2024 NFL Mock Draft: The Arizona Cardinals Transform Their Franchise

In this way-too-early 2024 NFL Mock Draft, various franchise-changing players make their way into the NFL. This mock draft features four quarterbacks and—in a return to normal—no running backs.

With the 2023 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, NFL Draft enthusiasts are turning their attention toward the 2024 NFL Draft. This way-too-early mock draft takes stock of what teams might do in next year’s selection process. The order of the picks is a reverse order of the Super Bowl betting odds as things currently stand.

1. Arizona Cardinals — QB Caleb Williams, USC

With quarterback Kyler Murray missing a significant chunk of the 2023 season, the Cardinals could well end up with the worst record in football. Murray is solid, but NFL scouts see Williams as a generational talent at quarterback. In this mock draft, the Cardinals decide not to pass on the opportunity to bring in a player of Williams’ caliber.

2. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans) — WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Perhaps the highest-graded wide receiver coming out of college since at least A.J. Green in 2011 (if not Calvin Johnson in 2007), Harrison Jr. can do it all. He is a tall receiver with elite route-running ability, great hands, and unusual athleticism. The Texans sent this pick to the Cardinals during the 2023 NFL Draft, and the Cardinals have the opportunity here to draft a ridiculously talented quarterback-wide receiver combo with the first two picks. They do just that, immediately transforming their franchise.

3. Tennessee Titans — QB Drake Maye, UNC

Williams and Maye are 1 and 1A at quarterback going into the 2023 college football season. A well-built passer with a rifle for an arm, Maye burst onto the scene for the Tar Heels last season. If he can repeat his 2022 performance, Maye will be a lock for the top five picks in the upcoming draft. Maye also runs well with the football and can put a team on his back. The Titans—likely in the midst of a rebuild if they are picking third overall—could use a signal caller like Maye.

4. Indianapolis Colts — OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

The Colts could go a few directions with this pick, and Alt is not even clearly the top tackle prospect on the board. But picking a tackle in the top five selections requires a bit of projection, and Alt could develop into an elite blocker given that he is listed at 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds. This Notre Dame standout was a first-team All-American in 2022 and is probably a better prospect than were any of the tackles picked in the 2023 NFL Draft.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

With Williams and Maye off the board, quarterback probably does not make sense for the Buccaneers at No. 5. Still, the team has some excellent options. McKinstry is a big, physical, athletic cornerback who is not afraid to lay the wood. He routinely makes acrobatic plays to keep opposing wide receivers from making the catch, and he enters the 2023 college football season as next year’s top corner.

6. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Star Bears tight end Cole Kmet enters the final year of his rookie deal this season, and the Bears might decide not to extend him past 2023. Enter Bowers, who is a remarkably gifted pass catcher and field-stretcher. Bringing in someone like Bowers would help the Bears continue to retool their offense, adding a new dimension to the team’s offensive attack. He makes sense in the Top Ten.

7. Washington Commanders — OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

The Commanders attempted to address their offensive line woes in the 2023 NFL Draft, adding such players as Ricky Stromberg and Braeden Daniels. But Fashanu is on a different level; he is a Day One starter at left tackle and a potential cornerstone player at the position. To be sure, Washington is another team that needs a quarterback, but the best play for this team would be to get a star left tackle in place before bringing in a rookie passer.

8. Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington

Next year’s EDGE class may end up being terrific, but some of the top players are a bit overhyped relative to their body of work. Not Trice. A big, powerful pass rusher who can split double teams on the EDGE, this Washington standout is going to come into the league and bully offensive linemen. This pick is a great fit for the Falcons, who could stand to replenish their defense after picking Bijan Robinson and Matthew Bergeron early in this last draft.

9. Los Angeles Rams — DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Just a few years after winning the Super Bowl, the Rams roster could use help at a variety of positions. Newton would slot right in to a defensive line that could certainly use the assistance, especially given the fact that Aaron Donald’s retirement appears not to be too far away. Newton is an elite run defender who was quite productive in 2022. He will look to be the second Illinois defender (alongside Devon Witherspoon) to be drafted in the Top Ten over the last two years—quite a milestone for that program.

10. Las Vegas Raiders — CB Kalen King, Penn State

Although he is not the biggest corner in next year’s class, King could end up as CB1 with another good season. He has rare instincts, elite body control, and impressive physicality. King does a terrific job mirroring route-runners and frequently gets himself between the receiver and the ball. He would fit right in with a Raiders team that could use an infusion of youth in its secondary.

11. New England Patriots — WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Teams playing Ohio State in 2023 are going to have a big problem: If you devote too many defensive resources to covering Marvin Harrison Jr., then you can expect Egbuka to tear up your secondary. Egbuka might be the No. 2 wide receiver both on his own team and in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He does a lot of things that the Patriots will like: he creates a ton of space with his ankle-breaking routes, makes defenders miss as a ballcarrier, and goes over the middle without fear.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers — EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

The most exciting thing about Latu is that he can play both inside linebacker and EDGE. That versatility would be key for a Pittsburgh team that is a bit long in the tooth across its linebacking corps. Latu can therefore slide in wherever Pittsburgh might need him on defense. Latu is a gamebreaking pass rusher who also does a nice job flowing to the ball in the run game, too. His story is inspirational, too—Latu had medically retired with a neck injury, but he managed to return to football and dominate for UCLA last season.

13. Chicago Bears — EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State

Adding an EDGE rusher in the first round of next year’s draft would help the Bears defense take a big step forward. Verse is a great fit with this pick. He is a productive pass rusher who is violent at the point of attack, and while he is scheme-diverse, he’d fit right in with Chicago’s defensive alignment. Fans in Tallahassee are expecting a big year from Verse as Florida State looks to put it all together in 2023.

14. New York Giants — DL Maason Smith, LSU

The Giants are approaching an inflection point along the defensive line, and targeting this position in the first round of next year’s draft would make a lot of sense. Smith is one of the most interesting cases in next year’s class—he dominated as a freshman in 2021 before missing nearly all of 2022 with a knee injury. Slotting him at No. 14 is based on a projection that he will return to form and dominate offensive lines again in 2023. If he does, the sky is the limit for Smith, who could develop into an elite 3-4 defensive end.

15. Green Bay Packers — OL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State

With the transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love at quarterback, the Packers have paid particular attention to the players around Love as the team seeks to make him comfortable. To that end, they drafted numerous pass catchers in 2023. But in next year’s draft, bringing in some younger offensive linemen would round out the team’s new-look offense. Beebe can play both guard and tackle, which would be most helpful for a Packers team waiting to see how many more years it has before star left tackle David Bakhtiari retires.

16. Minnesota Vikings — LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson

Trotter is the type of player whose selection will depend on a variety of factors. He’s undoubtedly a talented linebacker who can make all the plays; he has tremendous athleticism, elite instincts, and nearly flawless mechanics. At the same time, he is seriously undersized and he also has to contend with the fact that NFL teams—in recent years—have started to devalue the inside linebacker position in the first round. The Vikings, however, could use a young linebacker, and Trotter fits the bill.

17. Denver Broncos — SAF Kamren Kinchens, Miami

One of the most underrated players in next year’s draft class, Kinchens quietly put together a first-team All-American season for Miami in 2022. He is a top-flight player in pass coverage and may be the best ballhawk of the group. He will terrorize NFL quarterbacks, lurking over the top and tricking passers into throwing picks at the next level. Although he is a bit undersized, he is an impact player.

18. Seattle Seahawks — QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington

One of college football’s best quarterbacks is playing just up the road from the Seahawks this year. Penix Jr. enters the 2023 college football season on the cusp of becoming a first-round pick. A left-handed thrower, he posted gaudy numbers last season and completely turned around his football career. Pete Carroll will certainly notice this Pac-12 superstar, and if Geno Smith stumbles a bit in 2023, Seattle could bring in Penix Jr. in the first round.

19. New Orleans Saints — WR Johnny Wilson, Florida State

The Saints have a clear-cut No. 1 receiver in Chris Olave, but the team could stand to add more star pass catchers. Wilson is a fascinating player—despite being listed at 6-foot-7, he has managed to stick as a wide receiver for the Seminoles. Unsurprisingly, he bullies cornerbacks at the point of attack and is nearly unstoppable in the red zone. A player like Wilson is exactly what New Orleans needs to unleash Olave and beat down defenses.

20. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) — DL Leonard Taylor, Miami

Fortunately for the Texans, Houston will get to pick in the first round in 2024 despite the Will Anderson trade. They use this pick to nab another defensive lineman—this time, a defensive tackle. Taylor would fit well in Houston’s scheme. He has great strength and plays low to the ground. His addition would allow Anderson to shine, and combining the two would go a long way towards establishing the Texans’ defensive line as one of the scariest units in football.

21. Los Angeles Chargers — OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

This pick makes a lot of sense for the Chargers. While the team expects Rashawn Slater to rebound from injury and lock down the left tackle spot, the right side of the line is a bit questionable. Suamataia had a nice year as BYU’s right tackle and projects as a first-round prospect in next year’s draft. He is a decently sized blocker who should be able to wall off pass rushers for Justin Herbert—a welcome addition for a Chargers team that continues to seek its identity.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars — WR Rome Odunze, Washington

Nearly all of Jacksonville’s top wide receivers came to the team via some means other than the NFL Draft. While the unit should be fine for the next year or two, the Jaguars’ wide receiver corps could benefit from some homegrown talent. Odunze is a highlight reel player who excels on deep patterns. He creates stellar separation with his speed, and he is one of the few receivers in the class who can take the top off of the defense consistently.

23. Miami Dolphins — EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama

Many mock drafts have Turner in the Top Ten, and he may well end up getting selected there. But Turner needs to put together a season of consistently dominant play, and he might also need to add some weight. He is impressively productive and has top-tier physical traits; the question is whether he continues to rack up sacks when offenses are not focused on Will Anderson. Going into the 2023 season, Turner’s draft stock is a bit in flux.

24. Detroit Lions — QB K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas

One benefit of drafting a quarterback late in the first round is that the team can bake a fifth-year option into the player’s rookie contract; usually, these fifth-year options boast tremendous surplus value at the quarterback position if the pick pans out. (Lamar Jackson, who was the No. 32 pick in 2018, is a stellar example of this phenomenon.) The Lions have one of the best rosters in football, but Jared Goff may not be the passer to lead them to the Super Bowl. Jefferson is flying under the radar right now, but he is a gifted quarterback who can make all of the throws and impact the game with his legs. He will need to shore up his accuracy a bit this season, but the elite traits are all there.

25. Baltimore Ravens — CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Classifying DeJean’s position is a bit difficult. He will likely end up as a safety, but he plays corner nearly as well as anyone in the class. The thing with DeJean is that he also defends quite well against the run, and shifting him to safety may be the best way to maximize his variegated skill set (even if not the best way to maximize positional value). Baltimore will be able to figure it out. The Ravens have a talented defensive backfield, and adding DeJean to the mix will only make them better.

26. New York Jets — LB Barrett Carter, Clemson

With this pick, the Jets continue to enrich a defense that boasts talent at every level. Carter is a Swiss army knife—something of a commonality among Clemson linebackers. He does almost everything well: rushing the passer, stopping the run, and dropping into coverage. Although Carter is not the biggest player at his position, the Jets could utilize him in a variety of different ways.

27. Dallas Cowboys — OT J.C. Latham, Alabama

The Cowboys are in desperate need of youth at offensive tackle. Although Tyron Smith has put together a career that will likely land him in the Hall of Fame, he may be near the end of his storied run with the Cowboys. Here, Dallas adds a player who manned the right tackle position admirably for Alabama in 2022 and could also play left tackle. He might be the future at either position for the Cowboys.

28. Cincinnati Bengals — DL Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State

Selecting Myles Murphy in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft signaled Cincinnati’s commitment to retooling its aging defensive line. After picking up an EDGE rusher in 2023, the Bengals take an interior defensive lineman here. Hall, who has been a standout at Ohio State, would add tremendous value late in the first round at a position of long-term need. He is surprisingly active as a pass rusher and has a knack for getting into the backfield to disrupt plays.

29. San Francisco 49ers — CB Josh Newton, TCU

Newton would be a perfect addition to the 49ers’ secondary. He is an absolute mauler who excels in press coverage. Unfortunately, TCU’s season ended poorly in the national championship, but don’t forget that Newton was part of one of the best teams in college football last year, and he was a lockdown corner on the outside. San Francisco would be thrilled to add a young cornerback, too.

30. Buffalo Bills — SAF Calen Bullock, USC

Although the safety position has been a point of strength for Buffalo in recent years, the team could use some younger players to enter the fold. Bullock is a tall, athletic defender who played exceptionally well for the Trojans in 2022. He struggles a bit in the run game, but few are better at playing the ball in the air and covering receivers. He makes a ton of sense for the Bills.

31. Philadelphia Eagles — WR Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse

Could the Eagles add another wide receiver? Yes. Gadsden—who is listed at 6-foot-5 and has been projected by some as a tight end—is a totally different kind of receiver than anyone the Eagles currently have. He would use his large frame to provide Jalen Hurts with a big target in the middle of the field, further bolstering Philadelphia’s embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball.

32. Kansas City Chiefs — CB D.J. James, Auburn

James has not gotten as much attention as some of the other star corners in next year’s draft class, but he is every bit as good. He is a problem for opposing quarterbacks and dominates on a play-after-play basis that will be attractive to NFL evaluators when they sit down to watch his film in full. He is quietly a first-round caliber player; another big season from James will solidify that status.