Will McFadden's 2024 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
1. Chicago Bears | Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The latest reports indicate that it would take a historic package to move the Bears out of this spot, which sends the message that Chicago plans to take Williams. Instead of signing Fields to a big second contract, the Bears can again take a swing at a franchise-altering quarterback while saving a lot of money at the position. Expect to hear some more nitpicks about Williams’s game leading up until the draft, but this is a no-brainer selection for the Bears.
2. Washington Commanders | Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Washington could go in a lot of different directions. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are the team that makes a trade for a veteran QB like Justin Fields or signs one of the top free-agent options on the market. However, if they use the draft to address the position, Daniels would be very enticing. The Commanders allowed 65 sacks last season, so a player with Daniels’s mobility is a huge benefit.
3. New England Patriots | Drake Maye, QB, UNC
The Patriots are another team I could see going with a veteran option and using this pick on a consensus top prospect like Marvin Harrison Jr. For the purposes of this exercise, though, they get a prospect who checks a ton of boxes. Maye is an aggressive downfield thrower with prototypical size and athleticism that will stress defenses at the next level. The comparisons to Justin Herbert is pretty clear, but I also see flashes of a more athletic Daunte Culpepper.
4. Arizona Cardinals | Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
This is somewhat of a dream pairing that fits a clear need for Arizona as they land arguably the best player in this draft. Harrison Jr. is smooth, fast, and has elite ball skills. He moves extremely well for someone who is 6-foot-4 with the ability to drop his center of gravity and cut on a dime. Receivers are succeeding earlier than ever in today’s game, and Harrison Jr. could be a dominant player in Year 1.
5. Los Angeles Chargers | Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
I feel the Chargers are a prime team to trade out of the Top 5 for the right offer, but since I’m not including trades in this mock draft, Los Angeles gives Justin Herbert more protection here. Rashawn Slater has been solid at left tackle, but he’s got experience playing right tackle in college. Jim Harbaugh could add another bookend with 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.
6. New York Giants | Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Nabers is a smooth 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. He’s not as polished as some of the other top receivers, but Nabers has the athletic tools to devastate NFL defenses. He can pluck the ball out of the air on the move with the very best of them.
7. Tennessee Titans | Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
No receiver had a better 2023 season than Odunze, who caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Huskies. 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. New head coach Brian Callahan may try hard to woo Tee Higgins in free agency, but Odunze would be an excellent fallback plan.
8. Atlanta Falcons | Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
This tradeless exercise shows the tricky situation Atlanta is in. One of the top three quarterbacks in this draft likely won’t be here when the Falcons make their pick, which means they can’t afford to let the draft come to them. If they do, however, they could have their pick of one of the top defensive prospects. I previously had Bruins edge defender Laiatu Latu here, which still makes a lot of sense given his connection to the new Falcon's defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. And yet, the Falcons could solidify a strong secondary unit with a player who many feel has immense upside in the NFL.
9. Chicago Bears | Brock Bowers, TE, UGA
The Bears have a big need at wide receiver, and they already have a nice tight end in Cole Kmet. So, why would Bowers be the choice? Well, Chicago needs as many weapons as it can get, and that’s exactly what Bowers is—a weapon. Tight ends are a young quarterback's best friend, and Bowers would give Caleb Williams a mismatch option right out of the gates while adding versatility to the offensive scheme.
10. New York Jets | Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon St.
Offensive linemen can be a little hard to project because their performance is oftentimes tied to the scheme. However, Fuaga’s pass protection should translate to any team and the Jets need that ability more than most. Fuaga did not allow a single sack throughout his collegiate career and could potentially slot into several different spots along New York’s offensive line. As the Jets seek to improve that unit, Fuaga could help a bunch.
11. Minnesota Vikings | Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
Verse looks the part of a top-end defensive lineman. He’s got the combination of size, power, and burst that teams covet off the edge, but Verse can also kick inside and have success working against guards. He had nine sacks in each of the last two seasons for the Seminoles and has a variety of moves he can deploy successfully.
12. Denver Broncos | Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Turner is considered the best pass rusher in this class by many, and he showed improvement throughout his career at Alabama. He finished with 11 sacks last season in the role vacated by Will Anderson Jr. and Turner could follow in the Defensive Rookie of the Year’s footsteps for Denver. The Broncos need to rebuild their front seven under Sean Payton, and Turner would be a great starting piece for that effort.
13. Las Vegas Raiders | Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Las Vegas ran the ninth-most zone coverage in the league last season, and McKinstry profiles very well as a zone defender. He closes on the ball quickly, as evidenced by his 22-pass breakups the last two years. There are some questions about his speed, which could cause him to slide down the board in a class of corners that feels very bunched. However, McKinstry is a smooth player who would also fill a need at returner for the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints | Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
I last mocked J.C. Latham to the Saints, and I think it’s very likely New Orleans addresses its offensive line at this spot. However, I would not be surprised in the least if they add to the trenches on the defensive side as well. Murphy is slightly undersized but uses that leverage to his advantage to a game-changing effect. He is explosive, and quick and uses his flexibility very well to fight off blocks. The Saints have faced Grady Jarrett for much of the last decade, and now they can add a similar player of their own.
15. Indianapolis Colts | Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins makes a lot of sense for the Colts’ zone-heavy defensive scheme, even if there are some other corners that teams might take higher. Wiggins looks the part of a Cover 3 cornerback with the size and length to match up against No. 1 receivers at the next level. He doesn’t have top-end speed to compete with the league’s best burners, but that should be mitigated by his instincts and intelligence in zone coverage.
16. Seattle Seahawks | Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Seattle could certainly go defense here in the first draft under new head coach Mike MacDonald, but Fautanu would make the Seahawks tougher in the trenches, offensively. The 6-foot-4, 317-pound tackle could play numerous positions along the offensive line, which is good news for a team like Seattle. Fautanu moves very well, packs a punch, and can create second- level lanes quickly.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars | JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Jaguars have a big need at right tackle, and they can fill it with a massive prospect. Latham is 6-foot-6 and weighs 360 pounds, and he uses that size to devastate defenders in the run game. With Cam Robinson already in place, Latham would slot in on the right side and could help balance Jacksonville’s offensive approach. For as much as Latham offers, physically, he’s got to improve some aspects of his technique and mental approach.
18. Cincinnati Bengals | Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn St.
In my previous mock, I had Keon Coleman going to the Bengals. And while that’s a pairing I still love, with Fashanu on the board the Bengals can address a major need with a player who could become a perennial Pro Bowler. The 6-foot-6, 316-pound tackle moves very well and is longer than a Super Bowl halftime. Fashanu is already great in pass protection, so he’d be right at home in Cincinnati. He could end up being a steal at No. 18 if Fashanu develops correctly.
19. Los Angeles Rams | Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell was a standout player at the Senior Bowl, and he will likely be climbing up the boards in the coming weeks—he already is here. Mitchell is a buzzy competitor who loves to be around the ball. 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.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers | J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Arthur Smith never got the quarterback situation right in Atlanta, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he lobbies hard for someone he believes can be the guy in Pittsburgh. McCarthy has the tools to be that guy in a Smith offense. He is athletic, fits the ball into tight windows, and can be effective without a high volume of throws. McCarthy is a field general whose individual plays in college are far more telling of his potential than the totality of his stats.
21. Miami Dolphins | Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton’s athletic traits would pair very nicely with Miami’s offense, and the Dolphins have a clear need at right tackle. He’s another Senior Bowl standout, and Guyton’s rawness could easily be spun into a story of a young player with tons of untapped potential. Guyton is another prospect who checks every box at his position; he just needs more reps under his belt.
22. Philadelphia Eagles | Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The hire of Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator makes this an easy choice for me. In fact, I really like the pairing of DeJean with the Rams because of the Fangio influence on their defense, so this is perhaps an even better marriage. Dejean is a very smooth zone corner and a tremendous overall athlete. His limitations should be helped by Fangio’s defense, which should make DeJean a very high-floor defender out of the gate. He’s also a very willing and capable run defender, which is an important quality for a zone corner.
23. Houston Texans | Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
I initially mocked Byron Murphy II to the Texans in this spot, but he’s not available this time around. In some cases, I think Newton could be even better. He’s got incredibly quick hands, and he knows how to use them effectively—especially his double swipe. He’s on the smaller end, but as we’ve learned with defensive tackles, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Newton wins the leverage battle more often than not, which lets him put up a fight as a run defender. You’re drafting him to become a pass-rushing 3-technique, but there’s a chance he will become a three-down energizer bunny.
24. Dallas Cowboys | Graham Barton, OL, Duke
I expect we’ll have a much better picture of what the Cowboys plan to do with this pick once free agency really gets going. For now, though, there are a few different paths they could take with Tyron Smith, Tyler Biadasz, and Tyler Smith, the former two of whom are set to be free agents. Barton maximizes their flexibility because he could conceivably play left tackle, left guard, or center. If Dallas wants to plug him in at center, fine, re-sign Smith for a year and move on from Biadasz. If Smith’s time has run its course at left tackle, either Barton could take that role, or you could slide Tyler Smith outside. Barton brings a lot to the table, especially in the ground game.
25. Green Bay Packers | Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
It appears likely that David Bakhtiari has played his last down for the Green Bay Packers, so this would be a move to solidify the future of the left tackle position. Bakhtiari leaves massive shoes to fill, but Morgan is a good player who is more capable in pass protection at this phase of his development. Still, if there’s a skill you’d like to have on Day 1, it’s the ability to protect the quarterback. Morgan bounced back nicely from an ACL injury and is an ascending player.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
I really toyed with the idea of going Bo Nix here, because I still wouldn’t rule out the Buccaneers taking a quarterback even if Baker Mayfield returns on a short-term deal. However, with Coleman still on the board, let’s try to find that Mike Evans replacement for Tampa Bay. In Thomas Jr., the Buccaneers would get a player who looks a lot like Evans. While I think the LSU product’s game is a little more comparable to Mike Williams’ of the Chargers, he could easily step into Tampa Bay’s offense as the No. 1 option.
27. Arizona Cardinals | Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Latu is one of my favorite players in this draft. In my initial mock, I sent him to the Falcons at No. 8, which is a testament to his crazy productivity and ceiling. However, he has a big medical red flag looming over him that will need to be cleared up at the NFL Combine. So, this represents his floor in my mind. There’s a chance the Cardinals could land a pro-ready pass rusher with an exceptional motor. Watching Latu is like watching the Tasmanian Devil in the best way.
28. Buffalo Bills | Chop Robinson, EDGE, PSU
The Robinson hype hasn’t kicked in yet, but give it some time. He explodes off the ball and doesn’t lose speed while turning the corner, which he’s hell-bent on doing every snap. In run defense, he’s better in a one-gap scheme like the Bills utilize where his quickness on angles is maximized. There’s still some development that Robinson needs to round out his game, but the Bills are set to lose a few contributors on the defensive line and could add a player with star- pass-rusher upside.
29. Detroit Lions | Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
The Lions need to address their secondary this offseason, and Rakestraw has the mentality that Dan Campbell covets. He loves to undercut a pass and competes relentlessly for the ball. Rakestraw is patient and confident in man coverage, staying on top of receivers downfield and navigating traffic quickly on man beaters. He’s quick to trigger downfield on short passes and in run defense, relishing the opportunity to hit the ball carrier. His ball skills could use some work, as evidenced by his one career interception in college, but Rakestraw is a sticky and tenacious cornerback.
30. Baltimore Ravens | Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
I’m sticking with this selection from my first mock draft. I really like the idea of Franklin’s ceiling- shattering speed on this Ravens offense. 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 and will complement Zay Flowers very nicely.
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. Kansas City Chiefs | Xavier Leggette, WR, South Carolina
After the first four receivers, you can really order the next eight guys or so any way you’d like. 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. His upside is very tantalizing, though. The Chiefs haven’t been afraid to swing big in drafts, and they do so here.
