BucsGameday's 2024 First Round NFL Mock Draft (1.0)

Writer Collin Haalboom gives his picks for a full first-round mock draft after the chaos of free agency — see who the Bucs pick below.

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Collin Haalboom
Apr 01, 2024

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The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a month away, which means it’s time to get in on the fun of forecasting which player-team combinations have the potential to unfold during the first round of the draft, which is set to kick off on April 25th, live from Detroit.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite bringing back a number of key free agents, still have plenty of holes to fill. As of today, interior offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback, inside linebacker, and tight end remain some of the team’s most pressing positional needs.

However, with only one pick in the first round, the Buccaneers won’t be able to solve that puzzle with the selection of one player. That said, finding a player whose talent matches up with a position of need would be a great place to start for Jason Licht and the rest of the Buccaneers’ front office.

Let’s take a closer look at how the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft could shake out.

1. Chicago Bears | Caleb Williams | Quarterback | USC

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No surprise here as the Chicago Bears, having officially turned the page on the Justin Fields era, are thrilled to hand the keys over to a young supernova prospect who has all the tools to step in and lead an NFL offense right away.

2. Washington Commanders | Jayden Daniels | QB | LSU

In my opinion, Drake Maye is a superior prospect to Daniels. But this is a predictive mock draft, and I’m buying into the idea that the Commanders want to build Kliff Kingsbury’s offense around a dynamic dual-threat player like Jayden Daniels.

3. New England Patriots | Drake Maye | QB | North Carolina

Drake Maye has all the size, arm talent, pocket mobility and athleticism to become a star. Drafting him as the third quarterback taken would be a major coup for New England as far as I’m concerned.

4. TRADE: Minnesota Vikings (via Arizona) | J.J. McCarthy | QB | Michigan

Desperate to find a starting quarterback to pair with Justin Jefferson, the Vikings trade up to ensure they get one they believe in. Kevin O'Connell would give McCarthy as good of a shot as any coach in the league when it comes to realizing his potential.

5. Los Angeles Chargers | Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR | Ohio State

Four quarterbacks going in the first four picks would be a dream scenario for the Chargers, who then get the opportunity to select the highest-rated position player on their board. There's a good chance that player is Marvin Harrison Jr., who just so happens to fill a glaring need following the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

6. New York Giants | Malik Nabers | WR | LSU

The Giants need to inject some life into their offense. Malik Nabers — an explosive playmaker with the physical traits and production to become a star at the NFL level — would do just that.

7. Tennessee Titans | Joe Alt | OT | Notre Dame

Joe Alt is about as safe of a pick as you'll find in this year's draft. After a busy free agency period, there's no reason the Titans shouldn't jump at the chance to select a blue-chip offensive line prospect with their first pick for the second year in a row.

8. Atlanta Falcons | Quinyon Mitchell | CB | Toledo

The Falcons have done a great job rebuilding their roster, but there is still plenty of room for upgrades, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Edge rusher is the position mocked most frequently to the Falcons in this spot, but the opportunity to add the best corner in the draft is also in play. Don’t be surprised if Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell is that guy. He has all the tools — size, speed and ball skills — to develop into a top-tier corner.

9. Chicago Bears | Rome Odunze | WR | Washington

Despite having already traded for Keenan Allen, I can't think of a better pairing for the Bears’ new franchise quarterback than adding one of the most talented receivers in this year’s draft class. In this scenario, Caleb Williams would have no excuses when it comes to the offensive firepower at his disposal.

10. New York Jets | Brock Bowers | TE | Georgia

The Jets brought in Mike Williams to help stretch the field alongside Garrett Wilson. Still, Brock Bowers would add an entirely new dimension to New York’s offense. The opportunity to play with Aaron Rodgers has the potential to result in Bowers being viewed as an elite NFL tight end before his rookie season has even concluded.

11. Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota) | Terrion Arnold | CB | Alabama

The Arizona Cardinals have many needs to fill, which is why I have them moving out of No. 4 in order to acquire additional first-round draft capital. Adding a top-tier cornerback with the physical ability and mental makeup of Terrion Arnold would be a great place to start.

12. Denver Broncos | Dallas Turner | Edge | Alabama

There’s no sugarcoating it, the Denver Broncos’ roster is a disaster. Adding a freak athlete with the potential to develop into a more refined pass rusher in time would be a worthwhile investment for Sean Payton’s defense as they aspire to kickstart their rebuild.

13. Las Vegas Raiders | Olu Fashanu | OT | Penn State

The Raiders need a quarterback. But with the top four prospects already off the board, they may as well wait to see what’s available in round two. Although Fashanu didn’t quite dominate the way many expected this past season, he’s still a blue-chip prospect with the potential to develop into a franchise left tackle.

14. New Orleans Saints | Amarius Mims | OT | Georgia

Amarius Mims carries his 6’7”, 340-pound frame about as well as any human on the planet. Despite his limited experience at Georgia, Mims’ incredible size and movement skills make him a unique prospect with the potential to develop into a special player at the NFL level.

15. Indianapolis Colts | Brian Thomas Jr. | WR | LSU

With Anthony Richardson set to enter season two at full health, the Colts would be wise to add another dynamic playmaker for their young quarterback to throw to. Thomas is an explosive athlete with the size and playmaking ability that NFL GMs covet.

16. Seattle Seahawks | Troy Fautanu | OL | Washington

I’m a big fan of Washington’s Troy Fautanu. He’s strong as an ox but he moves like a gazelle. Fautanu’s versatility makes him an excellent selection for the Seahawks, as he has the ability to stay at tackle or kick inside to guard — where I believe he has All-Pro potential — depending on their preference.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars | Cooper DeJean | CB | Iowa

The Jaguars could go a number of different directions in this spot, but I believe Cooper DeJean would be a savvy selection. DeJean is the best run defending corner in this class, yet his elite athleticism and excellent instincts make him a major difference-maker in coverage as well. DeJean is a chess piece with the versatility to line up anywhere in the secondary as a rookie.

18. Cincinnati Bengals | Laiatu Latu | Edge | UCLA

Latu would be a dream selection for the Buccaneers, but despite his injury history, I don’t see it happening without a trade up. Latu is an extremely gifted and advanced pass rusher compared to most prospects coming out of college. His wide assortment of moves and counters — demonstrating both power and elusiveness — combined with a relentless motor will have a wide variety of NFL GMs chomping at the bit to add him to their roster.

19. Los Angeles Rams | Jer’Zhan Newton | IDL | Illinois

Although the Rams did lose Aaron Donald to retirement, GM Les Snead did a fantastic job identifying high-value defensive line prospects in last year’s draft. Both Byron Young and Kobe Turner proved to be steals. Still, a glaring vacancy exists in the wake of Donald’s departure, and Jer’Zhan ‘Johnny’ Newton is viewed by many to be the best interior defensive lineman in this draft class. Plug and play.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Taliese Fuaga | OT | Oregon St

For any team needing an offensive tackle, Taliese Fuaga being available this late in the draft would be a blessing. In this scenario, it’s the Steelers who manage to acquire a top-tier tackle prospect to pair with Broderick Jones without having to move up to get him.

21. Miami Dolphins | Byron Murphy | IDL | Texas

The Dolphins would have to think long and hard about either Jackson Powers-Johnson or Graham Barton here, but the value of finding an impact defensive tackle — especially after losing Christian Wilkins to the Raiders in free agency – makes Byron Murphy the most logical selection in this spot.

22. Philadelphia Eagles | Nate Wiggins | CB | Clemson

Even after bringing back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Eagles would benefit from adding some young talent to their secondary. Nate Wiggins, though undersized, is a naturally gifted cornerback with elite speed and advanced coverage skills.

23. Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota) | Jared Verse | Edge | Florida State

Having already secured one of the top corners in the draft, here the Cardinals jump at the opportunity to add a relentless and powerful edge rusher in Jared Verse. Although his potential won’t be fully unleashed until he’s able to add more nuance to his pass-rushing repertoire, Verse has the size, strength, and aggressive mentality needed to be a contributor right away.

24. Dallas Cowboys | J.C. Latham | OT | Alabama

It’s unlikely that Latham falls this far on draft night, but in this scenario, that’s exactly what happens. The Cowboys would be wise to jump at the opportunity to add a stout, powerful offensive lineman with experience playing both guard and tackle at an extremely high level in the SEC. The former 5-star recruit would help to mitigate the loss of Tyron Smith while immediately rejuvenating a Cowboys offensive line that’s been one of the best in the league for quite some time now.

25. Green Bay Packers | Graham Barton | OL | Duke

Although the Packers roster is in good shape moving forward, they’ve recently moved on from several reliable veterans along the offensive line. Graham Barton is a tremendous prospect who excelled as a left tackle for Duke but is expected to transition to center or guard at the NFL level. However they choose to utilize him, Barton would immediately bolster a Packers’ offensive line unit that is responsible for keeping franchise quarterback, Jordan Love, out of harm's way.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Chop Robinson | Edge | Penn State

With Jackson Powers-Johnson still on the board, there’s no question that the center from Oregon would (and should) receive serious consideration here. That said, the Buccaneers are in dire need of some juice off the edge. Chop Robinson is arguably the most explosive and athletic prospect of this year’s edge class, and he has all the traits and tools to potentially develop into an exceptional NFL pass rusher. His lack of production in college will surely raise some eyebrows — and comparisons to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka — amongst the Buccaneers’ faithful, but unless Jason Licht is willing to move up for Laiatu Latu, which is highly unlikely based on his draft history, then getting Chop Robinson in this spot would be a worthwhile investment.

27. Arizona Cardinals | Adonai Mitchell | WR | Texas

With a bevy of first round draft picks, while having already secured franchise cornerstones at cornerback and edge, it’s time for the Cardinals to invest in a new weapon for Kyler Murray. With the blue-chip wide receiver prospects already scooped up, there’s a long list of receivers bunched together in this next tier, making it a matter of preference. That said, Adonai Mitchell, despite some questions about his consistency and effort, has the size, ability, and athleticism to blossom into a star in the right situation.

28. Buffalo Bills | Jackson Powers-Johnson | IOL | Oregon

Although the Bills need to add a receiver at some point, their GM, Brandon Beane, has shown an affinity for addressing the trenches early on. Centers aren’t usually selected in the first round, but Jackson Powers-Johnson is a different story. JPJ is one of the most complete center prospects to enter the league in some time. His strength, athleticism, and nasty demeanor have most evaluators expecting him to step in and perform like an above-average starter from day one.

29. Detroit Lions | Kool-Aid McKinstry | CB | Alabama

Lions’ GM Brad Holmes has done a masterful job of rebuilding the roster since he took over in 2021. Having already traded for Carlton Davis, it’s obvious that one of his top priorities this offseason is improving Detroit’s secondary. Kool-Aid McKinstry may not be as exciting as some of the other top cornerback prospects, but I believe his highly technical, disciplined, and mature approach to playing the position would appeal to Holmes, while also filling an obvious team need.

30. Baltimore Ravens | Tyler Guyton | OT | Oklahoma

The Ravens could go a number of ways with this pick, but their dynamic running game — magnified even more since the acquisition of Derrick Henry — will need to depend on the performance of their offensive line. Tyler Guyton is a 6’8”, 322-pound athletic tackle with limited experience but a ton of upside. He could be very useful right away with the potential to develop into a franchise tackle for years to come.

31. San Francisco 49ers | Kingsley Suamataia | OT | BYU

The 49ers have an aging offensive line, and it’s time to restock the cupboard. Kingsley Suamataia has been a late riser in the pre-draft process due to his combination of size, length, aggression, and athleticism. I can’t think of a more conducive situation for his development than playing alongside one of the all-time greats, Trent Williams, who could eventually pass the baton.

32. Kansas City Chiefs | Jordan Morgan | OT | Arizona

Despite coming off a second consecutive Super Bowl victory, the Chiefs still have some needs that they’ll need to address in the draft. Without a starting left tackle confirmed for next season, Arizona’s Jordan Morgan could very well be the pick. A three-year starter in college, Morgan is a tough player with quick feet, heavy hands, and plenty of intangible qualities that make him worthy of a first-round selection.

BucsGameday's 2024 First Round NFL Mock Draft (1.0)

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