcons need a guy who can get them sacks next season, and Turner can do just that.
9 — Chicago Bears: Florida State ED Jared Verse
Verse is a powerfully built edge defender with elite motor and drive. He primarily uses strength to generate his pass rushes but has a diverse range of moves, with a quick burst to his step that can catch tackles off guard. He lacks premiere length, which limits his options, but he’s learned to overcome that weakness against even NFL-caliber offensive tackles.
The Bears probably would love to add another receiver for Williams to throw to, but with the top three off the board, they pivot. They badly need production off the edge, and Verse is a quality NFL-caliber starting edge defender with star potential.
10 — New York Jets: Washington OT Troy Fautanu
There might not be a more impressive riser in this class than Fautanu. Once thought of as a late first-round prospect, Fautanu now has a chance to be taken in the top ten after an impressive pre-draft process.
Fautanu is an incredible athlete with excellent movement skills. His feet move quickly, and he uses his active hands to keep rushers away from his chest. He mirrors edge defenders well, rarely allowing himself to be caught off-balance.
The Jets are all-in on this season with QB Aaron Rodgers returning from injury. Fautanu can play all five offensive line spots, giving the Jets critical depth and flexibility. He can be a long-term starter at tackle or guard.
11 — Minnesota Vikings: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings will probably have to trade up to beat their competition to McCarthy, but in this trades-less mock, they can get their guy at No. 11. They’ve done extensive work on this quarterback class, indicating the urgency the coaching staff and front office probably feels to get a high-quality prospect in the building.
McCarthy is still a little bit of a mystery to evaluators. He wasn’t asked to do a whole lot at Michigan, often taking a backseat to their defense and run game. Even so, he put some good traits on film, able to throw with good anticipation, rip passes over the middle of the field and create plays out of structure.
A lack of experience and some limitations to his game (such as being a one-speed passer) will be a red flag for some. It’s clear the NFL is high on McCarthy, though, and Minnesota is in the best position to select him of the quarterback-needy teams in this range.
12 — Denver Broncos: Georgia TE Brock Bowers
Denver HC Sean Payton would love to draft a quarterback, but it’s unlikely he will have a shot at one worthy of this pick without trading up. He’ll get his chance to draft a quarterback in the second round, but in the meantime, Bowers is a star and an excellent fit.
Bowers is the most well-rounded tight end prospect to enter the league in years. He’s a crisp route runner with elite after-the-catch ability. He’s a strong blocker, both in-line and on the move, and he has strong hands to catch passes in traffic. He’s a bit undersized for the position, but other than that, he’s a nearly flawless prospect.
Payton knows to utilize tight ends in his offenses, and Bowers is as scheme-versatile as they come. He’d immediately add an offensive chess piece and high-end receiving option to this Denver offense, for whoever they trot out at quarterback.
13 — Las Vegas Raiders: Penn State OT Olu Fashanu
There is no better true pass protector in this draft, or in most drafts for that matter. Fashanu is a gifted athlete, with the smoothest footwork I’ve ever seen for a tackle. His kickouts and resets are practically works of art. He has superb hand placement and knows exactly how to disrupt and redirect rushers.
Fashanu has been criticized for his lack of play strength, but that’s not truly his issue. He has a tendency to give up his leverage by keeping his hands too low, which allows rushers to get into his chest. When playing with proper technique, he can anchor with the best of them.
Fashanu is a young prospect and will continue to improve. Pass blockers like him simply don’t come around often. The Raiders need a stalwart at tackle, and Fashanu is just that.
14 — New Orleans Saints: Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
Fuaga is a massive, mauling right tackle in the mold the Saints covet. At 6-6 and 334 pounds, he’s got a huge frame and excellent anchor strength. He’s a beast in the run game, particularly in zone blocking schemes, where he can lock on to defenders and put them in the dirt. He’s legitimately terrifying on the move, as he’s got nimble footwork and can use his impressive strength to seek out and obliterate potential tacklers.
In pass blocking, Fuaga is a little more raw, but still quite talented. His hand placement is that of a veteran blocker, able to strike quickly to disrupt pass rushers and nullify any leverage they try to gain. His footwork is clean as always, and he adjusts and resets quickly to mirror rushers. His main flaw is he can be a bit impatient, which can make him vulnerable to counters.
New Orleans has been desperate for help at tackle for years. Fuaga fills a major need for them. They traded up in 2022 for OT Trevor Penning, who has struggled through injuries and poor play his first two seasons in the league. Here they get another shot to fix their tackle woes. Either Fuaga or longtime RT Ryan Ramczyk will have to swap sides, but Fuaga is easily the best tackle left on the board.
15 — Indianapolis Colts: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
Colts GM Chris Ballard pushed back on the idea that they needed to draft a cornerback in his pre-draft press conference, but with Mitchell still on the board, they can’t pass up the opportunity to take the draft’s best corner.
Mitchell is a premiere athlete, even for the NFL, and at 6-0 and 196 pounds, he’s got good positional size as well. He has a ton of experience in college, and he proved at the Senior Bowl that he can go toe-to-toe with and win against the best college football has to offer.
Most of Mitchell’s experience comes in Toledo’s Cover 3, off-coverage scheme, which isn’t dissimilar to what Colts DC Gus Bradley runs. He’s since proved to be very good in press coverage, using his twitchy acceleration and gliding speed to stick in coverage. He has all the makings of a stud NFL corner.
16 — Seattle Seahawks: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
DeJean is a staggeringly good athlete with incredible positional versatility. He’s mostly played outside cornerback in college, but he can play in the slot or at safety as well. He has good vision and ball production, able to ferret out routes and dissect plays as they’re happening. He has the required speed and length to match up on the outside with NFL receivers, and the quick hips and strength profile to match slot receivers or tight ends, as well.
Despite their additions at cornerback in recent years, the Seahawks still need help in the secondary. New HC Mike Macdonald could use DeJean similarly to how he used S Kyle Hamilton when he was the DC in Baltimore. DeJean can line up all over the formation, matching up against athletic tight ends, top receivers, or roaming the field, hunting for matchups. Wherever his home will be in the NFL, he’s a mismatch weapon on defense.
17 — Jacksonville Jaguars: LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
After failing to resign WR Calvin Ridley in free agency, Jacksonville’s wide receiver depth chart is suddenly looking quite thin. Christian Kirk has proven to be a very effective WR2 from the slot, and Zay Jones is an underrated WR3, but this group lacks an explosive downfield threat that demands attention from defenses at all times.
Thomas Jr. is an awesome downfield receiver. He uses his 4.33 speed to burn flat-footed or overly aggressive corners in man coverage. He’s a big target at 6-4, 205, and dominates at the catch point. He needs to diversify his route tree to become a more complete player, but in the Jaguars offense, he can drive down the field and take the top off defenses.
18 — Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia OT Amarius Mims
Mims is one of my personal favorite prospects in this year’s draft. He’s got the size and athleticism teams covet at tackle, standing at 6-7 and 340 pounds while still moving well. He sinks into his stance with ease and has the soft footwork to go with it. When he locks into a block, he sticks with it as well as anyone.
Mims just needs experience. 2023 was his first year as a full-time starter in college and he missed multiple games due to injury. The Bengals signed OT Trent Brown to a one-year deal this offseason to start across from Orlando Brown Jr. They can draft Mims now with the expectation he’ll move into a full starting role in 2025.
19 — Los Angeles Rams: Texas DT Byron Murphy II
Aaron Donald’s retirement creates a massive void in the middle of Los Angeles’s defense. The Rams need to add young talent all over this roster, but it’s hard to ignore Donald’s absence. No one can just replace the future first-ballot Hall of Famer, but Murphy II is the best pass-rushing interior defender in this class.
Murphy II is a versatile defensive tackle with quick speed and a good strength profile. He’s got the burst to slip gaps and the savvy to effectively use swims, spins, push-pulls and other techniques to get at the quarterback. His addition would soften the blow of losing Donald, at least a little bit.
20 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama OT JC Latham
This tackle class has some specially built players. Latham is another specimen at 6-6 and 335 pounds. Like many in this class, he’s an excellent athlete for that size. He moves well in both pass protection and run blocking, able to coordinate blocks on the move and stay with smaller players. He has good flexibility and decent enough hand usage, especially for his size.
While you wouldn’t expect it, Latham’s struggles mostly have to do with his play strength and leverage. He doesn’t anchor as well as he should and can get moved off his spot. He will sometimes allow rushers to get into his chest and force him off-balance.
Still, Latham has rare movement skills to go with a massive frame, and that combination gets drafted highly. The Steelers can continue their offensive line overhaul by adding Latham to form a long-term bookend alongside 2022 first-round OT Broderick Jones.
21 — Miami Dolphins: Duke OT Graham Barton
Barton is expected to kick inside in the NFL, likely to center long-term, though he can also play guard if necessary. The Dolphins need to boost the interior of their offensive line after losing G Robert Hunt in free agency. Barton can start at any of the interior positions and provide depth at tackle, while being the future at center.
Barton is a powerful run blocker, difficult to move off blocks once he’s locked on. He’s quick and explosive in his pass sets, with excellent hand usage. He’s incredibly versatile and exactly what Miami needs.
22 — Philadelphia Eagles: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The Eagles have an aging defense and need to start getting younger on that side of the ball. They’ve added some young pieces along the defensive line, but their cornerback room still suffers from a combination of age and poor play that was a big reason for their collapse down the stretch last season.
McKinstry is the most fundamentally sound corner in this draft. He was a three-year starter under Nick Saban from his true freshman season, earning coaches’ confidence through his high football IQ and elite feel for the game. He’s an underrated athlete who returned punts for Alabama, highlighting his explosiveness and movement ability.
Perhaps the most undervalued player in the draft, McKinstry has everything you could want in a corner. He’s got the requisite size and length to hang tough on the outside, the fluid movement skills to stick in coverage, and good vision to make plays on the ball from off coverage.
23 — Minnesota Vikings (CLV): Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton
Jer’Zhan (also known as “Johnny”) Newton has been the best interior defender in college football over the past two seasons. He’s quick and light on his feet, with a bevy of pass-rush moves in his arsenal and strong discipline. He’s one of the most fundamentally sound players in this class.
The Vikings need help all over their defense, but especially along the defensive line. Newton is a safe bet to be a highly reliable and productive defensive tackle in the NFL. He’s tough and tenacious, traits Vikings DC Brian Flores will love.
24 — Dallas Cowboys: Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson is a compact, powerful center with guard flexibility. He’s quick on his feet, able to block on the move and easily climb to and engage at the second level. His anchor is incredibly strong, and he maximizes his leverage as well as anyone.
The Cowboys have a vacancy at center that Powers-Johnson is perfectly suited for. This is one of my favorite prospect-to-team fits.
25 — Green Bay Packers: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
Despite all the incredible athletes at tackle mentioned previously, Guyton is easily the best athlete at tackle in this class. You just can’t teach his blend of size, length, explosiveness, and agility. His quickness off the snap is evident and his powerful hands keep rushers at bay.
Guyton just lacks experience, as he didn’t play tackle at all until college. He can be sloppy in his footwork and his hand placement needs refinement. The Packers need a starter at tackle, and while he might not start right away, Guyton’s long-term upside is immense.
26 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: UCLA ED Laiatu Latu
Latu is the most technically advanced pass rusher in this class. He’s got a deep bag of moves and the veteran savvy to know how to string them together and set up blockers over the course of a game. He’s got a nasty spin move in particular that will definitely play in the NFL.
He’s a limited athlete, however. Not a poor athlete, just limited, and that could cause a fall down draft boards for teams. Latu also has an extensive injury history, including a neck injury that forced him to medically retire at Washington, that teams will need to feel comfortable about before drafting him. If his medicals clear, he’ll be a steal this late on Day 1.
The Buccaneers need to replenish their edge rusher depth chart after moving on from some players this offseason. Latu is a plug-and-play starter and would be a fan-favorite player right away.
27 — Arizona Cardinals (HOU): Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
Arnold takes a bit of a fall in this mock draft, but the Cardinals are happy to scoop him up here at No. 27. A smooth mover with excellent ball production, Arnold doesn’t have the best long speed or explosiveness for the cornerback position. What he lacks in those areas, however, he makes up for with elite change-of-direction ability and quick acceleration.
The Cardinals need to upgrade their secondary and Arnold would immediately be the most talented corner on their roster. He’s still a young player, and while he lacks polish, he has a lot of room to grow.
28 — Buffalo Bills: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
After trading away Stefon Diggs and letting Gabriel Davis walk in free agency, the Bills desperately need to add a high-impact receiver. Mitchell is as high impact as they come outside of the top three in this class, with elite size, athleticism, and ball skills to work with.
Mitchell uses his quick feet and bursty acceleration to create separation at all levels of the field. He’s aggressive when the ball is in the air, and he’s so big and fast that he’s just a hard cover. He has the ability to be a WR1 in the NFL. There are some concerns about his intensity and focus, but he is a rare athlete with refined skills.
29 — Detroit Lions: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
The Lions need a corner, and with Wiggins still on the board, they pounce at the chance to draft him. Wiggins is a feisty, competitive cornerback who excels in man coverage. He’s disruptive on releases, able to use his athleticism and quick-twitch hips to flow smoothly in coverage and stay connected on routes. He contests at the catch point, with a high forced incompletion rate in college.
Wiggins is skinny and lacks significant play strength, which can lead to missed tackles and losing to bigger receivers. He’s still a lockdown man-cover corner well-suited to what the Lions run.
30 — Baltimore Ravens: Oregon WR Troy Franklin
Franklin is as smooth an athlete as you’ll find on a football field. He glides in and out of his breaks, using his quick feet to gain easy separation on his releases and throughout his routes. He’s one of the best vertical receivers in the class and should thrive in an open, downfield passing attack.
The Ravens need a third receiver to complement the skillsets currently on their roster. Rashod Bateman is a big-bodied, possession receiver. Zay Flowers is a shifty underneath target who can break open big plays. Franklin would come in as a threat on deep and midfield targets, opening up the offense for QB Lamar Jackson to thrive.
31 — San Francisco 49ers: Alabama ED Chris Braswell
Braswell is an elite athlete, even by NFL standards. He’s long and strong, with a quick burst and good ability to bend around tackles. His speed-to-power is among the best in the class. He needs to clean up his hand placement and learn some more counter moves, but he’s the kind of athlete teams bet on at the tail end of Round 1.
Even after signing Leonard Floyd, the 49ers are still searching for a long-term starter at edge defender opposite Nick Bosa. San Francisco is an ideal landing spot for Braswell, as he can start out in a rotational rusher role before potentially blossoming into a full-time starter in future years.
32 — Kansas City Chiefs: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia
Late in the first round, there’s usually a surprise player or two taken. I’m highlighting Suamataia as someone who could potentially sneak into Round 1. He’d be an excellent fit in Kansas City, as they’ve been searching for some stability at tackle since letting Orlando Brown Jr. walk last offseason.
Suamataia is far from a finished prospect, but he’s an incredible athlete for the position. He’s explosive in his first step off the line and incredibly strong. He has powerful hands and quick footwork.
That said, he’s also very raw. He needs to learn better hand placement and needs to improve his lateral foot speed. The Chiefs can have him sit on the bench for a year before starting him in 2025.
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