The NFL season ended for one more six groups and fan bases throughout the Wild Card spherical of the playoffs. Meaning it’s formally mock draft season for followers. Though the season led to disappointment, nothing is disappointing in regards to the lead-up to the NFL Draft.
1-Spherical NFL Mock Draft
1) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
On this simulation, the Chicago Bears have proactively moved Justin Fields to the Atlanta Falcons in a hilarious twist of an ironic knife. The group wished a contemporary begin with a quarterback on a rookie deal moderately than building a young roster round Fields with the draft capital they acquired via final yr’s commerce with the Carolina Panthers.
Bears followers may have comparable frustrations with Caleb Williams as they did Fields. Like Fields, Williams holds onto the ball for an excruciating period of time. Nonetheless, his playmaking capability typically makes up for his propensity to forgo the primary learn for downfield makes an attempt.
2) Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
At this level, no person needs to be questioning what route Washington ought to or will take within the NFL Draft. They want a quarterback. As entertaining as Sam Howell was, he didn’t present sufficient to safe the title of franchise QB.
Drake Maye has the scale and athletic capability of a premiere blue-chip quarterback prospect. Nonetheless, the UNC offense additionally required him to function shortly as a result of if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have survived behind the Tar Heels’ offensive line.
3) New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The highest two passers are gone, and the New England Patriots weren’t in love with Jayden Daniels on this hypothetical. Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the best participant within the draft and probably the most universally gifted prospects of the present technology.
The previous Buckeyes WR has no weak point. Heading into 2023, the one critique might have been that his post-catch capability was a bit underwhelming. However the 6’4″, 210-pound receiver quelled these considerations this season, making him a whole participant.
4) Arizona Cardinals: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Joe Alt was magnificent this season and will very nicely be a severe contender right here. The 2 high tackles will doubtless swap locations in mock drafts all through the offseason, however it’s Olu Fashanu who will get the nod at this spot at the moment.
D.J. Humphries’ damage makes an OT choice right here a excessive precedence. Arizona might have used this chance to improve the place even when he had remained wholesome. Now, it looks as if a foregone conclusion that they’ll substitute him, given the timing of his knee damage and his age.
And fortunate sufficient for them, this WR class is gifted sufficient to supply worth with their second first-round decide.
5) Los Angeles Chargers: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
It’s by no means too early to proper a mistaken.
Rome Odunze did nothing however impress because the weeks and months of the 2023 school soccer season handed. He entered the season competing for top-five standing among the many draftable large receivers and ended by competing to be WR2. He’s a participant who, underneath regular class circumstances, might have been the WR1.
Though his downfield antics are well-known due to Washington’s offense, Odunze is a real three-level risk. He has no enterprise being as clean as he’s at his dimension, and though he runs a reported 40-time within the 4.3 vary, his velocity doesn’t immediately go off the tape, which makes him much more harmful than if it have been apparent.
6) Las Vegas Raiders (From NYG): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Commerce: Las Vegas sends decide Nos. 13 and 44 and a 2024 second-round decide; New York sends decide No. 6
Jayden Daniels isn’t the primary LSU QB switch to see a meteoric rise in draft inventory. Like Joe Burrow earlier than him, Daniels had an ideal season in his first yr with the Tigers earlier than exploding in his last season.
In contrast to Burrow, Daniels is a ridiculous risk on the bottom. Hell immediately turn into probably the most dynamic rushers within the NFL. However Daniels’ deep ball accuracy and contact are what make him such a harmful weapon. He’s a real dropback passer who occurs to have outrageous athleticism.
Nonetheless, he should be taught to take fewer pointless hits. Josh Allen struggles to outlive that enjoying model, and he has near 40 extra kilos on his body.
7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Joe Alt‘s technical capability given his positional age is wild. The previous tight finish clearly has the form of ridiculous athleticism that makes an ideal sort out prospect into an elite one, however the technical aspect of his recreation is spectacular.
Tennessee wants a left sort out greater than a fish wants water. They whiffed on Andre Dillard in free company worse than I did making an attempt to hit Mark Hendrickson’s curveball. Including Alt to Peter Skoronski on the left aspect signifies that the Titans don’t actually have to fret a lot about that aspect for the following decade.
8) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Dallas Turner shouldn’t be the identical sort of blue-chip move rusher we’ve turn into accustomed to seeing throughout the NFL Draft cycle. Nonetheless, Turner possesses the form of burst, bend, and arms to turn into a top-tier rusher on the NFL degree.
Turner’s athleticism is clear each time he’s pressured to drop again into protection. His athletic fluidity as a reactive athlete interprets to his disruption as a run defender and his potential as a move rusher. Though his plan isn’t perfected, he improved this season and has all the mandatory instruments.
9) Chicago Bears: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Pairing Malik Nabers with D.J. Moore seems like it’s approaching 49ers-levels of post-catch capability. Moore’s antics are well-known again to his days at Maryland. Regardless of being underneath 200 kilos, the physicality Nabers shows is likely to be his most blatant attribute.
Meaning a complete lot, as a result of Nabers can be a gifted route runner with sufficient dimension who can completely scoot down the sphere. Like Odunze, in most lessons, he would compete for WR1 honors. Being the third receiver off the board feels borderline disrespectful.
10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Talking of borderline disrespectful, Brock Bowers is probably going a top-five prospect within the class. His outrageous mix of fluidity, agility, explosiveness, and dimension make him probably the most well-rounded TE prospect in a really very long time.
Kyle Pitts was a wholly completely different animal. He was successfully a 6’6, 250-pound WR with arms longer than Inspector Gadget. Bowers is a professional TE prospect who can survive and even thrive in line, though utilizing him in that capability would restrict his potential.
Hand him the ball within the backfield. Make the most of him within the display screen recreation. Run him up the seam and let him run possibility routes on third down. He’s a particular expertise who is just “falling” to 10 due to the place he performs.
11) Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Is J.J. McCarthy prepared for the massive stage in 2024? No he isn’t. May he be prepared to begin in 2025 after sitting behind Kirk Cousins returning on a one or two-year deal? Possibly. May he be prepared after two seasons like Jordan Love? He actually might.
Younger passers aren’t typically afforded the chance to develop within the shadows like a mushroom. Nonetheless, we’ve seen it work fairly a number of instances at this level.
12) Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
This decide will change all through the method, however for some purpose, the fingers repeatedly need to click on on Bo Nix‘s title when drafting for the Broncos on PFN’s ENTIRELY FREE MOCK DRAFT SIMULATOR.
How Bo Nix operated the Oregon offense is strictly the sort of operational capability that Sean Payton desires… nay… wants underneath middle, or else he goes insane on the sideline. However Nix also can create at a excessive degree, and he possesses the arm expertise to turn into a high-end starter on the subsequent degree.
13) New York Giants (From LV): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Giants proceed to have a look at worth with their first-round choice in mock drafts. The large receiver place is oozing with expertise, however it stays simpler for New York to search out expertise at large receiver later within the NFL Draft than at sort out.
They completely want to deal with the place and never proceed to bash their head right into a brick wall with Evan Neal. Possibly the younger blocker will make a miraculous restoration, however relying on it could be totally silly. As an alternative, the Giants go for Taliese Fuaga on the thirteenth decide.
14) New Orleans Saints: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The New Orleans Saints are quite a bit like that quirky child out of your highschool. They repeatedly make out-of-the-ordinary choices, and there appear to be solely two attainable outcomes: they both find yourself with a misdemeanor or two or they graduate magna cum laude. There isn’t a in-between.
Jared Verse is an effective soccer participant, however he doubtless doesn’t possess the high-end athleticism essential to ever turn into a persistently productive move rusher. Nonetheless, he matches a variety of the Saints parameters for the place. He’s obtained nice size and insanely robust arms on the level of assault.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The technical turnaround Terrion Arnold made as a redshirt sophomore was nothing wanting outrageous. The outstanding athlete who, like his Alabama CB-mate Kool-Assist McKinstry, was virtually a two-sport athlete for the Crimson Tide.
Beginning as a redshirt freshman is spectacular in its personal proper at Alabama. However he wanted a ton of development to turn into the following large factor in crimson. His ascension in 2023 was precisely that. His reactive athleticism is outrageous. He’s affected person in press and clever in zone.
16) Seattle Seahawks: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Nate Wiggins is a downhill playmaker in zone protection and a simple athlete in man. Wiggins lacking a while as a result of damage and Arnold’s emergence at Alabama might imply that somebody will get an ideal participant at an insane worth.
Nevertheless it shouldn’t shock a soul if Wiggins turns into the primary cornerback chosen within the NFL Draft.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Jer’Zhan Newton is likely to be a top-10 expertise within the class, however his dimension and positional match might imply {that a} group will get him after a mini-skid on the primary night time of the draft. The Jaguars entrance would technically make him a defensive finish, however he’d be enjoying a extra inside position of their odd-front protection.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Profiles
His agility and burst make him a menace as a niche penetrator, however he additionally gives the intelligence and uncooked energy of a high-end run defender.
18) Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
One Alabama sort out exits whereas one other enters. JC Latham makes far more sense for the Bengals at proper sort out than Jonah Williams, contemplating how Cincinnati has tried to construct a wholly north-south unit that may bully defensive fronts.
19) Los Angeles Rams: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Typically a decide makes an excessive amount of sense. Though selection is the spice of life and makes these early mock drafts a bit extra entertaining for everybody who isn’t a “mock drafts are solely for predicting the long run” fun-suckers, Chop Robinson… YOU are a Los Angeles Ram.
The surface linebacker rush kind has a blur of a primary step, and, though he’s a bit smaller than Turner, Robinson might simply turn into a group’s favourite move rusher all through the method in the event that they’re searching for a professional arc risk.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Talking of picks that merely make sense.
Amarius Mims will get paired along with his former teammate in Pittsburgh, and it shouldn’t shock anybody to see the Steelers find yourself with a 3rd Georgia Bulldog on the offensive line. Sure, this can be a plea to improve middle as nicely.
Slide Broderick Jones again to the left aspect and get your self one other people-mover on the OL. My colleague, A.J. Schulte, had this to say about Mims upon peeking in on the tape.
Professional comp: Amarius Mims=Kratos
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) January 13, 2024
21) Miami Dolphins: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Though the Dolphins might simply pluck one other left sort out from the basket or perhaps a positionally various blocker like Duke’s Graham Barton or Washington’s Troy Fautanu, a much bigger goal on the surface might work wonders for this offense.
All of us love seeing Tyreek Hill elevate over cornerbacks. However he’s 5’9″ on day, and Keon Coleman is a licensed DAWG in 50/50 conditions.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Assist McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Betting on a number of geriatric cornerbacks heading into the season performed a major position within the Eagles’ defensive downfall. Though realizing who the defensive coordinator is essential for understanding which cornerback needs to be the decide right here, Kool-Aid McKinstry is gifted sufficient to be scheme versatile.
He additionally completely thrives as a zone protection defender. Though Nick Sirianni, or one other head coach, may very well be leary about one other Fangio-derived system, that’s the place McKinstry might excel.
23) Houston Texans (From CLE): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
That is formally a warning to the NFL to not let this occur. If the league permits DeMeco Ryans to construct his model of the 49ers protection, it’s throughout. Will Anderson is clearly Batman, however Laitu Latu would beat the residing daylights out of Robin.
Laiatu Latu is the pass-rushing savant’s move rusher. Being a QB hunter is an artwork that isn’t typically replicated at different positions. Latu is an artist in a manner that no person else on this class is.
24) Dallas Cowboys: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
When the Cowboys name Cooper DeJean, followers will routinely be transported again to a time when Dallas was contemplating Jalen Ramsey, however to doubtlessly play security.
DeJean might begin at cornerback for them from Day 1 and sure be an outstanding complement to Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland. Nonetheless, he may need All-Professional potential as a security who can play wherever on the sphere, given his dimension, capability in opposition to the run, and consciousness along with his zone protection eyes.
25) Inexperienced Bay Packers: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Though the Packers protection has underperformed for a number of years now, it’s laborious to search out obvious holes at premium positions. Security and linebacker are a priority, however the worth doesn’t actually exist at both place within the 2024 NFL Draft on this vary.
Quinyon Mitchell is likely to be Jaire Alexander’s eventual alternative. Like Alexander, Mitchell has a knack for the soccer, and he possesses uncommon reactive athleticism.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington
The Buccaneers offensive line performed nicely in 2023, however their inside might use a spark. Troy Fautanu might play offensive sort out on the NFL degree with out blinking, however like tackles-turned-guards of the previous, his model may make him a professional All-Professional on the inside.
27) Arizona Cardinals (From HOU): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The run of 6’3″ large receivers who all magically run within the 4.4 vary is upon us. The Cardinals want a dude who is usually a ball hog, and though Brian Thomas Jr. was the second risk at LSU, we’ve seen different second threats at that college go on to turn into arguably one of the best receiver within the recreation.
Thomas is fluid and explosive for his dimension as a three-level risk, however like Coleman, he’s an absolute menace within the crimson zone.
28) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Talking of crimson zone threats, Adonai Mitchell was a landing service provider for the Texas Longhorns this season. Though Xavier Worthy was the highest goal for the group, Mitchell snatched the touchdowns.
However like Worthy, Mitchell can be a superb downfield risk. He shows clean accelerations and uncanny stability to burst previous even probably the most athletic cornerbacks. He’s not a completed product as a route runner, however he flashes legitimately elite capability there.
29) Buffalo Payments: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Xavier Legette went from a no person to arguably the most efficient receiver in school soccer to an afterthought in a rush. However any younger man who stands 6’3, 230 kilos and runs like a deer ought to earn your consideration.
Legette’s high velocity is a blur, and he’s as bodily after the catch as one would come to anticipate from a cumbersome Gamecocks large receiver. It took years to blossom, however Legette can be a superb Gabe Davis alternative if Buffalo decides to not lengthen him.
30) Detroit Lions: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
Dan Campbell, meet knee biter. Knee biter, Dan Campbell.
Now that the introductions are completed, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. This isn’t an excellent cornerback class, however accidents and one-year contracts on the place necessitate the potentiality. Kalen King‘s downhill set off and physicality in opposition to the run and display screen recreation greater than make-up for his underwhelming dimension.
Harrison bullied King of their matchup, and the identical will doubtless occur in opposition to different bodily receivers on the subsequent degree. However King received’t must face a generational prospect weekly, and his route recognition and reactionary athleticism make him a enjoyable match on this protection.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Kingsley Suamataia made Bruce Feldman’s freak list, and the discuss was that the BYU sort out was much more athletic than Blake Freeland, who was probably the most athletic tacklers of all time.
However for as athletic as his popularity proceeds, his true nature is as a yard brawler. That archetype is strictly what Kyle Shanahan likes to see in his offensive tackles. Though Suamataia continues to be progressing as a move protector, the 49ers scheme insulates him from a few of these points.
Moreover, the considered seeing him in house persistently in that run recreation will ship shivers down the backbone of defensive backs. They’ll get up in a chilly sweat enthusiastic about Suamataia and Trent Williams.
32) Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Talking of freaky athleticism on the sort out place, Jordan Morgan matches that invoice. Though Ronnie Stanley is an excellent participant for Baltimore, he hasn’t stayed wholesome since ‘Nam and has a big-time out in his contract post-2024.
Morgan was on his method to being a first-round decide within the 2023 NFL Draft earlier than a knee damage ended his season. However he returned robust on a surprisingly perky Arizona Wildcats group this season.
All of the 2024 NFL Draft assets you want — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the total 2024 Big Board — proper at your fingertips at Professional Soccer Community!
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