The Super Bowl is finally in the books, and it's time to fix our eyes completely on the offseason. NFL Free Agency is just about a month away at this point, and the 2024 NFL Draft looms with every team in the league trying to do what they can to dethrone the dynasty that is the Kansas City Chiefs. As we look through another 2024 NFL mock draft scenario, is that going to be possible for anyone?
It feels like the 2023 Chiefs may have been the "worst" version of the team in the Patrick Mahomes era. That didn't matter at all, did it? The Chiefs have assembled something truly special, and as we're going to find out in this mock draft, they have a chance to get even better.
Free agency will obviously change a lot regarding how teams approach the NFL Draft, but let's take a look at how the first three rounds could go, predicting some trades and player/team fits along the way.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: 1st round
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
At this point, everybody expects the Chicago Bears to move on from Justin Fields and Caleb Williams, but there’s always a chance they overthink it…
The justification for drafting Caleb Williams here is pretty simple. If the Bears believe he can be a franchise quarterback, what has Justin Fields really done these past three years to cause them to pass?
The Bears have been made fun of for the last seven years for passing on Patrick Mahomes when they had the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. They passed on the chance to draft Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud in 2023. Can they seriously justify passing on Caleb Williams and this QB class with the information we have on Justin Fields?
I just don’t see how Ryan Poles continues to hitch himself to a wagon he didn’t even draft.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
At this point in the offseason, who knows how legitimate some of the buzz is? There have been rumors that teams might end up liking LSU quarterback and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels more than Drake Maye, who was once considered by some to be a superior overall prospect than any other QB in this class.
And some people still believe that he is.
But Jayden Daniels is fascinating as well. He’s obviously got playmaking ability and a big arm, and this is the type of player at the quarterback position we’ve traditionally seen working with Kliff Kingsbury, who is now the OC in Washington for head coach Dan Quinn.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The New England Patriots sort of luck into the ideal situation here. New head coach Jerod Mayo has tabbed Alex Van Pelt as his offensive coordinator, and the Patriots move on in the first year without Bill Belichick by making a potentially franchise-altering move at QB.
Mac Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe last year, and I think we’ll see him traded this offseason for a Day 3 pick. There are some physical and athletic comparisons between Drake Maye and Justin Herbert, and if Maye can even come close to that level of play, the Patriots should be back in the mix of the AFC East sooner rather than later.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
We talked about how the Patriots sort of lucked into Drake Maye with their pick, but how about the Arizona Cardinals getting the top non-QB on the board here? If the Cardinals are still confident in Kyler Murray as their franchise QB, then they should be jumping for joy at the chance to get him a playmaker like Harrison at this slot.
Harrison could end up having the same type of impact in Arizona that we saw a few years ago from Ja’Marr Chase with the Cincinnati Bengals. Chase was seemingly the missing ingredient to get that Bengals team back into contention, and that could be the case here as well. The Cardinals have been a playoff team before, and a go-to weapon like this in the passing game could set them off.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Los Angeles Chargers landed Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach, and bringing in Harbaugh’s fresh eyes for this roster will be crucial.
Whether we’re talking about his days with Stanford, the 49ers, or Michigan, Harbaugh has always known how to properly build a program. And the tight end position has always been a major area of emphasis for him.
Brock Bowers happens to be one of the rare tight ends that would be worthy of a selection at this pick slot, a true playmaker all over the field and someone who could give the Chargers exactly what their passing game has been missing.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The New York Giants need to get the quarterback position figured out. I’m not sure what they’re going to do there, but continuing to spin their wheels with Daniel Jones is ridiculous.
The best we’ve seen from Daniel Jones was in 2022 when he and the Giants made the playoffs, but the best thing Jones did that season was stop making boneheaded mistakes. He doesn’t look like a franchise QB to me.
At any rate, the Giants may figure they can continue to surround him with weapons and make life easier for him. In that case, Malik Nabers would give the G-Men a desperately needed WR1 and go-to weapon in the passing game. With 34 receptions of 20-plus yards last season, Nabers is a true big play threat.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Tennessee Titans made the somewhat surprising decision to fire head coach Mike Vrabel this offseason, and they replaced him with former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.
If there’s one thing Callahan learned from his time in Cincinnati, it’s that a franchise QB is only going to go as far as his offensive line can take him…or keep him upright.
Getting the offensive line settled in Tennessee should be one of Callahan’s top priorities, and certainly after he was allowed to take his father Bill with him to the Titans in a lateral move (offensive line coach with Cleveland), you expect the trenches to be emphasized.
8. Denver Broncos (from Falcons): JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The value to jump up from 12 to 8 is about 200 points on the NFL Draft trade value chart, so this would be a slight overpay on the Broncos' part.
But for the sake of this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, let’s also say that the Atlanta Falcons (the odds-on favorites right now to be Russell Wilson’s next team) also get Russell Wilson this offseason.
The Denver Broncos would be moving on with Jarrett Stidham as their QB1 and you can’t help but wonder how that would go over with the fan base.
I think it’s time for Sean Payton to finally pull the trigger on a QB he loves. We’ve heard rumors through the years of him really liking players at the back end of Drew Brees’ career in New Orleans, but nothing ever materialized. JJ McCarthy is the type of player that I think Payton can get on board with.
He’s a winner, he’s smart, he’s got poise, he comes through in big situations, and he can manage an offense.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
After getting Caleb Williams with the 1st overal pick, the Chicago Bears need to fortify their wide receiver position. And that position group should be getting a near-total makeover n 2024.
The Bears have DJ Moore, and I think they can rely on Tyler Scott to play a role going forward, but what else? Who else?
There’s really no one right now. And someone like Rome Odunze, who has drawn comparisons to DeAndre Hopkins, could be exactly the type of player the Bears need to pair up with DJ Moore and set Caleb Williams up for some long-term success.
10. New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The New York Jets stay put with the 10th overall pick and land some much-needed help on the offensive line. I don’t think this team can afford to really rely much on Mekhi Becton, who is slated to hit free agency this year and won’t likely be coming back to New York.
Even though there could be options out there in free agency like David Bakhtiari, who seems like a lock to reunite with Aaron Rodgers if he’s cut by the Packers (as expected), I just don’t see how the Jets could pass on a talent like Fashanu at this slot, even if he has to play on the right side early on.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Minnesota Vikings will be a team in focus this offseason for a variety of reasons, most of which deal with the offensive side of the ball.
What is going to happen with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is slated to hit free agency? What is going to happen with Justin Jefferson and his contract situation?
There are a lot of answers the Vikings need offensively, but for the time being, they could do worse than Terrion Arnold with this selection. Many view Arnold as the CB1 of this class, and perhaps just scratching the surface of what he can do.
Arnold is a ball-hawk who had 17 passes defensed and 5 interceptions this past season at Alabama.
12. Atlanta Falcons (from Denver): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Even after moving down a handful of spots in the first round, the Atlanta Falcons and new head coach Raheem Morris get the pass rusher they covet.
Dallas Turner could be a game-changer off the edge for the Falcons, and remember – in this scenario, we’re projecting that the Falcons also find a way to get Russell Wilson, likely after he’s released by the Denver Broncos.
So they have a bridge QB option in place, and they begin adding more pieces to the defensive side of the ball here. Turner combines his tremendous athletic profile with outstanding hustle and effort off the edge.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Las Vegas Raiders made a pretty surprising decision when they hired Antonio Pierce as their full-time head coach, even though Pierce did a good job as the interim head coach this past season. Under Pierce, the Raiders played free and aggressive, but we also saw some tremendous development last season from young QB Aidan O’Connell.
The new regime, led by GM Tom Telesco in the front office, will have a fascinating decision to make when it comes to their process at the quarterback position.
For the time being, the Raiders need some help at the cornerback position. Perhaps no player in this year’s draft cycle is hotter than Quinyon Mitchell, who has some of the best ball skills in this year’s class.
14. New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
I’m not sure the New Orleans Saints are ready to call Trevor Penning a bust just yet, but we might be getting close to that point. A player like JC Latham could really help in the event Penning figures things out, or even if he doesn’t.
Latham is big, strong, athletic, and ready to make that jump to the NFL level. He’s the type of people mover you want at the tackle position and I think he would be a great fit for the Saints right here.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Nobody loves to prioritize RAS (relative athletic score) quite like the Indianapolis Colts and GM Chris Ballard.
The Colts have been prioritizing RAS in the NFL Draft and I can’t help but think Nate Wiggins is going to be one of their most coveted prospects for that reason. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Wiggins has a great frame at the cornerback position and he’s expected to test off the charts when it comes to speed and explosiveness.
There’s also a level of competitiveness with Wiggins that leads me to believe he’s going to excel immediately in the NFL. He seems to hate losing more than he loves winning when it comes to coverage, and that will serve him well.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
Even after adding Dre’Mont Jones as a big money free agent, the Seattle Seahawks still felt like they had to make a mid-season trade to acquire Leonard Williams from the New York Giants.
With Williams hitting free agency, you expect the Seahawks to try and bring him back, but you never know what could happen this time of year.
Even if they are able to bring Williams back, the Seahawks may need to continue to prioritize the defensive line this offseason and a player like Byron Murphy could really help them. He had a whopping 45 pressures for Texas this past season and that kind of consistency in disrupting plays is what the Seahawks need.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
Although the popular consensus right now is that the Jacksonville Jaguars need to upgrade their defense at any cost with this selection, I think the offensive line may need just as much attention in 2024.
The Jaguars made an in-season trade for guard Ezra Cleveland. They lost Jawaan Taylor in free agency last year. They were forced to reshuffle on the offensive line a variety of times last season and it cost them dearly with Trevor Lawrence missing valuable time during a playoff race.
Jackson Powers-Johnson could project as a guard or center at the next level and we saw at the week of Senior Bowl practices just how much of a stud this guy is going to be when he gets to the next level.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
When the NFL Draft process is said and done, teams may not be letting Taliese Fuaga get past the 12th overall pick or so. He’s really earning the love and favor of just about everyone in the NFL Draft community, and you can only imagine what the conversation is behind closed doors in NFL front offices.
Fuaga could be a great fit for the Cincinnati Bengals, who are slated to potentially lose Jonah Williams in free agency this offseason. He also projects to the inside if teams want to utilize him there, but at this slot, he feels like a tremendous value with his combination of power and athleticism on the offensive line.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Things definitely did not work out for the Rams with Joe Noteboom supposedly taking over as the team’s starting left tackle with Andrew Whitworth retiring after their Super Bowl win. Now a handful of years removed from the decision to pay Noteboom as he hit free agency, the Rams find themselves at another crossroads at left tackle.
They have Alaric Jackson, a restricted free agent, who started 15 games last year and actually did a pretty good job. The Rams could re-sign Jackson and use this selection on a player like Tyler Guyton, one of a number of offensive linemen generating first-round hype in this cycle.
If Guyton ends up needing some time to marinate, the Rams could roll with the cost-effective Jackson for another season.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Pittsburgh Steelers could go with a quarterback here, but we’ve got other plans for them at that position…
More on that later.
The Steelers, instead, get the type of player that I think fits their team and culture perfectly. Cooper DeJean has the type of versatility and toughness that the Steelers covet, and I think he could slot in right away as an outside cornerback, slot player in the nickel, he could play in the dime package, and he will immediately upgrade special teams.
Whoever gets DeJean is getting an absolute baller.
21. Miami Dolphins: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Miami Dolphins were a massive disappointment down the stretch this past season, but injuries defensively played a big role in that. Specifically, injuries to both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb played key roles in the demise of Miami’s defense down the stretch.
Now, the team is going to have to deal with the timing and nature of those injuries as well as the loss of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who bolted for the Philadelphia Eagles. Fangio has been replaced by Anthony Weaver, and the Dolphins may need to look for some help off the edge with their injuries at that position group.
Not to mention, Andrew Van Ginkel is hitting free agency. Jared Verse could come in and have a major impact from Day 1.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Philadelphia Eagles brought in Vic Fangio as their new defensive coordinator for 2024, and he’s got plenty of work to do on that side of the ball. One of Fangio’s old disciples – Sean Desai – did a horrible job with a group of personnel that was one of the most feared in the NFL the year prior.
The defensive backfield took a major step back under Desai, which is one of the major reasons he was fired. The Eagles need Fangio to come in and fix the personnel in that defensive backfield, but they also need to invest in some young players. We know how much Howie Roseman loves guys from Georgia and Alabama.
Kool-Aid McKinstry would be a great value for the Eagles this late in round one.
23. Houston Texans: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Houston Texans were one of the biggest surprise teams in the NFL in 2023, and now they have a chance to really surround CJ Stroud with the best talent possible and defend their AFC South crown in 2024.
It may not be their primary need on either side of the ball, but I love the idea of the Texans going after a receiver in round one to group up with Nico Collins and Tank Dell.
While Collins is more of a physical player, Brian Thomas Jr. is a long, lean receiver whose acceleration and burst give him an edge. He caught a whopping 17 touchdowns this past season and would be another great target to all levels of the field for CJ Stroud.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The 2024 offseason could spell the end of an era with the Dallas Cowboys and left tackle Tyron Smith. The Cowboys could have a couple of needs on the offensive line with Smith hitting free agency along with center Tyler Biadasz, so we could see them really go heavy on offensive line in this year’s draft.
Amarius Mims could be a great long-term replacement for Smith at the left tackle position, even if the Cowboys decide to bring Smith back before he hits free agency. They just haven’t been able to rely on Smith to stay healthy in recent years, but if Smith is willing to take a short-term deal, the Cowboys could develop a player like Mims or perhaps use him right away on the right side.
25. Green Bay Packers: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The Green Bay Packers have set themselves up to have so much flexibility this offseason. They may need to make a handful of tough decisions to gain some salary cap space, but for the most part, this is a young, very well-constructed roster from top to bottom.
Of course, having the QB position figured out yet again helps.
The Packers need to invest in Jordan Love. They have a new defensive coordinator in Jeff Hafley who has so much talent on that side of the ball to work with, but the offense is still a couple of pieces away.
One area the Packers need to address is the offensive line, where Jon Runyan is a pending free agent and David Bakhtiari is a pending cap casualty. I could see the Packers falling in love with the versatile Troy Fautanu, who can project at tackle or guard.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
So much of the Bucs offseason is going to be determined by what happens with Baker Mayfield and his situation, but Mayfield is not the only notable free agent the Bucs have to deal with.
This is a team that also could be saying goodbye to Mike Evans after a decade of dominance.
At any rate, the Bucs also can’t pass up the value being presented to them here by Laiatu Latu, the pass rusher out of UCLA. Latu had a nearly 25 percent pass rush win rate this past season at UCLA and he’s an absolute stud off the edge.
He’s considered a better overall prospect than this by many, but medical evaluations will be critical.
27. Minnesota Vikings (from Cardinals): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
As I tried to think of what teams could make a bold move to get a QB at the end of round one, the Minnesota Vikings were the first ones that popped up. They are in a prime position regardless of what happens with Kirk Cousins to make a move like this.
The Vikings may need to get Cousins signed to another short-term deal, but they could set themselves up well either way by getting a guy like Bo Nix in the building. Nix has been one of the most improved players in the country the last couple of seasons after transferring from Auburn to Oregon. He gets rid of the ball quickly, makes good decisions, is accurate, and can make plays with his legs.
28. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Buffalo Bills sorely missed another presence at the wide receiver position in the playoffs with Gabe Davis sidelined.
Now, the 2020 fourth-round pick is set to hit free agency and they are going to need to start thinking about doing some reloading at that position group. Keon Coleman would be a great pickup this late in the first round.
He’s a big-bodied target at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and his catch radius screams “former basketball player”. He knows how to box out in the red zone and make insane catches look easy.
29. Detroit Lions: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
The Detroit Lions have three major players on their offensive line slated to hit free agency next month. All of Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai are pending free agents. While you expect the Lions to at least bring one or two of them back, the interior offensive line will be a priority in this year’s NFL Draft for them.
The Lions need to make sure they maintain their identity as a team, and Graham Barton is someone who can help them do that. He doesn’t have the type of length to stick at his college left tackle position, but the Lions will love his toughness and I think he can make a seamless transition to any interior position for them.
30. Carolina Panthers (from Ravens): Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Another year gone by, another year full of speculation about the Baltimore Ravens pulling the trigger on just about every possible EDGE free agent or trade target.
The Ravens got great production out of Jadeveon Clowney this past year, but he’s slated to hit free agency and could get a better offer elsewhere. So how about the Ravens just attack this position once and for all?
Brian Burns is a free agent, but I could see him being tagged and traded by Carolina. The Panthers recoup a first-round pick here, as well as a number of other picks, and they get one of the quickest players off the ball in this year’s class.
The Ravens get a stud off the edge and proven commodity, but they pay the price to do it.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Darius Robinson, EDGE/DL, Missouri
The San Francisco 49ers could be getting ready to do a little bit of reshuffling and resetting off the edge this coming season. Nick Bosa needs a new contract. Chase Young, Randy Gregory, and Javon Kinlaw are all free agents.
The Niners might have to go back to the NFL Draft to find some cost-controlled players up front, and here they get a player in Darius Robinson who has played both the defensive line and the EDGE positions.
I think he has the type of size and athletic makeup to fit wherever the 49ers (and whoever their new DC is) want to play him.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
So many people have been screaming for the Kansas City Chiefs to pull the trigger on a first-round wide receiver since they traded Tyreek Hill. Although people (like me) felt the Tyreek Hill trade would cripple the Chiefs, it’s done anything but.
They’ve won two straight Super Bowls. Go figure.
Here, the Chiefs get Adonai Mitchell, a 6-foot-4 target who needs some refining overall, but could make an instant impact with Patrick Mahomes throwing him passes. With someone like Rashee Rice taking the next step and Mitchell’s size added to the mix, the Chiefs could be in business at receiver.
2024 NFL mock draft: 2nd round
33. Carolina Panthers: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
After getting Chop Robinson in round one, the Panthers get a new security blanket at the receiver position for Bryce Young in former Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey. The Panthers desperately need to hit on their offensive skill players and McConkey seems to have a very high floor in this draft.
34. New England Patriots: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
When you invest in the quarterback position, one of the best things you can do as a follow-up is get him some help on the offensive line. The Patriots are facing an offseason with both Mike Oluwanu and Trent Brown hitting free agency. Jordan Morgan could be a big-time pickup for them.
35. Arizona Cardinals: Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
The Arizona Cardinals and head coach Jonathan Gannon know the value of a deep defensive line. This year, the Cardinals need to start building that kind of group. We saw Gannon get the most out of his edge guys last year, but Arizona needs a player like Jer’Zhan Newton to fall to them here so they can upgrade their interior pressure.
36. Washington Commanders: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has a new quarterback for the offense in this scenario (Jayden Daniels) and here he gets a new quarterback for the defense. Junior Colson will slot right next to Jamin Davis in this new-look Washington defense and give the Commanders added toughness at the second level of the defense, as well as a guy who really doesn’t make a ton of mistakes on the field.
37. Los Angeles Chargers: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers went with the skill player in round one, but they take advantage of a deep offensive line class here in round two. Kingsley Suamataia is someone who can slot in at the right tackle position right away having played both sides of the line for BYU. He can help the Chargers be more physical in the running game.
38. Tennessee Titans: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
The Titans may not be able to bring back DeAndre Hopkins in 2024, and he turned out to be a pretty nice acquisition for them last year. Young quarterback Will Levis is going to need playmakers and head coach Brian Callahan knows the value of the receiver position coming from Cincinnati where they invested heavily there.
39. New York Giants: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
I said it before, but I don’t think Daniel Jones is going to be the QB of the New York Giants for that much longer. At worst, we have seen over the last few years that the Giants need a better contingency plan. If the medicals come through, Michael Penix Jr. would be a great pickup in round two for New York, where they have multiple selections anyway. Take the risk on a talented QB.
40. Washington Commanders: Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia
The Washington Commanders have so many pending free agents and so many needs all over the roster. They need to sort out the interior offensive line this offseason and if your rookie QB is constantly facing interior pressure, you’re going to have major problems. A player like Zach Frazier would come in and start from Day 1.
41. Green Bay Packers: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
This offseason could be interesting for the Packers with both Jaire Alexander (trade candidate) as well as Eric Stokes (former first-round pick). Ultimately, the status quo isn’t going to work for Green Bay at corner. A player like Kamari Lassiter fits what they look for and he could be a starter right away.
42. Arizona Cardinals (from Vikings): T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
The Arizona Cardinals moved down in the previous trade with the Minnesota Vikings, giving them a chance to really load up on defensive linemen in round two. While Jer’Zhan Newton is a penetrator, T’Vondre Sweat is someone who will occupy blockers with his massive frame. He’s going to help you win the line of scrimmage consistently.
43. Atlanta Falcons: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
The Atlanta Falcons have some really nice pieces offensively, but they might need another weapon or two in the passing game. I think one player NFL teams are going to love is Roman Wilson, a guy who puts his body on the line and catches just about everything. He’d be a great complement to Drake London.
44. Las Vegas Raiders: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
Regardless of who the Raiders tab to play quarterback for them this coming season, they are going to need to make some additions on the interior offensive line. Although this might not be a pick that will have fans rushing out to buy jerseys, Cooper Beebe is a tough dude who will upgrade one of the guard positions.
45. New Orleans Saints: Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State
The New Orleans Saints have lost some pretty important players in recent offseasons off the edge, and how have they replaced them? Losing Trey Hendrickson and Marcus Davenport, the Saints haven’t had anyone really step up off the edge and be that go-to threat at the end of games. They need to take some shots there.
46. Indianapolis Colts: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
The Indianapolis Colts could go a variety of different directions here based on what happens for them in NFL Free Agency, but we’re sticking on the defensive side of the ball after going with Nate Wiggins in round one. Here, the Colts get a player off the EDGE who can live in the offensive backfield. They need help in their run defense badly, so we could see them emphasize the trenches.
47. New York Giants: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
The New York Giants were so desperate this past season on the offensive line that they called upon former first-round pick Justin Pugh, who was basically retired. The Giants need to take advantage of a silly-good offensive line class in this year’s draft and get some help to that unit ASAP.
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
We mentioned it back in round one, but the Jacksonville Jaguars desperately need help for their defense. They have a new coordinator in Ryan Nielsen, who was previously with the Falcons and Saints. Now, they need the personnel. Ennis Rakestraw is becoming a favorite among the NFL Draft community for his physical brand of play.
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
It’s probably safe to say that the tight end position will be getting a makeover in Cincinnati this offseason – literally every player on their active roster at tight end is a pending unrestricted free agent. The Bengals have probably been due for a big move or two at this position anyway. A player like Ja’Tavion Sanders certainly gives yo ua big-play threat in the passing game, but the Bengals will have to look elsewhere for blocking specialists.
50. Philadelphia Eagles: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps underestimated how big it would be to lose not only defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, but also starting linebackers TJ Edwards and Kyzir White after their NFC Championship run. I think we’re going to see this position prioritized by Vic Fangio and Howie Roseman will make sure he has some studs to work with.
51. Chicago Bears (from Steelers): Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Alright, so in this 2024 NFL mock draft scenario, we’ve seen the Chicago Bears already take Rome Odunze. So why would they grab another wide receiver at this slot? Like I said before, you can never do too much to really support a young quarterback. And DJ Moore will be the alpha, Rome Odunze will be a secondary threat, and then you add in Malachi Corley, a physical player after the catch who would help give the Bears an enviable group of playmakers.
And here for the Pittsburgh Steelers, we have a Justin Fields trade, which I think makes a ton of sense. The Steelers can’t justify moving on with Kenny Pickett as their QB. With Arthur Smith coming in, Justin Fields might be well-equipped to succeed on a really good team out in Pittsburgh.
52. Los Angeles Rams: TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
The Los Angeles Rams addressed their need for an offensive tackle in the first round, but we could just as easily see them go with a cornerback in round one. This is a major position of need for the Rams, whose top starter this past season was free agent pickup Ahkello Witherspoon, and he only signed a one-year deal. Getting a big, long, athletic option like TJ Tampa in round two would be fantastic.
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
While so much of the focus will be on the defensive side of the ball, it was an underrated factor this past season that the Philadelphia Eagles lacked proper depth at the wide receiver position. Behind AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, what did this team really have? They had to rely on veteran Julio Jones late in the year when Brown was out with an injury. I think getting more options in the passing game would be wise.
54. Cleveland Browns: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL, Clemson
Here we are, approaching the end of round two, and the Cleveland Browns are about to make their first selection. The Browns could potentially lose three key players in free agency on the interior defensive line, and that simply will not do for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Schwartz likes to mix it up on the defensive front, so getting him guys who can cause havoc as pass rushers will be a priority.
55. Miami Dolphins: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Much has been made about the fact that Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel went to Yale, so why would he not draft the guy who is supposed to be one of their best draft prospects in modern history? Kiran Amegadjie has all of the physical tools to be a top-flight tackle at the NFL level, and Miami could be as good of a landing spot as any.
56. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Paul, OL, Houston
I said it before, but it’s worth repeating: The Dallas Cowboys have needs along the offensive line. Tyron Smith is a free agent. Tyler Biadasz is a free agent. Who knows if Terence Steele can bounce back after a bit of a down year? The Cowboys need to add to the offensive line, and Patrick Paul is a 6-foot-7 mountain of a man who may need a year of seasoning, but he could be a long-term fixture.
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to get back to the postseason in the first year post-Tom Brady thanks largely to Baker Mayfield’s resurgence as a player, but mainly because of the fact that they have one of the league’s best defenses. Because the Bucs doubled down on Todd Bowles, I see no reason why they shouldn’t continue building the side of the ball that makes them great.
58. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
This is one of the best values in this entire 2024 NFL mock draft. The Green Bay Packers could easily justify taking Tyler Nubin earlier in the second round, but here he falls to them near the bottom of round two. Nubin is a ballhawk on the back end, and with both Rudy Ford and Darnell Savage slated for free agency, expect to see the Packers go young at this position.
59. Houston Texans: Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
After a great year on a one-year deal, the Houston Texans could see former free agent pickup Sheldon Rankins leave in free agency, and they’ll need to supplement in the trenches. I could see DeMeco Ryans falling in love with Kris Jenkins, who isn’t nearly as big as his old man was when he played, but still a 300-pounder who can penetrate and cause problems in the backfield.
60. Buffalo Bills: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
The safety position presents great value at this juncture of the NFL Draft with the Buffalo Bills getting another value similar to what the Packers just got in Tyler Nubin. Hicks might be a top-50 player in this class and we have seen that Buffalo obviously has guys at safety getting up there in age. Neither Jordan Poyer nor Micah Hyde can play forever.
61. Detroit Lions: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
The Detroit Lions need to address their secondary this offseason. That unit was arguably the reason they got eliminated from the postseason. Addressing the cornerback position will be of paramount importance and you can expect the Lions to seek out players who’ve got that “dawg” in them.
62. Baltimore Ravens: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
After landing Brian Burns in a trade back in the first round of this 2024 NFL mock draft, the Baltimore Ravens get themselves another weapon in the passing game to add to the likes of Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Odell Beckham Jr. is hitting free agency, and as nice as it was to have him, the Ravens could duplicate his production for a fraction of the cost.
63. San Francisco 49ers: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
As I stated back in round one, the 49ers are taking on a lot of change at the EDGE position this offseason. We saw them swing trades for Randy Gregory and Chase Young to supplement that group this past season, so expect them to attack it heavily and early on in the NFL Draft.
64. Kansas City Chiefs: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
Donovan Smith was a one-year investment for the Kansas City Chiefs at left tackle, and while they might need a veteran in that spot, they are paying Jawaan Taylor a lot of money on the other side and could land a steal here like Blake Fisher from Notre Dame.
2024 NFL mock draft: 3rd round
For the third round of this mock draft, we’re going to speed through the picks and make notes on a handful of notable selections throughout.
65. Carolina Panthers: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
66. Arizona Cardinals: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
67. Washington Commanders: Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
68. New England Patriots: Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
One of my favorite things to see from NFL teams in the Draft is pairing up college teammates at the NFL level. It especially makes sense, in my mind, when it comes to wide receivers reuniting with their former quarterbacks.
69. Los Angeles Chargers: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
I think if you were able to see data from every mock draft posted between now and the end of April, most of them that go this far will have the Los Angeles Chargers taking Blake Corum. It only makes sense with Jim Harbaugh running the show, especially if Austin Ekeler walks in free agency.
70. New York Giants: Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
We grabbed Michael Penix Jr. for the New York Giants earlier in this 2024 NFL mock draft, and here we get to see them reunite him with one of his former teammates at Washington. Any team that dips into that Huskies talent pool at the receiver position in this draft is likely going to be happy with that investment.
71. Minnesota Vikings: Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
72. New York Jets: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
73. Detroit Lions: Leonard Taylor, DL, Miami
74. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State
75. Los Angeles Rams (from Bears): Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Trade! We’re projecting the Los Angeles Rams to go ahead and make a move for a quarterback because right now, it doesn’t seem like Stetson Bennett is going to be able to be counted on. I think in terms of his skill set and personality, Spencer Rattler could fit really well with Sean McVay and this might be the ideal spot for him to develop behind Matthew Stafford.
76. Denver Broncos: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
77. Las Vegas Raiders: Jonathan Brooks, RB, Texas
78. Seattle Seahawks: Christian Haynes, OL, UConn
79. Atlanta Falcons: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
80. Cincinnati Bengals: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
81. Seattle Seahawks: Xavier Leggette, WR, South Carolina
2024 NFL Mock Draft: 3rd round (continued)
82. Indianapolis Colts: Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
83. Chicago Bears: Brandon Dorlus, DL/EDGE, Oregon
84. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brenden Rice, WR, USC
After picking up Justin Fields with their second round pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers do what they do best by going after offensive skill players on Day 2. The Steelers almost never miss when it comes to Day 2 receivers, running backs, or tight ends.
85. Cleveland Browns: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
86. Houston Texans: Cole Bishop, S, Utah
87. Dallas Cowboys: Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
88. Green Bay Packers: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
The Green Bay Packers could be saying goodbye to AJ Dillon in free agency. How about replacing him with the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Braelon Allen, a local product who also happens to be the youngest player in this year’s draft?
89. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
We know the Buccaneers need to re-sign Baker Mayfield. This mock draft sort of assumes that, but even if they do bring Mayfield back into the fold, I could see this kind of move making some sense for the Buccaneers and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. You need to invest in that position in case Mayfield regresses, and Kyle Trask ain’t the answer.
90. Arizona Cardinals: Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
91. Green Bay Packers: Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
The Green Bay Packers have become the masters of the double (and sometimes triple) up at certain position groups in recent drafts. The Packers could not only potentially lose AJ Dillon this offseason, but Aaron Jones is a possible post-June 1 cut. I love the contrast between Braelon Allen and Bucky Irving for Matt LaFleur’s running game.