It turns out I had the time to put together a mock draft of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so here it is.
Note that this differs from the mock draft I usually do for Mile High Huddle. That one is a demonstration of what happens when you draft the best player available at a position of need, stick with the pick you have and don't reach for somebody who isn't ranked that high.
Here, I allowed for trades and went with Pro Football Focus' pre-draft rankings, but didn't stick that hard to them. There were a few exceptions, but when it came to picks toward the end of the first round, I didn't worry that much about positional value as I did with earlier picks.
Some of these picks are based on my gut reaction to what's been reported, while others were simply what looked like a good match based on the position in question. Who knows how many of these will turn out to be correct, but hey, mock drafts are meant to be fun.
Thus, let's get to my mock first round and we'll find out how close it is to the real thing.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB
There shouldn't be any doubt what's going to happen at No. 1 overall. The Bears are taking Williams and everything else is just a distraction.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB
The majority of talk I've heard has linked Daniels to the Commanders. Therefore, I'm not deviating from that and going with Daniels here.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB
There's been talk about the Patriots trading down to get more picks but it's far from a given. My bet is they stay put and take Maye, so that's who I went with.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
I don't see the Cardinals trading down from No. 4 overall if Harrison is on the board. They appear committed to Kyler Murray and they need a No. 1 target for him.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR
It's possible the Chargers trade down but I believe they'll go with a receiver at this pick. Nabers is getting talked up a lot.
6. Minnesota Vikings (trade up with Giants): JJ McCarthy, QB
Trade details: Minnesota sends No. 11 overall and No. 23 overall for No. 6 overall.
While some would argue that the Giants should go with a quarterback, they really need to trade down for more draft capital. The Vikings make the deal here in swapping the two firsts to move up five spots.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT
Could the Titans go wide receiver here? It's possible but if the Titans are serious about going with Will Levis as the starter, they need to get the offensive line addressed.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE
With Kirk Cousins having signed a deal that requires a two-year commitment, the Falcons should address defense here. Turner would help with the pass rush.
9. New Orleans Saints (trade up with Bears): Tailese Fuaga, OT
Trade details: New Orleans sends No. 14 overall and No. 45 overall for No. 9 overall.
I favor the Bears trading down from No. 9 and the Saints have been aggressive in past drafts. They make the deal to get offensive line help.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE
The Jets could go with offensive line here but I suspect the temptation to take the best tight end prospect will be too hard to resist.
11. New York Giants (trade down with Vikings): Rome Odunze: WR
How about that — things worked out with my mock that the Giants were still able to get a top wide receiver after trading down.
12. Green Bay Packers (trade up with Broncos): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT
Trade details: Green Bay sends No. 25 overall, No. 41 overall and No. 88 overall for No. 12 overall.
The Packers have the draft capital that they can afford to deal away to move up the board. They get offensive line help in the process. Meanwhile, the Broncos get much-needed draft capital.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT
I went with the offensive line with this pick and Latham was the top-rated prospect on PFF's board. I figure the Raiders will take a QB in the second round (Spencer Rattler, perhaps?).
14. Chicago Bears (trade down with Saints): Laiatu Latu, EDGE
Once again, a trade down the board still allows a team to address a need. The Bears get Latu and have a low-cost pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Cooper DeJean, CB
And the first cornerback goes off the board. Maybe the Colts go a different direction but cornerback is one of their bigger needs.
16. Buffalo Bills (trade up with Seahawks): Adonai Mitchell, WR
Trade details: Buffalo sends No. 28 overall, No. 128 overall and No.144 overall for No. 16 overall and No. 179 overall.
The Bills accumulated enough draft capital to move up a few spots and get themselves a wide receiver. As for the Seahawks, John Schneider has shown a willingness to trade down in the first round in the past.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinyon Mitchell, CB
Another cornerback goes off the board. I did consider wide receiver but the Jaguars need help in the secondary.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy II, ID
And our first interior defender goes off the board. Murphy replaces DJ Reader, who left in free agency. I could see a trade of Tee Higgins happen for a day two pick, which the Bengals could then use on a wide receiver.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, EDGE
Aaron Donald's retirement means the Rams need to find another pass rusher. Verse was too good to pass up in my mock.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT
The Steelers need an offensive tackle and Mims is the best prospect per PFF rankings.
21. San Francisco 49ers (trade up with Dolphins): Troy Fautanu, OT
Trade details: San Francisco sends No. 31 overall, No. 124 overall and No. 135 overall for No. 21 overall.
The Dolphins need draft capital and the Niners have draft capital to spare. Through this trade, the Niners get an offensive lineman who can play either tackle or guard.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Terrion Arnold, CB
I could see the Eagles trading up for a cornerback, but the way things went with my mock, they're able to get one without having to move up.
23. Baltimore Ravens (trade up with Giants): Brian Thomas Jr., WR
Trade details: Baltimore sends No. 30 overall and No. 93 overall for No. 23 overall.
Though the Ravens gave Rashod Bateman a short-term extension, I don't see them passing up on the chance to add a receiver. They don't have to give up that much to move a few spots up the board.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C
The Cowboys sometimes go against the grain when it comes to the draft and taking a center here seems pretty high. But it worked out fine when they got Travis Frederick, plus PFF ranked Powers-Johnson high on their board.
25. Denver Broncos (trade down with Packers): Bo Nix, QB
Some think Nix will be available in the second round but by taking him after a trade down, the Broncos get the fifth-year option. They can use the acquired picks to address other needs.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE
After parting ways with Shaq Barrett, edge rusher is a need for the Buccaneers and Robinson is a worthy pick.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Payton Wilson, LB
Our first off-ball linebacker comes off the board. I could see the Cardinals looking for a pass rusher, but Wilson was high on PFF's rankings and I have no problem taking a linebacker here.
28. Seattle Seahawks (trade down with Bills): Adisa Isaac, EDGE
I thought about going with an offensive lineman here but the Seahawks need help in the pass rush and Isaac was the best one on PFF's board.
29. Detroit Lions: Troy Franklin, WR
Sure, the Lions extended Amon-Ra St. Brown and have Jameson Williams, but another wide receiver could be what puts them over the top in their Super Bowl push.
30. New York Giants (trade down with Ravens): Tyler Nubin, S
The first safety comes off the board and it's fine to take a safety this late in the first round, particularly after a trade down. Also, the Giants need to replace Xavier McKinney.
31. Miami Dolphins (trade down with Niners): Graham Barton, OT
The Dolphins find some offensive line help even after trading down a few spots.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman, WR
I could have gone with offensive line here but the Chiefs could opt to go with a guard in the later rounds, to groom as a replacement for Joe Thuney. Instead, I went with receiver because Marquise Brown is signed to a one-year deal and the Chiefs could use more young talent here.