2024 NFL Mock Draft and Power Rankings – Week 4

2024 NFL Mock Draft and Power Rankings – Week 4

September 26, 2023

13–19 minutes

Back with the extended version. What can I say, I’m in a good mood! It’s fun to be a Miami Dolphins fan these days.

Pick	Team	Player	2023 Stats	Commentary
1	Chicago Bears	QB Caleb Williams, USC – 6’1, 215 lbs	75-101, 1200 yards, 15 TD, 0 INT	The Bears were supposed to turn a corner in 2023, but this organization is easily the most dysfunctional in the NFL. They need to clean house from top to bottom, and starting over with the best quarterback prospect in college football would be a nice start. Caleb Williams has been virtually perfect through the first month of the season, completing 75% of his passes and throwing exactly zero interceptions. Of course, we can not forget about the new reality of college football. Williams father threw the idea out there that his son could stay at USC if his situation was not ideal, and that may very well be the case for a team that has failed to develop virtually every quarterback it has ever drafted.
2	Denver Broncos	OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama – 6’4, 242 lbs	17 tackles, 4.5 sacks	After a slow start to the season, Dallas Turner has proven why I continue to have him in the top five of my mocks, rattling off 4.5 sacks in two weeks. Strength is his only question mark, but he has the frame to bulk up to better hold up against the run. His pass rushing chops are for real. Denver just gave up the second most points in NFL history, so needless to say, they need defensive help.
3	New York Giants	WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State – 6’4, 205 lbs	17 rec, 336 yards, 3 TD	Daniel Jones is not that guy, but I do not see enough from the non-Caleb Williams quarterbacks to feel confident that they would be an upgrade. Marvin Harrison Jr., however, would be exactly what New York needs. A true alpha receiver, he was built in the same lab that produced AJ Green and Julio Jones. An unfair combination of size, strength and speed, he has been complete unguardable at the college football level.
4	Chicago Bears	OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State – 6’6, 319 lbs	N/A	From CAR Chicago drafted Darnell Wright in 2023, but have the chance to shore up the offensive line in a big way with Olumuyiwa Fashanu. 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, with Fashanu leading the way in 2024.
5	Tennessee Titans	WR Malik Nabers, LSU – 6’0, 200 lbs	32 rec, 523 yards, 5 TD	While I do not think Malik Willis or Will Levis have a bright future in the NFL, it would be an impossible sell to draft a quarterback for the third straight year. The Titans skill positions are still very weak, but fortunately this is an amazing receiver class. No one has been more productive than LSU wideout Malik Nabers. He is strong, a great route runner and racks up yards by the boatload. The Tigers continuously produce some of the best receivers in the NFL, and Nabers is most definitely worthy of a top ten pick.
6	Las Vegas Raiders	QB Quinn Ewers, Texas – 6’2, 195 lbs	72-112, 1033 yards, 9 TD, 0 INT	Quinn Ewers, a former top overall recruit, has started to put things together as a redshirt sophomore. He still struggles with accuracy, but has guided the Texas offense quite successfully, taking care of the football and doing enough to win games. It is truly a tossup between Ewers and Drake Maye in my eyes, and it will be a difficult decision for the Raiders to make. Either player would be a solid long term option for a team that does not currently have one.
7	Arizona Cardinals	QB Drake Maye, North Carolina – 6’4, 230 lbs	96-132, 1187 yards, 5 TD, 4 INT	From HOU Drake Maye is still a definite top ten pick, but he is not quite the slam dunk pick he was before the season started. He has done enough to lead the Tar Heels to a 4-0 start, but he already has two games with multiple interceptions. The cannon arm and leadership is still there, however, and he has the look of a solid starter at the NFL level. The Cardinals have been extremely competitive and look like they have a very solid head coach. They may want to reboot without Kyler Murray going forward.
8	New England Patriots	TE Brock Bowers, Georgia – 6’4, 230 lbs	22 rec, 256 yards, 2 TD	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. Both Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki are upcoming free agents, and we all know this Patriots offense likes to run through its tight ends. This would be an amazing fit.
9	Minnesota Vikings	CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – 6’1, 195 lbs	9 tackles	No one knows how to lose games quite like the Minnesota Vikings. This is a team that could definitely be in the market for a rookie quarterback if they continue to lose games, but in this mock, the top three are off the board. This is also a defense that just gave up 18 receptions and 215 yards to Keenan Allen, so there are obviously bigger neds.. Kool-Aid McKinstry is not a burner, but is strong, a solid tackler and very technically sound. Not to mention a solid kick returner. He has the look of a CB1, something that this Vikings team does not have on its roster.
10	New York Jets	OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame – 6’8, 315 lbs	N/A	Even as a Dolphins fan who loves to see the Jets wallow in misery, I feel bad. Zach Wilson is the biggest quarterback bust since JaMarcus Russell. Even guys who struggle mightily and eventually flame out show at least SOME NFL ability. Wilson has not shown anything that indicates he is an NFL quarterback. Unfortunately, there is not an obvious upgrade available here, so the Jets will pivot to the offensive line, another long time need. Joe Alt might be better off at right tackle, but he has experience in a pro-style offense and would be a big upgrade over the castoffs and busts the Jets keep throwing out there.
11	Arizona Cardinals	DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois – 6’2, 295 lbs	17 tackles, 2 sacks	Jer’Zhan Newton is not the most exciting name, but he just keeps getting it done. He racked up 2 sacks against a pretty good Kansas offensive line, and has the experience playing every position along the defensive line. He would be a great fit as a 3-4 end in Arizona’s defense, and has that Aaron Donald ability to get after the quarterback from that position.
12	Washington Commanders	OT JC Latham, Alabama – 6’6, 360 lbs	N/A	This is yet another team that could use one of the top three quarterbacks, but they are off the board. Washington turns its attention to the offensive line, a sore spot since they lost both Trent Williams and Brandon Scherff. JC Latham is a mammoth tackle who has started for Alabama since a freshman. He is a terror in the run game and would be a very nice fit on the right side of the Commanders line.
13	Los Angeles Rams	DE Jared Verse, Florida State – 6’4, 260 lbs	10 tackles	The Rams are in the very early process of a monster rebuild effort. They finally have a first round pick for the first time since 2016, and have three rookie starters. This team simply needs young talent everywhere. Jared Verse is a top five talent, but has yet to rack up a sack this season. Still, he is strong in the run game, provides pressure and should be an immediate starter for Los Angeles. This is great value here.
14	Jacksonville Jaguars	CB Kalen King, Penn State – 5’11, 191 lbs	9 tackles	Same ole’ Jaguars. I bought into the hype, but this is still an undisciplined team that needs talent, especially in the secondary. Kalen King may 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. The Nittany Lions have only given up 35 points through four games.
15	Seattle Seahawks	QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington – 6’3, 213 lbs	103-138, 1636 yards, 16 TD, 2 INT	I would almost never mock 25 year old quarterbacks in the first round, but this is a special circumstance. Geno Smith has fallen back to Earth following an amazing 2022 season. It is not that he has been bad, but this offense has so much more potential than they are showing. Michael Penix Jr. has been playing college football since approximately 1974. He has managed to stay healthy and is putting up elite numbers. I think he could come in and get more out of Seattle’s great trio of receivers and help them contend in a wide open NFC.
16	Pittsburgh Steelers	DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan – 6’3, 205 lbs	12 tackles, 1 sack	The Steelers have missed Cameron Heyward terribly. They are giving up a ton of yards, especially on the ground. Even with Heyward in the lineup, this team could use a solid defensive end to keep the defense humming. Michigan’s defense has been completely dominant in 2023, and Kris Jenkins is a big reason why. He is a stout run defender and can collect the occasional sack. He is an absolutely perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end.
17	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 206 lbs	19 rec, 263 yards, 3 TD	The Buccaneers have not been as bad as people thought they would be, but it is still a team in transition. Mike Evans will likely move on following the season, opening up a spot for a new receiver. This is a great class for receivers, and Emeka Egbuka is one of many first round prospects on the Ohio State roster. He is strong and a solid route runner.
18	New Orleans Saints	WR Rome Odunze, Washington – 6’3, 215 lbs	27 rec, 544 yards, 4 TD	The Saints offense has not been great this year. The offensive line is a mess, and the receivers outside of Chris Olave have struggled to create separation. Injuries have sapped Michael Thomas of virtually off of his explosiveness. That is not a problem with Rome Odunze, who is averaging an absurd 20.1 yards on his 27 receptions. All of that in an impressive 6’3, 215 pound frame.
19	Cincinnati Bengals	OT Amarius Mims, Georgia – 6’7, 340 lbs	N/A	Jonah Williams is an upcoming free agent, and has been unhappy with the decision the team made to move him to right tackle. He may move on. Even if he does not, the Bengals need to get tougher up front. Amarius Mims plays tackle for Georgia but could be an elite guard at the NFL level. He is as strong as an ox and has Pro Bowl potential.
20	Los Angeles Chargers	SS Cooper DeJean, Iowa – 6’1, 207 lbs	24 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 has picked up where he left off in that department in 2023, with 24 through four games. The Chargers secondary has been an absolute embarrassment. DeJean will be an upgrade no matter where he lines up.
21	Indianapolis Colts	CB Max Melton, Rutgers – 6’0, 190 lbs	9 tackles, 1 INT	Some team has to win the dreadful AFC North, and right now, that could be the Indianapolis Colts. They actually have a solid roster, but could use depth throughout. 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. The Rutgers defense has been stout all year, and “only” gave up 31 points to Michigan despite being completely out-manned.
22	Atlanta Falcons	QB Bo Nix, Oregon – 6’2, 217 lbs	104-131, 1169 yards, 11 TD, 1 INT	Desmond Ridder has the look of a long time NFL backup, and his lack of potential is really holding back a Falcons offense that has invested a ton in its skill positions. Fortunately, this class is shaping up to be one of the best in years, and Atlanta could find a long term option anywhere in the first round. Bo Nix has gone from first rounder at Auburn to undrafted to back at Day 1 as a fifth year senior at Oregon. He is experienced, heady and accurate. He will be 24 when the 2024 season starts, which could be a good thing for a team with playoff aspirations.
23	Green Bay Packers	OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin – 6’7, 311 lbs	N/A	The Packers look to be in very good shape with Jordan Love and a ton of young skill players. Keeping him upright will be very important. Jack Nelson is the latest in a long line of solid Wisconsin offensive lineman. He is a fringe first rounder right now, but offensive tackles usually rise during the draft process. Green Bay has several upcoming free agents along the offensive line.
24	Detroit Lions	CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson – 6’2, 185 lbs	4 tackles, 1 INT	The Detroit Lions defense has been up and down this year, but is vastly improved over the pathetic 2022 unit. The team still needs talent on that side of the ball, especially in the secondary. Nate Wiggins is a tall, lanky cornerback with solid ball skills. He seemed to avoid a serious injury recently, and could find his way into the first round. This is a passing league, so guys who can cover receivers always rise during the draft process.
25	Houston Texans	DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State – 6’4, 270 lbs	13 tackles	From CLE It is very early, but it looks like the 2023 Houston draft class could represent the future of the franchise. CJ Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. and Tank Dell look like absolute keepers. Of course, they still have a long way to go. JT Tuimoloau is a former top five recruit who has been a very nice rotational piece for the Ohio State defense. He is coming off his best game of the season, with 6 tackles as Ohio State held Notre Dame to 14 points. The sacks have been there in the past, and he is rapidly improving as a run stopper.
26	Baltimore Ravens	WR Keon Coleman, Florida State – 6’4, 215 lbs	17 rec, 256 yards, 6 TD	Zay Flowers looks like a keeper as a slot receiver type, but the rest of the receiver group in Baltimore is a bit of a mess. It is well past time to move on from Rashod Bateman. Keon Coleman is a huge target with a giant catch radius, and could make a nice compliment to Flowers for sometimes inaccurate quarterback Lamar Jackson.
27	Dallas Cowboys	WR Xavier Worthy, Texas – 6’1, 172 lbs	19 rec, 252 yards, 3 TD	Once again Dallas does a Cowboys thing and loses to the Cardinals. This may be the deepest roster in the NFL, however, and could go with the best player avaialable here. Accoring to NFL Draft Buzz, Xavier Worthy has run a 4.29 40 yard dash, and has the makings of a reliable slot receiver. CeeDee Lamb has been a one man show at receiver, and Worthy would be an upgrade over the rest of the group.
28	Buffalo Bills	DT Maason Smith, LSU – 6’6, 315 lbs	5 tackles	Maason 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. He is finally back on the field, and will look to rebuild his stock. The Bills are a deep team that likes to employ a rotation along its defensive line. Smith is the type of talent that playoff teams like to gamble on at this spot in the first round.
29	Kansas City Chiefs	DT Leonard Taylor III, Miami – 6’3, 305 lbs	4 tackles, 1 sack	The reality of employing the most expensive player in the NFL is that Kansas City has to let other, expensive talent walk. Chris Jones should get a monster pay day that the Chiefs may not be able to afford. Leonard Taylor III is a former top recruit who has first round talent, but needs to be more consistent. This is a nice spot to gamble on the upside, especially with defensive line a constant need in Kansas City.
30	Philadelphia Eagles	DE Chop Robinson, Penn State – 6’3, 250 lbs	7 tackles, 1 sack	You have to do some nitpicking to find holes on the Philadelphia roster, but they could use some young depth at defensive end. Chop Robinson is still more potential than production at this point, but has definite first round upside. The Penn State defense is humming along, and Robinson is a key piece.
31	San Francisco 49ers	CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State – 6’1, 190 lbs	2 tackles, 1 INT	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	Miami Dolphins	OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona – 6’5, 325 lbs	N/A	It simply can not be overstated how impressive the Miami Dolphins offensive line has been in 2023. A long time weak spot, they have only allowed one sack through three weeks, and their protection has been a huge reason that Tua Tagovailoa has been able to fire off passes as such a rapid and successrul rate. Jordan Morgan would be a nice insurance pick as someone who could back up the injury prone tandem of Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson, or play on the inside.