The 2024 NFL free agency frenzy is well underway, which means that fans are now wondering how they can supplement their favorite team's free agency hauls with the 2024 NFL Draft talent pool. Luckily it's not only free agency season but also 2024 NFL mock draft season.
Who is your favorite team drafting after the first weeek of NFL Free Agency madness?
1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Chicago Bears are still clinging to Justin Fields, for whatever reason. There have been reports out there from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the Bears simply haven’t been sold yet on Caleb Williams as that #1 overall pick. What will be the tipping point? There’s nothing wrong with the Bears being as calculated as possible with their decision with the #1 overall pick, but they’ve done Justin Fields dirty in the process.
And ultimately, do we really expect the Bears to go any other direction but this? We all know how this story ends.
2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Washington Commanders came into this offseason with a boatload of salary cap space, and they’ve been spending more than most. The Commanders have completely reshaped the organization from the top down, hiring Adam Peters from the 49ers as their new GM, Dan Quinn from the Cowboys as their new head coach, and former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator.
After reshaping the roster with a variety of free agent moves on both sides of the ball, it’s expected the Commanders’ big move will be right here in this slot, taking a quarterback. Nobody knows their preference at this point and we may not until the draft finally arrives. But Jayden Daniels makes a lot of sense given the fact that Kliff Kingsbury has had his most success with dual threats at the position.
3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The New England Patriots are entering a new era with Bill Belichick off to the TV world and Jerod Mayo set to take up his mantle as the new head coach. Mayo and the Patriots need a new franchise quarterback after shipping off former first-round pick Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
We did get a reunion in NFL free agency with the Patriots picking up veteran Jacoby Brissett, whose NFL career has now come full circle, but a quarterback is still to be expected at this pick. Will it be Drake Maye or the red hot JJ McCarthy? It feels right now like McCarthy might have a legitimate shot at being one of the top three picks in this draft.
For now, we’re playing it safe and projecting Maye.
4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
This pick is probably just becoming white noise in 2024 NFL mock draft scenarios, isn’t it? I mean, are the Arizona Cardinals in the “easiest” position in this draft?
They are committed to Kyler Murray, which is great for them. Because of that, I don’t know that there’s more of a no-brainer. Marvin Harrison Jr. has long been expected to be viewed as the top non-quarterback in this class. He feels like the safest pick in this draft.
The Cardinals had a similar scenario back in 2004 when Larry Fitzgerald came out of Pittsburgh. Harrison is going to make this team a lot better, and quickly.
5) Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Los Angeles Chargers will have some of the best intel on Joe Alt of any team in the NFL considering their new defensive line coach – Mike Elston – coached at Notre Dame from 2010-2021. Although Elston coached the defensive line, he held a number of other roles for the Irish including recruiting coordinator in 2021, which was Alt’s recruiting class.
Needless to say, the Chargers have the need for a tackle opposite Rashawn Slater, and they are in a perfect position here to grab a player they will have a clearer idea of than most other (non-Michigan) players in this draft.
6) New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The New York Giants seem to still be building around Daniel Jones, although they brought in Drew Lock as another option. This is a Giants team that’s going to be desperate for help at the offensive skill positions. They just let Saquon Barkley leave for the Philadelphia Eagles in NFL free agency and this team doesn’t really have a true WR1 on the roster.
Rome Odunze is the total package at the position. He’s got the size, athleticism, catch radius, strong hands, and production to be a 150-target player as a rookie.
7) Denver Broncos (from Titans): JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Denver Broncos have sort of backed themselves into a quarterback corner whether they like it or not. Almost every other QB-needy team has made some kind of addition at the position this offseason except the Denver Broncos. The Broncos brought in Jarrett Stidham in 2023 as a free agent, but are they really going to roll with him at the start of the year?
Maybe.
JJ McCarthy is an intriguing prospect. There are some people who believe he’s a “system” quarterback and not someone you’re going to be able to rely on to truly elevate the team around him, and there are some who believe he has untapped potential that will be realized at the next level.
Will Sean Payton fall in love with a quarterback enough to make a bold move up the board for him? If McCarthy falls to this point, it’s possible we could see it.
8) Atlanta Falcons: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Atlanta Falcons have to be all-in on Kirk Cousins for the remainder of the offseason. Yes, they’ve become a bit addicted to taking offensive skill players in the early rounds of the NFL Draft, but that doesn’t have to change now.
The opportunity for the Falcons to not only sign Kirk Cousins as their quarterback but to give him a group of skill players including Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Malik Nabers?
It’s not so much a luxury as it would be a necessity to pull the trigger on Nabers here. This would give the Falcons an enviable core of young offensive skill players to truly make a run with Cousins now on board for the next handful of years.
9) Chicago Bears: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
Every 2024 NFL mock draft should have at least one surprise pick in it, right?
The Chicago Bears sent a big contingent to the Oregon Ducks pro day, including head coach Matt Eberflus. Now, the primary focus of Oregon’s pro day was obviously quarterback Bo Nix, but Nix might not be the highest-drafted Duck from this year’s flock. Jackson Powers-Johnson suddenly plays one of the most valuable positions in today’s NFL as we’re seeing in NFL Free Agency, with guards around the league getting upwards of $20-plus million per season.
Powers-Johnson has guard/center flexibility, and the Bears could certainly use a starting center. Even after the Ryan Bates trade, the Bears need to make sure that their franchise QB is well-protected. Powers-Johnson is going to help make sure that happens.
10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The New York Jets addressed the tackle position by trading for Morgan Moses, and while they could still very well address the position here in one of the deepest tackle classes in recent memory, why not go after one of the best offensive skill players in the class?
Maybe the Jets are really disappointed with the way things turned out in year one of the Allen Lazard project, and they view Brock Bowers as a player who can play the same type of big slot role, taking on a high volume of targets in this Aaron Rodgers offense.
Either way, Bowers is both a great value here in this spot and he would make sense given the fact that the Jets don’t have a dynamic presence at tight end right now.
11) Minnesota Vikings: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
From Sam Darnold to Terrion Arnold. How about that?
The Minnesota Vikings might need to get involved in the quarterback trade-up market after losing Kirk Cousins in NFL free agency, but they also don’t need to be hasty. I don’t know if the 11th overall spot is a great range for someone like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. Maybe not even JJ McCarthy, depending on who you ask.
The Vikings could look to do something similar to what we saw from them in the 2015 NFL Draft when they jumped back in the 1st round for a QB late (Teddy Bridgewater). Either way, a player like Terrion Arnold, maybe the best corner in this draft, is not someone to scoff at in this spot. He’s a well-rounded corner who would upgrade Brian Flores’ defensive backfield significantly.
12) Tennessee Titans (from Broncos): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Tennessee Titans fans are going to be triggered by seeing a big man on the offensive line coming from the Georgia program. But the debacle that was Isaiah Wilson was a long time ago at this point, and Amarius Mims shouldn’t be punished for the way Wilson squandered his NFL chance.
Titans GM Ran Carthon and new head coach Brian Callahan know the value of being to sleep at night with the left tackle position. Amarius Mims is raw and inexperienced, but he may end up being the most talented tackle in this entire class, a class that is loaded at the position.
13) Las Vegas Raiders: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Las Vegas Raiders have some absolute studs on the defensive front in Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, and (they hope) 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson. It’s time for this team to add some studs on the back end, and Quinyon Mitchell fits the bill.
New head coach Antonio Pierce wants to dictate the energy in every single game the Raiders play, and he’s going to be aggressive, likely to a fault. If you want to be aggressive up front defensively, you’ve got to have defensive backs who can match that kind of confidence in coverage. Mitchell made a ton of plays on the ball the last three years at Toledo and can matchup with anyone both physically and athletically.
14) New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The New Orleans Saints sit back at the 14th overall pick and wind up getting maybe the most NFL-ready pass protector in this class. Olu Fashanu was expected – for the longest time – to be a top-five overall pick.
Why isn’t he projected there anymore? Are the receivers in this draft that good? Do teams just really not need tackles? Is the tackle class just that good? There are any number of reasons, and you can venture a guess, but if Fashanu gets past the Jets at 10, he won’t be lasting much longer than this.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Indianapolis Colts have needs on the back end of their defense both at corner and safety, and a player like Cooper DeJean could help out in a variety of ways.
DeJean is one of the most versatile players in this draft class, not just because he proved he’s capable of moving around the defensive backfield (he should project best as an outside corner in the NFL) but because of his special teams ability.
We all know he is good at returning kicks!
More than just being a good kick/punt returner for the Hawkeyes, DeJean is elite on coverage units as well. He’s a baller, and the Colts love guys who test well, which DeJean will do at his pro day.
16) Seattle Seahawks: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
It feels like a rarity to see the first EDGE player come off the board in the middle of round one, but that’s how deep this draft class is at quarterback, receiver, and offensive line. A team like the Seattle Seahawks will gladly reap the benefits of the depth of this class at those other positions because they feel like they’ve got solutions at all of them.
The jury is out on the quarterback position, however.
Dallas Turner has the makeup of someone who could come in and give you at least eight sacks right away. The Seahawks need as many disruptive players on that front seven defensively as they can get.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the hottest teams in the league at the end of the 2022 season, and they were one of the hottest teams through the first half of the 2023 season.
And then they missed the playoffs completely.
The Jaguars were so disappointing defensively that they made wholesale changes on that side of the ball, and new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is going to need some new pieces for his secondary. They already added Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage in NFL free agency, and they should be in line to add another playmaker like Nate Wiggins here in round one.
He’s got elite speed and ball skills at the position.
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
Former first-round pick Jonah Williams leaves in free agency (we assume) and the Bengals are able to replace him with an absolute bully in Taliese Fuaga, the Oregon State offensive tackle who has captivated the hearts of many this offseason.
Fuaga has gone as high as 5th overall in my 2024 NFL mock draft scenarios because I can see teams falling in love with his physicality, and he also projects well to either guard or tackle. But the Bengals get themselves a stud here and Fuaga is a needed presence for them. They can’t afford to have any weaknesses up front offensively with Joe Burrow coming off another season-ending injury.
19) Los Angeles Rams: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Los Angeles Rams have been building an enviable offensive line this offseason, re-signing Kevin Dotson to a big deal and bringing in Jonah Jackson on a big-money deal from Detroit. That moves Steve Avila to the center position this offseason, and leaves some questions at tackle.
Alaric Jackson did a good job last year after it was clear that Joe Noteboom wasn’t the long-term solution, and the Rams rewarded him with a 2nd-round tender. Even with Jackson’s play last season, I’m not sure the Rams could justify passing on a player like Troy Fautanu, or any of the top tackle prospects if they present themselves here.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
The Pittsburgh Steelers moved on from veteran Patrick Peterson this offseason, and Peterson was never really a true long-term option for them. Joey Porter Jr. looks like he’s going to be a staple at the cornerback position, and they brought back Donte Jackson in the trade involving Diontae Johnson, but could the cornerback position still be in focus here?
Getting Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. could be that final missing piece for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the cornerback position, and would give them an enviable duo of young outside corners to build around.
21) Miami Dolphins: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
The Miami Dolphins lost Christian Wilkins in free agency (Raiders), and they’re going to need to draft his replacement. The Dolphins don’t have anyone on the defensive line you’d be able to name off the top of your head right now. This is a team in desperate need of help there.
And their best edge players are coming off of major injuries.
A player like Byron Murphy might be more of a necessity than anything else for the Dolphins.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
This is not just because the Eagles lost Jason Kelce this offseason, but because Howie Roseman historically invests in the trenches one way or another in the early rounds of the NFL Draft. We know we can expect Roseman to attack one of the two lines with this pick, and why would he not upgrade the offensive line after spending money at the running back spot for the first time pretty much ever?
Graham Barton played tackle at Duke but he has positional flexibility. With the Eagles having Cam Jurgens waiting in the wings, I think Barton could play either center or right guard for them, depending on where they envision Jurgens.
23) Houston Texans (from Cleveland): AD Mitchell, WR, Texas
As free agency has been unfolding, I initially had Florida State’s Jared Verse slotted here for the Texans in this 2024 NFL mock draft. But the Danielle Hunter signing obviously gives them an elite set of edge players with Will Anderson on the other side. The Texans have been loading up defensively and with CJ Stroud’s emergence in 2023, why not give him some additional weapons?
The Texans got a breakout year from Nico Collins last year. They hope Tank Dell can stay healthy going forward. Dalton Schultz is back. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to add a speedy threat at receiver like AD Mitchell out of Texas. The Houston Texans are kind of in this type of luxury mode with the way their roster is currently constructed.
As of the time this post is being written, the Cowboys have been pretty quiet in NFL free agency. The biggest reason for that is Dak Prescott’s contract, which is also a large reason why Tyron Smith is a free agent.
The Cowboys are going to need to address the tackle position for the long term even if they somehow find a way to bring Smith back into the fold. JC Latham is one of many offensive tackle prospects in this draft class who looks like he’s going to be a staple for some team at the NFL level for years to come.
25) Baltimore Ravens (from Packers): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
I don’t think this is really a great spot for the Green Bay Packers, so they sell off the pick to the highest bidder for Florida State’s Jared Verse.
In this 2024 NFL mock draft scenario, that happens to be the Baltimore Ravens who seem to be going through one Band Aid option after another off the edge. Verse is a physical player at the edge position who may be just scratching the surface of what he can do. I think at this stage of round one, he would fit the bill of value for the Ravens and would be worth whatever mid-round pick would be required to move up.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
The Buccaneers have had an amazing free agency period, keeping the band together and even bringing back some old members, like safety Jordan Whitehead. It’s impressive what Jason Licht has been doing and adding a player like Laiatu Latu off the edge would be another stroke of mastery on his part.
The Bucs did have to say goodbye to Shaq Barrett this offseason, but they take advantage of the depth at other positions in this class by getting a possible top-15 overall player in Laiatu Latu here in the late first round. Latu has one of the most refined pass rush “plans” of any prospect you’ll see coming from the college level. He’s NFL-ready.
27) Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Although the Arizona Cardinals were impressive last season in terms of the fight they showed under head coach Jonathan Gannon, they had a clear weakness on the defensive front. Upgrading this unit should be a priority all offseason for the Cardinals, who already added Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones to the defensive line.
Jonathan Gannon knows how important it’s going to be for him to bring pass rush in waves on the defensive front, and Jer’Zhan Newton is a player who would give them consistent pressure production from the 3T position.
28) Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The loss of Gabe Davis is going to need to be addressed by the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 NFL Draft. We all saw how important he was to the Bills’ offense in big moments during their downfall in the NFL playoffs this past season.
Is Brian Thomas Jr. going to be able to come in and replace what Gabe Davis brought immediately? Maybe not, but his ability to line up inside the slot or on the outside and win vertically could give the Bills the secondary weapon at receiver they so desperately need. He has size, speed, hands, and he led the NCAA last season with 17 touchdowns. He’s a baller.
29) Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Anytime a guy draws a comparison to Micah Parsons, you should probably take notice. Although Chop Robinson went to Penn State, he’s not being compared to Parsons just for his affiliation to the Nittany Lions program. Robinson posted a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash, which is ridiculous for an edge player at 254 pounds.
He’s got elite athletic traits and the Detroit Lions will certainly fall in love with his tenacity and effort off the edge. He would give them another presence along with former 2nd overall pick Aidan Hutchinson.
30) Green Bay Packers (from Ravens): Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
The Green Bay Packers have been uncharacteristically aggressive in free agency, adding running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. Maybe they would complete a tri-fecta of Crimson Tide players here with Kool-Aid McKinstry at the cornerback position, but I think new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is going to zero in on linebackers.
The Packers let go of De’Vondre Campbell, and they are in prime position right here in this pick slot to take whatever off-ball linebacker they want. General manager Brian Gutekunst has mandated elite athletes in the top 100 of the draft, and Edgerrin Cooper fits one of their biggest needs as well as their athletic threshold.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The San Francisco 49ers mercifully save us all from the torment of Patrick Mahomes adding Ladd McConkey to his wide receiver crew.
McConkey may seem like a huge reach here, but he might be graded as a top-40 player overall and the 49ers can’t afford not to have a fully-stocked receiver room. In the event that Brandon Aiyuk isn’t with the Niners much longer, a player like McConkey who can separate and make plays in the open field would make a lot of sense.
The 49ers are a perfect fit for him.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
It might be somewhat of a boring pick, but the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t going to let the offensive line be any type of issue. Will they finally move Jawaan Taylor to the left side, a move that was rumored when he signed last year?
Frankly, Tyler Guyton is the type of prospect who could slot on either side given his athletic traits, so maybe the Chiefs wouldn’t have to worry about moving Taylor to the left side. Guyton would take over at left tackle for veteran Donovan Smith, who made his intentions to leave Kansas City this offseason pretty clear.
2024 NFL mock draft: Round 2
33) Carolina Panthers: Darius Robinson, EDGE/DL, Missouri
After the Brian Burns trade, the Carolina Panthers need to continue to revamp their defensive front. Darius Robinson has positional flexibility and versatility, and could be an impact player from those variety of alignments from Day 1.
34) New England Patriots: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Ricky Pearsall is so talented as an athlete, and he’s ascended more than many other receivers in this pre-draft process. He’s got such a smooth game, and with his ability to make tough catches and create in the open field, he could be an ideal fit for the New England Patriots here in the early portion of round two.
35) Arizona Cardinals: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
With three straight picks to open up this 2024 NFL mock draft, the Arizona Cardinals addressed three premium positions. Wide receiver first, then interior defensive line, and here cornerback. Kool-Aid McKinstry would step right into the starting lineup for Jonathan Gannon and is a nice value here in round two.
36) Washington Commanders: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Commanders GM Adam Peters knows the value of YAC stars. Although Malachi Corley isn’t unanimously considered a top-40 player, it would be shocking if certain teams with certain philosophies offensively didn’t prioritize him. Especially after what we saw last year from Puka Nacua, a player like Corley is so much more intriguing. He could be that “Deebo Samuel” type of player for Peters in Washington.
37) Los Angeles Chargers: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
At some point in every 2024 NFL mock draft, you should be looking out for Michigan players to the Los Angeles Chargers. There are about a thousand Michigan guys in this particular draft class, so it’s going to be hard to avoid. Jim Harbaugh gets his big-play receiver here, a replacement not just on paper for Mike Williams, but maybe eventually for Keenan Allen as the featured player in the passing attack. Roman Wilson doesn’t drop passes.
38) Tennessee Titans: Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
You love to see teams with young quarterbacks doing fun things, and the Titans having Calvin Ridley to pair up with DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks is fun. Not to mention, adding Tony Pollard to the mix with Tyjae Sharpe hopefully taking another step forward this year. But Tennessee’s defense needs some more dawgs, and Braden Fiske is exactly that. He blew up the NFL Combine and had consistent production the last four years at Florida State.
39) New York Giants: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Bo Nix could very well wind up going in the first round. Maybe higher than any of us really think. I like Nix and his game, and it’s just a matter of where the NFL views him. The New York Giants cannot be serious with Daniel Jones as the QB1. I refuse to believe they would pass on Nix or Michael Penix Jr. if presented with this opportunity.
40) Washington Commanders (from Chicago): Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The Commanders just have needs all over the roster, as we’ve seen them attack free agency like an expansion franchise. When you’re in that position, you need to use premium draft assets on premium positions. They took a QB and WR already in this 2024 NFL mock draft, and here they get an athletic tackle option in Jordan Morgan.
41) Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): Cole Bishop, S, Utah
The Green Bay Packers added Xavier McKinney in a shocking free agent move, but they still have needs at the safety position with three guys hitting unrestricted free agency for them in 2024. Cole Bishop doesn’t often pop up in round two of mock drafts but the Packers have an athletic threshold that has to be met, and Bishop is a really good player. Maybe his stock will begin to rise…
42) Minnesota Vikings: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Just like Bo Nix, I’m not so sure we won’t see Penix in the first round of this year’s draft. Penix got huge news when his medicals came back clean at the NFL Combine, which hopefully will boost his stock substantially. The Vikings would be a fascinating landing spot for him, especially with all of the weapons they have at the skill positions. He might be set up in the best situation out of any QB in this mock draft.
43) Atlanta Falcons: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons go defense and keep it local here with Kamari Lassiter, who has inside-outside versatility at the cornerback position. The Falcons need to find as many ways as they can to get Kirk Cousins and that offense extra possessions, so having studs on the back end defensively will be essential.
44) Las Vegas Raiders: Maason Smith, DL, LSU
The Raiders may have a newfound strength on the roster with the defensive line adding Christian Wilkins. But the NFL Draft can be just as much about strengthening a strength as it is about filling needs to taking the best talent available. Maason Smith has size and outstanding athletic traits to continue adding to the Raiders’ talent up front defensively.
45) New Orleans Saints (from Denver): Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
With one of the selections they acquired in the Sean Payton trade with the Broncos, the Saints add Oregon playmaker Troy Franklin. They’ve got a budding star in Chris Olave already, but the loss (officially) of Mike Thomas has the Saints potentially back in the market for receiver help. Franklin is a big play waiting to happen.
46) Indianapolis Colts: Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
Nobody in the NFL prioritizes RAS (relative athletic score) quite like the Indianapolis Colts. After letting Shaquille Leonard leave during the middle of the 2023 season, there’s now a bit of a spotlight on the off-ball linebacker position for Indy. A player like NC State’s Payton Wilson – a whopping 9.81 on the RAS scale – will get the job done.
47) New York Giants (from Seattle): Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia
Whether the Giants are sticking with Daniel Jones or going younger at quarterback, they are going to need to continue adding to the offensive line. Zach Frazier is one of the top centers in this year’s class but with John Michael Schmitz on the roster, Frazier could have positional flexibility on the interior. The Giants just signed Jon Runyan Jr. from the Packers to a big-money deal, so the flexibility may be center or left guard.
48) Jacksonville Jaguars: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Jacksonville Jaguars were trying to get Calvin Ridley back in NFL Free Agency even after signing Gabe Davis away from the Buffalo Bills. Although Xavier Worthy is not a one-for-one replacement for Ridley, he would add another dynamic at the receiver position for Jacksonville, and give them a cost-controlled option at that.
49) Cincinnati Bengals: Xavier Leggette, WR, South Carolina
Tee Higgins’ status is up in the air. It looks like Tyler Boyd could be close to leaving. The Bengals have some young receivers on the roster already, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of their first two selections is spent on the position. You can’t mess around at this position when you have a quarterback like Joe Burrow under center. Xavier Leggette is a big-bodied target with after-the-catch abilities.
50) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Nobody loves a good slot cornerback more than Vic Fangio. Mike Sainristil might be the very best slot corner in this draft. You don’t often see slot guys go in the second round, but at the same time, you have to think of it as having three starting corners versus a guy “just” being a slot. Slot players are on the field 70 percent of the time in today’s NFL.
51) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
The Pittsburgh Steelers took one of their own NFL legacy players last year in Joey Porter Jr., and here they pull the heartstrings of 90s kids once again by taking the son of former Panthers star Kris Jenkins, once one of the most feared defensive linemen in the NFL. Junior is not nearly the mountain of a man his father was, but he’s a quick, explosive, disruptive player on the defensive interior.
52) Los Angeles Rams: TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
The Los Angeles Rams will have to continue to do a little bit of retooling to the secondary this offseason. At the outside cornerback position, TJ Tampa is a really fun fit for them. He’s a physical presence at the position who really excels in zone coverage.
53) Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
The Philadelphia Eagles brought back CJ Gardner-Johnson to their secondary in 2024, but they still have needs in the defensive backfield. Gardner-Johnson could be playing a versatile role for Philly, and with Vic Fangio preferring the two-high safety look, we could see the Eagles go after someone like Tyler Nubin, who was a football magnet at Minnesota these last handful of years.
54) Cleveland Browns: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
The Cleveland Browns are in the market for some linebacker help, and they may actually be able to find some starting-caliber talent here on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Junior Colson of Michigan is NFL-ready in terms of his tenacity and pursuit, but what sets him apart from other guys coming out of college is the way he uses his brute strength to get off blocks.
55) Miami Dolphins: T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
The Miami Dolphins went with Byron Murphy in the first round of this 2024 NFL mock draft scenario, and here they get his teammate T’Vondre Sweat. The Dolphins’ defensive line is being overhauled, and having two interior players like Murphy and Sweat would be a gift from the football gods for Miami, even in a relatively weak defensive line draft class.
56) Dallas Cowboys: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Dallas Cowboys have been delusional at the wide receiver position ever since they drafted CeeDee Lamb. They traded away Amari Cooper, which was a horrible decision, and they’ve been clinging to false hope with Michael Gallup. Enough is enough. Put a guy like Keon Coleman out there with Lamb and let him make defenses pay for leaving him in single coverage.
57) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Haynes, OL, UConn
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just invested a bunch in Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, so they’re going to have to make sure they have cost-effective options at the suddenly robust interior offensive line spots. Christian Haynes is really well-liked among the NFL Draft community and could be an instant plug-and-play at guard for the Bucs.
58) Green Bay Packers: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
The Green Bay Packers aren’t going to be able to put all their eggs in the Eric Stokes basket this year. They need to load up on some cornerback options in this year’s draft, maybe as early as round one depending on who is available. Max Melton of Rutgers fits the Packers’ athletic wants and would get to play with his brother Bo, a Packers receiver.
59) Houston Texans: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL, Clemson
DeMeco Ryans knows from his time with the 49ers just how valuable it is to have a dominant defensive front. He and the Texans are certainly working toward building that with guys like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter off the edge. But the interior defensive line could use a little more work and youth. The Texans lost Sheldon Rankins (Bengals) and Maliek Collins (49ers) already this offseason. Ruke Orhorhoro will be a menace in Ryans’ scheme.
60) Buffalo Bills: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
The Buffalo Bills cut about 75 percent of their roster this season, so it’s hard to even know off the top of your head who’s playing for this team in 2024. All that matters for Bills fans is that Josh Allen hasn’t gone anywhere. Off the edge, Marshawn Kneeland would be a solid option here with the Bills losing Leonard Floyd, who had 10.5 sacks last season.
61) Detroit Lions: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
If the Detroit Lions lose Josh Reynolds at some point this offseason, perhaps they’ll just look to Jameson Williams to pick up the slack. But I think regardless, this is a team that utilizes so many players at receiver throughout the course of a season that a guy like Ja’Lynn Polk could make sense if on the board here. He has the kind of toughness as a player I think the Lions will admire.
62) Baltimore Ravens: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
When in doubt, take an offensive lineman who may be valued 15-20 spots higher than this. Kingsley Suamataia may have right tackle/left tackle flexibility at the next level, and the Ravens may just call on him to start from Day 1 with Morgan Moses being traded to the Jets and Daniel Faalele currently projected to slide in at right tackle.
63) San Francisco 49ers: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
There are a few NFL teams that I think would be great for Kiran Amegadjie in this year’s draft, and they’re all part of the Shanahan coaching tree. Amegadjie needs good coaching to maximize his potential at the next level, and the 49ers have done well developing offensive linemen. Plus, he’d be able to learn from Trent Williams.
64) Kansas City Chiefs: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Even if the Chiefs don’t trade L’Jarius Sneed this year, they’re going to need to start planning for the future. Cam Hart has a fascinating 6-foot-3 frame at the cornerback position and could have similar positional flexibility early on like we saw from Sneed when the Chiefs first picked him up.
2024 NFL mock draft Round 3
For the third round of this 2024 NFL mock draft, we will highlight some of the most interesting picks and fits as opposed to evaluating every selection. For most teams, you’re hopefully not exactly drafting for need in round three but looking for instant contributors and guys who could ideally start by year two.
65) Carolina Panthers: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
We start off with a bang, reuniting Bryce Young with one of his old teammates at Alabama. Jermaine Burton is a vertical threat who can take the top off of defenses and offer some variance to what the Panthers currently have with their possession-type receivers.
66) Arizona Cardinals: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
67) Washington Commanders: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
68) New England Patriots: Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
69) Los Angeles Chargers: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
70) New York Giants: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
71) Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee): Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
72) New York Jets: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
73) Detroit Lions (from Minnesota): Cooper Beebe, IOL, Kansas State
74) Atlanta Falcons: Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State
75) Chicago Bears: Brenden Rice, WR, USC
Just as we saw earlier in the third round, the Carolina Panthers teamed up their young QB with a familiar face. Could the Chicago Bears ultimately do the same? Adding Brenden Rice out of USC could make sense at this particular juncture of the draft and give Caleb Williams a familiar face to throw the ball to. Brenden Rice is also the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, so this would be a cool legacy pick for Chicago.
76) Denver Broncos: Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
After trading away Jerry Jeudy, the Denver Broncos sent signals that they are going to overhaul the wide receiver position a little bit. With so many big guys on the team (Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Lil’Jordan Humphrey) as well as a speedster in Marvin Mims, a player like Jalen McMillan who knows how to get open, is tough, and creates after the catch could be perfect.
77) Las Vegas Raiders: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
After moving on from Josh Jacobs in NFL Free Agency, we obviously expect the Las Vegas Raiders to roll with Zamir White as their RB1, and he had an impressive finish to the 2023 season. But the value of someone like Jonathon Brooks here in round three can’t be ignored. Brooks could end up being a steal for the Raiders at this pick slot.
78) Seattle Seahawks: Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State
79) Atlanta Falcons (from Jacksonville)**: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
80) Cincinnati Bengals: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
81) Seattle Seahawks (from New Orleans through Denver): Sedrick Van Pran, OL, Georgia
82) Indianapolis Colts: Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
83) Los Angeles Rams: Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite selections to predict in 2024 NFL mock draft scenarios. I am not sure what the future holds for Stetson Bennett, but I could see the Rams moving off of him completely with so many question marks. They need/want a QB in waiting behind Matthew Stafford and Rattler has been impressive. We may have to start putting him in the 2nd round of these exercises.
84) Pittsburgh Steelers: Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
85) Cleveland Browns: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
With Nick Chubb coming off of a season-ending injury, the Browns need to add to their running back stable. I don’t think veteran Kareem Hunt is going to be the answer again this year, but with the Browns reloading for another run at the AFC North, a player with the kind of toughness and big game experience like Blake Corum could be an ideal pickup.
86) Houston Texans (from Philadelphia): Kris Abrams-Draine, DB, Missouri
87) Dallas Cowboys: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
88) Green Bay Packers: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
The Green Bay Packers let go of both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon this offseason, so they are going to have a completely new-look backfield. Their depth was tested tremendously in 2023, and the way the players performed has led us to the point at which we find ourselves today. The Packers paid big money for Josh Jacobs, and here they get Braelon Allen, a local product who has the type of size and speed to spell Jacobs.
89) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
90) Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Christian Mahogany, OL, Boston College
91) Green Bay Packers (from Buffalo): Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
92) Detroit Lions: Kam Kinchens, S, Miami
93) Baltimore Ravens: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
94) San Francisco 49ers: Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
95) Kansas City Chiefs: Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
96) Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Dorlus, EDGE/DL, Oregon
97) Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Nobody can get mad at a good legacy pick. For many years, Jeremiah Trotter was synonymous with the Philadelphia Eagles. In this scenario, he’d get to watch his son play for them. Trotter was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Eagles and racked up over 900 career tackles. His son projects as a tackling machine at the next level as well.