Tape and Turf: 2024 NFL Round 1 Mock Draft
Ahead of the NFL Draft, ALL 52 has you covered with the most likely outcomes of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft
Every year, NFL front offices and coaching staffs throw their eggs in the baskets of young men they hope can become valuable members of their franchises for years to come. Free agent signings and trades are nice, but the draft decides the fates of jobs.
Once again, futures are at stake, and the lives of a few young men are about to change forever. Below, ALL 52 predicts how Thursday shakes out.
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Bears traded Justin Fields and traded for Keenan Allen because they believe in the Williams hype. His floor is Kyler Murray and his ceiling is Patrick Mahomes II. For the first time ever, the Bears may have their franchise QB.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels is the second-best quarterback in the draft by far, and Washington hasn’t had a franchise quarterback since Robert Griffin III’s falloff. The Commanders have issues and will need a dynamic quarterback that can get himself out of trouble. The closest thing we’ve seen to Daniels is Lamar Jackson, and Daniels enters the NFL as a better passer. Daniels will mask many issues for Washington during his first two seasons, and the Commanders will need him to.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
The Patriots have yet to find the heir to Tom Brady’s throne, although Mac Jones seemed to be. Then, the Patriots gave him defensive and special teams coaches that ruined his career. Now, the new staff reportedly isn’t enamored with the offers it’s getting for No. 3, and Jerod Mayo says the team needs its quarterback in this draft. Given the league-wide belief that Maye could be the next Justin Herbert, and the modern fascination with QBs from basketball schools, Maye gets drafted here.
Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Three quarterbacks going to start the draft kills all trade value in the No. 4 pick, and shifts it all to No. 5. Therefore, the Cardinals keep things simple and get Kyler Murray a No. 1 option.
Minnesota Vikings (Mock Trade from Los Angeles Chargers ): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Chargers have needs and will be particular with how they construct their roster under offensive coordinator Greg Roman. They’ll be happy to trade back and gain an extra first-round pick from the desperate Vikings. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson need a QB. Minnesota will take McCarthy, a national champion who soared up draft boards after interviewing with teams in Indianapolis.
New York Giants: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Reports said the worst-kept secret at the NFL Combine was that the Giants were in the market for a QB. Those reports were confirmed when New York hosted Russell Wilson before he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Penix proved he will succeed in the NFL in 2023 with his accuracy, poise and decision-making skills. He and Daniel Jones will be in a QB battle this summer, and Brian Daboll will love the national champion runner-up.
Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, LT, Notre Dame
With DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Chigoziem Okonkwo, Will Levis has everything he needs at the skill positions. Now, Tennessee needs to protect him with the best blindside blocker in the draft.
Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Falcons need another pass rusher opposite Arnold Ebiketie, and Atlanta can grab the best pass rusher in the draft at No. 8, which doesn’t happen often these days.
Chicago Bears: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
If the Bears are going to compete in the NFC North, their defensive line cannot be the Montez Sweat show. Jared Goff and Jordan Love have shown they are playoff quarterbacks, and the Bears will have to pressure them. Plus, the Bears have a better chance of getting to McCarthy than covering Jefferson and Addison when they play Minnesota.
New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Jets need to be competing for a Super Bowl while Aaron Rodgers is under contract. Their defense is special and Breece Hall will allow them to play balanced football that milks the clock. Giving Aaron Rodgers a tight end like Bowers to eat space in the middle of the field while Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams operate outside is scary. If the Jets don’t win the AFC East, Robert Saleh may be out of a job.
Los Angeles Chargers (Mock Trade from Minnesota Vikings): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Despite how much Greg Roman wants to run the ball, the Chargers have no one for Justin Herbert to throw to. Nabers is the second-best receiver in the draft and is somehow available at No. 11. With Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in the backfield, Herbert and Nabers will have fun in the play-action game.
Denver Broncos: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Denver won’t get its first-round quarterback and becomes a trade target, but there isn’t a need for any team to trade up to No. 12. The Broncos will take Verse simply because their pass rush is non-existent, which won’t work against Herbert and Patrick Mahomes II.
Las Vegas Raiders: Olu Fashanu, LT, Penn State
If the Raiders want Gardner Minshew to succeed as a bridge QB, he needs protection. Fashanu isn’t far behind Alt talent-wise and should be in Vegas for years to come.
New Orleans Saints: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Derek Carr will have no excuse not to thrive in the NFC South with two No. 1 WRs in Odunze and Chris Olave, a talented Rashid Shaheed and Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Odunze falling to No. 14 is an absolute steal for a Dennis Allen staff coaching for their jobs in 2024.
Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Teams in the AFC South need star-studded secondaries now. Mitchell had great film at Toledo and had the best combine performance of any defender. The Colts won’t think twice about this one.
Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Seattle needs to solidify its offensive line, and Fautanu played for offensive coordinator Ryan Grubbs at Washington. This feels like the annual storyline pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Just like the Colts, need CBs to compete in what is now an offensively-talented division. They’ll take Alabama’s best cover man and keep him in SEC territory.
Cincinnati Bengals: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Tee Higgins is on the franchise tag and is demanding a trade. Plus, the Bengals don’t have a WR3 on the roster. They have no choice but to draft a WR, and they’ll keep the LSU connection going for Joe Burrow.
Los Angeles Rams: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Aaron Donald cannot be replaced, but Murphy is going to be special. Kobie Turner turned out to be a stud for the Rams last season, and he and Murphy will form the best interior duo in the NFC for years to come.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Steelers have needed offensive tackle help for years, and neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields feel like running for their lives anymore. Plus, Arthur Smith wants to pound the rock. Pittsburgh will add some Polynesian pride in the trenches in an effort to establish a physical offensive identity.
Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Barton is perhaps the most versatile lineman in the draft and provides the physicality the Dolphins need. Miami has been bullied in the Mike McDaniel era, and both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs exposed how soft the league thinks Miami is. Barton has to be Miami’s choice here.
Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
The Eagles need a man-to-man corner so they can trade James Bradberry IV to a zone team, where he belongs. DeJean is fast, physical and can play anywhere in the secondary. The return of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson makes the idea of drafting DeJean too much for Howie Roseman to pass on.
Los Angeles Chargers (Mock Trade from Minnesota Vikings): J.C. Latham, RT, Alabama
Here is where Greg Roman gets his other tackle opposite Rashawn Slater so his former Ravens can run the ball where they choose. Day 2 will be dedicated to defense and maybe another WR. Given Dobbins’s health issues, the Chargers might even pursue Blake Corum.
Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Cowboys are depleted up front, and their offensive line is going to have to work miracles for that RBs room. Tyler Smith’s versatility will allow the Jones family to take the best lineman available, which will be Mims.
Green Bay Packers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Jordan Love and the Packers proved they’re ready to rattle feathers in the NFC. However, that can’t happen again without a replacement for David Bahktiari. Guyton is a first-year starter and Matt LaFleur will be happy to have him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The CBs on Tampa’s roster can’t stop a nosebleed. With such a glaring need, the Bucs can’t afford to turn away a long-term starter with some of the best technique in the draft.
Arizona Cardinals: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Cardinals are in “best player available” territory. After walking away with Harrison and McKinstry, bars in the desert will be filled with drunk and happy fans.
Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Worthy, not Adonai Mitchell, was the best receiver in Austin in 2023. The tape and the stats say so. Worthy also had the best 40-yard dash ever at 4.21 seconds. The Bills lost Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason, and need to fill those voids.
Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Big Ten edge rusher the Lions currently have is working out just fine, and Chop Robinson is a better talent than the remaining CBs. Detroit will draft Robinson and let their edge rush force bad throws until it can address its secondary later down the line.
Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The Ravens squandered the best chance they’ll have at winning a Super Bowl and have to reload at many positions. They can get a WR on Day 2, and they scheme well enough to hide deficiencies at CB. After re-signing Kyle Van Noy, best OT available is Baltimore’s strategy at No. 30.
San Francisco 49ers: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers are far apart on an extension as he enters his fifth year. They can’t afford to lose him for nothing, nd can’t trade Aiyuk without having his replacement. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will take the almost 6-foot, 3-inch dude.
Kansas City Chiefs: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
After losing L’Jarius Snead, the Chiefs’ need at CB is dire enough to take Rakestraw — who Steve Spagnuolo can easily have ready to play. Rashee Rice’s legal issues may create a need for a receiver, but this class is deep enough to address that in Round 2 after the signing of Marquise Brown.