2024 NFL First Round Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is full of surprises, and today will be no different. Here’s my first and only 2024 1st Round Mock.

 

Round 1, Pick 1 – Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Chicago goes for the most polarizing figure in the draft class here. Williams comes in as an instant franchise shifter, and improves the offense immensely. 

 

Round 1, Pick 2 – Washington Commanders

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Washington grabs their franchise quarterback here with the second overall pick. Maye opens up the Commanders’ offensive system, allowing their weapons to flourish. 

 

Round 1, Pick 3 – New England Patriots

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The Pats put the Bill Belichick era to rest, officially taking Daniels at three. Daniels has all the upside and will come in as an instant spark plug to this New England offense. 

 

 Round 1, Pick 4 – Minnesota Vikings (via ARI)

(Trade: Arizona Cardinals send Pick 4. Minnesota Vikings send Pick 11 & 2025 2nd Round Pick.)

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

After the loss of Kirk Cousins Minnesota needed to a fresh start at quarterback. McCarthy is a winner with all the tools to be a starter in the NFL, and the Vikings go get their guy. 

 

Round 1, Pick 5 – Los Angeles Chargers 

Joe Alt, Tackle, Notre Dame

The trenches need a revamp in L.A. and Jim Harbaugh takes the best tackle in the draft here. 

 

Round 1, Pick 6 – New York Giants

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

In what could be the biggest no-brainer move, New York takes the best receiver on the board. Harrison Jr. immediately becomes the best target on the team and solidifies the receiver room. 

 

Round 1, Pick 7 – New Orleans Saints (via TEN)

(Trade: Tennessee Titans send Pick 7. New Orleans Saints send Pick 14 & Pick 45.)

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Tackle, Penn State

In an aggressive move the Saints trade up to get their tackle in Fashanu out of Penn State. They shore up an offensive line that was in need of some young talent.

 

Round 1, Pick 8 – Atlanta Falcons

Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

Atlanta makes the bold move and take the most NFL ready edge rusher in the class. Verse can play either side and move up and down the formation for Raheem Morris in this defensive front.

 

Round 1, Pick 9 – Chicago Bears

Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

Chicago takes the Houston route and takes the captain of their defense after getting their franchise quarterback. Turner is one of the most versatile defenders in the class, and could end up being the best as his career progresses.

 

Round 1, Pick 10 – New York Jets

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

New York gets more weapons for Aaron Rodgers here in the form of generational tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers is a chess piece that can do everything plus some in any offense. 

 

Round 1, Pick 11 – Arizona Cardinals (via MIN)

(Trade: Arizona Cardinals send Pick 4. Minnesota Vikings send Pick 11 & 2025 2nd Round Pick.)

Malik Nabers, WR, LSU 

Arizona takes the second best receiver in the draft after trading back with Minnesota. They have tried to find an answer for the loss of Christian Kirk and get it here with Nabers. 

 

Round 1, Pick 12 – Denver Broncos

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Simply put, the Broncos fill a need here. Sean Payton gets his man and officially starts his new era in Denver. 

 

Round 1, Pick 13 – Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Vegas wastes no time and takes the best pure passer in the draft with their first pick. Penix Jr. may have had some medical questions in the past, but is healthy now with almost no holes in his game. 

 

Round 1, Pick 14 – Tennessee Titans (via NO)

(Trade: Tennessee sends Pick 146. New Orleans sends Pick 150 & Pick 239.)

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington 

Tennessee trades back from #7 and takes their future top target at here. Odunze will come in and flourish in a Tee Higgins-esque role for Brian Callahan, and eventually become a starter in a year or two. 

 

Round 1, Pick 15 – Indianapolis Colts

Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Arnold has the skills to be one of the best man corners in football, and Indianapolis has a need at outside cornerback. This is a match made in heaven. 

 

Round 1, Pick 16 – Seattle Seahawks

Taliese Fuaga, Tackle, Oregon State

Seattle needs to get younger and more talented along their offensive front. They take one of the best tackles in the draft here to do just that. 

 

Round 1, Pick 17 – Jacksonville Jaguars

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo 

Jacksonville could’ve opted to take one of the remaining receivers on the board, but instead take one of the premier boundary defenders in the class. Mitchell has the potential to be the best corner in the league and the Jaguars get a gem here. 

 

Round 1, Pick 18 – Cincinnati Bengals 

Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Bengals need to replenish their defense and they choose to start with the secondary with their first pick. Wiggins is an athletic freak with the technique to match. He will plug in as CB1. 

 

Round 1, Pick 19 – Los Angeles Rams

Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

Aaron Donald retired and the only to replace him is with an equally talented prospect. Murphy II pops off the screen every snap and has the best anchor in the draft, he will be as close to a 1:1 replacement as L.A. can get. 

 

Round 1, Pick 20 – Pittsburgh Steelers

J.C. Latham, Tackle, Alabama

Broderick Jones was a hit last season, and this season the Steelers make the move to get their bookend. Latham has some of the best hands in the tackle class and will come in as the instant starter on the right side as Jones kicks over to his natural left. 

 

Round 1, Pick 21 – Miami Dolphins

Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois 

Miami gets a plug and play defensive lineman who is the best interior pass rusher in the class. Newton has some concerns about his foot, but his long-term ceiling is that of a perennial All-Pro. 

 

Round 1, Pick 22 – Philadelphia Eagles 

Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

Philadelphia needs to get younger along their front seven, and you can never have too many pass rushers. Latu is one of the most polished attackers off the edge, and would give the Eagles a fearsome plug-in pass rusher. 

 

 Round 1, Pick 23 – Minnesota Vikings (via HOU)

Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State

The name of the game for the modern-day NFL is versatility, and no one has it like Beebe. He can play either guard spot as well as tackle, he will now be protecting their new signal caller. 

 

Round 1, Pick 24 – Dallas Cowboys

Troy Fautanu, Tackle, Washington

After losing Tyron Smith, Dallas will need to replace his presence on that left side. Fautanu is one of the best movers in the class and shows the technical base to have a long career in the NFL. 

 

Round 1, Pick 25 – Green Bay Packers

Amarius Mims, Tackle, Georgia

Green Bay needs to improve their tackle position and they have the pick of the litter here in a deep tackle class. Mims is a large human being who moves like someone half his size: he will come in as a starter to protect Jordan Love. 

 

Round 1, Pick 26 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

The Buccaneers go best need-based player available here at 26. Chop Robinson will push for snaps and a starting role in a very young pass rush rotation in Tampa Bay. 

 

Round 1, Pick 27 – Arizona Cardinals

Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

The Cardinals got their receiver with their first pick, they now look for improve their secondary here. Lassiter is one of the best man coverage cornerbacks in the class and shores up the CB1 position. 

 

Round 1, Pick 28 – Buffalo Bills

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU 

Trading away one of the best receivers in the draft has its perks. Brandon Beane snatches one of the best deep threats in the draft here to pair with his top tier quarterback. 

 

Round 1, Pick 29 – Detroit Lions

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Mizzou

The secondary was one of the weakest links for the Lions last season. Rakestraw Jr. provides a cornerstone boundary defender with tremendous upside to pair with new addition Carlton Davis. 

 

Round 1, Pick 30 – Baltimore Ravens

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Lamar Jackson showed he can lead a team with his arm last season, and the front office now needs to boost the arsenal around him. The Ravens have the structure to put around Mitchell and ensure his development into a bonafide stud at the NFL level. 

 

Round 1, Pick 31 – San Francisco 49ers 

Graham Barton, OL, Duke

The right side of the Niners offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL. Barton provides the versatility to play either guard or tackle but comes in as the new starting right tackle for Kyle Shanahan. 

 

Round 1, Pick 32 – Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas 

The Chiefs have won the big dance two years in a row with a group of undesirables at receiver. Mahomes gets his speed demon here in Worthy at the bottom of the first.