The 2024 NFL draft season has been going since May 1st, 2023 but it’s been kicked up a notch with the Minnesota Vikings eliminated from the playoffs and all of the focus being toward 2024.
Each Wednesday, Vikings Wire will be bringing you a mock draft. Why are we doing them with such regularity? It’s about presenting different situations. Everyone thinks they know what will happen with the NFL draft but there is something that happens each year that throws a wrench into what you think will happen.
Throughout the next four months, players will rise and fall up the draft board and that is very natural. What we will do with each of these mock drafts is show you how the draft might go if it were to happen that day. Most of these picks will be wrong but it’s more of a critical thinking exercise than anything.
Without further ado, here is my first mock draft of the 2024 NFL draft cycle.
1. Chicago Bears: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
The Bears won’t be able to pass on a quarterback at first overall. Justin fields has been good but he hasn’t been good enough to not take one at the top of the draft again. Maye has the build and play style similar to Justin Herbert and he can attack all levels of the field with his arm and legs.
2. Washington Commanders: USC QB Caleb Williams
Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson get their quarterback in Williams who will have to maneuver around a poor offensive line while that gets rebuilt, something he was used to at USC. Williams still needs to develop some of his game in structure but his ability to thrive outside of structure will give him a baseline while he acclimates to the NFL.
3. New England Patriots: LSU QB Jayden Daniels
Daniels is a true dual-threat who approaches the running game in a similar manner to Lamar Jackson when he came out of college: if he sees space open up, he will gash you on the ground. His improvement in the passing game is why he’s a top-five pick, as his Heisman Trophy season showed.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Kyler Murray gets a generational wide receiver because Matt Prater missed a 51-yard field goal as time expires in week 18. Harrison is arguably the most complete wide receiver prospect ever and can do it all.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Georgia TE Brock Bowers
Thc Chargers desperately need pass catchers and with a deep wide receiver class, they get a potentially generational tight end in Bowers who can gash you in the passing game, take a jet sweep and block with effectiveness.
6. New York Giants: LSU WR Malik Nabers
Whoever plays quarterback for the Giants needs an alpha at wide receiver and Nabers gives you that and then some. He would be the best wide receiver in the class if there wasn’t a generational talent like Harrison.
7. Tennessee Titans: Penn State OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
The Titans need help on the offensive line and adding Fashanu to pair with the selection of Skoronski in the first round last season will give Will Levis more protection up front.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
After spending three picks in the top 10 on skill position players the past three years, the Falcons finally address the edge position with Turner who dominated for the Crimson Tide in stretches last season.
9. Chicago Bears: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The cornerback position is one that you shouldn’t stop investing in, as it’s a poison derived in confidence. McKinstry plays with that and has the size, aggressiveness and ball skills to match.
10. New York Jets: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
The Jets have done a good job fortifying their weapons and the defensive line but the offensive line is one that still needs attention. With Aaron Rodgers coming off a torn Achilles tendon, that should be priority number one.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
If there isn’t a quarterback worthy of the spot, addressing the defensive front needs to be a priority for the Vikings. Robinson doesn’t just have one of the best names in the draft, he has excellent burst around the edge and the power to hold up on the interior when needed.
12. Denver Broncos: Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton
Playmakers on the defensive front are lacking for the Broncos and they likely won’t have the money to pursue them in free agency. Newton was a one man wrecking crew for Illinois this past season and can play all across the line.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
On defense, you need difference makers. The Raiders have one on the line in Maxx Crosby but they need one in the secondary. DeJean could play any position in the secondary and make an impact right away, including as a punt returner.
14. New Orleans Saints: Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
Trevor Penning hasn’t worked out as of yet and the Saints need to find a way to keep Derek Carr upright. Fuaga is a powerful player that could slide inside if you need him to but he projects to be a tackle in the NFL. He does play RT which could present a problem but the player is good enough to take and figure it out.
15. Indianapolis Colts: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
Medicals will be key for Latu. He medically retired due to a neck injury two years ago but the on-field ability is insane. Latu is a pass rushing savant with incredibly powerful hands that would immediately translate.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Alabama OL J.C. Latham
The Seahawks could go any number of ways here but getting more offensive line help is really appealing. Latham could slide inside to guard next to Abraham Lucas and be a force on the interior.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Washington WR Rome Odunze
The Jaguars need an alpha on the outside. While Calvin Ridley is good, he’s not that guy. Odunze would bring that to the Jaguars and ease the pressure off of Ridley to allow him to do what he does best. it’s somewhat of a luxury pick but the offensive lineman run right before they picked makes this an easier sell. Don’t be surprised if Odunze goes much higher than this.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Florida State WR Keon Coleman
I don’t love Coleman like some in the industry do, but he would bring the same type of play that Tee Higgins has for the Bengals: a big-bodied receiver who can outmuscle defenders for the football and provide a little bit after the catch.
19. Green Bay Packers: Georgia OT Amarius Mims
The Packers have a type and Mims fits that: big and athletic. With the future of David Bakhtiari currently unknown long term, addressing left tackle is a strategy they should be utilizing now.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Washington OT Troy Fautanu
After losing multiple offensive linemen last season, the Buccaneers need to keep building up that unit. Fautanu can play on the inside if needed but he was a dominant force at left tackle last year at Washington. Let him fail there before moving him inside.
21. Arizona Cardinals: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
The Cardinals need help just about everywhere. They got their tackle last year in Paris Johnson Jr. and Harrison at fourth overall. Now, they get an explosive and powerful edge rusher in Verse. Jonathan Gannon needs an alpha on the edge and he gets one.
22. Los Angeles Rams: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
Defense needs to be the focus for the Rams, especially after solidifying their offense last year. Wiggins would give them a talented player on the outside who can thrive in both zone and man coverage.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: BYU LT Kingsley Suamataia
If the Steelers are going to protect Kenny Pickett, they will need to protect him. Suamataia was a five-star recruit who can maul you kt the line of scrimmage.
24. Miami Dolphins: Duke OL Graham Barton
The Dolphins need help everywhere on the offensive line, especially at center. Barton played left tackle for Duke but he projects best as a center at the next level. He will help the Dolphins find their best five.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The Eagles take three positions in the first round: OL, DL and WR. With no great options at the first two, they fortify their skill players with Thomas. A versatile weapon at 6’4″, Thomas would pair well with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
26. Kansas City Chiefs: Georgia WR Ladd McConkey
You may not think he’s worthy of this selection, but McConkey certainly is. His diverse skill set, especially in his route running and after the catch, will give Patrick Mahomes a wide receiver he can finally rely on.
27. Houston Texans: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
Nico Collins and Tank Dell get a great complement to their skill set in Mitchell. An athletic receiver who attacks the ball with aggression in the air. C.J. Stroud will love having him on the outside.
28. Detroit Lions: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
The one real weakness for the Lions on defense is at cornerback. Arnold will be able to go in there and play anywhere to help fortify the unit.
29. Buffalo Bills: Penn State CB Kalen King
Cornerback is a necessary position to improve for the Bills, especially with Kaiir Elam not living up to his potential. King has the size and length to thrive on the outside.
30. Dallas Cowboys: Kansas State G Cooper Beebe
The Cowboys love to build up the trenches and they could be losing both Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz. Adding a talented guard like Beebe would allow Tyler Smith to move back to the outside and slide Beebe in at left guard.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
The 49ers are in need of youth and talent at cornerback and Burke is a good value at 31st overall.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
If you haven’t heard his name yet, you will soon. He is one of the best cornerbacks in the class and attacks the ball in the air really well. The Ravens love man cover corners and Mitchell can bring that to their defense.
