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Mike Fanelli provides his second 2024 NFL mock draft of the year. This first-round mock draft includes seven potential trades!
The 2024 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away. Yet, the next several days will feel like a lifetime for NFL Draft fans.
While everyone wants to discuss the quarterback class and the first few picks, the NFL Draft doesn’t end after the first round. This year’s draft class will have several impact players drafted on Day 2.
However, my second mock draft of the year for RotoBaller is for the first round only. My mock draft has seven hypothetical trades, including four in the top 10.
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Picks No. 1-10
1) Chicago Bears (via Carolina) – Caleb Williams (QB – USC)
Chicago will draft Williams with the first overall pick. The only thing left to determine is what jersey number he will wear.
2) Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels (QB – LSU)
While the Commanders are still debating which quarterback they will take, the betting market believes Daniels will be the No. 2 overall pick.
3) New England Patriots – J.J. McCarthy (QB – Michigan)
The Patriots would love to land Daniels but are left picking between McCarthy and Drake Maye. Reportedly, de facto general manager Eliot Wolf is pushing for the team to select the Michigan star.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: #Patriots de facto GM Eliot Wolf is pushing “hard” for the team to draft JJ McCarthy and believes he has as much upside as any other QB in the draft, per @TonyPauline
“I’m not big on McCarthy being a top-10 selection, but the UM signal caller to New England was… pic.twitter.com/KkJiHT6Fmy
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 7, 2024
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Minnesota Vikings receive pick No. 4. Arizona Cardinals receive picks No. 11, 23, 2025 first-rounder.
4) Minnesota Vikings (via Cardinals) – Drake Maye (QB – UNC)
Almost every mock draft has the Vikings trading into the top five for a quarterback. While Maye might need to start the season on the bench, it won’t be long before he replaces Sam Darnold under center.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Arizona Cardinals receive pick No. 5. Los Angeles Chargers receive picks No. 11, 27, 71.
5) Arizona Cardinals (via Chargers) – Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – Ohio State)
No one should be surprised if the Cardinals trade down and move back up. Last year, general manager Monti Ossenfort famously traded down with the Houston Texans and back up with the Detroit Lions. They add a future first-round pick and still land Harrison.
6) New York Giants – Rome Odunze (WR – Washington)
With no quarterback worthy of the pick on the board, the Giants finally add a No. 1-caliber wide receiver. Most mock drafts have New York taking Malik Nabers, but Odunze gives the team the big-bodied outside receiver they’ve lacked for years.
7) Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt (OT – Notre Dame)
After signing Calvin Ridley in free agency, the Titans will likely pass on a wide receiver in the first round unless Alt is off the board. Thankfully, he is available in this mock draft and will spend the next decade protecting Will Levis’ blindside.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Green Bay Packers receive picks No. 8, 197. Atlanta Falcons receive picks No. 25, 41, 58, 126.
8) Green Bay Packers (via Falcons) – Malik Nabers (WR – LSU)
What’s the point of a mock draft if you can’t throw a curveball into it? The Packers have four talented wide receivers on the roster -- Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks. However, Green Bay has 11 picks this year, allowing it to make a blockbuster move.
9) Chicago Bears – Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT – Penn State)
While the Bears could take an edge-rusher with this pick, they improve Caleb Williams’ protection. Braxton Jones was solid last season but ranked 41st among offensive tackles in pass blocking by PFF. Fashanu has significantly more upside and was high school teammates with Williams.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Philadelphia Eagles receive picks No. 10, 72. New York Jets receive picks No. 22, 50, 53, 161.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (via Jets) – Dallas Turner (EDGE – Alabama)
The Jets want to move back and add a Day 2 pick after trading their second-round selection for Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham are entering the final year of their contract. Furthermore, the Eagles love their athletic edge- rushers.
Picks No. 11-20
11) Los Angles Chargers (via Cardinals, Vikings) – Brock Bowers (TE – Georgia)
Most mock drafts have the Chargers taking an offensive tackle with their top pick. However, Jim Harbaugh loves using his tight ends in the passing game, making it near impossible for him to pass on Bowers after trading back.
12) Denver Broncos – Bo Nix (QB – Oregon)
While some believe taking Nix this early is a reach, the Broncos are the betting favorite to land the Oregon star, and they have a massive need at quarterback. No one believes the team when they say Jarrett Stidham could start in Week 1.
This is an insane market. Broncos are -120 to take Bo Nix? Implied probability of about 55%. Seems crazy high pic.twitter.com/4i7CCGOlCH
— Jake (@JakeAndBall) April 15, 2024
13) Las Vegas Raiders – Taliese Fuaga (OT – Oregon State)
Head coach Antonio Pierce wants to run the ball down the opponent’s throat, especially with their subpar quarterback situation. Fuaga was the top-rated run blocker last season (PFF) of any offensive lineman in the draft class.
14) New Orleans Saints – Troy Fautanu (OT – Washington)
New Orleans once had one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. Unfortunately, Trevor Penning hasn’t worked out as a former first-round pick. Meanwhile, Ryan Ramczyk’s career is in jeopardy because of knee injuries, almost forcing it to take an offensive tackle in the first round.
15) Indianapolis Colts – Cooper DeJean (DB – Iowa)
If the Colts can get their hands on Brock Bowers, that would be a home run pick. However, he is off the board in this mock draft, so the team turns its attention to its top need on defense. DeJean could be the first defensive back off the board after an impressive private pro day performance.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Washington Commanders receive pick No. 16. Seattle Seahawks receive picks No. 36, 40.
16) Washington Commanders (via Seahawks) – Tyler Guyton (OT – Oklahoma)
The Seahawks have only one pick in the top 100, making them a likely team to trade back on Day 1. Meanwhile, the Commanders have six picks in the first three rounds and a massive need at offensive tackle. They flip their two second-round picks to move up and secure Guyton.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars – Quinyon Mitchell (CB – Toledo)
With the division-rival Titans and Texans making blockbuster moves at wide receiver, the Jaguars must improve their cornerback unit, especially after releasing Darious Williams earlier this offseason.
18) Cincinnati Bengals – BrIan Thomas Jr. (WR – LSU)
Tee Higgins recently said he expects to be a Bengal in 2024. However, that doesn’t mean he will sign a long-term deal with the team. Cincinnati has a history of drafting a year in advance for need, making Thomas the ideal pick.
19) Los Angeles Rams – Byron Murphy II (DL – Texas)
Unfortunately, the Rams lost Aaron Donald to retirement this offseason. While no one can single-handedly replace the future Hall of Famer, Murphy is the clear-cut top defensive lineman in the draft class.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers – JC Latham (OT – Alabama)
The Steelers had three massive needs heading into the offseason -- quarterback, cornerback, and offensive line. They added two quarterbacks and traded for CB Donte Jackson. While they could take a wide receiver, expect Pittsburgh to take an offensive tackle in the first round for the second consecutive year.
Picks No. 21-32
*** TRADE ALERT ***
San Francisco 49ers receive pick No. 21. Miami Dolphins receive picks No. 31, 63.
21) San Francisco 49ers (via Dolphins) – Terrion Arnold (CB – Alabama)
San Francisco has 10 picks this year, allowing it to get aggressive and trade up. Meanwhile, Miami is a likely trade-down candidate, as it has six picks and several needs. The 49ers' top-three cornerbacks are entering the final year of their contracts, creating a massive need in the secondary.
22) New York Jets (via Eagles) – Amarius Mims (OT – Georgia)
While the Jets moved down 12 spots, they picked up a second-round pick and still landed a first-round offensive tackle. With Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses set as the starting offensive tackles, Mims can redshirt in 2024.
23) Arizona Cardinals (via Vikings, Houston, Cleveland) – Jared Verse (EDGE – Florida State)
Verse could be a top-15 pick, depending on how the board falls, making him a steal at 23rd overall. The Cardinals must add an edge-rusher early in the draft after Dennis Gardeck led the team in sacks last season.
24) Dallas Cowboys – Graham Barton (C – Duke)
The Cowboys lost two starting offensive linemen in free agency. While Tyler Smith can move out to left tackle, Dallas doesn’t have someone to replace Tyler Biadasz at center. Barton played left tackle at Duke but will slide inside in the NFL.
25) Atlanta Falcons (via Packers) – Laiatu Latu (EDGE – UCLA)
Injury history will push Latu down draft boards. However, he is the most pro-ready edge-rusher in the draft class. Atlanta has swung and missed on edge-rushers several times over the past decade. Landing Latu after acquiring two second-round picks is a draft-winning move by the Falcons.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
New York Giants receive pick No. 25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive picks No. 47, 70, 2025 second-rounder.
26) New York Giants (via Buccaneers) – Michael Penix Jr. (QB – Washington)
New York missed out on a quarterback early in the first round. Therefore, don’t be surprised if it trades back into the round and selects Penix. Daniel Jones won’t be around in 2025, while Drew Lock isn’t a long-term answer.
27) Los Angeles Chargers (via Cardinals, Houston) – Jordan Morgan (OT – Arizona)
While the run on offensive tackles happened before the Chargers could get back on the board, they land one of the more underrated late first-round prospects in Morgan. He would step in at right tackle as a rookie for Jim Harbaugh.
28) Buffalo Bills – Adonai Mitchell (WR – Texas)
After trading away Stefon Diggs earlier this month, the Bills have a massive need at wide receiver. While he had only one year of production in college, Mitchell has all the tools to be a go-to No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
29) Detroit Lions – Nate Wiggins (CB – Clemson)
The Lions traded for Carlton Davis III this offseason after having an awful secondary in 2023. Unfortunately, the team had to release Cam Sutton after domestic battery allegations, creating a massive need at cornerback. Wiggins’ weight is a concern, but he is the top coverage guy in the draft class.
REPORT: @Lions release CB Cam Sutton after domestic battery allegations pic.twitter.com/KckvrH5h18
— The Fantasy Source (@FantasySource_) March 21, 2024
30) Baltimore Ravens – Chop Robinson (EDGE – Penn State)
Baltimore signed Justin Madubuike to a long-term deal this offseason after he led the team in sacks last year. However, it lost Jadeveon Clowney in free agency. While the Ravens might want to avoid another Penn State edge-rusher with limited production after taking Odafe Oweh three years ago, Robinson has too much raw upside to fall out of the first round.
31) Miami Dolphins (via 49ers) – Jer’Zhan Newton (DL – Illinois)
Unfortunately, the Dolphins didn’t have the cap space to keep Christian Wilkins this offseason, as the star defensive lineman signed with the Raiders. While Miami added some cheap veterans in free agency, Newton gives it an impact player to help replace Wilkins.
32) Kansas City Chiefs – Xavier Worthy (WR – Texas)
While the Chiefs signed Marquise Brown in free agency, Rashee Rice’s off-the-field situation puts taking a wide receiver back in the first-round conversation. Worthy’s size will scare off some NFL teams. Yet, Kansas City could see similarities between Tyreek Hill and the Longhorn star’s game.
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