# | Team | Player | Pos | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Caleb Williams USC, Jr
|
QB | ||||
It sure feels like only one other person on the planet can do what Caleb Williams does, and he currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Credit to the Cardinals for playing hard this season, but if they have this pick, Williams has to be the guy. |
||||||
2 |
Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Marvin Harrison Jr. has gotten off to a slow start to the 2023 season, at least by his standards, but he's the second-best player in the class and the best receiver in this class by a large margin. |
||||||
3 |
Drake Maye North Carolina, Soph
|
QB | ||||
There's a lot of blame to go around in Chicago, but the reality is that Justin Fields wasn't drafted by GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. And if Maye is on the board with another Bears first-rounder yet to come, it's hard to imagine he won't be their next face of the franchise. |
||||||
4 |
Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State, Jr
|
OT | ||||
If you get your franchise QB, the first order of business is protecting him with the best offensive lineman in the class. |
||||||
5 |
Jared Verse Florida State, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
The Raiders could be in the quarterback business here, but the top two QBs are long gone. And with all the upheaval on the other side of the ball, beefing up the pass rush opposite Maxx Crosby could be the way to go. |
||||||
6 |
Jer'Zhan Newton Illinois, Jr
|
DL | ||||
Left tackle could be an option here, but any time your defense gives up 70 points in one game, there are going to be questions. Newton, meanwhile, is off to a strong start to the 2023 season. He played on an Illini defense last season that included No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon and Day 2 selections, Quan Martin and Sydney Brown. The defensive lineman will be the next in line to hear his name called early in the draft. |
||||||
7 |
Joe Alt Notre Dame, Jr
|
OT | ||||
If Aaron Rodgers is coming back (and even if he isn't and there isn't a QB they love here), left tackle here is the most obvious pick of the entire 2024 draft. |
||||||
8 |
Dallas Turner Alabama, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Montez Sweat and Chase Young will be free agents after the season, and Dallas Turner has been balling out for the Crimson Tide. |
||||||
9 |
Emeka Egbuka Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Sterling Shepard and Parris Campbell will see their contract expire after the season, and the quest to get Daniel Jones more playmakers continues with the addition of Emeka Egbuka here. |
||||||
10 |
JC Latham Alabama, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Tristan Wirfs has been solid on the left side for the Bucs, so it stands to reason that the beefing up the right side would be a priority (with an emphasis on beef whenever we're talking about Latham). Yes, Baker Mayfield is on a one-year deal, and Tampa could target a QB here, for sure, but we addressed the O-line instead. |
||||||
11 |
Nate Wiggins Clemson, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Wiggins didn't play on Saturday after suffering a knee injury against Florida State last month, but he'll be back on the field this season. He's a long, rangy cover corner who needs to improve as a tackler, but his coverage skills are among the best in the country. |
||||||
12 |
Malik Nabers LSU, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Alec Pierce hasn't yet lived up to expectations, and Malik Nabers gives Anthony Richardson another weapon alongside Michael Pittman. |
||||||
13 |
Amarius Mims Georgia, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Mims suffered a serious ankle injury vs. South Carolina two weeks ago, and it's unclear when he'll return to the field, but expect to see his name in the first-round conversation; he only started one game in 2022, but he flashes special talent. The Titans could stand to upgrade the tackle position, and with the top left tackles off the board, they target a right tackle here. |
||||||
14 |
Patrick Paul Houston, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Brock Bowers feels like the obvious pick here, but the Patriots offensive line, especially at tackle, is in need of an overhaul. |
||||||
15 |
Shedeur Sanders Colorado, Jr
|
QB | ||||
Talk to people around the league and the sense is that Sanders will return to Colorado, where he could end up as QB1 in the 2025 draft class. But since it's early October and we're not even at the halfway point of the college season, we'll keep him in our mock draft 2.0 -- especially since Kirk Cousins (who is playing some of the best football of his career) is in the final year of his deal. |
||||||
16 |
Kingsley Suamataia BYU, Soph
|
OT | ||||
Suamataia played out of position at right tackle last season, and NFL teams love his size and potential. Plus, David Bakhtiari has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons. |
||||||
17 |
Laiatu Latu UCLA, Sr
|
EDGE | ||||
The biggest issues facing Latu will be if he's cleared medically after a neck injury sidelined his career a few years ago. On the field, he's just about unstoppable. |
||||||
18 |
Chop Robinson Penn State, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Both Josh Allen and K'lavon Chaisson are in contract years, and even if Allen returns, Chop Robinson's non-stop motor and playmaking abilities would be a welcome addition to this Jags' defense. |
||||||
19 |
Michael Penix Jr. Washington, Sr
|
QB | ||||
We love Eugene Cyril Smith III, but we also love the way Michael Penix is playing this season for the Huskies. NFL teams have been impressed, too, and because the race for QB3 is wide open, expect Penix to continue to make his case. |
||||||
20 |
Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Alabama thinks Kool-Aid has legit NFL cover skills -- the only question will be his deep speed, and that would be the only reason he'd still be available here. Otherwise, there's a lot to love about his game. Added bonus: he's an asset in the return game, too. |
||||||
21 |
Spencer Rattler South Carolina, Sr
|
QB | ||||
Rattler has been so much fun to watch this season, and it's a testament to his hard work and maturity. He's one of the toughest players in college football and has special arm talent. |
||||||
22 |
Brock Bowers Georgia, Jr
|
TE | ||||
A year ago, we kept trying to give Justin Herbert Michael Mayer and Dalton Kincaid in our mock drafts. This time he hits the lottery with Bowers. |
||||||
23 |
Bralen Trice Washington, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
When healthy, the Texans offensive line looks pretty good on paper (and, to their credit, the backups have performed well over the first three weeks). Knowing that, coach DeMeco Ryans gets another young pass rusher to line up opposite Will Anderson Jr. |
||||||
24 |
Keon Coleman Florida State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and Trenton Irwin are all in contract years, and Keon Coleman has made the most of his early opportunities for the Seminoles after an impressive 2022 season at Michigan State. |
||||||
25 |
Kalen King Penn State, Jr
|
CB | ||||
The Ravens have six cornerbacks whose contracts expire after the season, and King is a physical CB who takes pride in his tackling abilities. |
||||||
26 |
JT Tuimoloau Ohio State, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris could be headed for free agency, and suddenly the Lions are a team without a ton of needs. And imagine lining JT Tuimoloau and his game-wrecking abilities opposite Aidan Hutchinson. |
||||||
27 |
Josh Newton TCU, Sr
|
CB | ||||
Noah Igbinoghene, Jourdan Lewis and Stephon Gilmore are all in contract years, and Newton has first-round potential because of his athleticism and coverage skills. |
||||||
28 |
Leonard Taylor III Miami (Fla.), Soph
|
DL | ||||
When we watched Taylor over the summer, he reminded us of Javon Hargrave, and he's off to a hot start for the U through the first month of the season. |
||||||
29 |
Ja'Tavion Sanders Miami (Fla.), Jr
|
TE | ||||
Sanders suffered an ankle injury on Saturday against Kansas but he'd be yet another speedy weapon for Mike McDaniel's offense. |
||||||
30 |
Barrett Carter Clemson, Jr
|
LB | ||||
Nakobe Dean has struggled to stay healthy, and Zach Cunningham is in a contract year. Meanwhile, we love Barrett Carter's game; he flies all over the field and while he's not as big as former Clemson first-rounder Isaiah Simmons, he's used in a similar role. He's more refined than Quay Walker coming out of Georgia but with that type of athleticism. |
||||||
31 |
Tyler Nubin Minnesota, Sr
|
S | ||||
Nubin is a ball-hawking safety who can provide some pop when coming downhill in run support. |
||||||
32 |
Rome Odunze Washington, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Through the first month of the season, Odunze has been the beneficiary of Michael Penix's left arm, though that can go both ways -- Odunze consistently getting open has made life easy for his QB, too. Either way, he's a big-bodied wide receiver that feels like a great fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense. |
# | Team | Player | Pos | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Caleb Williams USC, Jr
|
QB | ||||
Of course, we can't set this in stone yet. But I'm guessing the Cardinals would be perfectly content with this outcome. Williams in the desert, starting in 2024. |
||||||
2 |
Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
The Cardinals are ecstatic to land Williams and Harrison Jr. with the first two selections in the 2024 draft. Franchise cornerstones. |
||||||
3 |
Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State, Jr
|
OT | ||||
The Colts can't pass on such a young, uber-talented left tackle in the early stages of the Anthony Richardson era. |
||||||
4 |
Laiatu Latu UCLA, Sr
|
EDGE | ||||
Latu has the NFL-caliber size, bendiness, and productivity to be picked this high. Plus, the Bears are desperate for outside pass-rushing help. |
||||||
5 |
Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama, Jr
|
CB | ||||
The Titans have a few cornerbacks set to hit free agency, and unfortunately Caleb Farley hasn't been able to stay healthy. McKinstry is as battle-tested as they come entering the league from Nick Saban's defense. |
||||||
6 |
Rome Odunze Washington, Jr
|
WR | ||||
The Bears get Justin Fields another talented target to hopefully get the passing attack off the ground. |
||||||
7 |
Jared Verse Florida State, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
The Commanders have Chase Young and Montez Sweat set to hit free agency. With that being the case, they pick Verse here to add another super-gifted rusher to the defense that comes at a cost-controlled price for multiple years. |
||||||
8 |
Brock Bowers Georgia, Jr
|
TE | ||||
The Buccaneers are thrilled to land one of the most hyped tight end prospects in a long time inside the top 10. |
||||||
9 |
Kalen King Penn State, Jr
|
CB | ||||
King and Joey Porter Jr. team up again in the state of Pennsylvania after locking down Big 10 receivers together at Penn State. |
||||||
10 |
J.J. McCarthy Michigan, Jr
|
QB | ||||
Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are drawn to the mobility and arm talent of McCarthy, who'll eventually replace Daniel Jones. |
||||||
11 |
Malik Nabers LSU, Jr
|
WR | ||||
It's been a while since the Patriots selected a receiver this early. It's a gigantic need that can't be ignored anymore. |
||||||
12 |
Drake Maye North Carolina, Soph
|
QB | ||||
Maye has franchise-level arm talent and isn't a statue in the pocket. He can hit the ground running with Justin Jefferson . T.J. Hockenson and Co. as targets. |
||||||
13 |
Jer'Zhan Newton Illinois, Jr
|
DL | ||||
The Rams see shades of Aaron Donald in Newton with this selection. |
||||||
14 |
Barrett Carter Clemson, Jr
|
LB | ||||
A true difference-maker at linebacker would go a long way in fortifying the Raiders defense. Carter has quarterback-of-the-defense capabilities. |
||||||
15 |
Joe Alt Notre Dame, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Given the state of the Broncos offensive line, the front office would be thrilled to have Alt available at No. 15 overall. |
||||||
16 |
Shedeur Sanders Colorado, Jr
|
QB | ||||
The Seahawks are an organization who can house the media circus that will come with Sanders once he's in the NFL. |
||||||
17 |
JC Latham Alabama, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Given Duane Brown's age, the Jets must address the offensive line early in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Latham is a high-floor type at tackle. |
||||||
18 |
Tyler Nubin Minnesota, Sr
|
S | ||||
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has a long history of addressing the secondary early in drafts, and Nubin shines in coverage. |
||||||
19 |
Leonard Taylor III Miami (Fla.), Soph
|
DL | ||||
The Calais Campbell signing has undoubtedly helped early in 2023, but the Falcons plan for the future on the interior of their defensive front with the active Taylor, who comes with massive upside. |
||||||
20 |
Chop Robinson Penn State, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Ideal prospect to learn from Cam Jordan before emerging as New Orleans' alpha rusher of the future. |
||||||
21 |
Bralen Trice Washington, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Trice is a unique, ultra-polished rusher who can be deployed on the perimeter or inside of the offensive line. |
||||||
22 |
Ruke Orhorhoro Clemson, Sr
|
DT | ||||
The Chargers defensive interior still needs work. Orhorhoro is a rock inside. |
||||||
23 |
Keon Coleman Florida State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Back to the first-round receiver well for the Ravens to keep the arsenal updated for Lamar Jackson. |
||||||
24 |
Kris Jenkins Michigan, Sr
|
DL | ||||
The Browns have a few impending free agents at defensive tackle, and Jenkins has NFL bloodlines and strength to be instant impact on the same line as Myles Garrett. |
||||||
25 |
Patrick Paul Houston, Jr
|
OT | ||||
With Austin Jackson bound for free agency -- and Connor Williams -- the Dolphins add to the offensive line to protect Tua Tagovailoa. |
||||||
26 |
Johnny Wilson Florida State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
A true, sizable boundary wideout is precisely what this Lions offense needs, and Wilson is precisely that. |
||||||
27 |
Emeka Egbuka Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Replenishing the receiver position for the Bengals with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd set to become free agents in 2024. |
||||||
28 |
Josh Newton TCU, Sr
|
CB | ||||
The Cowboys add a young, speedy, sticky-in-coverage corner who'd complement Trevon Diggs very well. |
||||||
29 |
Kingsley Suamataia BYU, Soph
|
OT | ||||
The Bills must fortify the right tackle position, and Suamataia is a freaky specimen Buffalo typically gravitates toward early in the draft. |
||||||
30 |
Caelen Carson Wake Forest, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Given the ages of Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the Eagles go with a twitchy, playmaking cornerback here. |
||||||
31 |
T'Vondre Sweat Wake Forest, Sr
|
DL | ||||
The Chiefs gets an interior penetrator who's been on the draft radar to help Chris Jones along their defensive line. |
||||||
32 |
Maason Smith LSU, Soph
|
DL | ||||
The 49ers love addressing the trenches early, and Smith has game-wrecker capabilities. |
# | Team | Player | Pos | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Caleb Williams USC, Jr
|
QB | ||||
Arizona has been more feisty than many expected but they are still in a position to draft early. In this instance, the Cardinals are picking No. 1 overall as a result of their draft-day trade with Houston . Caleb Williams is the pick. |
||||||
2 |
Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Arizona gives its new quarterback a new weapon. Marvin Harrison Jr. was once rumored to be transferring to USC with Caleb Williams but they do finally connect in the NFL. |
||||||
3 |
Drake Maye North Carolina, Soph
|
QB | ||||
I do not think Chicago has done anything to give Justin Fields confidence but he is certainly not playing like a quarterback with confidence right now. He is missing open receivers and the Bears' new regime did not draft him. |
||||||
4 |
Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Braxton Jones had been solid at left tackle prior to his injury. Their scheme is a good fit for him but I wonder if they want a left tackle that is a bit more diverse to usher in the future with Drake Maye. |
||||||
5 |
Jared Verse Florida State, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Last week, offensive tackle was the choice for Indianapolis. The truth is that once we get to this point in the draft, the value is gone unless offensive tackle is a need. The choice here is Jared Verse but I think he needs to show more to prove that he is worthy of a top-5 selection. |
||||||
6 |
Malik Nabers LSU, Jr
|
WR | ||||
New York has a bunch of wide receivers but none of them have shown the ability to take over a game. Malik Nabers is capable of being that player. He has the body control down the field to make acrobatic catches. |
||||||
7 |
J.J. McCarthy Michigan, Jr
|
QB | ||||
The jury is still out on J.J. McCarthy. The Bowling Green game was much worse than the prior two. It is known that Las Vegas is going to need a quarterback of the future. |
||||||
8 |
Brock Bowers Georgia, Jr
|
TE | ||||
Sam Howell has done some good things through two games. He has shown that the moment is not too big for him. Washington may be inclined to give him a longer look if things continue at this pace. Brock Bowers is someone who can make that transition easier. |
||||||
9 |
Amarius Mims Georgia, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Los Angeles' offensive line has been better than I expected. They have an offensive-friendly blocking scheme but Amarius Mims, when healthy, is a talent who makes the scheme irrelevant. He has All-Pro potential. |
||||||
10 |