Tony Catalina’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Malik Nabers Goes to Chargers, J.J. McCarthy Is a Giant, and Bo Nix Joins Vikings

The NFL free agency period was shot out of a cannon. With teams around the league being aggressive in their pursuit of talent, the needs of each team have changed somewhat. We reflect on the roster churning in our latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft.

2024 NFL Mock Draft

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

After trading Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, there is a growing sense that Caleb Williams will be the man for the Chicago Bears — as it has long been suspected.

With the addition of Keenan Allen to the mix, the Bears are loading up to help the young rookie from Day 1.

2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The Washington Commanders have been big-time players in free agency thus far, and their approach reeks of a team readying to add a young QB on a rookie deal. That man — in my mind — will be Jayden Daniels, and he enters the league with a new regime in Washington that looks eager to compete right away.

3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, UNC

There have been a lot of rumblings about what the Patriots may do with this pick, with the thought being that it could be a real trade target for some teams down the line. In this instance, the Patriots stand pat, take Drake Maye, and look to start fresh now that Mac Jones is off to Jacksonville.

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

The question for the Cardinals will be about just how locked in on Marvin Harrison Jr. they are. If they are not smitten with the best wide receiver in the class, this could be the spot where a lot of movement can happen trade-wise. It is spot worth monitoring going forward, but they stay here in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft and take the best pure football player in the entire draft.

5) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Malik Nabers is a playmaker in every sense of the word, and with the trade of Keenan Allen and the release of Mike Williams, the Chargers and Nabers seem like a marriage destined to happen at this point. If it weren’t for Harrison, Nabers would easily be the WR1 in this group, and some believe he may be better anyway.

6) New York Giants: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

The J.J. McCarthy discourse will continue leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. It could be the usual smoke and mirrors, but there is far too much noise linking the Giants and the former Michigan quarterback here to ignore.

McCarthy looks to be the first real eyebrow-raising move of the NFL’s annual selection event, and the Giants take who they think can be their quarterback of the future.

7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Joe Alt has been and will remain my OT1. The big, physically gifted offensive lineman will be an immediate starter in any offense, and the Tennessee Titans are the beneficiary here.

MORE: Top OTs in the 2024 NFL Draft

With the Titans already adding outside weapons in free agency, adding Alt to the mix to keep Will Levis upright is another solid move by the team.

8) Atlanta Falcons: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Atlanta Falcons got their quarterback with the signing of Kirk Cousins, and now they have another outside weapon to help him thrive.

Rome Odunze is a highly productive college wide receiver, nearly as explosive as the two guys who went before him. The Washington standout has a chance to make an instant impact on a team that looks to be changing quickly.

9) Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Dallas Turner will provide a real weapon to the pass rush in Chicago. Adding a skilled edge defender with outstanding athletic traits to a Bears team that seems to be putting together a quality offseason is just another testament to that.

10) New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The New York Jets’ offensive line is upgraded in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft via the selection of Olu Fashanu. As they move forward, adding help to the line to keep Aaron Rodgers upright will be vital to the team’s success. As long as Rodgers is out there, the team has a fighting chance to be good.

11) Minnesota Vikings: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

The Minnesota Vikings were aggressive in their pursuit to obtain pick No. 23, and with the combination of this pick and that one, the team could decide to put all their chips on the table to go for one of the three top-tier QBs in this draft.

MORE: Top QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft

However, in this scenario, they decide to take Bo Nix and look to build around him as the QB of the future.

12) Denver Broncos: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

Well, into free agency, the Broncos are still on the hunt for a quarterback. With the top four passers off the board already in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, the wait to land the next star under center continues.

Instead, they opt for a best player available approach, landing a force in the form of Illinois’ Johnny Newton. The versatile DT is strong, tough, and disruptive and will be an excellent piece in the middle of the Broncos’ defensive line.

13) Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

There are a bunch of ways the Las Vegas Raiders could go with this pick. However, they take a tackle and feel good about adding a quality piece to their offensive line to protect whoever the QB may be in 2024.

Taliese Fuaga brings some tenacity to the group as they look to create running lanes and keep their QB1 upright, which was a challenge for them last season.

14) New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Protecting the quarterback is crucial to offensive success. It’s something that the New Orleans Saints will need to be better at next year.

Insert Alabama OT JC Latham into the mix, and this Saints team feels they have a piece that will allow them to sit comfortably in the pocket for 2024 and beyond, giving Derek Carr the time he needs to operate the offense.

15) Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

With his ability to play inside or out, the Colts are adding an excellent CB to their defensive backfield in Quinyon Mitchell. The Toledo talent’s rise up draft boards has been fun to watch, and while he settles in as a top-15 pick in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, it wouldn’t be a shock if he goes even higher — he is viewed by many as the best of the bunch.

16) Seattle Seahawks: Graham Barton, G, Duke

Graham Barton is a riser amongst the draft community right now, perhaps due to his film finally getting the full recognition it deserves, and his landing here at No. 16 to the Seahawks feels like a good spot.

The former Blue Devils left tackle projects to move inside in the NFL and should be able to do so smoothly. Yet, some think he can play tackle, and that shouldn’t be ruled out. Either way, Barton will help the Seahawks’ offensive line from Day 1.

17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Nate Wiggins could (and probably should) go sooner than this, and he may even be viewed as better than some of the picks that have gone before him. However, in this first-round scenario, he can go to the Jaguars and add big-play ability to their secondary.

The Jags should feel excited about adding an excellent CB talent to a group that needs it. In my opinion, Wiggins could end up being the best cornerback in this draft class.

18) Cincinnati Bengals: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

The tight end position is an interesting one. Brock Bowers is a top-five talent, but does the return on investment at the tight end position warrant him being selected that high?

MORE: Top TEs in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Bengals take the best player available here, adding an elite weapon to the mix for Joe Burrow as Bowers helps round out an already quality Cincinnati passing game.

19) Los Angeles Rams: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Terrion Arnold may be the best pure cover cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft class. With coverage stickiness, smooth hips, ability to track the ball, excellent catch-point skills, and a high football IQ, Arnold is everything you want from a CB prospect.

The Rams get a good one here and add to their secondary with a talented prospect.

20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Offensive tackle help for the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be important. With Russell Wilson to build around and a solid core of offensive weapons, fortifying the protection up front will be the next priority. Amarius Mims can be that piece right away as the Steelers look to ring in the Russ era in the Steel City.

21) Miami Dolphins: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners standout Tyler Guyton is another offensive line piece that can be physical and help the Dolphins’ well-oiled offensive machine.

His stock has been steadily rising following a stellar showing at the Senior Bowl, and this pick is a good one for the Dolphins to add to an offense that is one of the more impressive groups in the NFL.

22) Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Some consider Cooper DeJean a safety, but I think he can be a cornerback and do it all in between. While some are slowly shifting him to being a back-end roamer, I think it’s important not to pigeonhole him. He adds supreme athletic ability to an Eagles team that needs it in their aging secondary.

MORE: Top CBs in the 2024 NFL Draft

23) Minnesota Vikings (From HOU): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Smooth, productive, and high-level athlete are all accurate ways to describe former Bama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The Vikings add a productive CB to their secondary after taking their QB of the future earlier.

24) Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

A Senior Bowl guy who made himself some money during the week. Jackson Powers-Johnson came into Mobile and was dominant from Day 1, and it has helped solidify his first-round status.

The Cowboys get their center of the future, hoping he can have a similar impact as Travis Frederick once did for them. Physical, nasty, and smart are the best ways to describe the former Duck, and the Cowboys feel great about helping secure the interior of their offensive line.

25) Green Bay Packers: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

The Green Bay Packers add an impact-making offensive lineman, getting protection for budding star Jordan Love. The Packers will look to be physical on both sides of the ball, and inserting Troy Fautanu into the mix adds another powerful piece to that puzzle.

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

The productive pass rusher brings dynamic ability off the edge for any defense, and for Laiatu Latu to fall all the way to Pick 26 feels like a steal that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will gladly take advantage of.

MORE: Top EDGEs in the 2024 NFL Draft

This could easily be a no-chance scenario, but with the way the board is changing daily due to free agency, the Buccaneers gladly take a high-level pass rusher.

27) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Insert Brian Thomas Jr. and instantly add another weapon for Kyler Murray. Landing a weapon for their QB, who is at a pivotal point in his career, seems like a great move for the Cardinals’ offense. Despite the ability to go in different directions here, adding more outside threats is never a bad idea as they try to maximize their offensive prowess.

28) Buffalo Bills: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Jared Verse could easily go in the top 15 of the 2024 NFL Draft, but stranger things than a former Florida State pass rusher suffering a slide in the NFL’s annual selection event have happened.

The Bills truly could go multiple different ways with this pick, including taking a wide receiver. However, they recognize a talent here and capitalize on it with a best-player-available approach.

29) Detroit Lions: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Byron Murphy II is gaining crazy steam amongst the draft community. The physical Texas DT has been getting buzz lately with the belief that he will be a first-round selection.

His toughness and skill set are a great fit for a Dan Campbell-coached team, and adding him to the mix in Detroit feels like a no-brainer.

30) Baltimore Ravens: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Adding Adonai Mitchell to this Lamar Jackson-led offense will serve the unit well. It’s a great situation for Mitchell, as he can join Zay Flowers to form a potent 1-2 punch for years to come.

KEEP READING: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Ravens could go for offensive line help and even look at the running back spot, but instead, they get another outside threat to add to the mix.

31) San Francisco 49ers: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Xavier Worthy exploded onto the draft scene after his 4.21 40-time broke the NFL Combine record. The blazing-fast former Longhorn is being added to the 49ers’ offensive attack that may lose Brandon Aiyuk.

Purdy will be able to continue to stretch the field with the addition of another offensive weapon to a talented Kyle Shanahan offense.

32) Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Keon Coleman is big, physical, and attacks the football. Adding the FSU wide receiver to Patrick Mahomes’ arsenal, who struggled at times in 2023, will be a big deal. The productive pass catcher should fit right into their offensive style.

All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!