2024 NFL mock draft 2.0

After identifying teams early draft needs in my mock draft 1.0, I decided to get a little bold and less chalky with my mock draft 2.0, with some trades.

1. Falcons (Panthers): Jayden Daniels, QB

Let me preface this with me explaining that I believe Caleb Williams is far and away the best QB prospect in this draft. However, I’m trying to get bold here. Let’s travel back in time with me to 2020, when LSU’s Joe Burrow was thought to have been behind the likes of Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa in his draft class, before his incredible final stretch of the season cemented himself the Heisman award and eventual QB1 slot. Sound familiar? Jayden Daniels this past season broke an FBS record for passer rating (208) and yards per attempt (11.7) for a season. A true dual threat, he also led college football in yards per carry this season as well and did all of this in a grueling SEC schedule. I understand the NFL is more of a traits than production league, but standing in at 6’4” with his athleticism and a frame that can be built upon, I think teams could sell themselves on the prospects of Daniels being in the same conversation at the QB position with Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.

2. Giants (Patriots): Marvin Harrison Jr, WR

I personally believe New York is financially committed to Daniel Jones and will keep him under center for at-least another season. However, they HAVE to surround him with better weapons and does so with the addition of a generational WR prospect. To move up to pick two overall, New York will send former 7th overall pick in 2022, Evan Neal to New England, along with ample draft capital. Neal’s had a rough start to his career and seems to be set on sticking at Tackle. A change of scenery might be beneficial for both sides and this move gives the Patriots a true starting Right Tackle.

3. Commanders (Cardinals): Caleb Williams, QB

Although I believe Sam Howell has done well with the hand that he’s been dealt (top ten in the league in passing yards), the organization could look in a different way at the position if they bring in a different head coach. This temptation will only amplify even more if they realize they have the opportunity to select Caleb Williams, who would be a hometown kid.

4. Raiders (Commanders): Drake Maye, QB

With Maye falling out of the top three, Arizona takes advantage and trades down in back to back picks to collect draft capital for their rebuild. It’s obvious that the Raiders are needing something new at the QB position and will trade next years first round pick in order to achieve that.

5. Bears: Joe Alt, OT

This is the great debate for Chicago, right? Draft a QB first overall, or stick with the Justin Fields experiment? With my mock draft 2.0, I experiment with Chicago choosing the latter, as I have them acquiring Kyle Pitts from the Falcons in the process so they can legitimately see what they have in Fields. With the newly acquired weapon at TE, I have them waiting on a receiver here at pick five. However, this pick will still have Fields in mind, as I have the Bears targeting the offensive line to further protect him.

6. Patriots (Giants): Malik Nabers, WR

Let me begin with this. I just don’t see a world where Robert Kraft and the Patriots move on from Bill Belichick as their head coach, and I don’t see a world where he would like to be patient with a rookie QB again. Secondly, I think that no matter what this offseason, that Minnesota was going to move on from the Kirk Cousins experience. With his recent season ending injury, I think that’s now a certainty. Cousins to the Patriots makes a lot of sense to me, as their trade down to six overall gives him a pass protector in Evan Neal and a legitimate weapon in Nabers. Built like your modern NFL wideout, Nabers can move all over the place and can not only be a field stretcher at the position, but also be a threat after the catch as well.

7. Jets: Brock Bowers, TE

The debate will be between protecting Aaron Rodgers further, or selecting him a weapon. In my opinion, the Jets would be better off trading for or signing a proven veteran (Tyron Smith potentially?) at the offensive tackle position considering their situation. Bowers is arguably the best non-quarterback in this years class and is the best TE prospect I’ve ever seen in my short time following the draft closely. He’d be an immediate weapon for Rodgers in this offense.

8. Chargers: Nate Wiggins, CB

Giving up the most passing yards this season to date, LA has to address their leaky secondary. Long, fast and fluid, Wiggins is built like your modern day corner, as I believe he will be drafted over Kool-Aid Mckinstry in this year’s draft. Not sold quite yet? Turn on his film against Drake Maye and North Carolina.

9. Titans: Olu Fashanu, OT

Being sacked SEVEN times last week, it’s evident that Tennessee has to invest in protecting Will Levis next season, in order to see if he is indeed their franchise QB.

10. Bears (Falcons): Chop Robinson, EDGE

A player I didn’t even have in my mock draft 1.0, Chop Robinson is a player I wanted to at-least highlight in one of my mock drafts this year, considering that his draft combine testing numbers very well could cement himself into the first round. Athletes on the edge of Robinson and recently acquired Montez Sweat would be a really strong foundational start for Chicago.

11. Packers: Tyler Guyton, OT

Green Bay could stand to have an influx of new talent along the offensive line, considering David Bakhtiari’s injury woes and Yosh Nijman hitting the open market this offseason. Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton will become a draft board riser in the draft, as his performance at the Senior Bowl and draft combine will drop jaws. He has all the tools in the world to be an all pro level Tackle. He can start day one on the right side of the line, with the ability to switch over to LT once the team moves on from Bakhtiari.

12. Cardinals (Raiders): Rome Odunze, WR

With their leading receiver being Trey McBride with just 712 yards and their leading wideout (Hollywood Brown) having just 574, it’s obvious that Arizona needs more playmakers for Kyler Murray moving forward, if they indeed are committing to him in the future.

13. Saints: Dallas Turner, EDGE

Amongst the worst at getting to the QB this season, New Orleans DESPERATELY needs to address their pass rush in the draft. Turner is a toolsy pass rusher who very well could be the first EDGE to be selected in this years draft, backed by what should be a strong combine performance.

14. Broncos: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT

With the team moving on from Randy Gregory and Frank Clark this season, I liked my idea of them going after a pass rusher in my mock draft 1.0 so much, that I decided to stick with that here. Jer’Zhan Newton is arguably the best prospect on the board at this point and gives Denver a legitimate pass rush presence at the DT position.

15. Seahawks: Michael Penix Jr, QB

It wouldn’t be Seattle without them shocking the world and selecting an out of nowhere prospect and a “hometown” one at that in Penix Jr. It’s obvious that the team has reached its peak with Geno Smith at the helm, but could reach new heights with  Penix under center with his ability to push the ball down the field with great timing and accuracy.

16. Steelers: Terrion Arnold, CB

After getting sniped at QB by Seattle in a shocking turn of events, Pittsburgh opts to call an audible and go in another direction. Arnold is gaining steam as a first round prospect and might even become drafted ahead of teammate, Kool-Aid McKinstry when it’s all said and done. For Pittsburgh, finding someone opposite of Joey Porter Jr in their secondary will be key this offseason.

17. Cardinals (Texans): Jared Verse, EDGE

Verse not only is the best prospect available at this point in the draft, but also fills a big draft need for a Cardinals defense that’s desperate for production in the pass rush department. Verse would’ve been a first round selection in last years draft before returning to Florida State.

18. Bills: Brian Thomas Jr, WR

Buffalo is where they’re at due to them not having a real impact receiver outside of Stefon Diggs this season, as Gabe Davis simply isn’t going to cut it. You have to continue to surround Josh Allen with good weapons and Thomas Jr is a good start. Standing in a 6’4” 205 pounds, Thomas was the unsung hero for the LSU Tigers this season, amassing 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns on 60 receptions. I promise once more people dig into this years draft class, he will become a more popular name.

19. Buccaneers: Keon Coleman, WR

Selecting a pass rusher here wouldn’t be a bad idea, considering they rank in the bottom ten in just about every major statistical pass rush category. However, with the injury concerns of UCLA’s Laitu Latu and no other real standout on the edge, I decided to go in a different direction. With Mike Evans aging and potentially leaving the franchise this offseason, drafting his replacement in the big bodied frame of Keon Coleman made a lot of sense.

20. Chiefs (Vikings): AD Mitchell, WR

The draft always offers us a positional run, and we see it here similar to last year, when four receivers went in a row. Seeing targets like Thomas Jr and Coleman fall off the board, Kansas City trades up in a package similar to their move to go up from 29th overall to 21st in 2020 to select DB Trent McDuffie. In that trade, KC sent New England a third and a fourth round pick along with their first round selection to move up, so we could expect something similar in this instance. Tall, long and explosive, Mitchell pairs his 6’4” 195 pound frame with sub 4.4 second speed, as he would offer Patrick Mahomes a true down field threat.

21. Rams: Amarius Mims, OT

Trust me there’s plenty of holes, but I believe selecting a franchise Left Tackle makes all the sense in the world and Mims could be a draft riser with his athletic tools and measurables. This years ELITE receiver class has pushed some really solid guys down, but this years OT class is fantastic. If there ever was a time to improve offensively, this would be the year to do so. An absolutely HISTORIC draft class offensively.

22. Colts: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB

Not only does this selection offer what would probably be the highest value available, but Indy also has a major need at Corner. McKinstry didn’t necessarily take the leap up many expected this season, but should still be a first round selection based off of his athletic traits.

23. Jaguars: JC Latham, OL

Jacksonville’s biggest team need is at guard, a position that many believe Latham can play day one in the NFL, with the potential to move outside if needed. He reminds me of Kenyon Green from the 2022 draft.

24. Bengals: Emeka Egbuka, WR

With Tee Higgins likely going elsewhere this upcoming offseason, Cincinnati would be wise to select his replacement. Former first ranked WR coming out of High School, Egbuka played primarily in the slot at Ohio State and isn’t exactly a perfect replacement for Higgins, but I believe he’s vastly underrated and that we can see him move outside some as well at the next level.

25. Vikings (Chiefs): Bo Nix, QB

With Cousins likely not returning and Dobbs recently benched, it’s obvious Minnesota needs to find someone new at the QB position. Many might question Nix’s arm strength and might view him as a product of Oregon’s offensive system. However, with his age and experience, he should immediately be available to start for the Vikings and honestly is a good fit in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

26. Texans (Browns): Xavier Legette, WR

What better way to prove that this years draft class is historic than to break the record for most wideouts selected in the first round (7) with eight going in my mock draft? Houston could use added depth at the position and standing at 6’3” 230 pounds running and running a rumored 4.3 second 40 time, Legette could very well be a first round pick with what he can do at the combine.

27. Lions: Laitu Latu, EDGE

For now, Latu is just too talented to not be in my first round mocks, so I’m keeping him in them until I have reason to remove him. Late in the first round is when I believe teams will take the gamble on him, considering he’s the best player available at this point. For Detroit, they could definitely use pass rush help as well.

28. Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB

With the lack of depth at the Cornerback position, a player like Mitchell could find himself in the first round based off of the intangibles he brings to the position. He’s played a lower level of competition, but Mitchell is long, runs like a gazelle and has excellent ball skills.

29. Dolphins: T’Vondre Sweat, DT

Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis are both slated to become free agents this offseason and I believe one of the biggest things that’s keeping Miami from being legitimate championship contenders is the fact that they can be pushed around at times. Sweat is a large, physical monster that will help in that regard.

30. Cowboys: Taliese Fuaga, OT

With Tyron Smith getting up there in age and Dallas getting inconsistent play at Right Tackle from Terrence Steele, addressing the offensive line makes sense for the Cowboys. Fuaga is one of my favorite OL prospects in the draft with a mean streak that the Cowboys covet.

31. 49ers: Cooper DeJean, DB

Sometimes simply selecting the best player available is the best practice, especially for a team as talented as the 49ers. Although there’s no glaring need, Tashaun Gibson’s contract comes to an end in 2023 and I don’t know if the 49ers will have the funds to retain him with the team having decisions to make on Brandon Aiyuk and Chase Young as well. DeJean could fill in for him immediately at Free Safety.

32. Ravens: Jordan Morgan, OT

It’s obvious that Ronnie Stanley’s health issues have amounted to a point to where he will never return to his previous elite form. Jordan Morgan seems to be a popular tackle in the draft ranks, as it appears as if he will be a first round pick the way things currently stand. Priority number one for Baltimore will be to continue protecting Lamar Jackson moving forward.