2024 NFL Mock Draft: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye Go 1-2, No Defense in Top 10

The college football regular season is officially over, and NFL Draft declarations will start to roll in quickly from here on out. The 2024 NFL Draft order is beginning to clear up and team needs are well-established by now. With that being said, here’s my latest stab at projecting the 2024 NFL Draft.

Approaching the end of the season, it’s time to start firing up the PFN Mock Draft Simulator and get to work fixing your team.

There will be trades in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft. Trade values were determined using the MDS and previous draft precedents, as well as the Fitzgerald-Spielberger trade value chart, courtesy of Over The Cap. New mock-specific trades will be designated with an asterisk.

2024 NFL Mock Draft

1) Chicago Bears (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Given all the question marks facing Justin Fields and his future with the team, it’s cleaner for the Bears to simply move on and start anew. Caleb Williams is a natural playmaker with plenty of arm talent and athleticism to boast. With what is likely to be a new staff in the building, Williams gets a chance to shine with players like DJ Moore around him.

2) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

While Bill Belichick’s status as head coach is uncertain, their quarterback room is a room without a solution. Over the last three weeks, the Patriots have not allowed more than 10 points and have lost each game. They haven’t had a 300-yard passer since Week 1. Something has to change in that room, making Drake Maye a potential ideal fit in this spot.

3) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The Cardinals keep winning with Kyler Murray under center, and they need to add more around him to keep sustaining that.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the best wide receiver prospects in recent memory and would take over the WR1 role in Arizona right away.

4) Washington Commanders: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Washington Commanders have gotten enough out of Sam Howell to afford him another year as the starter. If they want to really see what they have in him, they have to protect him better.

Olu Fashanu, one of the best pass-protecting tackles in recent memory, could step right in at left tackle and lock that role down for years.

5) Chicago Bears: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

With a new QB, it’s important to invest in protecting him up front. Joe Alt is an elite tackle prospect with some teach-tape out there at left tackle. Alt would be an upgrade at the left tackle spot and could serve as a decade-long cornerstone.

6) New York Jets: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Without a doubt, the New York Jets need to get their offensive line right if they want the Aaron Rodgers trade to work out. There isn’t a situation where they can fix it all in one go, but taking JC Latham, a talented and powerful tackle, is a step in the right direction.

7) New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

If you haven’t gotten to watch Malik Nabers‘ film, do so soon. He’s one of the most explosive receivers to hit the draft in recent years and simply glides across the field.

MORE: Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

The Giants will need to get a quarterback at some point, but having Nabers on the field is too good to pass on.

8) Tennessee Titans: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

We’re still trying to figure out what Will Levis is as an NFL quarterback, but for now, we’ll assume he is the Titans’ plan for next year.

Tennessee wants to live out of 12 personnel often, and putting Brock Bowers and Chigoziem Okonkwo on the field together is an easy matchup creator. The offense just needs playmakers, and there’s none better than Bowers.

9) New Orleans Saints: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

I am of the belief it is time for New Orleans to hit the big red reset button on their roster and coaching staff and actually commit to it. They can get themselves cap-compliant, but part of that is designating Derek Carr as a post-June 1 cut.

The offense is a mess, but there is still plenty of talent on that side of the ball. Adding a local kid in Jayden Daniels, who has been one of the fastest-rising quarterbacks in the draft, would give them a clean reset on that side of the ball and add a talented playmaker at the most important position.

10) Buffalo Bills (via TB): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Trade details: The Buffalo Bills receive pick No. 10. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive picks No. 13, 111, and 142. 

The Bills have never been afraid to be aggressive under Brandon Beane, and the pressure on that organization to add more talent around Josh Allen is palpable. They opt to move up here to select one of the best wide receivers in Rome Odunze.

11) Los Angeles Rams (via LV): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Trade details: The Los Angeles Rams receive picks No. 11 and 221. The Las Vegas Raiders receive picks No. 16 and 79. 

The Rams are sensing their window has re-opened, and armed with plenty of cap room and draft capital for the first time in years, get aggressive and opt to move up to add another defensive playmaker.

The Rams’ secondary has begun to turn things around in recent weeks, and the team is making a surprising playoff push. However, L.A.’s pass rush is still a work in progress in terms of finding non-Aaron Donald players.

Dallas Turner is one of the best pass rushers in this upcoming draft and would be a building block outside for the team to build their pass rush plan around.

12) Los Angeles Chargers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Pick a spot on the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense, and you could argue they need an upgrade. But after the failed J.C. Jackson acquisition, something needs to shift in the cornerback room. Asante Samuel Jr. is inconsistent at best, and the team doesn’t have a No. 1 corner.

Nate Wiggins is an excellent blend of length and quickness who could be an instant boost to that secondary.

13) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via BUF): Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

The Buccaneers have plenty of needs they could take a look at on both sides of the ball, but they opt to take a quarterback to “reset” and re-open their window with a rookie contract. Carson Beck has grown better and better every week leading the Bulldogs, and his arm talent and poise pop on film.

14) Kansas City Chiefs (via DEN): Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Trade details: The Kansas City Chiefs receive pick No. 14. The Denver Broncos receive picks No. 25, 58, and a 2025 2nd-round pick. 

An inter-divisional trade (don’t kill me, Broncos fans)! The Chiefs get desperate to add a top-flight playmaker here and opt to get ahead of a potential wide receiver run later on to take a falling Keon Coleman. Coleman isn’t the best separator out there, but his contested ability and athleticism make him a top-tier X-style wide receiver to give the Chiefs an outside threat.

15) Green Bay Packers (via SEA): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Trade details: The Green Bay Packers receive pick No. 15. The Seattle Seahawks receive picks No. 20 and 120. 

With the way that Jordan Love is playing, the Packers need to get aggressive in protecting him and move ahead of teams interested in an offensive tackle. Seattle nabs some extra capital as they are wont to do.

Amarius Mims is a huge, powerful tackle with excellent fluidity out of his stance that I believe can play at either tackle spot.

MORE: NFL Draft order

16) Las Vegas Raiders (via LAR): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

After trading back and adding more draft capital, the Raiders get started under a new regime by taking a cornerback in Kool-Aid McKinstry to start addressing a significant need on that team. Given all the talent in the AFC West, the Raiders need to invest in players that can handle covering the Keenan Allens and Courtland Suttons of the AFC West.

17) Cincinnati Bengals: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

The Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to defend the run this season and need a boost from the interior of their defense. With D.J. Reader a pending free agent, Jer’Zhan Newton could fill an immediate need and give them a dynamic defensive tackle reminiscent of Geno Atkins.

18) Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

Arizona could go wide receiver here to replace Marquise Brown — who is currently slated to be a free agent — and continue to add players around Murray on the offense. However, it’d be prudent to add to the defense.

The Cardinals have been effective at generating sacks, but they’ve struggled to bring consistent pressure. Laiatu Latu slips a bit due to prior medical concerns but his motor and toolbox as a pass rusher is too good to pass up on here.

19) Atlanta Falcons: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

The Falcons nab another Penn State pass rusher this year with another explosive athlete in Chop Robinson. The team will need to add a boost to their pass rush with both Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree slated for free agency and Lorenzo Carter only having one year left.

20) Seattle Seahawks (via GB): Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

After moving back, Seattle opts to invest in their offensive line early by taking one of the top offensive linemen in the class. Troy Fautanu will be projected at tackle or guard depending on who you ask, but his athleticism and refinement as a prospect make him a Day One starter with Pro Bowl upside.

21) Minnesota Vikings: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

After seeing how much he means to that team, I’m willing to bet the Vikings are going to bring Kirk Cousins back for at least one more season, though the Joshua Dobbs story has been one of the best in recent memory.

While this pick could still be a quarterback, they’ll go all-in with Cousins once more in this scenario. With Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport slated for free agency, Minnesota needs to add to their pass rush, and Jared Verse is one of the best in the class.

22) Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The Indianapolis Colts’ cornerback room is gearing up for plenty of turnover, and they need talent at the position.

Terrion Arnold is an elite athlete at corner who thrives in man coverage. In a division with quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud, the Colts need cornerbacks that can play man and make plays on the ball.

23) Pittsburgh Steelers: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The cornerback room for the Pittsburgh Steelers has been one of the worst in the league this season, if not the outright worst. Joey Porter Jr. has shown flashes, but the rest of the group leaves much to be desired.

Quinyon Mitchell is an elite athlete who thrives in man coverage, boasting elite speed and ball skills. His coaches often throw him out on an island in man coverage and he has responded every time.

24) Houston Texans (via CLE): Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

With Stroud playing at this level, it’s important to ensure the defense takes strides to match his offensive output so it doesn’t all fall on his shoulders. The Texans have three corners who have all played over 200 snaps this year hitting free agency and haven’t had a full season of Derek Stingley Jr. yet.

A talent like Cooper DeJean, with his ability to play corner and safety at an elite level, would be a fun boost for DeMeco Ryans to use in that secondary. DeJean’s leg injury will dock his draft stock a tad, but he should still comfortably be a first-round pick.

25) Denver Broncos (via KC): Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

After a trade down here, the Broncos have plenty of options. With the team needing to clear up some cap space, they could opt to move on from Garett Bolles with no more guaranteed money on his contract and save $16M in cap room.

Patrick Paul is a talented athlete with excellent length and quickness. He’ll need more development, but the Broncos coaching staff has proven they can develop that room, given their results this season.

26) Jacksonville Jaguars: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Adding as much talent as you can around Trevor Lawrence is never a bad idea, especially a natural talent like Adonai Mitchell. At 6’4″, Mitchell provides a red-zone threat that the Jaguars desperately need, especially if they move on from Zay Jones in the offseason.

MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Watchlist

27) Dallas Cowboys: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Michael Gallup saga is reaching its end in Dallas, with him drawing lower and lower snaps with too large of a contract. Dallas has to figure out how to extend CeeDee Lamb, Tyron Smith, Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, and potentially, Tyler Biadasz and Tony Pollard. They can’t afford to keep Gallup around.

While they’re still trying to figure out what Jalen Tolbert can be, they should cash in on Dak playing at an elite level and continue to add playmakers around on the offense by nabbing an elite and reliable target in Emeka Egbuka.

28) Detroit Lions: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington

The Detroit Lions have needed a pass rusher to emerge opposite of Aidan Hutchinson, and it hasn’t happened. Bralen Trice has emerged as a force for the Washington Huskies. His 62 pressures sit second in the country on the season, and he’s a physical, disruptive pass rusher that the Huskies like to move around.

29) San Francisco 49ers: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

The 49ers have built an excellent roster from top to bottom, but the absence of Trent Williams is notable on that offensive line, and they don’t seem to have his eventual replacement on the roster.

Kingsley Suamataia’s best film has been at right tackle, but he made the switch over to left tackle this season and has held up well, proving his versatility. Suamataia could either slide in at right tackle to replace Colton McKivitz or stick at left tackle and develop behind Williams.

30) Baltimore Ravens: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

It always feels a tad lazy to keep mocking wide receivers to the Ravens, but Odell Beckham Jr. is slated to be a free agent, and the Ravens lack a reliable producer outside at receiver.

Brian Thomas Jr. is a height/weight/speed freak at 6’4″, 205 pounds and possessing blazing explosiveness. His presence outside would open up coverage for Zay Flowers and give Lamar Jackson a legitimate threat outside he can rely on in the red zone and for big plays downfield.

31) Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton, OL, Duke

Miami could fill a number of needs here, but I have them sticking with an offensive lineman that can play at multiple spots. Graham Barton’s pro projection will vary based on who you ask, but he would be an upgrade for the Dolphins at any of guard, center, or right tackle and fits their zone scheme with his smooth athleticism.

32) Philadelphia Eagles: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington

Howie Roseman only drafts trench players, wide receivers, and quarterbacks in the first round. I think we’re at the point where we can say they won’t take a quarterback here. The team has tried to find a WR3 between Julio Jones and Olamide Zacchaeus, but neither of them have really been effective.

Ja’Lynn Polk is a reliable target, with smooth route-running skills, great hands, and awareness to find holes in zone coverage. The Eagles could use a guy with that kind of ability as their WR3, especially if they keep trying to force screens to that spot.

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