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Each position has been thoroughly scouted and researched, the Big Board full of 250 prospects has been ranked and completed, and the NFL Draft is right around the corner! As usual, my third and final mock draft is here the day before the NFL Draft, and this one has been one of the hardest for me to build yet.
I debated on dropping a full seven round mock, but I'll be tabling that for the time being. Let's see how my final mock of the 2024 draft cycle shaped up!
Photo: Jonathan Mailhes/Mailhes Photography
#1 Chicago Bears (via CAR) - Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC (#1 JBB)
This has been the pick since the Bears lost to the Packers in Week 18. No controversy here.
#2 Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU (#38 JBB)
I was a firm believer that Drake was the pick here, but all signs point towards Jayden being the Commanders' next franchise QB.
#3 New England Patriots - Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina (#6 JBB)
If Drake is still on the board, there's no shot the Pats trade back. Get your franchise QB here at the third selection.
#4 Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr, Wide Receiver, Ohio State (#2 JBB)
Three straight mocks and the Cardinals pick stays the same, despite the recent trade-out speculations.
#5 Los Angeles Chargers - Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, LSU (#10 JBB)
This could go one of three ways: trade-out, draft Joe Alt, or draft Malik Nabers. I think the Chargers go with the third option here and give Herbert a young, dynamic weapon.
#6 New York Giants - Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington (#3 JBB)
The Giants need a true X-receiver, and Rome fills that void. They should be sprinting to the podium with this pick.
#7 Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, Tackle, Notre Dame (#5 JBB)
I've kept this pick the same for quite a while, but Joe Alt is truly the best option for the Titans here at seven.
#8 Minnesota Vikings (via ATL) - JJ McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan (#16 JBB)
Trade alert!!
Minnesota has talked about wanting to keep their pick at 23rd overall, and if the board falls the way it does, they may be able to do so in a trade up with Atlanta. JJM lands in Minnesota and Kevin O'Connell gets his top option at QB.
Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
#9 Chicago Bears - Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama (#60 JBB)
Throwing a changeup here as the Bears go defense early. I think their offense is good enough to pass up another first round addition on that side of the ball, so enter Dallas Turner to a developing defense.
#10 New York Jets - JC Latham, Tackle, Alabama (#22 JBB)
I think the NFL is much higher on JC than the media, and he would fit in nicely into an injury prone OL for the Jets.
#11 Atlanta Falcons (via MIN) - Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA (#8 JBB)
The Falcons can't go wrong with either edge here, but Latu gives them some solid flexibility and much needed pass rush prowess to make offenses worried.
#12 Los Angeles Rams (via DEN) - Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia (#4 JBB)
Trade alert!!
There have been rumblings that the Rams are looking to trade up, and Brock Bowers makes too much sense here. McVay would have a field day scheming up his offense around Bowers, and he'd be a new chess piece for the Rams as Cooper Kupp approaches retirement.
#13 Las Vegas Raiders - Taliese Fuaga, Tackle, Oregon State (#15 JBB)
With Fuaga on the board still, the Raiders snatch him up and fill their immediate need at right tackle.
Photo: Brandon Sloter/Image of Sport
#14 New Orleans Saints - Olu Fashanu, Tackle, Penn State (#19 JBB)
Same pick as last mock, Olu would be a day 1 starter on the Saints with Penning not panning out and Ramczyk likely missing the entire 2024 season.
#15 Indianapolis Colts - Quinyon Mitchell, Cornerback, Toledo (#9 JBB)
The Colts love uber-athletic defenders, and Quinyon Mitchell fits that bill. He tested incredibly well, and his skillset fits their defense.
#16 Dallas Cowboys (via SEA) - Troy Fautanu, Tackle, Washington (#11 JBB)
Trade alert!!
Same pick swap as last mock, except this time, Fautanu falls nicely into their lap. One of the most athletic players in the entire class (adjusted for his size) lands in Dallas.
#17 Jacksonville Jaguars - Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama (#12 JBB)
Jaguars need a CB. Terrion is the best available at this point. Easy pick here.
#18 Cincinnati Bengals - Byron Murphy II, Defensive Tackle, Texas (#28 JBB)
The Bengals need an interior defender to replace DJ Reader, and Byron will do that and more as a day 1 starter in Cincy.
Photo: Jeffrey McWhorter/AP Photo
#19 Denver Broncos (via LAR) - Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State (#58 JBB)
After moving back, Jared Verse seems like a logical selection for the Broncos. He can play outside and inside with his size and strength, which will be paramount for Denver's defense.
#20 Detroit Lions (via PIT) - Cooper DeJean, Defensive Back, Iowa (#20 JBB)
Trade alert!!
The Lions need a safety and a corner, so why not trade up and get both? Cooper can fill in at either spot and play at a high level right away.
#21 Miami Dolphins - Graham Barton, Offensive Lineman, Duke (#14 JBB)
Graham is the preferred interior OL prospect to Jackson Powers-Johnson (not according to me), and the Dolphins need one to improve up front.
#22 Philadelphia Eagles - Brian Thomas Jr, Wide Receiver, LSU (#18 JBB)
AJ Brown is your bonified X-receiver, DeVonta would dominate from the slot, and BTJ would be your big body deep threat. This would make the Eagles offense an even bigger headache to handle.
#23 Minnesota Vikings - Johnny Newton, Interior Defender, Illinois (#7 JBB)
By staying at pick 23, the Vikings address another need in the first round with my favorite DT in this class. Johnny will be a weapon in Brian Flores' scheme.
#24 Seattle Seahawks (via DAL) - Jackson Powers-Johnson, Center, Oregon (#13 JBB)
JPJ is the right pick for the Seahawks here. They desperately need a center, and he'd be a day 1 starter for them.
#25 Baltimore Ravens (via GB) - Amarius Mims, Tackle, Georgia (#34 JBB)
Trade alert!!
Baltimore needs to give Lamar better protection upfront with multiple players leaving in free agency, so they trade up to get Amarius. If he's able to stay healthy, he'll be a top 5 player from this class when it's all set and done, but that's a big "if."
Photo: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
#26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson (#27 JBB)
Tampa could go one of two ways here, but I think they have enough pieces in the front seven to go for a corner at this pick. Todd Bowles could play more man coverage with him than he could with Carlton Davis, and Wiggins would be a steal for the value Tampa gets here.
#27 Arizona Cardinals - Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State (#21 JBB)
The Cardinals need DL help in general, but with some serviceable pieces inside added via Free Agency, AZ lands a twitched up edge defender in Chop.
#28 Buffalo Bills - Adonai Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Texas (#29 JBB)
The Bills need an X-type receiver, and AD can slot into that role nicely for them. He has some great traits as a route runner and pass catcher, and Josh Allen would get the most out of him.
#29 Pittsburgh Steelers (via DET) - Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas (#63 JBB)
In a trade back, the Steelers give Russell another weapon with incredible speed and athleticism. He won't command WR1 targets, but he's a great compliment to George Pickens.
#30 Green Bay Packers (via BAL) - Zach Frazier, Center, West Virginia (#36 JBB)
The Packers missed out on Creed Humphrey a few years back, and they won't make the same mistake twice, even if it is a bit of a reach. Getting a young center and young QB paired together is incredibly important, and Frazier brings grittiness that the Packers need.
#31 San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Paul, Tackle, Houston (#130 JBB)
Patrick's name has been floating around the first round since February, and I think the 49ers take him here. He's got decent pass blocking ability and good athleticism to fit into Shanahan's system nicely.
#32 Kansas City Chiefs - Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama (#17 JBB)
This receiver class is deep, so the Chiefs pass up on getting one now and add to their secondary. Kool-Aid is the immediate replacement for L'Jarius Sneed, and he's great value at this point in the draft.
Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Final Notes:
All in all, we have seen Keon Coleman, Troy Franklin, Tyler Guyton, Darius Robinson, and Bo Nix taken in the first in any of my mocks, but ultimately fallen out of my last one.
Some other names to lookout as potential first round fallers are Johnny Newton and Jackson Powers-Johnson. I love these players, but the NFL may not tout them as highly. Inversely, guys like Braden Fiske, Ladd McConkey, Jordan Morgan and Mike Sainristil could all sneak into the late first.
I hope everyone enjoys the draft, and I'll see you all back here when it's over with my 2024 Draft Recap!