Although Caleb Williams is the gem of the class for most analysts, the quarterback position flexes unprecedented depth. Some combination of Drake Maye, Quinn Ewers, Cam Ward, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix pop up in a majority of mock drafts out there.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is not the only pass catcher receiving Day 1 attention, either. Rome Odunze is my current WR2 in the 2024 NFL Draft, with prospects like Keon Coleman, Emeka Egbuka, and Malik Nabers all earning a spot in this week’s mock draft. It would be surprising if any of those names went later than Round 1 next April.
Elsewhere in the class, the offensive line is loaded up top. Olu Fashanu, Joe Alt, J.C. Latham, and Amarius Mims are all contenders to come off the board in the first half of Day 1. Graham Barton and Cooper Beebe hold the highest grades for guards on my Big Board, with both claiming fringe first-round status.
As far as defense goes, there is no shortage of talent on that side of the ball. Two Alabama prospects, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Dallas Turner, will continue keeping the Crimson Tide name alive in Round 1. But Penn State has an impressive duo of their own with Kalen King and Chop Robinson.
Full First-Round NFL Mock Draft
Now that we are familiar with several high-end prospects, let’s dive into a fresh NFL mock draft.
For today’s mock draft, we will use Tankathon for the draft order. This website takes into account the current order if the season ended today. It weighs the strength of schedule and tiebreakers, giving the most accurate listing available.
Without further ado, the Chicago Bears… you are on the clock! Twice!
1. Chicago Bears - Caleb Williams, QB, USC
No surprise here. The Justin Fields experiment is not working, and barring an unforeseen turnaround, the Bears should zero in on Caleb Williams. The USC signal-caller can get a bit wild at times, but his arm talent is off the charts, and he would allow Chicago to smash the reset button.
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2. Chicago Bears (via CAR) - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
But wait! There’s more! Why stop at Caleb Williams? Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison is widely considered as one of the best wide receiver prospects in years. With the Bears, he would form a Joe Burrow/Ja’Marr Chase-esque tandem that Chicago can build around for the next decade-plus.
3. Las Vegas Raiders - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Raiders are a mess currently. Head coach Josh McDaniels does little to inspire faith in the fan base, and the same is true regarding starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. But perhaps Drake Maye will turn the tide for Raider Nation. The Tar Heel signal-caller boasts NFL size and has a near-perfect deep ball. Davante Adams is already smiling.
4. Denver Broncos - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
With the top two quarterbacks off the board, the Broncos pivot to a different position to find a blue-chip prospect for the defense. After famously allowing 70 points to the Dolphins, it’s clear Denver needs more juice. Enter Jared Verse. The powerful defender would be the top pass rusher for the Broncos from Day 1.
5. Minnesota Vikings - Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
This is a good time to remind readers that today is a predictive mock draft — not a “what would Hunter Haas do” mock draft. That being said, I am still a fan of Quinn Ewers, even if top-five is rich. For the Vikings, Ewers’ playmaking ability and improving accuracy would give Kevin O’Connell a higher-upside quarterback than Kirk Cousins.
6. New York Jets - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Perhaps the easiest pairing in the entire first round is Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and the New York Jets. Quarterback could be in the cards if Aaron Rodgers retires, but either way, the offensive line needs a massive upgrade. Fashanu, at only 20 years of age, boasts franchise cornerstone traits at left tackle.
7. New England Patriots - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Patriots are another team that might consider a quarterback, but ultimately, Joe Alt presents too much value to pass. Bill Belichick has been dealing with patchwork offensive tackles for years. With the addition of Alt to the fold, the veteran head coach will have one less position to worry about.
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8. Cincinnati Bengals - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Brock Bowers is a top-five talent in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, after a run on quarterbacks and offensive tackles, the superstar tight end falls directly in the lap of the Bengals. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are impending free agents, and Cincinnati does not have a long-term answer at tight end. Bowers kills two birds with one stone.
9. Arizona Cardinals - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Cardinals deserve credit for being as competitive as they’ve been in 2023. Many, myself included, counted Arizona out before the season even began. Now, with the No. 9 selection in this mock draft, the front office decides to build around Kyler Murray by adding more to the defense.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive specialist, making pass rusher Dallas Turner the selection. Cornerbacks like Kool-Aid McKinstry and Kalen King would be potential choices for Gannon, but the upside of a star edge rusher is worth swinging at in the top ten.
10. New York Giants - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Malik Nabers and Keon Coleman are becoming popular names for the WR2 mantle behind Marvin Harrison Jr. But not so fast, my friends. Rome Odunze has been — and will continue to be — the second-best wideout in the class. Odunze comes off the board to Brian Daboll and the Giants, bringing something to the table that no other New York receiver does.
11. Green Bay Packers - J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
The Packers cannot rely on their current stable of linemen to remain healthy. J.C. Latham is a reliable option out of Alabama, having only allowed one sack in 1,331 career snaps for the Crimson Tide. He is a natural right tackle but has the traits to line up wherever Green Bay needs him.
12. New Orleans Saints - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Saints could go a number of different ways at this point of the mock draft, but let’s add a premier defender to the secondary. Kool-Aid McKinstry, the third Alabama player in the top 12, heads to New Orleans, combining with Marshon Lattimore as one of the best cornerback pairings in the NFL.
13. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Amarius Mims is a projection. He is still raw in technique, and he’s never played an entire season of starter reps. But Mims’ potential speaks for itself. He stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs nearly 350 pounds with remarkable length to boot. Adding the Bulldog product gives Kyler Murray protection from both ends of the offensive line.
14. Houston Texans (via CLE) - Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
With Nico Collins and Tank Dell showing out in 2023, wide receiver is now less of a need for the Texans. However, if Keon Coleman is still on the board, Houston should scoop him up and not think twice. The triumvirate of Coleman-Collins-Dell will boost C.J. Stroud to the next level of his development.
15. Los Angeles Chargers - Kalen King, CB, Penn State
The Chargers defense needs a pillar at cornerback alongside Asante Samuel Jr. It’s clear that failed free-agent signing J.C. Jackson isn’t in the team’s future plans after being benched in Week 3 and failing to log any snaps this past Sunday. Kalen King is a lockdown cornerback with sparkling PFF grades and is an immediate starter in the NFL.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
The Jaguars are close to legitimate Super Bowl contender status. One area Jacksonville must improve is upfront in the defensive trenches. Pass rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker aren’t going anywhere, so a disruptive presence between them should be high on the wishlist. Jer’Zhan Newton is a tad undersized, but his strength and motor will allow him to see action in Year 1.
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17. Washington Commanders - Cam Ward, QB, Washington State
Cam Ward is nowhere to be found in first-round mock drafts and most Big Boards. But I see Ward as a bonafide Day 1 prospect, and his play so far in 2023 backs up that lofty claim. The Wazzu signal-caller is completing nearly 75 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Commanders need more than Sam Howell; Ward is that.
18. Los Angeles Rams - Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The second Nittany Lion off the board in this mock draft is edge rusher Chop Robinson. With his trademark no-glove, no-sleeve look, Robinson looks the part of a throwback pass rusher. The Rams took Byron Young on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s performed well as a rookie. Los Angeles can’t have too many pass rushers.
19. Atlanta Falcons - Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami
Grady Jarrett is on the wrong side of 30, and even if he has a few more years of high-level play in the tank, the Falcons must begin thinking about life after Jarrett. Leonard Taylor III packs a punch with otherworldly strength inside his NFL frame. The Miami product is still putting it all together, but he is worth betting on in the middle of Round 1.
20. Indianapolis Colts - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Michael Pittman Jr. is a quality pass catcher, but the rest of the wide receiver room is young and unproven. Why not add another option for Anthony Richardson to have at his disposal? Emeka Egbuka is the next in a long line of Ohio State receivers with polished route running and sure hands. Between Pittman Jr., Egbuka, Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs, the Colts would be trending the right way.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Joey Porter Jr. has shown flashes in limited action so far as a rookie, but the cornerback room needs more, even when JPJ takes over as CB1. Cooper DeJean is amongst the best athletes in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Iowa star sports a track and field background and displays consistent technique on tape. DeJean is the spark the Pittsburgh secondary is searching for.
22. Tennessee Titans - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
If Laiatu Latu gets positive results from his pre-draft medical check, expect the gifted pass rusher to be a top-ten selection come April. But as of now, the Titans get a steal at No. 22 in this mock draft. Latu is unblockable in one-on-one situations and has Defensive Rookie of the Year potential.
23. Seattle Seahawks - Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Graham Barton can play anywhere on the offensive line, whether it be tackle, guard, or center. He possesses a stout frame and advanced hand usage when thwarting oncoming pass rushers. Barton can be more consistent in the run-blocking phase, but Seattle’s coaching staff has a track record for ironing out these types of shortcomings.
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24. Dallas Cowboys - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Full disclosure: Xavier Worthy is not a first-round player on my current Big Board. The exciting wideout from Texas still holds a strong Day 2 grade, and if he can fix his drop issues, that makes him worthy of Day 1 consideration. Jerry Jones has never been shy to bet on upside, and Worthy has plenty of it with his deep ball tracking and home-run hitting ability.
25. Detroit Lions - Kamren Kinchens, DB, Miami
The Lions look the part of a contender in the NFC. The offense is clicking, and the defense is coming around for coordinator Aaron Glenn. Throwing in a ball-hawking safety like Kamren Kinchens would only improve the secondary. Kinchens sports exceptional range and is underrated as a run defender.
26. Miami Dolphins - Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Mike McDaniel’s offense has caught the NFL by storm in 2023. With a healthy Tua Tagovailoa leading the way, the skill position group is showing out and posting gaudy numbers week in and week out. Ja’Tavion Sanders would give the Dolphins another cheat code in the passing game, as the Texas tight end is more of a souped-up wide receiver.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
If Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t going to be a 24-year-old rookie, there is a distinct possibility that he would be the third quarterback taken at the 2024 NFL Draft. And he might still be anyway. Alas, his advanced age and long history of injuries knock him down to QB5 in this mock draft. The Bucs benefit, as Penix Jr. will boast one of the strongest arms in the league upon arrival.
28. Buffalo Bills - Tyler Nubin, DB, Minnesota
Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are both 32 and approaching the cliff of their primes. Tyler Nubin is the ideal third fiddle to Poyer and Hyde if the duo return as starters next season. Nubin's versatility will allow him to fill in as a slot defender, box safety, and deep safety in Year 1 before settling into a full-time starting gig in 2025.
29. Baltimore Ravens - Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Troy Franklin has steadily risen up my wide receiver rankings since the regular season got underway. The Oregon pass catcher is 6-foot-3 with rock-solid hands and deceptive agility. The Ravens overhauled the receiver room in the off-season, highlighted by the acquisition of Zay Flowers. Pairing Franklin and Flowers can elevate Lamar Jackson back to his MVP heights.
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30. San Francisco 49ers - Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Niners are a roster with minimal holes, but a clear area of need is the interior of the offensive line. Cooper Beebe was a fringe first-round player in the 2023 NFL Draft before he decided to return to Kansas State. San Francisco will welcome his experience and immediate contributions as a starter in Year 1.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
The Chiefs attempted to retool the offensive tackle position with free-agent signings Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor. Neither guy has moved the needle since arriving in Kansas City, so a player like Kingsley Suamataia makes sense at the end of this mock draft. The BYU alum is raw but has size and athleticism that cannot be taught.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Darius Slay is still an elite cornerback, and James Bradberry is far from a scrub. However, Nate Wiggins is the youthful infusion Philadelphia desperately needs in the secondary. Wiggins can learn from Slay as a rookie and slowly work himself into starter reps. That’s the beauty of landing with the Eagles; young players are given time to develop at their own pace.