It’s Draft Week, folks! For all of us here at NFL Draft Lounge, it’s the week that we’ve been counting down to all year long. After months of preparation, it’s finally time to release my final 2024 NFL Mock Draft. This draft includes trades, five of them to be exact. It’s almost certain to be far from perfect, but I have included what I believe most teams will do on Thursday night in Detroit.
The 2024 NFL Draft starts this Thursday, April 25th at 8 EST on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and the NFL Network. Coverage of rounds two and three are on Friday, while coverage is wrapped up on Saturday with rounds four through seven.
Be sure to follow NFL Draft Lounge for more coverage and analysis of my final 2024 NFL Mock Draft, as well as big boards and scouting reports. As always, you can find us on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
1. Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, Southern California
Baring some insane scenario that we have yet to predict, the Chicago Bears are poised to select the best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. He didn’t workout at the NFL Combine, but was supportive of other prospects, and only took one 30 visit, which was to the Bears. It’s an unconventional pre-draft process, but it’s worked out for him.
2. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
In my opinion, this pick will come down to what works best for Kliff Kingsbury and his offensive scheme. If I had to make my guess today, it’s LSU’s Jayden Daniels. However, Drake Maye would make a lot of sense here, too. I don’t think it’s going to be leaked in the media as to which direction the Commanders are heading, so we’re all in the dark together.
However, I don’t believe, contrary to some rumors out there, that they would seriously consider trading out of this pick.
3. **Trade** New York Giants (Via Patriots) – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
I have my first trade in this 2024 NFL Draft, and I think it’s a little unconventional. If the New England Patriots aren’t sold on Drake Maye, or perhaps they’re in love with JJ McCarthy, then moving a couple of spots down the board would be a smart decision.
I don’t think it’ll break the bank to move up for the Giants. In 2012, Washington moved up from 6th to 2nd overall for Robert Griffin III, which cost them an arm and a leg. I don’t think that’s the rule, but rather the exception to determining draft trade value.
4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
If they don’t trade out of this position, then I believe that the Arizona Cardinals would be more than happy to get the best wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft class. In this case, that’s Marvin Harrison Jr. However, if you’re into betting, there might be some value with someone like Washington WR Rome Odunze.
5. Los Angeles Chargers – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Los Angeles Chargers used a first round pick last season on WR Quentin Johnston. While they don’t have a lot of depth in their receiver room, I find it unlikely that they would use a top five pick on a wide receiver. Rather, I have them upgrading their offensive line with the best offensive tackle in this class.
Rashawn Slater hasn’t played right tackle since the 2018 season, where he was a sophomore at Northwestern. Regardless, I think the best combination would involve slotting Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt at offensive tackle.
6. New England Patriots (Via Giants) – JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
In this mock draft, the New England Patriots move back three spots, but are still able to get one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s class. JJ McCarthy’s draft stock skyrocketed this season, which was capped off with the National Championship. I don’t know if he can make it into the top three, but he has the tools and makeup to play like one.
7. Tennessee Titans – Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
In his latest call with the media, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah highlighted Byron Murphy II as a prospect that could come off the board in the top ten. Looking at team needs, the Tennessee Titans make quite a bit of sense. He displayed a ton of versatility at Texas, playing nose tackle, defensive tackle, and a bit at defensive end.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
I’ve had the Atlanta Falcons marked as a team that could target an edge rusher in the first round, which hasn’t changed with this mock draft. There has been some talk about UCLA’s Laiatu Latu as a possibility, but I’m not buying it as much more than a smoke screen.
9. **Trade** Indianapolis Colts (Via Bears) – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
If I’m Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears, I’m fielding calls for a team to move up to nine, which is exactly what I have happening here.
The Indianapolis Colts have the 15th pick in the first round, which puts them a bit out of position for selecting a top wide receiver this year. It may cost more than they’re willing to pay to move up, but I would like to see some aggressiveness from Chris Ballard and the Indianapolis Colts in finding a serious weapon for QB Anthony Richardson.
10. New York Jets – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
By no means do I support drafting a tight end in the top ten of the NFL Draft. However, I do believe that the New York Jets need to pull out all the stops as they surround Aaron Rodgers with playmakers. Their talent at tight end isn’t great, which should force their hand a bit here.
11. Minnesota Vikings – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
I love that the Minnesota Vikings were able to trade back into the first round in a pick swap with the Houston Texans. However, I don’t believe that they need to be over-aggressive here to try and snag a quarterback. Instead, I think they can let the board fall around them, and maneuver where they see fit.
In this case, they can stick at 11 and grab one of the top corners in this class. I don’t know how they feel about Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr, but I don’t think that picking one of them at 11 is the answer.
12. Denver Broncos – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Much has been said about the Denver Broncos using this pick on a quarterback, such as Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. However, similar to what I said about the Vikings using the 11th pick on a quarterback, I just think it’s too early to do so.
Therefore, let’s mock them Daniel Jeremiah’s favorite prospect in this class, Washington WR Rome Odunze. He’s not a quarterback, but he is a heck of a replacement for Jerry Jeudy.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
If you’re buying the rumors, then the Raiders are considering selecting MIchael Penix Jr with this pick.
But I’m not.
I think there are more pressing needs on both sides of the ball for the Raiders. One of the top offensive linemen has fallen into their laps, and if this happens on Thursday, I expect them to jump at the opportunity to add Olu Fashanu to their roster.
14. **Trade** Los Angeles Rams (Via Saints) – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
I have another trade happening in my final 2024 NFL Mock Draft. This is a win-win for both teams involved. I think offensive line might be a target for the Saints in round one, and given how this mock has played out, they can afford to move down a few spots.
For the Rams, they’re a team that has been mentioned as a candidate to trade up. This is a perfect opportunity for them to do so, with their eyes set on UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who is a raw, but very athletic edge rusher.
15. Chicago Bears – Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
There is a ton of talent at the wide receiver position in day one of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears move down six spots in my final 2024 NFL Mock Draft, but don’t miss out on one of the top playmakers at receiver.
16. Seattle Seahawks – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Quite honestly, I have no idea what the Seattle Seahawks are looking to do with this pick. The front office restructured Geno Smith’s contract this offseason, although I don’t believe that they’re looking for a replacement. I think they’re set on offense, or at least in the first round. Therefore, I have them going after Jared Verse, who was arguably the top edge rusher heading into the 2023 college football season.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Outside of Tyson Campbell, the Jaguars lack youth in their secondary. I’m a little surprised that Terrion Arnold has found his way down to the 17th pick, but I do think we’ll see a couple of prospects fall on draft night.
18. **Trade** Denver Broncos – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
I mentioned that I thought the 11th and 12th picks were a little too early for a team to draft a quarterback. While they don’t have a 2nd round pick in 2024, I do believe that the Denver Broncos have enough ammunition to move back into the 2nd round if they want.
19. New Orleans Saints (Via Rams) – JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Trevor Penning experiment has been a disaster for the New Orleans Saints, and I think it’s time to address it. I had the organization move a couple of spots down the board following the trade with the Rams. They’ll likely be able to pickup a couple of future picks while still landing JC Latham, who I believe they’d prefer to nab.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Both Dan Moore Jr and Broderick Jones underperformed at offensive tackle in 2023. By selecting Taliese Fuaga here, they’d move Jones to left tackle, a position that he played in 2022 at Georgia. Fuaga has spent his career at right tackle, which I believe holds in the NFL, too.
21. Miami Dolphins – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Mimai Dolphins need help on the interior offensive line, but i don’t know if they should spend a first round pick in doing so. They’ve been forced to forfeit their third round pick this year, so the first and second round picks that they possess come at a bit of a premium.
Therefore, let’s pick a premier player in Clemson CB Nate Wiggins. I really love his game film, and despite the slide here in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, I think he’s a top 15 overall prospect.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Cooper DeJean is a corner/safety hybrid prospect that performed at a high level for Iowa. It’s difficult to gauge where he’ll come off the board, but Philadelphia makes a lot of sense for him, given their needs at both of those positions.
23. **Trade** Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Via Vikings) – Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
It’s time for the final trade in my 2024 NFL Final Mock Draft. In this scenario, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to leap the Dallas Cowboys for a versatile interior offensive lineman.
For the Minnesota Vikings, assuming that they have their eye set on Michael Penix Jr, why not slide down a couple of spots, gain back some draft capital, and get out of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with a quarterback?
24. Dallas Cowboys – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
I have Washington OL Troy Fautanu as an offensive tackle/guard. I don’t know which position Dallas has projected for him, but I do see it as a fit for both sides. For Dallas, RT Terence Steele had a down year in 2023, despite playing much better the previous two seasons. RG Zack Martin will turn 34 next season and is signed through the 2025 season. Regardless of how this plays out, I think shoring up their offensive line depth is the right decision for Dallas long-term.
25. Green Bay Packers – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Green Bay Packers Selected CB Eric Stokes in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but it hasn’t gone well for him. Lining up Kool-Aid McKinstry alongside Jaire Alexander in the secondary would benefit all parties.
26. Minnesota Vikings (Via Buccaneers) – Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington
Personally, I wouldn’t take Michael Penix Jr in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but I’m also not the GM on the Minnesota Vikings. However, if they aren’t sold on Penix Jr, then trading out of the first round entirely is an option, too. With that being said, they were aggressive in getting an additional first round pick, so let’s put it to good use.
I have them being patient and selecting a quarterback at 26, but it really feels like they’re going to throw everything they can to get into the top five.
27. Arizona Cardinals – Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
I love that the Arizona Cardinals have an additional pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, this one comes from the Texans, because they’re only going to get better from it. Currently, I don’t see a franchise edge rusher on the roster. Darius Robinson’s draft stock has been trending upwards, so much so that I think he can get into the first round.
28. Buffalo Bills – Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
I strongly considered Xavier Worthy here, but I struggle to find areas where he is better than Adonai Mitchell, outside of straight-line speed. Overall, I just think Mitchell is the better prospect. In fact, and this might surprise some, but I don’t have Xavier Worthy coming off the board in the first round.
29. Detroit Lions – Demeioun “Chop” Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Detroit Lions signed DE Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal this offseason. It’s not a long-term solution for them, which is why I have them addressing the need here in the first. An interior offensive lineman is a possibility here, especially if they love Jackson Powers-Johnson or Zach Frazier.
30. Baltimore Ravens – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
I had high expectations for Daniel Faalele when he entered the league, but he’s fallen far short of those. If they want to find a replacement, then they have an opportunity to do so here with Amarius Mims on the board.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
This is a hell of a slide for Johnny Newton, but I struggled to find a landing spot for him. It’s doubtful that he falls this far, at least without a team trading up for him, but if he does, you can count on San Francisco sprinting to the podium to call his name.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The Chiefs continue to get better here. Ladd McConkey was one of the best receivers on the field at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and has backed that up throughout the pre-draft process. Assuming that Rashee Rice will see limited time on the field in 2024, it would make sense that the Chiefs address the position early.