In my mind, it’s never too early to do an NFL mock draft. For many people, the NFL draft is currently an after thought, but my draft clock hasn’t stopped. Here is my way to early mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft.
NOTE: Draft order is from PFF.com.
1. Arizona Cardinals: USC QB Caleb Williams
Kyler Murray’s time with the Cardinals feels just about over. When your team has to put it in your contract that you can’t play video games like a helicopter parent and you still underperform and can’t stay healthy, then you should know your days are numbered. Caleb Williams is the consensus number one pick and many scouts believe he would have been the first or second QB off the board in this year’s draft.
2. Arizona Cardinals via HOU: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
With a franchise quarterback on board, it feels proper to land a dynamic wideout. Much like Caleb Williams, many scouts valued Marvin Harrison Jr. more than players at his position in the 2023 draft class. He has a wide catch radius and runs pristine routes. Losing DeAndre Hopkins and seeing average production from Rondale Moore and Marquise Brown will sway them even more to take Harrison Jr.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
Buccaneers fans had fun for a few years, but now they’re back in no man’s land. To get back to the winning ways they grew accustom to, they’ll need to take a quarterback. Drake Maye has a big arm and showed poise and discipline last season only throwing seven interceptions. Maye is the type of player Tampa Bay needs to get back on track.
4. Indianapolis Colts: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
Going into this season, I see Joe Alt as the fourth best player in the whole nation and the best offensive tackle. He has great hands and moves fluidly in both the run and pass game. Indianapolis has their franchise quarterback with Richardson, who is an improviser and likes to get out of the pocket. Alt will be a great addition to keep him healthy and raise his production. His versatility makes him the first offensive lineman off the board being able to play left or right tackle.
5. Washington Commanders: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
Much like Tampa Bay, Washington is stuck in quarterback limbo. It appears that Sam Howell will be their starter, but he’s unproven and Jake Fromm and Jacoby Brissett aren’t viable options either. Michael Penix Jr. is an explosive quarterback with a big arm along with big play ability. Washington has great weapons with Jahan Dotson, Terry McLaurin, and Curtis Samuel. They just need a good quarterback to get them the ball.
6. Green Bay Packers: Texas WR Xavier Worthy
Green Bay’s top receiving options of the past few years have left with Allen Lazard, Davante Adams, and Robert Tonyan all playing in different cities. They could build a solid, young core of offensive weapons around Xavier Worthy, Christian Watson, and AJ Dillon. Worthy is a quick and shifty pass catcher that has great hands. He elevated Texas’ quarterbacks in 2022 and will do it once again in 2023.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Georgia TE Brock Bowers
I initially thought that Las Vegas would go with a quarterback, but seeing that they paid Jimmy G 72 million over 3 years, they’re going to look to replace Darren Waller and draft Brock Bowers. Bowers has been the best tight end in college for the past two seasons and it doesn’t seem like he’s going to stop. He’s a solid blocker and a better route runner.
8. Tennessee Titans: Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
Even though there are many good quarterbacks available, Tennessee just took two in back-to-back drafts and the smartest move to make would be to surround them with weapons. Egbuka is the Robin to Batman (Marvin Harrison Jr.), and is a baller. Egbuka runs sharp routes and gets open downfield. He’d pair nicely with Treylon Burks.
9. Los Angeles Rams: Texas QB Quinn Ewers
No one actually thinks that Stetson Bennett will start for the Rams, right? Matt Stafford only has a few years left in the tank and I think Quinn Ewers could be a great replacement for him. Ewers is a smart player with good decision making and high efficiency. One more season of college football will make him pro-ready and prepared to run the Rams offense.
10. Chicago Bears via CAR: Florida State OLB Jared Verse
Not only is Jared Verse the best defender in college football, he’s the best defender in this draft class. Verse has fantastic hips and great hands that he uses like weapons to rush the passer. Chicago doesn’t have an elite pass rusher and Verse could be a ten sack player as a rookie. He’ll be a great fit in Chicago’s 4-3 defense as a stand up defensive end.
11. Chicago Bears: Penn State OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
With back-to-back picks, the Bears address their need for a pass rusher and now they grab a right tackle to play opposite of Darnell Wright. Wright is a physical player and Olu Fashanu plays with power and finesse in both the run and pass game. Chicago has worked to rebuild their offensive line adding Wright and Nate Davis. Fashanu is the missing piece to keep Fields healthy and upright.
12. New England Patriots: Alabama OT JC Latham
Alabama players going to New England has been a common theme the past decade and it won’t stop here. This class is pretty top-heavy with offensive tackles with Alt and Fashanu being the one and two. JC Latham is third and he’s extremely talented. Latham is 6’6, 335 pounds, but has quick feet unlike many players at his size. The Patriots have a solid interior, but their tackle situation isn’t great and Latham could be a day one starter.
13. Atlanta Falcons: Penn State CB Kalen King
Atlanta made major renovations to their defense this offseason adding Jessie Bates, Jeff Okudah, and Calais Campbell. They already have one of the best young corners in the league with A.J. Terrell and they should draft Kalen King to pair with Terrell. Having two good corners to matchup with Tampa Bay, Carolina, and New Orleans is imperative to help Atlanta win the south. King has good hips and plays great in both man and zone.
14. New York Giants: UCLA OLB Laiatu Latu
The lifeblood of the Giants defense is their front seven that consists of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Leonard Williams. Adding another elite pass rusher sends them over the edge to become a pure, big blue wrecking crew. Latu can play standup outside linebacker and put his hand in the dirt as a tight 5-tech. He’s tremendously versatile along with being a great athlete.
15. Denver Broncos: Illinois DT Jer’Zahn Newton
The Broncos made a lot of moves this offseason adding Frank Clark and Zach Allen off the edge. In the middle is D.J. Jones, who is solid vs the run, but lacks a strong pass rushing ability. Jer’Zahn Newton excels as both a run stuffer and a pass rusher. He can play on all three downs and has the ability to line up anywhere on the interior defensive line. Newton possesses a great punch and is able to transition moves quickly.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Kansas State IOL Cooper Beebe
Seattle landed big time players in the 2022 draft and solid offensive tackles in the 2021 draft. Right now, their interior offensive line is weak and drafting Cooper Beebe would help their need for a guard. Beebe is an elite run blocker who mauls defensive tackles. In addition, he’s a stellar pass protector that’d play nicely next to Charles Cross.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
Pittsburgh lost Cam Sutton in free agency and add an aging Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter Jr. With Peterson’s longevity being short, Mike Tomlin should look to build an elite, young corner duo with Joey Porter Jr. and Kool-Aid McKinstry, much like Seattles done with Woolen and Witherspoon. Aside from being a great corner, McKinstry is an elite returner.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Michigan RB Blake Corum
Alexander Mattison is stepping into the RB1 role for the Vikings this season following the departure of Dalvin Cook, and while I’m confident that he’ll be a sufficient back, Corum would be a great fit in Minnesota’s offense. He’s explosive and is great in a zone scheme that the Vikings run. Their offense relies on establishing the run and capitalizing with play action which would work great with Corum.
19. Houston Texans via CLE: Alabama OLB Dallas Turner
Houston drafted Will Anderson Jr. in the 2023 draft. They should now look to add a counterpart he played with at Alabama to also rush the passer. Dallas Turner bends very nicely and uses his lean frame with an explosive punch to get after the quarterback. Houston has worked on their offense and now should invest heavily in their defense.
20. New Orleans Saints: LSU DT Maason Smith
Keeping a local kid home boosts the morale of fans, and it does help when that hometown kid is a stud player. Maason Smith did a great job anchoring the interior of the Tigers defensive line last season, eating up blocks with his 6’6, 310 pound frame. The Saints lost David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle this offseason so their interior is pretty bare.
21. Miami Dolphins: Clemson ILB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is an extremely versatile player being able to drop in coverage effectively and rush the passer. Last season, he tallied 6.5 sacks from the middle linebacker spot and is going to improve on his numbers in 2023. Miami lacks a menacing presence in the middle of their defense and adding Trotter Jr. would give that to them.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
Baltimore does have a strong secondary, but one weak spot is Rock Ya-Sin starting at corner. Adding Cooper DeJean means you get a crafty cornerback who plays the ball like a professional and has good quickness. He’s able to matchup with some of the best pass catchers in college football and I’d be excited to see him work with Marlon Humphrey.
23. Los Angeles Chargers: Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson
Austin Ekeler is clearly unhappy in Los Angeles and they didn’t do anything to alleviate that situation. If they’re planning to move on from Ekeler, then they should draft Henderson to replace him. Henderson is a physical back that runs with a full head of steam down hill. He’d open up the play action game for the Chargers very well.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Florida State TE Jaheim Bell
Dallas was eyeing Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid in this past draft, but Buffalo grabbed him right before they were on the clock. Since losing Dalton Schultz, Dallas has a vacancy at tight end that Jaheim Bell could fill. Bell is a big target standing at 6’3, 233 pounds and would serve as a good check down for Prescott.
25. Green Bay Packers via NYJ: South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler
With Aaron Rodgers out of the picture and Jordan Love being an uncertain starter, Green Bay should look for a quarterback of the future in this very deep quarterback class. Rattler is super mobile, which makes him an awesome improviser. In addition, he totes a very strong arm which would be great for a receiver like Christian Watson who likes to push vertical on his routes.
26. Detroit Lions: Georgia CB Javon Bullard
The Lions have a very good defense, but their secondary could hold them back. They signed Cam Sutton, but don’t have a strong corner opposite of him. Bullard has gained a lot of valuable experience playing on a very good Georgia defense and he’d bring that experience to Detroits average secondary unit.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ohio State DE J.T. Tuimoloau
While Jacksonville has Josh Allen and Travon Walker, Walker didn’t exactly exactly light the world on fire as a rookie. J.T. Tuimoloau would be great in the Jaguars 3-4 defense because he could be used as a pure end due to his size and physicality, but could also play standup outside linebacker because of his athletic ability. He’s just a great fit for the Jaguars.
28. Buffalo Bills: Washington WR Rome Odunze
It’s looking more and more unlikely that Buffalo won’t sign DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs is growing increasingly frustrated with his situation. Buffalo lacks a second big play weapon wideout and Rome Odunze could be that guy. Odunze has a larger frame standing at 6’3, 212 pounds. He thrives on vertical routes using his elite speed to get open.
29. Philadelphia Eagles: Penn State DE Chop Robinson
Philadelphia’s edge rushers are either aging or unproductive (aside from Haason Reddick). Adding Chop Robinson to a defensive line of Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter would benefit them because Robinson would see one on one matchups with tackles. He has shorter arms, but shoots his hands very well and from there, transitions to power very swiftly.
30. Cincinnati Bengals: Florida State WR Johnny Wilson
Having a lot of weapons is never an issue. The thing is, I don’t think Tee Higgins will be in Cincinnati after this season. He’s set to be a free agent in 2024, but he was shopped by the Bengals this offseason. Johnny Wilson could be a great replacement for him as he runs crisp routes and has great hands. He’d be very effective alongside Ja’Marr Chase.
31. San Francisco 49ers: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia
San Francisco has a lot of weapons and really talented players on defense. This pick will be used to address a vacancy they have at right tackle since losing Mike McGlinchey to the Broncos. Kinglsey Suamataia is a nimble pass protector and has great explosion from his stance. His best attribute is his feet and he’ll be able to keep up with quick pass rushers.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders
I hate to be the bearer of bad news to Chiefs fans, but Travis Kelce isn’t getting any younger. Yes, he’s still playing at the top of his game, but drafting his successor won’t hurt. Sanders stands at 6’4, 243 pounds with great hands. Having a few seasons to learn at the knee of Kelce would benefit both Sanders and the Chiefs for the future.