With free agency mostly behind us, the 2024 NFL Draft picture is more clearly coming into view. There will likely be another big move or two (Brandon Aiyuk? Tee Higgins? Maybe Stefon Diggs?) that will change things, but with under a month to go the draft needs shouldn’t change too dramatically before April 25th. Therefore, it’s time for my 2024 Post-Free Agency Mock Draft.
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2024 Post-Free Agency Mock Draft
1. Chicago Bears (Via Carolina Panthers) – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
RIP Justin. I still love you. It’s not exactly breaking news, but this is lock barring something truly crazy happening.
2. Washington Commanders – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
As of now, I don’t think anyone, including the Commanders, Patriots and others, know what order the top QBs after Caleb are going, but I think after all the Pro Days and visits and late night dinners Washington will settle on the guy we all originally expected to be QB2 – Drake Maye.
3. New England Patriots – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
I’m not buying that the Patriots are seriously considering a trade down. Yes, it is true that they could accumulate draft capital to address their many needs, but it is also true that without a QB they aren’t going anywhere. At 3, a spot they hope to never earn again, they stick and pick Jayden Daniels to try to compete with Mahomes and Allen in the AFC arms race.
4. *TRADE* Minnesota Vikings (Via Arizona Cardinals) – JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
I don’t like to project trades in mock drafts. They are nearly impossible to do and more often than not they don’t end up happening, but this one is so obvious I’m worried it is going to happen before I hit publish. The Vikings look poised to trade their newly acquired 1st round pick from the Texans and #11 overall to move into this spot to select a QB. For the trade value calculators out there, it is a slight overpay but I think there is a premium due to competition from teams like the Giants, Broncos and Raiders, all of whom I wouldn’t count out as a possibility here. While I think the Vikings are going to try to move higher for the guy they really want (Drake Maye) they’ll settle on JJ McCarthy at 4. I believe the Vikings decide to be aggressive enough to make this move because they not only believe they can compete with more competent than Sam Darnold QB play, but also want to do everything they can to make Justin Jefferson happy enough to sign a long term extension.
5. Los Angeles Chargers – Joe Alt, T, Notre Dame
My +1200 Marvin Harrison tickets would be devastated, but it is hard to believe that Jim Harbaugh values wide receiver enough to take one at 5, even a generational talent like Marvin Harrison Jr. He ran the crap out of the ball at Michigan, he ran the crap out of the ball in San Fran, he ran the crap out of the ball with Andrew Luck at Stanford and everything the Chargers have said and done since he has come on board says they want to run the crap out of the ball in LA. Right or wrong, shouldn’t we listen to them? This becomes another potential trade spot, though with less of a premium with the top 4 QBs off the board in this 2024 Post-Free Agency Mock Draft.
6. New York Giants – Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
It is no secret that the Giants are considering a QB in the first round. They are likely to have discussions with the Cardinals and Chargers, and perhaps the teams above them about the cost to move up, but I think they will simply get outbid and are happy to finally get a stud WR1 for the first time since Odell Beckham.
7. Tennessee Titans – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
My first instinct was the write Malik Nabers, but I can’t ignore how horrendous the Titans offensive line is as of now and they just can’t run Will Levis out there without some more protection.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Would the Falcons consider an offensive player, especially someone as explosive as Malik Nabers somewhat surprisingly still being available? I think they would. Can they ignore how devoid their defense is of young talent? I think they can’t. I’m avoiding the chalk pick of Dallas Turner here partially thinking the Falcons address their edge rush needs elsewhere, possibly with a trade for Haason Reddick (Edit: jk he is going to the Jets as I’m hitting publish), and partially because Terry Fontenot has a history of drafting young high RAS players in the first round and Murphy fits that mold.
9. Chicago Bears – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The addition of Keenan Allen perhaps makes this less likely, but he will be going into his age 32 season and adding Malik Nabers explosiveness to this offense sets up the Bears offense and Caleb Williams for success long term.
10. New York Jets – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Jets are all-in to win in 2024 and maybe 2025 before Rodgers calls it a career. Adding Odunze to take some of the attention off Garrett Wilson would give this offense another much needed weapon if they want to truly contend for a Super Bowl. I’m not buying the talk of OT here, but think Bowers is an option if Odunze doesn’t make it.
11. *TRADE* Arizona Cardinals (Via Minnesota Vikings) – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Again, I don’t like to project trades but if I did I would likely have the Cardinals moving up from 11 to 8 or 9 to grab one of the top 3 WRs. GM Monti Ossenfort has shown an inclination to move up and down the draft board and in this scenario he picks up the top edge rusher while still holding on to two more first round picks to address wide receiver and other needs.
12. Denver Broncos – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
These next two spots get very interesting. I think both the Broncos and Raiders (along with the Giants) want to grab a top 4 QB and are realizing that is only going to happen if they move up. So without projecting a trade, I think they pass, though I won’t rule out a reach for Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix. For this mock I’ll give Sean Payton a weapon in the passing game that he can utilize much in the same way he did with Jimmy Graham, perhaps with even more versatility.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
I want to force Michael Penix Jr. here as Daniel Jeremiah did in his most recent mock, but I don’t think he ends up going in the first round due to injury concerns and his age. The Raiders desperately need help in the secondary and up until now they have done nothing to address it in Free Agency so I think they turn to the draft to give defensive minded HC Antonio Pierce more help on the back end. Offensive line is definitely a strong consideration as well.
14. New Orleans Saints – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
I had already planned to mock an offensive tackle to the Saints prior to the news that Ryan Ramczyk could potentially miss the entire 2024 season. I think the position is pretty much a lock barring a big move before the draft and the player will just come down to who is still available between Fashanu, Fautanu, Latham and Fuaga.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Colts hilariously almost exclusively draft high RAS guys. Unlike some other teams, this extends past the first round. This conversation should be between Jared Verse and Brian Thomas Jr. I think Jared Verse and his 9.53 RAS are at a bigger position of need.
16. Seattle Seahawks – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
If not for his injury history, including a medical retirement, Latu likely goes top 10. It’ll be interesting to see how far he falls and the whispers leading up to the draft about how his medicals did or did not check out at the combine. I do think someone takes a shot on him in this range, but I wouldn’t be shocked by an Adam Schefter tweet about some teams having him completely off their board.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
I think the Jaguars are pretty devastated over losing Calvin Ridley to the Titans and the Gabe Davis signing doesn’t make up for it. As a size speed freak, I think it’s very possible that 17 is Thomas’s floor, as shown in this 2024 Post-Free Agency Mock Draft.
18. Cincinnati Bengals – JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Hand up, I was a Penei Sewell over Ja’Marr Chase guy back in 2021 because I thought the offensive line was so horrendous they wouldn’t be able to keep Joe Burrow upright. While I wasn’t totally wrong, they made the right decision then, though maybe he wouldn’t have gotten hurt as much if they at least tried to address the line better later. Anyways, I think the road to building up the offensive line starts here with JC Latham.
19. Los Angeles Rams – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Los Angeles Rams haven’t had a first round pick since 2016, so its rather difficult to look at their history and figure out tendencies unless I just project them trading it away again. Can I just do that? Assuming they actually do pick at 19, I think the secondary is the most likely position after they addressed the offensive line in Free Agency.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
For what feels like the 10th year in a row Pittsburgh needs to upgrade the offensive line, but this time it feels like this pick would finally put the Steelers offensive line in the top 5-10 conversation. The Steelers are known for being terrible at hiding who they intend to pick so watch out for smoke as we get closer to draft day.
21. Miami Dolphins – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
I worry I’m too far too low on Fuaga but I think most teams will view him as a guard initially who can potentially move to tackle long term and those guys don’t typically end up in the top 15 of drafts. I am really intrigued by the idea of Mike McDaniel hitting the vape and going full YOLO by taking Xavier Worthy to add to the Miami Dolphin track team and I don’t think its impossible with Tyreek Hill’s age and contract status.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Secondary is an obvious need for Philly after last year’s late season collapse and the versatile DeJean looks like a perfect fit to me. Never count Howie Roseman out of adding to the defensive or offensive line depth, especially if someone like Fuaga makes it here and can play guard week 1 and become the heir apparent to Lane Johnson at RT.
23. *TRADE* Arizona Cardinals – Adonai “AD” Mitchell, WR, Texas
Cardinals fans, I know this isn’t the wide receiver you want but you have to be honest with yourselves and realize there are too many needs on this team that one guy can’t fulfill. I do think there is more risk with a guy like Mitchell, but I also think he has the tools to potentially develop into just as good of a wide receiver as anyone else in this draft. While it didn’t happen in this mock, I think if/when the Cardinals do pick up a 1 in a trade down from 4 overall that they would be very likely to aggressively move up for one of the top three guys.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
I think the Cowboys were likely to address their offensive line needs in the first round even before the departure of Tyron Smith. I think Tyler Smith stays at LG while Guyton has the versatility to play either tackle position. OT is probably the more likely position for Dallas, but I wouldn’t rule out a center.
25. Green Bay Packers – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
One of Brian Lamb’s favorite prospects in the draft is Nate Wiggins. I think he falls a bit farther than he should due to a combination of short arms and being under 175lbs, but at 25 he seems like quite a steal for the secondary starved Packers.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
Barton’s ability to play anywhere on the offensive line would be valuable to a Buccaneers team unsettled at multiple spots.
27. Arizona Cardinals – (Via Houston Texans) – Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
After trading down and adding to the pass rush with Dallas Turner while still adding a top tier WR talent in AD Mitchell, the Cardinals beef up the interior of the D-line with Newton.
28. Buffalo Bills – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Buffalo has come up short in the Playoffs for five straight seasons. It’s likely that they’ll have to beat the Kansas City Chiefs again if they want to reach the Super Bowl. I’m not convinced Stefon Diggs will still be on the team when the season starts and while not a major loss, Gabe Davis heading to Jacksonville leaves a void the speedy Worthy can fill. They simply need more firepower to contend with Mahomes.
29. Detroit Lions – Darius Robinson, DL ,Missouri
There is a lot of smoke around this connection with Darius growing up in the Detroit area and defensive line being a key area of need for Detroit. Perhaps the Alim McNeill and DJ Reader signings make it less likely than before free agency, but I like the idea of adding Robinson’s versatile pass rush skills to make this defensive line a truly fearsome unit.
30. Baltimore Ravens – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Ravens would be lucky if the mammoth OT out of Georgia lasts until pick 30, but I think he may due to only starting 8 games in college, which is why i have him off the board so late in this 2024 Post-Free Agency Mock Draft.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia
The 49ers have a shockingly bad offensive line for a team that just barely came up short in the Super Bowl. I think OL is by far the most likely position for the 49ers in the first round with center, guard and tackle all on the table. They might prefer if one of the tackles fell but in this scenario they lock down the center position with the lineman out of West Virginia.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
I’m very tempted to send Ladd McConkey to the Chiefs and maybe that will happen but I think the Chiefs are happy to stand pat and grab the best remaining corner to replace the recently traded L’Jarius Sneed and address wide receiver later in a draft absolutely loaded with WR depth.
First 2 out – Ladd McConkey, Chop Robinson. I don’t feel good about not having them in the top 32. The best mock drafts tend to get around 28 of the players selected correct and I very well may need to find them spots before I hit submit on my final mock draft on April 24th. Stay tuned!