2024 Mock Draft: Bears Snag Generational Duo, Cardinals Fall Out of Top 5
Four games into the 2023 season and it's gone exactly the way we expected it to... I think.
The teams we anticipated to be bad have stayed true for the most part, although there are several teams who are simply off to slow starts that we anticipate will get back on the right track sooner rather than later.
Until then, it's weird to see a team like the Cincinnati Bengals picking inside the top 10 when they came into the year with Super Bowl aspirations.
Of course, teams we knew would be bad like the Chicago Bears have found themselves at the top of the draft. The Arizona Cardinals, meanwhile, have played themselves outside of the top-five picks for now, meaning this mock will shake all sorts of things up.
Here, we have our latest and freshest 2024 NFL Draft mock with order courtesy of Tankathon.
With that being said, let's get this bad boy started! The Chicago Bears are on the clock...
1. Chicago Bears
The pick: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC
There's still plenty of time for Justin Fields to turn this season around, but he has shown far more bad than good to be considered the face of the future of the Bears. Honestly, blowing it all up feels best, as the current regime shouldn't be safe entering the offseason.
The Bears need to get the quarterback position figured out more than ever before and in front of them is a prospect who will go down as one of the best ever in Williams. There's nothing Williams doesn't do and plugging him into Chicago will at a minimum make them watchable.
2. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers)
The pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Thanks to the Panthers' move last year, the Bears own the top-two selections if the season were to end today. Their reward is the generational quarterback prospect in Williams and a wide receiver prospect who could very well also earn that moniker. MHJ is the son of Marvin Harrison Sr., a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and plays like it. Having him and D.J. Moore at the disposal of Williams instantly turns this offense is a deadly one so long as whoever is calling plays can figure that out.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
The pick: Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
Jimmy Garoppolo is a short-term answer at best for the Raiders and picking inside the top-three should mean a quarterback has to be the pick. Maye's start to the season has been shaky, but he is still a superb talent and one you shouldn't overthink. If Caleb Williams weren't in this draft, Maye would be QB1. It's an easy choice for whoever ends up making this selection.
4. Denver Broncos
The pick: Dallas Turner, Edge Rusher, Alabama
The Broncos will need to have a serious conversation about drafting a quarterback if they end up picking this high. That being said, Russell Wilson has not been the problem this season for Denver. Considering he's rebounded from last year and they're tied to him for the foreseeable future, the Broncos would be best going the "best player available" route. We entered the season waiting to see if Turner would get back to his freshman year self and he has done just that. Turner is nearing elite prospect status and as it stands today is a slam-dunk top-10 talent.
5. Minnesota Vikings
The pick: Quinn Ewers, Quarterback, Texas
The Vikings are at a crossroads for their franchise right now. Kirk Cousins is a pending free agent and Justin Jefferson isn't happy with the situation the team currently finds itself in. Although Cousins has been a good player for them, it's probably time to get a quarterback of the future and a top-five pick is the perfect chance to do so. Ewers is living up to the status he had coming out of high school and could end up being QB2 in this class if Maye doesn't turn things around. This is the kind of pick that could turn this franchise around and convince Jefferson to stick around for a bright future.
6. New York Jets
The pick: Olu Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State
It doesn't matter if Aaron Rodgers returns or not because the Jets' offensive line is a disaster. Mekhi Becton is far too unreliable to be a starter for the team and there's nothing to build confidence in otherwise. Fashanu is a remarkable talent who would've been a top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft if he declared. Instead, he returned to refine his craft and will be rewarded with being the top tackle off the board.
7. New England Patriots
The pick: Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Washington
Mac Jones is not a good quarterback and if the Patriots want to get back to contending then they need to move on. Penix Jr. is the poster boy for what a good passer looks like and the video game numbers he's putting up at Washington will have him as a Heisman finalist by the end of the season. The Pats still need to upgrade the weapons at the quarterback's disposal no matter who he is, but Penix Jr. is a definitive upgrade to Jones.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
The pick: Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
The upcoming offensive tackle class will have plenty of debate, but many will agree that Mims has an incredibly high ceiling and is one of the most exciting prospects at the position. The Bengals are learning the hard way that Orlando Brown Jr. is an egregiously overrated player and Jonah Williams isn't very good at tackle. Inserting Mim can fix at least one of the tackle spots to keep Joe Burrow upright.
9. Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia
I am thoroughly convinced that Bowers is the type of talent that you draft high despite his position. Tight end may not be the "sexiest" position to use a first-round pick on, but Bowers is the type of talent that transcends the position and can provide a massive upgrade to your offense. The Cardinals spent a second-round pick on Trey McBride not too long ago, but that was a previous regime, and either way, Bowers is supremely more talented. The Cards would be wise to add great football players and that's exactly what Bowers is.
10. New York Giants
The pick: Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State
There is a very high possibility the Giants will go into the 2024 NFL Draft looking for a new quarterback thanks to the atrocity that is Daniel Jones. However, taking the perceivably fifth-best quarterback with a top-10 pick is a hard sell and you're paying Jones $40 million a season. For now, the best you can do is finally get a top option at receiver and get a guy later in what is a remarkably deep class. Coleman has blown up the scene in college football as the Seminoles top guy and his ceiling feels as high as anyone in this draft. Coleman would finally give the G-Men a true X-receiver.
11. Green Bay Packers
The pick: Joe Alt Jr., Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
The Packers are in a tough situation on the offensive line. David Bakhtiari is having his fourth knee surgery in three years and it's now irresponsible to not have a solution behind him or to even replace him. Alt Jr. has some serious arguments to be the top tackle in the class. The value matches a need for the Pack and he would be a cornerstone tackle for the bright future that Jordan Love has shown for Green Bay loyal.
12. New Orleans Saints
The pick: Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, LSU
Michael Thomas is healthy and playing solid football, but he's in his 30s now and could be upgraded. Nabers is another receiver who has exploded this season and profiles as a top option at the next level. The Saints gave Derek Carr an extension this offseason so they will be tied to him for a bit. The least they can do is to continue giving him weapons and matching Nabers with Chris Olave goes a long way in making your offense potent.
13. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans)
The pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama
With the Texans first-round pick, the Cardinals capitalized on top defensive talent slipping down the board thanks to a run on quarterbacks and other offensive talents to land the top cover man in next year's draft. Beyond an amazing nickname, McKinstry is a shutdown corner with an alpha-dog mentality. One of the biggest struggles for the Cards this year has been with corner play and McKinstry's talent profiles him as a number one guy from day one.
14. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns)
The pick: Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Florida State
The Texans may have given their own first to the Cardinals in order to get Will Anderson Jr. in this past draft, but they still own the Browns thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade. With it, Houston gets a bookend edge rusher opposite Anderson Jr. to turn this defense into an opposing offense's nightmare. Verse has had a slow start to the year but he's still one of the top defensive talents in the 2024 class. The Texans will gladly stop his slide and give themselves a dynamic young duo off the edge.
15. Los Angeles Chargers
The pick: Jer'Zhan Newton, Interior Defensive Line, Illinois
The Chargers have tough decisions looming now that Justin Herbert is under a long-term contract. LA sits at nearly $50 million over the cap for next season and there will be a lot of moves to be made. This means getting younger and certainly cheaper throughout the roster. The Bolts have struggled to find a top option on the defensive interior and Newton is the kind of plug-and-play guy who can fill that hole. Adding Newton can help the pass rush stay viable should tough cuts need to be made to the unit.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: Maason Smith, Interior Defensive Line, LSU
The Jaguars have several positions that could use an upgrade and the defensive line could use some more talent. Smith would come into Jacksonville as the top defensive lineman on the team and a player who could make life easier for edge rushers like Travon Walker and Josh Allen (if he returns). Smith has been working back from an ACL tear he suffered in 2022, but so far he looks to remain the part of a dominant player.
17. Washington Commanders
The pick: JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
I am not the biggest Sam Howell fan in the world, but the Commanders have put their faith in him. If they want to continue to support Howell then they need to upgrade their offensive line. Howell has already been sacked 24 times in just four games this season, so anywhere along the line would be a good place to start. Latham is a big, bad man who can be the bouncer at tackle that Howell desperately needs.
18. Los Angeles Rams
The pick: Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher, UCLA
The Rams have been far more competitive than many gave them credit for, but they still have plenty of spots that need an influx of talent. The pass rush as a whole needs some work and Latu is a perfect piece to plug into the unit. At 6'5" and 265 lbs, Latu will be a defensive tackle for some teams and an edge rusher for others. For the Rams, he's a versatile chess piece who can create mismatches throughout the alignment. Latu could be a positionless star for LA.
19. Atlanta Falcons
The pick: Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado
Desmond Ridder is going to hold the Falcons back from big things offensively, although the play-calling doesn't do them many favors, either. Insert Sanders, the son of Deion, who has been at the forefront of one of college football's biggest storylines. Sanders has a rifle on his arm and has a long list of highlight-reel plays that will excite fans. Sliding him into this offense gives Atlanta some ridiculously high upside and the firepower they need to contend in the NFC.
20. Indianapolis Colts
The pick: Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Even if Michael Pittman Jr. is back for next season, the Colts have to continue adding top talent for Anthony Richardson. Egbuka entered the season as the second-best receiver prospect in the 2024 class and has slipped to no fault of his own. Egbuka has remained a constant threat in Ohio State's offense and is still a top-tier talent at the wide receiver spot. Indy will be more than happy to stop his slide and add him to an offense full of explosive upside.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
The pick: Kalen King, Cornerback, Penn State
Unfortunately, the Steelers can't draft an offensive coordinator, because everyone knows that's exactly what they need to be contenders again. Until then, Pittsburgh needs to get younger in the secondary. Joey Porter Jr. was a great get for the Steelers in this past draft and here they get his partner in crime from Penn State. King is another shutdown option who many believed was the better of the two during their days together in Happy Valley. Pittsburgh won't mind having them both reunited in their secondary.
22. Tennessee Titans
The pick: Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington
The Titans have questions that need to be answered regarding their quarterback of the future, but for now, they can continue adding weapons for whoever is calling the shots. DeAndre Hopkins is a solid, but aging receiver and Treylon Burks has yet to be consistent for one reason or another. Odunze has been one of, if not the best receivers in the country this year and is a front-runner for the Biletnikoff Award. Having three guys who can play above the rim out wide makes a quarterback's life easier knowing he can just put the ball up and any of those three can come down with it.
23. Seattle Seahawks
The pick: Sedrick Van Pran, Interior Offensive Line, Georgia
The Seahawks' offensive line has grown a lot over the last couple of years, but the interior of the line could stand to use a talent influx. Van Prat is a standout at center for a very good Georgia offensive line and has a great argument to be made as the top interior offensive lineman in the class. Seattle will gladly take a plug-and-play center to continue solidifying one of the league's top lines.
24. Dallas Cowboys
The pick: Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa
The Cowboys have the luxury of having a team good enough to simply take the best player on the board. DeJean is a top-tier cover man with elite special teams play as a returner. With Trevon Diggs recovering from an ACL tear and Stephon Gilmore a pending free agent, Dallas would be wise to snipe a talented player at a position that could use some extra depth.
25. Detroit Lions
The pick: Chop Robinson, Edge Rusher, Penn State
Aidan Hutchinson has played as advertised for the Lions after being made the number two overall pick in 2022, but he needs a consistent running mate across from him. Detroit is getting production from the unit as a whole, but having a true partner in crime with Hutchinson would be a game-changer. There's a great chance Robinson is picked a lot higher than this come actual draft time, but the Lions will gladly pair him and Hutchinson to unleash hell on opposing quarterbacks.
26. Miami Dolphins
The pick: AD Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Texas
There aren't many spots on the Dolphins roster that stand out as massive holes to fill, so why not make a great passing attack even better? Mitchell provides some size to the wide receiver spot at 6'4" and 196 lbs, but he's got some speed to keep up with the rest of the high-flying Miami offense. With Mitchell joining Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, few if any teams could match up with the might of the Dolphins receiving core.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The pick: Bralen Trice, Edge Rusher, Washington
Baker Mayfield is playing too good of football to mock a quarterback in round one, although Bo Nix is very enticing. Instead, the Buccaneers should look to continue improving the rest of the roster. The pass rush is solid but has taken a step back and needs youth. Trice is a top-tier pass rusher and someone who can come into Todd Bowles's defense and instantly find a niche even as a part-time player.
28. Buffalo Bills
The pick: Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Oregon
The Bills' receivers are elevated by the play of Josh Allen, but it's far time that Buffalo does something to make Allen's life easier. Franklin is a picture-perfect receiver with size at 6'3" and terrific game speed plus big-play potential. At worst, Franklin is what Gabe Davis is, who is a pending free agent anyway. Adding Franklin is a perfect way to stay young and cheap at the position, especially when you're already paying Stefon Diggs like the top receiver that he is.
29. Baltimore Ravens
The pick: Kamari Lassiter, Cornerback, Georgia
The Ravens enter every season deep in the secondary only to have injuries pile up until they have nothing left. What they need to do is add depth to the unit with some premium picks. Lassiter was thought to be Georgia's top corner last year and thus far he's been a very good player. Lining up Lassiter across from Marlon Humphrey is what will lift Baltimore passed the other top contenders in the AFC.
30. San Francisco 49ers:
The pick: Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas
What do you get for the team that has no needs? Another wide receiver! Brock Purdy runs the offense too well to draft someone else when you could instead use that pick to make your team better... sorry, Bo Nix truthers including myself. Worthy is a big play waiting to happen and in an offense that has two other receivers like that in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, you simply have an offense that is near unstoppable. Adding Worthy to this offense makes it so that even I could run it efficiently.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
The pick: Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson
To this point, there have been eight wide receivers taken so the Chiefs would be better off to take whatever talent has slipped to them and there are quite a few prospects to fancy. Wiggins is a big, long corner who mirrors his opposition well. Kansas City could use some upgrades at corner and honestly, you can never have too many good cover men.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
The pick: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Linebacker, Clemson
I know this isn't a Georgia player, but it is a legacy player for the Eagles at the end of the first-round. Trotter Jr.'s father played eight seasons with Philly and made the Pro Bowl four times. His son is equally as talented and stands out on a good Clemson defense. The Eagles have had a lot to replace at the linebacker position this year, but plugging in Trotter Jr. to go next to Nakobe Dean is an exciting young duo that keeps this defense energized and cheap.
