2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Whether or not General Manager Ryan Poles presses the restart button and drafts his own quarterback is a coin flip. At the moment, their Offensive Coordinator situation leads me to believe they will stick with Justin Fields for another year and bring in the top player in the draft. Harrison Jr. brings true number-one receiver vibes to a team that has DJ Moore and then a group of returning receivers that caught a combined 22 passes.

This entire organization is getting a full-blown restart. New Owner, General Manager, and Head Coach. Might as well go for quads and get the new face of the franchise under center with Lamar-caliber running ability. Daniels also led the nation in passing efficiency and explosiveness in 2023, an incredibly rare combination.

Former Patriots linebacker and new Head Coach Jerod Mayo knows how hard it is to defend a quarterback with innovation skills of Williams. He has multiple components of the position to refine and does not necessarily have to be put atop the depth chart right away but there is no denying the simple fact he is not the guy you want to be up against late in the game with a lead.

If Marquise Brown leaves town via free agency, which I expect to happen, the Cardinals receiver group is left with ultra-thin that lacks star power on a team with a high-priced quarterback. To maximize this roster, there needs to be a true force on the outside. Enter Odunze; a big, fast, and coordinated playmaker that immediately becomes the most explosive threat on that offense.

Two of the last three years, Justin Herbert had pressure from the right tackle position at a top six rate in the NFL (first in 2021, sixth in 2023). Current starter Trey Pipkins can be good enough, but this team has seen what they are without Herbert under center. Time to get serious and bring in a week one starter with plus-starter upside.

The common trajectory for this pick will be on offense, as the Giants have been bottom three in scoring three times in four years. Instead, Joe Schoen kicks that can down the road to day two and pursues something they have not had in nearly a decade, a formidable and consistent strength that actually forces opponents to account for weekly. Latu gives their pass rush a third weapon to complement the All-Pro Dexter Lawrence and ascending Kayvon Thibodeux.

Rebuilding the offensive line was never going to be a quick process. Even though this franchise used their first pick on a guard last year, Fashanu brings the ceiling that their current answers at left tackle cannot even look at. No team in the NFL took on more pressure from the left side and even though Fashanu has his warts, his upside is All-Pro caliber.

We still do not have the answer at Head Coach at the time of this writing. With that said, a strong argument can be made that this franchise is a quarterback away from getting back into serious contention. Maye is the best pure pocket passer in this class and his issues are fixable with the right coach.

The pieces are being built to form a defense that the 86 bears would be proud of. General Manager Ryan Poles wants traits up front and Verse gives them a 1-2 punch on the outside very few teams can match. Verse is pure strength, speed, and power with flashes of dominance play all three downs.

The entire organization is going to run it back to 2023 with Aaron Rodgers under center and forcing the front office into making all of their decisions around him. The slot brought minimal production to the table in 2022 and the pass catchers overall did nothing after the catch. Enter Bowers, an underneath threat that will move the chains and create with the ball in his hands to fit in perfect with what Rodgers likes to play with.

Year three of the Kevin O’Connell era brings the most influential decision of his young career to to this point. They pursue a quarterback with more starts than anyone in FBS history that is battle tested, versatile, and comfortable in big games. Nix starts the clock on a roster-build that can bank on efficient spending for the former Wall Street executive, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

The key here is to avoid forcing a pick at quarterback with what is left just because. This is a defense that has gone backwards two straight years and they are in a division run by one of the most efficient passing games in the NFL. McKinstry was rarely thrown at in 2023 but do not overlook how special a 1-2 punch of him and Patrick Surtain can be.

The Raiders have not had a defense that finished top ten in yards allowed since 2006, the year now-Head Coach Antonio Pierce signed his free agency deal with the New York Giants. DeJean is a swiss-army knife that has the skill set to contribute right away in whichever spot that defense, which is filled with holes along the back seven, needs. Pierce wants intelligence and instinctual play, DeJean is top shelf in that department.

NO needs to replace 2,268 snaps along the offensive line because of free agency. Even if one or two come back – and Trevor Penning pans out at LT which is a significant unknown – they need more talent up front AND a guy that can project to multiple spots. Fautanu has the skill set and experience to play guard and/or and wherever he ends up, the personality and athleticism up front takes a big step forward.

Building this offense around quarterback Anthony Richardson can go in a variety of directions. He, and they, are ready for an explosive threat that can soon be their credible number one. Nabers’ vertical speed and dog-mentality will give Head Coach Shane Steichen a similar threat to what he had in Philadelphia with AJ Brown.

The new regime will need to take a long look at ow this defense was engineered in recent years. Leonard Williams and Mario Edwards, key pieces to their interior pass rush, are free agents along with former first round defensive end Darrell Taylor. Murphy II is the most complete penetrator in this class with the juice to make an impact right away alongside of Dre’Mont Jones.

What leading receiver Calvin Ridley ends up doing can impact this decision – but there is no denying this offense needs more juice on the outside and Franklin brings exactly that. A passing game led by former number one pick Trevor Lawrence must have more explosive plays. Ranking bottom half in touchdown percentage and yards per catch can be fixed with more talent on the outside.

Pairing Latham with another mammoth-sized, power-tackle in Orlando Brown Jr. gives quarterback Joe Burrow the outside protection he needs to stay on the field – an absolute must if this team is going to come close to their potential. Former Alabama first rounder Jonah Williams did not pan out and is heading toward free agency.

A pair of 2023 third rounders (Byron Young and Kobie Turner) takes some pressure off the need for a more formidable pass rush but this defense will work best if they have that true top threat outside. Turner brings more pure juice than any pass rusher in this class and plays with the attitude this culture wants.

This franchise is one of tradition. With multiple free agents coming up at corner and Patrick Peterson nearing the end, Wiggins gives them the best option to keep their way of doing things on track. Wiggins plays a bit light, but the dude can cover and make plays on the ball with clean technique and instincts.

Even though I project Christian Wilkins to be re-signed to a long term deal, the lack of pass rush depth was exposed after the injuries to Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. Newton, one of the most productive interior pass rushers in the country according to every important metric, gives them more potential to get home with four.

There is some shaky ground under AJ Brown and the future of this offense. Regardless of his situation long-term with the franchise, a third weapon at receiver is needed. Beyond their top two, Britain Covey is the only returning player within the group that caught a pass (4) in 2023.

With the upcoming vacancies to the defensive front, many of which were key ingredients to the Houston pass rush, Demeco Ryans continues to build the unit in a similar mold to what he had in San Francisco. Trice is a multiple-role edge defender that plays with the energy and variety the want to complement 2023 first rounder Will Anderson.

While there appears to be something missing that is preventing this franchise from reaching credible Super Bowl contention, the key focal point to their consistency is up front. Mims opens the door to several options they have along the offensive line. One of the least experienced players in the class comes with arguably the best set of tools among all tackles in this class. This can open the possibility of keeping Tyler Smith at guard where can be an All-Pro.

Nearly the entire safety group is heading toward free agency and even if one or two get re-signed, the hole in the spine of the defense is alarming. Nubin’s value matches up perfectly with this slot and his game seems very Packer-like. His 13 career interceptions and top shelf tackling in space would have been useful in Green Bay in 2023.

The unsure future of Mike Evans can impact this selection, but it would be hard to pass on a player like Thomas this late. His size, speed, and physicality creates a similar profile to what Evans currently brings to the table at a fraction of the price which matters now that they will likely have to pay a quarterback real money this offseason. Even if the future Hall of Famer returns, keep in mind Chris Godwin will be a free agent in 2025.

A breakout season in 2023 put Arnold on the radar and his pre-draft process could land him much higher than this. With the new Arizona regime adding pass rush pieces last year, it is time to get the kind of corner that can be your true top dog. Arnold’s skill set fits into a variety of roles and matchup situations. He led the SEC in both interceptions and pass break ups in his first (and only) full season.

Number one corner Tre’Davious White has missed 29 games over the past three years and has not played a full season since 2018 when Josh Allen was a rookie. The hedge the put into place with the first round pick spenton Kaiir Elam has been a swing and a miss and their top nickel. Taron Johnson, is heading toward free agency. Mithcell may be the best athlete at the position in this class and this regime still has a strong lean toward building this side of the ball.

I have a feeling we are going hear more and more about Dorlus in the coming months. A true inside-out threat for a defense that truly knows how to use it. Dorlus is an underrated athlete with heavy hands, good length, and an array of ways to beat blockers one on one. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will get Justin Tuck vibes watching his tape.

The missing long-term weapon to this passing game that already has the vertical threat (Jameson Williams), reception-machine (Amon-Ra St. Brown) and underneath weapon (Sam LaPorta) is a physical pass catcher with size that can go up and get it. Mitchell’s body control and hands are difference-making traits that complement is route running well. This is a safe spot for him to develop over the course of a season before being a main piece.

Right tackle created an alarming rate of pressure for Brock Purdy in 2023, by far the most of all positions along the line. Guyton, who physically projects to a higher ceiling than fellow teammate and 2023 first rounder Anton Harrison (JAX) is a gifted athlete that can make it look easy. This solidifies the ends for at least a couple more years as long as Trent Williams can stay on the field and it also gives more depth options to the San Fransico offensive line.

General Manager Eric DeCosta will have a decision to make with Morgan Moses, a useful right tackle to say the least, is under contract for 2024. However, this franchise always views the draft as a long-term plan focused on simply choosing the best players. Seems to work pretty well. Fuaga is a mauler of a tackle with underrated feet and pass protection skills. Whether he starts year one or not is not relevant.