Evan Wanish’s 2024 First Round NFL Mock Draft

Draft day is finally here, folks

The day has finally arrived for all 32 NFL teams and the prospects in this class. Draft day is here and there is a lot of excitement and buzz surrounding this class with college star Caleb Williams all but certain to be the number one overall pick and head to Chicago to join the Bears, but what about the other 31 teams? How will they fare? Who will fall, who will rise?

Let’s dive right into my 2024 first round mock draft.

1. Chicago Bears (Via Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

The Bears make the obvious selection and Williams heads to the Windy City to try and save Chicago from years of poor QB play. Not much to debate over this pick.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

There has been some rumblings that Daniels may not wish to play for Washington but at the end of the day, I think they make him the newest Commander and let the rest play out. Would Washington be his first choice? Maybe not but aside from the Eli Manning situation 20 years ago, players typically play where they are picked. Washington gets their franchise guy at second overall.

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

This is where things get a little interesting as I don’t think there is a 0% chance the Pats trade this pick, but I just can’t see them passing on the opportunity to add Maye. He is far from a finished product, but he has the talent and ability to be a top signal caller in the NFL for years to come and ever since Tom Brady departed in 2020, New England has been searching for that very thing.

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

For a lot of people, this is where the draft really begins. Arizona could very well trade this pick to a team looking to come up and draft a QB or even draft Harrison himself but at the end of the day, MHJ is just too much of a talent to pass on here. Pairing him with Kyle Murray would give Arizona some real juice on offense.

5. Minnesota Vikings (Via Los Angeles Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Projected Trade: MIN receives: 5th overall, 2025 4th LAC receives: 11th overall, 23rd overall, 2025 7th

Here is our first bold move of the mock. The Vikings make the move up for a QB while the Chargers move down looking to secure more assets as they build. With Kirk Cousins gone and Sam Darnold in the fold, it seems like the Vikings are setting themselves up to make a big move like this on draft night. Unfortunately for them, staying at 11th overall and picking McCarthy likely isn’t an option. While the media may not be as high on him as the league is, the Vikings dive into the deep end and make a bold play for the franchise guy in the post Kirk Cousins era.

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

I do think the Giants would consider using this pick on a QB if a guy like McCarthy or Maye fell but with them off the board, they decide to give Daniel Jones another weapon. The race for WR1 between Harrison Jr and Nabers is closer than a lot of people think. In any other class, Nabers is probably the top receiver but with Marv being so special, it allows the Giants to take a blue chip player at 6th overall.

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

I wrestled with the idea of putting a different player in this spot just because the Titans do have a couple of different needs but to me the idea of having Alt protect the young QB in Will Levis is too good to pass up on. Good pass protection is so critical for young QB’s developments and adding Alt to that line and pairing him with Peter Skoronski gives Tennessee a pretty bright future there.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The Falcons are another team that could go in a couple of different directions but I think new head coach Raheem Morris is going to want to add a premier pass rusher to his defense. Atlanta has been lacking that game breaking pass rusher for what feels like forever and now they have a chance to get that in Turner.

9. Chicago Bears: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas

Murphy is a name whose stock has really rose over the last week or so and it could very well land him in the top 10. After drafting their franchise QB at 1, I did put some thought into giving them another offensive weapon here but I could see them taking the 2023 Houston Texans route, picking their QB and then pairing that up with a defensive player.

10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Should the Jets take Bowers based on a team building philosophy? Probably not. Would it be super fun if they did? Absolutely. Like many teams outside of the top five, there are multiple ways New York could go here, especially with talent at WR and OT still on the board but I think the allure of Bowers is too much for the Jets to pass up on. Adding him to an offense that features Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Breece Hall and Aaron Rodgers… if the Jets stay healthy, there’s a real chance they could be one of the best offenses in football in 2024.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (Via Minnesota Vikings): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Talk about a dream scenario for the Chargers. They get to move back, gain an extra first and still get a high end pass catcher. After saying goodbye to both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, the Bolts say hello to Rome Odunze who many have as the WR2 in this class. Quentin Johnston had a disappointing rookie season, but adding Odunze may really help open up this offense if Johnston can take a big leap in his development.

12. Denver Broncos: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington

We have back to back Huskies off the board here as Denver gets their signal caller. The injury history with Penix Jr is scary, but the talent is undeniable. Denver did trade for Zach Wilson just the other day, but that should not prevent them selecting a new QB at all come draft time. It’s a new era in Denver with Penix leading the way.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

I do think the Raiders will consider going with a QB here but ultimately I think they lean secondary as the first corner and just the third defensive player of this draft so far comes off the board. This could be a toss up between Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell but I went with Arnold. Vegas needs help in a lot of areas and CB is certainly one of them. It makes sense for the Raiders to add Arnold to try and slow down Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert 2 times each a season.

14. New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The player can be up for debate, the position cannot be in my opinion. The Saints are going to take an offensive tackle in the first round, it’s just a matter of which one. There are many talented guys available here, but I think they take a guy in Fashanu who was once projected to be a potential top 5 pick.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The Colts need a corner and they land one of the classes too guys in Mitchell. A good fit for Indy’s defense and they land a guy who many believe is CB1. I could see a team trying to jump Indy to grab him, but he falls in this exercise.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Here is one of the first guys off the board that will leave Bucs fans bummed, but Seattle fans fairly happy. In a division with some pretty good offenses, having a good pass rush is key and Seattle lands a very talented player in Verse. After electing to stay in school in 2023, Verse had a nice year for himself and thus lands inside the top 20.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Graham Barton, OL, Duke

The Jags need to protect Trevor Lawrence better and adding Barton will help. The Duke offensive lineman can play just about anywhere along the OL which makes him a very valuable piece for a Jacksonville team that had a disappointing end to their season.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Like the Jags, the Bengals also need to work on protecting Joe Burrow and Fuaga is a great fit. After missing the playoffs in the 2023, the Bengals are looking to get back into the mix of being a top contender in the AFC. Shoring up that offensive line and giving Burrow time to find the weapons Cincinnati has makes a lot of sense.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

For many Bucs fans, the dream is over. For the Rams though, they land arguably the most talented defender in the draft, even though he has a big risk attached with him. If Latu had no health concerns, he would easily be a top 10 pick. The Rams take the chance on getting a premier pass rusher in the wake of Aaron Donald’s retirement.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU

The second LSU wide receiver comes off the board and heads to Pittsburgh. After trading away Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason, the Steelers need a replacement and the dynamic Thomas Jr makes a lot of sense.

21. Miami Dolphins: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

The Dolphins need an offensive lineman and what better way to address that than to add a guy who can play either guard or tackle. Fautanu. He played left tackle most of the time in college, but has also played guard in the past. He may project as more of a guard in the NFL, but that shouldn’t stop a team like Miami from taking him.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

There’s a chance Philly moves up for a corner, but I have them staying and still landing an impact player. DeJean is a really interesting player as he has a lot of positional versatility. Some see him as a corner, others see him as a safety, but there are also those that see him as a chess piece that you can move all around the field. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will have fun with a player like this.

23. Los Angeles Chargers (Via Minnesota Vikings): Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton

Johnny Newton heads to LA. After picking the WR earlier in the draft, the Chargers decide to address their defensive line which has been an issue for quite awhile now. They have tried to fix the issues and have invested many draft picks, but to no avail. On tape, Newton is one of the most talented defenders in this class and if all goes well, Los Angeles will be getting a darn good football player.

24. Dallas Cowboys: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

After losing Tyron Smith in free agency, the Cowboys are going to be searching for his replacement along the offensive line and they could find that with Latham. For being a playoff team, Dallas finds themselves with a lot of different needs so they could go in a few directions here but the best value at this point could be at tackle.

25. Green Bay Packers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Our second straight tackle comes off the board here with Mims headed to Green Bay. Protecting Jordan Love should be a top priority for Green Bay and they end up with a player who should be able to help out right away.

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

Here it is. There are a few different options for Tampa Bay on the board here both in the secondary and along the offensive line but they elect to address the pass rush with Chop Robinson. After releasing Shaq Barrett and signing Randy Gregory, the Bucs still need to find a pass rusher to pair with Yaya Diaby. Robinson does have some risk that comes with him.

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

The sack production in college was not what some would like to be and a lot of the times when edge rushers rely solely on speed, like Robinson often does, they can get easily be overmatched by stronger offensive tackles and they usually aren’t the best run defenders. However the reward with Robinson is his explosiveness as a pass rusher. If he is put into the right situation, he can easily be a guy who gets 10+ sacks a season. Tampa Bay takes the chance on turning Chop into a stud and fortifying their pass rush.

27. Arizona Cardinals (Via Houston Texans): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

After grabbing a WR with their first selection, Arizona elects to attack the secondary next. McKinstry excels in man coverage and has the length necessary to cover some bigger targets. The Cardinals have a need at corner and Kool-Aid falls into their laps.

28. Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

The Bills desperately need a WR. They signed Curtis Samuel in the offseason, but let Gabe Davis walk as well as traded away Stefon Diggs. For as talented as Josh Allen is, in today’s NFL teams need dynamic wide receivers and Mitchell could be just that for Buffalo. I would expect them to try and move up for a receiver but they may be too late in the draft to do so, so Mitchell makes sense.

29. Detroit Lions: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Detroit did trade for former Bucs corner Carlton Davis, but they could also use another addition in the secondary. Wiggins needs to get better at tackling, but the athleticism is there for him to become a good corner in the NFL. With the Packers having Jordan Love, the Bears likely having Caleb Williams and a plethora of weapons and the Vikings having Justin Jefferson and possibly a young QB, there will be a lot of stress on Detroit’s secondary. Drafting a corner early makes all the sense in the world.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The run on tackles continues this time with the Ravens taking Guyton. He may end up being a guard in the NFL long term and he is not a finished product, but either way he is someone the Ravens should be interested in during the back end of the first round.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

Yet another tackle off the board and this time to an NFC contender. In the Super Bowl, the Niners had a real issue protecting Brock Purdy. Morgan should help with that. Again he is a guy who may have to slide into the guard spot. He can play tackle though and could likely step right in and be a starter at either tackle or guard for the 49ers and since they are in a win now window, that makes a ton of sense as a fit for them.

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

They are gonna do it, aren’t they? After trading away Tyreek Hill a few years ago, the Chiefs offense was still great, but it lacked that burner. The guy that could at any moment take a 10 yard slant and turn it into a 45 yard touchdown. They could find that guy in Xavier Worthy. They have needs along the OL as well, but Worthy would be quite a fun selection to close out round 1.

Whew, that’s it folks. What did you think of this mock? How do you see the first round playing out? Let us know in the comment section below!