As the NFL Combine comes to a close, draft boards are beginning to undergo a sort of reshuffling, and Mock Draft Season is in full swing. As always, I’m exploring the fallout of a very real possibility at the top of the NFL Draft. While I’ve assumed the Bears will decide to trade Justin Fields for Day 2 picks, there’s always been a looming possibility that the Bears decide to build around the former top-15 pick.
If Chicago keeps Fields and trades out of the first spot, the ripple effects will be massive.
In this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, we’ll explore a first round with multiple Bears trades.
2024 NFL Mock Draft
1) Washington Commanders (From CAR via CHI): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Trade: Commanders get pick No. 1, Bears get picks No. 2, No. 36, 2025 first-round pick
If Chicago decides to build around Fields, they’ll trade out of the first pick in the draft for a second straight year. While most trade value charts suggest this is an overpay for the first pick, it’s likely the Commanders are not the only team hoping to move to the front of the line, so they may have to pay more.
Pairing Caleb Williams with Kliff Kingsbury has been a popular mock draft move, and if the USC product is the guy the Commanders want, they’ll move heaven and earth to make sure it happens.
2) Atlanta Falcons (From WAS via CHI): Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Trade: Falcons get pick No. 2, Bears get picks No. 8, No. 43, 2025 first-round pick
Didn’t see that coming, did you? Okay, maybe you did, as Peter King floated this idea last week. With more than one top quarterback, the value of No. 2 is still high enough for Chicago to move back, though I personally would be tempted to take Marvin Harrison Jr. here.
In Drake Maye, Atlanta gets a guy capable of moving in the pocket and hitting his playmakers on the run. There’s a sense among the Falcons brass that they’re closer to contention than their record suggests. Maye could elevate them to contenders in a weaker NFC South.
3) New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
I have not been shy in my belief that Jayden Daniels is the best quarterback in the class. His precision as a passer is often overlooked partially due to his elite rushing ability. I do wonder, though, what type of decline in production he’ll see when moving from Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. to whatever New England has.
The Patriots are likely to be aggressive in free agency, and with ample cap space, they should be able to pick up another playmaker or two for Daniels.
4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Many have identified picks four and five as potential trade spots for a quarterback. While I see the appeal, and even considered a trade here, Marvin Harrison Jr. is simply too good of a prospect to pass up.
The Cardinals may not be a wide receiver away, but barring a crazy offer from a receiver-needy team, I can’t see Arizona passing up the opportunity to take a generational talent.
5) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Chargers could go in a number of different directions here, including trading out or taking a right tackle. To me, the two teams likely to be the most aggressive in trading up for J.J. McCarthy are Denver and Las Vegas.
I can’t see the Chargers trading with a division rival, so they’ll take one of the best players available here at a position of need in Malik Nabers.
6) New York Giants: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
On PFN’s scouting podcast, A.J. Schulte and Ian Cummings talked through the thought process of the Giants taking J.J. McCarthy at No. 6 and then sitting him for a year behind Daniel Jones.
They certainly made a compelling argument, enough to convince me to make that pick here. He wasn’t asked to do much at all in college, but the rate statistics are there, which is enough for some teams.
7) Tennessee Titans: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Maybe this is an attempt to shake up my mocks, and maybe this is simply thinking that the Titans might choose to go with a pass catcher to help Will Levis over a left tackle.
This is the first time I’ve gone in this direction for Tennessee. Rome Odunze excels at winning at the top of his routes and at the catch point, giving Levis a target who can win even when he isn’t wide open.
8) Chicago Bears (From ATL): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
I’ve been adamant that a rookie quarterback and $30 million in extra cap space is better than Justin Fields, but if Chicago can get this compensation, I think it makes sense to keep Fields. To recap, Chicago moved from No. 1 to No. 9 last year for a 2024 first-rounder, a late second-rounder, a 2025 second-rounder, and DJ Moore.
In this situation, the Bears move from No. 1 to No. 8 for a net win of two 2025 first-rounders and two early second-rounders in this year’s draft.
MORE: Dan Orlovsky Shares What Bears Should Do With No. 1 Overall Pick
If Fields can’t succeed with that potential haul, we can safely say it isn’t due to a lack of talent around him.
Unfortunately, here, three receivers went between picks four and seven. Needing a pass catcher, Chicago turns to Brock Bowers here, a guy who projects as a versatile tight end and slot receiver with excellent yards-after-the-catch ability.
9) Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Also on Chcago’s list is a talented edge rusher. Through eight picks, we’ve only seen quarterbacks and pass catchers, so Chicago has its pick of any defensive player. Honestly, CB wouldn’t be a bad direction either, but the Bears opt for Dallas Turner here, whose athleticism and hand usage give him extremely high upside as a pass rusher.
10) New York Jets: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
In the frenzy of the top nine, Joe Alt and other top non-skill players fall to the benefit of some teams in the middle of the first round. This is a dream scenario for the Jets, who badly need a franchise left tackle. Alt is extremely solid as both a pass blocker and a run blocker, giving New York an immediate starter.
11) Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Laiatu Latu is one of my favorite players in the draft, though he’s far from a safe pick. The injury history will certainly scare some teams, but whoever drafts him will be banking on immediate, high-level pass rushing production. The talent, motor, and production are all there — it’s just a matter of whether he can stay healthy for Minnesota.
12) Denver Broncos: Johnny Newton, DL, Illinois
The Broncos are a team I’ve had trouble pegging throughout the process so far. They’re in a sort of “No Man’s Land” with the 12th pick where trading up for a quarterback would be pricey, but they’re not far enough back to feel great about their needs and the board lining up.
That being said, Johnny Newton is a talented pass rusher who can add some bulk and versatility to the Denver defensive line.
13) Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
JC Latham is a high-level right tackle who could immediately start on a Raiders line that has just one tackle signed through the 2025 season. Latham is a smart player who has excellent feet and the strength expected from a starter on the offensive line. By taking the Crimson Tide product, the Raiders would quietly have one of the better tackle duos in football.
14) New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The tackle class is strange this year in that there are two archetypal left tackles at the top, a slew of pure right tackles in the next tier, and some swing guys beyond that. Teams often don’t like having their tackles switch sides, so if one of the top two guys (Alt and Olu Fashanu) falls, there are right tackle-needy teams who could bypass them for pure RTs.
MORE: Top OTs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Andrus Peat hasn’t been very good in years, and it’s time to upgrade. This would be an incredible pick for a team for whom I’ve had trouble mocking so far this offseason.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
I have the Colts as a “best player available” team this season at an awkward spot in the middle of the first round. Luckily for them, all of the corners fall in this mock, and Indianapolis can merge fit, positional value, and talent left on the board. Terrion Arnold is a rock-solid corner who could slide into the slot or outside.
16) Seattle Seahawks: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
There’s always the possibility that Seattle makes a move out of left field, but I’ll save that for another mock. I’ve fallen in love with this pairing and think Jackson Powers-Johnson could be a tremendous fit if he stays in the Pacific Northwest.
While there may be more pressing needs, Powers-Johnson has the ceiling of a perennial Pro Bowler and is hard to pass up.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, S, Iowa
The Jaguars’ needs match up well with their position in the draft and the likely draft board they’ll see in April. Accordingly, there are a number of directions they could go. Most importantly, though, Jacksonville needs more physicality at whatever positions they target in the first few rounds, as I thought they were soft down the stretch.
Cooper DeJean brings the athleticism of a corner and the run-stuffing ability of a linebacker. He has the versatility to slide in at any spot in the secondary, and I think he’ll be a really good player in the NFL.
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas
Cincinnati could go a number of directions here, but it’d be tough to pass up Byron Murphy II, who was as productive as they get at the defensive tackle position. A three-technique by trade, he has the ability to slide further out and excels at getting after the passer. A strong combine has him in a position to move up draft boards.
19) Los Angeles Rams: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Though I’ve been mocking tackles and edge rushers to the Rams, this could be a sneaky spot for a top corner, if one falls. Quinyon Mitchell fits that bill as one of my favorite prospects in the draft. He has high-level athleticism and ball skills, two traits that tend to transfer to the next level.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Pittsburgh feels like a landing spot for one of the top tackles or corners, depending on how the board falls at No. 20. Amarius Mims‘ athleticism was on full display at the combine, but even more important for the inexperienced tackle was his performance in the on-field drills. If teams feel that he’s pro-ready — which he should be — they’ll fall in love with him as a mid-to-early first-rounder.
21) Miami Dolphins: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
I still think this is probably a landing spot for an offensive lineman, but with the board falling this way, there’s a chance Miami looks to the defensive side of the ball, where they need another corner.
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If the Dolphins address the offensive line in free agency, this pick is wide open. Nate Wiggins has excellent athleticism and can step in right away as a high-level playmaker.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
How often have we seen Howie Roseman and the Eagles do this in the past? Verse, who is incredibly talented, falls in this mock simply due to teams prioritizing their secondaries and offensive lines.
Jared Verse might be the best pure pass rusher in the draft, and according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, he’s the fastest prospect in the last decade among guys with 33-inch arms and 30-plus reps on the bench press. He’s an athletic freak, and that’s too much for Philadelphia to pass up.
23) Houston Texans (From CLE): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
While there are plenty of receivers left on the board for the Texans… there are plenty of receivers left on the board for the Texans. 2024 presents one of the deepest receiver classes ever, so we may see teams prioritize thinner positions early and then find quality starters on Day 2 or 3.
Taliese Fuaga is one of the last top tackles in the draft, and with George Fant a free agent, Houston may be looking for its next right tackle.
24) Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Tyler Guyton is the last of the top tackles on the board, and in my opinion, there’s a decent drop-off between him and the guys who will go on Day 2. Dallas needs to lock down the tackle position, and getting a high-upside pass blocker on Day 1 would go a long way toward making this a championship-caliber roster.
25) Green Bay Packers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Green Bay is in a unique spot here if there’s a run on offensive tackles. Historically a franchise that hasn’t reached with first-round picks, the Packers could be left with a bare board here and could be a trade candidate late in the first round.
Assuming Kool-Aid McKinstry can work out at his Pro Day, he should stop his recent slide in perception, and I think Green Bay is a solid landing spot for a well-balanced corner.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Given that Mike Evans will test out free agency, the Buccaneers may have to look for a replacement for one of the most underrated receivers in NFL history. Keon Coleman‘s flashes were some of the best in the class, but he was inconsistent at times in college. His athleticism should transfer, however, and he can slot in as a No. 2 option to start.
27) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Graham Barton, OL, Duke
The Cardinals need help everywhere on the roster, so talented players with positional versatility are going to be high on their board. Graham Barton can play any of the five offensive line positions but likely projects as a guard at the next level.
28) Buffalo Bills: Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
Darius Robinson is one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire class. He played primarily as an EDGE in college but is pushing 300 pounds and could certainly slide inside. That being said, he’s extremely explosive, putting up a 35-inch vertical jump and a 4.95-second 40-yard dash.
He can provide some pass rushing juice from multiple alignments for a team that needs more of that defensively.
29) Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Lions need another pure pass rusher to put across from Aidan Hutchinson, and Chop Robinson could be that guy. His production hasn’t yet matched his traits, which could allow him to fall to Detroit at No. 29. If Detroit can unlock his pass rushing production, this could be a home run pick.
30) Baltimore Ravens: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Ravens are in an odd spot here because there are a few needs on the roster that line up with the best positions in this draft. So while they can be patient, they’re victim to the way the board falls.
Here, it’s their friend, as one of the top receivers falls. Brian Thomas Jr. is explosive and can be a great red zone threat, something Baltimore has lacked in recent years from its outside receivers.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Troy Fautanu played tackle in college but will likely find his home at guard in the NFL. That being said, the fact that he can slide out to tackle in a pinch is a bonus for a team that needs more versatility on its offensive line. He’s a strong run blocker and should fit well in front of Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
I went back and forth about whether to give Kansas City Adonai Mitchell or his old teammate Ladd McConkey, both of whom would be good fits schematically for the Chiefs.
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I think that Mitchell is a slightly more versatile prospect and has the higher upside of the two. While Patrick Mahomes is a wizard, he could use one more weapon on offense before the reigning champions start taking depth pieces.
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!