This year’s college football playoff did nothing but deepen the talent and jumble the first round of the draft. With stellar performances by the Washington offense and continued dominance of Michigan’s defense, I think we could very well see some players shoot up boards. Not to mention, there is a very real possibility we see six QBs taken in the first round of the draft. With that being said, lets get into my 2024 NFL Draft 2.0.
1. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Assuming Chicago hangs onto this pick, the selection almost has to be Caleb Williams. As much as I love Drake Maye, Williams has shown too much upside in his collegiate career to not be the top pick. Williams possesses some of the best off-platform throwing ability and pure arm talent that I have ever seen. Not to mention he has been relatively efficient and safe with the ball while doing so. The Bears reset the QB contract at 1.01.
2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
I am a firm believer that this year has a true 1a. and 1b. at quarterback. Drake Maye is as gifted of a passer that you will find in college football. He has shown the consistent ability to operate both in and out of structure and even added nine touchdowns on the ground this season. He joins a brand new staff in Washington with hopes to compete in the NFC East.
3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Jayden Daniels here at three is a bit rich for my blood. However, with the hire of 37 year old Jerod Mayo, I think the Patriots would be very interested in resetting the QB contract with a guy that has some dynamic athleticism. Daniels, this year’s Heisman winner, played his way into the top of the draft with his legs and big play ability as a passer. Here he finds himself in the top-3 of my 2024 NFL Draft 2.0.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio St
The Cardinals have a desperate need at receiver and fill it perfectly here with my No.1 player in the entire draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. truly has no weaknesses at WR and has all the tools to be one of the top ten wide outs in the league within a couple of seasons.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Los Angeles is another team participating in this year’s coaching carousel. Whoever they land on, their first order of business has to be supporting Justin Herbert. What better way to do than with the best offensive linemen in the class? Alt and Slater become one of the best tackle duos in the league and give the Chargers plenty of protection for Herbert.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
As much as I wanted this to be a QB for the Giants, I simply don’t like the value here. The next best thing is improving the weapons for whoever is going to be under center. Nabers is as explosive as anyone in the class and did it from the slot and the outside in college. Hopefully him and Jalin Hyatt can improve the QB play in New York.
7. Tennessee Titans: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn St
After firing Mike Vrabel, who knows what the identity of the Titans will be in 2024. Regardless of what they choose to do, they need help on the offensive line. Fashanu is one of the most athletic linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft and didn’t allow a single sack in his collegiate career.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
For the sake of this mock, I’m going to assume that the Bears send Justin Fields to Atlanta after drafting Williams. With that being said, they had a bottom six team pass rushing grade per PFF. They select Dallas Turner here who logged 25 sacks in three years for Alabama.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
With two more big performances in the CFP, Rome Odunze will be a top pick barring something crazy. He had just three drops on 140 targets this season and has proven to be one of the best deep threats in the country. His late hands and contested catch ability will fit perfectly alongside D.J. Moore and Caleb Williams in Chicago.
10. New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon St
Fuaga is probably the best run blocker in the tackle class and also didn’t allow a sack this season for the Beavers. Because of this, he will be a top ten pick in my 2024 NFL Draft 2.0. The Jets have had a revolving door of offensive linemen the past few seasons and solidify a tackle spot with Fuaga.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
I personally am not as high on Penix as many other analysts. In terms of true prospect ranking, I would have him somewhere closer to the mid 20’s to early 30’s. However, he has one of the best deep balls in the class and had an absurd 41 big time throws this season. I think he fits the explosive play style of the Vikings offense and fills a huge need at the most valuable position.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Once again, I would have Nix valued somewhere near the end of the first round, but the Broncos have a huge need at QB. Furthermore, Nix has balled out the past two seasons and Oregon and I think he possesses the poise and efficiency that Sean Payton covets. The 5th QB comes off the board in the top 12 picks.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Despite a late season surge under Antonio Pierce, Vegas still has some major upgrades to make defensively. Wiggins possesses elite length and height for the position and allowed just a 44 passer rating this season for Clemson. He immediately becomes the CB1 for the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Saints are losing multiple pieces of their offensive line to free agency and tackle Ryan Ramczyk has some very real injury concerns. As a result, New Orleans takes one of the most physically dominant players in the class in JC Latham. Given that Latham has both tackle and guard experience, he will be a very valuable piece to a depleted line group.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Despite many people becoming a little lower on McKinstry due to a perceived lack of top end athleticism, I am still super high on him. Watching him, I see a fluid mover and a guy that is the most pro-ready player at the position. He helps an Indy unit that struggled at times.
16. Seattle Seahawks: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Although the majority of people seem to strongly dislike McCarthy due to lack of statistical success, I believe he has a strong case to be a first round pick. In my 2024 NFL Draft 2.0, he will be just that. He has plus athleticism for the position and has plenty of arm talent to make NFL caliber throws. I think he could benefit from sitting for a year which is exactly what he could do for Seattle. There’s also a possibility the Seahawks make Jim Harbaugh their next head coach which would reunite the two national champions.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The Jaguars had a historically bad end of their season and have plenty improvements to make. With that in mind, they were one of the worst run blocking teams in the NFL earning just a 40.6 PFF grade as a team. Fautanu had a stellar year for the Huskies and possesses all the physical tools of a potentially dominant interior offensive linemen at the next level.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Without a doubt, this would be widely regarded the steal of the draft for the Bengals. The fact that Bowers fell this far is crazy, but not impossible due to positional value and team needs. Regardless, he would be a huge addition to an offense that may lose Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd in the offseason.
19. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Although many believe DeJean will make the transition to safety, I see no reason he can’t stick at boundary corner. He has more than enough athleticism and size to stick to outside receivers and is an incredible tackler for the position. Wherever the Packers decided to play him, he will fill an immediate whole in the secondary.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
I am of the opinion that Latu is the best day one edge rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he medically retired from football just a couple of years ago due to injury which leads to him slipping down the board a bit here. Tampa Bay struggled immensely in pass coverage this year and that starts with getting to the QB.
21. Arizona Cardinals: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
After selecting Harrison Jr. at four, Jonathan Gannon can’t resist taking such an intriguing talent at defensive line. Newton, the Big Ten DPOY possesses tremendous pass rushing upside at interior DL and helps bolster an otherwise less than stellar unit.
22. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
The Rams undoubtedly outperformed expectations this season. They appear to have some solid rotational guys on the edge, but are lacking a true threat. Verse can be just that. He has posted over an 82 PFF defensive grade each of the past three seasons, amassing 27 sacks during that span. He can be a true edge presence for years to come.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
All things considered, I think the Steelers would be very happy with this pick. They have to get younger and more talented in the secondary despite the great season Joey Porter Jr. posted as a rookie. Arnold has some special athletic tools and snagged five interceptions this season for the Crimson Tide.
24. Miami Dolphins: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Despite having one of the best offenses in football, the Dolphins have many improvements to be made up front. Mims possesses the athletic profile that an offensive guru like Mike McDaniel simply won’t be able to pass up.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
For lack of a better word, James Bradberry has been atrocious this year for the Eagles. If Philly wants to get back to their dominant defensive ways, they must add a legit CB2. Rakestraw Jr. allowed over 40 yards in coverage in just one game this season and allowed no catches against the explosive LSU offense. He can be a legit difference maker in this defense.
26. Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
All of a sudden, the Chiefs find themselves struggling on offense after years of dominance. The reason for this? Poor wide receiver play. Thomas Jr. exploded this year for LSU catching an insane 17 touchdowns. He will pair nicely with Rashee Rice and help Kansas City get back to their old ways.
27. Houston Texans: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
After a stellar season in 2023, the Texans can go a bunch of different ways in the draft. In my 2024 NFL Draft 2.0, I have them taking a corner to pair with Derek Stingley Jr. Lassiter allowed just 177 yards in 14 games played this year and has proven to be incredibly consistent against the best competition in the country.
28. Detroit Lions: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
After Aidan Hutchinson’s 11, no one else on the Lions had over 5 sacks this season. Trice stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs over 270 lbs, giving him the ability to kick inside on pass rushing downs and stick at 4-3 edge comfortably.
29. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
At this point, who knows what Stefon Diggs’ future holds in Buffalo. Outside of him, Gabe Davis is a solid deep threat, but they don’t have much else for Josh Allen. I’m very high on Coleman and think his contested catch ability will benefit Allen’s gunslinger mentality very nicely for years to come.
30. Dallas Cowboys: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Tyron Smith is a 33 year old free agent and Terrence Steele has struggled in pass protection for Dallas this season. Morgan is another guy that has some OT and OG versatility which would allow the Cowboys to go in many different directions when it comes to filling out their O-Line next season. Morgan had an exceptional pass blocking season and is no slouch in the run game.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Another guy with positional versatility, Barton has started at LT the past three seasons for the Blue Devils and has played very well. Obviously, with Trent Williams at LT, Barton will either have to kick inside or switch to RT. The good thing is, the 49ers could use either.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Franklin will be one of the fastest wide outs at the combine while also standing at 6-foot-3. He showed some impressive explosion after the catch this season for the Ducks and should pair nicely with Zay Flowers in the slot.
TL//DR: 2024 NFL Draft 2.0
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