Here is the second edition of my 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)- Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC: The Bears decision on what to do with the first overall pick will be among the biggest stories of the offseason. Either way, Williams will go first, whether it's the Bears or another team picking. He did not have his best season last season, but his playmaking ability is what could make him special.
2. Washington Commanders- Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU: For the second mock, the Commanders opt for Daniels over Drake Maye. He was perhaps the most electric quarterback in the country with his speed and with his flashy stats in what was a Heisman Trophy campaign.
3. New England Patriots- Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina: This time, the Patriots make the pick they should make in taking a possible franchise quarterback in Maye. There were some people in the media that feel that Maye could go first over Williams due to his arm strength, size, and mobility.
4. Arizona Cardinals- Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, Ohio State: The Cardinals are doing cartwheels here landing perhaps the best wide receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson. Harrison Jr is a nightmare for defenses do to his side and athleticism.
5. Los Angeles Chargers- Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia: With Jim Harbaugh in the fold now, he may want to go with offensive line, but Bowers is too tempting to pass up. Bowers would instantly make a Chargers offense already good on paper better and he is a much needed security blanket for Justin Herbert considering how injury prone their skill position players are.
6. New York Giants- Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, LSU: The Giants have not ruled out a quarterback here, but if it's not a quarterback, the move should be a play maker or an offensive lineman. Nabers is known for his ability to make big plays with a lot of yardage and that is something that the Giants offense could use.
7. Tennessee Titans- Joe Alt, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame: The Titans look like a team that's heading for a major rebuild with the team getting rid of Mike Vrabel along with some players that were a part of Vrabel's success with the team. Alt is super consistent and he and Peter Skoronski will be blocking for whomever is quarterback for a while.
8. Atlanta Falcons- Dallas Turner, Edge Rush, Alabama: You would think the Falcons would want a veteran quarterback, so the move should be focused on defense here. Turner has great speed and athleticism and he can also stop the run.
9. Chicago Bears- Jared Verse, Edge Rush, Florida State: The Bears should consider wide receiver here to go with Fields or Caleb Williams, but they can also use someone opposite Montez Sweat on their pass rush. Verse is a plug-and-play pass rusher whom is athletic, is always aware, and super explosive to make his presence felt on opposing offensive lines.
10. New York Jets- Ole Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State: The Jets badly need protection for Aaron Rodgers as he returns from the achilles injury. Fashanu here would say a lot about their faith in Machi Becton, but he is an upgrade over Becton.
11. Minnesota Vikings- Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher, UCLA: The Vikings could be in play for a quarterback if Kirk Cousins leaves as a free agent, but Latu makes sense here with their defense needing pass rushers. Latu is a fast player, but his attacking abilities make him stand out.
12. Denver Broncos- Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama: The Broncos may be another team that could be in play for a quarterback, but their defense has several holes. Arnold is not known for discipline, but he has excellent ball production and is super athletic.
13. Las Vegas Raiders- JJ McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan: No quarterback's stock has risen from the fall until now more than McCarthy's. He really hasn't made many bad decisions and he's become a very accurate passer.
14. New Orleans Saints- Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle, Oregon State: The Saints are in an interesting position come the draft. Fuaga is a strong player and he is a perfect plug-and-play on the offensive line for a team that can use protection for Derek Carr.
15. Indianapolis Colts- Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington: The Colts have more holes on the defensive side of the ball, but the team can also use a main receiver for Anthony Richardson. Odunze is someone with the speed and size and has ability to play through contact.
16. Seattle Seahawks- Byron Murphy II, Defensive Tackle, Texas: The Seahawks pass rush has been their biggest weakness for years now. Murphy is a fast riser in this draft class and he would come in and help the team stop the run.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars- Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State: The Jaguars have major needs in other areas, but they take the sexy pick here with Coleman. He provides elite size and frame as well as his speed and his ability to make adjustments on the fly.
18. Cincinnati Bengals- JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The Bengals need to protect Joe Burrow at all costs when he returns from injury and Latham here makes sense. Latham is a versatile offensive lineman and is one of the stronger players in the draft.
19. Los Angeles Rams- Cooper DeJuan, Cornerback, Iowa: The Rams secondary was exposed throughout the season, so they go with DeJuan here. DeJuan is super athletic and has rare mass and frame density for a cornerback.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers- Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia: The Steelers offensive line is a unit that needs some youth and stability. Mims has a massive frame with mass and length and excels in pass protection.
21. Miami Dolphins- Troy Fatanu, Interior Offensive Line, Washington: The Dolphins are a super top heavy team with guys that are injury prone. Fatanu here makes a lot of sense with his versatility and with a lot of their current offensive lineman are either always injured or getting older.
22. Philadelphia Eagles- Kamari Lassiter, Cornerback, Georgia: The Eagles defense was badly exposed in their late season collapse, and their secondary in particular. Lassiter is someone that is not super flashy, but has the length to play well in coverage.
23. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)- Jer'Zhan Newton, Defensive Line, Illinois: The Texans are doing backflips with CJ Stroud, but they need more around him and the other side of the ball to get to the next level. Newton has good size and technique and has alignment versatility.
24. Dallas Cowboys- Jordan Morgan, Offensive Tackle, Arizona: This pick would make sense for the Cowboys with Tyron Smith getting up there in age. It never hurts to go with offensive line and Morgan makes sense here with his versatility and he's well balanced and physical in all aspects.
25. Green Bay Packers- Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama: With Jalen Alexander's future with the Packers in doubt, the team takes a corner. McKinstry has the length and physicality that teams like.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Brian Thomas Jr, Wide Receiver, LSU: Assuming Baker Mayfield is back, this pick makes a lot of sense for the Bucs. With Mike Evans future with the team in doubt, they would have a need at the position as Thomas has the length and elusiveness to succeed.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans)- Graham Barton, Interior Offensive Line, Duke: Coming out of the first round with a wide receiver and an offensive lineman is a win for this franchise. Barton has good football IQ and good hand placement, but doesn't consistently dominate.
28. Buffalo Bills- Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma: The Bills are a team that doesn't have many needs, but going offensive line here makes sense. Guyton is somebody that is a work in progress, but he has great physical traits and is effective when asked to pull.
29. Detroit Lions- Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson: Wiggins dropping all the way down here would be a steal for a Lions team that is desperate for help on the defensive side of the ball. Wiggins has excellent length and is very patient in pass coverage.
30. Baltimore Ravens- Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama: The Ravens are another team that doesn't have that obvious need. Pass rush is necessary with some of their pass rushers getting older and Braswell is someone who is aggressive edge setter and has good length.
31. Kansas City Chiefs- Adonai Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Texas: The Chiefs need for good wide receivers is the most obvious need between the two teams left standing. Mitchell is someone that is super explosive with his speed and ability to get down the field, but does not provide breakaway speed.
32. San Francisco 49ers- Kingsley Suamataia, Offensive Tackle, BYU: The Niners are a team that is great in a lot of areas to the point they don't have an obvious need. Suamataia has the footwork, technique, and has the length to be impactful.
