The 2024 NFL Draft is still several months away, but it is never too early to get familiar with the next batch of talent heading to the league. In our July mock draft, quarterbacks come off the board early and often while the defense boasts multiple franchise-altering edge rushers.
2024 NFL mock draft: Cardinals land Caleb Williams, Brock Bowers goes top five
I will use my own order for this mock draft because the betting odds do not align with how I see the season unfolding. If you have beef with my order, just know that it is subject to change throughout the summer. With that caveat out of the way: Let’s get the ball rolling!
No. 1: Arizona Cardinals – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Cardinals currently employ one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL, Kyler Murray. However, the former Heisman Trophy winner has dealt with injuries for the majority of his professional career and is currently rehabbing torn ligaments in his knee.
Whether or not Murray returns to the field in 2023, Arizona is destined to sit atop the 2024 NFL Draft. A trade would result in unprecedented dead cap space since Murray recently signed a monster contract extension, but with a new regime in place, pivoting to a rookie contract Caleb Williams provides the quickest jumpstart to a rebuild.
Williams is supremely talented and looks like a point guard when he escapes the pocket. He consistently creates huge gains out of nothing. The former five-star recruit drips arm talent and charisma; he is not quite in the generational grade on my scale, but Williams is franchise quarterback material.
No. 2: Tampa Bay Bucs – Drake Maye, QB, UNC
The Bucs are firmly in the Caleb Williams Sweepstakes, but Drake Maye is not a bad consolation prize. The North Carolina signal-caller is deathly accurate from the pocket and is a deceptively agile runner out of the backfield. His dual-threat abilities and special deep ball make Maye a surefire first-round talent.
The depth chart at quarterback currently consists of Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, and John Wolford. The sound you heard just now was a collective groan from the Tampa Bay fan base. As difficult as the 2023 season will be for the Bucs, Maye presents a light at the end of the tunnel.
No. 3: Chicago Bears – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Oh boy, a tight end at No. 3 overall? While it may be jarring to see, I assure you that Brock Bowers is worth it. More than your typical tight end, Bowers is an all-around threat in the passing and running game. His frame is a tad small, but you would never know it by watching.
The Georgia superstar is a game-breaker as a receiver. He wins in several ways, including designed handoffs, deep shots down the seam, and out routes to the sideline. Bowers boasts an expansive route tree and unprecedented polish in every area of his game. Feed Justin Fields more!
No. 4: Tennessee Titans – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Titans committed to a roster retool this offseason, as the team cut salaries and let multiple starters leave as a result. They boast arguably the worst offensive line in the league and a weaponry group with very few proven commodities outside Derrick Henry.
Not to mention the uncertainty at the game’s most important position: Quarterback. Guess who can fix many of these issues simply with his presence in the offense? That is right, Marvin Harrison Jr., aka the best wide receiver prospect since Julio Jones.
Harrison’s father, Marvin Sr., ran the numbers up vs. the Titans back in the day. This time Tennessee gets the last laugh. The Buckeye wideout flexes prototypical size as a WR1 and would transform the offense in the same way Henry has since his arrival.
No. 5: Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Cardinals made a savvy trade down the board at the 2023 NFL Draft and acquired the Texans’ 2024 first-round pick in the process. While Houston has promising pieces on the roster, it is unlikely they string together many victories in Year 1 of the DeMeco Ryans Era.
Arizona benefits by receiving a second top-five pick in this mock draft. At No. 5 overall, the franchise snags a building block for Jonathan Gannon’s defense. Florida State’s Jared Verse is one of the most powerful and disruptive pass rushers in the country — bar none. He would give Gannon a foundational piece to build around.
No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders – Olu Fashanu, OL, Penn State
The Raiders largely ignored the offensive line this offseason, but after regressing this coming season, the front office will be forced to prioritize upgrading the unit. Olu Fashanu was the top-rated offensive tackle on my 2023 big board before he returned to Penn State.
He is the ideal size for a franchise left tackle and is considerably younger than most of his peers. Fashanu is a natural left tackle, but his traits lend him the versatility to play anywhere on the line. The Nittany Lion standout is exactly what Vegas needs.
No. 7: Washington Commanders – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Chase Young already has one foot out the door, so the Commanders will want to land an immediate replacement with such a premium pick in this mock draft. Alabama’s Dallas Turner does not receive the same fanfare his former teammate Will Anderson Jr. did in the previous draft cycle, but Turner is not far off as a prospect.
The Crimson Tide pass rusher burst onto the scene as a freshman with 8.5 sacks. His production took a massive hit in 2022, but the entire Alabama team witnessed regression, so I’m leaning more into the freshman tape for my projection. Anderson out, Turner in.
No. 8: Indianapolis Colts – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Bernhard Raimann will get a fair chance at left tackle this season, but if the board shakes out like this at the 2024 NFL Draft, the Colts have to run Joe Alt’s card to the podium. As a Notre Dame product, Alt uses teach tape technique. He stands at a towering 6-foot-8 and profiles as a franchise left tackle at the next level. Learn from the mistake of Andrew Luck by protecting Anthony Richardson at all costs.
No. 9: Chicago Bears (via CAR) – JT Tuimoloau, DL, Ohio State
This OSU defender lacks the production many of his peers put on tape. That being said, J.T. Tuimoloau still stands above most of them off sheer talent alone. When he is locked in, Tuimoloau is an unstoppable force. No quarterback is safe.
The Bears are assembling Matt Eberflus’ system in Chicago, and a dominant presence like Tuimoloau would be a welcomed addition. He can slide up and down the line while providing elite run stuffing and untapped potential as a pass rusher.
No. 10: Denver Broncos – Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
If this happens, something went very, very wrong in 2023. Sean Payton is a brilliant offensive mind, so if anyone can resuscitate Russell Wilson’s career, it will be the Super Bowl-winning head coach. However, Wilson will turn 35 during the upcoming season, begging the question: How much juice does he have left?
Even if Wilson bounces back well enough to be a souped-up game manager, he is not returning to his franchise quarterback form. Instead, Quinn Ewers checks all the boxes Payton looks for in a signal-caller. He is creative, takes care of the football, and can make any throw in the NFL. Ewers wouldn’t have to start immediately if Wilson can keep it together for another season or two.
No. 11: New Orleans Saints – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Oh Yeah! Kool-Aid McKinstry could go as high as the top five by the time the 2024 NFL Draft gets here. At No. 11 overall in this mock draft, the Saints snag a player with All-Pro potential at cornerback. McKinstry is sticky in coverage and oozes confidence. He will link up with Marshon Lattimore to lock down opposing wideouts.
No. 12: New England Patriots – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. steals the limelight in wide receiver discussions, but the “other” Ohio State pass catcher is an early first-rounder as well. Emeka Egbuka can win on the outside, but he has found success playing as a big slot in the Buckeye offense. The Patriots will allow Egbuka to roam all over the field; finally, a true No. 1 option in New England.
No. 13: Green Bay Packers – JC Latham, OT, Alabama
I believe in Zach Tom at right tackle, and Rasheed Walker is a tantalizing developmental prospect behind David Bakhtiari. But health has not been on the side of Green Bay in recent years. J.C. Latham is too good of a prospect to pass on at this stage of the mock draft. Tom can slide inside if he proves to be a stable starter.
No. 14: Houston Texans (via CLE) – Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
The first Clemson linebacker off the board is Barrett Carter. DeMeco Ryans needs a leader for the linebacker room, and Carter fits the bill. He is an all-around defender possessing the foot speed to stick with assignments in coverage and the physicality to be a difference-maker in run defense. Houston adds another cog to the machine at No. 14 overall in this mock draft.
No. 15: Minnesota Vikings – Kalen King, CB, Penn State
My favorite cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft class is Penn State’s Kalen King. Following the footsteps of recent Nittany Lion defensive backs, King aims to be the first in school history to come off the board on Day 1. He is a competitive, smooth-moving cornerback with scheme versatility. The Vikings are young at the position, but you can never have too many impact players in the secondary.
No. 16: New York Giants – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Brian Daboll turned water into wine with Daniel Jones in 2022, and they did it all without a bonafide No. 1 wideout. Malik Nabers will change that from the jump, as the LSU pass catcher is a home run hitter. He excels with the ball in his hands; Daboll will have fun with his new chess piece.
No. 17: Los Angeles Chargers – Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
The Chargers will likely move on from Khalil Mack next offseason, so Joey Bosa needs a partner in crime for the future. Bralen Trice owns a double-digit sack upside with textbook length and a full arsenal of pass-rushing moves. Trice stays on the west coast in this 2024 NFL mock draft.
No. 18: Pittsburgh Steelers – Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
The Steelers drafted a popular Jr. at the 2023 NFL Draft when they selected Joey Porter Jr. at No. 32 overall. Pittsburgh lands another son of a former Pennsylvania icon, Jeremiah Trotter. Clemson’s star linebacker plays with the same intensity as his pops and could wind up being a better player. Do you feel old yet?
No. 19: Los Angeles Rams – Maason Smith, DL, LSU
Maason Smith missed the entire 2022 season after suffering an injury in Week 1. Looking back at his 2021 tape, the LSU alum fits the part as an early-round prospect. His height can be a deterrent at times if he fails to leverage it correctly, but his long arms and top-tier athleticism make up for it. Aaron Donald and Maason Smith would be unfair.
No. 20: Atlanta Falcons – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
After sending a white cornerback to the NFL this past draft with Riley Moss, Iowa does it again in this mock draft. Cooper DeJean is the perfect size for a boundary cornerback. He needs to improve his footwork and eliminate wasted motion in coverage, but pairing DeJean with A.J. Terrell is a recipe for success in Atlanta.
No. 21: Jacksonville Jaguars – Kamren Kinchens, DB, Miami
The Jaguars must continue adding talent to make the most of Trevor Lawrence’s rookie contract. Kamren Kinchens is an in-state product that uses spectacular ball skills to force turnovers at a high rate. His six interceptions in 2022 led Miami; Jacksonville will hope Kinchens can do the same as a rookie.
No. 22: Baltimore Ravens – Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State
While I was watching tape on J.T. Tuimoloau, Michael Hall Jr. kept stealing my attention away. He is a little bit leaner than the Ravens traditionally look for in a down lineman, but he is worth deviating from the norm. Hall Jr. uses a red-hot motor to wreck the game as a run defender and pass rusher. He is still developing moves outside of power rushes, giving him untapped potential off the edge.
No. 23: Dallas Cowboys – Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
A small run on players I currently have graded higher than the consensus begins with Ja’Tavion Sanders. The Texas tight end is not an elite athlete, but he is surprisingly refined as a route runner and boasts some of the best hands in the class. Another big year could solidify Sanders as a first-rounder. Jerry Jones cannot resist the temptation in this mock draft.
No. 24: New York Jets – Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Graham Barton is a first-round grade on my current big board, which is a lofty claim at this point of the offseason. Graham Barton is quietly rising in the NFL Draft community, with evaluators citing his versatility, experience, and impeccable technique as the reasons for excitement. The Jets must protect Aaron Rodgers, and Duane Brown is approaching 40.
No. 25: Miami Dolphins – Sedrick Van Pran, OL, Georgia
The Dolphins will always place a priority on the offensive line as long as Mike McDaniel is around. To best execute his zone blocking scheme, athletic linemen are necessary. Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran is a solid athlete with superb footwork and contact balance. He is a starting center in the NFL immediately.
No. 26: Buffalo Bills – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Bills have Stefon Diggs in tow, but the rest of the wide receiver group is a big ball of unknown. What the group lacks is a legitimate field stretcher with blazing speed. Enter Xavier Worthy. The Longhorn pass catcher is twitched up and creates separation effortlessly as he tracks deep passes downfield. Josh Allen would put up even crazier stats with Worthy attacking the seams.
No. 27: Detroit Lions – Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
The Lions have an impressive array of defensive linemen on the roster, but no one on the interior touches the upside of Jer’Zhan Newton. The Illinois defender displays consistent leverage and the power to blow through blockers. He has upside as a pass rusher from the inside, making him a great value this late in the mock draft.
No. 28: San Francisco 49ers – Kingsley Suamataia, OL, BYU
The Niners lost starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey to free agency this offseason and didn’t do much to replace him. Kingsley Suamataia is athletic enough to get out in space as a run blocker, a requirement in Kyle Shanahan’s system. He needs work in pass protection, but the length and traits are there to develop into an above-average starter in San Francisco.
No. 29: Seattle Seahawks – Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Seahawks locked up a pair of bookend tackles for the next decade at the 2022 NFL Draft. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas carry the unit, but an upgrade on the interior would vault this group up offensive line rankings. Cooper Beebe is refined, powerful, and displays the best hand usage of any lineman I have evaluated thus far.
No. 30: Cincinnati Bengals – Raheim Sanders, RB, Arkansas
Full disclosure: I am not confident the Bengals would pick a running back here. That being said, I am increasingly confident that Joe Mixon won’t be in Cincinnati after 2023. Value meets need at No. 30 overall in this mock draft, as Sanders becomes the lead back for Joe Burrow. Nicknamed Rocket, the Arkansas ball carrier lives up to the name with his explosive style of running.
No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Here is a name you may not be familiar with. Clemson’s Nate Wiggins garnered a four-star rating out of high school, but he hardly saw any action as a freshman. Entering Year 2, Wiggins was thrust into the starting lineup, making the most of it. His 13 passes defended highlights his immense length and disruptive hands. The Eagles need more youth at cornerback; the Tiger star is the answer.
No. 32: Kansas City Chiefs – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Chiefs should draft a wide receiver every season. Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice both came off the board on Day 2 in recent draft classes, but this time Kansas City pulls the trigger at the end of round one. Rome Odunze is one of the top pass catchers in the country, showcasing elite body control and reliable hands downfield. The Washington Husky could be a cheat code with Patrick Mahomes. A perfect cap to the summer edition of our trademark mock draft.