DETROIT, MI — With the 2024 NFL Draft 48 hours away, there are a lot of things that can happen between now and then. Here is my latest mock draft with–surprise! some serious trades.
1.) Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC. After trading Justin Fields to Pittsburgh, this seems like the obvious choice. Chicago appears to have done their homework and this is the guy that Ryan Poles wants.
With the background of GM Ryan Poles coming from Kansas City in the development of Patrick Mahomes, Poles knows the proper resources to set up Caleb for success in the early stages of his NFL career.
2.) Washington Commanders: JJ McCarthy Quarterback, Michigan. Dan Quinn shocks everyone and takes JJ McCarthy. McCarthy has a high football IQ similar to Matt Ryan, where Dan Quinn had his success with the Falcons.
A Coach/QB pairing can be the ultimate victory or the ultimate downfall in the league. The run after catch abilities of Terry McLaurin and Dotson will help JJ in Washington.
3.) TRADE! LA Chargers from New England. Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State. Jim Harbaugh is very familiar with the Harrison family including Dad Marvin Sr. Harbaugh and Harrison Sr were teammates in Indianapolis in 1996-1997.
Harbaugh also has witnessed Harrison Jr firsthand as the Head Coach at Michigan when Ohio State played Michigan. With the losses of WR’s Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the Chargers need receivers desperately. Adding the best WR prospect gives Justin Herbert another weapon.
With Arizona looming at 4, Harbaugh isn’t afraid to trade up for the guy he wants. See Colin Kaepernick 2011 NFL Draft.
4.) Arizona Cardinals: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU. With Harrison off the board, Arizona gets the next best thing in Malik Nabers. Nabers will find ways to get open, which will help Kyler Murray take less sacks from holding onto the ball too long. Malik will fit better with Kyler as Kyler has the similar skillset of Nabers college Quarterback Jayden Daniels.
5.) TRADE! New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU. New Head Coach Jerod Mayo is ready to establish a new identity of starting quarterbacks in New England. The new Patriot Way will be different and it starts with a different style of quarterback play in New England.
6.) New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington. The Giants haven’t had a valid WR since Odell Beckham Jr. Odunze has excellent speed can make plays in space, and the Giants hope that he can bring enough to the table to validate the contract Daniel Jones signed in the 2023 off-season.
7.) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame. Tennessee got destroyed on the offensive side of the ball. Will Levis was getting sacked left and right due to lack of protection on the offensive Line. Joe Alt will fix the left side of the line in a hurry as Levis will have significant improvement in year 2.
8.) TRADE! Minnesota from Atlanta, Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina. Kevin O’Connell is built to develop a QB. First backing up Tom Brady when he got drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2008 NFL Draft he learned a thing or two from Tom. As Drake lands in Minnesota he’s surrounded by talent on the offensive side of the ball. A Quarterbacks dream with Jefferson, Addison, Aaron Jones, Hockenson, and Christian Darrisaw.
9.) Chicago Bears: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State. After selecting Caleb Williams they better protect him. Fashanu will protect Caleb for years to come.
10.) New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia. A tight end is a quarterback’s best friend. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Bowers. With Aaron Rodgers being fully healthy pick your poison.
11.) TRADE! Atlanta from Minnesota. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, TCU. New Head Coach Raheem Morris loves his cornerbacks. Atlanta has a need at Corner and Mitchell will provide that immediate need.
12.) Denver Broncos: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State. With the Big four QB’s gone, Denver will focus on what they’re good at, and that is defense. Verse fills an immediate need in the rebuilding of the defense in the Mile High City. (Editor’s Note: Broncos acquire Zach Wilson from NYJ)
13.) Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT, Alabama. New Head Coach Antonio Pierce wants to run the damn ball. Building between the lines will establish a rhythm in the running game.
14.) New Orleans Saints: Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama. With Cam Jordan getting up there in age New Orleans finds Cams replacement right down the road for the forseeable future.
15.) Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama. With some of those WR corps that are forming in the AFC South, the Colts better find a top tier cornerback quickly. Arnold has a high football IQ and will provide more coverage than your average cellphone carrier.
16.) Seattle Seahawks: Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA. The Seahawks can go many ways here, however their pass rush was suspect at best last season which gave QBs all day to throw. It’s a start but Seattle has a long way to go.
17.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa. The AFC South has 4 promising young quarterbacks who can sling the ball. Similar to Indianapolis they need to figure out coverage quick, unless you want burnt butter toast for breakfast.
18.) Cincinnati Bengals: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU. With Tee Higgins wanting out potentially, get the old band back together. Tyler Boyd moves to rival Pittsburgh, where he’s expected to have a bigger role. Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase being former LSU Tigers, it’s time to add at least one more Tiger to the Jungle.
19.) Los Angeles Rams: Byron Murphy ll, DT, Texas. Don’t ask him to replace the production of Aaron Donald because that simply won’t happen. It’s a start of a new era among the trenches in Los Angeles.
20.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers Johnson, IOL, Oregon. Russell Wilson isn’t who he used to be. Arthur Smith needs to figure out his OL in Pittsburgh with the 2 back system they have which is more up his system anyways. Bringing Cordarrelle Patterson helps as Patterson is familiar with Smith’s offense.
21.) Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, DE Penn State. Bradley Chubb is still recovering from torn ACL, so he may miss a little bit of time at the beginning of the season. Robinson fills an immediate need if Chubb misses significant time.
22.) Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama. Another SEC defensive player to Philadelphia. Philadelphia missed physical play from their defensive backs towards the end of the year last year. McKinstry was a tackling machine out of the Defensive Back which is what Philadelphia desperately needs.
23-Minnesota Vikings, Nate Wiggins CB Clemson. Brian Flores adds another weapon to his defense with Wiggins. He has the speed to keep up with anybody. If he can bulk up a little bit Wiggins would be an absolute Steal at 23.
24-Dallas Cowboys, Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma. Tyron Smith leaving for New York has the Cowboys searching for a Tackle. They find one close to home from the rich history of great lineman from the University of Oklahoma.
25-Green Bay Packers Amarius Mims OT Georgia, Another Georgia Bulldog moves up North to the Frozen Tundra. With Green Bay moving on from fan favorite David Bakhtiari, Green Bay fills an immediate need to protect their Love of the future.
26-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Darius Robinson DE Missouri. Replacing Shaq Barrett’s production is going to be a difficult task, however a new Fountain of Youth who can get to the Quarterback is a defensive Head Coaches dream. Expect Todd Bowles and his staff to get to work quickly with Robinson to bring him up to speed.
27-Arizona Cardinals Ennis Rakestraw Jr CB Missouri. Two members of the Missouri Tigers Defense go back to back. Arizona can almost pick anyone at this point to fill a need. With those WR corps in the NFC West, Arizona addresses the secondary quickly.
28-Buffalo Bills Adonius Mitchell WR Texas. Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis move to the AFC South, where there isn’t a snowflake in sight outside of Indianapolis. Brandon Bean, Sean McDermott, and company take a WR from the South for the up north snowy experience in Buffalo. Who knows maybe he’ll warm up to a Buffalo Wing or two or four.
29-Detroit Lions Payton Wilson LB N.C. State. Dan Campbell loves good instinctive football players. Wilson has some of the best football instincts in this draft class. Injury history causes him to drop on many draft boards. Detroit takes him quickly at 29.
30-TRADE! Denver Broncos Michael Penix Quarterback Washington. Sean Payton gets his Quarterback late in the first round. There are injury concerns with Michael Penix coming out of college. There were injury concerns with Drew Brees coming out of San Diego. Sean Payton took Drew Brees and look at what happened with those two in New Orleans. Penix has similar acc
31-San Francisco 49ers Kamari Lassiter CB Georgia. San Francisco addresses the needy secondary as San Francisco has one of the best front sevens in the league. Lassiter provides rock solid coverage and he’s not afraid to hit somebody.
32-TRADE! Baltimore Ravens Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon State. After Trading away Morgan Moses, Baltimore is in search of a Tackle. The other half Ronnie Stanley is entering a contract year. Baltimore gets an absolute mauler. From West Coast to East Coast. From Smoked Salmon to Maryland Blue Crabs and Crab Cakes his primary mission will be to protect Lamar Jackson who won MVP.