NFL mock draft 2024: 2-round projection after free agency frenzy
The first wave of NFL free agency has come and gone, and with it we get a better glimpse of what the vision is for NFL teams going into the draft. Player acquisition isn’t only about finding talent, of course, but the formatting of these players into what the goal is for the 2024 season. With most of the big name guys out the way, the attention turns to the 2024 NFL Draft, which is in a little over a month. Pro Days are beginning to get wrapped up, big boards are being finalized and most importantly, mock drafts are being done.
This mock draft is a special one, because it not only involves trades, but there are now TWO (2) ROUNDS for your viewing pleasure. New faces in new places, plus some trades to shake things up.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
The Justin Fields era is over, and the Bears can now reset their QB clock with Williams, who is an electric playmaker and a growing pocket passer who can obliterate opponents from within and outside the pocket.
I think Washington is going to be swayed by Daniels’ big play ability (despite Drake Maye being my QB1), and the smoke is too strong to ignore here. Daniels is an explosive waiting to happen, but has to curb a lot of the recklessness in his play.
Look, we’re going to keep doing this “the Patriots will trade out of the QB spot” thing until April and I simply don’t believe it. It would take a historic haul to move upThey’ve prioritized the QB position in every discussion about their offseason plans, and here they sprint up to the podium to take Maye, a buzzsaw of a QB.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This could also be trade down position for Arizona, but again, it would take a major haul for the Cardinals to move down and still be in range for one of the top receivers. It’ll just be smarter to take Harrison Jr. here, a dynamo of a receiver and perfect fit in Arizona’s offense.
Minnesota trades 11, 23 to Los Angeles Chargers for 5 and 105
Let’s get nuts! This could truly be where the NFL Draft begins, with multiple teams such as the New York Giants being in the JJ McCarthy sweepstakes. But the Vikings didn’t trade for the 23rd pick for nothing, if you’re going to have two first round picks, go and get your guy, and here they do. McCarthy still has a ways to go as an NFL passer, but seems like a great fit in a McVay-style offense that head coach Kevin O’Connell runs.
With the Giants missing out on McCarthy, they get the consolation prize of picking my WR2 in this NFL Draft class. Odunze is such a smooth, strong route runner who can also elevate and go get the ball, a better fit on the outside with the hundreds of slot receivers the Giants have.
This is a glove in hand fit for Alt, who is a mountain of a man but moves like someone much smaller. Getting him under the tutelage of Bill Callahan and next to guard Peter Skoronski should help solidify the left side of the Titans’ line for years to come.
I would keep an eye on Atlanta at 8 potentially being a trade down spot, especially if Minnesota wants to get up to 4 for McCarthy. In 2016 the Philadelphia Eagles traded up twice to go get Carson Wentz, and something like that could be in play. However, if Atlanta stays at 8, they pick Turner, a supercharged edge rusher who still has yet to play his best ball.
So the Bears can go anywhere with this pick, especially after trading for WR Keenan Allen. The trade doesn’t mean that the Bears can’t pick a receiver, especially if Odunze and Nabers are here. They could go defense here, with Montez Sweat needing a running mate. I chose to give them some more protection for Caleb Williams, and the best pass protector in the class in Fashanu. Moving Braxton Jones to a swing tackle and having Wright+Fashanu as your bookend tackles seems like a good idea to me in a conference with some feared pass rushers.
The Jets are very similar to the Bears, where the signing of Tyron Smith and trade for Morgan Moses doesn’t mean that they can’t pick a tackle, but this team is built to win right now while QB Aaron Rodgers still wants to play football. Bowers is a dynamic pass catching target who does his best work after the catch, and can be a great complement to WR Garrett Wilson.
This pick could go a multitude of ways. If the Jets decide to pick one of the falling receivers, Bowers is a great fit. If both Bowers and the third receiver are gone, I could see a right tackle like Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga or Georgia’s Amarius Mims here. In this mock, Nabers falls to 11 and Justin Herbert gets some electricity to add into the offense.
Arizona sends 27 and 66 to Denver for 12 and a 2025 4th round pick
Arizona is in prime position to get real aggressive here if they want to, and I have them swinging up to pick the top cornerback on the board in Arnold. Denver wants to trade back and get some more picks, so Arizona obliges to send them 27 and the 66th pick in 2024. Arnold is an aggressive, confident corner who can play inside or outside, giving head coach Jonathan Gannon a fun piece in the secondary.
The Raiders still need to shore up their offensive line with Thayer Munford stepping into the starting role at right tackle, but adding a guy like Fuaga who can play tackle or guard could be too enticing to pass up here, especially with Arnold gone. Fuaga is a people mover in the ground game with finishing ability, and has a consistent base in pass protection.
Eventually, the Saints gotta pick up one of these LSU receivers, right? Michael Thomas is on his way out, Rashid Shaheed still doesn’t have a contract and even though they signed WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., Chris Olave needs a running mate. Thomas Jr. still is a bit of a vibes based route runner at this point, but he combines the size of an outside receiver with the explosiveness and downfield ability of a smaller one.
The Colts still need some more talent on the back end, and CB/S Cooper DeJean could be in play here, but Mitchell is just too good on the outside to pass up. He and CB Juju Brents could be a really sick cornerback duo for Indy.
The top guard on most people’s boards, Fautanu is a nasty run blocker who has a variety of sets in the pass blocking department as well. With Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb and OL coach Scott Huff both coming from UW, this feels like an easy choice.
The Jaguars simply cannot pass on a receiver early here. In a pivotal year for the Jacksonville offense and QB Trevor Lawrence, finding another receiver on the outside could open up a lot of offense for WR Christian Kirk and TE Evan Engram. Mitchell is a smooth mover on the outside, who still has his best football ahead of him.
Another spot where I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals still went tackle after signing Trent Brown, but with a hole at DT after DJ Reader’s departure, they go for Texas DT Byron Murphy, who brings explosiveness and vertical push on all three downs.
Another perfect player to team fit, Latu doesn’t even have to change states with this selection. He’s a pure pass rusher with great closing speed and hand quickness despite lack of elite length or build. With Aaron Donald retiring, someone has to help ease the pass rush lost, and Latu can be just that.
In this scenario, the Steelers should sprint up to the podium. Mims has the potential to be the best tackle prospect from this entire class, but only has eight starts under his belt. Here, they pair him with former UGA Broderick Jones, who moves to left tackle, and is run blocking with another former Bulldog Darnell Washington. Simply drafting all the guys from the best team in football for the last three years seems like a smart choice.
Even after signing Aaron Brewer to play center, the Robert Hunt hole has to be filled somehow. Barton is a powerful run blocker who has played every spot at Duke, and combats his lack of arm length with great timing and leverage.
Howie Roseman’s draft history doesn’t tend to agree with drafting corners or linebackers early, and with Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat and (tentatively) Haason Reddick on the roster, it doesn’t make sense to go EDGE here. So I opt to give them the best lineman on the board in Latham, who can take his knockout power in the run game and surprisingly light feet to Stoutland U.
I think DB is still in play here, especially with the secondary still being held together by silly string. New Chargers DC Jesse Minter wants his DBs active and involved in stopping the run, and DeJean can be versatile enough to play outside or safety, allowing Derwin James to roam free. DeJean has great route recognition and triggers on passes quickly.
The Cowboys offseason has been...underwhelming to say the least. They can recoup some good favor by drafting Powers-Johnson, who can play guard but is a potential star at center.
With DeJean and Mitchell gone, expect the Packers to pick offensive line here (keep an eye out for Minnesota S Tyler Nubin in this spot too). The Packers still need some more depth along their offensive line, and Guyton is the best of the bunch. He’s a supreme athlete who is still improving in the run game.
With Shaq Barrett gone, the Bucs can stand to improve their pass rush game, and pick the best guy left on the board in Verse. Verse is a powerful, explosive edge rusher who wins with speed to power and can play the run well.
Alright, I know, I get it. However, the Broncos don’t have a second round pick and currently are rolling with...Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci at QB. That’s not exactly a QB room to write home about. Denver trades back and takes Nix here to get a Day 2 pick and get that fifth-year option on their new QB, who might be a good fit for what Payton wants to do.
With some of the better outside receivers off the board, the Bills could shoot for WR Keon Coleman here, but instead go for boosting the defense in Newton, who is my favorite defender in the class. Despite not having elite length or size, Newton wins with violent hands and explosion.
Detroit misses out by one on Newton, but gets a fantastic consolation
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27 of April 2024
