2024 NFL Draft: FINAL first-round mock draft

We’ve finally reached NFL Draft week. Months of speculation and arguments will end in just a few short days. The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night, and while there are plenty of fun narratives around the first round, the first overall pick isn’t in question. The Chicago Bears will select Caleb Williams first overall. After that, things get murky.

This 2024 NFL mock draft is my final attempt to predict how the first round will go. There are plenty of trades and a few surprises that many may not agree with, but these picks will be my best guesses.

Let’s go!

1. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Caleb Williams – Quarterback, USC

2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye – Quarterback, UNC

3. New England Patriots: Joe Alt – Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame

This is where the draft truly begins, in my opinion. Williams to Chicago is a lock, and I think Washington has zeroed in on Drake Maye. What I’m not buying is the Jayden Daniels hype. It smells like all the pre-draft hype for Will Levis a year ago, when many analysts and insiders had him going second or fourth overall, just to see him fall out of the first round entirely. I think the Patriots want to trade out of this spot, but the list of trade partners will be short (the next seven teams don’t need quarterbacks), and I don’t believe anyone will meet their asking price. Not liking their quarterback options at this spot and not receiving acceptable trade offers, I have the Patriots staying at 3rd overall and selecting a generational left tackle.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. – Receiver, OSU

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Taliese Fuaga – Offensive Tackle, Oregon State

The Chargers are potential trade partners here, but it could be tough to get a team to give up the assets it will take to move up to fifth overall if they’re not in love with a quarterback prospect. The Chargers are staying put and selecting the best right tackle in this draft to form a tandem with Rashawn Slater.

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers – Receiver, LSU

7. Tennessee Titans: Olu Fashanu – Offensive Tackle, Penn State

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner – EDGE, Alabama

9. Las Vegas Raiders (via CHI): Jayden Daniels – Quarterback, LSU

Trade! The Raiders tried to move up to eighth overall, but the Falcons could not be moved off of Dallas Turner. The Bears, however, were more amenable, and once Daniels fell into striking distance, the Raiders pulled the trigger and landed themselves their new starting quarterback.

10. Minnesota Vikings (via NYJ): J.J. McCarthy – Quarterback, Michigan

Trade! The Vikings pick next, but they pay a small price to move up one pick and prevent other quarterback-needy teams from leapfrogging them. The Vikings get the quarterback they wanted all along, and they still have another first-round selection to make.

11. New York Jets (via MIN): Rome Odunze – Receiver, Washington

12. Denver Broncos: Brock Bowers – Tight End, Georgia

13. Chicago Bears (via LV): Byron Murphy II – Defensive Tackle, Texas

If the Bears can add Caleb Williams, extra draft picks, and a potential game-wrecking 3-tech on their defensive line on the first night of the draft, then it’s an easy A-plus draft grade for GM Ryan Poles before we even get to the next six rounds.

14. Buffalo Bills (via NO): Brian Thomas Jr. – Receiver, LSU

Trade! With the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the Bills badly need a receiving threat who can make an immediate impact. Thomas is the only receiver who fits this description and falls within striking distance. The Bills make a big move fourteen spots up the board and snag their new WR1 before Indianapolis or Jacksonville can.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold – Cornerback, Alabama

16. Seattle Seahawks: Jer’Zhan Newton – Defensive Tackle, Illinois

17. Dallas Cowboys (via JAX): Amarius Mims – Offensive Tackle, Georgia

Trade! Once the Bills poached Brian Thomas Jr., the Jaguars trade back with a team desperate for offensive line help, and the Cowboys were more than willing to make this move with the departure of Tyron Smith in the offseason.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham – Offensive Tackle, Alabama

19. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR): Quinyon Mitchell – Cornerback, Toledo

Trade! The Jaguars move back up to get the best remaining cornerback, arguably the best of his draft class. They couldn’t get the receiver they wanted, but landing a top-tier pass defender is something to celebrate.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton – Center, Duke

21. Miami Dolphins: Troy Fautanu – Offensive Tackle, Washington

MORE: Bears take unique approach to private dinner with Caleb Williams

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Jackson Powers-Johnson – Center, Oregon

23. Minnesota Vikings (via HOU): Laiatu Latu – EDGE, UCLA

The Vikings made a trade earlier in the offseason with Houston, acquiring an extra first-round pick. As it turns out, they didn’t have to use it to trade up for their desired quarterback and instead get to make an extra selection. This time, they add a pass rusher who would have easily been the first defender selected if not for his scary medical history.

24. Los Angeles Rams (via DAL and JAX): Jared Verse – EDGE, Florida State

25. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean – Defensive Back, Iowa

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson – EDGE, Penn State

27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Kool-Aid McKinstry – Cornerback, Alabama

28. New Orleans Saints (via BUF): Tyler Guyton – Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

29. Detroit Lions: Nate Wiggins – Cornerback, Clemson

The Lions just reached the NFC Championship game for the first time in 30 years, and now they’re looking to get over that last hump. In a division with three rivals who could all feature explosive passing attacks in 2024, the Lions will need more secondary help than ever.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Keon Coleman – Receiver, Florida State

31. New England Patriots (via SF): Michael Penix Jr. – Quarterback, Washington

Trade! The Patriots move up three spots into the first round to select a quarterback and get a 5th-year option for his contract. If it wasn’t for a lengthy injury history, Penix could have been in the mix to go first overall in this draft, but he lands with the Patriots at the end of the first round. If the Patriots can end their draft night with a generational left tackle and a potential franchise quarterback, this is another easy A-plus grade.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey – Receiver, Georgia

Chiefs Kingdom, rejoice. After this pick, the Chiefs will again be the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl, which would be an unprecedented third in a row.