2024 NFL Mock Draft: Dak Prescott to Broncos, Panthers trade into first round, Rams trade out (2024)

Not a lot of drama with Caleb Williams to the Bears. It will be the pick, even if Williams does have some flaws that seem to be glossed over by too many folks. His upside and playmaking leadership potential are worth the pick for the QB-bereft Bears.

If I’m the Commanders here, I’m perfectly happy with the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 player on Touchdown Wire’s Big Board. You guys up top will be just fine with Caleb Williams, but I’ll take Daniels’ combination of feel from the pocket, ability to run without bailing too early, and a sense of the field that allows him to make any throw consistently — including the best deep fade from any quarterback in this class by a wide margin. Daniels reminds me very much of another quarterback selected with the second overall pick by this franchise — one Robert Griffin III.

The best player in the draft regardless of position, and Harrison happens to play a position where the Patriots have struggled for far too long. Tough to overlook New England’s needs at quarterback, but Harrison is the type of transcendent talent a regime will covet to be in place when they’re ready for that new quarterback

As it was with Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers might wind up being the better NFL player in comparison to the guy selected just above him. Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. brings a rare understanding of the nuances of the receiver position to the league, but Nabers has him beat in third-level speed and turn-up velocity, and he’s just fine with all the little things that make receivers great. Once you get the Justin Jefferson comp in your head, it’s hard to unsee.

2024 presents a loaded receiver class to the NFL, and Rome Odunze could very well be the most tenacious and competitive player at his position in this group. If the Giants don’t go with a new quarterback to move on from Daniel Jones, the best thing they can do for him is to surround him with the best possible weapons. Odunze qualifies with his size, smooth speed, and the ability to turn any 50/50 contested-catch ball into an 80/20 ball in his favor. Any team would like that kind of math.

The Titans have two massive needs: protecting the quarterback and rushing the quarterback. Pass rush can be schemed up to some extent, but you can only do so much to hide bad pass protection. Alt has proven himself as an elite OT prospect and has youthful upside to work with, too.

It’s not often you see a guy from the MAC selected this high (you’d have to go back to Western Michigan receiver Corey Davis, who was taken with the fifth pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2017), but Mitchell is no ordinary prospect. He dominated his conference in 2023, allowing 27 catches on 62 targets for 290 yards, 67 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, one interception, 14 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 51.1. He then stamped his name all over the Senior Bowl and tested very well at the scouting combine. New Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake would love to have Mitchell as his cornerback bookend to A.J. Terrell.

Everybody knows that the Jets need help along their offensive line, including Aaron Rodgers, who probably blames all the protection issues on socialists from Mars. In this case, Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu is selected to solve some of those issues. Among the offensive linemen in this class, Fashanu might just look the most like a typical franchise left tackle with his athleticism and ability to control the arc. He allowed no sacks and just 10 total pressures last season in 382 pass-blocking reps, and while he needs a bit of work with his leverage in the run game, he’ll walk into the building as the Jets’ best offensive lineman.

The Chargers fell back to No. 11 and landed the same player I would have picked for them at No. 5 in Bowers. He’s a dynamic playmaking weapon in the Tony Gonzalez mold, and new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has proven he values tight ends in his offense over the years.

McCarthy is a wild card, no doubt about it. One of the most polarizing players in the draft, McCarthy tantalizes with his pro-ready background and commanding presence, but he wasn’t terribly challenged at Michigan. His ceiling — and floor — are variables. The Raiders pounce on the hope that a player with this level of prestige proves the answer to their QB questions.

The Bears got Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, picked up more draft picks in the trade with the New Orleans Saints, and with the 14th pick, they get Newton, who in my mind is the best and most disruptive interior defensive lineman in this class. He had eight sacks and 43 total pressures for the Fighting Illini in 2023, and his breakneck playing style brings Geno Atkins to mind as a smaller tackle who can just dominate. Adding him to a front that already has Montez Sweat torching enemy tackles from the edge makes that Chicago defense quite a bit more interesting.

Arnold to the Colts is a match made in draft heaven. It’s a pairing I’ve had in several mock drafts in this cycle and there’s zero reason to deviate here.

Right now, the Seahawks have Uchenna Nwosu and some interesting project players at the edge, and that’s not going to be good enough for new head coach Mike Macdonald. As the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2023, Macdonald coaxed career-best years from most of his players, and now, it’s time to overhaul another defense. Let’s start by giving Seattle and Macdonald Jared Verse, who totaled 11 sacks and 62 total pressures last season. Verse will be valuable to his NFL team because he has the strength and leverage to win as an old-school defensive end, but the quickness to get things done as more of an “endbacker,” and he can also line up inside in nickel and dime fronts.

Tough choice here because of the way the board sits, but ultimately DeJean’s ability to play multiple positions with a high level of potential won out. His return specialist potential makes for a nice tiebreaker over the OL and WR choices that could have been made here.

Job One for the Bengals in 2024 (and every other year) is keeping Joe Burrow healthy, and that starts with protection. Last season, left tackle Orlando Brown and right tackle Jonah Williams combined to allow 15 sacks and 100 total pressures, which was less than optimal. Fuaga never allowed a single sack in three seasons at Oregon State on the right side, and at 6′ 5¾” and 324 pounds, he could also fit in on the left side in the right power-based offense. The Bengals prefer aggressive, tough hand-fighters, but it’s time to overhaul at least one side of that equation with a guy who knows how to keep his quarterback clean.

This is about as easy a pick as I could make anywhere in this first-round mock. Some may pause at the idea of selecting a center in the first round, but given the Steelers’ desperate need for a tone-setter along their front five, and given Powers-Johnson’s ability to set the tone, this should be a slam-dunk for general manager Omar Khan and his staff. Powers-Johnson is built like a brick bleephouse at 6′ 3⅜” and 328 pounds, but there’s no wasted weight, and he can use his frame to both dominate in a phone booth and grind defenders on the move. One of my favorite players in this class, regardless of position, and I think the Steelers could feel the same way when all is said and done.

The Dolphins desperately need left guard help and depth overall on the OL. Barton is the best center in the draft even though he played left tackle pretty darn well at Duke, but I think his best NFL fit might be at left guard. You’re welcome, Tua…

From Johnathan Gannon to Sean Desai to Vic Fangio, the Eagles have their third different defensive coordinator in as many years. With Fangio, you know what you’re going to get — quarters coverage at a high level in both quality and quantity, and coverage concepts matched to the talent he has. That’s where it gets complicated for Fangio in this case. Last season, Philly’s cornerbacks combined to allow 21 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. That’s not the ultimate arbiter of success, but when you have James Bradberry giving up 10 touchdowns to just one interception… that’s kind of a problem. I like McKinstry in Fangio’s defense because he’s equally adept in press and off coverage (22 targets in each), and the tape shows an ability to clamp down in Cover-4.

With their bonus acquired pick, the Chargers add a bookend tackle to pair with Rashawn Slater. Maximizing Justin Herbert is the guiding paradigm for Los Angeles, and protecting him well is just as important as loading him with weapons, which can be done a little later in a very deep wide receiver class.

So. Now that the Broncos have Dak Prescott under center, it’s time for general manager George Paton to address another roster issue, and that’s the lack of edge talent at the highest level. Taking Dallas Turner with the 24th pick would certainly solve that problem to a degree. Last season, Turner had 11 sacks and 53 total pressures for the Crimson Tide, and he projects well as an ideal speed-rusher with the quickness and bend to beat tackles around the arc in multiple ways. At his peak, I would compare Turner to Brian Burns (formerly of the Carolina Panthers, now with the New York Giants) as that super-flexible speed end who can just blow things up in the passing game.

The Packers don’t typically take lightweight CBs, but Wiggins’ size and very natural coverage ability force an exception here. Giving new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley a playmaker with his emphasis on takeaways makes a lot of sense, and Wiggins finds the ball very well.

Yes, the Buccaneers already have Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey in the interior of their defense, but both of those guys played fewer than 700 snaps last season, and when you watch Texas’ Byron Murphy II, he makes it clear that he can be deployed all over the defensive front. Adding him to Tampa Bay’s defense would give the team all kinds of flexibility in an NFL where rotation is crucial to your pass rush. At 6′ 0½” and 297 pounds, Murphy shoots gaps like a running back, and he can use his speed and lateral agility to confuse blockers more often than not.

Sainristil is already the best slot CB in the class and he’s only played the position for two years. The feedback I’ve gotten at pro days and postseason events tells me the NFL likes Sainristil a lot more than the fans might believe, and he’s a great fit for a Cardinals secondary with a bunch of question marks.

There are questions about Adonai Mitchell’s game. Some wonder about his hands, and others have mentioned his routes when he’s not the primary target. What I see when I watch Mitchell’s tape is a receiver with the speed to work by cornerbacks in a straight line, and the agility and separation ability to make things tough for defenders in man and match coverage. Last season in a ridiculously stacked group of targets for quarterback Quinn Ewers, Mitchell caught 55 passes on 86 targets for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns, and on passes of 20 or more yards, he had eight catches on 22 targets for 302 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills are in desperate need of a true X receiver, and with Josh Allen throwing the ball, Mitchell has the potential to unleash his deep speed in more productive ways.

Tough call for the Lions with so many of the players who fit well coming off the board in the preceding 10 picks. Frazier makes sense for an offensive line that could have two starting gigs open after 2024, and his style of play and gritty mentality are very nice culture fits with Dan Campbell’s Detroit team.

Last season, the Ravens selected Boston College’s Zay Flowers with the 23rd pick in the draft, and Flowers responded with an outstanding season. In Todd Monken’s offense, it would be wise to double down at the receiver position in the first round. Let’s give Baltimore another explosive target in the 6′ 2⅞”, 209-pound Thomas, who may have been LSU’s No. 2 receiver in 2023, but that’s only because Malik Nabers was No. 1. Thomas caught 68 passes on 87 targets for 1,177 yards (17.3 yards per catch), and 17 touchdowns. On deep passes from Jayden Daniels in 2023, Thomas caught 15 balls on 23 targets for 670 yards and 12 touchdowns. If you want a guy who is going to expand your vertical passing palette, Thomas is an ideal addition.

Morgan was very good at left tackle in his return from a torn ACL, and his footwork and power indicate he’s got high-level starting ability. For the 49ers, landing high-floor players with positional versatility makes for a smart way to stay on top of the NFC West.

If the Chiefs are to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, they could make it easier on themselves by adding to a receiver group that drove a lot of people nuts with its inconsistency last season. At 6′ 1⅞” and 176 pounds, Franklin might not be the biggest guy in the group, but when you watch Oregon’s offense, Franklin’s downfield ability and slipperiness to beat coverage is pretty evident. He caught 81 passes on 114 targets for 1,183 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he can be dominant on post, over, and go routes in the vertical game. Some wanted to debit Oregon’s passing game as dink-and-dunk (which is an incorrect oversimplification), but in that passing game, Franklin caught 14 passes of 20 or more air yards for 558 yards and seven touchdowns. Franklin could tie Kansas City’s intermediate and deep passing games together in ways we haven’t seen since Tyreek Hill was catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.