2024 NFL Mock Draft With Analysis – Post-Super Bowl Edition

2024 NFL Mock Draft With Analysis – Post-Super Bowl Edition

February 12, 2024

11–17 minutes

The 2023 NFL season is officially in the books. Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl win, and second straight. Oh yeah, and he is only 28 years old. Good luck to the rest of the NFL.

Now is a good time for an updated first round mock with analysis. Enjoy!

Pick	Team	Player	Stats	Commentary
1	Chicago Bears	QB Caleb Williams, USC – 6’1, 215 lbs	266-388, 3633 yards, 30 TD, 5 INT	From CAR Justin Fields is not terrible, but the opportunity to draft a potential top five quarterback should be an easy decision, and early reports have the Bears doing just that. One of the most lopsided draft trades in NFL history concludes with Chicago selecting Caleb Williams. Baseless accusations and rumors have been flying for months that the Williams camp does not want to play in Chicago, but that is simply not true. Williams has a real opportunity to be the best signal caller the Bears have ever had, and would be a great fit in Chicago. This is an easy call to make.
2	Washington Commanders	QB Drake Maye, North Carolina – 6’4, 230 lbs	269-425, 3608 yards, 24 TD, 9 INT	I am not as sold on Drake Maye to the Commanders as many others, but this is a franchise with a completely new regime, and they might want to put their own fingerprint on the roster. I like Maye and think he is as talented as anyone in this class, but I have serious reservations. He took a step back in pretty much every way as a redshirt sophomore, and redshirt sophomores do not have a huge track record of NFL success. He is absolutely a work in progress, but the arm strength and talent is undeniable. He takes over for Sam Howell, just like he did at North Carolina.
3	New England Patriots	WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State – 6’4, 205 lbs	67 rec, 1211 yards, 14 TD	Every mock has Jayden Daniels going to New England here. That makes sense, of course, but I continue to pivot in a different direction. Daniels was a day three pick before the season started, and the Patriots cannot afford to fumble away this selection. This is not a team that is one player away, and they have an opportunity to draft the best talent in the draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. is as complete of a receiver prospect that we have seen in the past decade. The Patriots need talent everywhere, draft the best available. It is going to be a long rebuild.
4	Arizona Cardinals	WR Malik Nabers, LSU – 6’0, 200 lbs	89 rec, 1569 yards, 14 TD	The Cardinals will be sticking with Kyler Murray going forward, which means they are in prime position to add skill level talent here. Arizona desperately missed DeAndre Hopkins, and either Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers should be available at this point. Nabers does not have the side of Harrison Jr., but was extremely productive and is a great route runner.
5	Los Angeles Chargers	OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame – 6’8, 315 lbs	N/A	I am very tempted to mock Brock Bowers here, he is that talented. But fifth overall is quite rich for a tight end, especially with how bad the offensive line is for the Chargers. Joe Alt would be OT1 most seasons, and is absolutely worth a top ten pick. With Rashawn Slater and now Alt book-ending the offensive line, perhaps Justin Herbert can stay upright and help this perpetually underachieving roster reach its potential.
6	New York Giants	WR Rome Odunze, Washington – 6’3, 215 lbs	87 rec, 1553 yards, 13 TD	The Daniel Jones extension predictably backfired, but New York may be stuck with him for the next year or two. He is untradable and cutting him would cripple the salary cap. The best they can hope for is to surround him with enough talent to perhaps succeed. Rome Odunze is the third receiver picked in the top six selections, but he would be the WR1 most year. He has a tantalizing blend of speed, size and production, and could give New York their first alpha wideout since Odell Beckham Jr.
7	Tennessee Titans	OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State – 6’6, 319 lbs	N/A	Brock Bowers would be a solid selection here, but the Titans offensive line is in dire straights, that any other position would be considered a luxury. Fortunately there are two franchise left tackles in this class, and Tennessee gets one of them. Olumuyiwa Fashanu is still a bit of a project, but is a supreme pass protector and has the look of a potential franchise left tackle.
8	Atlanta Falcons	QB Jayden Daniels, LSU – 6’4, 210 lbs	236-327, 3812 yards, 40 TD, 4 INT	The Falcons will draft 8th overall for the third straight season. After drafting a tight end, wide receiver and running back in the top ten the past three years, they finally spend a premium pick on a quarterback. Jayden Daniels transformation from skinny running quarterback at Arizona to a true two way threat as a Heisman winner at LSU has vaulted him into the first round. He has bulked up to withstand an NFL beating, and can really throw the football. Daniels could easily be gone by this point in the draft if he aces the combine and pre-draft process. I am being conservative with my prediction here. He could easily be a top three pick.
9	Chicago Bears	DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois – 6’2, 295 lbs	52 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF	The Bears would love to pair Caleb Williams with a receiver to go along with DJ Moore, but the board did not break that way. Instead they play it a bit safe and nab the first defender, Jer’Zhan Newton. Newton is a great interior pass rusher, and could help form a potential plus defensive line, along with Gervon Dexter and Montez Sweat.
10	New York Jets	TE Brock Bowers, Georgia – 6’4, 240 lbs	56 rec, 714 yards, 6 TD	Offensive line is the biggest need on the Jets roster, but I do not see a player available worth passing on the potential of Brock Bowers. Bowers is a special talent, with the hands and speed of a receiver. Garrett Wilson is a certified stud, but there was little production outside of him in 2023.
11	Minnesota Vikings	OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama – 6’4, 242 lbs	53 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 FF	The Vikings seem ready to let Danielle Hunter leave via free agency, setting up an obvious need on the outside of the defensive front. Dallas Turner is no Will Anderson, but he filled in admirably, racking up 10 sacks as a true junior. He needs to bulk up a bit, but should provide quality pass rushing from the 3-4 OLB position.
12	Denver Broncos	DE Jared Verse, Florida State – 6’4, 260 lbs	41 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 FF	The Broncos will unquestionably be in the market for a quarterback, but I think they go the veteran route, as they lack draft picks and will try to win right away with Sean Payton. Denver traded their top pass rusher each of the past three trade deadlines, and need several replacements. Jared Verse had a fantastic two year stop at Florida State after beginning his college career at Alabany, racking up 18 sacks during his two years in Tallahassee.
13	Las Vegas Raiders	QB Bo Nix, Oregon – 6’2, 217 lbs	364-470, 4508 yards, 45 TD, 3 INT	Bo Nix leads the second tier of quarterbacks, which also includes JJ McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. Nix looked like a future first rounder after his freshman season at Auburn, but fizzled out before transferring to Oregon, where he put up a truly legendary redshirt senior season. He may never be a Pro Bowler, but is very experienced, has the arm talent, can run a bit and should hold down the fort for a Raiders team that is desperately seeking some stability.
14	New Orleans Saints	OT JC Latham, Alabama – 6’6, 360 lbs	N/A	The once impenetrable New Orleans offensive line was a mess in 2023, thanks to free agent losses, injuries and draft busts. JC Latham is a monster of a man, but is more agile than expected. He might be limited to the right side, but he will still fill a huge need for the Saints.
15	Indianapolis Colts	CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama – 6’0, 196 lbs	63 tackles, 5 INT, 1 sack, 1 FF	Terrion Arnold seems to have surpassed Kool-Aid McKinstry as the top Alabama defensive prospect for this cycle. Arnold is a former safety and it shows in his tackle numbers. On top of that, he racked up 5 interceptions, showing a true two way game at cornerback. Julius Brents and Kenny Moore are solid CB2 and 3’s, but this team needs an alpha in the secondary.
16	Seattle Seahawks	SS Cooper DeJean, Iowa – 6’1, 207 lbs	41 tackles, 2 INT	The Seahawks have always been a tough team to mock for, because they usually go off script, to mostly poor results. Jamal Adams is an easy cut candidate, opening up a spot in the secondary for Cooper DeJean. DeJean has experience at corner and safety, but I like him as a Minkah Fitzpatrick-like safety who can slide outside when needed.
17	Jacksonville Jaguars	WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU – 6’4, 205 lbs	68 rec, 1177 yards, 17 TD	The Jaguars ended 2023 on a very sour note, and Trevor Lawrence has been slower to develop than hoped. Calvin Ridley was a bit of a disappointment, and Jacksonville could use a real WR1 on the roster. Brian Thomas Jr. played second fiddle to Malik Nabers at LSU, but caught 17 touchdowns and could provide a huge catch radius for Lawrence.
18	Cincinnati Bengals	OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State – 6’6, 334 lbs	N/A	Cincinnati Bengals franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has now suffered two season ending injuries. Better health is needed. Some of that is luck, but Cincinnati can do him a favor by drafting a replacement for projected departure Jonah Williams. Taliese Fuaga is a terror in the run game, but has the ability to become a solid pass blocker as well. He would be a great fit at right tackle.
19	Los Angeles Rams	CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama – 6’1, 195 lbs	32 tackles	It is almost impossible to believe, but this is the first time the Rams have had a first round draft pick since 2016. Los Angeles bounced back in a big way in 2023, but that lack of draft capital has made depth a major issue. The skill positions are set, but youth needs to be added virtually everywhere else. Kool-Aid McKinstry has top ten talent, but was overshadowed by teammate Terrion Arnold in the Alabama secondary.
20	Pittsburgh Steelers	OT Amarius Mims, Georgia – 6’7, 340 lbs	N/A	Once again, Mike Tomlin had the Steelers playing above their talent level, and they return to the playoffs. That might be a double-edged sword, however, because this roster needs an infusion of young talent. Offensive line remains a troubling position in Pittsburgh. Amarius Mims needs to gain experience, but has All Pro talent, and will reunite with former Georgia teammate Broderick Jones in Pittsburgh.
21	Miami Dolphins	OG Troy Fautanu, Washington – 6’4, 317 lbs	N/A	Miami has too many free agents and too little money to resign them all. Christian Wilkins will be a priority, meaning it is a near certainty that one or two of Connor Williams, Isaiah Wynn and Robert Hunt will move on. That will open up one or two guard spots, which Troy Fautanu could fill. He played left tackle during his junior year at Washington but is a classic plug-and-play option at guard.
22	Philadelphia Eagles	OT Graham Barton, Duke – 6’5, 314 lbs	N/A	The Eagles tend to draft with the future in mind, and the offensive line could quickly become a need area. Jason Kelce has already retired and Lane Johnson may not be far behind. Graham Barton has quite a bit of experience in a pro style offense and could play either tackle or guard.
23	Houston Texans	CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo – 6’0, 196 lbs	41 tackles, 1 INT	From CLE Houston is in a great position. They have a ton of upcoming cap space, a charasmatic head coach and a franchise quarterback. They should be major players in free agency. Which will be key because there are so many free agents on the roster. Houston especially needs a cornerback opposite Derek Stingley Jr. Quinyon Mitchell may not have played for a Power 5 school, but has a ton of experience and is a quality cover man.
24	Dallas Cowboys	OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma – 6’7, 327 lbs	N/A	Long time left tackle Tyron Smith has struggled to stay healthy and is an upcoming free agent. This may be the year Dallas finally moves on from one of the better offensive lineman in team history. Tyler Guyton is a work in progress, but could be a future starter with proper development. The team would likely prefer to keep Tyler Smith at guard.
25	Green Bay Packers	OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona – 6’5, 325 lbs	N/A	Yet another offensive lineman off the board here. David Bakhtiari may be a cap casuality, and even if not, the offensive line is a priority need. Jordan Morgan excels in pass protection, which should help out Jordan Love and his plethora of talented skill position weapons.
26	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan – 6’3, 202 lbs	240-332, 2991 yards, 22 TD, 4 INT	Baker Mayfield had a very good year considering, but he is obviously not a real long term answer at quarterback for the Buccaneers. J.J. McCarthy has a great arm, but lacks experience and needs a year or two to learn and bulk up.
27	Arizona Cardinals	OLB Chris Braswell, Alabama – 6’3, 255 lbs	42 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF	From HOU The Cardinals probably envisioned a top ten pick when they traded for Houston’s selection, but here we are. This is a roster that needs everything, so best player available is the way to go. Dallas Turner was not the only sack artist for the Crimson Tide. Chris Braswell, a former top recruit, ended his Alabama career with 8 sacks and three forced fumbles. He has the ability to hold up against the run as well, meaning he could be a three down linebacker for the Cardinals.
28	Buffalo Bills	DE Bralen Trice, Washington – 6’4, 274 lbs	49 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 FF	Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver are the only two defensive lineman that played roles for the Bills under contract in 2024, making defensive line an obvious need. Bralen Trice is still a work in progress as a pass rusher, which is a scary proposition considering he has 17 sacks during his past two seasons at Washington.
29	Detroit Lions	DE Chop Robinson, Penn State – 6’3, 250 lbs	15 tackles, 4 sacks	The Lions offense is championship calibur, but the defense, although improved from a historically bad 2022 version, is still a work in progress. The same can be said for Chop Robinson. He has top ten talent, but is a long way from putting it all together at the NFL level. Pass rushing is always in high demand, so even though he only had 6 sacks during his Penn State career,, he could find a spot late in the first round.
30	Baltimore Ravens	WR Troy Franklin, Oregon – 6’3, 187 lbs	81 rec, 1383 yards, 14 TD	As usual, Baltimore has a ton of free agents to worry about. Justin Madubuike is the one player they simply cannot let get away. On offense, they lose most of their experienced wide receivers. Zay Flowers is a keeper, but a number two is desperately needed. Troy Franklin is long, skinny and quick. He would be a nice deep threat for Lamar Jackson.
31	San Francisco 49ers	OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU – 6’6, 325 lbs	N/A	The 49ers have a deep roster, but there are some weak spots. Offensive line could use some young reinforcements. Trent Williams is still very good, but he will be 36 years old. Colton McKivitz gave up 11 sacks on the other side. Kingsley Suamataia might have been a top 20 pick had he stayed one more year at BYU. He chose to enterthe draft with only two years of playing experience, but with proper development, he could be a future starter. The 49ers can afford to be patient with him.
26	Kansas City Chiefs	OT Patrick Paul, Houston – 6’7, 315 lbs	N/A	Why not end this first round with another offensive lineman, the 11th taken? Andy Reid loves to draft offensive and defensive lineman early, and Kansas City could use youth at both tackle spots. Jawaan Taylor’s struggles were well publicized. Patrick Paul has the look of an elite tackle. His play does not equal his measurements, but he is a plus pass blocker who could develop into a starter.