Good morning and happy draft day! Basically anything can happen tonight. The 2024 NFL Draft class has a lot of talent in high value positions like quarterback, offensive tackle, cornerback, and wide receiver. The quantity of such quality talent will mean Day 1 of the draft can go in so many directions. Anyway, here is an educated guess on what will happen.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, Southern California
This has been the pick ever since Chicago shipped away Justin Fields. Caleb Williams is a blue chip prospect who will bring a ton of upside to an already loaded offense. Chicago, hopefully, finally gets their franchise quarterback.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, Louisiana State
There has been chatter about Maye potentially going here, but I believe Brian Kelly’s slip up from the other week. It’s obvious why a team would like Jayden Daniels between his deep passing talent, his dangerous mobility, and his advanced intangibles. He’s a bit older for a quarterback prospect, making this pick risky, but he could be really effective in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
New England finally gets a hard reset Post-Brady and Post-Belichick. Drake Maye has all the tools to be a special NFL quarterback and lands in a great place to grow as a passer.
4. TRADE Minnesota Vikings (from Arizona): JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
It feels doubtful that the Vikings go into the season with Sam Darnold as their only legitimate option at quarterback. JJ McCarthy is a career winner with a nice arm and great athleticism. He is a bit raw, but landing in Kevin O’Connell’s offense and getting to throw to the Vikings many weapons could help his early development.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Marvin Harrison Junior, WR, Ohio State
The Chargers offense around Justin Herbert right now is… not great. Marvin Harrison Junior makes a ton of sense to give Justin Herbert a day one game-changer at wide receiver.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, Louisiana State
It’s possible the Giants reach for a quarterback here, but it feels more likely they will add a true top receiver to their offense. Malik Nabers will instantly be the best pass catcher on the team.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans have signaled they are going to give Will Levis a real shot to prove himself in his second season. Joe Alt is a franchise tackle who can protect Levis and give him the best chance to lead Tennessee to legitimacy.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, ED, Alabama
The Falcons have one of the most talented young offenses in the NFL and I bet Raheem Morris wants to dedicate some resources to the other side of the ball. Dallas Turner’s athleticism is hard to ignore and gives him great upside as a pass rusher.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Bears already have an excellent wide receiver duo in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, but they could have one of the best groups in the league by adding Rome Odunze. Odunze is a dangerous deep threat and jump ball specialist who would be deadly with Caleb Williams’ big arm.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Jets miss out on the wide receiver run at this point and could go for a tackle here, but drafting Brock Bowers would be a great boost to their passing game. Bowers is a dangerous pass catcher who would be an excellent target for Aaron Rodgers.
11. TRADE Arizona Cardinals (From Minnesota): Laiatu Latu, ED, UCLA
The Cardinals defense lacks a lot of the top end talent necessary to running Jonathan Gannon’s scheme. Laiatu Latu is a pro-ready edge rusher whose technical abilities and motor would make him an instant impact defender for the Cardinals.
12. Denver Broncos: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Broncos are one of many teams rumored to be interested in drafting a quarterback in the first round. I have a hard time believing guys like Bo Nix or Michael Penix will go day one (but I’m wrong all the time). Instead, the Broncos could get an excellent player like Cooper DeJean to play across from Pat Surtain.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Raiders draft one of the better pure talents in the draft here. Taliese Fuaga would be the top tackle in any other draft. He is a pro-ready pass and run blocker.
14. TRADE Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
There are rumors swirling that the Eagles are interested in trading up. It could be to target one of the many tackles in this class, or it could be for a top cornerback prospect. If it’s for a cornerback, getting ahead of the Colts is crucial. The Eagles cornerback group was underwhelming last year with Avonte Maddox injured and James Bradberry regressing. Consider too that Darius Slay will turn 34 next season and the Eagles need to reload. Quinyon Mitchell has it all in terms of length, athleticism, and physicality making him a great fit for Vic Fangio’s defense. Realistically, he could start on day one for the Eagles if they needed him to and he would immediately be a difference maker.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Missing out on Quinyon Mitchell, the Colts land another great player in Terrion Arnold. Arnold’s athleticism and ballhawking ability would be welcome in their young secondary.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
Seattle was rumored to be interested in Jalen Carter last year and their need for a legitimate interior lineman has not changed since then. Byron Murphy II is super talented with a ton of upside. He would be a great fit here.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jared Verse, ED, Florida State
With Josh Allen on the franchise tag and the Jaguars defense being a weak point last year, the Jags stay in state to draft Jared Verse. Verse has been an excellent edge defender since arriving at Florida State and would immediately give the Jags a formidable pass rushing group with Allen and Travon Walker.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Bengals need a long term solution at tackle to keep Joe Burrow upright. JC Latham can play guard or tackle at a high level for Cincinnati.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Johnny Newton, DL, Illinois
No one is going to fill the Aaron Donald-sized hole in the Rams defense. That being said, Jer’Zahn “Johnny” Newton could be a great place to start. Newton is a small but twitchy interior defender who will immediately give the Rams a solid presence and hopefully develop into a high end three down defender.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Steelers dip into this great tackle class with Troy Fautanu. Fautanu can play guard or tackle for Pittsburgh and lend some stability to an offense that has been underwhelming the last few years.
21. Miami Dolphins: Olumuyiwa Fahanu, OT, Penn State
The Dolphins invest more in their high powered offense adding Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fahanu. Fashanu has incredible upside and would be a great pairing with Terron Armstead.
22. TRADE New Orleans Saints (From Philadelphia): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The tackle run continues here with Amarius Mims going to the Saints. Mims can play guard or tackle at a high level and the Saints have always put a high draft value on offensive lineman.
23. TRADE Arizona Cardinals (from Minnesota): Brian Thomas Junior, WR, Louisiana State
The Cardinals need more weapons in the passing game. Brian Thomas Junior’s straight line speed makes the loss of Hollywood Brown easier to stomach, but BTJ’s upside gives the Cardinals a potential true X-receiver for the long run.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
The Cowboys love making the boring but good first round pick. There’s nothing sexy about drafting a center in the first round, but Jackson Powers-Johnson is a really, really good center.
25. Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
The Packers have their man in Jordan Love. That is for sure. Now they have to invest in protecting him.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Bucs lost some defensive backs in free agency and can reload here with Kool-Aid McKinstry. Todd Bowles and company will love McKinstry’s mature approach to the game and his physicality.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Cardinals get another defender here. Nate Wiggins is a bit undersized, but his athleticism is hard to ignore. Arizona takes a shot on a high-upside athlete and Jonathan Gannon hopes he can get Darius Slay-like play out of Wiggins.
28. Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Bills have telegraphed their wide receiver needs quite a bit. The exit of both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis leaves Buffalo a bit desperate for a pass catcher. Xavier Worthy’s size might worry NFL teams, but it’s hard to argue with 4.21 speed. Worthy might not be the true X-Receiver Buffalo needs, but he will be a dangerous combination with Josh Allen’s arm.
29. Detroit Lions: Chop Robinson, ED, Penn State
The Lions continue building a young, talented defense. Chop Robinson’s athletic gifts are impossible to ignore at this stage in the draft. Getting to play across from Aidan Hutchinson will mean more one on one opportunities for Robinson in his rookie year.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Ravens nailed the Zay Flowers draft pick last year and Flowers played a huge part in Lamar Jackson claiming MVP for the second time. The Ravens should double down and add another pass catcher here. Adonai Mitchell’s size and athleticism gives him true #1 upside and he can immediately function as a big slot for the Ravens.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Niners go with the boring but smart move to add another excellent offensive lineman.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
The Chiefs will probably get great value from the Hollywood Brown signing but with things looking bad with Rashee Rice, drafting a receiver early is almost a must. Xavier Legette is an intriguing fit in the Chiefs offense. His huge build, athleticism, and ability after the catch means he could be an extremely effective rookie receiver getting targets from Patrick Mahomes.
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