2024 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

My third mock draft of the year consists of 2 rounds, with analysis and justifications for all 64 picks (with trades!). I have accounted for team needs but also the randomness/variety we see every draft.

The Bears draft a potentially franchise-changing talent in Caleb Williams. He is an electrifying prospect who is comfortably the #1 overall pick in this year's draft (barring anything unforeseen).

For some reason, Drake Maye seems to be trending downward in the draft space. I can't get behind that at all. Maye goes #2 off the board in this mock, and links up with new Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury.

TRADE: New York Giants receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #3), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #104); New England Patriots receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #6), 2024 Round 2 (Pick #39), 2024 Round 6 (Pick #185)

In this exercise, the Patriots trade back to gain additional draft capital. The Giants move up to #3 to avoid being jumped by another QB-needy team, and draft Jayden Daniels. I don't think Daniel Jones is the solution long-term, and the Giants will shift their focus elsewhere at the position.

Marvin Harrison Jr. heads to Arizona, instantly becoming the alpha target for Kyler Murray in an offense that needs work.

Although there is speculation that the Chargers may trade out of this spot, I think the opportunity to draft a prospect like Malik Nabers is too good to pass up. Keep in mind, Keenan Allen is only getting older, and the rumor mill is saying that LA may not bring back Mike Williams. The Chargers can look to the future here, and will draft a game-breaking downfield threat.

TRADE: New England Patriots receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #6), 2024 Round 2 (Pick #39), 2024 Round 6 (Pick #185); New York Giants receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #3), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #104)

After trading down from the #3 overall pick, the Patriots select Joe Alt, who is a true machine in the run game but could use some polishing in pass protection work. With Jayden Daniels going off the board, I think it is way too early for any other QB to be selected here.

TRADE: Denver Broncos receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #7), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #107); Tennessee Titans receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #12), 2024 Round 5 (Pick #146), 2025 Round 2

I know I just said it is way too early for any other QB prospect to go off the board in my opinion. However in this exercise, Sean Payton and the Broncos get a bit antsy and jump some QB-needy teams like the Falcons and Vikings to draft 21-year-old JJ McCarthy. I do not have a first round grade for McCarthy, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Broncos would like to pair him with Sean Payton and invest in a very young prospect.

After getting leap-frogged by Denver, the Falcons draft the sure-handed, route-savvy Rome Odunze and address the QB position at a later point in this Mock. Odunze is argued by some to be the most complete receiver in this class. He oozes talent and his play will demand the role of "target hog" in Atlanta's passing attack.

The powerful, heavy-handed Jared Verse is the first defensive player off the board. He heads to Chicago to create a threatening duo with Montez Sweat, further bolstering the Bears defense.

The Jets need to fix their offensive line. Aaron Rodgers will be back, and unfortunately Mekhi Becton has not panned out. Olu Fashanu is excellent in pass protection, and will be the wall for Rodgers' blind side.

The Vikings are at risk of losing multiple pass rushers, most prominently Danielle Hunter. Arguably the most athletic player in this draft, Dallas Turner heads to Minnesota to be a long-term staple in their pass rush, similar to what Hunter has been since 2015.

TRADE: Tennessee Titans receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #12), 2024 Round 5 (Pick #146), 2025 Round 2; Denver Broncos receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #7), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #107)

The Titans go BPA (Best Player Available). I know there are other positions of need, such as the offensive line or the secondary. However, if Tennessee plans to fully invest in Will Levis, you need to give him weapons. Bowers is perhaps the greatest tight end prospect we've seen, and is instantly a primary target for Levis in an offense that currently doesn't project to have much firepower next season.

Taliese Fuaga is a pure mauler. He plays beyond the whistle. After this pick, the Raiders will potentially have the best young tackle tandem in the league: Kolton Miller (LT) and Taliese Fuaga (RT).

I know the major concern with Mims is his small sample size of college play. However, there is an insane amount of untapped potential here. When the 6'7", 340-pound Mims is at his best, he deletes edge rushers. Mims could produce an incredible return on investment. The Saints could perhaps swing Ryan Ramczyk over to left tackle, or have Mims give that spot a go. He may not start immediately since there is some polishing to do, but the sky is the limit with a tackle prospect like Mims.

Terrion Arnold slots right into the CB1 role within a Colts secondary that needs improvement. Arnold is ultra athletic and physical, showing excellent prowess in both man and zone coverage, and plays with a desire to be a downhill contributor in run support.

Seattle addresses their defensive interior via Byron Murphy II. I personally have Jer'Zhan Newton ahead of Murphy II in my rankings, but with this pick I'm accounting for the randomness we see on draft night. However, Murphy II being the first defensive tackle off the board wouldn't be a major surprise. Although he is perhaps a bit undersized, Murphy II is agile, explosive, and one of the better passing game disruptors in this class.

It is hard to project which avenue the Jaguars will take in round one. Secondary? Edge rusher? Offensive line? Although Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell would be an excellent selection at #17, I have Jacksonville taking Brian Thomas Jr. With question marks around Calvin Ridley being brought back, the Jags bring in a bigger body at the receiver position. Thomas Jr. presents NFL-ready size and is a legit vertical threat, however could use some work in his route running ability and actual use of his size.

The Bengals shore up the right side of their offensive line with JC Latham. One Alabama RT departs (Jonah Williams), and another comes in. Latham is 6'6"-360 with an exceptional ability to anchor against pass rushers. His strong hands and quick first-step are pluses as well.

Although LA's secondary could use a boost, their defensive front could use one as well in my opinion (outside of Aaron Donald). Latu would be a day one starter, and even though the medicals may be a concern, he is easily the most complete pass rusher in this class.

Pittsburgh lands my CB2, Quinyon Mitchell. I have been obsessed with him since the pre-season. He has excellent length for the position, and is impressively sticky in man-to-man coverage. Mitchell has a nose for the ball and can be flat-out dominant (as shown at the Senior Bowl). He is a day one starter and has all of the potential in the world to be a long-time pro. The Steelers would now have an exciting cornerback tandem in Quinyon Mitchell and Joey Porter Jr.

Miami has a ton to address this offseason. Multiple spots within their offensive line are at stake. Center Connor Williams is a free agent who will be coming off an ACL tear but command a healthy contract (and rightfully so due to his play). Right guard Robert Hunt is also a free agent, and is one of the best interior offensive linemen in the league. At #21 overall, they select Jackson Powers-Johnson. In this scenario, the Dolphins would reset the clock at center via a dominant, promising prospect. They would subsequently resign Robert Hunt, and then address the left guard spot which can be done cheaply in free agency.

Clemson CB Nate Wiggins lands in Philadelphia, and the timing couldn't be better. Darius Slay and James Bradberry are both at the tail-end of their careers age-wise, and overall the Eagles secondary could use a boost after getting torched the second half of last season. Wiggins is aggressive and possesses exceptional closing speed. I know Eagles fans might be curious about young corners Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks, but they just aren't even close to the level that Wiggins is coming out of college.

Jer'Zhan Newton falls right into the lap of Houston's head coach DeMeco Ryans. With the potential departures of Jonathan Greenard and Sheldon Rankins from their defensive front, Newton slots right in as a quick-handed pass disruptor with excellent power and stuff ability.

Dallas prepares for life after Tyron Smith. There may be concerns about Fautanu's size or reach, but he held it down for the Washington Huskies at LT this past season. Fautanu excels in the run game and can get to the next level in a blink. Perhaps he does make the shift inside to left guard, who knows. But I'm sure the Cowboys wouldn't mind kicking Tyler Smith out to left tackle if that is the case. Now they'd have an impenetrable wall on the left side of the line.

I like this pick a lot for the Packers, and it seems to be a common one in the draft space. DeJean lands in Green Bay and immediately slots into their secondary. It is true that he has the potential to play safety (or anywhere on the field for that matter), but I genuinely believe he belongs on the boundary playing corner.

Kool-Aid! He is so nuanced and intelligent when it comes to the cornerback position. The Buccaneers need coverage help outside of Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, who aren't holding up. McKinstry is prominent in all coverages and should be a day one starter.

The Cardinals get a nice value pick here in Graham Barton out of Duke. Barton has the potential to play all five spots on the offensive line, and with Arizona needing an o-line revamp, Barton will be a plug-and-play starter.

Adonai Mitchell to Buffalo is a terrifying thought. The Bills could use another weapon outside of Stefon Diggs, and Mitchell is a great separator with a long frame and impressive ability to snag catches outside of the average radius.

This is such a Lions pick. Not sure how to explain it. The Darius Robinson hype exploded after the Senior Bowl, and I believe his ability to operate everywhere within the defensive front makes him an intriguing prospect. Detroit could use some help on the edge, and Robinson brings power and flexibility across the line.

Baltimore is at risk of losing several pass rushers to free agency (Brent Urban, Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy). Chris Braswell would be a nice selection for a potentially rusher-needy defense.

Tyler Guyton is an exciting tackle prospect. He is super athletic and a true competitor. San Francisco could utilize him on the right side of the line, or develop him to be a long-term solution once Trent Williams calls it quits.

Say what you want about his poor separation ability; Keon Coleman to Kansas City would be remarkable. The Chiefs need receivers, there's no way around that. They recently released Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and need solid options outside of Rashee Rice. Keon Coleman is a gifted receiver. He is aggressive and acrobatic, possesses elite NFL-ready size, and is dangerously explosive with the ball in his hands. Yes, his separation ability needs a ton of work, but he could be a monster in this offense.

Man oh man, the Carolina Panthers are a mess. I wouldn't be surprised if they went o-line here considering how bad theirs is. However, they need someone to get open for Bryce Young. Ladd McConkey is a fluid separator with zero wasted movement. He is the exact type of receiver that Young needs in this struggling offense.

After addressing the offensive line in Round 1, the Patriots look to bolster their receiving room by selecting Troy Franklin. With game-changing speed like his, I'd be surprised if Franklin even makes it out of the first round. In this Mock, he does, and New England scoops up the 6'3", fluidly-moving playmaker from Oregon.

TJ Tampa is a cornerback prospect who I've started to really like. He is a smooth mover and has excellent ball skills. Tampa is versatile in both man and zone coverages, and is a physical, lengthy corner on the outside.

After shipping out both Chase Young and Montez Sweat, the Commanders need an edge rusher. I think Chop Robinson would be an awesome pick here. He relies heavily on his athleticism, speed, and bend, as he doesn't have an arsenal of pass rush moves. However, he has a relentlessly high motor and just wants to get to the quarterback. Washington needs a guy like Chop in their pass rush.

Due to medical circumstances, Chargers center Corey Linsley is most likely set to retire this offseason. That leaves a huge hole in the interior of their offensive line. West Virginia center Zach Frazier is a bulldozer who can get to the second level in a hurry, works hard in pass protection, and could slot right into the potential gap at the position.

Coming out of Missouri, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. will be a bit of a project (but not a devastatingly long one). He is a tremendous athlete with great twitch, and holds his own in man coverage. However, his zone coverage ability needs improvement, and he is on the lighter/smaller side frame-wise. Rakestraw Jr. can get outmuscled through routes, but his high ceiling makes him an exciting pick-up for a Titans defense that needs secondary help.

TRADE: New England Patriots receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #6), 2024 Round 2 (Pick #39), 2024 Round 6 (Pick #185); New York Giants receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #3), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #104)

Joe Alt, Troy Franklin, and Bo Nix. Talk about a solid first three picks for New England. Mac Jones is not the way forward for the Patriots at the quarterback position. Bo Nix really revitalized his college career at Oregon, and I like the idea of pairing him and Franklin back up at the next level. Even as a Heisman candidate this past season, Nix is still undervalued in this class. He is a consistent playmaker both through the air and on the ground. And just like that, the Patriots walk out of the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft with a promising outlook for the future on the offensive side of the ball.

TE Logan Thomas has been serviceable for several years now, but is getting up there in age. And if you're going to draft a potentially franchise-changing QB in Round 1, you need to get him some weapons in Round 2. Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders is sure-handed and an exceptional route runner for the position.

The Packers go back to the secondary in the second round, this time drafting Minnesota ball hawk Tyler Nubin. This Golden Gopher shows off excellent range, football IQ, and a knack for disruption in the run.

2023 Heisman candidate Michael Penix Jr. joins the Vikings in Round 2, and enters into Kevin O'Connell's system with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson at his disposal. Penix Jr. can absolutely rip the ball around - we saw it all year. I think he would thrive in this Minnesota offense.

TRADE: Chicago Bears receive 2024 Round 2 (Pick #43); Atlanta Falcons receive QB Justin Fields

Atlanta fixes their quarterback problem by acquiring Justin Fields. In return, the Bears select Roman Wilson out of Michigan. Wilson is explosive, rapid, and is an excellent separator. He really put all of this on display (and more) throughout that year, and at the Senior Bowl. DJ Moore and Roman Wilson could be a fun duo in Chicago for Caleb Williams.

Kamari Lassiter slips a bit in this Mock. With Amik Robertson being a free agent, Jack Jones is the only cornerback on Las Vegas who has any intriguing upside. He may not be the biggest corner, which opens up the door to being outmuscled, but Lassiter is an extremely intelligent defender who is physical at the LOS with strong, aggressive hands and has the ability to blanket receivers through all phases of a route.

New Orleans steals Adisa Isaac in Round 2. I feel like Isaac is massively under-appreciated in this year's class. He possesses more nuance to his game than his counterpart Chop Robinson (that isn't a knock on Chop by the way). He joins a Saints pass rush that needs to start prepping for life after Cameron Jordan.

I expect the Colts to retain Michael Pittman Jr. in some capacity, whether it be the franchise tag or an extension. I love the idea of pairing him with a smaller, elite vertical threat in Xavier Worthy. I know there are concerns about Worthy's size, but he can really sell defenders and get free. He isn't coming from a limited route tree, either.

I haven't been able to get behind the Xavier Legette doubt/hate. Lots of folks in the draft space started to bury him during the Senior Bowl, and I just don't see why. Legette is 6'3"-225 and has an NFL-ready frame, which are different measurables compared to recent and current Giants receivers. I understand the concern of this past season being a one-off, but the multi-use potential is exciting. He'd be one of Jayden Daniels' primary targets after this Mock.

With Kamari Lassiter going off the board four picks ago, the Jaguars address their interior offensive line. Cooper Beebe has been my #1 guard all year, and is the first one off the board in this Mock. Beebe is a mauler at all levels of the field, has a supreme anchor, and is a day one interior starter on any offensive line.

Cincinatti has to be able to win consistently in the trenches, especially in the AFC North. 6'4"-360 T'Vondre Sweat will do that job, and then some.

TRADE: Seattle Seahawks receive 2024 Round 2 (Pick #50), 2024 Round 7 (Pick #240); Philadelphia Eagles receive 2024 Round 3 (Pick #78), 2024 Round 6 (Pick #194)

Surprise! The Seahawks, who don't have a second round pick, jump back into the fray to address their troubles on the interior offensive line. Seattle selects Christian Haynes out of UConn. Haynes has a quick first step and is violent in the trenches, which is the type of presence that Seattle is missing.

The Rams need assistance in the secondary. One of their starting corners and both starting safeties are free agents this offseason. Mike Sainristil projects to be more of a nickel defender, but has the flexibility to play where needed in the secondary thanks to his aggressive, in-your-grill style of play.

After getting a lockdown corner in Round 1, Pittsburgh looks to solidify the left side of their line by selecting Jordan Morgan who slides down the board in this Mock. Whether you play him at left tackle to be Broderick Jones' counterpart, or shift him inside to left guard, Morgan will produce in an instant.

TRADE: Houston Texans receive 2024 Round 2 (Pick #53), 2024 Round 6 (Pick #186); Miami Dolphins receive 2024 Round 2 (Pick #59), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #128).

With Philadelphia and Cleveland being potential teams to draft a receiver in this range, the Texans jump ahead of them to draft Ja'Lynn Polk. In the absence of Jalen McMillan this past season, Polk produced at a high level for the Huskies. He consistently wins at the catch point and would be a great addition to Nico Collins and Tank Dell in the Texans passing attack.

Several player will be departing from the Philadelphia linebacker group as free agents, so it is certainly a need. The Eagles select Edgerrin Cooper at #54. Cooper is an athletic, rangey tackler who would fit well in this Eagles defense as a starter next to Nakobe Dean.

Cleveland's first pick in this Mock is defensive tackle Kris Jenkins out of Michigan. Three Cleveland defensive tackles are set to be free agents, and Kris Jenkins is an absolute machine in the middle. He has versatile potential along the line, and is an agile, swift-moving, true run-stopper up front.

The first running back off the board in Mock Draft 3.0 is Jonathon Brooks out of Texas. He may be coming off an ACL injury, but Brooks has a lot of upside. He has excellent footwork, is extremely balanced, and is good in pass protection. The explosion onto the scene this year as a primary carrier was cut short due to the ACL injury, so there are some question marks as to whether or not he can be a season-long force. As of right now, the rumor mill is saying that Cowboys starting RB Tony Pollard won't be franchise tagged, so perhaps Dallas is ready to look elsewhere at the position.

After going defense on their first two picks, the Packers address their offensive line. Kingsley Suamataia is another under-appreciated talent in this class. He is a swift mover laterally and stalwart force in pass protection, with left tackle-right tackle flexibility. He's a bruiser who could be the answer to life after David Bakhtiari.

With the recent release of Shaq Barrett, Tampa Bay may want to add some juice to their linebacker corps. In this Mock, they do just that by drafting Junior Colson. Needless to say, Colson is a disruptive, downhill thumper who shows off great coverage technique.

TRADE: Miami Dolphins receive 2024 Round 2 (Pick #59), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #128); Houston Texans receive 2024 Round 2 (Pick #53), 2024 Round 6 (Pick #186)

In what I think is a wise move, the Dolphins trade back to gain additional mid-round draft capital. I was between Payton Wilson and Bralen Trice (EDGE, Washington) here, but ultimately decided on Wilson. Yes, Jaelan Phillips (achilles) and Bradley Chubb (ACL) were the star edge rushers lost to injury, and it is possible that Miami may lose Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency this offseason. However, Payton Wilson is a player that the Dolphins are desperately missing, especially at linebacker. Wilson is a speedy, rangey, high-IQ, dominant tackler who has that chaotic flair to his game. He also does really well in coverage, which is something that Miami linebackers have struggled with the last few seasons. I know his medical history is a red flag, but passing up on him in the back-end portion of Round 2 could be a mistake.

Buffalo's secondary is up there in age. Micah Hyde is set to be a free agent, and Jordan Poyer is 32 years old. The Bills need to revitalize the safety position, and get a great value pick here at #60 overall in Kam Kinchens. Cut from that "centerfield safety" type of cloth, Kinchens displays awareness, anticipation, and refined coverage skills.

Once again, a pick that just screams Detroit. Others may not like this pick, but I'm high on Renardo Green. The Seminoles defense was one of the best in the nation last season, and Renardo Green was a lockdown talent all year. He is physical but patient at the line of scrimmage, extremely disruptive with his hands at the catch-point, and I project him to be a starter on the outside. Fluidity in his hips and his recovery speed are slight knocks to his game, but he can improve there. The Lions staff could turn Green into an absolute nightmare for opposing receivers.

With Odell Beckham Jr. and Devin Duvernay set to hit free agency, the Ravens may want to take a look at the receivers that are on the board. Ricky Pearsall is an excellent separator and gets off the line with a quick release. There's lots of nuance to his ability as a receiver, and he could do well in the slot. Pearsall is 6'1", which would make him joint-tallest receiver in Baltimore.

The 49ers could use another solid corner outside of Charvarius Ward. Khyree Jackson is lengthy and does well to track the ball. He is a sticky hand-fighter, and at 6'3", his height is a plus. He is on the leaner side when it comes to build, however, so he isn't impressive in press coverage.

Kansas City goes with a trenches pick to finish this Mock. Chandler Jones and Derrick Nnadi will be free agents this offseason, and Braden Fiske is an animal in the middle. He is explosive in the short areas, gets off blocks with determination, and is consistently disruptive in both the run game and pass game.