2024 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots trade back but still land QB, NFC East teams strengthen offense

While some have argued the case for the Bears to stick with Justin Fields and trade out of the first overall pick for the second year in a row, that just doesn’t make sense for Chicago’s salary cap. Plus, there are still some questions about who Fields is as a player and what he could do. Williams isn’t flawless. He could be better at staying on schedule and executing the plays that are called, but his cool demeanor and ingenuity when plays do break down make him a special quarterback prospect.

It’s new regime in Washington. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn look to kick off their franchise-altering draft class that includes six of the first 102 picks with their face-of-the-franchise QB. Maye was the only FBS player with 7,000-plus passing yards and 1,000-plus rushing yards in the past two seasons.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner enters the pros with 55 games of experience as a starter (29 at Arizona State, 26 at LSU), and he parlayed that experience into becoming the only player in FBS history with 12,000-plus career passing yards and 3,000-plus career rushing yards. He also became the only FBS player since the turn of the 21st century to average over 300 passing yards per game and 75 or more rushing yards per game in a season this past year. The Falcons desperately need a quarterback to maximize their top-10 pick investments in tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson. They pay a high price to get the passer they desire.

College football’s receiving touchdowns leader across the past two seasons (28) enters this draft as the clear-cut WR1. Marvin Harrison Jr. has drawn comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald and Justin Jefferson early in the draft process. His talent will give Kyler Murray a much-needed top target.

The Chargers will need another pass-catcher after likely needing to make tough salary cap decisions with wideouts Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Los Angeles selected TCU’s Quentin Johnston (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) in the first round last year, and this time it selects a receiver with a different build in LSU’s Malik Nabers (6-0, 200). He was the most electrifying receiver in the nation last year, and Justin Herbert has one of the most live arms in the entire league. Nabers will allow him to let it rip.

College football’s receiving yards leader (1,640) lands with the G-Men, a team starved for receiver production. The last time the Giants had a player total 1,000 receiving yards was Odell Beckham Jr.’s final year in the Big Apple with 1,052 yards back in 2018. Standing at 6-3 and weighing 215 pounds, Odunze can be an immediate help to whoever New York has under center in 2024.

Alt was an unanimous 2023 All-American as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded offensive lineman last season (90.7). He has been impenetrable as a pass-blocker the last two seasons, allowing just one sack and only 11 quarterback pressures since 2022. Given the litany of injuries Titans quarterbacks have suffered the last two seasons, Tennessee selects the best offensive line prospect in the 2024 class.

J.J. McCarthy was an efficient conductor for Michigan’s run-first offense the last two seasons, throwing 44 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. The result: a 27-1 record and leaving college football as a 2023 national champion. McCarthy was adept at executing the offense his coaches asked him to run while also showcasing athleticism as a runner and while throwing on the run. He has the velocity to make tight window throws and has no issue taking what the defense gives him. The Patriots opt to stockpile draft assets while taking a QB many believe to be heavily underrated because of his collegiate playbook.

The trade and extension of Montez Sweat last season was critical, but Chicago still needs plenty of pass rush help. The Bears’ 30 sacks were the second fewest in the NFL last season while their 31.2% quarterback pressure rate ranked as the third worst in the league. The only pass rusher who totaled more sacks (22.5), tackles for loss (32.5) and quarterback pressures (117) than Dallas Turner from 2021-2023 was former teammate Will Anderson Jr. Turner isn’t as polished entering the league as Anderson was, but the physical tools are there. Chicago acquires arguably the most pro-ready edge rusher prospect in the 2024 class.

The Jets’ most pressing need is simple: Find help to protect Aaron Rodgers. Their quarterback is now 40 years old and coming off a major leg injury. The last thing New York needs is for him to be running for his life on the MetLife Stadium turf. The Jets cycled through an NFL-most 13 starting offensive linemen, a metric they need to see go way down in 2024. Fashanu didn’t allow a sack at all during his 697 pass-blocking snaps in college. He could improve as run-blocker, but this is the kind of anchor at left tackle Rodgers needs.

Terrion Arnold is the hands-down top defensive back in this class, and he goes to a team in desperate need of a true CB1 to anchor the back end of Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy defense (50.7% blitz rate, highest in the NFL). At 6-0 and weighing 196 pounds, Arnold won consistently in the SEC. The First-Team All-American co-led the conference with five interceptions and led the entire SEC in targets ending with an incompletion (43). Arnold also didn’t allow a touchdown on 445 coverage snaps last season.

The Broncos were a below-average team in quarterback pressure rate, sack rate and sacks last season. Verse is arguably this class’ best when it comes to bull-rushing opposing offensive tackles into their quarterbacks to blow up plays before they can even get going. He is also sturdy against the run. The Broncos needs more juice in their pass rush, and Verse will help them greatly in this area.

The Raiders’ starting center (Andre James), right guard (Greg Van Roten) and right tackle (Jermaine Eluemunor) are set to be unrestricted free agents this offseason. Latham is a plug-and-play guy at tackle or guard. The Second-Team All-American allowed just three sacks in 970 career pass-blocking snaps. Latham started every Alabama game (27) at right tackle the last two seasons.

New Orleans whiffed on 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning. Left tackle Andrus Peat is also a free agent. The Saints add a mountain-like blocker in Fuaga, who is 6-6, 334 pounds. He is a menace as a run blocker, and he has plenty of upside as a pass blocker. New Orleans, annually strapped for cap space, addresses a key position of need here.

The Colts need another big-bodied target over the middle, and Brock Bowers falls into their laps as a one of the best tight end prospects in years. He is the SEC’s all-time leader for tight ends in catches (175), receiving yards (2,538) and receiving touchdowns (26) — and all those figures were also the most among TEs from 2021-2023. He is also the first college football player with 25 or more receiving touchdowns and five or more rushing touchdowns in a career since Tavon Austin did so at West Virginia from 2009-2012. Dynamic to say the least.

Laiatu Latu racked up the hardware at UCLA last season: He was named a unanimous All-American and the 2023 Ted Hendricks Award winner (the best defensive end in college football). He led the FBS in quarterback pressure rate (21.4%) in 2023, and his 23.5 sacks across the last two seasons are also the most in college football. His 96.3 Pro Football Focus defensive grade is the highest by an FBS in the past 10 seasons. The big question with Latu is how his medical testing goes. He missed two seasons with a neck injury in 2020 and 2021. Leonard Williams is set to hit free agency and whether or not he returns, Latu could improve the Seahawks’ front seven greatly.

Byron Murphy II is exactly what the Jaguars need up front to pair nicely with Josh Allen and Travon Walker on the edges of their defensive front. They were the seventh-worst run defense in football in 2023, and the 6-1, 308-pound mountain of a man could go a long way toward getting back on track. He had the highest quarterback pressure rate (17.0%) by an FBS defensive tackle last season (minimum 250 pass rushes) as well as the highest Pro Football Focus pass rush grade (91.5) by an FBS defensive tackle in 2023. Jacksonville had the sixth-worst sack rate (6.1%) in the NFL, and Murphy could help fix that.

Mims is somewhat of a question mark with only eight career starts in 30 college games. He didn’t allow a sack in 377 pass-blocking snaps in college. Mims did start in both of Georgia’s playoff games en route to a 2022 CFP national title. The Bengals need to protect Joe Burrow long term after making him the highest-paid player in the league on a per-year basis ($55 million average per year), and Mims and his 6-7, 340-pound frame would be an affordable and helpful add to achieve that goal.

One of the darlings of the Senior Bowl, Powers-Johnson is perhaps the best interior blocker in the entire draft. At 6-3, 320, he could play guard or center for a Rams team that has openings at center and right guard. He will fit nicely into Sean McVay’s offense.

The Steelers could use another young corner to pair with Joey Porter Jr., with Patrick Peterson getting older and both Levi Wallace and Chandon Sullivan hitting free agency. The First-Team All-ACC will fit right into to the Pittsburgh mold at corner, standing at 6-2 and weighing 185 pounds. Wiggins is a long, athletic cornerback with high-end speed. Mike Tomlin will have fun with this pick.

The Dolphins were allocating a ton of money to their cornerback position between Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard. Miami made a predictable cap decision on Howard this offseason by releasing him last week. Selecting Mitchell, a 6-0, 196-pound cornerback who is equipped with speed that will likely test in the 4.3 range in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, could help out their defense tremendously both now and later.

Thomas is massive, standing tall at 6-4 and weighing 205 pounds, and he used that frame well in 2023, leading the nation in receiving touchdowns with 17. The Eagles struggled to find a reliable third receiver after A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, which hindered what they were able to do through the air last season. Thomas fixes those issues and provides Philly with a potent trio of wideouts.

Cooper DeJean is one of the top athletes in the entire draft, not just at his position. Iowa moved him around a ton, utilizing his skill set at outside corner, inside corner and at both safety spots. His high school basketball tape is filled with dunks. The 2023 unanimous All-American didn’t allow a touchdown on 374 coverage snaps last season, and he also led the Big Ten in punt return yards (406) the last two seasons. DeJean could be a nice complement across from Derek Stingley Jr. in Houston.

The Cowboys are unclear on what Tyron Smith’s future is in Dallas as the 33-year-old is set to enter free agency in March. They could use a long-term answer at that spot with a number of other contracts needing to be addressed soon. Guyton (6-7, 328 pounds) is the anchor they need at left tackle, especially if the long-term plan is to keep Pro Bowler Tyler Smith at left guard.

The 2023 Morris Trophy winner (the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12) is the type of lineman the Packers crave: A versatile player who can line up at tackle and guard. Head coach Matt LaFleur loves to use the term “best five” when talking about deciding which linemen will start in Green Bay, focusing less on specific position placement than other staffs. Fautanu was a college left tackle, and he could fill in there for David Bakhtiari, who has struggled mightily to stay healthy of late. He could also slide inside to guard, and either Rasheed Walker or Zach Tom could be the long-term blindside protector of Jordan Love.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. locked down his coverage assignment game in and game out in the SEC, not allowing a touchdown in 1,017 career coverage snaps. The only knock on him is his medical history. He suffered a torn ACL that cut his sophomore season short. Rakestraw also played through much of the 2023 season with a groin injury, and he had core muscle surgery that prevented him from participating at the Senior Bowl. His medical testing at the NFL Scouting Combine will be critical.

Kyler Murray’s health is of the upmost importance in Arizona, and the selection of Duke’s Graham Barton is a great way to ensure Murray stays upright. He was a left tackle in college, but he profiles as more of a guard or center in the pros. Barton has quick reflexes, an unrelenting base and a physical finish to his blocks.

Newton, a 2023 consensus All-American and the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, racked up 102 quarterback pressures the last two seasons, the most by an FBS defensive tackle in that span by 35 pressures. Buffalo will always have Kansas City in mind when building out its roster, and having a stout defensive tackle next to Ed Oliver who also has pass rush chops is critical for the Bills when they face Patrick Mahomes again.

Darius Robinson was one of the Senior Bowl darlings who showed out all week in practice down in Mobile, Alabama. Detroit couldn’t find a pass-rush complement to Hutchinson last season, and they get a dynamic athlete at that spot here. That should give their defense a critical boost with the team squarely in contention for NFC supremacy.

Keon Coleman is the bigger-bodied target (6-4, 215) at wide receiver that Lamar Jackson needs. Coleman can line up anywhere, and he is a slick route runner with phenomenal knowledge of how to best utilize his body to maintain leverage against defenders. Coleman has an argument for being the best contested catcher in this class. He’s a great athlete, and he will be a red zone monster in the NFL.

Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones had way too many unblocked runs at Brock Purdy in the Super Bowl. The 49ers’ offensive line needs an upgrade, and Jordan Morgan can help out at tackle or guard. He was a pure left tackle at Arizona, but the 6-5, 325-pound lineman could also play guard in the NFL. San Francisco desperately needs help inside if it is going to get over the hump in the Super Bowl.

The 2023 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year could make a major impact in Kansas City as a rookie. The Chiefs’ 2023 receiver group led the NFL in drops (28) and drop rate (12%), according to SportRadar, so this is a critical area of need for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Mitchell led the Big 12 in touchdown catches (11) last season, showcasing his deep ball and red zone chops. He also had a knack for timely catches, including one to keep the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff hopes alive against TCU and another that kept them within striking distance of Washington in the CFP semifinal. That type of clutch playmaking is exactly what K.C. needs since it will continue playing in big moments for years to come.