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Our child’s all grown up. Welcome to our 18th annual SB Nation NFL neighborhood mock draft.
Every year, we flip to the specialists — our writers — on each crew’s draft must ship you a projection of what the primary spherical might seem like. This yr, it’s no shock that the primary two picks off the board are quarterbacks, with Windy Metropolis Gridiron snagging Caleb Williams for the Bears with the No. 1 total choose and the Commanders (courtesy of Hogs Haven) added UNC’s Drake Maye at No. 2.
We’ll be updating this put up with the remainder of the picks as they’re printed, so keep tuned. Under are the outcomes of the 2024 SB Nation NFL mock draft with perception on the “why” behind every choose from our crew neighborhood writers.
No. 1 – Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams shall be getting into an unprecedented scenario in Chicago. Often, the primary total draft choose goes to the worst crew in soccer, however the Bears went 7-10 final season after an 0-4 begin. Chicago’s protection is primed to take one other step after a powerful second half, nevertheless it’s the offense Williams will slide into that makes this chance so distinctive.
At receiver, DJ Moore provides Williams an electrical playmaker on the Z, and six-time Professional Bowler Keenan Allen has been probably the most dependable cross catchers within the sport for a decade. Tight finish Cole Kmet has averaged 61 receptions per yr during the last three seasons, and Gerald Everett’s versatility on the different tight finish spot will create mismatches. D’Andre Swift is a dependable cross catcher out of the backfield, and he’s coming off a 1,000-yard speeding season. – Lester Wiltfong, Windy Metropolis Gridiron
No. 2 – Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Drake Maye began for the final two seasons at North Carolina and confirmed all of the instruments essential to be a profitable NFL QB. He has the scale, arm expertise, and skill to make all of the throws. Maye’s first season as a starter put him into the dialog for the highest QBs, and regardless of a “droop” final season, he remained the No. 2 QB regardless of Jayden Daniels’s Heisman Trophy-winning season.
Maye has numerous issues to scrub up in his sport, beginning together with his footwork. The Washington Commanders new offense is led by former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, and has a number of assistants who will work with Maye as he cleans up his sport to play on the subsequent stage. Maye is an enormous, cell passer who has the next ceiling than different QBs on this draft. – Scott Jennings, Hogs Haven
No. 3 – New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels’ tremendous energy is his legs, as he’s an electrical ball provider who shall be one of many quickest quarterbacks in soccer as a result of his blazing straight-line velocity. In his two years within the SEC, Daniels complied over 2,000 speeding yards and 21 touchdowns on the bottom. His potential to create massive performs as an athlete shall be a nightmare for opposing defenses to defend.
It’s vital to notice that Daniels isn’t only a runner, nonetheless, as he’s improved as a passer all through his school profession. He has clear mechanics that function a really constant throwing movement and higher physique. Daniels can layer throws all around the discipline and is extraordinarily correct (78.7% adjusted completion price at LSU) all whereas supporting a measly 1.1 turnover worthy play price the previous two seasons.
Daniels has above-average arm power, however makes up for any limitations together with his plus ball placement. He’s maybe the perfect deep ball thrower on this class because the slot fade is the perfect throw in his bag. – Brian Hines, Pats Pulpit
No. 4 – Minnesota Vikings (by way of Arizona Cardinals): JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
At simply 21 years previous, youthful than prospects like Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix, McCarthy nonetheless has loads of room to develop. He’s already fairly mechanically sound and has displayed considerably above-average arm expertise as effectively. He’s additionally a plus athlete and is usually a menace to make performs on the transfer, whether or not it’s on designed runs or getting exterior of the pocket within the passing sport.
One of many criticisms of McCarthy is that he was surrounded by an unimaginable quantity of expertise at Michigan and that might doubtlessly make him look higher than he truly is. Positive, Michigan is an NFL expertise manufacturing unit at this level, however that shouldn’t take away from what McCarthy has carried out. And, if we need to go down that street, given the extent of expertise he’d be surrounded by in Minnesota. . .the league’s finest extensive receiver, a dynamic No. 2 wideout, among the best tight ends within the NFL, a brand new chief within the run sport, and a pair of excellent bookend tackles. . .his expertise could possibly be maximized in comparatively brief order. – Christopher Gates, Day by day Norseman
No. 5 – Arizona Cardinals (by way of Chargers): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals want an alpha within the extensive receiver room and Harrison tasks as among the best extensive receiver prospects within the final couple years. My buddy Matt Harmon who runs Reception Notion got here out together with his closing grades and Marvin Harrison Jr. is his highest-graded receiver between 2021 and this season. – Seth Cox, Revenge of the Birds
No. 6 – New York Giants: WR Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
At 6-foot-3, 212 kilos with robust palms, the flexibility to win in any respect three ranges, ok route working potential and contested catch potential that turns 50-50 balls into 80-20 balls in his favor, Odunze is a special participant than anybody in that group.
For those who use the ‘Basketball Concept’ of constructing a large receiver room with various ability units, Odunze would convey issues to the Giants they don’t have already got. Particularly if tight finish Darren Waller retires.
Odunze is a greater athlete than many suppose, having run a 4.45 40-yard sprint and compiled the second-highest Relative Athletic Rating (RAS) of any receiver examined on the NFL Scouting Mix. – Ed Valentine, Massive Blue View
No. 7 – Tennessee Titans: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
This choose shall be a little bit of a controversial one as a result of Joe Alt was on the board, and the Titans’ greatest want coming into the offseason and nonetheless in April is a left sort out. I might have merely taken Alt and had the left sort out place locked down for the following decade, however I selected Nabers.
So why would a crew that has desperately wanted a left sort out for the final two years cross on the perfect one within the draft to take a receiver? For me it got here down to some issues:
The primary is the dropoff from Nabers to the receiver the Titans would have the prospect to absorb the second spherical is means greater than the dropoff from Alt to the sort out they will get within the second spherical. Nabers has the ceiling of being among the best receivers within the NFL. He’s a dynamic playmaker on the surface. Brian Callahan goes to worth that greater than the coaches the Titans have had prior to now. – Jimmy Morris, Music Metropolis Miracles
No. 8 – Los Angeles Rams: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
To commerce up into the highest 10 at No. 8 I gave up nineteenth total, a 2025 first-round choose, and the 83rd total choose within the third spherical. Retaining this yr’s second-round choose was vital, which is why I opted for the 2025 first-round choose as a substitute. The Rams might nonetheless transfer again within the second spherical and choose up an additional late third or a fourth-round choose to make up for the lack of choose 83.
This transfer permits the Rams to proceed including to this yr’s roster and add items for the longer term which is vital for his or her present team-build. It’s a considerably hefty value, however we received’t be speaking about what it took to get Joe Alt when he’s an All-Professional-caliber left sort out for 15 years. There are a couple of blue-chip caliber gamers on this draft class and Alt is one in every of them. – Blaine Grisak, Turf Present Occasions
No. 9 – Las Vegas Raiders (by way of Bears): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Whereas the hope is the Silver and Black will commerce up into the highest three picks to, presumptively, goal Jayden Daniels, the Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots weren’t budging. That meant Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Daniels had been chosen first, second and third total. Then, the Minnesota Vikings parlayed their two first-round picks right into a commerce with the Arizona Cardinals to take J.J. McCarthy off the board.
With 4 quarterbacks taken within the first 4 picks and the quarterback-needy Denver Broncos sitting one spot forward of the Raiders, panic began to set in, so a transfer needed to be made. Chicago was prepared to maneuver out of No. 9 and all it took was a third-round choose for Las Vegas to safe its quarterback of the longer term.
Utilizing the NFL draft choose commerce worth chart, this was a fairly even deal because the Raiders solely overspent by 5 factors. A small premium to pay for an important place on the sector. – Matt Holder, Silver & Black Satisfaction
No. 10 – New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Washington
Fuaga just isn’t a choose purely for the longer term. He’ll get an opportunity to compete with Morgan Moses for the beginning proper sort out job proper off the bat. Throughout Moses’ first stint with the Jets, he started the season as the first backup sort out, solely sliding into the beginning lineup after a Mekhi Becton harm.
Both means, Fuaga provides the Jets sort out depth within the brief run. That’s vital with a pair of starters of their mid 30s. It’s doubly vital with a beginning left sort out in Smith who hasn’t performed a season with out lacking a minimum of three video games since 2015. The phrase “win now” is virtually a cliché across the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets at this level. Fuaga provides the Jets one of many rarest advantages an NFL crew can have, offensive line depth. The Jets are not one harm on the notorious turf at MetLife Stadium away from beginning the likes of Carter Warren or Max Mitchell on Aaron Rodgers’ blindside.
In fact you don’t choose a participant within the high 10 just for depth. Fuaga provides the Jets a long-term constructing block for the offensive line. Some suppose he would possibly finally transfer inside to protect, however regardless of the place he finally ends up he needs to be a precious a part of the trenches for a very long time. – John Butchko, Gang Inexperienced Nation
No. 11 – Los Angeles Chargers: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham has as excessive a ceiling as any offensive sort out prospect within the class – and will have the best flooring! He stands practically 6’6 and weighs 342 kilos, whereas boasting a wingspan within the 82nd percentile for offensive tackles, and 11-inch palms that register within the ninety fifth percentile, in line with Mockdraftable.com. And DraftKings Sportsbook’s odds counsel an offensive lineman would be the first place focused by the Chargers on draft night time.
With all that measurement, Latham controls defensive lineman within the run sport, and locks up cross rushers trying to undergo him. The facility is mixed with clean, fast toes, and all that got here collectively in a really spectacular means for the not too long ago turned 21-year-old. He solely began at proper sort out at Alabama, however his ability set suggests he might shield the blind aspect if wanted.
For the Chargers, that received’t matter: He’ll match proper in because the speedy beginning proper sort out, manning the sides of the pocket with left sort out Rashawn Slater. – Ron Kopp Jr., Bolts From the Blue
No. 12 – Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Bo Nix provides the Broncos a quarterback who suits into Sean Payton’s offense very effectively. He’s a fast rhythm passer who has had success within the brief passing sport, throwing screens, fast passes to the backs, and so forth — all issues Payton likes to do in his offense. His processing potential, which is one thing Payton covets from his quarterbacks, has additionally been praised by evaluators. Whereas Nix might not be essentially the most extremely touted prospect, he could be the perfect match for the Broncos at quarterback on this draft.
This might not be the preferred choose, however with the best way the board fell in entrance of me, it was the transfer the Broncos needed to make. Making an attempt to commerce up and compete with the Vikings for Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was unsuccessful after which the Raiders traded as much as ninth total to pick Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., which was a shock. I’d have appreciated to commerce again, however with Nix being the quarterback I needed to get if I couldn’t commerce up, I pulled the set off at twelfth total. – Scotty Payne, Mile Excessive Report
No. 13 – Chicago Bears (by way of Raiders): Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama
The Bears worth high-character prospects, and Turner was a crew captain and a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which honors school soccer’s finest in character and efficiency and is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Efficiency, Lecturers, Neighborhood, and Tenacity.
Some scouts really feel his finest match is as a 3-4 exterior linebacker, however his pass-rush potential interprets into any scheme. At 6’3, 247 kilos, with 34 3/8’’ arm size, he’s a lot sufficiently big to play within the Bears 40 entrance, nevertheless it’s the athletic measurables that will have head coach Matt Eberflus excited. His 4.46 40 was the quickest of any edge participant. His 1.54 10-yard cut up was tied for finest. His 40.5’’ vertical leap was the best of any edge, and his 10’ 7’’ broad leap was tied for the second-longest. – Lester Wiltfong Jr., Windy Metropolis Gridiron
No. 14 – New Orleans Saints: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The 6’4, 317-pound lineman is a flexible participant who can play at each sort out and guard and on both aspect of the road. He’s an enormous, bodily man who can transfer effectively. On the 2024 NFL mix, Fautanu ran an official 5.01-second 40-yard sprint.
In mild of the latest information concerning Ryan Ramczyk’s knee harm not progressing as anticipated, the Saints are in want of somebody at sort out on an offensive line that at the moment consists of Ramczyk, Trevor Penning, Landon Younger, and Olisaemeka Udoh.
One in every of their greatest priorities this yr needs to be conserving Derek Carr wholesome. In 2023, Carr was sacked 31 occasions, resulting in a number of accidents all through the season. I believe Fauteau could possibly be a Day 1 starter that might add assist treatment among the points which have plagued the offensive line and run sport the previous few years, particularly with the adjustments that shall be coming from new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. – Tina Howell, Canal Avenue Chronicles
Verify again every weekday between now and the 2024 NFL Draft for the newest picks in our 2024 SB Nation neighborhood mock draft!
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