The 2024 NFL Draft is now less than one week away. In this mock draft, an unexpected team makes a huge, blockbuster deal to select a quarterback. Quarterbacks are all the rage, obviously, and the NFL has shifted way more to favor the offense than anything else. Beyond the QB spot going early and often in the first round, the wide receiver and offensive tackle positions are going to get a ton of attention.
With a plethora of teams vying for not enough prospects, there will surely be some fireworks during the 2024 NFL Draft, which is now less than one week away. Let's put together our latest mock draft before the real deal.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Unexpected team makes blockbuster trade for a QB
1. Chicago Bears - Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Yeah, this pick is going to happen unless something major changes. There really isn’t much more to talk about here, and even the second overall pick seems all but set in stone as well. Caleb Williams comes into a very strong situation for a rookie QB, perhaps one we have not seen before, and there isn’t anything to spot this team from making the postseason in 2024.
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Reading the tea leaves, and it seems like the Commanders are prepared to take Jayden Daniels with their first-round pick, but with teams not wanting to tip their hands, if you will, it could all be smoke and maybe Washington is wanting us to believe they are going Daniels. I am personally low on the prospect and do not believe he is going to be a franchise QB.
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, UNC
The Patriots need every other position on offense along with QB, but the QB spot is the most important, so while someone like Marvin Harrison Jr could be an appealing target here, the QB comes before anything else; it’s the most important position in the history of sports.
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals field trade-down offers but stick with their fourth pick and select Marvin Harrison Jr, who is arguably the best prospect in this entire class, giving QB Kyler Murray a legitimate weapon as GM Monti Ossenfort looks to continue rebuilding the roster.
5. Los Angeles Rams (via LAC) - JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Trade! The unexpected team moving up to the top five is the Los Angeles Rams, who are beginning to prepare for life after Matthew Stafford. JJ McCarthy recently turned 21 years old, so there is no rush, none at all for him to play. In fact, you can probably get another couple of good years out of Stafford, but the Rams fall in love enough with McCarthy to make the move.
6. New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Giants decide to not try to trade up for a QB but instead stick at No. 6 and take Malik Nabers, who some think is the best WR in the 2024 NFL Draft, not Harrison Jr. The Giants finally get a legitimate WR1 and might just address the QB position later on, as Daniel Jones is not the answer.
7. Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
I would be shocked if the Titans took any other position with this pick, as with all the QBs and WRs going early, Joe Alt should fall into their laps, which gives Will Levis a potentially franchise LT and someone who could cement the Titans OL for years to come. This would be a great pick by GM Ran Carthon.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Like the Titans picking Alt, I would be shocked if the Atlanta Falcons did not make this move, unless of course they trade up or down. The first defensive player off the board, Dallas Turner enters into a Falcons defense that desperately needs talent off the EDGE, and if they can fix that issue, this team is complete.
9. Chicago Bears - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Braxton Jones is fine at left tackle. He’s not a total liability but isn’t elite by any means. I don’t see the issue in taking someone like Olu Fashanu from Penn State, as NFL teams can never truly have too many good offensive linemen. Games in the NFL are won in the trenches.
10. New York Jets - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
A tackle might be the best position to take here, but with the Jets fixing their tackle situation for the short-term and bringing in WR Mike Williams, they can have some fun and take Brock Bowers, who could quickly become a huge part of the passing offense in New York.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
No QB for the Vikings just yet, as they decide to further enhance their defensive front. After Danielle Hunter left in free agency, they signed Jonathan Greenard. Well, why not add another pass rusher? GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah continues to lay the groundwork for an eventual QB addition to what is becoming a fun young roster.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (via DEN) - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Trade! The Eagles decide to trade up 10 slots, sending the Denver Broncos into the early 20s. They decide to give defensive coordinator Vic Fangio another very talented CB from Alabama. While Terrion Arnold isn’t the player that Patrick Surtain II is, he fills a huge position of need, as the Eagles are in an urgent win-now mode.
13. Las Vegas Raiders - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Las Vegas Raiders could use some help at right tackle, but they are a sneaky team to be in play for a QB. They signed Gardner Minshew in free agency, and there’s reason to believe he can be the Week 1 starter for them. Taliese Fuaga can slide in at RT and hopefully give Vegas two franchise tackles alongside Kolton Miller.
14. New Orleans Saints - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Tackles are flying off the board, as the New Orleans Saints might have a need at both tackle spots. Amarius Mims might be the best tackle prospect in the NFL Draft depending on who you ask, and at some point, the Saints are going to have to embrace some form of a youth movement to get younger and healthier on their cap.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Colts could be players for Brock Bowers, but they were rumored to be in play for CB L’Jarius Sneed, so that tells me they want to add a big-time name at CB. The first-round would be a good spot to get said CB, as the choice ends up being Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo.
16. Seattle Seahawks - Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
With a couple of needs across the offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks make Troy Fautanu the first pick of the Mike Macdonald era, who took over for future Hall of Fame head coach Pete Carroll. Macdonald was the DC of the Baltimore Ravens last year, so you could argue that a player on that side of the ball could be their first-round choice.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
The Jaguars have invested into their interior offensive line this offseason, and will now flip that and take the best defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft in Byron Murphy II. They also extended their best player, EDGE Josh Allen, earlier this offseason as well.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Rome Odunze at pick 18??? Well, it happened, and the Bengals run up to the podium to draft Odunze, who is a legitimate WR1 at the next level. In this scenario, one of their other best WRs, Tee Higgins, would get traded. The Bengals could also explore the FA market after the draft to add another WR to the mix.
19. Los Angeles Chargers (via LAR) - JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Chargers traded down quite a bit and will still be able to land JC Latham from Alabama, who is a natural at right tackle. The Chargers could then have two very good tackles for the long-term alongside Rashawn Slater. Now, we could definitely expect them to add a body or two at WR later on in the 2024 NFL Draft.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
Who knows if the Pittsburgh Steelers are truly interested in Brandon Aiyuk. They could save some draft picks and cap space by opting to draft a first-round rookie WR in Brian Thomas Jr. The Steelers do have a true WR1 on the roster in George Pickens, but the team did trade Diontae Johnson effectively for Donte Jackson earlier this offseason.
21. Miami Dolphins - Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Losing Christian Wilkins would be a huge blow if they didn’t work to find his replacement. With their first-round pick, the Dolphins do just that and take Johnny Newton from Illinois. They could also add an EDGE here, as both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are hurt.
22. Denver Broncos (via PHI) - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Denver Broncos get their QB and at a much more modest price. The trade-down with the Eagles not only net the Broncos more draft capital, but they get their hopeful franchise QB in Nix, who fits Sean Payton’s offense like a glove and could easily be a Week 1 starter for them over Jarrett Stidham.
23. Minnesota Vikings - Graham Barton, OG, Duke
The interior offensive line will be the Vikings choice with the 23rd pick, as they look to continue building a quality roster for their eventual QB addition. If Barton can pan out, that would give them three very strong OL pieces alongside Christian Darrisaw at LT and Brian O’Neill at RT.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is actually a huge need now, so they’ll opt to bolster the unit with Jackson Powers-Johnson, who feels like a sure-lock to be an NFL stud. One huge need is filled as Dallas probably continues to add on offense with more of their draft picks this year.
25. Green Bay Packers - Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
The Packers could still use some help in the secondary even after signing Xavier McKinney, so why not take the most versatile DB in the 2024 NFL Draft? Cooper DeJean tested well; he’s got excellent measurables and is truly a CB or S at the NFL level, likely playing both in a given week.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions in a quiet move this offseason. They’ll take CB Nate Wiggins from Clemson in the first round to effectively replace Davis. Notably, they re-signed and brought back S Jordan Whitehead. They also have stud safety Antoine Winfield on the backend as well.
27. Arizona Cardinals - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Getting the top WR prospect and one of the best pass-rushing prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft is excellent work by Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort. The Cardinals roster still needs a good bit of work, but after these two picks, you can see the foundation being laid, and I believe that they can shock some people in 2024.
28. Buffalo Bills - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Now officially the fastest player in the history of the NFL Combine, Adonai Mitchell gets to catch passes from Josh Allen in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills WR room is pretty bare after trading Stefon Diggs and letting Gabe Davis walk. It’s a first-round need for Buffalo and you just never know how Josh Allen is going to play without a top-10 WR to throw to.
29. Detroit Lions - Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Detroit Lions can go in a number of different directions here. They signed Kevin Zeitler on a one-year deal as they lost Jonah Jackson in free agency. Perhaps a guard is the pick here. Maybe it’s another WR. Heck, it could be someone like Chop Robinson, a talented and athletic pass rusher. The Lions defense was still a below-average unit in 2023, so my guess is they go in that direction with their first-round pick.
30. Baltimore Ravens - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Baltimore Ravens traded Morgan Moses back to the New York Jets earlier this offseason, and their LT, Ronnie Stanley, simply cannot stay healthy, so a tackle in the first round is an obvious selection. You really can’t go wrong with any of the first-round tackle prospects,
31. San Francisco 49ers - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The San Francisco 49ers were apparently in on Patrick Surtain II during the 2023 NFL Season, so it’s safe to say that they want to add to their secondary. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the second cornerback from Alabama to go in the first round and is a welcome addition to the defense.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The Chiefs current starting tackles of Wayna Morris and Jawaan Taylor could not block a cold. The defending Super Bowl champions are going to come out of this draft with a quality tackle prospect at some point, and I don’t see why it can’t be here at the bottom of the first round. Like the WR position, which is another KC need, the OT spot is deep, so GM Brett Veach can have some fun this year.
Would this first round actually be possible? I do believe that an unexpected team could come away with a first-round QB in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yes, having someone like Matthew Stafford on the roster is great, but he’s not getting younger, and GM Les Snead might want to get his guy now. Other teams that are obviously taking QBs did just that in this mock draft.
While we won’t know what actually happens until it does, many of these mock drafts to overlap quite a bit.