2024 NFL mock draft: Bears load up, Raiders and Buccaneers get QBs

It’s never too early for a 2024 NFL mock draft. For teams who are already fading toward the back of the race for the playoffs, the NFL Draft is all fanbases have to look forward to. It’s their best hope of becoming a Super Bowl contender in the near future.

We’ve seen how quickly drafting the right impact player can drastically alter a franchise’s window to compete. Just look at the Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Burrow. With star quarterbacks like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Shedeur Sanders, and Michael Penix expected to headline the 2024 NFL Draft class, the interest in the No. 1 pick is at an all-time high. While teams aren’t supposed to tank for the top pick, it’s hard not to project what the top of the upcoming NFL Draft may look like.

Even though the 2024 NFL Draft order will change from game to game and week to week, here’s how Sportsnaut’s updated NFL mock draft looks right now.

2024 NFL mock draft before Week 10

1. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

NCAA Football: Southern California at Colorado

Drake Maye draws serious consideration here with the No.1 overall pick, but Caleb Williams’ upside breaks the tie. There’s nothing more valuable in the NFL than a franchise-caliber QB on a rookie contract. Trading Kyler Murray for more draft capital and using that paired with the cap space to build around Williams is the most effective way to move forward with the Cardinals. No consideration is really given towards trading out from the No.1 pick. – Matt Johnson

2. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Sure, a QB could be considered here, but how about getting a surefire No. 1 wideout to pair with D.J. Moore. Whether it’s Justin Fields or another QB throwing passes in the Windy City, the Bears need more ammo to score points. Harrison’s pro-ready and can provide an instant boost to any offense. – Andrew Buller-Russ

3. Chicago Bears: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

NCAA Football: North Carolina at Pittsburgh

Justin Fields still has the potential to become an above-average starting QB, but his diminished value tied to his contract status makes this an easy decision with trades not an option right now in our 2024 NFL mock draft. Maye is on the same tier as Williams as a quarterback prospect. Pairing him with Harrison Jr. and D.J. Moore will immediately put Maye in a position for success. Plus, Chicago can continue to build a deep and talented roster through free agency and trades, with cornerstone talents at QB, WR, and OT on rookie-scale contracts – MJ

4. New York Giants: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Daniel Jones is not the problem in the Big Apple. Protection and a lack of weapons are the biggest issues facing Brian Daboll’s New York Giants. With Andrew Thomas set to return soon at left tackle, the Giants focus on adding more skill-position players to the arsenal. Darren Waller hasn’t lived up to expectations, but Brock Bowers can be more than just an in-line tight end. The Giants can utilize him in the screen game, on end-arounds, you name it. – ABR

5. New England Patriots: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

A franchise-caliber quarterback would be great for the New England Patriots, but the top options are off the board. Instead, New England starts rebuilding the trenches with the best offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft. Olu Fashanu will step in immediately as the starter on the left side and could develop into an All-Pro blocker. – MJ

6. Green Bay Packers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Jordan Love may or may not be the future at QB in Green Bay, but they need to make sure they give him all the tools he needs to succeed. That includes better receivers, but with David Bakhtiari’s future unclear, GM Brian Gutekunst must find a franchise left tackle too. Alt should be able to protect the blindside of Packers QBs for the next ten-plus seasons. – ABR

7. Indianapolis Colts: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Entering NFL games today. the Indianapolis Colts secondary ranks bottom-10 in passing defense. While there might be some future bright spots in the defensive backfield, Indianapolis would greatly benefit from adding a CB1. Kool-Aid McKinstry has been outstanding at Alabama, holding quarterbacks under a 72.0 passer rating when targeted in coverage over the last town seasons, per PFF. Plus, he offers prototypical size (6-foot-1) for the position. – MJ

8. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Half a season into the Jimmy Garoppolo experiment, the Raiders are already pushing the reset button. Whoever comes in as GM will want a new QB too, and Sanders presents as much potential as any. He’s shown no moment is too big while displaying some of the best accuracy in the nation. If those skills translate to the next level, the Raiders will have a new face of the franchise, and who knows, maybe Deion Sanders joins him. – ABR

9. Denver Broncos: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Jerry Jeudy hasn’t proven himself as a reliable playmaker in the last two seasons, while Courtland Sutton is capped at a mid-tier WR2 with a salary that might not match his production. Enter Keon Coleman. Standing at 6-foot-4, Coleman offers the combination of athleticism, size, strength and ball skills to be a difference-maker on the outside. He would immediately become the WR1 in the Denver Broncos’ offense and Sean Payton would have no trouble finding ways to get the football in his hands often. – MJ

10. Los Angeles Rams: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

The Rams have needs in the trenches and at every level of the defense, but without a shutdown cornerback, they won’t be able to win many shootouts. Burke can handle matching up with the game’s best receivers, which immediately makes life easier on the rest of the Rams’ D. – ABR

11. Washington Commanders: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Even before Chase Young and Montez Sweat were traded away, it was apparent just how bad the Washington Commanders’ secondary was. With a diminished pass rush, things will likely only get worse. Cooper DeJean comes from Iowa’s NFL development pipeline and the 6-foot-1 corner delivers the instincts and elite athleticism that could make him a high-end starter and future Pro Bowl selection at corner. – MJ

Related: NFL coaching hot seat 2023

12. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

In Monti Ossenfort’s first NFL Draft, he selected an offensive tackle with his first pick, showing he values investing in the trenches. Now it’s time to do the same on the other side of the ball, plucking the best interior defensive prospect in the 2024 draft class. Whether it’s rushing the passer or stuffing the run, Newton can make an impact on all three downs. – ABR

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Baker Mayfield’s relative success this season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers demonstrates that this can be a quality landing spot for a rookie quarterback. J.J. McCarthy might not be a generational athlete or have over-the-top physical tools, but the little things he does warrant NFL comparisons to Kirk Cousins. This could be an ideal fit for both sides. – MJ

14. Los Angeles Chargers: Kalen King, CB, Penn State

One of the Chargers’ first moves after hiring Brandon Staley was signing J.C. Jackson to be the team’s shutdown cornerback. He’s no longer on the team and the Bolts’ defense hasn’t improved since the coaching change. Asante Samuel Jr. is solid, but the 5-foot-10 corner has his limitations. At 5-foot-11, King isn’t much bigger, but he plays larger than his frame suggests and could profile as a future No. 1 cornerback. – ABR

15. Tennessee Titans: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

With the direction the Tennessee Titans are headed in, DeAndre Hopkins won’t want to stick around. Making matters worse, Treylon Burks hasn’t demonstrated to this point that he can be a high-end starter. So, this becomes one of the team’s most glaring needs. Standing at 6-foot-3 with a sub-4.5 40-time, Rome Odunze profiles as a WR1 at the next level and a go-to target for Will Levis. – MJ

Related: Top NFL free agents of 2024

16. New Orleans Saints: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Saints tried to add Hunter Renfrow at the trade deadline, which signals a strong desire to boost the team’s pass-catching corps. But that shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering the lack of depth behind Chris Olave and a 30-year-old Michael Thomas. Nabers isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Thomas, as he’s 6 feet tall, but he’s great after the catch and has plenty of speed to create separation too. – ABR

17. New York Jets: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

The New York Jets were always tempting fate by putting Aaron Rodgers behind a bad offensive line. Both tackle spots will be needs in 2024, especially with Rodgers coming off an Achilles injury. JC Latham isn’t one of the elite pass-protectors in the 2024 draft class, but he is credited with only allowing 3 hurries this year across 250-plus snaps at right tackle (PFF). – MJ

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Bengals have tried various approaches to fixing their protection up front, but even after signing Orlando Brown, La’el Collins, and drafting Jonah Williams, they still don’t have two above-average tackles. Protecting Joe Burrow should always be the top priority and even if Guyton may immediately be best at right tackle, he projects as an elite player at the next level. – ABR

19. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

While the Atlanta Falcons pass rush has taken some steps forward this season, it’s not anywhere close to being good enough. While Dallas Turner isn’t anywhere close to matching his predecessor’s prospect pedigree or upside. the 6-foot-4 edge rusher is a first-round talent who could develop into an 8-11 sack player during his prime in Atlanta. – MJ

20. Minnesota Vikings: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

From the sound of it, the Vikings want Kirk Cousins back in 2024, but they’re about to learn what life is like without a plan in place behind their Pro Bowl QB. With Cousins entering free agency as a 36-year-old, there’s no guarantee he returns or is even the same player as before. Penix would benefit from watching how meticulously Cousins prepares for his opponent each week before getting his chance to play, but when he’s ready, the Vikings could have a high-powered offense for a decade-plus. – ABR

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

Minkah Fitzpatrick remains an outstanding player, but the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have much else at safety. With the top cornerbacks gone and pass defense a clear area to improve upon, Kamren Kinchens becomes the target. Kinchens, a 6-foot safety, would complement Fitzpatrick nicely and help cover up some of the coverage issues seen from Pittsburgh. – MJ

22. Houston Texans (via CLE): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Texans got their QB and pass rusher last year. Now it’s time to protect C.J. Stroud. At 6-foot-7, Mims is a huge tackle prospect, which should make him a perfect fit for the right side of the offensive line. With 340 pounds of force on his side, Mims will help both aspects of Houston’s offense. – ABR

23. San Francisco 49ers: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Once Trent Williams went down, it became even more apparent that the San Francisco 49ers offensive line needs work. Taliese Fuaga is one of the most physically-impressive prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft and the Beavers’ right tackle might even earn All-American status in 2023. He’d fit perfectly on the right side opposite of Williams.

24. Buffalo Bills: Calen Bullock, S, USC

The Bills’ safety tandem is one of the best in the NFL. But they’re also both 32, and only Jordan Poyer is under contract after this season, which is only for one more year. At some point, the Bills need to plan for the future, and doing so now would only add another capable defensive back to the rotation. Bullock is a 6-foot-3 safety with a nose for the football in coverage, but he could afford to bulk up and improve in run defense. – ABR

25. Seattle Seahawks: Leonard Taylor III, iDL, Miami (FL)

The Seattle Seahawks have already built one of the best, young secondaries in the NFL and their defense is trending in the right direction. After passing on Jalen Carter, though, a need still exists on the defensive interior. Leonard Taylor has been one of the best interior defensive linemen in the nation this season, standing out for his ability to create a pass rush from right up the middle. – MJ

26. Dallas Cowboys: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Cowboys consistently have a high-powered offense, but who really scares opponents aside from CeeDee Lamb on this offense? Adding another receiver who can haul in passes in traffic and do damage after the catch like Egbuka would only reduce the pressure on Dak Prescott and his cast of receivers. – ABR

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

The Jacksonville Jaguars couldn’t land an edge rusher at the NFL trade deadline, so it will likely be a need addressed during the offseason. Josh Allen needs a running mate on the opposite side of him and Travon Walker isn’t it. Laiatu Latu might be a top-20 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class and Jacksonville landing him at 27 could be a steal. – MJ

28. Baltimore Ravens: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

A team can never have too many pass rushers, and even though the Ravens remain high on Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, they need more. Verse wins against the run and the pass and can play multiple positions along the line, but probably profiles best along the edge. – ABR

29. Detroit Lions: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Recent weeks have demonstrated that the Detroit Lions’ secondary is still a pretty big weakness, especially when this team faces elite receivers. At 6-foot-2, Nate Wiggins already has the frame to match up with bigger-bodied wideouts. With the athleticism to turn and track more athletic receivers downfield, Wiggins’ upside is a CB1 in the NFL. – MJ

30. Miami Dolphins: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

The Dolphins have the NFL’s best offense, but how can they ensure this remains true for years to come? Protecting Tua Tagovailoa is paramount to Miami’s success. Suamataia is an impressive athlete for an offensive lineman and should have no trouble protecting Tagovailoa’s blindside at right tackle for years to come. – ABR

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been clocked at a sub-4.3 in the 40-yard dash, which would make him one of the fastest pass-catchers in football. The speed and size (6-foot-1) would make him the perfect No. 1 receiver in Kansas City. Based on how the Chiefs’ offense has looked for long stretches this year, an offensive weapon like Worthy now feels necessary. – MJ

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

The Eagles have cycled through multiple middle linebackers in the short term while also drafting Nakobe Dean in the third round a season ago, but they need more long-term solutions in the middle. Trotter is a big hitter who’s best at playing downhill for now, but there’s hope he can make an impact on all three downs as a rookie, thanks to an advanced level of instincts. – ABR