Will McFadden’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
- Chicago Bears | Caleb Williams, QB, USC
This has been the status quo pretty much all season, so why shake things up now? While the Bears are still deliberating whether or not to move on from Justin Fields, the general consensus appears to be that Williams is too good a prospect to pass up. I agree. Williams checks nearly every physical box you’d want, and there’s a Steph-Curry quality to him in the way he makes so many things look effortless. He will need to play within the timing of the offense a bit more at the next level, but Williams’ upside should make Chicago run to the podium.
2. Washington Commanders | Drake Maye, QB, UNC
With a great season, Maye might have pushed Williams for the top spot in this draft—and he already is in the eyes of some people. Maye didn’t play poorly by any means, but the Tarheels’ relatively underwhelming season has cooled some of the public conversation about him. It shouldn’t, Maye is pretty much the ideal quarterback prospect. He’s got an elite arm, great size, and moves very well. Maye can rip the ball deep downfield or into tight windows, but he also feathers the ball over defenders with excellent touch. In most years, he’d be a very strong No. 1 pick.
3. New England Patriots | Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
In a lot of ways, this is where the draft truly gets interesting. There’s a chance Daniels’ hype continues to grow, and he makes a serious challenge to leap Maye and even Williams. There’s also the chance New England would rather take Marvin Harrison Jr. and go another route at quarterback. But Daniels would be a nice first player to invest in for new head coach Jerod Mayo. He’s the quintessential dual-threat quarterback who showcased the traits that NFL teams salivate over at the highest level in 2023. There are some legitimate questions about the Heisman Trophy winner’s game, but traits often win out with draft evaluations and I think they will here as well.
4. Arizona Cardinals | Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
NFL Drafts are a little like the MVP Award, any time there’s a quarterback worthy of consideration, they shoot to the top of the list. By many accounts, though, Harrison Jr. is actually the top player in this draft. He has all of the tools to live up to his Hall of Fame pedigree, and Harrison Jr. should immediately become one of the top receivers in the NFL. He has outstanding speed to threaten defenses vertically on every play while also possessing the top-tier coordination and body control to make him a devastating route runner and contested-catch magician. I expect the Cardinals to be locked in on Harrison Jr. at this pick. They need an alpha receiver, and he would elevate the play of Kyler Murray.
5. Los Angeles Chargers | Brock Bowers, TE, UGA
Kyle Pitts has not yet lived up to his draft reputation in Atlanta, so it’s fair to wonder if a team would select a tight end this high so soon after the Falcons’ decision. This pick just makes too much sense for too many reasons though. For starters, Bowers, who is from Napa, Calif., has a style of play that translates to the NFL in a more traditional way and at a very high level. Bowers is an elite receiving threat at the tight end position, who excels in creating yards after the catch. The comparisons to George Kittle are so abundant for a reason. In Bowers, Justin Herbert could soon find his new favorite target, which would mean a lot for the Chargers offense. The Chargers could be a prime candidate to trade back if only two QBs go off the board.
6. New York Giants | Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
My board isn’t shaping up any differently than my No. 1 Bleav Boy Patrick Chiotti’s initial mock draft so far, but a lot of the top players align pretty well with the needs of the teams picking in the Top 7. Nabers would give the Giants their most dynamic wide receiver since another LSU Tiger—Odell Beckham Jr. There are a lot of similarities between the styles of Nabers and Beckham with shades of Ja’Marr Chase thrown in for good measure. Nabers is seamless as an accelerator, gliding past defenders before they know what’s happened. He was lethal on double moves last season for the Tigers and has the versatility to play multiple roles at the next level. Harrison Jr. and Nabers are the clear 1-2 in this class, and then the debate really begins.
7. Tennessee Titans | Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt would be a classic pick for the Titans under Mike Vrabel or Mike Mularkey, but it’s entirely possible that the new head coach and general manager Ran Carthon go in a different direction. The Titans have a glaring need at left tackle, though, and they could take the best one in this draft. Notre Dame turns out offensive linemen like Iowa does tight ends or Ohio State does defensive ends, and Alt is another premier prospect. The son of NFL Pro Bowler John Alt, he has an excellent frame and top-tier movement skills at the position. Alt has the flexibility to handle top pass rushers in the NFL and the explosive power to move the line of scrimmage. He’s a ready-made pro and should have a long career.
8. Atlanta Falcons | Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
The Falcons are another team that could go in several different directions depending on their coaching hire and free agency decisions. Right now, there’s no question that quarterback should be the No. 1 priority for Atlanta, but with the top three passers off the board already I chose to give the Falcons their much-anticipated playmaker off the edge. Latu will draw serious attention during his medical evaluations in Indianapolis after a neck injury very nearly ended his college career, but that’s the only question mark. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound pass rusher has an impressive array of moves in his arsenal, which he employs to capitalize on his opponents’ mistakes. Latu has 23.5 sacks in 25 games over the last two seasons, and his tape is every bit as impressive as his production.
9. Chicago Bears | Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Chicago could get its second crack at an elite franchise quarterback and pair him with an ultra-athletic receiver just eight picks later. Not too shabby. Odunze pairs a 6-foot-3 frame with terrific body control to make a lot of difficult catches, but he just as frequently creates separation with route-running skills that are atypical for his size. No receiver had a better 2023 season than Odunze, who caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Huskies. He’s still a little bit raw and will need to develop his release at the next level, but Odunze would pair very nicely with D.J. Moore and give the Bears a legitimate duo at receiver.
10. New York Jets | Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
There’s a lot to like about the Jets’ roster, but the quarterback and offensive line play have to be better in 2024. With Aaron Rodgers set to be back next year, the offensive line—specifically offensive tackle—is the easy choice here. Some consider Fashanu to be the top prospect among linemen because of his remarkable athleticism and hand strength. He will need to develop in the run game a little bit, but Fashanu has elite upside.
11. Minnesota Vikings | Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
I seriously considered Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy for this spot, because I think he’ll be the fourth QB gone and he’d be a nice fit in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. However, this might be a little high to select him, so let’s restock the Vikings’ defensive front. Verse had nine sacks in each of the last two seasons for the Seminoles and has a beautiful blend of power and athleticism to give tackles fits. His issues are correctable with coaching, and he should quickly be an upgrade over Marcus Davenport.
12. Denver Broncos | Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Expect Newton to climb up boards in the coming months. Like some of the other “undersized” tackle prospects over the last decade, he has the burst, quickness, and pass-rush arsenal to offset any of those concerns. It’s Newton’s leverage and ability to get into the body of offensive linemen that set him apart. He’s a versatile disruptor who would be a very nice addition to a Broncos’ defense that improved as the year went along.
13. Las Vegas Raiders | J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Raiders have their head coach, but do they have their quarterback? Aidan O’Connell did as well as should have been expected in a tough situation last season, but he wasn’t drafted to be the future at the position. Instead, the Raiders could chart their new course on offense with this pick. Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix have been popular names connected to the Raiders, but I think McCarthy would fit a run-first, ball-control style and has the ability to take over games.
14. New Orleans Saints | J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
This has been a somewhat common pick for the Saints and with good reason. Trevor Penning has not developed into anything resembling the player the Saints thought he would be, and Ryan Ramczyk, who has been excellent for New Orleans for a long time, has a knee injury that could threaten his career. Enter Latham, who is an uber-athletic and imposing tackle prospect. He would reunite with Saints offensive line coach Doug Marrone, who coached him at Alabama and give New Orleans a terrific pass protector and mover in the run game.
15. Indianapolis Colts | Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Cornerback is really an eye-of-the-beholder position in this draft, and the top option could change depending on what a team is looking for. I like McKinstry for the Colts a lot. He’s an exceptional zone defender with the closing instincts to make a lot of plays on the ball, as evidenced by his 22-pass breakups over the last two years. Nobody ran more zone than the Colts last season, and McKinstry is a plug-and-play option who could also become the team’s top returner. Seattle Seahawks | Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
16. Seattle Seahawks | Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
It’s officially a run on Alabama players here in the middle part of the first round. There are some more pressing needs for the Seahawks, particularly on the offensive line and at safety, but in the NFC West, pass rushers are at a premium. Turner is arguably the best in this class, and he would join Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu to bring some serious juice off the edge while growing into a bigger role. Seattle’s head-coaching decision could change this pick, but Turner is too good to pass up.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars | Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Fuaga is another player who has slipped down the board a little bit, but that’s to Jacksonville’s benefit. The Jags have a few glaring needs along the offensive line but none bigger than right tackle. Fortunately, Fuaga may be tops in this draft at that spot. At 6-foot-6 and weighing 325 pounds, Fuaga has ideal size at the position and is an absolute mauler in the run game. He will need to develop a bit in pass protection, but all the tools are there for a cornerstone tackle.
18. Cincinnati Bengals | Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
My fourth receiver off the board lands in an ideal situation. Coleman would be a natural replacement for Tee Higgins if the Bengals’ No. 2 receiver leaves in free agency. The Seminoles star is 6-foot-4 and has an unmissable presence on the field. His blend of athleticism, ball skills, and physicality makes Coleman a terrific option for the Bengals, who could continue to employ a vertical passing attack with Joe Burrow to full effect.
19. Los Angeles Rams | Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Cornerback is a premium draft position, so it’s likely all of the corners in this class start to creep up boards. For now, though, the Rams benefit greatly here with DeJean still available. The former high school quarterback is an insane athlete who is best suited for zone-heavy schemes like the Rams run. He’s versatile enough to move around the defense and has seven interceptions with three touchdowns over the past two seasons.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
An offensive lineman would make sense for Pittsburgh here, but Arnold is a perfect fit for this defense. Pairing him with Joey Porter Jr. would form one of the best young cornerback tandems and give opposing receivers headaches. Arnold is a very physical and confident man corner, who has all of the athletic traits you’d want at the position. He’s a former safety, which highlights his versatility and could develop into one of the league’s top corners.
21. Miami Dolphins | Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu is listed as an offensive tackle, but I think he would excel as a left guard in Miami’s offense. The Dolphins are losing their interior offensive line from last season, so that’s the most pressing team need at this point. In Fautanu, the Dolphins would get a first-rate move blocker who climbs to the second level in a blink. Popping him inside would mitigate some of the questions about Fautanu, notably power and balance on the edge. Fautanu was also very solid in pass protection during his college career. He’s got Pro Bowl potential in this scheme.
22. Philadelphia Eagles | Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
It seems likely the Eagles will address their cornerback spot early on in this draft, and Mitchell fits the attacking mentality of this defense perfectly. Mitchell was PFF’s top-rated college corner in each of the last two seasons while playing all over the Rockets’ defense. He was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks in that time, breaking up 37 passes and intercepting six passes. There is some slowness to react, and he can refine his technique to minimize offensive advantages, but Mitchell would fit in nicely with Philly.
23. Houston Texans | Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Houston’s offense was one of the stories of the 2023 season, but the Texans’ defense made some serious strides as well under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. Murphy would continue that upward trajectory and give Houston a spring-loaded Tasmanian Devil in the middle of its defensive line. Violence is a great word to describe Murphy’s pass-rush style, and there are notes of Grady Jarrett in his game. Throw him on a defensive line with Will Anderson Jr.—Baby, you’ve got a stew going.
24. Dallas Cowboys | Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
This is a pretty popular pick for the Cowboys, and it’s for good reason. Tyron Smith is set to be a free agent, and although he’s likely going to get serious Hall of Fame consideration, Dallas can set themselves up for the future here with Morgan. The Arizona left tackle played at a high level while logging over 2,400 snaps in his college career, although he did tear his ACL in 2022. He’s a terrific athlete, which shows up most often in pass protection. He’ll need to develop a bit in the run game, but Morgan should be a good blind-side protector early on in his career with the potential for so much more.
25. Green Bay Packers | Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Packers likely need a successor to David Bakhtiari, so a player like Amarius Mims might make a lot of sense here. But adding a player of Wiggins’s abilities and pairing him with Jaire Alexander would go a long way toward cementing Green Bay’s corner spot. Wiggins could easily be the first corner taken in this draft, and he’s scheme versatile which is perfect for the Packers’ defense.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
The Buccaneers will have some difficult decisions to make this offseason with a lot of key players scheduled to become free agents. Shaq Barrett is still under contract for another season, but could easily be a cap casualty if the team does retool things. That would make Trice an appealing option here. He’s a very different style of player from Barrett, but Trice has an excellent frame for an edge defender and plays with his hair on fire. There are some athletic limitations at the next level, but Trice’s power, array of moves, and relentless attitude are more than enough to succeed in the NFL.
27. Arizona Cardinals | Chop Robinson, EDGE, PSU
There are so many different directions the Cardinals could go here, including cornerback and offensive line. However, Jonathan Gannon comes from Philadelphia where the defense was built front to back, so I’m taking the same approach here. Robinson has the skillset to climb up draft boards as well as get further into the process, and he might have the best speed around the arc of any rusher in this class. He won’t fix the Cardinals’ defense by himself, but Robinson is a great piece to start with.
28. Buffalo Bills | Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
The Stefon Diggs situation is a very interesting one in Buffalo, but, outside of a trade, it might not be very feasible to move on from him. Therefore, I’m going defense here instead of wide receiver, which can be addressed on Day 2. Kinchens is the top safety on my board, and it’s because he has the type of versatility that modern defenses covet. He can play in the box, slot, or deep as a centerfielder. Kinchens covers ground quickly and packs a wallop. He’ll fit in nicely with the Bills as Micah Hyde’s replacement.
29. Kansas City Chiefs | Xavier Leggette, WR, South Carolina
After the first four receivers, you can order the next eight guys or so any way you’d like. Be it Terrell Owens, Sammy Watkins or Justyn Ross, there’s an allure that these physical-specimen types of receivers have on Andy Reid. Leggette might as well have been built in a lab to pair with Patrick Mahomes. He’s 6-foot-3, weighs 227 pounds, and was clocked at 22.3 mph on a touchdown earlier this season, which was faster than any player in the NFL this season. Leggett broke out in his final college season—which may scare some teams off—and gained 1,255 yards with seven touchdown catches. The Chiefs haven’t been afraid to swing big in drafts, and they do so here.
30. Detroit Lions | Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Detroit could use some defensive line help, but there’s not a player I love for them here. I do love adding Lassiter to their secondary a lot, though. The former Bulldog would pair nicely with Brian Branch, giving Detroit two physical, hyper-instinctive players. Lassiter is shockingly quick in his transition phases thanks to his processing and hummingbird-like feet. He’s an absolute pest in man coverage and closes like a great white when coming up to make the tackle. There are athletic limitations at the next level for Lassiter, but he’s got the mindset Dan Campbell covets.
31. San Francisco | Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mims has all of the athletic traits to be a top-15 pick, but with only eight career starts under his belt, he slips down to the bottom of the first round. That’s excellent news for the 49ers, who can address their right tackle position with potentially one of the best players in this draft. At 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, Mims is a massive human being. However, he carries that size very well and he moves like he’s 50 pounds lighter. Mims would benefit greatly from learning from Trent Williams and the coaching staff in San Francisco.
32. Baltimore Ravens | Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
The Ravens have a complete roster but a number of supporting players will be hitting free agency soon, including Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor. Baltimore can offset those losses and give Lamar Jackson a true speedster on the outside by selecting Franklin here. Franklin ranked eighth in the country with 14 deep catches last season and his 3.32 yards per route run in 2023 was sixth—one spot behind Marvin Harrison Jr. He’s also a versatile route runner who can move around the Ravens’ offense and will complement Zay Flowers very nicely.
Will McFadden is the host of the Bleav in Falcons podcast, tune in for some more Falcons news and commentary.
