We're halfway through the 2023 NFL season, which means the 2024 NFL Draft is slowly (but surely) coming into focus. This year's class is fascinating at the quarterback position which will make for a ton of 2024 NFL mock draft scenarios between now and the end of April.
Although there's plenty of season left to find out what could happen with these teams, let's take a look at what the 2024 NFL Draft could look like if the season ended today.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Drake Maye replaces Caleb Williams at no. 1
1. Arizona Cardinals: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
There's a new number one in town. After months of Caleb Williams holding the top overall spot in our mock draft scenarios, now you've got a new no. 1. I was very intrigued by the fact that Dane Brugler of The Athletic had Drake Maye listed as not only his QB1, but his no. 1 overall player in the 2024 class. The Cardinals obviously have Kyler Murray on the roster, but will that remain the case if they get the top pick in next year's draft?
I'm skeptical, at best. I just don't know if Arizona can pass on a player like Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, even with Kyler Murray. Murray is coming off of a major injury and the rest of this season will likely determine whether or not they move forward with him beyond this season, or try to trade him to the highest bidder.
2. Chicago Bears (from Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Chicago Bears have two picks back-to-back in this 2024 NFL mock draft scenario, and that's an enviable position to be in with this particular class. The Bears have a chance with picks 2-3 to take the best QB left between Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, and then pair that pick up with likely Marvin Harrison Jr., who is arguably the best non-quarterback in this class.
But first, Caleb Williams. Williams obviously dropped out of the top overall slot in this mock draft, but he's still an outstanding overall prospect with playmaking ability.
3. Chicago Bears: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
With back-to-back selections early in this mock draft, the Chicago Bears get the chance to reset at the QB position with an outstanding talent (Caleb Williams) as well as pair up DJ Moore with the best non-QB in the class at the wide receiver position.
Imagine being able to jump into the 2024 season with Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, and Marvin Harrison Jr...
The Chicago Bears would undoubtedly be ecstatic. Harrison has been dominant for Ohio State the last two years and looks like he's going to reach All-Pro status rather quickly at the NFL level.
4. New York Giants: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
NFL Draft folks love the playmaking tight end Brock Bowers out of Georgia, and while this seems super early for a tight end (it is), it's never too early for a guy that can bring life to your offense. The Giants have done a good job of at least investing the early NFL Draft darts in the offensive line, and they have bookend first-round tackles right now.
While you might be tempted to move back here, getting a guy like Brock Bowers who can bring big-time playmaking ability to your offense is not something to just scoff at. I think the Giants would love to be in a spot here where they could select a quarterback, but that's not the reality in this mock draft scenario.
5. New England Patriots: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The New England Patriots have been a disaster up to this point in the 2023 season. There are rumors that Bill Belichick could be pursued by the Washington Commanders in the offseason. Mac Jones is not this team's QB of the future.
Will Josh McDaniels come back to New England again?
This Patriots team would probably love to get any of the blue-chip guys in this class, and they're doing anything but "settling" here for Olu Fashanu, an elite tackle prospect who will start immediately.
6. Green Bay Packers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Green Bay Packers are another team with massive QB question marks beyond this season. The jury is very much out on Jordan Love being the team's QB1 beyond this year, even though he is under contract. Love has played well in spurts, but hasn't been nearly consistent enough for a franchise that has had such tremendous long-term success with its last two full-time starting QBs.
Even though the Packers might want to replace Jordan Love, they for sure need to replace the oft-injured David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari is unavailable again this season and the Packers need to just reset at the offensive tackle position. Joe Alt is the way to go.
7. Indianapolis Colts: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Indianapolis Colts are going to be one of the most fun teams to watch in the 2024 offseason. Although Anthony Richardson has struggled in his rookie year with injuries, he's been pretty electric when he's on the field. Richardson has given the Colts a quarterback they can truly build around, and that's exactly what they are doing with this selection.
Keon Coleman has been outstanding this year for the Florida State Seminoles and at 6-foot-4, he's a big-bodied receiver the Colts can pair with rookie sensation Josh Downs for the future. Michael Pittman Jr. is a free agent after this season, and we'll see if the Colts prefer to let him walk or pay him a massive contract.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
What if the Raiders somehow hire Jim Harbaugh this offseason?
Could JJ McCarthy follow him from Ann Arbor to Las Vegas? I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. You know the Raiders are going to spare no expense in their search for a new head coach, and I could see Harbaugh being on Mark Davis's radar.
And regardless of Harbaugh coming to Las Vegas, I wouldn't be shocked to see JJ McCarthy picked in the top 10 of next year's draft. He's climbing draft boards rather quickly, and has all of the tools you look for at the position.
9. Denver Broncos: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Looking at the Denver Broncos right now, you can't help but wonder how the offseason is going to transpire with head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Russell Wilson. I think the idea of the Broncos moving on from Russell Wilson -- eating a huge chunk of dead cap in the process -- is possible, but Wilson is also currently the only QB in the NFL with 16 touchdowns and less than four interceptions. Are the numbers misleading? Maybe.
All I know is, the Broncos should be in the market for another receiver who could ultimately develop into their WR1 to pair with Marvin Mims. I think there are a few really good options for that in this class, but if the Broncos can't get one of the top left tackles in this class, then taking a stud like Rome Odunze out of Washington might be the next-best scenario.
10. Los Angeles Rams: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Although it could be cool to see the Rams go after Laiatu Latu and stay in the city of Los Angeles, Dallas Turner might have a slight edge overall as a prospect. No pun intended.
The Rams have found ways to reshape their roster with some good, young talent pretty quickly. This is a team that won the Super Bowl in 2021-22 thanks largely to their excellent pass rush department. But now, most of those guys are gone. They need a new top dog off the edge. Dallas Turner can be that.
11. Washington Commanders: Laiatu Latu, EDGE UCLA
The Washington Commanders are obviously smashing the reset button a little bit with the trades sending Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears and Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers. They still have an outstanding interior defensive line, but the Commanders obviously now need to go get some help off the edge.
Laiatu Latu has impressed all season for UCLA and has impressed to the point that some view him as the best EDGE player in this class. He'd be a huge addition and new foundation piece for the Commanders going forward.
12. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Just 11 picks ago, the Arizona Cardinals managed to land Drake Maye with the first overall pick in this 2024 NFL mock draft scenario. How do they follow up that selection? Well, when you draft a quarterback, I think one of the smartest things to do is to surround him with talent.
The Cardinals came into this season with one of the worst-looking rosters in the NFL, but some of their young guys have stepped up, played well, and perhaps cemented themselves as key pieces moving forward. I think Arizona getting a big target like Malik Nabers to pair up with Michael Wilson and Rondale Moore would give them a dynamic trio for Drake Maye to spread the ball to.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rode a tremendous pass rush to a Super Bowl just a few short years ago, but the mighty have fallen. Although the Bucs are still playing good defense as an entire unit, the combination of Shaquil Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has just 10 total QB hits this season, and 5.0 combined sacks in the first seven games of the season.
It could very well be time to get some new blood out there in the pass rush department, and lucky for the Bucs, this particular draft class is absolutely loaded off the EDGE with talent. While Robinson has some outstanding talent, you can't help but wonder how much his draft stock is going to hold. He's injured right now but he's bee very productive in the seven games he's played.
14. Los Angeles Chargers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Los Angeles Chargers will be a fascinating team to watch in the 2024 offseason. Are they going to make major changes to the coaching staff again? If they finish with the 14th overall pick in the first round, that means they missed the playoffs, and I would guess that Brandon Staley needs to make the playofs -- at the very least -- in order to keep his job.
With that being said, the Chargers had to move on from a bust of a free agent pickup in JC Jackson this year, sending him back to the fiery chasm from whence he came (the Patriots). I think we could absolutely see the Chargers going after help in the defensive backfield early on in the 2024 NFL Draft and Nate Wiggins has slowly been ascending to CB1 status.
15. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Tennessee Titans, at the time we're making this 2024 NFL mock draft, may have a very interesting scenario on their hands at the quarterback position. Will Levis came out in his first NFL start and threw a whopping four touchdown passes, elevating the Titans' offense and looking like a legitimate future starter.
We'll see what happens as the remainder of the season goes along, but as of right now, you like the idea of the Titans finding ways to surround Levis with talent, starting up front on the offensive line.
JC Latham is possibly a top-10 overall player in this class, so he presents somewhat of an intriguing value here as well.
16. New Orleans Saints: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Cooper DeJean is one of the most unique players in this year's draft. He's one of the most versatile defensive backs with the ability to play all over the formation as a rover type, deep safety, outside cornerback, or slot corner.
Wherever he ends up at the NFL level, don't be surprised to see him starting off as a punt returner as well. He might be the best punt returner in this draft class on top of everything else.
For the New Orleans Saints, this is mostly about adding the best player available but you get a player who can come in and create turnovers defensively and big plays on special teams right away.
17. New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Has Zach Wilson done enough in the first half of the 2023 season to really give anyone confidence that he's going to be able to be the Jets's quarterback of the future? I don't think so. The Jets have somehow found a way to win four of their first seven games, but color me unimpressed at this point.
I don't know if Aaron Rodgers plans on sticking around beyond this season, but even if he does, I think Shedeur Sanders or JJ McCarthy being on the board and available to the Jets would present them with an interesting situation, at the very least. Sanders is a really good, young quarterback who sees the field exceptionally well and knows how to distribute the ball.
He may be a year away from being starter-ready in the NFL, and the question is whether or not he will spend that year at CU again or learning on an NFL roster.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Cincinnati Bengals are getting close to a point here where they may need to start making sacrifices on the roster since they're paying stars like Joe Burrow and soon Ja'Marr Chase. It's possible they could try to extend Tee Higgins yet, but what would that mean for Tyler Boyd, who is already 28?
The Bengals might look to the receiver position early in next year's draft if the right player is on the board, and Emeka Egbuka is a strong option here. He's been dealing with an ankle injury this season so we haven't seen him singing October, but he's definitely got first-round tape out there.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
At some point, someone had to end the fall of Jared Verse here. Depending on who you ask, Verse could either be a guaranteed top-10 pick or just a run-of-the-mill first-round talent at the EDGE position. Prior to coming to Florida State, Verse was an FCS star, but he's made a name for himself at FSU and his production has ramped up recently.
The Falcons' defense has taken a step forward with Ryan Nielsen calling the plays on that side of the ball and while this Falcons team will be in the market for a QB, I don't see anyone to fit into this slot right here. Jared Verse is a "safer" selection although the Falcons could consider a number of defensive backs as well.
20. Minnesota Vikings: Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
The Minnesota Vikings have more questions right now than what's going on with their interior defensive line. Namely, what is going to happen in the 2024 offseason with quarterback Kirk Cousins? Cousins, the top pending free agent in the entire NFL in 2024, is going to be the focus of the Vikings' offseason especially after suffering a major injury last weekend against Green Bay.
Assuming the Vikings bring Cousins back, they can focus in on smaller roster issues like the interior defensive line. Jer'Zhan Newton is slightly undersized on the defensive line but he can play the run and pass effectively, and is the top interior defensive lineman in this class as of right now.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Joey Porter Jr. out of Penn State in this past year's draft, why not dip into that talent pool again?
We know the Pittsburgh Steelers love local prospects more than just about any other team in the NFL, and adding Kalen King would give the Steelers a very athletic duo of young outside cornerbacks to pair up for the future. King has had his share of struggles lately at Penn State but anytime you're going against Ohio State, that's a tough ask for your cornerbacks.
He has big-time athleticism and is still just 20 years old.
22. Houston Texans (from Browns): Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
I think Houston Texans fans are hoping that some other receivers will emerge to be worthy of being selected in this range. There might be some players close enough to pull the trigger on, but you also can't help but think that DeMeco Ryans would be excited to add another versatile presence to his secondary, even with Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward back there.
Kinchens is a playmaker on the back end who can play in just about any alignment and as Ward gets older, perhaps Kinchens can be the guy the Texans pair with Pitre on the back end. Ryans had outstanding safety play when he was in San Francisco and Kinchens is a weapon he can utilize immediately.
23. San Francisco 49ers: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best collections of offensive talent in the entire NFL, but part of what has made that side of the ball so great is the play of their offensive line. Although he was much maligned during his time in San Francisco, Mike McGlinchey left behind a void at the tackle position for the 49ers that could be filled by one of the biggest risers in this year's class: Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga.
Both Oregon State offensive tackles are legit NFL Draft prospects.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 20, 2023
Here’s a look at what defines #75 RT Taliese Fuaga: raw power. When he gets hands on you, it doesn’t end well for the defender. pic.twitter.com/N9VwHulyVu
Fuaga is violent, athletic, and consistently improving. He would fit great at the right tackle position immediately for the 49ers' offense, where his movement skills and power would be highlighted on a weekly basis.
24. Buffalo Bills: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
There were rumors that the Buffalo Bills were interested in potential blockbuster trades at the NFL trade deadline involving players like Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears and perhaps even Pat Surtain II. Although discussions regarding those players certainly got to different levels (much further with Johnson than Surtain), the Bills ended up settling on trading for Rasul Douglas.
With the injury to Tre'Davious White as well as the injury/inconsisency so far of Kaiir Elam, we could see the Bills tap into the cornerback position yet again. Not to mention, Kool-Aid McKinstry is probably the best possible value here you could ask for. McKinstry could instantly upgrade the Buffalo secondary.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
The Seattle Seahawks have done a tremendous job over the last few years of reloading their roster in the post-Russell Wilson era. They have spent their highest draft picks on premium positions like tackle, edge, cornerback, and receiver. They have hit on many of those high selections already and we're seeing the Seahawks reap the benefits of that, with a record of 5-2 early on in the season.
I think with the way this roster is currently constructed, you could really see the Seahawks go in a variety of directions, meaning they have some freedom here. I love the idea of adding Tyler Nubin to the secondary, one of the smartest safeties in college football and a player who is going to create a lot of turnovers at the NFL level.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
I felt like the tackle position could be a focus for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 NFL Draft early on, but they decided to roll with what they have, which has led to some mixed results. Terence Steele was given a new contract, and Tyron Smith was brought back despite rumors he could be cut or traded. I just think the Cowboys have to set themselves up with a long-term replacement option for Tyron Smith, who has missed a fair amount of time in recent years.
Amarius Mims comes from a Georgia program which has been cranking out NFL-ready offensive linemen in recent years, and he's a big dude with great movement skills who could step in at left tackle right away for Dallas as fans have grown frustrated with Tyron Smith's situation.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Taylor, DL, Miami
The Jacksonville Jaguars have obviously ascended very quickly with Doug Pederson leading the charge as their head coach. It's been awesome to see, and one area of this team that has made really great strides quickly is the defensive side of the ball.
Adding a playmaker on the defensive line like Leonard Taylor would take them to the next level. I think we could see the Jaguars look to add another edge to complement Josh Allen as Travon Walker continues to play more of a versatile role, but Leonard Taylor has a high pass rush in rate on the interior defensive line and with his athleticism, he should be a force at the next level.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
The Baltimore Ravens recently used a first-round pick on Odafe Oweh off the edge, but they might need to dip into that position group again in the first round of this year's draft as well. Bralen Trice has the size you typically see the Ravens covet off the edge, and I think he would be a nice fit for them early on.
The Ravens have been utilizing Jadeveon Clowney quite a bit early in the 2023 season, and they've also had to give quite a bit of snaps to veteran Kyle Van Noy. This is Odafe Oweh's third season already, and he has just 9.0 career sacks. The Ravens might be looking at a complete reset at the EDGE position in the very near future.
29. Detroit Lions: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
The Detroit Lions have been one of the most interesting teams in the NFL over the last handful of years. Ever since Dan Campbell took over as the team's head coach, not only has the culture of the franchise improved, but the talent has improved along with it. As the talent and culture have fused together, the Lions have become legitimately one of the best teams in the NFL.
It's been fun to watch, frankly.
I would love to see what the Lions would do in the back half of the first round like this, but adding a playmaker for the secondary is never a bad idea. The Lions have allowed 11 passing touchdowns this season, which ranks them 19th in the NFL. A playmaker like Lassiter could help clear that area up.
30. Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
The Miami Dolphins have built a roster full of absolute track stars, but they go with a big man here in Duke's versatile Graham Barton. Although Barton plays left tackle for the Blue Devils, he could wind up making a transition to the interior offensive line in the NFL and he could thrive there.
Looking beyond this season, it's possible that the Dolphins might need multiple new starters on the interior offensive line and landing one this late in round one would be ideal.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously the reigning Super Bowl champions, so we have to nit-pick their roster and the way the team is built, but it's kind of easy to see that this team needs work at wide receiver. The Chiefs are coming off of a game in which they didn't score a single touchdown against the Denver Broncos, and the wide receiver position is a big reason why.
Rashee Rice looks like a keeper moving forward, but Skyy Moore is more of a role player and I don't know how long players like Kadarius Toney will last in Kansas City. Brian Thomas Jr. makes it a pair of LSU Tigers going in the first round of this 2024 NFL mock draft, and gives the Chiefs a big target (6-foot-4) with outstanding vertical speed and separation skills.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
The Philadelphia Eagles always seem to come away from the NFL Draft with a tremendous value at just about every turn, and this situation is no different. The Eagles add to their pass rush with Ohio State's JT Tuimoloau, a formerly coveted recruit who has made one big splach after another as a member of the Buckeyes' defensive line.
The Eagles have other more pressing needs, but the NFL Draft is rarely about addressing pressing needs for teams like Philadelphia. They are going to find the best value possible and that's what this pick represents.