2024 NFL Mock Draft: Cardinals tank for Caleb Williams, Drake Maye heads to Tampa
By Hunter Haas
The Steelers Dip Into The Penn State Farm System At No. 15 In Our 2024 NFL Mock Draft
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kalen King, CB, Penn State
My favorite player in the 2024 NFL Draft is Kalen King. The Penn State leader is vocal, athletic, and boasts the highest football IQ in the class. The Steelers can pair him with Joey Porter Jr., a fellow Nittany Lion, for the foreseeable future.
16. Green Bay Packers – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Packers do not have a glaring weakness on the roster, so let’s aim for an upside pick for the defense. Green Bay selected Iowa lineman Lukas Van Ness at last year’s draft; this year, they get the defensive back version of him.
Cooper DeJean will post a near-perfect RAS score at the NFL Combine next spring, and his untapped potential makes it a worthwhile bet midway through Day 1. DeJean can line up at boundary cornerback, in the slot, back deep as a safety, or even as a box linebacker.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Hot take? I think not. Shedeur Sanders always had the talent to be a first-rounder, but he needed more exposure than Jackson State could grant him. At Colorado, Sanders has been on national television each of the first two weeks, flexing exceptional ball placement and arm talent vs. TCU and Nebraska. Kirk Cousins’ time is running low; Sanders is the future.
18. Houston Texans (via CLE) – Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami
DeMeco Ryans needs more bodies upfront, and Miami’s Leonard Taylor is exactly what the doctor ordered. Taylor boasts otherworldly strength and consistently finds his way into the backfield. He would be a welcomed addition to the ascending defense in Houston.
19. New Orleans Saints – Kamren Kinchens, SAF, Miami
Back-to-back Miami players? Yep! Kamren Kinchens is a stud in his own right, profiling best as a ball-hawking safety at the next level. The Saints employ Tyrann Mathieu, but at 33 years old, it is fair to question how much is left in the tank for the Honey Badger.
20. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
I mean, come on. This pairing just makes sense, right? Michael Penix Jr. and his rocket launcher left arm has put the Pac-12 on notice to open the new campaign. The Seahawks gave Geno Smith a lucrative extension, but the front office has outs baked into that deal. If Pete Carroll views Penix as the long-term answer, he will pull the trigger.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars – J.C. Latham, OL, Alabama
The Jaguars are close to being a juggernaut. To ensure Trevor Lawrence transcends to superstardom, Jacksonville must build up a wall on the offensive line. J.C. Latham is a tall, lanky, ball of clay at offensive tackle. With some patience, he could blossom into a Pro Bowl-caliber player.