2024 NFL Mock Draft and Power Rankings – Week 1

I am going to lump both into one weekly article. I will talk about the teams a bit in the draft pick blurb.

Draft order will be reverse order of my Power Rankings until Week 9, which will then use the http://www.tankathon.com draft order. Playoff positioning and draft order rules apply.

Pick	Team	Player	2023 Stats	Commentary
1	Arizona Cardinals	QB Caleb Williams, USC – 6’1, 215 lbs	36-49, 597 yards, 9 TD, 0 INT	There is not a lot to be excited about if you are a Cardinals fan. This team is set up to tank. If they have an opportunity to draft Caleb Williams, who would have been the top pick in 2023 if he was eligible, they would probably go for it. This current regime has no ties to Kyler Murray. Williams is the complete package as a passer, and could have two Heisman Trophies to his name by the time the spring comes along. He is the heavy favorite to be the first overall pick right now.
2	Indianapolis Colts	WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State – 6’4, 205 lbs	2 rec, 18 yards	Somehow, the mighty Ohio State offense only managed two rushing touchdowns against Indiana in a 23-3 win. Marvin Harrison Jr. remains an elite talent, but there could be growing pains without CJ Stroud throwing him the football. Make no mistake though, Harrison Jr. is the best receiver prospect in years. He has the height, strength and speed to make a Julio Jones-like impact in the NFL. It would be really neat for him to follow his father’s footsteps in Indianapolis. He would be a great safety blanket for Anthony Richardson.
3	Las Vegas Raiders	QB Drake Maye, North Carolina – 6’4, 230 lbs	24-32, 269 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT	Despite two interceptions, one of which was not his fault, Drake Maye picked right up where he left off in 2022. He sits comfortably as the second best quarterback in this class and is a definite top five pick. He is big, strong and has a cannon arm. The Raiders are once again hopeless, and lack any type of direction or long term vision. Maye would be a nice start, and he would immediately have Davante Adams and a couple other talented players to throw to.
4	Arizona Cardinals	OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama – 6’4, 242 lbs	2 tackles	From HOU The Texans caught a lot of flack for trading what could be a top five pick in 2024, but I believe Will Anderson Jr. is a better defensive prospect than anyone in this class, so I think it was a good move. Arizona drafts his replacement for the Crimson Tide in Dallas Turner. Turner is not as strong as Anderson Jr., but is a pass rushing demon in his own right, with 12.5 sacks through two years for Alabama.
5	Los Angeles Rams	OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State – 6’6, 319 lbs	N/A	Shockingly, the Los Angeles Rams have not had a first round pick since 2016, when they drafted Jared Goff first overall. That should come to an end this year, as the team looks to rebuild. Not surprisingly, they have needs all over the place, with the offensive line at the top of the list. Olu Fashanu is a ready made left tackle, and would have been the first offensive lineman picked had he declared for the 2023 draft. The Penn State offense runs a pro style scheme and is full of future top draft picks.
6	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	QB Quinn Ewers, Texas – 6’2, 195 lbs	19-30, 260 yards, 3 TD	The QB3 spot is wide open, but I really like Quinn Ewers. He is a bit undersized, but is a real gamer, and has all the talent in the world as the former number one overall recruit. There are enough teams that desperately need quarterbacks that he should be a top ten pick, even as he tries to hold off Arch Manning at Texas. I do not think I am going out on a limb by predicting Baker Mayfield will not be a resounding success in Tampa Bay.
7	New England Patriots	DE Jared Verse, Florida State – 6’4, 260 lbs	2 tackles	The Patriots roster is somewhat of a mess. Bad drafting has created holes all over the place, and Tom Brady is not around anymore to make up for the weaknesses. New England can basically go with the best player available. Jared Verse has a real opportunity to be the first defender off the board, but he will have to prove that he can remain healthy over the entire season. He is a great pass rusher and capable run defender.
8	Tennessee Titans	TE Brock Bowers, Georgia – 6’4, 230 lbs	5 rec, 77 yards	I do not like to mock tight ends in the top ten, but Brock Bowers is special, and is more of a big wide receiver actually. He has unfair physical traits and hands that catch anything. The Titans skill talent is in desperate need of upgrades, and Bowers can play line up all over the field and make plays.
9	Washington Commanders	CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – 6’1, 195 lbs	3 tackles	The Commanders did take Emmanuel Forbes in the first round last year, but Kendall Fuller will be a free agent and the secondary is still in bad shape. Kool-Aid McKinstry is not a burner, but is strong, a solid tackler and very technically sound. He has the look of a CB1, which would allow Forbes to settle into a more natural CB2 role.
10	Chicago Bears	DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State – 6’4, 270 lbs	4 tackles	To the surprise of no one, the Ohio State roster is loaded with former top ten recruits, none more decorated than JT Tuimoloau. He has racked up 7 sacks through two years as a rotational end, and could be in line for a big bump in production as a full time starter. The Bears have revamped its defense and are on the lookout for a few pass rushers.
11	Chicago Bears	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 206 lbs	3 rec, 16 yards	From CAR Like Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka struggled to get anything going against Indiana. He also had a monstrous 2022, however, and should be just fine going forward. He has the strength of a tight end and could make the Chicago wide receiver group a real strength.
12	Green Bay Packers	OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame – 6’8, 315 lbs	N/A	The Packers have not drafted an offensive lineman since taking Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod with back to back first round picks in 2010-2011, and it shows. David Bakhtiari may look to follow his buddy Aaron Rodgers to New York, and even if he does not, right tackle is a need area. Joe Alt may be a bit too mechanical and slow to hold up at left tackle, but at the worst, he would be a plus on the right side.
13	Denver Broncos	DE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State – 6’4, 265 lbs	4 tackles	The Broncos traded former first round picks Von Miller and Bradley Chubb during the past two seasons, and that lack of pass rush shows. Jack Sawyer has the athleticism to be a plus as a 3-4 pass rusher. Like JT Tuimoloau, he was a former top recruit who played a part time role for Ohio State these past two years, but has the potential for so much more. It is not an exaggeration to say that 1/3rd of the 2024 first round could be composed of Ohio State Buckeyes.
14	New Orleans Saints	DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois – 6’2, 295 lbs	3 tackles	The Saints signed and drafted several new defensive tackles during the 2023 off-season, but none project to be difference makers. Jer’Zhan Newton has 10.5 sacks to his name through three years at Illinois and is a plug-and-play option at tackle for a team with playoff aspirations.
15	Pittsburgh Steelers	CB Kalen King, Penn State – 5’11, 191 lbs	2 tackles, 1 INT	Kalen King does not have the size teams often look for in CB1’s, but checks several other boxes. He is an extremely gifted athlete who has earned very positive coverage grades throughout his first two years in Penn State. He will join former secondary mate Joey Porter Jr. in Pittsburgh, a team that still needs cornerback help.
16	Houston Texans	OT JC Latham, Alabama – 6’6, 360 lbs	N/A	From CLE Part of the reason Houston felt comfortable making the Will Anderson Jr. draft pick trade was because they still have a first rounder coming via Cleveland. This is a team that still needs help everywhere and should just go with the best player available. JC Latham is a mammoth tackle from Alabama who will probably be relegated to the right side, but that is okay with the Texans, who have Laremy Tunsil holding down the left spot. That potential bookend duo is bound to make CJ Stroud feel comfortable.
17	Detroit Lions	CB Max Melton, Rutgers – 6’0, 190 lbs	2 tackles, 1 INT	The Lions offense is playoff ready, but the defense is still a major work in progress. The secondary was a weak spot, even before Jeff Okudah was traded. After Kool-Aid McKinstry, the cornerback spot is completely wide open. I am a big Max Melton fan. He is a good athlete and really has a nose for the football, with one interception already this year to go along with 5 more during his career.
18	Green Bay Packers	DT Leonard Taylor III, Miami – 6’3, 305 lbs	No Stats	From NYJ The Packers go back to the defensive side of the ball, where they have spent first round picks every year except one (Jordan Love) since 2012. Leonard Taylor III is a former top recruit who has first round talent, but needs to be more consistent. He definitely looks the part, however, and could be a real asset as a 3-4 end in Green Bay’s scheme.
19	Atlanta Falcons	WR Malik Nabers, LSU – 6’0, 200 lbs	6 rec, 67 yards	The Falcons continue its trend of spending first round picks to rebuild the offense. Drake London is a nice WR1, but there is not much behind him. Malik Nabers, who is a supreme route running techinician, would be a great counterpart. He had a costly slip that resulted in an interception during LSU’s week one loss to FSU, but is generaly quite reliable.
20	Minnesota Vikings	DE Bralen Trice, Washington – 6’4, 274 lbs	3 tackles	Minnesota traded Za’Darius Smith and have talked about doing the same with Danielle Hunter. Needless to say, they need pass rushers. Bralen Trice is big, strong, and has a non-stop motor. That motor gets him in trouble occasionally, but he should develop into a very strong pass rusher in time.
21	Seattle Seahawks	OLB Laiatu Latu, UCLA – 6’5, 265 lbs	4 tackles, 3 sacks	The Seahawks have spent several day two draft picks on pass rushers, but none have really panned out. Laiatu Latu was a fringe first rounder who exploded for 3 sacks in UCLA’s opener against Coastal Carolina. Coming off a 10 sack junior season, he is squarely in the first round mix.
22	Los Angeles Chargers	OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin – 6’7, 311 lbs	N/A	The Chargers have a keeper in Rashawn Slater, but need help elsewhere along the offensive line. Wisconsin is one of the better schools at developing offensive lineman, and Jack Nelson looks like the latest day one pick. He continues to help Braelon Allen rack up major yards for the Badgers.
23	Jacksonville Jaguars	SS Cooper DeJean, Iowa – 6’1, 207 lbs	7 tackles	Cooper DeJean plays cornerback for Iowa, but I think he will settle in as an upper-echelon safety in the NFL. He has rare ball hawk skills, intercepting five passes as a sophomore. He also had 75 tackles, and picked up where he left off in that department in 2022. Jacksonville is ascending rapidly, and they have an opportunity to add a true leader in the secondary with DeJean.
24	Miami Dolphins	WR Xavier Worthy, Texas – 6’1, 172 lbs	7 rec, 90 yards	The Dolphins have one of the more balanced rosters in the NFL, without any monstrous needs. The opportunity to add even more speed to the offense could be too tempting to pass up. Accoring to NFL Draft Buzz, Xavier Worthy has run a 4.29 40 yard dash, and has the makings of a reliable slot receiver. With rumors of Tyreek Hill retiring in a couple of seasons, Worthy could take over for him and keep the offense humming.
25	San Francisco 49ers	CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State – 6’1, 190 lbs	2 passes defended	Denzel Burke is still a work in progress, but the talent and body type is first round worthy. Burke is a solid tackler and does not give up many big plays. He has the potential to develop into a solid CB1. The 49ers are more thin in the secondary than they would like, even though the front seven does a great job of picking up the slack.
26	New York Giants	WR Keon Coleman, Florida State – 6’4, 215 lbs	9 rec, 122 yards, 3 TD	The Giants have a ton of WR3 types on the roster, but no one with the potential of Keon Coleman. The Florida State dynamo just came off a 9 catch, 3 touchdown drubbing of an LSU defense full of 4 and 5 star recruits. His size is a bit unfair, and he should continue to skyrocket up the draft board as the main target for Jordan Travis and playing for a team with legit championship aspirations.
27	Baltimore Ravens	OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State – 6’4, 320 lbs	N/A	Oh look, it is another Ohio State Buckeye. Donovan Jackson is yet another former top recruit who has settled in nicely as a top college football interior lineman. He has ideal size and skills, and should start from day one. The offensive line is a sneaky need in Baltimore.
28	Buffalo Bills	WR Johnny Wilson, Florida State – 6’7, 237 lbs	7 rec, 104 yards	Buffalo drafted Dalton Kincaid in the first round last year to help out in the passing game, but they should not stop there. Not with Johnny Wilson available. Florida State has an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions. Wilson would give Josh Allen an absurd 6’7, 237 target to throw to. Do not be fooled into thinking he is not an athlete. The tight end sized wideout averaged over 20 yards per reception in 2022.
29	Dallas Cowboys	OLB Barrett Carter, Clemson – 6’1, 230 lbs	No Stats	Off ball linebackers do not often go in the first round, but Barrett Carter is special. He has shown the ability to be a complete impact player, with 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 73 tackles as a sophomore. The Cowboys moved Micah Parsons to end, which would open up a spot for a linebacker like Barrett to make plays.
30	Cincinnati Bengals	TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas – 6’4, 243 lbs	2 rec, 44 yards, 1 TD	The Bengals have decisions to make with several of their receivers coming up, which could open up touches for new skill players. Ja’Tavion Sanders is definitely TE2 in this class. He has good size and is a top notch athlete.
31	Philadelphia Eagles	RB Treveyon Henderson, Ohio State – 5’10, 212 lbs	12 carries, 47 yards	Philadelphia has one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, but both of their top running backs will be free agents following the 2023 season. After a spectacular freshman season, Treveyon Henderson looked like a future top ten pick, but injuries marred his sophomore year. Now a junior, he has to share carries with Miyan Williams. I still think he is a definite first round talent and has the ability to be a three down back in the NFL.
32	Kansas City Chiefs	DT Maason Smith, LSU – 6’6, 315 lbs	No Stats	When a player like Patrick Mahomes is on your roster, you will always struggle to keep your star players. The Chiefs went through that with Tyreek Hill, and are trying to deal with Chris Jones. Jones could be gone after (or during) the season, opening up a spot for someone like Maason Smith. Smith is one of the most talented players in college football, but missed the entire 2022 season with injury and was suspended for LSU’s opening week game this season.