With just two days to go before the 2024 NFL Draft, I’m doing something a little different in my next-to-last mock draft. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco has been doing this for years — a mock draft on what teams should do — and his ’24 version came out Tuesday. It’s a great idea because it gets you on the record, plus it gives fans an easy way to point out where you were criminally wrong. (In case you’re wondering, here’s my 2023 version.)
So here it is, what I think NFL teams should do on Thursday, during the first round of the draft. A sneak peak: five QBs come off the board in the first 12 picks (no trades, however!), and the first defensive player off the board is neither an edge rusher nor a cornerback. All told 10 offensive linemen go in the first round, and a team trades back up into the first round to get a wide receiver.
Added bonus: I included picks for teams that I had trading out of the first round, as well as those real-life teams that currently aren’t selecting among the top 32 selections.
OK, let’s get to it.
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.
ROUND 1
2024 NFL Mock Draft
From Carolina Panthers
Round 1, Pick 1
Caleb Williams QB
USC • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Chicago
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st
PAYDS
3633
RUYDS
121
INTS
5
TDS
41
This hasn’t changed since last August and I never understood why any other player was in the QB1 conversation these last 4-5 months. Williams is a special talent, and the Bears have done a good job of putting pieces in place to support him.
Round 1, Pick 2
Jayden Daniels QB
LSU • SR • 6’4″ / 210 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
6th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PAYDS
3608
RUYDS
449
INTS
9
TDS
33
No player improved more over the last 12 months than Jayden Daniels. He has a big arm, throws with touch to all three levels and has the athleticism to rip off 50-yard runs and make it look easy.
Round 1, Pick 3
Drake Maye QB
NORTH CAROLINA • SOPH • 6’4″ / 230 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
New England
PROSPECT RNK
5th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PAYDS
3812
RUYDS
1134
INTS
4
TDS
50
This is important to remember: Drake Maye is just 21 years old, he’s only played two full seasons at Carolina, and his best football is ahead of him. Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. are 23 and Bo Nix is 24. The point: None of those QBs were, at 21, what they are now. And Maye checks all the boxes when you’re talking about the measurables. If the Patriots can be patient — and that’s a big if for any team in today’s NFL — he’ll have a chance to be really good.
Round 1, Pick 4
Marvin Harrison Jr. WR
OHIO STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Arizona
PROSPECT RNK
1st
POSITION RNK
1st
REC
67
REYDS
1211
YDS/REC
18.1
TDS
15
Marvin Harrison Jr. held his pro day 13 months ago, when I was at Ohio State to see C.J. Stroud and Harrison was running routes for him. NFL evaluators know how good he is and there was no need to run a 40 time during this pre-draft process. The Cardinals will likely consider trading down in real life but if I were a QB-needy team and the top three passers were off the board, I’d sit tight to see who falls to me. So for our purposes here, the Cards are taking Harrison Jr.
Round 1, Pick 5
Malik Nabers WR
LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
L.A. Chargers
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
2nd
REC
89
REYDS
1569
YDS/REC
17.6
TDS
14
Nabers has Ja’Marr Chase-type potential from the moment he steps onto an NFL field (Chase had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 21 TDs as a rookie) and while the Chargers might target offensive line here, they also have the 37th selection. Get arguably the best player in the draft at No. 5, and circle back for that OL early in Round 2.
Round 1, Pick 6
Rome Odunze WR
WASHINGTON • JR • 6’3″ / 215 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
N.Y. Giants
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
3rd
REC
92
REYDS
1640
YDS/REC
17.8
TDS
15
The top two wideouts are off the board but this group is so deep that some teams think they’re indistinguishable. I wouldn’t take a QB here unless one of the top 3 fall, and if that means the Giants are rolling with Daniel Jones, get him some weapons who can consistently win on the outside. If no one improved their draft stock more than Jayden Daniels over the last year, Odunze is a close second.
Round 1, Pick 7
Joe Alt OT
NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’7″ / 322 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Tennessee
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
2nd
The choice here is between Olu Fashanu and Joe Alt and while Fashanu is my OT1, Alt might be ready to start sooner. In Tennessee, he’ll line up next to ’23 first-rounder, Peter Skoronski.
Round 1, Pick 8
Byron Murphy II DL
TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 308 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
15th
POSITION RNK
1st
The Falcons have needs at edge rusher but Murphy might be the most disruptive defender in this class. Take him here, and in a class where the pass rushers are deeper than the defensive linemen, circle back in Round 2 to find that edge player.
Round 1, Pick 9
Jared Verse EDGE
FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Chicago
PROSPECT RNK
9th
POSITION RNK
1st
Verse is our No. 1 edge prospect and with the top 3 wide receivers already gone, the Bears do the smart thing and get a bookend to pass rusher Montez Sweat. Trading down will also be a consideration on Thursday, but again, if I’m a team looking for a QB, I’m not trading up at this point.
Mock Trade from New York Jets
Round 1, Pick 10
Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT
PENN STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 317 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
1st
The Saints and Mickey Loomis have never been afraid to trade up and while I gave serious consideration to the Jets staying put and taking Fashanu here, I talked myself into moving down and continuing to build out the skill positions around Aaron Rodgers (more on that in a moment). For New Orleans, Trevor Penning hasn’t worked out on the left side and it’s not clear if right tackle Ryan Ramczyk will be healthy enough to play in ’24. Fashanu has a chance to be a truly special player in 2-3 years.
Round 1, Pick 11
J.J. McCarthy QB
MICHIGAN • JR • 6’3″ / 202 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
20th
POSITION RNK
4th
PAYDS
2991
RUYDS
202
INTS
4
TDS
25
Is this too high for McCarthy? Based on his tape, yeah, probably. But while he wasn’t asked to do a lot in the Michigan offense, he was clinical on 3rd-and-6 or more last season — I’m talking he completed 72.3% of his throws with an FBS-best 10.9 yards per attempt with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. To reiterate: McCarthy wasn’t just throwing dump-offs, he was pushing the ball down the field and doing it with timing and accuracy. And in Minnesota, he’ll be learning from Kevin O’Connell, who has a good track record with young QBs. It will also be important to let him sit for a season behind Sam Darnold before giving him the keys in 2025.
Round 1, Pick 12
Michael Penix Jr. QB
WASHINGTON • SR • 6’3″ / 213 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Denver
PROSPECT RNK
31st
POSITION RNK
5th
PAYDS
4903
RUYDS
8
INTS
11
TDS
39
The teams I’ve spoken with think Penix Jr. would be a steal in the second round but aren’t sure if he’ll sneak into Round 1. I feel like he’s too good to pass up in the middle of the round here, especially with Denver’s glaring need at quarterback — and playing in a division that includes Mahomes and Herbert … and with the understanding that the other team in the division, the Raiders, are on the clock next. There’s no better deep-ball thrower in this class than Penix, and when I spoke with Rome Odunze and Troy Fautanu during the pre-draft process, neither could understand why we weren’t talking about Penix as a slam-dunk top-32 selection. I agree with them.
Round 1, Pick 13
Quinyon Mitchell CB
TOLEDO • JR • 6’0″ / 196 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Las Vegas
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
1st
With five QBs already off the board, Vegas takes my CB1, Quinyon Mitchell, who proved during the pre-draft process that everything we saw on tape at Toledo translates to the bigger, faster and stronger players he’ll face at the next level.
Mock Trade from New Orleans Saints
Round 1, Pick 14
Brock Bowers TE
GEORGIA • JR • 6’4″ / 240 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
N.Y. Jets
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
1st
REC
56
REYDS
714
YDS/REC
12.8
TDS
7
I’ve said it since the fall: Bowers is a top 10 talent but because of the position he plays, and needs at other positions, he could slip to the middle of the first round. Even here, the Bengals could target tackles Taliese Fuaga or Amarius Mims here.
Round 1, Pick 15
Terrion Arnold CB
ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’0″ / 196 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Indianapolis
PROSPECT RNK
13th
POSITION RNK
2nd
I could talk myself into a WR here but Arnold is CB1 for some teams and I love the idea of adding him to a young secondary that includes last year’s second-round pick, JuJu Brents, in addition to Jaylon Jones, flashed at times in ’23.
Round 1, Pick 16
Taliese Fuaga OT
OREGON STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 334 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Seattle
PROSPECT RNK
12th
POSITION RNK
3rd
Right guard Laken Tomlinson is on a one-year deal and right tackle Abe Lucas only appeared in six games in 2023. When Lucas is healthy, he has been really good — and a solid bookend to former first-rounder Charles Cross — and Fuaga can kick inside early in his NFL career and be dominant before moving back to tackle, if needed.
Round 1, Pick 17
Cooper DeJean CB
IOWA • JR • 6’1″ / 207 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Jacksonville
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
POSITION RNK
3rd
DeJean is a big, strong, fast cornerback with return ability. Folks in the league like the idea that he could play multiple positions, whether it’s outside, in the slot or even deep safety.
Round 1, Pick 18
JC Latham OT
ALABAMA • JR • 6’6″ / 360 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Cincinnati
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
5th
Trent Brown is on a one-year deal in Cincy and you can never have enough offensive linemen to protect your investment in Joe Burrow.
Round 1, Pick 19
Dallas Turner EDGE
ALABAMA • JR • 6’4″ / 252 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
L.A. Rams
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
2nd
I’ll be honest, I’m surprised that in my “what I would do” mock draft Turner was still on the board here — but five QBs are gone, there was a run on WRs and OL too. Either way, this is great news for the Rams, who have a first-round pick for the first time in the Sean McVay era.
Round 1, Pick 20
Graham Barton OT
DUKE • SR • 6’5″ / 314 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Pittsburgh
PROSPECT RNK
52nd
POSITION RNK
9th
Like Dallas Turner at pick No. 19, it’s hard to wrap my head around Latu still being on the board (even though, yes, I am the one putting this mock together). I’ve heard that he’s been cleared medically and there’s a realistic chance that he’s a top-15 pick — which is exactly what his tape says, too.
Round 1, Pick 21
Troy Fautanu IOL
WASHINGTON • JR • 6’4″ / 317 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
22nd
POSITION RNK
1st
Troy Fautanu can play tackle but he may begin his NFL journey as a guard, where in Miami, both Isaiah Wynn and Robert Jones will have their contracts expire after the ’24 season.
Round 1, Pick 22
Nate Wiggins CB
CLEMSON • JR • 6’2″ / 185 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Philadelphia
PROSPECT RNK
29th
POSITION RNK
5th
I know some NFL teams don’t think Wiggins will go in Round 1 but he’s the best cover corner in this class, he’s just slight of frame. And, fair or not, it doesn’t help his case that CB Emmanuel Forbes, who weighed 166 last year, struggled as the Commanders 2023 first-rounder. That said, I think Wiggins showed improvement as a tackler last season and he improves an aging Philly secondary.
Round 1, Pick 23
Johnny Newton DL
ILLINOIS • JR • 6’2″ / 295 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
25th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Look at that: the Vikings stay put at No. 11 and get their QB and then, at No. 23, land one of the best defensive players in this class — Newton is a twitched-up defensive lineman coming off a really good season for Illinois.
Round 1, Pick 24
Tyler Guyton OT
OKLAHOMA • JR • 6’7″ / 328 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Dallas
PROSPECT RNK
39th
POSITION RNK
6th
I considered Amarius Mims here but a) he played in just eight games in college, and b) he’s a right tackle only. And while Guyton was primarily a right tackle at Oklahoma (he did play 70 total snaps at LT during his college career), some NFL teams think he can play LT in the NFL too.
Round 1, Pick 25
Jordan Morgan OT
ARIZONA • SR • 6’5″ / 325 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Green Bay
PROSPECT RNK
41st
POSITION RNK
8th
Morgan was a left tackle only during his career at Arizona but and he has the athleticism to play outside — but his arms also measured just under 33 inches, which could necessitate a move inside at the next level. Morgan does provide position flexibility now that the Packers have moved on from David Bakhtiari, with the potential to be a top-flight guard in the NFL.
Round 1, Pick 26
Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL
OREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 320 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Tampa Bay
PROSPECT RNK
30th
POSITION RNK
2nd
I mentioned it above, but the league views Powers-Johnson more as a second-rounder but he feels like too good a fit to pass up here for the Bucs, who have needs along the interior offensive line — and JPJ can play either guard or center in the NFL.
From Houston Texans
Round 1, Pick 27
Laiatu Latu EDGE
UCLA • SR • 6’5″ / 265 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Arizona
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
3rd
The Cards take Malik Nabers at No. 4, and somehow, Latu is still on the board at the bottom of Round 1.
Round 1, Pick 28
Brian Thomas Jr. WR
LSU • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Buffalo
PROSPECT RNK
17th
POSITION RNK
4th
REC
68
REYDS
1177
YDS/REC
17.3
TDS
17
Thomas Jr. reminds Rick Spielman, my co-host on the With the First Pick podcast, of George Pickens. And if he’s here, this will be the easiest pick the Bills make all weekend. I’m a huge Ladd McConkey fan, and I love the idea of him going to Buffalo, but that typically assumes Thomas Jr. is long gone. My only other hesitation about McConkey to Buffalo is that he’s similar in height to Shakir and Samuels, while Thomas Jr. is a looming red-zone threat from just about anywhere on the field.
Round 1, Pick 29
Chop Robinson EDGE
PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 254 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
21st
POSITION RNK
4th
Robinson is a twitched-up pass-rushing machine who might have the highest motor of anyone — at any position — in this draft class. I love the idea of him lining up opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Round 1, Pick 30
Amarius Mims OT
GEORGIA • JR • 6’7″ / 340 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Baltimore
PROSPECT RNK
18th
POSITION RNK
4th
Mims’ size and athleticism are special, even in this top-flight OL draft class. The only issues are that he hasn’t played much football and he struggled to stay healthy last fall. But when he was on the field — including his very first college start against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff back in January 2023, he has been dominant. And if he had stayed healthy in ’23 (he also tweaked his hamstring at the combine) he would’ve been an easy top-15 pick.
Mock Trade from San Francisco 49ers
Round 1, Pick 31
Adonai Mitchell WR
TEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 196 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
New England
PROSPECT RNK
24th
POSITION RNK
5th
REC
55
REYDS
845
YDS/REC
15.4
TDS
11
The Patriots move up three spots, back into the bottom of the first round to get one of the most explosive wideouts in this class. Mitchell has the juice to create separation on routes to all three levels and he’ll give Drake Maye something Patriots QBs haven’t had in a few years: a legit playmaker on the outside.
Round 1, Pick 32
Ladd McConkey WR
GEORGIA • JR • 6’0″ / 185 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Kansas City
PROSPECT RNK
27th
POSITION RNK
6th
REC
30
REYDS
478
YDS/REC
15.9
TDS
3
I know the Chiefs landed Hollywood Brown but who knows what the future holds for 2023 second-rounder Rashee Rice. Meanwhile, ask scouts who the best route runner is in this class and the answer is almost universally McConkey. He creates separation at every level and plays up to his 4.39 speed. He’s undersized, sure, but I have a hunch that Andy Reid will be able to scheme him open.
Round 2, Pick 33
Keon Coleman WR
FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 215 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Carolina
PROSPECT RNK
49th
POSITION RNK
10th
REC
50
REYDS
658
YDS/REC
13.2
TDS
11
I don’t care that Coleman ran a 4.61 at the combine; he had the fastest time among all WRs in the gauntlet drill and he just turned 21. He wasn’t asked to do much at FSU and the lack of separation showed up, but watch him at Michigan State, where he ran a more diverse route tree and you can see him running away from people. He gives Bryce Young a much-needed big target down the field.
Mock Trade from New England Patriots
Round 2, Pick 34
Kool-Aid McKinstry CB
ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
San Francisco
PROSPECT RNK
26th
POSITION RNK
4th
The 49ers move down a few spots, add some draft capital and still fill an important need. Alabama thinks Kool-Aid has legit NFL cover skills — the only question will be his deep speed — and he answered those questions at his pro day when he ran a 4.47. Added bonus: he can be an asset in the return game, too.
Round 2, Pick 42
Braden Fiske DL
FLORIDA STATE • SR • 6’5″ / 297 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
34th
POSITION RNK
3rd
I don’t know if Fiske will be on the board here but if he is, this feels like a steal. He tested through the roof at the combine but his tape was even more impressive, both at Western Michigan and in 2023 when he transferred to FSU.
Round 2, Pick 54
Michael Hall Jr. DL
OHIO STATE • JR • 6’2″ / 280 LBS
PROJECTED TEAM
Cleveland
PROSPECT RNK
50th
POSITION RNK
5th
This Browns defense was dominant for much of last season and Hall is a twitched-up terror who was consistently disruptive for the Buckeyes a year ago. He only weighed 290 at the combine, but that’s in the same range as Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst.
