A lot has already shifted in the NFL landscape this offseason with some big trades and free agent signings, but this upcoming 2024 NFL Draft is going to make some big ripples. This year’s draft class boasts a number of potential franchise quarterbacks as well as a deep wide receiver class, which could alter the trajectory of multiple NFL teams over the next few seasons.
I’ve had a fair amount of success with my previous NFL mock drafts for 2023 and 2022, but the possibility of one trade up for a quarterback by a needy team this year could shift everything. That makes the 2024 NFL Draft one of the toughest to predict in recent years, but we’ll give it our best shot below based on draft rumors, GM tendencies, and NFL team needs.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
With Caleb Williams currently at -20000 odds to be selected first overall, he’s a virtual lock here in pretty much every single NFL mock draft. It would be a stunning turn of events if the Bears were to trade down or select a different quarterback here on Thursday night after they jettisoned Justin Fields to the Steelers last month.
2. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
There’s been much speculation as to which quarterback the Commanders will draft at No. 2 overall, but Jayden Daniels remains the favorite given his arm talent and athleticism. Mobility has become a must for quarterbacks in the new NFL, and weighing in at 210 lbs. at LSU’s pro day likely assuaged the concerns surrounding his frame and whether he can hold up at the pro level. It’s a toss-up between Daniels and Drake Maye here, but both quarterbacks have questions, and Daniels has the higher ceiling.
3. New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
There were early murmurs around the league that New England could trade down, but this ain’t your Bill Belichick Patriots anymore. Recent reports indicate that the Patriots like both Daniels and Maye and that they understand this is a rare opportunity to be drafting this early in a deep quarterback class. Their recent one-year deal with Jacoby Brissett was likely to have him serve as a bridge quarterback so that they won’t need to immediately thrust whichever rookie they select here into action.
4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
It sounds like the Cardinals are open to trading down but that they’re ready to pull the trigger on Marvin Harrison Jr. if the offers aren’t good enough. Perhaps a team is desperate to trade up for a quarterback, or maybe a team will trade up for Harrison or Malik Nabers, but the most likely scenario seems to be Arizona staying put. After all, they haven’t had a true No. 1 wide receiver since Larry Fitzgerald‘s decline and retirement, and Harrison could be the next franchise wide receiver who’s a Cardinal for life in this mock draft.
5. Los Angeles Chargers – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
This pick will likely be a pivot point for the 2024 NFL Draft considering all the different possible outcomes. Minnesota could trade up for J.J. McCarthy here if they believe that New York is targeting him with the next pick. There have also been rumors that Joe Alt is in play given new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s recent remarks about the offensive line being the foundation of a good team.
That said, Nabers seems like he’s simply too much of a true difference-maker with his elite speed for the Chargers to pass up, especially after they moved on from both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams earlier this offseason. Harbaugh may prefer a run-heavy offense without too much reliance on the passing game like the ones he oversaw at Michigan and San Francisco before that, but a threat like Nabers would open up the entire offense and make life easier for Justin Herbert.
6. New York Giants – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants have met with several quarterbacks in recent weeks, and as mentioned above, they could be eyeing a trade up if they like one enough. However, New York could still land a quarterback on Day 2 or trade back into the late first round for a quarterback (spoiler alert, they do down below in this mock draft) without giving up a premium draft pick. With Darren Waller still mulling retirement and no true No. 1 wide receiver, the addition of Rome Odunze could greatly help Daniel Jones and/or help build a foundation for a rookie quarterback later on in the draft. Offensive line is another area of need to support whoever is under center, but the Giants have talent there already if they can stay healthy in 2024.
7. Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Speaking of offensive line, many mocks have Joe Alt penciled in to the Titans here with the No. 7 overall pick. Sometimes, a pick just makes too much sense to bet against the chalk. Tennessee has already been building around Will Levis this offseason with the additions of wide receiver Calvin Ridley and center Lloyd Cushenberry among others. Adding Alt to protect Levis’s blind side would be an ideal fit, especially with offensive line coach Bill Callahan to mold him into a potential franchise left tackle.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Another common NFL mock draft lock has been Dallas Turner to Atlanta, and this one also makes too much sense to bet against the chalk. New head coach Raheem Morris was the Rams’ defensive coordinator prior to joining the Falcons, and in a rookie class that’s deep at quarterback and wide receiver, getting the top edge rusher at No. 8 overall is a rare stroke of luck. Atlanta has also added Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson with their top-10 pick in the last three drafts, so it makes sense that defense will now be the priority with Kirk Cousins already having a bevy of weapons to work with on the offensive side of the ball.
9. Chicago Bears – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
It’s possible that the Bears could trade down and acquire additional draft capital, but Peter Schrager over at NFL.com recently stated that he’s been told by multiple GMs that he’s not high enough on Bowers. Chicago has already added veteran Keenan Allen this offseason alongside D.J. Moore to provide a strong supporting cast for Caleb Williams, and while offensive line is still an area of need, why not load the deck in Williams’s favor?
Yes, the Bears already have Cole Kmet, but they can move on from his contract easily after 2024, and Bowers is on a completely different level as a playmaker at the tight end position. Adding Bowers would give Williams an embarrassment of riches to work with, and it would be an added bonus to snub their old nemesis, Aaron Rodgers, as the Jets have rumored interest in Bowers with the 10th pick.
10. New York Jets – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Last year was a disaster for the Jets after having lost Rodgers about 30 seconds into the season. With the top offensive skill position players gone at 10th overall and an already-elite defensive core, New York should look to protect their aging quarterback for a potential Super Bowl run. Even with having signed Tyron Smith and traded for Morgan Moses, Taliese Fuaga can play tackle or guard, and he didn’t give up a single sack during the entirety of his college career. Bolstering their depth at offensive line wouldn’t be a flashy move, but it could be a crucial one for the Jets come January.
11. Minnesota Vikings – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
There are rumors flying everywhere that J.J. McCarthy could be selected as early as No. 2 overall, but we heard similar smoke about Will Levis prior to the 2023 NFL Draft. While I don’t necessarily expect McCarthy to fall to the second round like Levis ultimately did, there’s a possibility that the Vikings won’t need to trade up to land him. In this mock draft, Minnesota gets their pro-ready quarterback without needing to give up a haul, and McCarthy would land in a great offense with a strong supporting cast to ease his transition into the NFL.
12. Denver Broncos – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
It’s possible that the Broncos or Raiders could be interested in trading up a few spots to leapfrog the Vikings for McCarthy, but is Denver really ready to commit so quickly to another quarterback after the Russell Wilson fiasco? The Broncos need a home run at quarterback to have any hope of beating Patrick Mahomes for the division title for the next two decades, and they have glaring holes at a number of positions to fill before they can hope to contend in the AFC West. Quinyon Mitchell shores up the secondary in the meantime while the Broncos take a more measured approach to fix the quarterback position in 2025.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Raiders might also be eyeing McCarthy or another quarterback in the early teen picks, but they face the same concerns as the Broncos. Is the fourth or fifth quarterback in this draft really the answer to beating Mahomes in the near future? Antonio Pierce may or may not believe Aidan O’Connell to be their long-term answer under center, but Las Vegas desperately needs help on the offensive line for any quarterback to succeed, whether it’s O’Connell or someone else. Olumuyiwa Fashanu is a young, athletic, pass-blocking tackle who has immense upside at the next level and could be a foundational piece for the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints → Buffalo Bills – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Speed has become a coveted trait in the modern NFL, and Xavier Worthy has that in spades. After all, the last two wide receivers to have run a 40-yard dash in the 4.2s were both top-15 overall picks (Henry Ruggs 12th overall in 2020 and John Ross ninth overall in 2017). Neither turned out to be a good pick, but Worthy has a much better overall profile and college production than either Ruggs or Ross in addition to just pure speed.
In fact, if anything, 14th overall might be too late for Worthy. I’ve already sprinkled a few small bets on Worthy to be a top-10 overall selection at +10000 over on FanDuel given just how much the NFL covets speed. Brian Thomas Jr. is also in play to be the No. 4 wide receiver off the board, but in this NFL mock draft, the Bills make a bold move and leapfrog the Colts for the speedster after having discarded Stefon Diggs to Houston.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
It sounds like the Colts are in play for a long-term No. 1 wide receiver for Anthony Richardson after having franchise-tagged Michael Pittman Jr. for 2024. Some mocks have Indianapolis trading up for a top-tier wide receiver, and they could snag Thomas or Worthy here. Still, the Colts have a ton of needs on defense, and Terrion Arnold’s incredible athleticism give him a high ceiling to be the piece they need to start patching those holes in the secondary.
16. Seattle Seahawks – Byron Murphy, DI, Texas
Seattle has a number of needs, but Byron Murphy is ready to immediately play a three-down role. Murphy had the best pass rush grade in college football last year and can make an impact even as a rookie as the first building block for the Seahawks’ revamped defense under Mike Macdonald.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
While wide receiver and cornerback are both pressing needs for the Jaguars, Jared Verse might be the best player on the board at this point in the draft. And though Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for 27.5 sacks last year, Jacksonville has yet to sign Allen to a long-term deal after having placed the franchise tag on him. Verse would give added depth at pass-rusher for the Jaguars, and he’d be insurance in case they’re unable to come to terms with Allen long term.
18. Cincinnati Bengals – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Tee Higgins remains in Cincinnati for the 2024 season on the franchise tag, but there’s simply no way the Bengals can pay both him and Ja’Marr Chase next offseason. And while Higgins is a talented wide receiver in his own right, there’s no question as to which will be the priority for an extension.
Yes, Cincinnati could use help on the defensive side of the ball as well, especially after having lost D.J. Reader to Detroit in free agency. Still, adding Brian Thomas Jr. would give Joe Burrow a third weapon for a playoff run this season and hopefully mitigate the impending departure of Higgins next offseason.
19. Los Angeles Rams – J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
J.C. Latham has the combination of size and speed to perfectly execute blocks in Sean McVay’s zone scheme and anchor the right side of the Rams’ line, whether at tackle or guard. There’s even been some talk that Latham could be the second offensive lineman selected behind Alt, so it would be a blessing for Los Angeles to grab him here.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Steelers desperately need help on the offensive line, and Troy Fautanu is the first step toward alleviating that weakness. Fautanu can fit wherever needed, and he can serve as a physical run-blocker in Arthur Smith’s zone scheme.
21. Miami Dolphins – Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Miami lost their center Connor Williams to an ACL tear late in the season, and he remains a free agent as he rehabs. The Dolphins need to keep Tua Tagovailoa upright long enough to get the ball to one of their many speedy playmakers, and Graham Barton could be the perfect replacement for Williams.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Howie Roseman has focused on the trenches since becoming GM in Philadelphia, but the Eagles’ defense was a disaster in 2023 after having been elite during their Super Bowl run two years ago. Cooper DeJean can be a playmaker anywhere in the secondary for them to help overhaul the defense.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
After having secured a hopeful franchise quarterback earlier in this mock draft, the Vikings could steal Laiatu Latu for Brian Flores’s revamped defense. Latu nearly retired in 2021 due to a neck injury, but some teams view him as the top pass rusher in this class were it not for the medical concerns.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Although Dallas has Terrence Steele at right tackle already, Tyler Guyton is one of the most athletic offensive linemen in this rookie class. The Cowboys could move Guyton over to left tackle as the perfect successor to Tyron Smith, who departed to the Jets in free agency this offseason.
There are some uncanny similarities between Guyton and Smith. Smith was the Cowboys’ first-round pick back in 2011 as a raw, athletic prospect who initially played right tackle for Dallas before switching over to left tackle. Guyton could follow in Smith’s footsteps and develop into a similarly dominant left tackle.
25. Green Bay Packers – Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has indicated that he wants to prioritize takeaways, so with 12 interceptions in his last three years at Minnesota, Tyler Nubin seems like a perfect fit. He’s widely considered the top safety in the 2024 class and the best safety prospect since Kyle Hamilton in 2022. And while the NFL has devalued the safety position in recent years, Nubin could be a surprise first-round pick.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Darius Robinson has garnered a lot of buzz in recent weeks leading up to the draft. Although the Buccaneers need help in the secondary following the departure of Carlton Davis, Robinson is adept both as a run defender and pass rusher and will add to an already-stout front seven for Tampa Bay.
27. Arizona Cardinals – Jer’Zhan Newton, DI, Illinois
After having selected an elite wide receiver for Kyler Murray earlier in this NFL mock draft, the Cardinals can bolster the defense with an elite playmaker as well. Even as a rookie, Jer’Zhan Newton would be an immediate upgrade for what was one of the worst run defenses in the league last season.
28. Buffalo Bills → New Orleans Saints – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Having traded down, the Saints can still snatch up a premier tackle in a deep class, Amarius Mims. He has a high ceiling despite scant experience, but that may actually be a plus, as New Orleans could use Mims on either end of the line given that right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has struggled to stay healthy while left tackle Trevor Penning has struggled in general.
29. Detroit Lions – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Lions signed Carlton Davis in free agency to help upgrade their secondary, but that alone won’t be enough. Nate Wiggins is an athletic cornerback with size and speed who can make impact plays from Day 1 and could be the perfect complement to Davis.
30. Baltimore Ravens → Carolina Panthers – Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
To say that Bryce Young‘s rookie campaign last year was a disappointment is an understatement, but it wasn’t all on him. After all, Adam Thielen is in the twilight of his career, and Carolina’s second-round wide receiver from last year, Jonathan Mingo, didn’t show much.
There’s been a lot of speculation that the Chiefs could be looking at a wide receiver at No. 32 overall, especially considering Rashee Rice‘s recent legal troubles. The Panthers could move up from pick No. 33 overall for a fairly cheap price to add some help for Young with that in mind, and it’d be a win for the Ravens as well to not have to potentially face Mahomes in a few months’ time with yet another weapon in his arsenal.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Daniel Jeremiah recently identified the 49ers as a great fit for Kool-Aid McKinstry, and it makes a lot of sense. Although San Francisco signed three cornerbacks during free agency, McKinstry would still be an upgrade who can play press man coverage and help as a run defender, both areas where the 49ers struggled last season and into the playoffs.
32. Kansas City Chiefs → New York Giants – QB, Bo Nix, Oregon
With both Texas wide receivers already off the board at this point in this mock draft, the Chiefs could trade down and still nab a wide receiver or another position of need in the mid-second round. As mentioned above, the Giants have been meeting with a number of rookie quarterbacks, and they brought in Bo Nix just last week.
Nix has the arm strength and accuracy to be a starting caliber quarterback even though he’s an older prospect who still needs development. Brian Daboll helped develop Josh Allen in Buffalo, so New York may give him a chance to develop Nix. While the Giants just extended Daniel Jones last offseason, they have an out after the 2024 season, and trading up to No. 32 would give them a fifth-year option on Nix if he were to pan out.
For more fantasy football and NFL content, follow me on Twitter @FFA_Meng.