Will’s Latest, Greatest, and Final 2024 Mock Draft

It’s almost that time of year again boys and gals: NFL Draft season is upon us. If you’re a fan of a team who needs any OL or receiver help, then this is the mock for you. If you are a Bears fan or one of the few Chargers fans out there, there is plenty of movement for you to look at. Now without further ado, let’s get it started.

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers)- Caleb Williams, QB, USC

• Williams has been the unanimous number 1 for the entirety of his college career. With the Bears moving on from Fields, this is a no brainer.

2. Washington Commanders- Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU 

• Like most years, the draft starts at 2. While McCarthy and Maye have garnered a lot of attention and speculation at the 2 spot, I think the athletic upside and freak ability gives Daniels the edge here. He seems to be the best fit for a Kliff Kingsbury led offense with his playmaking ablity and slipperiness akin to Kyler Murray.

3. New England Patriots- Drake Maye, QB, UNC

• The run of QB’s continues with Maye going 3rd here. The Patriots are starting a rebuild and need a new QB to run the ship. Mac Jones got shipped off back to this hometown Jags leaving Bailey Zappe and Jacoby Brissett as the top 2 QBS on the roster. The Patriots have been linked to Maye since the fall and he falls into their lap without NE having to move up. 

4. Arizona Cardinals- Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, OSU

• Let me correct myself from two picks ago. The draft usually starts at 2, this year it starts at 4. The Cardinals may have the best position of anyone in the first round. They can either stay put and take the best WR prospect in the last few years or get a king’s ransom from one of the QB needy teams behind them. I have them staying put and giving Kyler Murray a true weapon he has not had since D-Hop left town. 

5. Minnesota Vikings (via LA Chargers)- JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan

• QB needy teams tend to make desperate moves on draft day. The Vikings are indeed a QB needy team. With them picking outside the top 10 there is no guarantee that anyof the top 5 QBS will be availb el much less the “top 4”. The Vikings, according to Jeremy Fowler have their eyes set on Maye or Mccarthy and with Maye off the board the Vikings narrow in on McCarthy and hope he can produce to make J-Jettas happy. 

6. New York Giants- Malik Nabors, WR, LSU

• The Giants are the prime example of what not to do with question marks at QB. They doubled down on Danny Dimes and signed him to a ridiculous contract. Now they are stuck at a crossroads of getting subpar QB play at a big cost or paying the man not to play. With Saquon out of town and the bigger name QBs off the board, the Giants decide to take a playmaking WR to help out their middling corp and see if Danny Dimes can produce. At the very least, getting a big WR1 in Nabors, will be appealing to whatever QB of the future they find when Jones leaves town. 

7. Tennessee Titans- Joe Alt, OT

• The Titans have undergone an identity shift in the last 2 seasons after letting Ryan Tannehill leave town and moving on from King Henry.  They appear to have found their QB of the future in last years second round pick Will Levis. They have surrounded him with receiving threats in Deandre Hopkins and recently Calvin Ridley via trades and free agency. This year they focus on protecting Levis and rebuilding that once great OL. 

8. Atlanta Falcons- Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

• The Falcons had a pretty rough third down defense and a pretty lousy sack rate last year (22nd according to NFL.com). Dallas Turner is a no quit pash rusher who can not only get to the QB but disrupt rushing plays by knocking lineman into the whole and using his rare combination of speed and power to chase down players out of the backfield. 

9. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears)- Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington

• Two things can be true at the same time. In this case, its that the Raiders need to find a QB of the future and that the Bears need more draft capital this year. With only 4 picks (2 in the first round) the Bears can trade back and pick up additional capital. With this newly acquired pick, the Raiders can move up to take an upgrade at QB and short change a division rival in the process. Penix is an immediate upgrade over any other QB on the roster and would develop a nice connection with Devante Adams. 

10. New York Jets- Tailese Fuagua, OT, Oregon State

• Woody Johnson has been high on the OSU product since the senior bowl. I know they signed Tyron Smith in FA but he is an aging OT with injury history.  Fuagua can come in and be a top dog on the much-maligned Jets OL and give Rodgers much needed protection as he attempts to lead the Jets to the promised land. He has the ability to be the cornerstone of this OL for years to come. 

11. Los Angeles Chargers (via Minnesota Vikings)- Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

• With the exception of maybe the Cardinals, no one is in better position in this draft than LAC. With all of the QB and OL needy teams ahead of them, the Chargers can take their pick on what pass catcher they would like. In this scenario, I have them trading back acquiring both of Minnesota’s 1sts, and nabbing their version of Travis Kelce to help rebuild their barren receiver corp. 

12. Denver Broncos- Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

• The Broncos are in desperate need for a QB and don’t have the compensation to be able to trade up and pick one of the bigger names in this class. Nix is an immediate upgrade to Stidham and Zach Wilson and should help feed that wide receiver room. Bo’s efficiency speaks for itself and should get plenty of use in Sean Peyton’s system.

13. Chicago Bears (via LV)- Liatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

• The Bears brass would have to consider these outcomes in both of their picks as wins. Not only do they get the QB of the future at number 1 overall, they have been able to trade back 4 spots, get more picks in this draft and get one of the top 3 edge rushers in this draft. Liatu is a game breaking pass rushing menace. If he can stay healthy (injuries have been a concern) then he should be able to wreak havoc alongside Montez Sweat and give the Bears much needed depth at a huge position of need.

14. New Orleans Saints- JC Latham, OT, Alabama

• While the Saints could go receiver here to give Derek Carr another weapon aside from Chris Olave, they have a bevy of issues along the OL. Derek Carr nearly ended the season in traction with the amount of pressure and hits he faced last season. Franchise cornerstone Ryan Ramcyzk is facing a potential career threatening knee injury and 2022 first round pick Trevor Penning has not lived up the hype. Latham is a big, strong, physical freak who should keep Carr up long enough to challenge for the NFC South. 

15. Indianapolis Colts- Terrion Arnold, DB, Alabama

• The Colts ranked in the bottom half of the league in pass defense last year. While last years draft picks, proved to be solid, adding an alpha like Arnold could make it one of the most feared in the league. 

16. Seattle Seahawks- Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas 

• With Mike McDonald taking the reigns in Seattle, look for the Seahawks to build up their interior DL. Murphy is the best DT in the class and could give McDonald remnants of the defense he had in Baltimore.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars- Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

• With Calvin Ridley now in Nashville, the Jags need depth on the perimeter. Odunze should provide T-Law with a go to option alongside Christian Kirk and the resurgent Evan Engram to make this a fearsome passing offense for years to come.

18. Cincinnati Bengals- Olu Fashanu, OT Penn State

• Joe Burrow has been in the league for going on 5 years now. He has been unable to finish 2 of those years due to the amount of hits he has taken on his body during his tenure. While it would be tempting to take Keon Coleman to replace the potential departure of Tee Higgins, I have the Bengals focusing on protecting their franchise guy and getting Fashanu. He would have been a first rounder last year had he declared so Cincy hits the jackpot as they continue to rebuild their OL and keep Burrow upright as he continues his strong play. 

19. Los Angeles Rams- Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU

• The Rams just lost one of the greatest defenders of all time in Aaron Donald. Whether it was stuffing the run or more impressively getting after the opposing QB, Aaron Donald was all over it. While it would be impossible to replace Donald’s production, grabbing a guy with a non-stop motor like Verse, can help alleviate the loss and it will continue to pressure the opposing QB’s in the NFC. 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers- Amarius Mims, Georgia

• The Steelers have had offensive issues going back the last few seasons. Now Matt Canada is out, Arthur Smith is in, and DangerRuss is behind center. A staple of an Arthur Smith offense is a strong ground game which the Steelers have lacked in the last few seasons due to OL issues. Getting a big, physical tackle like Mims will help create running lanes and more importantly keep Mr. Unlimited, up right. 

21. Miami Dolphins- Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

• The Dolphins have the best offense in football when things are clicking. Tua was able to silence doubters (mostly) last season and played his first full season as a starter. While the OL was a nice surprise, it took major hits last season. Conner Williams is still recovering from an ACL tear, Rob Hunt is now in Charlotte, and Terron Armstead is only getting older and he also has is own health concerns. Fautanu makes the most sense here due to his versatility. He is a natural tackle but can also play Guard. He can fill in for Armstead and eventually take the LT spot, or slide in at Guard and take the vacancy that Hunt eft behind. If there is one thing McDaniel and Grier like, it is versatility among OL. * Graham Barton is another name to watch here for similar reasons* 

22. Philadelphia Eagles- Nate Wiggins, DB, Clemson 

• While Jackson Powers-Johnson may get some love here due the departure of beloved podcaster Jason Kelce, I think any real Eagles fan (Hey Matt, how ‘ya doing?) will tell you that 1) they already have a replacement on the roster and 2) the biggest issue is the secondary. Wiggins is a ball hawking lockdown DB who will immediately come in and add some depth to that Eagles secondary that gave up way too many big plays last year. *If not Wiggins, feel free to just assume it’s whatever Alabama or Georgia player available here* 

23. Los Angeles Chargers (via Minnesota)- Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU

• The Chargers long term success is tied to Justin Herbert. While it is easy to criticize Justin Herbert, (me) it is impossible to knock his natural talent. As talented as he is, it is unfair to expect great results from him leading an offense with virtually no weapons after losing Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler this offseason. While they were able to snag Brock Bowers with their first pick, they are able to double down and take another elite pass catcher in Thomas. The 2 pass catchers create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses and lay the foundation for the rebuild under Jim Harbaugh. 

24. Dallas Cowboys- Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

• The Cowboys are in search of a new cornerstone OT after Tyron Smith left in Free Agency. The All Pac 12 325 pound mountain should be able to fill that spot nicely. 

25. Green Bay Packers- Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

• DeJean is one of the most talented defensive backs in this class but suffered an injury late in the season. The Packers had issues in their secondary all season but in terms of play and discipline issues. DeJean has all the lockdown potential and was the BIG10 DPOY. He is used to playing in the elements due to his time at Iowa so Lambeau shouldn’t be much of an issue. DeJean has the natural athletic ability to be a shut down corner and also has the physical tools to move to Safety. This is too good of an option for Green Bay to pass on.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Quinyon Mitchell, DB, Toledo

• This is less of a huge need and more of a best player available at a space of need selection.  Mitchell fills the hole left by the Carlton Davis trade. Keeping athletic playmakers in the secondary will be vital to defend their division crown. 

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston)- Chop Robinson, Edge, PSU

• The Cardinals were able to fill a massive hole at receiver with their first pick. With this pick, they are able to fill a pass rushing hole they have had on their defense ever since the departure of Hassan Reddick and Chandler Jones. Having an explosive edge rusher like Robinson, will also allow HC Jonathan Gannon to build a defense like the one he had in Philly. 

28. Buffalo Bills- Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

• Worthy adds world class speed to a Bills organization who is in desperate need for a WR1. While Keon Coleman is an intriguing target here Worthy allows for game-breaking speed that stretches the field, similar to how Tyreek Hill did to kickoff the Chiefs dynasty. With all of the physical big bodied pass catchers Josh Allen has at his disposal, (Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, James Cook) Worthy serves as a nice change of pace downfield threat who can snag all of the downfield passes that comes from the Howitzer attached to number 17. 

29. Detroit Lions- Graham Barton, OL, Duke

• As I mentioned at pick 21, Barton is an intriguing option due to his swiss-army-knife abilities. The Lions have made a name for themselves with outside the box draft picks that pay huge dividends, just look at the first 3 picks of 2023. Barton gives them flexibility on the line at either Tackle and also has experience playing center, should Ragnow’s injury persist. 

30. Baltimore Ravens- Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

• The Ravens found their WR1 in last years first rounder Zay Flowers. Lamar is their franchise guy and they are a sound defensive team, arguably the best in the league. The best way to ensure the success of their franchise is to protect Lamar. The best way to do that is to get this wall from Oklahoma. 

31. San Francisco 49ers- Kool-Aid Mckinstry, DB, Alabama 

• The 49ers have the best defense in the NFC. They add to it here by picking Kool-Aid to pair with Charvarius Ward and then move Deommodore Lennoir to the slot.

32. Kansas City Chiefs- Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

• The Chiefs have won back to back Superbowls without having a WR1. (Insert the Aaron Paul Breaking Bad meme). Granted, they do have one of the greatest TE’s of all time catching passes but we all saw last year how they could struggle when Kelce starts getting double-teamed. Having an explosive sure-handed WR in Mitchell will give Mahomes a threat at receiver he hasn’t had since Tyreek Hill got traded to Miami. 

*Day 2 Names to Watch*

These guys could easily go in Round 1 or early in Round 2

• Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illionis
• Kingsley Suamataia, DB, Alabama
• Malachi Corley, WR, WKU
• Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
• Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama
• Ladd Mconkey, WR, Georgia
• Kris Jenkins, DT Michigan 
• Tyler Nubin, S, Minnseota
• Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
• Kamari Lassiter, DB, Georgia
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
• Cooper Beebe, OG, KSU
• Christian Haynes, OG, UCONN