It’s Draft Week! The 2024 NFL Draft begins this Thursday with round one. NFL Draft Lounge will have coverage leading up to the Draft, as well as coverage of all seven rounds. Below is my 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, which also features trades. I hope you enjoy reading it, and be sure to stick with NFL Draft Lounge for more 2024 NFL Mock Draft Content. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
This pick has essentially been locked in for months, makes sense for all parties involved. Williams has proven himself to be the best prospect in this class and the Bears, with a much better roster than the past few years, are in a position to compete right now with the addition of Caleb.
2. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
I truly cannot express how close I was to taking Drake Maye with this selection in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0. Although I have Daniels ranked higher, the recent rumors coming out about Washington’s preference made me a little more skeptical. That being said, Daniels jump in production this past season has made him worthy of the no. 2 selection.
3. New England Patriots – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
My first “surprise” selection of the draft, I have the Pats taking Nabers and giving an LSU 2-3 punch at the top of the draft. I don’t think New England trades out of this pick because they won’t see enough compensation for the selection, and believe that Nabers will have a slight edge over Harrison in their front office.
4. Minnesota Vikings (via Arizona Cardinals) – Drake Maye, QB, UNC
My first trade of the draft! I have the Vikings jumping up from no. 11 to get their hopeful franchise signal-caller. The Cardinals had a similar trade scenario last year, going from no. 3 to 12, before ultimately going back up for Paris Johnson. This trade makes sense for both sides, as Minnesota gets their QB and Arizona manages to acquire some extra premium picks, while still landing in a position to take a talented pass-catcher.
5. Los Angeles Chargers – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
This would be a dream scenario for Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers front office, as they take a player who many people have as a top-2 prospect in the class. With the departure of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Harrison fills a huge need at WR in a room that lacks experience and talent. I find it very likely that they will receive numerous trade calls for this selection, but for the talent they are getting at pick 5, they should stay put.
6. New York Giants – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
J.J. McCarthy could certainly be taken here, but I opted for the uber-talented player out of Washington capable of making contested catches very few others can in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0. Odunze was an absolute stud last season with 100 receiving yards in 5 of his last 6 games of the season (including postseason).
7. Denver Broncos (via Tennesee Titans) – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
And that makes the first seven selections of the 2024 NFL Draft either a QB or WR. The draft board falls in the Broncos favor as they are able to trade up for McCarthy at a lower selection than I’m sure they thought he’d last. Denver is in serious need of some talent in the quarterback room, and McCarthy would give head coach Sean Payton some stability.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
My first defensive player is someone you might not have expected, but is an extremely finished prospect. Latu played very well at the senior bowl and has killed the pre-draft process, making him worthy of a top-10 selection in my opinion. Because all of the previous picks were offense, the Falcons have their choice on the defensive side of the ball, and although Latu’s medicals may scare some teams off, I think head coach Raheem Morris will be especially excited about the player and person they’re getting.
9. Chicago Bears – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
If this is how the draft plays out, the Bears front office couldn’t send this selection in any quicker. Coming out of the top-10 with Caleb Williams and Joe Alt, a tackle who had very little poor reps in college, would be an absolute dream.
10. New York Jets – Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu’s versatility along the line gives him a slight edge over the other tackle prospects, and the sheer tenacity he played with play in and play out is impressive. New York made had some free agent acquisitions at the OT position, which allows Fautanu to kick inside to guard but slide out if there’s an injury or poor-performance.
11. Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota Vikings) – Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
With all of the tier 1 WR’s off the board, I have Arizona taking a premier talent in Turner. The Cardinals lacked any elite defenders last season, and are in particular need of help along the line. I have Latu ranked higher than Turner, but he is still extremely talented, having played across from Will Anderson in 2022 and winning SEC DPOY in 2023.
12. Tennessee Titans (via Denver Broncos) – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
I flirted with the idea of taking Brock Bowers with this pick in my 2024 NFL Mock Draft, but the hole at left tackle is too huge to not address here. Considering how refined he is for his age, I think Olu has the highest upside of any OT in this draft, allowing the Titans to relax about who’s protecting Will Levis’s blindside.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Tailese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
If there was a short list of coaches who especially respect the toughness that Fuaga plays with, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce would be on that list. He plays at full speed every play, with a tough upper-body and twitchy lower-body. By securing the RT spot, Minshew or O’Connell should be able to play comfortably from within the pocket.
14. New Orleans Saints, JC Latham, OT, Alabama
With a draft class such as this one, which is loaded with talent at offensive tackle, there is seemingly always a run on them somewhere in the first round. I have the Saints taking Latham at 14, the third OT in a row, which would allow 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning to kick inside to guard. Latham is the next Alabama first round offensive tackle, who is particularly effective as a run-blocker.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Colts secondary is in need of a lockdown cover guy, and Mitchell has been that. He was terrific in senior bowl 1v1’s, and would make for one great half of a CB duo with Kenny Moore II.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (via Seattle Seahawks) – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
My next trade has the Bengals jumping up two spots for the all-around talented Bowers. Offensive line help is a need, but with such a deep class at that position I think jumping up two spots is worth it for a player that would bring yet another threat on their offense. Bowers can truly do it all on the field, whether it’s blocking, catching, or running a jet sweep, he was a lethal force in the SEC since he walked onto the field for the first time.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
I’m sure the announcement of a trade would have the Jags worried here, thinking that someone was jumping them for Arnold, but in this scenario, he falls right into their lap. Wide receiver could also be a fit here with Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, etc., but passing up on a talented prospected at maybe your biggest need would be a mistake.
18. Seattle Seahawks (via Cincinnati Bengals) – Graham Barton, OL, Duke
The IOL position is one of extreme need for Seattle, and Barton has experience playing all three interior spots, as well as tackle. The Seahawks could seriously set and forget him at LG, C, or RG. He’s a great fit for what they need, and should be an easy selection.
19. Los Angeles Rams – Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Kobie Turner was a very pleasant surprise for the Rams last season, nabbing nine total sacks as a third-round rookie, but defensive line is still a need. Edge needs more help than the interior, but Murphy’s high-level play from the middle could ultimately help the edge pressure develop better.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
I debated Jackson Powers-Johnson here, but felt like the value of taking Thomas Jr. was better. As much help as JPJ would bring, Pittsburgh simply lacks an NFL-level receiver room. The big target out of LSU has the potential to be even better than the top WR’s in this class, and could easily be the most impactful pass catcher for Pittsburgh his rookie year.
21. Miami Dolphins – Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
The senior bowl performance of JPJ is what really shot his name up draft boards, and although his hype has somewhat fallen, I think he’ll go higher than where most people are mocking him right now. The Dolphins have swung and miss at the offensive line position many times in recent drafts, but Powers-Johnson is as solid as they get, with the ability to play across the interior.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
What do you know, the Eagles are drafting yet another phenomenal athlete out of Georgia that dominates other players every single play. Mims’ tape is small, and front offices may be all over as to how good he is/can be, but the Eagles seem to get the most out of their offensive line, and if they accomplish that with Mims, they’ll have a franchise tackle.
23. Washington Commanders (via Arizona Cardinals via Minnesota Vikings) – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
If you’re confused about who has this pick, the Vikings (who as of 4/19 own this selection) traded this along with no. 11 to move up to no. 4, the Cardinals, who then traded back once again with the Commanders. The Commanders have five day 2 picks, and use some to jump their rival Cowboys at no. 24 to nab an athletically gifted offensive tackle, giving them an immediate upgrade on either side.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Xavier Worthy is definitely on the list of prospects that scream Dallas Cowboys. His lightning speed and deep-threat ability gives Dak Prescott a complimentary target to CeeDee Lamb.
25. Green Bay Packers – Roger Rosengarten, OL, Washington
The Packers offensive line has lost some talent the last few years, and with a franchise QB to protect in Jordan Love, they need to make it a priority to build the line back up. Rosengarten played with a similar grit and tenacity as Fautanu, the type of play that will be sought after by the Green Bay front office.
26. Kansas City Chiefs (via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
It would almost be poetic if the Chiefs once again jumped the Bills at a huge position of need for them (traded up for Trent McDuffie in 2022). Legette had a breakout season in 2023 woth 1,255 yards and would give Mahomes another weapon to deal to.
27. Arizona Cardinals – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Cardinals once again go defense (took Dallas Turner at no. 11) with the physically gifted DeJean. An injury in November slowed down his hype but he picked it back up with a great pre-draft process. He would give the Cardinals a great option at CB to pair with a talented safety room.
28. Buffalo Bills – Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The trade of Stefon Diggs left a hole at WR for Buffalo, and despite some free agent acquisitions including Curtis Samuel, it remains a big need. Coleman would present a huge target for Josh Allen, eliminating some of the redzone pressure he’s had put onto him since being in the NFL.
29. Detroit Lions – Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Robinson, like some of the other prospects in this mock, was helped by a great senior bowl showing. Head coach Dan Campbell will love him as a player and person, his toughness and motor will make him a perfect fit for the Lions defensive group.
30. Baltimore Ravens – Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
If you go based solely off of college career stats, Chop presents a similar prospect to that of Odafe Oweh. More of a project pick, Robinson has the quickness to be a better pro than college player, and I think it’s simply a decision of whether or not the Ravens front office wants to have to wait a few years for it to pay off.
31. New York Giants (via San Francisco 49ers) – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
A last minute trade for the Giants to get a fifth-year option on a quarterback, why not? It seems inevitable that Daniel Jones will not be playing out the egregious contract he signed last offseason. By trading back into the first and getting the fifth-year option in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, it would allow New York to have a backup plan and future starter while they wait and see how Jones plays next season.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Kansas City Chiefs) – Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
Tampa Bay has invested tons of capital recently into getting more edge pressure, but Kneeland has had a late draft season rise that could see him becoming worthy of this pick. He’s raw as a pass rusher, but with the depth at DL the Bucs have right now, Kneeland could develop before breaking out later.