Jake's 2024 NFL Mock Draft

Sorry for the short hiatus from posting- I'm back with more time now and can start firing off blogs with more regularity.

The NFL draft is one of my favorite events on the sports calendar. I get infatuated with every tidbit that comes out about each prospect and where they may end up. It is the day that brings hope to every single NFL fanbase no matter where they finished the year before, or what their current roster looks like. Everything can change for your franchise during this 3-day stretch. This year I decided to make my own mock draft to show exactly what I think will happen, not what I would personally do. So, without further ado, here is my first annual mock draft.

Pick 1 - Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams, QB, USC

This pick has been inevitable since Chicago locked in the number one overall pick. They get their franchise guy and have a chance to be an NFC contender as soon as he gets up to speed.

Pick 2 - Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

There has been a little bit of recent steam that Drake Maye could be the pick here, but ultimately, I think they take the ultra-dynamic Daniels.

Pick 3 - Minnesota Vikings (trade w/ Patriots)

Drake Maye, QB, UNC

LFG. Skol. F the haters. The Patriots could obviously stay and take Maye themselves, but the package that Minnesota can put together will be too much to pass on. I have it being something like picks 11, 23, and the 2025 1st round pick (it could even take more to push it through). Thats a huge price to pay, but the situation that Minnesota can offer to a rookie QB is unmatched. Two elite WR's, an elite TE, two elite tackles, and a very good RB. Maye would likely be the favorite for OROY if he ended up here.

Pick 4 - Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Teams will obviously be calling about trading up here, but it's time for the Cardinals to start adding elite talent to their roster, and they get potentially the best player in the draft by sticking at 4.

Pick 5 - New England Patriots (trade w/ Chargers)

JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan

There is a lot of steam that New England may even prefer McCarthy to Maye at 3, so the opportunity to trade back up for him at 5 and potentially keep Minnesota's 2025 1st rounder is a great scenario. If the Vikings don't move up to 3 for Maye, I expect they would make a similar trade to come get McCarthy here.

Pick 6 - New York Giants

Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Giants may be interested in moving up for their QB of future tonight, but staying put and ending up with Nabers is a great consolation prize.

Pick 7 - Tennessee Titans

Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Offensive line is a huge need for the Titans, so this pick was easy.

Pick 8 - New York Jets (trade w/ Falcons)

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Jets get aggressive to move ahead of Chicago at 9 to get another weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Who knows how much longer the QB will be playing, so getting aggressive to push the chips in makes a lot of sense.

Pick 9 - Chicago Bears

Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

After seeing Odunze slip through their fingers, the Bear's take the first defensive player. Murphy may be a bit of a surprise as the first defensive player taken, but a game wrecking interior lineman is hard to come by. This would be a great first round for the Bears as they add playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Pick 10 - Atlanta Falcons (trade w/ Jets)

Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The Falcons moved back two spots and still end up with a guy they may have taken at 8. A great outcome for a team that has had a very busy offseason.

Pick 11 - Los Angeles Chargers (trade w/ Patriots via Vikings)

JC Latham, OT, Alabama

It's no secret Harbaugh wants to build his team through the trenches, so moving back and adding an extra first round pick while still netting one of the best OT prospects in the draft is about as perfect of a scenario that Chargers fans could hope for.

Pick 12 - Denver Broncos

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

While Denver obviously needs a QB (even after trading for Zach Wilson), the value of Bowers falling to them at 12 is too much to pass up. Sean Payton loves pass catching tight ends dating back to his time in New Orleans, so being able to get one of the better prospects at the position in the last decade is a great scenario.

Pick 13 - Las Vegas Raiders

Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Another team that could obviously be interested in a QB, the Raider's instead opt to continue building the roster for a future franchise guy in the coming years. They signed Gardner Minchew this offseason, and while he's not a difference maker at the position, he can definitely keep the ship steered in the right direction. Offensive line is a big need for them, and getting a very dominant prospect here is perfect.

Pick 14 - New Orleans Saints

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Saints are a sneaky trade up candidate to try to get the OT that they want higher in the draft, but I have them being unable to do so in this mock. Ending up with Fashanu falling into their laps here works just fine as well.

Pick 15 - Indianapolis Colts

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Every mock I have seen seems to have the Colts taking a pass catcher. Anthony Richardson looked good last year before he got hurt, so trying to add as much around him while he's still on his rookie contract is the right decision.

Pick 16 - Seattle Seahawks

Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

Fautanu can play anywhere on the offensive line, and he will likely start on the interior in Seattle. Getting a guy from just down the road in Seattle makes for a fun story line as well.

Pick 17 - Jacksonville Jaguars

Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

I would not be surprised if the Jag's or another team try to move a little bit closer to get the number one CB in Arnold, but he falls in their laps in this mock. They desperately need help in the secondary and this would be a homerun pick.

Pick 18 - Cincinatti Bengals

Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Bengals are another team that may try to move up for one of the top OT prospects. Keeping Joe Burrow protected and healthy long term has to be the top priority, and they get a massive bodyguard for him here.

Pick 19 - Los Angeles Rams

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

I think this pick may surprise people, knowing that Matt Stafford is the franchise guy in LA. However, Stafford has considered retirement before, and McVay is going to want to have a contingency plan in place for when that time comes. Penix could obviously go earlier to one of the more QB needy teams ahead of LA, but I don't see him falling much further than this.

Pick 20 - Pittsburgh Steelers

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The Steelers have a lot of needs along the offensive line, but there is too much steam that Tomlin is in love with Mitchell for me to have them passing here. He's an ultra athlete that dominated in the MAC, and he will look great in those uniforms.

Pick 21 - Miami Dolphins

Graham Barton, OT, Duke

The Dolphins need help on both sides of the line, but having a chance to get a versatile guy like Barton would be perfect as they deal with injuries and poor play along their front.

Pick 22 - Buffalo Bills (trade w/ Eagles)

Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

The Bills see the Chargers sitting at 23 and know that they need to jump ahead of them to get a pass catcher. Worthy's speed with Josh Allen's arm strength will be very fun to watch.

Pick 23 - Los Angeles Chargers (trade w/ Patriots via Vikings)

Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Ladd has flown up boards during the pre-draft process, and he seems like just the kind of guy that would thrive with an accurate QB in Justin Herbert. He fills the void in the slot left by Keenan Allen this offseason.

Pick 24 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (trade w/ Cowboys)

Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

The Bucs watched Verse fall far enough and decided to make a move to go get him. He adds a lot of power to a defense that is better than many give them credit for.

Pick 25 - Green Bay Packers

Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

This guy is just the most Packer that ever Packered. Iowa Hawkeye to Green Bay Packer may make him my new most hated player in the NFL too. (p.s. he clearly waved his hand on the punt return and then illegally advanced the ball, by rule that is an illegal fair catch signal, and the correct call was made. If you didn't want to lose to the Gophers, you could have scored more than 3 points against a pretty awful defense. Stop bitching Iowa fans.)

Pick 26 - Dallas Cowboys (trade w/ Buccaneers)

Junior Colson, LB, Michigan

Taking an off-ball LB in the first round isn't necessarily a great move, but Dallas is desperate for help at that spot. Colson is a great athlete and was the heart of Michigan's National Championship defense last season. This would be an unsexy but solid pick.

Pick 27 - Arizona Cardinals

Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Cardinals stay put and end up with the best WR and one of the best CB's in the class. That would make for a fantastic first day for them.

Pick 28 - Philadelphia Eagles

Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

I have Latu dropping lower than most because I think that the health will scare teams off. The Eagles need help at corner, but they have never been a team to shy away from taking BPA when given the chance.

Pick 29 - Detroit Lions

Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

The Lions paid big money earlier this week to lock in core players on the offensive side of the ball, so now they need to start building up the defense. Newton is versatile and could create a lot of problems next to Hutchinson for Detroit.

Pick 30 - Baltimore Ravens

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Best name in the draft without any competition coming close. Also, he's a good player at a position of need for Baltimore. Win-win.

Pick 31 - San Francisco 49ers

Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

The 49ers could be another team that moves up, but taking a guy who could play guard early on for them is a win this late in the round.

Pick 32 - Kansas City Chiefs

Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

Everyone seems to think it's a foregone conclusion that KC goes with a WR in the first round, but that has never really been their M.O. They have weapons around Mahomes already with Kelce, Rice, and Pacheco, and this is a historically deep WR class that could allow them to still get a difference maker in a later round. Robinson is perhaps the best athlete in the entire class, and if he hits his ceiling, the Chiefs defense could get just as scary as their offense.