September 14, 2023

2024 NFL Mock Draft and Power Rankings – Week 2

I try not to Week 1 overreact when doing my power rankings, but sometimes that can be hard. There were some very questionable performances from so called contenders, but it is only one week, and Week 1 often serves as an unofficial pre-season game for stars who sat out the exhibitions.

Note: Shedeur Sanders would probably be a first round pick, but I expect him to stick around for his father through his senior year in 2024.

Pick	Team	Player	2023 Stats	Commentary
1	Arizona Cardinals	QB Caleb Williams, USC – 6’1, 215 lbs	55-70, 878 yards, 12 TD, 0 INT	The Cardinals battled during a close Week 1 loss to the Commanders, but there is just not enough talent on this roster to compete. Fortunately for them, they could have two top ten picks in this draft to jump start the rebuild. Caleb Williams has only missed on 15 passes through three games, putting up virtually perfect statistics. The only way he is not the top overall pick in 2024 is if he decides he wants to wait until 2025.
2	Arizona Cardinals	WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State – 6’4, 205 lbs	9 rec, 178 yards, 2 TD	From HOU That is more like it. Ohio State made it a point to get their stud receivers involved, and Marvin Harrison Jr. went off for 7/160/2 after putting up two measly receptions during week one. How fun would it be for Cardinals fans to land both Caleb Williams and Harrison Jr. to usher in the new offense?
3	Chicago Bears	OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State – 6’6, 319 lbs	N/A	As it stands right now, two teams would own the top four draft picks. 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.
4	Chicago Bears	DE Jared Verse, Florida State – 6’4, 260 lbs	2 tackles	From CAR The Bears went wild during free agency, but still have a long way to go. That is how it is for the team with the worst record in 2022. 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.
5	Denver Broncos	OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame – 6’8, 315 lbs	N/A	Denver has plenty of needs, but none of them quite line up with the draft board. They could opt to draft a long term replacement for Garrett Bolles, who will be a free agent following the 2024 season. Joe Alt may be a bit too mechanical to be a fluid left tackle, but would be passable there, and a huge plus on the right side. He is a complete blocker.
6	Indianapolis Colts	TE Brock Bowers, Georgia – 6’4, 230 lbs	6 rec, 81 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. Anthony Richardson looked good during his week 1 performance, and adding a strong intermediate target like Bowers would really help him out.
7	New England Patriots	QB Drake Maye, North Carolina – 6’4, 230 lbs	45-62, 477 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT	Drake Maye is still a definite top ten pick, but the QB rankings are sometimes a cutthroat business. Zero touchdowns and less than 10 yards per completion against a non-Power 5 team is not going to cut it. Maye has plenty of time to right the ship, and would definitely be an upgrade over Mac Jones in Boston.
8	Las Vegas Raiders	QB Quinn Ewers, Texas – 6’2, 195 lbs	43-68, 609 yards, 6 TD, 0 INT	While Drake Maye has simply been okay, Quinn Ewers has been masterful. He carved up an Alabama secondary loaded with NFL prospects, and has looked every bit the part of the guy who was once the top overall recruit in the nation. He is a bit small, but is a gunner, a fiery competitor and a leader. He would be an instant fan favorite for a Raiders fan base desperate for something to cheer about.
9	Tennessee Titans	OT JC Latham, Alabama – 6’6, 360 lbs	N/A	Even after drafting Peter Skoronski in the first round of the 2023 draft, offensive line remains the biggest weak spot on the Tennessee Roster. 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 Titans line.
10	Washington Commanders	CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – 6’1, 195 lbs	8 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.
11	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	QB J.U. McCarthy, Michigan – 6’3, 202 lbs	48-55, 558 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT	I do not like to go overboard with quarterbacks in my mocks, but there seems to be four very good underclassmen (assuming Shedeur Sanders stays at Colorado) that could be first round picks. J.J. McCarthy has had a great run since taking over as starter at Michigan, and has completed 87% of his passes through two weeks. The Wolverines are title contenders and McCarthy is a big reason why. He could definitely be the long term answer in Tampa Bay.
12	Seattle Seahawks	OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama – 6’4, 242 lbs	5 tackles	Even though Dallas Turner has not quite been able to replicate his amazing freshman season (8.5 sacks), I still like his long term potential. He can get to the quarterback, but is also an asset in the run game. He may need to bulk up a bit to handle edge in a 3-4 defense like Seattle, but should become a quality starter.
13	Los Angeles Rams	DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois – 6’2, 295 lbs	9 tackles, 2 sacks	The Rams have 10 rookies on the roster, three as starters. That is all without a first round pick. Needless to say, the roster is in turnover. Los Angeles will have a first round pick for the first time since, get this….2016. Best player available is the way to go. 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 could help add pass rushing to a team that only has one guy who can really get after the quarterback.
14	Pittsburgh Steelers	SS Cooper DeJean, Iowa – 6’1, 207 lbs	17 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 2022, with 17 through two games. Minkah Fitzpatrick is a stud, and I like the potential of Joey Porter Jr., but the secondary is still a weak spot in Pittsburgh. DeJean could be a Swiss Army Knift type, filling a variety of roles.
15	Minnesota Vikings	CB Kalen King, Penn State – 5’11, 191 lbs	4 tackles	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. Minnesota ignored the position during the draft and free agency, but they could realistically use two new starters at cornerback.
16	New Orleans Saints	DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State – 6’4, 270 lbs	6 tackles	To the surprise of no one, the Ohio State roster is loaded with former top ten recruits, none more decorated than former top five recruit 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. Cameron Jordan continues to hold down one side of the Saints defensive line, but they have struggled to add a counterpart. Payton Turner simply cannot stay healthy and looks like another bust.
17	Houston Texans	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 206 lbs	8 rec, 110 yards, 1 TD	From CLE Like Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka found his footing during Ohio State’s second game, hauling in 5 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. He is not the athlete Harrison Jr. is, but is quite strong and a sound route runner. He would be the perfect fit for a Houston team that has his former quarterback under center.
18	Los Angeles Chargers	OLB Laiatu Latu, UCLA – 6’5, 265 lbs	7 tackles, 4 sacks	Khalil Mack is entering the twilight years of what has been a borderline Hall of Fame career, and the Chargers could look to replace him in 2024. Laiatu Latu is one of the top sack artists in college football. He had 10.5 sacks as a junior and already has 4 this year. He is not a supreme athlete, and is a bit on the older side, but is squarely in the first round mix, as teams always need pass rushing help.
19	Green Bay Packers	WR Keon Coleman, Florida State – 6’4, 215 lbs	12 rec, 170 yards, 4 TD	The Packers have a ton of WR2 and 3 types on the roster, but no one with the potential of Keon Coleman. The Florida State dynamo started the season with 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.
20	Atlanta Falcons	WR Malik Nabers, LSU – 6’0, 200 lbs	11 rec, 154 yards, 1 TD	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.
21	New York Giants	QB Bo Nix, Oregon – 6’2, 217 lbs	55-71, 646 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT	It is hard to take anything away from a complete loss like that. I expect the Giants to be ready to play Week 2. What is clear though, is that Daniel Jones is not an upper echelon option at quarterback. His contract is set up in a way that they could get out from that contract after the 2024 season. This class is shaping up to be one of the best in years, and New York 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.
22	New York Jets	OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin – 6’7, 311 lbs	N/A	The only (and I mean ONLY) silver lining with the Aaron Rodgers trade is that the Jets will get to keep their first round pick. That is a small consolation, but they still do have needs. Most notably stability along the offensive line. 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. He could be a long term answer on the right side of the Jets line.
23	Buffalo Bills	DE Bralen Trice, Washington – 6’4, 274 lbs	7 tackles	Buffalo likes to deploy a deep rotation of defensive lineman. 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.
24	Jacksonville Jaguars	CB Max Melton, Rutgers – 6’0, 190 lbs	4 tackles, 1 INT	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. Jacksonville has a stout defense. All it is really missing is cornerback depth.
25	Detroit Lions	DT Leonard Taylor III, Miami – 6’3, 305 lbs	No Stats	Somehow, Detroit only gave up two touchdowns to the mighty Kansas City offense. Defensive upgrades are still needed, however. 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 since the Lions are still relying on castoffs for most of their defensive line depth.
26	Cincinnati Bengals	TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas – 6’4, 243 lbs	7 rec, 158 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. This tight end class is a bit weak, but Ja’Tavion Sanders is proving that Brock Bowers is not alone as a real first round prospect. He is a great athlete who just went wild against the vaunted Alabama defense, hauling in 5 passes for 114 yards.
27	Miami Dolphins	WR Xavier Worthy, Texas – 6’1, 172 lbs	12 rec, 165 yards, 1 TD	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.
28	Philadelphia Eagles	FS Tyler Nubin, Minnesota – 6’2, 210 lbs	5 tackles, 2 INT	You have to do some nitpicking to find holes on the Philadelphia roster, but they could use safety help next to Reed Blankenship. Tyler Nubin, a fifth year senior, should be ready to step in right away. He already has two interceptions this year, making that an even ten for his career.
29	Baltimore Ravens	DT Maason Smith, LSU – 6’6, 315 lbs	1 tackle	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. Baltimore likes to look ahead when it comes to replenishing defensive talent, and Smith could pay off in a major way in a year or two.
30	San Francisco 49ers	CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State – 6’1, 190 lbs	1 tackle, 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.
31	Kansas City Chiefs	WR Rome Odunze, Washington – 6’3, 215 lbs	14 rec, 239 yards, 2 TD	The Chiefs got a glimpse into life without the 33 year old Travis Kelce on the field, and it was not pretty. This team needs to get serious about adding real receiver help. Fortunately, this class looks flush with WR talent. Rome Odunze is a big play waiting to happen, averaging 17 yards on 14 receptions. All of that in a 6’3, 215 pound frame.
32	Dallas Cowboys	HB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State – 5’10, 212 lbs	17 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD	Dallas played a perfect game during their Week 1 win, showing what this team is capable of. The roster is mostly made up of home grown talent, and there are surprisingly few holes. TreVeyon Henderson may be a bit of a luxury pick, but I thought he would be a top ten pick after his freshman year. He has bounced back from injuries as a junior, and, since he shares a backfield with several other studs, should be fresher than most when he comes to the NFL. He has three down potential.