Rory Daniels 2024 NFL Mock Draft
By Rory Daniels
It’s that time of year again. I rarely put out multiple mock drafts per year, preferring to stick to one the week of the draft. By now, you’ve probably read hundreds of them, so I will try to keep this short and sweet. You know the players in question, but I’ll expand on the strategy and fit to explain my reasoning. Most importantly, I hope you all enjoy my favourite night of the NFL season and you get everything you hope for!
1. Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
You know the score with this one. Williams is an excellent prospect with true x-factor potential. Athletic and with a hose for an arm. The Bears can reset their franchise and hope to be competitive once more in the NFC North.
2. Washington Commanders
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Adam Peters is tricky to second-guess here; he keeps his cards close to his chest. However, we have received some intel that Jayden Daniels’ camp was unhappy about the group interview style the Commanders adopted. Maybe it was nothing, but perhaps it was enough for the Commanders to choose Maye instead.
3. Minnesota Vikings (trade with New England)
JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
I think the Vikings would have liked Maye, but I think they’ve made peace with McCarthy after all this time. They are set up for a guy to come in and run the O’Connell system with zero fuss. McCarthy does have upside and was the definition of a system QB for Michigan.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals have plenty of draft capital. As much as Monti Ossenfort gets buzz for being a trade wizard, sometimes you have to step up and take the elite guys. Harrison is a game-changer. The Cardinals would be best suited, sticking and picking for my mind.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Rome Odunze, WR, Michigan
All the buzz is about Harbaugh attacking the trenches. Maybe that’s a smoke screen. There will be plenty of ex-Michigan lineman available later in the draft, so how about Odunze? Harbaugh will have spent hours game planning against the Huskies receiver, what better way to become enchanted with his skill set.
6. New York Giants
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
It’s a tricky spot here with Jayden Daniels on the board. It would make sense for the Giants to find a replacement for Daniel Jones, but I can’t see them inviting that amount of friction into this season. Let Jones have a legitimate No.1 receiver and see what happens in one last hurrah.
7. Tennessee Titans
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
A no-brainer for the Titans at this spot. Alt is the consensus no.1 offensive tackle, and the Titans are desperate at the position. Hard to see new offensive line coach Bill Callahan not falling in love with a player like Alt.
8. Las Vegas Raiders (trade with Atlanta)
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Atlanta needs defensive help, and everyone is still available. This pick should be in high demand with Daniels on the board. Las Vegas is the smallest drop for the Falcons, and the staff is familiar with Daniels from his Arizona State days. He is a great match in my eyes.
9. New Orleans Saints (trade with Chicago)
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Bears could do to add picks with only four going into the draft. For the Saints, it makes sense to leapfrog the Jets if they’ve fallen in love with an offensive tackle here. I think the league will be more enamoured with Latham’s high-floor play than draftniks, so he goes to replace Ryan Ramczyk.
10. New York Jets
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
My head says Taliese Fuaga, but my heart says Brock Bowers. This team is all-in with Aaron Rodgers so selecting a playmaker for the slot rather than a backup tackle in year 1 makes sense. I would think Rodgers would be pulling for this pick as well.
11. New England Patriots (from Minnesota)
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Patriots make the sensible choice here to get extra draft capital. This is not the right situation for a rookie QB. I toyed with taking the first defensive player off the board but Fashanu is a true left tackle and that’s the most glaring need for the Pats.
12. Denver Broncos
Byron Murphy Jr., DT, Texas
Another team with a boatload of holes. They get their pick of the defensive players, and I think the Byron Murphy hype is legit. He can play across this defensive front and interior pressure is bang-on trend in the NFL. Murphy misses the top 10 but still goes earlier than a lot have him pegged.
13. Atlanta Falcons (from Las Vegas)
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
How about this for a bit of good business? The Falcons move down, acquire extra picks and still get the player most mock drafts have them linked to. Turner has huge potential given his length, athleticism and SEC production.
14. Chicago Bears (from New Orleans)
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
The Bears shifted out of 9 with the top 3 receivers off the board, now they change their focus to the defense. It’s difficult to say where individual teams have Laiatu Latu ranked with his injury past so I’ll go for Verse. His power off the edge would pair well with Montez Sweat.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
A major need matches up with one of the top players still on the board. Any worries about Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell have been dispelled in the draft buildup. Elite speed, size and production mean that Mitchell should be the first corner off the board.
16. Buffalo Bills (trade with Seattle)
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Bills need a wide receiver badly. I don’t think they can make it to the top ten to get one of the elite guys but I do think they would jump the Jags to take Thomas. An elite deep threat to pair with Josh Allen’s deep ball. A great fit, if I say so myself.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
DeJean can fit a multitude of positions however, I see him joining Andre Cisco at safety if he was to land in Jacksonville. His game may not suit a press man coverage scheme but dropping him in as a playmaker deeper could get the best out of him.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Bengals have a few directions they can go with this one and believe me I think Terrion Arnold would be in play. However, Fuaga is an elite player and fits their desire to boost the offensive line. He is the long-term replacement for Trent Brown but could he push Cordell Volson for a guard spot in year 1?
19. Los Angeles Rams
Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
The Rams did exceptionally well with a young defense last year but don’t expect them to stop adding pieces. This could be corner or edge but if they have a clear medical on Latu, he’s the player that could help them the most at this pick.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Steelers would have liked a receiver to still be on the board but now it comes down to offensive line or cornerback. Pairing Arnold with Joey Porter Jr. gives the Steelers a physical and athletic duo. Ideal for facing down the elite receivers in the AFC North.
21. Miami Dolphins
Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
The Dolphins have playmakers at the edge in Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb, so why not bolster the interior? Newton could be a game-wrecker if given 1-on-1 matchups on this talented defensive front.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
It’s a glaring need on this roster. Philly desperately needs some young blood at cornerback, and despite reservations over Wiggins’ size, he certainly appeals on tape. He’s a high-effort guy and could develop into a replacement for Bradberry or Slay.
23. Seattle Seahawks (trade with New England)
Troy Fautanu, iOL, Washington
We have the ‘Hawks moving back up here as they see a familiar face falling on draft day. Fautanu’s former OC Ben Grubb will be keen to move back up and get a reliable offensive line piece who can play guard or fill in at tackle should Abe Lucas continue to suffer injuries.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Graham Barton, iOL, Duke
Another versatile lineman comes off the board here in Duke’s Graham Barton. Barton is an athletic freak and can fill any spot along the line. There are plenty of question marks for the Cowboys, but solid drafting over flash is needed here.
25. Washington Commanders (trade with Green Bay)
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
They have a shiny new QB in Drake Maye so I can see the Commanders moving back up into round 1 to take a tackle to protect him. Offensive line options have flown off the board here but Mims could be the best of the lot. Injuries and inexperience aside Mims has the size and movement ability to be special.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Robinson is an elite athlete and adding him to the pass rush rotation here gives them something different. Yaya Diaby had a promising opening campaign but he and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka could use some solid backup.
27. Arizona Cardinals
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Getting elite players is key for the Cards in this draft. Marvin Harrison Jr fits that bill and Kool-Aid doesn’t do much wrong either. He isn’t the flashiest but should be a reliable piece in this Cardinals secondary.
28. New England Patriots (from Seattle)
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Could the Patriots get a jump on the teams looking to grab a quarterback in round 2? They’ve added an elite tackle in Fashanu, and move back again to land a QB who now has less pressure to come in and perform immediately, learning under Jacoby Brissett.
29. Detroit Lions
Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson’s versatility should appeal to the Detroit Lions. Kevin Zeitler is a stop-gap option, and there remain questions over Frank Ragnow’s longevity at center. Powers-Johnson also encapsulates the physicality needed in this Dan Campbell offense.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
Missouri edge rusher Darius Robinson has great length and power. While he comes in a tweener mould I would expect a defensive mind like Mike Macdonald to get the best out of him. Whether that’s off the edge or next to Justin Madubuike is yet to be seen.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
There remains question marks over the future of the receiving room in San Fran. Will Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel both be on this roster at the start of the season? Franklin has a lot of potential and offers speed and a deep threat, that could see him off the board in day 1.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Chiefs may revisit the idea of Donovan Smith for the left tackle spot post-draft, but having a long-term solution is also important. Guyton is inexperienced, but he is super athletic with great length. He may not be a day 1 starter, but he is a player with excellent potential.
Rory-Joe Daniels
CFB & NFL Draft WRITER
As a long-suffering Cincinnati Bengals fan, Rory has followed the NFL for over 20 years. His passion for the Draft led him to get entangled with college football and he has been writing about prospects and the CFB landscape ever since.