Will McFadden's 2024 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
1. Chicago Bears | Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Moving Justin Fields ended up becoming much trickier than many initially expected, but the Bears managed to do it and clear the way for Williams to join the franchise as its next potential savior. There’s not much more to say about Williams at this point, he’s got the flair and playmaking ability to be something truly special, but can he also do the little things to the highest possible level?
2. Washington Commanders | Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Maye appears to be the quarterback prospect slipping down draft boards, but I’m not buying it. I still believe he has the second-best combination of tools and ceiling of the prospects in this class, and he should be comfortable stepping into Kliff Kingsbury’s offense given his familiarity with Air Raid principles from college.
3. New England Patriots | Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Patriots traded Mac Jones to Jacksonville, setting up a full reset at the position in 2024. Daniels would be a complete divergence from Jones’s play style, but that may be a good thing for a franchise looking to turn the page. The Heisman Trophy winner exploded onto the scene last year, and if he can combine his athleticism with the same level of downfield passing success he had for the Tigers, the Patriots won’t regret this choice.
4. Arizona Cardinals | Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Arizona may field plenty of calls from teams like the Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders to trade up for the fourth quarterback, but there’s a reason Harrison Jr. has been so closely linked to the Cardinals for all this time. It’s a no-brainer. After moving Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore, the Cardinals have a desperate need at receiver, and Harrison Jr. is the best in this class. Malik Nabers is gaining steam, but I think that’s just smoke.
5. Minnesota Vikings | J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
My first mock draft trade of the 2024 draft cycle sees Minnesota making a big climb to land their replacement for Kirk Cousins. McCarthy is still a raw prospect, but he’s very young and has a lot of promise. Pairing him with Kevin O’Connell in an offense that should support him will give McCarthy a chance to succeed early. Plus, he’s entering a situation with established weapons, which is always beneficial for a young quarterback.
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. Nabers has the athletic tools to devastate NFL defenses, and he should continue to polish his game. He can pluck the ball out of the air on the move with the very best of them.
7. Tennessee Titans | Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
We’re reaching the stage of draft season where consensus starts to form, and the Titans have been connected to Alt for a while now. After adding Calvin Ridley on a big contract, offensive tackle is once again the clear need for Tennessee. Alt is widely considered the best offensive lineman in this class, and he should be a reliable starter from Day 1.
8. Los Angeles Chargers | Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Let’s have some mock draft fun, shall we? After watching Odunze slip a little bit, the Chargers leapfrog the receiver-needy Bears to grab the top-tier wideout. Odunze is a stallion that needs to be broken in slightly; he’s got excellent natural athleticism and a competitive demeanor that can’t be coached, but that final layer of nuance doesn’t yet exist. Still, of all the receivers in this class, I wouldn’t be surprised if Odunze has the most career success.
9. Chicago Bears | Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
Watching Odunze go off the board at pick No. 8 must have been brutal for Chicago in this totally imaginary scenario. They could trade back and recoup picks to land better receiver value later in the first round, or they could bolster their defensive front with a player who should fit very well across from Montez Sweat in a 4-3 look. Verse may not have the pure firepower of Dallas Turner, but he had 20 sacks over his final two seasons with the well-roundedness and length that should entice Chicago.
10. New York Jets | Olu Fashanu, OT, PSU
The Jets are in an interesting spot after addressing a lot of their top needs in free agency. They could upgrade the tight end spot with Brock Bowers or add another premier wideout to complement Garrett Wilson, which could easily be the move. However, despite being firmly in win-now mode, I still think adding a top offensive lineman is the way to go here, even if he’s a depth piece in Year 1. Fashanu is one of the very best, and he would be well served learning behind Tyron Smith before taking over full-time.
11. Atlanta Falcons | Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Knowing they’d still land an impact defensive player, the Falcons moved back a few spots, netted a Day 2 pick, and snagged Turner. That would be an excellent turn of events for Atlanta, which could definitely use a player of Turner’s caliber off the edge. The Falcons have their quarterback in Kirk Cousins and added a nice No. 2 receiver in Darnell Mooney. That leaves them free to add talent wherever they’d like in the first round, but I’d bet edge rusher and corner are very high on that list.
12. Denver Broncos | Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Nix has become the pariah of this quarterback class, and that’s a sentiment that I believe is a little overblown. Nix has more than enough traits to work with, and he’s a smart in-game quarterback. Sean Payton built his legacy in partnership with Drew Brees, and I do see some Brees in Nix’s game. This might be viewed as a desperation move on draft night, but I expect Nix will be a better pro than many are willing to admit right now.
13. Las Vegas Raiders | Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon St.
Could the Raiders take their top cornerback prospect here? Sure. However, I think it’s easier to find a serviceable cornerback for a season or two than a long-term solution on the offensive line, which is what Fuaga should be AT MINIMUM. Fuaga is an urgent player with fantastic foundational athleticism at the tackle position. He played right tackle in college but looks like he’d fit at either spot. In Vegas, though, Fuaga should be the Day 1 starter across from Kolton Miller.
14. New Orleans Saints | Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
New Orleans could use help on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and Fautanu would bring versatility and athleticism to the Saints’ offensive line. He could kick inside since the Saints already have Trevor Penning and Ryan Ramczyk, but Fautanu could also stay outside and man left tackle. He moves very well in space and uncorks his body to devastate defenders.
15. Indianapolis Colts | Terrion Arnold, CB, Clemson
This may ultimately be a little low for the first cornerback taken, but it’s clear this draft will be offense-heavy at the top. I’ve gone back and forth between the players I like for the Colts here, and I think Nate Wiggins also makes a lot of sense. However, Arnold is very well-rounded and still has untapped upside. Although the Colts run a lot of zone coverage, Arnold is scheme-versatile and can play inside and outside. He’s scrappy, smooth, and a blast to watch.
16. Seattle Seahawks | JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham is 6-foot-6 and weighs 360 pounds, and he uses that size to wash away defenders in the run game. For an offense that ranked 28th in rushing yards per game last season despite having Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet that first sentence should be all that matters. Mike Macdonald is a defensive-minded coach, but the Ravens knew the importance of their offensive line and I think he’ll carry that approach to Seattle.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars | Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell is shooting up draft boards thanks in part to a terrific Senior Bowl and a standout performance at the NFL Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds, the second-fastest time among corners, and led all players at his position with 20 reps on the bench press. Mitchell is the complete package and has the tenacious mindset to fit right into Ryan Nielsen’s defense in Jacksonville.
18. Cincinnati Bengals | Brock Bowers, TE, UGA
Talk about a dream scenario for the Bengals. With the Chargers suddenly having a massive hole at wide receiver, the Bengals’ top competition for a tight end may be off the table and positional value may push Bowers—who I believe is a Top 3 talent in this draft—way down the board. His fall stops here, though, as Cincinnati continues to add firepower to its offense. Should the offseason acquisition of Mike Gesicki give the Bengals second thoughts? Absolutely not.
19. Los Angeles Rams | Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
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. Some view DeJean as a safety at the next level, but he’s certainly good enough to stick at corner as well. What do the Rams need? Both! Los Angeles has been really creative in recent years, and I’d be very curious to see what that staff would do with DeJean.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
The Steelers have two new quarterbacks and nobody is qualified to snap them the ball. Enter Powers-Johnson, who makes his debut in my mock drafts after impressing during the pre-draft cycle. Powers-Johnson has experience at all three interior positions, and he’s played defensive tackle, which suggests a level of toughness that fans in Pittsburgh will love. He’s technically sound and a monster in the trenches.
21. Miami Dolphins | Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Miami has needs on the offensive line, but Murphy is great value here and a perfect replacement for Christian Wilkins. He’s twitched up and has great balance to make plays laterally. Murphy had a strong combine performance to back up his athleticism on film. He belongs in the lineage of players like Geno Atkins, Grady Jarrett, and Wilkins, and Murphy could have similar success in the league.
22. Philadelphia Eagles | Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Vic Fangio’s defense is zone-heavy, and McKinstry is 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. He’s a plug-and-play option who could also become the team’s top returner in Year 1 or after Britain Covey’s contract is up after the season. McKinstry is a heady player who rarely looks caught off guard. He plays under control and tracks the ball well.
23. Los Angeles Chargers | Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Chargers are in this spot thanks to their trade back with Minnesota, and it allows them to add a premier prospect on defense. Wiggins’s stock has fluctuated since the college season wrapped up, but he brings elite speed and superb overall athleticism. Los Angeles needs to find a No. 2 corner opposite of Asante Samuel Jr. and Wiggins can be that from Day 1 with the upside to develop into a true No. 1 corner.
24. Dallas Cowboys | Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Barton maximizes Dallas’s flexibility in the trenches because he could conceivably play left tackle, left guard, or center. With Tyron Smith no longer in Dallas, Barton should first get a look on the left side. But the Cowboys also need a center, which might very well be Barton’s long-term position in the NFL. He’s not overly long or imposing, but Barton is technically proficient and bogs down pass rushers while impacting multiple levels as a run blocker.
25. Green Bay Packers | Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
After a run on offensive linemen, Green Bay opts to take the first linebacker off the board and replenish a room that just lost De’Vondre Campbell. Cooper is a long and rangy backer who plays with his hair on fire. He can be a tick slow to diagnose plays at times, which will need to be corrected at the next level, but he reacts quickly to shut things down once he’s made his read. In coverage, Cooper is an asset as both a man and zone defender, and he will be a core special teamer.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Zach Frazier, C, WVU
After keeping most of the gang together this offseason, the Buccaneers need to repair their offensive line, particularly the interior. Frazier brings a well-rounded game to Tampa with a lot of physicality. He anchors well in pass protection and will run second-level defenders out of the frame. The biggest question mark for Frazier is his length, which could be a problem against NFL defenders.
27. Arizona Cardinals | Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Latu was one of the most productive college players in the country the last two seasons, and although he’s got an extensive medical history, he should have a high floor in the NFL. His feel for the game is unmatched, and it helps Latu make the most of his above-average athleticism. He already has a well-established arsenal of moves and can operate in drop coverage as well.
28. Buffalo Bills | Jer’Zahn Newton, DT, Illinois
If Brian Thomas Jr. is still on the board at this pick in April, the Bills might very well juice their offense and add an exceptional receiver. However, in this mock, Buffalo cranks up its pass rush on the interior with Newton. The Bills like to rotate their interior defensive linemen, but Newton should slide to the top of that list and plug in next to Ed Oliver. He’s a powerful player in the trenches with the pop to knock NFL linemen backward.
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 | Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
This may be entirely too low for Thomas, but I fully expect there to be one position that slips in the first round and that could be wide receiver because of the sheer number of qualities players. However, Thomas has rightfully distanced himself from the pack and is only slightly behind the top tier of Harrison Jr., Nabers, and Odunze. He is a big-play threat waiting to happen, as evidenced by his 17 touchdown catches last season, and would immediately become a favorite of Lamar Jackson’s.
31. San Francisco | Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton still needs to develop some, but he’s got all of the natural traits a coach would want at the position. He is very rangy in pass protection and is fluid in space as a run blocker. There are only 15 starts under his belt, which is why he’ll need to be polished up some, but his awareness and instincts are excellent for such a small sample size. The 49ers routinely get the most out of their offensive lines, and I’d be excited to see what they could do with Guyton.
32. Kansas City Chiefs | Amarius Mims, OT, UGA
Mims has all of the athletic traits to be a top-15 pick, but with only eight career starts under his belt, I just have a feeling he might slide a little bit. That’s excellent news for the Chiefs, 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. Yes, the Chiefs could easily add another weapon for Patrick Mahomes here, but maybe a bit more protection wouldn’t be a bad idea.
