2024 NFL mock draft: 5 QBs taken in the Top 15; Bills, Vikings make blockbuster moves
By John Blair
NFL Draft Notebook's mock draft picks 16-20
. OG, Washington. 16. Troy Fautanu. . . Troy Fautanu. 36. Troy Fautanu. player
The Seahawks have several questions on the offensive line with some of the biggest concerns being at offensive guard. At left guard, the likely starter is career backup Tremayne Anchrum Jr., and at right guard 2023 fourth-round pick Anthony Bradford is penciled in as the starter. Troy Fautanu is another player I was extremely high on going into the season having named him to my All-Underrated team as other draft experts saw him as a fourth-round pick at the time.
"The player viewed the highest by other draftniks is Washington’s Troy Fautanu, who carries a fourth-round grade. However, this is lower than the second-round grade I have on him and the day-two grade he receives from the Senior Bowl. The 2023 Preseason All-Pac 12 pick is a good athlete who has the mobility to be a great fit in a zone-blocking scheme."
- July NFL Draft Notebook
. CB, Alabama. Terrion Arnold. 17. player. . Terrion Arnold. Terrion Arnold. . 52
Tyson Campbell has had an up-and-down career in Jacksonville since being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. With this pick, the Jaguars select his potential replacement in Alabama’s Terrion Arnold. This past season Arnold led the SEC with 16 pass breakups and tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions.
Byron Murphy. Byron Murphy. Byron Murphy. . 56. player. 18. DT, Texas. .
The Bengals lost D.J. Reader in free agency and draft his replacement when they take Byron Murphy with the 18th overall pick. Murphy is an explosive defensive tackle who can play multiple positions along the defensive line having seen time at nose tackle, defensive tackle, and defensive end during his time with the Longhorns.
Jer'Zhan Newton. DT, Illinois. Jer'Zhan Newton. . Jer'Zhan Newton. player. 51. . . 19
Los Angeles has not taken an offensive player in the top sixty picks of the draft since Sean McVay became their head coach. However, look for that to change this season when they take their first defensive player in the first round since they drafted Aaron Donald with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Illinois Jer’Zhan Newton is one of the top pass-rushing defensive tackles in this year’s NFL Draft having tied for the national lead in QB pressures among interior defenders and recording 7.5 sacks this season.
Jer’Zhan Newton: 102 QB Pressures over the past two seasons
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 8, 2024
🟠 No other Defensive Tackle has more than 78 pic.twitter.com/1zEWeYeerR
C, Oregon. . Jackson Powers-Johnson. 55. . player. 20. Jackson Powers-Johnson. . Jackson Powers-Johnson
Pittsburgh cut starting center Mason Cole at the start of the offseason, and have yet to replace him. Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson is easily the top center in the draft. The Rimington Award winner has elite strength and should be able to prevent defensive tackles from collapsing the pocket on new quarterback Russell Wilson.