With the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft now complete, I am pleased to present my 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Day 2 Edition. These second-round and third-round projections are based on the draft order as it currently stands and my personal impressions of remaining team needs and interests, and do not reflect any potential trade scenarios.
With the 2024 NFL Draft now upon us, I am pleased to present my 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Final Edition. These first-round projections are based on the current draft order and my personal impressions of team needs and interests entering the draft, with consideration given to potential trade scenarios.
Enjoy the draft!
1 | Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams, QB, USC After months of anticipation, the Bears finally make their long-awaited selection and deliver Caleb Williams to Chicago.
2 | Washington Commanders — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU Following weeks of speculation regarding their quarterback preference, the Commanders call on Jayden Daniels to lead the franchise.
3 | New England Patriots — Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina I think the choice between Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy is tougher than we realize for the Patriots, but Maye has emerged as the late favorite.
4 | Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State The Cardinals expect to field offers from teams chasing the fourth quarterback, but moving out would likely mean missing out on Marvin Harrison Jr.
5 | Minnesota Vikings (via LAC)* — J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan * Projected trade up with Los Angeles Chargers * The Vikings work the phones to move up for J.J. McCarthy, finding the Chargers to be the most reasonable trade partner.
6 | New York Giants — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington The Giants have done their homework on the quarterbacks, but without moving up, wide receiver is their most likely play. After strongly considering Malik Nabers, I circled back to Rome Odunze.
7 | Tennessee Titans — Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame If the board falls this way, the Titans will give strong consideration to drafting Malik Nabers, but I still have them selecting Joe Alt.
8 | New York Jets (via ATL)* — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU * Projected trade up with Atlanta Falcons * If the Jets get within striking distance of a top wide receiver, Malik Nabers in this scenario, I think they’ll be on the move.
9 | Chicago Bears — Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas Wide receiver, edge, and trading back will be among the options here for Chicago, but late buzz has Byron Murphy II being potentially the first defender off the board.
10 | Atlanta Falcons (via NYJ)* — Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA * Projected trade down with New York Jets * The Falcons have been linked to Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, and Byron Murphy II. They could drop back and still land one of the three, with their choice being Latu in this scenario.
11 | Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN)* — JC Latham, OT, Alabama * Projected trade down with Minnesota Vikings * If the Chargers favor a tackle over a wide receiver, they might be comfortable making a deal with Minnesota to move down. I think JC Latham would be the choice for them in this range.
12 | Philadelphia Eagles (via DEN)* — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama * Projected trade up with Denver Broncos * Like many, I’m looking for Philadelphia to explore a trade up, with cornerback being a potential target. With limited draft capital, Denver might be a willing partner, enabling the Eagles to jump up for Terrion Arnold or possibly Quinyon Mitchell.
13 | Las Vegas Raiders — Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State Quarterback and cornerback are reported to be of interest for the Raiders here, specifically Michael Penix Jr. and Terrion Arnold, but in this scenario, I feel going right tackle with Taliese Fuaga is the best approach for the Raiders.
14 | New Orleans Saints — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State The Saints are reportedly more comfortable with their tackle situation than previously thought, but it remains less than ideal for the long-term. I don’t know if they can pass on drafting Olumuyiwa Fashanu if the opportunity arises.
15 | Indianapolis Colts — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Connected to a number of names throughout the process, the Colts feel like a bit of a wildcard. But, if they have a chance at landing Brock Bowers, I think they take it — either here or by climbing up the board.
16 | Seattle Seahawks — Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington At the intersection of need, value, and assumed knowledge of the player, Troy Fautanu has been matched to the Seahawks throughout the draft process. I considered having him going off the board earlier, but reports of medical concerns complicated that projection. Not so much here.
17 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo The Jaguars expect to target a cornerback or wide receiver early. Of the names still available on the board, I would think Quinyon Mitchell would be at or near the top.
18 | Cincinnati Bengals — Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois With late-breaking reports of Trey Hendrickson and Tee Higgins both requesting to be traded, the Bengals could shift their priorities here. But, if not, I could see Jer’Zhan Newton being their selection.
19 | Los Angeles Rams — Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama Considering it has been a while since the Rams have picked in the first round, projections are all over the map. But, if Dallas Turner unexpectedly slides to them here, I don’t see them being on the clock for long.
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Graham Barton, OL, Duke The late buzz has the Steelers exploring a trade up for cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, but assuming they don’t move, I think their choice comes down to Graham Barton and Amarius Mims. I think the deciding factor is Barton being the more plug-and-play of the two, despite a projected position switch to center.
21 | Arizona Cardinals (via MIA)* — Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State * Projected trade up with Miami Dolphins * The Cardinals have the draft capital to be active early, while the Dolphins might be open to trading down to accumulate more picks. If Arizona makes this move, I think the name to watch is Jared Verse.
22 | Denver Broncos (via PHI)* — Bo Nix, QB, Oregon * Projected trade down with Philadelphia Eagles * If Denver bails out of #12 like they did here by trading down with Philadelphia, I think the likelihood is high that Bo Nix is a Bronco, certainly more so than if they were to stand in and pick.
23 | Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN)* — Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson * Projected trade down with Minnesota Vikings * With the second first-round pick acquired in their projected trade with Vikings, the Chargers pass on taking a receiver yet again in favor of drafting cornerback Nate Wiggins.
24 | Dallas Cowboys — Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma I expect the Cowboys to prioritize rebuilding their offensive line early, with Tyler Guyton being perhaps their top target where they pick later in the first round. For a full write-up, check out my 2024 edition of Drafting Dallas, where I elaborate on my reasoning.
25 | Green Bay Packers — Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa I’ve cycled through a few names that feel like Green Bay Packers and would fit here. Like many, I settled on versatile defensive back Cooper DeJean as their pick.
26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon The Buccaneers could prioritize defense here with a cornerback or edge, but I kept coming back to Jackson Powers-Johnson to fill the need at center.
27 | Miami Dolphins (via ARZ)* — Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State * Projected trade down with Arizona Cardinals * Offensive line is a popular projection for the Dolphins, but they’re thin at edge with Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb both rehabbing from late-season injuries. I like the idea of them dropping back and drafting the high-upside Chop Robinson to help fill the void and give their defense a shot of the juice they have on offense.
28 | Buffalo Bills — Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU The Bills are circling the wagons around wide receiver heading into the draft. A move up the board isn’t out of the question, but with Brian Thomas Jr. possibly sliding, Buffalo may be able to stay put.
29 | Detroit Lions — Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri Defensive line and cornerback expect to be primary targets for Detroit here late in the first round. I think the selection of Darius Robinson would please the Lions and the host city crowd.
30 | Baltimore Ravens — Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia Tackle appears to be firmly on the table for Baltimore here at #30 and it would be very Ravens for them to have one of the top prospects just happen to slip through and be there for the taking. Amarius Mims might be that prospect in this draft and would fit right in with their tendency of drafting big, physical blockers.
31 | Las Vegas Raiders (via SF)* — Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington * Projected trade up with San Francisco 49ers * The Raiders are rumored to be high on Michael Penix Jr., but just how high? Should Las Vegas let the chips fall as they did here, I could see them striking a deal with the 49ers to trade back into the first round for their quarterback.
32 | Washington Commanders (via KC)* — Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona * Projected trade up with Kansas City Chiefs * The Commanders are another team in the tackle market and may not wait until early in the second round to close. I could see them swapping picks with the Chiefs and ending the night with the selection of Jordan Morgan.
Welcome to the eighth annual edition of my DRAFTPLEX featured content series, Drafting Dallas! In this exercise, I assume front office duties to mock draft the full seven rounds for my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, using my DRAFTPLEX Board and the current official draft order.
In previous years, this has been, more often than not, a fun exercise in team building — an opportunity to explore the board, connect the dots, and craft a scenario that serves to address a priority need or two, identify potential upgrades, and churn the depth at the bottom of the roster.
But, make no mistake about it, with the way the Cowboys have operated this offseason, be it by circumstance or by choice, this edition of Drafting Dallas is defined by plugging holes — filling the significant vacancies across the depth chart created by a mass exodus of popular starters, valuable reserves, and quality role players who will no longer be wearing the star in 2024, headlined by the likes of Tyron Smith, Tony Pollard, and Tyler Biadasz on offense and Leighton Vander Esch, Johnathan Hankins, and Dorance Armstrong on defense. The organization subsequently compounded the losses through their limited participation in the free-agent market, signing only two outside veterans in linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman.
The front office has also put itself in the uncomfortable position of approaching this draft with franchise-altering decisions looming, with Dak Prescott only under contract for 2024, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons due for massive extensions, and Mike McCarthy and his staff effectively coaching for their jobs. Add to that a roster that could see substantial turnover again next offseason, and the Dallas Cowboys could look very, very different in 2025 both in construction and competitiveness.
To that end, this edition of Drafting Dallas was perhaps my most challenging effort of the series to date. Are the Cowboys operating lean, honing their focus on competing in 2024 while knowing they must attempt to do more with less? Or is the front office “all in” towards building for the future, letting the chips fall where they may this season as they weigh decisions that will affect the team for the next three to five years or more?
Or is it both?
How they proceed with their selections on Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday will be telling. In the meantime, I’ve done my best to view this draft through those competing lenses to present what I believe is a realistic scenario that could play out based on my personal evaluations, my impressions of pre-draft reports, and how the board may fall.
With that in mind, let’s go on the clock with Drafting Dallas 2024!
Round 1 | Pick 24 Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The future of the left tackle position has been a topic of conversation, if not consternation, for several years now with the Cowboys consistently banking on having Tyron Smith available, regularly having to scramble when he wasn’t, and not seeing a potential successor emerge thus far from a slew of mid-round OT selections over the past several years. #77 is now no longer with the team, and with the position left uncovered in free agency, Dallas enters the draft with a desperate need and a sense of urgency to select a new starter.
Of course, there’s also the lingering argument that the Cowboys already have a solution on the roster in the form of All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith. #73 kicked out to tackle as a rookie and performed well there, but that doesn’t appear to be the plan moving forward.
So, I look for the Cowboys to prioritize left tackle with their first-round selection, with a decision that likely comes down to Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton and Arizona’s Jordan Morgan. Guyton is more physically impressive and may be viewed as having the higher ceiling, while Morgan is more experienced and may be viewed as more pro-ready.
Going back to the thought about drafting for now or for the future, I have them leaning towards Guyton as the balance between the two. While he needs seasoning and will require an adjustment period as he moves from right to left tackle, the Cowboys make this pick with the confidence that he can make the transition smoothly and the conviction that the offense can weather any early struggles.
Other considerations: Graham Barton, OL, Duke Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Round 2 | Pick 56 Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
Two seasons ago, the Cowboys had an enviable complementary balance at running back between Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott was cut for financial reasons last offseason and Pollard allowed to depart in free agency for the same just a year later, leaving the team with an unproven, inexperienced room heading into the draft.
Considering the returning group of Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke boasts less than 200 combined career carries between them and the late signing of veteran Royce Freeman does nothing to tamper the immediate need for a bonafide starter in the backfield, the Cowboys expect to be among the handful of teams targeting a running back in the early rounds.
Thus, it makes a lot of sense that the team has been connected to Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, a fringe first-round runner who projects to be available at a discount due to a knee injury suffered late in his final college season. When you consider the front office’s history of chasing value in the second round with “Blue Star Special” targets and the fact that, conveniently enough, team doctor Dan Cooper performed the surgery to repair Brooks’ torn ACL, the signs point to Dallas being a potential suitor for the former Longhorn.
At this stage, there don’t appear to be any concerns with Brooks recovering in time to see meaningful action to start the season, but should he need time to ramp up, I see the Cowboys making this pick being comfortable with the idea of platooning the position temporarily until he’s ready to go.
Other considerations: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Round 3 | Pick 87 Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
Last year, the play and the plan at linebacker was less than ideal, to put it mildly. The Cowboys lost promising rookie DeMarvion Overshown to a torn ACL in the preseason and lost veteran starter Leighton Vander Esch to what turned out to be a career-ending neck injury early in the season, leaving the position effectively decimated. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn tried being resourceful by slotting in safeties, tapping into the practice squad, and even rotating in Micah Parsons, but the deficiencies of the roster could only be masked for so long and the soft middle of the defense was far too often exposed by the end of the season.
Following Quinn’s exit for the head coaching job with the Commanders, the Cowboys have turned to former coordinator Mike Zimmer to call the defense in 2024. With Zimmer’s arrival also came the only outside free-agent signing of consequence this offseason, veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, who started for Zimmer during his head coaching stint with the Vikings and was productive last year for the Chargers.
With Kendricks in the building, Overshown coming back from injury, and regular starter Damone Clark also returning, the Cowboys look to be in better shape at linebacker, on paper at least, heading into the summer.
Still, you have to think they’re not interested in being caught in a similar situation again, which leads me to believe linebacker is a position of strong consideration in the early to middle rounds. Among the names Dallas has been linked to is Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace, an athletic second-level defender with sideline-to-sideline range, downfield coverage ability, and the speed and physicality for downhill pursuit. Wallace does have room for development and refinement, though, so his initial contributions could be in subpackages and on special teams to start, before taking on more of a down-to-down role on defense later this season or next.
Other considerations: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OC, Georgia
The Cowboys drafted Mazi Smith in the first round last April, viewing the massive Michigan man as a space-eating 1-technique defensive tackle while also noting an untapped potential as a pass rusher. The latter thought would seem to be the reason he proceeded to shed the bulk that made him successful as a run-stuffer in college, resulting in him being ineffective at both as a rookie. The Cowboys will be looking for him to return to form this season as he takes over for veteran Johnathan Hankins, who signed with Seattle, alongside Osa Odighizuwa up front.
That said, the true DT depth chart only includes Mazi, Osa, and journeyman Carl Davis, so depth remains an issue. And with a hallmark of Zimmer defenses being a strong middle, odds are that another big body gets added to the mix on Saturday, if not sooner.
A name to watch on Day 3 for Dallas either here or with a reasonable climb of the board is Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson, who tipped the scales at 326 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine and plays with a combination of strength and explosion that could prove valuable as part of the DT rotation.
Other considerations: Beaux Limmer, OC, Arkansas
Round 6 | Pick 216 (compensatory) Matt Goncalves, OL, Pitt
One unaddressed need thus far for Dallas is center, where a first-round selection remains a possibility, but is not the path in this scenario. The Cowboys do have Brock Hoffman on the roster and may be planning to give him the first crack at earning the starting role, or they could look at trying out T.J. Bass in the middle after he impressed at guard as a rookie. There are also a number of center prospects Dallas could consider in this range, although the opportunity to come away with an upgrade-level talent over previous starter Tyler Biadasz will have likely passed.
However, for a team that appreciates both position flex and value, a dark horse candidate for the competition at center could be a versatile lineman like Pitt’s Matt Goncalves, who missed most of his final college season and much of the pre-draft process due to a toe injury. Goncalves would bring experience at both left and right tackle and is reported to have had conversations with teams about kicking inside to both guard and center.
Evaluations on Goncalves appear to vary, both by position and by grade, so his eventual placement in the draft order will be a mystery until his name is actually called, but as a tackle, I have him potentially being in range of Dallas here. And if they were to land an eventual starter or multi-positional swing lineman from a Day 3 pick, it would be quite the return on the investment.
Round 7 | Pick 233 (via Las Vegas Raiders) Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Colorado State
Round 7 | Pick 244 Myles Cole, EDGE, Texas Tech
With their seventh-round picks, like most teams, I could see the Cowboys targeting prospects with developmental traits and special teams value, most likely on defense where there should be roster spots up for grabs at the bottom of the depth charts at cornerback and edge rusher, especially with a new defensive coordinator.
Colorado State’s Chigozie Anusiem is a physical, height-weight-speed cornerback prospect who offers press-man and zone coverage experience, as well as the temperament and tackling ability for run support. His path to the active roster would likely be as a special teams contributor on the kickoff and punt teams to start.
Texas Tech’s Myles Cole is height-weight-speed edge prospect with exceptional length who offers inside-outside flex as a down lineman across the defensive front, as well as experience as a standup rusher. As more of a developmental project than a rotation-ready contributor, Cole could likewise find a home on special teams early, where coordinator John Fassel would aim to leverage his length and power on the field goal and punt block teams.
I haven’t produced and published a Mock Draft 2.0 as part of my pre-draft content since 2021, but I had the time and the inspiration to turn out an extra impromptu edition this year. Thus, I’m pleased to share my DRAFTPLEX 2024 NFL Mock Draft: 2.0 Edition. Projections are based on the current first-round draft order and personal impressions of team needs and interests as of April 5. Potential trade scenarios are also presented, with hypothetical compensation based on historical draft trade data included.
1 | Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams, QB, USC There’s always the slightest possibility Chicago could shock the world on draft night, but at this point it appears we’re just waiting for the Bears and Caleb Williams to make it official.
2 | Washington Commanders — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU Are the Commanders deciding between two quarterbacks — or is it three? While I have Jayden Daniels slotted here for this exercise, Washington’s choice here is still anyone’s guess. But, one thing we can virtually all agree on is that the 2024 NFL Draft now starts at #2.
3 | Minnesota Vikings — Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina * Projected trade with New England Patriots * The Vikings are clearly angling to move up for a quarterback, with #4 and #5 being the popular landing spots because New England may not be willing to move to secure a signal-caller of their own. But what if they are? And if Minnesota is going to be aggressive enough to move up, why not go all in and go after the name you really want? In this scenario, the assumption is that their QB of choice is Drake Maye.
NE receives: #11, #23, and #129 in 2024 & MIN 1st and 3rd in 2025 MIN receives: #3 and #68 in 2024
4 | Arizona Cardinals — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU The Cardinals may have the opportunity to field trade offers for the fourth QB here, but having their choice of the top three wide receivers, they may not be so compelled to move down. In perhaps a mild upset, it’s Malik Nabers who is taken off the board as WR1.
5 | Los Angeles Chargers — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State The Chargers have been linked to a wide receiver here at #5 with their significant turnover at the position, but I’m not so sure that it’s WR no matter what. The exception, I think, is Marvin Harrison Jr., who LA might hope falls right into their lap.
6 | New York Giants — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington I’m not yet convinced the Giants will be a player in the QB market on draft night, even with J.J. McCarthy on the board here, because their offensive weaponry isn’t drastically improved from previous years. They may be better served to improve that situation before investing in their next QB, opting instead for a prime target like Rome Odunze.
7 | Tennessee Titans — Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame The Titans *not* drafting Joe Alt here if he’s still available would be a shock. Copy and paste from my Mock Draft 1.0.
8 | Denver Broncos — J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan * Projected trade with Atlanta Falcons * Despite Denver’s general lack of draft capital, they have enough for a reasonable move up if you look at trade compensation from teams making similar jumps in the past. If J.J. McCarthy here, or one of the other projected top quarterbacks on draft night, comes within striking distance, look for the Broncos to try and climb the board.
ATL receives: #12 and #76 in 2024 & DEN 3rd in 2025 DEN receives: #8 and #109 in 2024
9 | Chicago Bears — Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama The Bears are the beneficiary of Denver’s desire for a quarterback and Atlanta’s willingness to fall back in this scenario. It clears the path for them to select arguably the top edge prospect in this class, Dallas Turner.
10 | New York Jets — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Do the Jets play it conservative here by drafting insurance at tackle for their two new veteran starters or go for broke by drafting an top-flight offensive weapon? Brock Bowers is a popular projection, but don’t rule out New York being even more aggressive and chasing a top receiver up the board.
11 | New England Patriots— Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington * Projected trade with Minnesota Vikings * New England would have to get the right haul to drop back from #3, but this projected trade assumes agreeable compensation from Minnesota — including the first of two first-round picks in 2024 here at #11. Needing an influx of talent across the depth chart, trading back would afford New England more dart throws early. At this spot, their BPA and bullseye could potentially be versatile lineman Troy Fautanu, likely to slot in as their new left tackle.
NE receives: #11, #23, and #129 in 2024 & MIN 1st and 3rd in 2025 MIN receives: #3 and #68 in 2024
12 | Atlanta Falcons— Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA * Projected trade with Denver Broncos * The Falcons would have to be satisfied with Denver’s offer to miss out on reported target Dallas Turner at #8, but their willingness to move and confidence in doing so just might depend on their evaluation of edge Laiatu Latu. Provided that Atlanta is comfortable with his medicals, Latu could rival Turner as the top pass rusher on their board.
ATL receives: #12 and #76 in 2024 & DEN 3rd in 2025 DEN receives: #8 and #109 in 2024
13 | Las Vegas Raiders — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama This pick could prove to be another turning point in the draft, as the Raiders are reportedly interested in a quarterback, but unlikely to be in range of the top-tier prospects. Assuming Las Vegas doesn’t get anxious and draft Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. here, I think the choice comes down to tackle Taliese Fuaga, who I mocked to the Raiders in my Mock Draft 1.0, and CB Terrion Arnold, who has also emerged as a favorite. For this scenario, Arnold is the pick.
14 | New Orleans Saints — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State In the time since my previous mock, the situation at tackle has moved from questionable to concerning for the Saints. New Orleans would be relieved to see Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Taliese Fuaga, and JC Latham still on the board at #14 — with Fashanu being the pick here.
15 | Indianapolis Colts — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo Multiple names have started to gain steam as considerations for the Colts here at #15 due to their draft tendencies and emphasis on high-end traits. But, with a need at corner and only one of the two clear-cut top prospects at the position still available —and one who fits their preferred athletic profile, at that — I’m not ready to concede Indianapolis bypassing Quinyon Mitchell.
16 | Philadelphia Eagles — Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State * Projected trade with Seattle Seahawks * Seattle has a history of trading down and Philadelphia a history of trading up, which could see them align on a deal on draft night if the right prospect remains on the board. In this scenario, the Eagles continue prioritizing value and investing in an apparent strength — not unusual for them — by making a play for edge rusher Jared Verse.
SEA receives: #22 and #53 in 2024 PHI receives: #16 and #102 in 2024
17 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia * Projected trade with Jacksonville Jaguars * Reports continue to point to the Steelers having notable interest in Amarius Mims, but is he just one of their potential targets or their preferred pick? If the latter, Pittsburgh may be compelled to move up to avoid being jumped for the talented, albeit inexperienced, tackle.
JAX receives: #20 and #98 in 2024 PIT receives: #17 in 2024
18 | Cincinnati Bengals — Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State The Bengals would appear to be set at tackle for the upcoming year on paper, but the position might not be as secure as it would seem moving forward. With a potential cornerstone in Taliese Fuaga somehow still available, this could be an easy call for Cincinnati.
19 | Los Angeles Rams — Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas The Rams and Byron Murphy II still seems like an obvious fit — unless another team beats LA to the punch.
20 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU * Projected trade with Pittsburgh Steelers * If they were to miss out on the the top two prospects at what looks to be their most pressing position of need — cornerback — Jacksonville might be open to falling back and regrouping. With no definitive WR1 on the depth chart, the Jaguars pivot to Brian Thomas Jr., projecting the talented playmaker to have the potential to grow into that role sooner rather than later.
JAX receives: #20 and #98 in 2024 PIT receives: #17 in 2024
21 | Baltimore Ravens — JC Latham, OT, Alabama * Projected trade with Miami Dolphins * Faced with replacing multiple starters on the offensive line, the Ravens can take their chances and let the board come to them at #30 or consider a move up — perhaps in a deal with a Dolphins team light on early draft capital — to land one of the top-tier tackles. In this scenario, the Alabama pipeline continues flowing to Baltimore, with JC Latham becoming the latest alumni to join the Flock.
MIA receives: #30, #93, and #130 in 2024 BAL receives: #21 in 2024
22 | Seattle Seahawks — Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M * Projected trade with Philadelphia Eagles * The Seahawks are often good for one of two things on draft night — either trading down or the occasional curveball. Here we have both. With the addition of a second-round pick to help remake their interior offensive line (in the range where need and value perhaps better align), it’s a riser at linebacker, Edgerrin Cooper, crashing the first round and heading to Seattle.
SEA receives: #22 and #53 in 2024 PHI receives: #16 and #102 in 2024
23 | New England Patriots— Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas * Projected trade with Minnesota Vikings * With the second first-round selection acquired in their projected trade with Minnesota, the Patriots could very likely circle back to a position they expect to consider at their original place in the draft order and take aim at a projectable WR1 in Adonai Mitchell.
NE receives: #11, #23, and #129 in 2024 & MIN 1st and 3rd in 2025 MIN receives: #3 and #68 in 2024
24 | Dallas Cowboys — Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU There are a number of offensive linemen being linked to the Cowboys early, but one name not so prevalent as of yet is tackle Kingsley Suamataia, who checks a number of boxes that would make him an attractive option for America’s Team here at #24 or as a trade-back target. Recently reported to be Dallas-bound for an official 30-visit, it could be the prelude to a permanent move come draft night.
25 | Green Bay Packers — Graham Barton, OL, Duke Graham Barton to Green Bay is a carryover from my Mock Draft 1.0, but it’s beginning to look like the Packers might need a little extra luck to see the versatile lineman still here at #25. He’s emerged as a potential top-20 pick due to his talent, tenacity, and positional flexibility. The board still happens to fall in their favor in this scenario.
26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon The Buccaneers could look to shore up their defense with a pass rusher or cornerback, but center remains significant position of need following the retirement of veteran starter Ryan Jensen. Jackson Powers-Johnson was an early riser in the draft process but expects to slot in the late-first or early-second, with Tampa Bay being a potential suitor.
27 | Arizona Cardinals — Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri The are a number of paths the Cardinals could take with their second pick in the first round, including offensive line, defensive line, pass rusher or cornerback. Likely coming down to BPA at one of those areas of need, there’s a distinct possibility that disruptive defender Darius Robinson is the top name remaining on their board.
28 | Buffalo Bills — Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State Have the Bills boxed themselves into a first-round wide receiver with the Stefon Diggs trade? There’s certainly reason to believe that’s the case, but there’s also a case to be made that it would be a forced pick in this scenario in terms of value. Assuming Buffalo isn’t keen to bypass a number of names that might be higher on their board to fill the need, explosive edge rusher Chop Robinson would make sense as a consideration for a defense that has been weakened up front this offseason.
29 | Washington Commanders — Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona * Projected trade with Detroit Lions * Thinking Detroit might be deflated to see two prospects frequently projected to be their first-round pick — Darius Robinson and Chop Robinson — come off the board immediately in front of them, the Lions could look to bail out of the first round for the right offer. Meanwhile, Washington could be anxious to land a left tackle with no real answer on the roster. With multiple teams expected to be hunting tackles in the early-30s, the Commanders decide not to run the risk of being wiped out before they go back on the clock in the second round, making a deal with Detroit to move up for reported target Jordan Morgan.
DET receives: #36 and #100 in 2024 WAS receives: #29 in 2024
30 | Miami Dolphins — Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois * Projected trade with Baltimore Ravens * Short on early selections and expected to target the trenches high, it makes sense for the Dolphins to consider dropping back, where they can add picks while also staying within range of most of the top interior blockers and defenders. With a pair of offensive linemen they’ve been frequently linked to — Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson — off the board, a potential fit for Miami is defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton.
MIA receives: #30, #93, and #130 in 2024 BAL receives: #21 in 2024
31 | San Francisco 49ers — Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma Speculation has the 49ers seeking to install an upgrade at right tackle through the draft, with a number of names being connected to this pick at #31. One prospect that tends to be gone in mocks before San Francisco selects is Tyler Guyton. But, in this scenario, they’re fortunate to see the big tackle still on the board.
32 | New England Patriots — Bo Nix, QB, Oregon * Projected trade with Kansas City Chiefs * Odds are that the Patriots won’t leave the first round without a quarterback, but that doesn’t mean it happens at #3. Following the projected trade with Minnesota early, New England hops up from #34 to #32 to select Bo Nix, who is definitely on their radar as a down-the-board option. Meanwhile, Kansas City — wiped out at tackle — pulls an extra Day 2 pick to drop two spots while maintaining the opportunity to draft a cornerback or receiver from among the top names still available on the board, including Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cooper DeJean, and Nate Wiggins at CB and Xavier Worthy, Troy Franklin, Ladd McConkey, and Xavier Legette at WR.
KC receives: #34 and #103 in 2024 NE receives: #32 in 2024
DRAFTPLEX 2024 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition projections are based on the current first-round draft order and personal impressions of team needs and interests as of March 21, and do not represent any potential trade scenarios.
1 | Chicago Bears (via CAR) — Caleb Williams, QB, USC The Bears seem to have removed any remaining uncertainty about their plans at quarterback and for the first overall pick. Welcome to Chicago, Caleb Williams!
2 | Washington Commanders — Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina The Commanders expect to take the second quarterback off the board, but is their preference Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye?
3 | New England Patriots — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State The Patriots are widely assumed to be the landing spot for the third quarterback, but I’m not convinced just yet. Perhaps they consider a pro-ready weapon in Marvin Harrison Jr. instead.
4 | Arizona Cardinals — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU The Cardinals are seemingly locked in to drafting a receiver here and with Marvin Harrison Jr. off the board, it’s Malik Nabers bound for Arizona.
5 | Los Angeles Chargers — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia The Chargers have shown strong interest in Brock Bowers, who would make sense as the pick whether they stand in here or trade down.
6 | New York Giants — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington The Giants could be in play for a quarterback if the board falls in their favor, but a top receiver — in this scenario, Rome Odunze — is the most likely consideration.
7 | Tennessee Titans — Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame The Titans *not* drafting Joe Alt here if he’s still available would be a shock.
8 | Atlanta Falcons — Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama The Falcons *not* drafting Dallas Turner here if he’s still available might be even more of a shock.
9 | Chicago Bears — Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State The Bears expect to go offensive line or defensive line here, so edge rusher Jared Verse is a consideration.
10 | New York Jets — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State The Jets signed veteran Tyron Smith to be their left tackle. The Jets draft Olumuyiwa Fashanu here as both his successor and as insurance should they need an in-season injury replacement.
11 | Minnesota Vikings — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU The Vikings are primed to trade up for a quarterback, with most pointing to Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy as the target. But, might they actually be interested in Jayden Daniels?
12 | Denver Broncos — J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan The Broncos are desperate to see a quarterback clear the minefield ahead of them. J.J. McCarthy would likely be their best hope.
13 | Las Vegas Raiders — Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State The Raiders need a right tackle and Taliese Fuaga just feels like a fit for the silver and black.
14 | New Orleans Saints — Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington The Saints have reasons to be uncomfortable about the immediate future of their offensive line. Drafting a plug-and-play starter at tackle or guard like Troy Fautanu would help.
15 | Indianapolis Colts — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo The Colts prioritize tools and traits and have a need at cornerback. Quinyon Mitchell has the talent, the tape, and testing data to be a potential fit and the first CB off the board.
16 | Seattle Seahawks — Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA The Seahawks have positions of greater need than pass rusher, but the value isn’t there early. On the other hand, Laiatu Latu could turn out to be a high-value pick for Seattle provided they are comfortable with his medical evaluation.
17 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama The Jaguars have been frequently linked to and expect to target a cornerback early, putting Terrion Arnold firmly in play here.
18 | Cincinnati Bengals — Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU If the Bengals are secure with the state of their offensive line, they could look at drafting Brian Thomas Jr. to reload their receiving corps.
19 | Los Angeles Rams — Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas The Rams draft in the first round for the first time in forever and do so needing to fill the void left by one of the best defensive players of all time. While one does not simply replace Aaron Donald, Byron Murphy II gets the opportunity to take over his role on defense.
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia The Steelers might consider a center prospect here depending on how the board falls, but it’s difficult to see them passing on Amarius Mims, who they’ve reportedly shown significant interest in.
21 | Miami Dolphins — Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas The Dolphins… Xavier Worthy… because why not?
22 | Philadelphia Eagles — JC Latham, OT, Alabama The Eagles have options to reset their offensive line following Jason Kelce’s retirement. JC Latham gives them another immediate option at guard and an eventual successor to Lane Johnson at right tackle.
23 | Minnesota Vikings (via CLE thru HOU) — Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas If the Vikings don’t trade up for a quarterback, receiver could be a consideration here. And if they do trade up, receiver could be a consideration for their trade partner. The target in either scenario would likely be Adonai Mitchell.
24 | Dallas Cowboys — Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma The Cowboys are looking at a best-case scenario here with Tyler Guyton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Graham Barton remaining on the board. While Powers-Johnson is the fan favorite, my preference is Barton. However, I would project Dallas to go with Guyton.
25 | Green Bay Packers — Graham Barton, OL, Duke The Packers have moving parts to put into place on the offensive line. Graham Barton offers five-position flexibility and would be a valuable piece to that puzzle.
26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State The Buccaneers could stand to improve their pass rush and edge pressure. Chop Robinson doesn’t enter the draft with a ton of college production, but is a disruptive defender the offense has to account for and comes with room to grow.
27 | Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) — Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson The Cardinals continue to build out a young secondary with the addition of promising cornerback prospect Nate Wiggins.
28 | Buffalo Bills — Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa The Bills parted ways with a number of mainstays in the secondary. They continue retooling the back end with Cooper DeJean, a versatile defensive back who also offers return ability.
29 | Detroit Lions — Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri The Lions continue investing in their defensive line with Darius Robinson, a big, physical edge defender with inside-outside flexibility.
30 | Baltimore Ravens — Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona The Ravens could go in a number of different directions here, but offensive line projects to be the primary need. Baltimore has reportedly shown substantial interest in Jordan Morgan, who offers tackle-guard flexibility and demonstrated his ability to play either left or right tackle at his pro day.
31 | San Francisco 49ers — Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama The 49ers could look to the trenches here late in the first round, but there may be better value in opting to elevate their cornerback play with Kool-Aid McKinstry.
32 | Kansas City Chiefs — Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri The Chiefs expect to have eyes on receiver and offensive tackle, but potentially have a more pressing need at cornerback depending on what happens with L’Jarius Sneed. Looking local for a replacement in Ennis Rakestraw Jr. could be an option.
