Less than one month to go until the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit and for now, the formula of the top teams remains clear: Get a quarterback while he is available.
The first three picks of the draft, belonging to the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and New England Patriots, are likely to be spent on a passer while other teams could try to trade up into the top five to snag one more.
On the local scene, the Giants and Jets have clear paths to addressing their biggest positions of need after strong starts to free agency featured big-time moves.
Let’s take a look at our first full first-round NFL Mock Draft of the year:
2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
1) Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Despite a less-than-sterling final year at USC, Williams remains the undisputed No. 1 pick of the draft after the Bears parted ways with Justin Fields.
2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The former Heisman Trophy winner is the next man tasked with developing into Washington’s long-awaited franchise quarterback after the Sam Howell experiment was ended.
3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Mac Jones is a thing of the past and the new-look Patriots need a new face of the franchise to try and build around.
4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
5) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Mike Williams is a Jet, Kennan Allen is a Bear, and the Chargers need a new weapon for Justin Herbert. At the beginning of the offseason, this was supposed to be a no-doubt pick for an offensive lineman to help protect the quarterback. Instead, it’s to bring him a top-tier pass-catcher.
6) New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Chargers’ pick of Nabers might take the Giants’ top target off the board, but Odunze is quite a consolation prize for Big Blue as they try to beef up the talent around Daniel Jones.
7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
8) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
9) Chicago Bears: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Joe Douglas made key moves to address the porous offensive line, bringing back Morgan Moses and signing Tyron Smith. This would have left the door open for a wide receiver here, but the signing of Mike Williams allows the Jets to get the best tight end in the draft and provide a different type of target for Aaron Rodgers to work with.
11) Minnesota Vikings: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
With the Broncos needing a quarterback right behind them, I don’t expect either the Vikings or Denver to be in their current spots at No. 11 or 12 come draft time. They both need a quarterback and McCarthy will be the best one still available.
12) Denver Broncos: Seattle Seahawks: Michael Penix, QB, Washington
Initial draft boards had Penix going in the second round, but the need for quarterbacks makes teams execute drastic measures. The Broncos take a swing at Penix here.
13) Las Vegas Raiders: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
14) New Orleans Saints: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
15) Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
16) Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
For the sake of this mock without forecasting any trades, we have the Seahawks losing out a quarterback for now. They appear interested in taking one even after acquiring Sam Howell from Washington. Defensive line is a need for them, as well, and they get one of the best available in Murphy.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
19) Los Angeles Rams: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
21) Miami Dolphins: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
23) Minnesota Vikings: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
24) Dallas Cowboys: Kingsley Saumataia, OL, BYU
25) Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
27) Arizona Cardinals: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
28) Buffalo Bills: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
29) Detroit Lions: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
30) Baltimore Ravens: Tylor Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
31) San Francisco 49ers: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
For more on the NFL Draft, visit AMNY.com
