There are still just under two weeks before the 2023 NFL Draft. But soon enough, that draft will be behind us, and we’ll again be looking forward, this time to the 2024 NFL Draft. As an exercise, let’s take that look ahead now, and see what storylines the 2024 class might bring 12 months from now.
2024 NFL Mock Draft | Round 1
1) Houston Texans: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
There’s smoke that if Bryce Young is gone at second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans may pass on a QB entirely. Let’s entertain that possibility here. No QB in 2023 means another year of technical tanking, which means Caleb Williams is on the way.
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We’re not even into the 2024 NFL Draft cycle yet, and Williams is already being hyped as a potentially generational prospect. I won’t go that far yet — he predictably has room to improve in structure — but his ability to create and elongate throwing windows is second to none.
2) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals will probably stick close to a pure “best player available” strategy for at least one or two more cycles. In this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, the BPA, at a position of need, is Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison gives a hemorrhaging receiving corps a new top dog, and at 6’4″, 205 pounds, he has the size, athleticism, route nuance, and otherworldly instincts to be a star.
3) Indianapolis Colts: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Colts came away from the 2023 NFL Draft with a QB, and now the focus shifts to ensuring they’re protected. They have Bernhard Raimann, who has potential. But Olumuyiwa Fashanu is a blue-chip OT prospect, who would have decisively been my OT1 in the 2023 class. His combined mobility, strength, and leverage overwhelm opponents.
4) Tennessee Titans: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
After a 2022 campaign that saw him complete 342 of 517 attempts for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, Drake Maye has drawn comparisons to Justin Herbert. The 6’4″, 220-pound QB has unnatural mobility for his size, and he also effortlessly layers high-velocity throws with his arm. He helps Tennessee reset at the QB spot.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Entering his redshirt sophomore season, the stars may be aligning for Quinn Ewers to have his breakout season. The Texas offense has weapons and supporting talent. And Ewers himself has the experience to build on. Once the game starts slowing down for him, he has the live, elastic arm and gunslinger mentality to entice a team like the Buccaneers.
6) Washington Commanders: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Commanders could easily consider a quarterback here, but they may give Sam Howell another year if he shows enough potential. It’s particularly fun to think about Brock Bowers in Eric Bieniemy’s offense. Bowers is a high-energy athlete at 6’4″, 230 pounds, with elite ability over the middle of the field. He’s a dual-sided catch-point and RAC savant.
7) New England Patriots: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
In a twist of fate, Bill Belichick once again starts a new era of Patriots football with a talented but undersized QB from Michigan. J.J. McCarthy still has room to mature and build on his frame ahead of the NFL, but his raw talent is an accelerant for his stock. He’s a truly elite athlete who rips throws with effortless velocity to all levels of the field.
8) Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Rams’ roster truly needs a full revamp, but EDGE is one of the most pressing, high-value needs. Had he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, Florida State’s Jared Verse could have been an early-to-mid first-round pick. At 6’4″, 249 pounds, he has burst, bend, power, and active hands, and he’s on track to exceed his nine sacks and 17 TFLs in 2023.
9) Atlanta Falcons: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
If the Falcons give Desmond Ridder an extended audition at QB, they’ll want to increase the variability of their weapons. In particular, speed is a quality that could help unlock Atlanta’s offense. Nabers has the speed to both elevate his stock and elevate the Falcons’ passing attack. He can effortlessly stack DBs, and his coordination at the catch point is top-tier.
10) Pittsburgh Steelers: J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
There’s a chance the Steelers could lose Alex Highsmith in the 2024 offseason. If they do, EDGE will be at the top of their needs list. At 6’4″, 277 pounds, J.T. Tuimoloau provides a rare mix of size, burst, flexibility, and power, but his best trait might be his penchant for playmaking. He logged 3.5 sacks and 10.5 TFLs in 2022, and the best is still yet to come.
11) Seattle Seahawks: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
Adding Dre’Mont Jones in free agency will help the Seahawks stay disruptive on the defensive front. But you know what’s better than one disruptive DT? Two disruptive DTs. At 6’2″, 290 pounds, Michael Hall Jr. is an extremely well-leveraged DL with elite burst off the snap and heavy hands at contact. His 4.5 sacks in 2022 exhibit his pass-rushing upside.
12) Green Bay Packers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Between David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman, the Packers might not have a long-term solution at tackle on their roster. Joe Alt does things you’d never expect a 6’8″, 315-pound blocker to do on the football field. His recovery athleticism and short-area burst for his size are uncanny, and he’s shown he can keep his hands tight and acquire leverage as well.
13) Chicago Bears (from CAR): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The 2023 NFL Draft provides an opportunity for the Bears to beef up the trenches, but cornerback may be an emerging need next offseason, with Jaylon Johnson scheduled to hit free agency. Kool-Aid McKinstry has the short-area twitch, foot speed, and disciplined technique to start right away, and his 15 deflections reflect his ball skills.
14) Denver Broncos: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Even after all the investments the Broncos have made in recent years, there’s still a sense that they can improve their EDGE rotation. Dallas Turner fits Denver’s preferences as a lean, athletic rushing linebacker. At 6’4″, 245 pounds, he has a working arsenal of moves, a hot motor, and his closing speed in pursuit is jaw-dropping at times.
15) Las Vegas Raiders: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
If the Raiders are one of the four teams who come away with a first-round QB in 2023, they’ll want to waste no time giving that QB the proper support. J.C. Latham is a natural right tackle who has enough refinement to start right away. And at 6’6″, 335 pounds, he’s unnaturally well-leveraged, with flashes of scary short-area correction and power.
16) New Orleans Saints: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Saints return to their Ohio State WR pipeline here, adding Emeka Egbuka to join forces with Michael Thomas and Chris Olave. With Thomas manning the boundary and Olave providing his surgical brand of speed, Egbuka can be a versatile movement Z receiver with his nuance, play strength, smooth catching ability, and utility in the RAC phase.
17) Chicago Bears: Maason Smith, DT, LSU
An injury kept Maason Smith off the field for nearly the entirety of the 2022 season, but he’s working his way back and is expected to once again become a force on the LSU interior in 2023.
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He’s a rare athlete with absurd top-end burst at 6’6″, 292 pounds, providing the combination of length and quick acceleration that Matt Eberflus covets.
18) New York Giants: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
The Giants might have greater needs than LB, but the value lines up best with Clemson’s Barrett Carter. Carter isn’t just an LB, to be fair. He’s a defensive weapon. His 10.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks from 2022 highlight his value as a 6’1″, 225-pound homing missile in the box, but he also has the skills to be a vulture over the middle of the field in coverage.
19) Minnesota Vikings: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Vikings are keeping Kirk Cousins at arm’s length heading into a contract year, and it’s entirely likely they move on in the near future. If Bo Nix sustains his play in 2023, he could field mid-to-late first-round consideration. He quietly has high-level creation capacity and arm talent, and he’s become much more measured and accurate as a pocket operator.
20) Houston Texans (from CLE): Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Houston’s defense is slowly coming together under DeMeco Ryans, and a player like Cooper DeJean could bring it all together. DeJean has great size and density at 6’1″, 209 pounds, and his five picks, three pick-sixes, and eight deflections in 2022 highlight his game-changing potential. He’s explosive, agile, intelligent, and versatile to boot.
21) Baltimore Ravens: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
At some point, it’s going to take more than an over-the-hill Odell Beckham Jr. to revitalize the Ravens’ WR room. Rome Odunze is one WR who’s on a first-round trajectory. He caught 75 passes for 1,145 yards and seven scores in 2022 and is reportedly dominating in spring camp. At 6’3″ and over 200 pounds, he has size, separation ability, and playmaking chops.
22) Jacksonville Jaguars: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
The 2023 NFL Draft brought a slight dip in guard talent, but the 2024 cycle should bring the position back up to par. Donovan Jackson, in particular, is a first-round sleeper to watch. He’s a former five-star recruit who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, using his athleticism, shock in his hands, and strength at 6’4″, 320 pounds to stand out.
23) Miami Dolphins: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Jer’Zhan Newton was a dominant defender on a dominant Illinois defense in 2022, amassing 61 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. At 6’2″, 280 pounds, he’s a bit light, but he has great natural leverage, and he’s incredibly flexible. He can flex to absorb power in run defense, and he’s a multifaceted pass rusher with precise hands.
24) Los Angeles Chargers: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
If Ewers has a good enough season to go top-five overall, odds are Xavier Worthy is a big part of that season and helps his own stock in the process. Worthy is a bit of an outlier with his undersized frame, but he’s an elite speed threat downfield who tracks vertically with rare proficiency. For Justin Herbert and Kellen Moore, he’d be a missing piece.
25) Detroit Lions: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
There was talk that Ruke Orhorhoro might declare for the 2023 NFL Draft after a standout 2022 campaign that saw him put up four sacks and eight TFLs. He instead returned, but he’s an early candidate to crack the early rounds in 2024. Orhorhoro, at around 6’4″, 300 pounds, is incredibly explosive and can line up everywhere from 1-tech to 5-tech.
26) Dallas Cowboys: Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida
After a 2022 campaign that saw him log a pick and eight pass deflections, Jason Marshall Jr. is gearing up to emerge in the 2024 NFL Draft. At 6’1″, 198 pounds, he has great size and length to go along with effortless burst out of transitions and high-end recovery speed. Opposite Trevon Diggs, he’d present quarterbacks with a formidable challenge.
27) New York Jets: Andrew Mukuba, S, Clemson
Andrew Mukuba was a little bit better in 2021 when he broke onto the scene as a true freshman at Clemson. Nevertheless, he still has the dynamic athleticism, versatility, and playmaking ability to be the top safety in the 2024 NFL Draft. Mukuba is a very willing competitor coming downhill, but he can also manage zones and match WRs in man.
28) San Francisco 49ers: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
Alt isn’t the only offensive tackle at Notre Dame with first-round potential. On the other side, Blake Fisher provides similar upside. At 6’6″, 310 pounds, Fisher has better natural leverage and weight distribution. He can be imbalanced at times, but he gets out in space with ease, can use torque to seal defenders, and would fit San Francisco’s scheme well.
29) Cincinnati Bengals: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
The Bengals are one such team that might be in position to spend on a luxury player in the 2023 NFL Draft. Assuming they move on from Joe Mixon, TreVeyon Henderson could be a good successor.
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At 5’10”, 214 pounds, he’s a dense, explosive runner with dynamic speed in space, and he also has the receiving ability to be a versatile offensive weapon.
30) Buffalo Bills: Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
As a prospect, Brandon Dorlus has some Travon Walker-lite appeal. He’s 6’3″, 285 pounds, with elite proportional length, and the power capacity to line up inside. But he’s also athletic, agile, and explosive enough to line up at 5-tech or outside the tackle and work around the apex with active hands. That violent brand of versatility is what Buffalo needs.
31) Philadelphia Eagles: Tony Grimes, CB, Texas A&M
Although the Eagles brought back Darius Slay and James Bradberry at CB, they should still have an eye on the future at CB. Tony Grimes could be on their radar in the 2024 NFL Draft, especially if he thrives at Texas A&M. He’s a glider at 6’0″, 195 pounds with superb proportional length, and his ball-tracking ability as a playmaker is a separating factor.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Oronde Gadsden II, WR, Syracuse
The Chiefs are always eager to add weapons, and they get a very exciting one here in Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden II. At 6’5″, 216 pounds, Gadsden has the size and length of a move tight end, but he has the foot speed and hip looseness of a true WR. And at the catch point, his sense of timing and coordination is near the top of the 2024 class.
2024 NFL Mock Draft | Round 2
33) Houston Texans
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
34) Arizona Cardinals
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Florida
35) Indianapolis Colts
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
36) Tennessee Titans
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
37) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Omar Speights, LB, LSU
38) Washington Commanders
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
39) New England Patriots
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
40) Los Angeles Rams
Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
41) Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
42) Pittsburgh Steelers
Fentrell Cypress II, CB, Florida State
43) Seattle Seahawks
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
44) Green Bay Packers
Raheim Sanders, RB, Arkansas
45) Carolina Panthers
Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas
46) New Orleans Saints (from DEN)
James Williams, S, Miami (FL)
47) Las Vegas Raiders
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
48) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO)
Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
49) Chicago Bears
Antwane Wells Jr., WR, South Carolina
50) New York Giants
Fabien Lovett, DT, Florida State
51) Minnesota Vikings
Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State
52) Cleveland Browns
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
53) Baltimore Ravens
Darian Chestnut, CB, LSU
54) Jacksonville Jaguars
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
55) Miami Dolphins
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
56) Los Angeles Chargers
Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (FL)
57) Detroit Lions
LaDarius Henderson, G, Michigan
58) Dallas Cowboys
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
59) New York Jets
Cameron Ward, QB, Washington State
60) San Francisco 49ers
Jordan Burch, EDGE, Oregon
61) Cincinnati Bengals
Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
62) Buffalo Bills
Jestin Jacobs, LB, Oregon
63) Philadelphia Eagles
Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
64) Kansas City Chiefs
Paris Shand, DT, LSU
2024 NFL Mock Draft | Round 3
65) Houston Texans
Kingsley Suamataia, G, BYU
66) Arizona Cardinals
Tyreek Chappell, CB, Texas A&M
67) Indianapolis Colts
Will Sheppard, WR, Vanderbilt
68) Tennessee Titans
Carson Steele, RB, UCLA
69) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keon Coleman, WR, Michigan State
70) Washington Commanders
Tyler Baron, EDGE, Tennessee
71) New England Patriots
McCallan Castles, TE, Tennessee
72) Los Angeles Rams
Graham Barton, OL, Duke
73) Atlanta Falcons
Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
74) Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
75) Seattle Seahawks
Javion Cohen, G, Miami (FL)
76) Green Bay Packers
Rod Moore, S, Michigan
77) Carolina Panthers
Mario Williams, WR, USC
78) Denver Broncos
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
79) Las Vegas Raiders
Darius Robinson, DT, Missouri
80) Denver Broncos (from NO)
Dorian Singer, WR, USC
81) Chicago Bears
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
82) New York Giants
Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
83) Detroit Lions (from MIN)
Jeff Sims, QB, Nebraska
84) Cleveland Browns
Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
85) Baltimore Ravens
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
86) Atlanta Falcons (from JAX)
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
87) Miami Dolphins
Pick Forfeited
88) Los Angeles Chargers
Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan
89) Detroit Lions
Seydou Traore, TE, Colorado
90) Dallas Cowboys
Sean Martin, DL, West Virginia
91) New York Jets
Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
92) San Francisco 49ers
Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
93) Cincinnati Bengals
Jeremiah Walker, CB, Stephen F. Austin
94) Buffalo Bills
Cole Bishop, S, Utah
95) Philadelphia Eagles
Khordae Sydnor, EDGE, Purdue
96) Kansas City Chiefs
Jalin Conyers, TE, Arizona State
97) San Francisco 49ers
Blake Watson, RB, Memphis
