2024 NFL Mock Draft: Should The Chicago Bears And Denver Broncos Draft QBs?
Plus, a giant tackle run with needy teams, the Cardinals improve the defense, and where does Brock Bowers land?
Football is incredible, isn’t it? Every Sunday, we are greeted with grandeur on on the gridiron. After a monstrous 70-20 win for the Dolphins over Denver, Buffalo humbled them at home, dominating the Fins 48-20. The Bengals showed some grit to get to 1-2, and subsequently stunk it up in Tennessee. Commanders-Eagles is becoming a fun game we enjoy twice a year. The Cardinals are, somehow, competitive! And, the Jets nearly upset the Chiefs with a surprisingly impressive game from Zach Wilson.
What’s also incredible is that there are a large group of degenerates like myself that are continuously thinking about the NFL Draft, and love to look ahead to the next one. The Bears have picks 1 and 2 as of now, and Denver and Minnesota follow? Will QBs dominate the 2024 NFL Draft early?
Let’s see how the 2024 NFL Draft could go! (Ahead of Seahawks-Giants MNF)
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
It’s going to be an interesting offseason in Chicago. There could be a completely new regime in place. At the very least, there will be a new head coach. Perhaps that new head coach won’t want to work with Justin Fields, and would rather start over.
Starting over gives the Bears Caleb Williams. A poised playmaker with impressive accuracy and a risk-averse mindset, Williams is the type of elevator that could handle what’s been a dreadfully run organization.
2. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
After landing Williams, the Bears could turn to the offensive line or defensive line in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft. However, giving Williams a high-level separator and ball-winner in Marvin Harrison Jr. would form a lethal trio of offensive playmakers. Williams-Harrison-DJ Moore would strike fear into defenses.
3. Las Vegas Raiders: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Yes, the Las Vegas Raiders did just bring in Jimmy Garoppolo. Yes, the offensive line clearly needs work. But, it’s hard to turn away from an opportunity to get a long-term franchise quarterback. Drake Maye is that type of prospect. He has excellent ball placement combined with the ability to drive the ball with good velocity and layer throws with impressive touch. Maye’s anticipation skills are great as well. He needs work against the blitz and cutting down on big-game hunting will be key, but the tools are excellent.
4. Denver Broncos: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
After losing out on the top two quarterbacks, the Denver Broncos will pivot in this mock. The defensive side of the football needs help, and that starts with the defensive line and corner. Laiatu Latu has 18 pressures and four sacks so far in 2023, and has impressive burst, flexibility, and a great plan of attack featuring plenty of moves and counters to create pressure on the edge.
5. Minnesota Vikings: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Will Kirk Cousins be around for the long term? That’ll be the question for Minnesota this offseason. Logic points to no, as Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is positioning this team for a soft rebuild. That means quarterback is top of the list, and why not Shedeur Sanders? After a hiccup against Oregon, where he faced a plethora of pressure with little room to operate, he got back on track against USC, totaling five touchdowns. He’s poised, accurate, and has the creation capabilities to succeed in the NFL.
6. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The New York Jets pushing the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football is encouraging. With Aaron Rodgers slated to return (at the very least) in 2024, quarterback isn’t a big priority right now. Offensive tackle must be fixed. Enter Olu Fashanu, who has been dominant as a pass protector, showing off great hand placement, technique, footwork, and balance. He has work to do as a run blocker, but protecting Aaron Rodgers is paramount to success.
7. New England Patriots: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
The New England Patriots have options at pick seven. Could they decided to move on from Mac Jones? Unlikely, but possible. Plenty of offensive linemen are coming off the books in 2024, and although Bill Belichick likes to target quality linemen late, JC Latham is too tempting here. Latham is massive at 6’6” and 335 pounds, yet he has an impressive kick slide and footwork as a pass protector. He must hone his balance as a run blocker to be effective in both phases, but there’s no better place for development than New England.
8. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The offense is Cincinnati is sputtering in September again. Part of it is Joe Burrow’s injury, which makes the mobility attribute of his game nonexistent. The offensive line isn’t quite good either, and it starts with tackle. Joe Alt can come in and be a lane creator in the run game and has the quicks and mirror skills for pass protection. He’s taken a jump in the latter this season, and could start at right tackle right away for Cincinnati.
9. Arizona Cardinals: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
A quarterback could be in play for the Cardinals, but there’s too much unknown about Kyler Murray right now. If they stay patient and let him sit all year, it’s anyone’s guess. Let’s assume that Arizona rolls with Murray in this scenario. The defense could use some firepower, and it starts at corner with Kool-Aid McKinstry. A fluid mover with great change-of-direction skills, McKinstry offers a ton as a cover corner. Not to mention, he’s excellent at challenging the catch point (16 PBUs in 2022).
10. New York Giants: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Perhaps the Giants right the ship a bit against Seattle on MNF. If not, it’s back to the drawing board a bit in 2024. Jalin Hyatt needs more looks as the flanker/slot in the offense. Hyatt plus Keon Coleman would be a great way to unlock the deep ball more in this offense. Coleman was a jump ball specialist at Michigan State, but he’s proving himself a more than capable route runner and YAC aficionado at Florida State. He can be an NFL “X”.
11. Green Bay Packers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Green Bay Packers have had their offensive line depth tested so far this season. With David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins out, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Time to end the streak of defensive picks in the first round. Amarius Mims is brimming with traits at the tackle position, from raw power to elite functional athleticism for his size.
12. New Orleans Saints: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
The New Orleans Saints have invested heavily in the trenches in recent drafts. That focus should now shift to the secondary in the first round. Cooper DeJean has experience at corner, safety, and slot corner, and could move around as a queen on the chessboard on the back end of Dennis Allen’s defense.
13. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
No quarterback again for Arizona here, as they turn their focus to the defensive line. Jer’Zhan Newton is having another electric season as a pass rusher. He had seven pressures against Penn State, and is equipped with plenty of first-step explosiveness and quick, coordinated hand strikes to attack gaps and create pressure as a rusher.
14. Houston Texans (via CLE): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
How about the performance of C.J. Stroud so far? He’s dicing up defenses without much of the starting offensive line and a group of pass catchers that many were unsure would be enough (so much so that WR was the popular pick in mocks all summer). We’ll still go pass catcher here, but it’ll be tight end. Brock Bowers is a phenomenal receiving tight end with impressive speed and toughness through the catch point. He would give Bobby Slowik a great offensive weapon to move around the formation.
15. Los Angeles Chargers: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
The J.C. Jackson contract looks worse and worse for the Chargers, and they need some serious help at corner. Enter Kalen King, who is as aggressive and competitive as they come at corner. He can step in and instantly make plays on the boundary.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
There are questions surrounding the Jaguars’ edge group. Will Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson be around past this season? Will Travon Walker develop as a pass rusher? All that signals edge in round one, and Dallas Turner is here for the rescue. The Alabama pass rusher has explosiveness, flexibility, and length to challenge NFL tackles, and is improving his hand placement and play strength against the run.
17. Washington Commanders: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Washington Commanders have a lot of solid players everywhere on the roster. They could improve the offensive line, but the top four tackles are off the board. Instead, the Commanders look to the edge, where even if Chase Young returns with an extension, Montez Sweat might not. Jared Verse could pair well with Young, as his power, first step, and coordinated strikes make for a promising pro.
18. Los Angeles Rams: Kamren Kinchens, SAF, Miami
The Los Angeles Rams are off to a good start in 2023, even without Cooper Kupp. Rookies Steve Avila and Puka Nacua are playing very well, and Ahkello Witherspoon has been a strong signing. This is still a team that needs impact players in many spots. Defensive tackle and offensive tackle should be considered. Instead, they roll with Kamren Kinchens, a safety with limitless range on the back end and improving angles and tackling when filling downhill.
19. Atlanta Falcons: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
It feels like just a matter of time before Desmond Ridder gets benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. Maybe this is the Kirk Cousins destination, or the spot for Justin Fields. If not, a quarterback to get Drake London and Kyle Pitts going is crucial for a balanced attack. J.J. McCarthy is hardly flashy, but he’s playing improved ball this year. He’s under control in the pocket making correct reads, but he has the athleticism and skills on the run to operate outside the boundaries of the pocket. A play action scheme should fit him well.
20. Indianapolis Colts: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Colts have a decision to make regarding Michael Pittman Jr. If they decide to move on, the 2024 NFL Draft will present plenty of options. Malik Nabers could step in and be the WR1 for Anthony Richardson. He uses his hands and route break efficiency to generate separation, and has the explosiveness to be a threat after the catch. He can win vertically and is great tracking the football. Nabers’ last three weeks, all in SEC play? 29/471/2
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Pittsburgh Steelers certainly have issues to iron out on offense, but their defense has been getting shredded in the secondary. Joey Porter Jr. is still getting his NFL legs under him, but adding a running mate on the opposite side makes sense. Nate Wiggins can be the hyper-fluid cover guy while Porter stands as the enforcer type in 2024.
22. Tennessee Titans: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
The 2024 season for the Tennessee Titans could feature a battle between Will Levis and Malik Willis in camp. To get the best out of them, there must be improvements on the offensive line, again. If Peter Skoronski is destined for the inside, Patrick Paul could fill the duties at tackle. It’s fine to hope for Jaelyn Duncan and Nicholas Petit-Frere to develop into swing tackles, but early impact is necessary.
23. Seattle Seahawks: Leonard Taylor III, DL, Miami
The Seattle Seahawks need to generate more pressure from the interior as a whole. At this point in the mock, Leonard Taylor III is a steal. He’s already got 15 pressures and a sack this season, and his ability to muddy the pocket from the interior might be second to none in the class.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
Tyron Smith is on the final stretch of his career, and Tyler Smith is likely to take over at left tackle permanently next season. That solves left tackle, but what about center with Tyler Biadasz set to be a free agent? Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran could fill the hole well. He’s smart, powerful, and can road grade while also using his power to anchor well as a pass protector.
25. Detroit Lions: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Who knows what the Lions will do? They’ve surprised us the last two drafts. So, don’t necessarily expect a “status quo” selection. Let’s go outside the box and create an offense that will continue to cause problems. Xavier Legette is having a breakout season with the Gamecocks, and the speed he brings to the table at 6’3” and 227 pounds is exceptional. Imagine defending Legette, Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs? Good luck.
26. Miami Dolphins: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Miami Dolphins came back down to earth after a stunning week three performance, and part of the reason why was the offensive line. They were masked for a few weeks, but the Bills proved they need work. Who better than Cooper Beebe, who has played snaps at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle at a high level for Kansas State?
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding high at 3-1 with Baker Mayfield quarterbacking the roster. It’s possible he’s the guy long term, but nothing is set in stone. Michael Penix Jr. is having an outstanding season for Washington, and he’s the type of precision passer to all levels of the field that can make an offense hum.
28. Buffalo Bills: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
The Bills just lost Tre White to an achilles tear, and they haven’t gotten much out of 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam. Enter Khyree Jackson, a transfer from Alabama who grabbed headlines for Oregon in the Colorado beatdown. Jackson is tall, long, and has exceptional patience and ball skills. He’s competitive, and would be a great addition to the Buffalo secondary.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Demeioun “Chop” Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
It wouldn’t be a draft without the Ravens getting value, so it’s not going to stop here. Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo are still finding their footing as pros, and they deserve the rest of the season to prove it. Perhaps they can be rotational guys while Chop Robinson takes over as a starter. Robinson is explosive, powerful, and has lined up in different spots on the Penn State line to generate pressure.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The San Francisco 49ers seem to find a way to make the offense go in almost any condition. Brock Purdy is running things very smoothly. Trent Williams is still a top tackle in the league. It won’t be the case forever though. Jordan Morgan is a great pass protector whose quicks could fit into the Shanahan scheme.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Kansas City Chiefs have been a bit shaky on offense through a quarter of the season. They aren't seeing jumps from Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney. Rashee Rice could still work out. At this point in the draft, why not swing again? Rome Odunze is a great route runner who can provide reliability, a vertical presence, and the versatility to line up and win anywhere.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Eagles sit in the luxury suite right now when it comes to the draft. Just wait for value and capitalize. Emeka Egbuka as a WR3 in an offense is pretty ludicrous. He can operate as a deep threat and find space against zone coverage from the slot.
34. Carolina Panthers: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
We’ll add on picks for the two teams that don’t have first round picks as well. Carolina will likely pick early in the second, and with so many edge rushers on expiring deals, that could be the direction here. Instead, they grab an ascending receiver in Troy Franklin to be their number one guy.
46. Cleveland Browns: Rod Moore, SAF, Michigan
You have to look young at every position in Cleveland. They operate, for the most part, on drafting underclassmen with traits with more time to develop. Rod Moore is a well-rounded safety who can an excellent 2022 season in Ann Arbor. He missed the first few games but is slowly getting back to form from last year.