NFL Mock Draft 5.0 - Navigating Smokescreens

The 2024 NFL Draft is just three weeks away, so we bring you the fifth edition in our mock draft series.

Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Toledo defensive back Quinyon Mitchell (DB27) works out during / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 NFL Draft is now less than a month away.

Teams are finalizing their draft boards and hoping the draft will fall their way as they look to add future stars to their rosters.

The Las Vegas Raiders are one of those teams. The Raiders have nine draft picks and are slated to make their first selection at No. 13 overall.

Let's take a look at the fifth edition of our mock draft, where we project every selection in the first round.

1. Chicago Bears (from Panthers) Caleb Williams, QB, USC

This pick has been locked in since the NFL Scouting Combine. Williams ushers in a new era of Bears football and is treated to a great group of weapons to throw to.

2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The Commanders add who they hope is their franchise quarterback with the Heisman Trophy winner. Daniels threw for over 3,800 yards and 40 touchdowns for the Tigers last season and could do fun things with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

New England drops smokescreens about not selecting a quarterback or trading out of the No. 3 pick. It stays there and takes Maye, who has excellent tools and could ignite a new era for the Patriots.

4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Arizona needs a wide receiver badly. It gets the best one to come through the draft in a long time in Harrison. He has the size, speed, and playmaking ability to become an immediate star.

5. New York Jets (from Chargers) - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Jets trade up to get another playmaker as Aaron Rodgers returns from an Achilles injury. What would make the comeback process easier than to have Garrett Wilson and Nabers to throw to? Nabers may be the most explosive player in the entire class.

6. New York Giants - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Giants need a No. 1 receiver option if they are committed to Daniel Jones. Odunze is an excellent route runner with big play-ability. He immediately becomes the focus of the Giants' offense.

7. Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

The Titans have addressed their offensive line in recent drafts but need to find a franchise left tackle. Alt is one of the best offensive tackle prospects in years. He slides right in and protects Will Levis right away.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

The Falcons have had an issue getting to the quarterback for years. Verse has the speed, strength, and athleticism to address that need for them. Verse, a two-time first-team All-American, could become a dominant rusher off the edge.

9. Chicago Bears - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Bears get their franchise quarterback with the No. 1 pick, then they get their franchise left tackle just before the end of the top-10. Fashanu has prime athleticism and can be an above-average run and pass blocker.

10. Los Angeles Chargers (from Jets) - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

The Chargers trade down and land one of the premier right tackles in the class. Fuaga will immediately be able to move players in the run game and could develop into an excellent pass protector.

11. Minnesota Vikings - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Minnesota lands their next franchise quarterback without having to trade premium assets. McCarthy has the tools and athleticism to be a good quarterback in the NFL but has to show he can carry an offense with his arm.

12. Denver Broncos - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The Broncos need a premier edge rusher. They land Turner here, who has supreme athleticism and production to back it up. Denver hopes to unlock his full potential.

13. Las Vegas Raiders - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Mitchell exemplifies the kind of cornerback Coach Antonio Pierce would covet: tough, physical, and competitive. He has elite speed and athleticism that could turn him into a No. 1 cornerback in the league.

14. New Orleans Saints - Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

The Saints need to find a right tackle who can fill in immediately if Ryan Ramczyk's injury keeps him out for extended time. Fautanu has the athleticism and run-game chops to be a plug-and-play tackle.

15. Indianapolis Colts - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

The Colts get a chance to add possibly the best offensive player in the draft. Coach Shane Steichen is a creative play-caller, and he could do a lot with Bowers and second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.

16. Seattle Seahawks - Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

Seattle loves big, powerful offensive linemen. Powers-Johnson is a big, powerful offensive lineman. He moves players in the run game and could stabilize their offensive line.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Arnold falls a bit, but he lands in a spot where he can line up opposite Tyson Campbell. Arnold has elite traits and IQ and can be a dominant player on one side of the field.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - JC Latham, OT, Alabama

The Bengals have invested in their offensive line in the short term, but they need to find a long-term option at one of their tackle spots. Latham and his strength can fill in at guard for a short time before taking over at tackle.

19. Los Angeles Rams - Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

No team has felt the effects of a player's retirement like the Rams losing Aaron Donald this year. They take Murphy, an interior defensive lineman with some pass-rush juice, to replace him.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Steelers need to find another tackle. Mims did not play much in his collegiate career, but his 6-foot-7, 340-pound frame with incredible athleticism is something they can work with.

21. Miami Dolphins - Jer'Zhan 'Johnny' Newton, DT, Illinois

The Dolphins let Christian Wilkins go to the Raiders, so they have to find a replacement on the interior. Newton is a game-wrecker who can rush the passer some in the middle.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Eagles need to add some youth to their secondary. Wiggins has the speed and toughness to be a No. 1 cornerback in the league. He may end up going higher than this by the time the draft rolls around.

23. Minnesota Vikings (from Texans via Browns) - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

With their second first-round selection, the Vikings land one of the best defensive ends in the class. Latu has supreme athleticism, traits, and toughness and could fill in well across from Jonathan Greenard.

24. Dallas Cowboys - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Cowboys let longtime starting left tackle Tyron Smith walk, so they need to find a player to take over that position. Guyton has a massive frame and great athleticism. He can fill in right away.

25. Green Bay Packers - Graham Barton, OL, Duke

Barton can play multiple positions on the offensive line, something the Packers value in their linemen. He will bring toughness to whatever position the Packers put him at.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

Tampa Bay adds possibly the best athlete in the draft in Robinson. He explodes off the ball, and his production will likely increase in the NFL.

27. Arizona Cardinals - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

The Cardinals landed Marvin Harrison Jr. with their first pick, and now they get an athletic, competitive cornerback to match up with him in practice. McKinstry has elite tools and could be a star in the league.

28. Buffalo Bills - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

After trading away Stefon Diggs, the Bills need help in their receiver room. Thomas is a tall, long, receiving presence who is a force around the end zone. He can form a quick connection with Josh Allen.

29. Detroit Lions - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

The Lions have the luxury of not having too many roster holes. They add DeJean, who can play cornerback or safety. DeJean has textbook technique and great athleticism and can boost Detroit's secondary.

30. Baltimore Ravens - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Baltimore needs to put more receiving threats around Lamar Jackson. Mitchell is a height-weight-speed receiver who has true star potential.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

The 49ers can elevate their offensive line in a major way. They do so by adding Suamataia, who has great size and explosiveness off the snap. They add a player who can create more running lanes for Christian McCaffrey.

32. Kansas City Chiefs - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

The only thing Kansas City really needs is another receiver. It goes with Worthy, who may be the fastest receiver in the class. The Chiefs add a player who can run down deep shots from Patrick Mahomes.

Take a look at our previous mock drafts below:

NFL Mock Draft 4.0 - Trade Shakes Up QB Pursuits

NFL Mock Draft 3.0 - Projecting Raiders, More

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 -Projecting Amid FA

2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 - Projecting Raiders Pick, More

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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