Post-Combine Mock Draft: Trades Shake Up First Round
Now that the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, the timing feels right for an updated 2024 NFL Draft mock draft.
And to celebrate, this bad boy is full of trades and is two rounds in length.
Let's hop right into it:
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina)
The pick: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC
The rumors that Justin Fields is being traded to the Atlanta Falcons have only become louder following the weekend, meaning Williams to Chicago feels all but inevitable.
There's not much we haven't said about Williams already, but his decision not to test at the Combine has raised some eyebrows. For me? I couldn't care less. Williams is QB1 barring something unforeseen.
2. Washington Commanders
The pick: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU
The first shakeup of this mock, Daniels is now the second quarterback off the board ahead of Drake Maye. No prospect has seen the ridiculous climb that Daniels has seen since the start of the 2023 season and he feels like a top-three lock with every passing day.
The Commanders cannot afford to pass on a quarterback with this pick, and Daniels is the most electrifying player they've had at the position since Robert Griffin III.
3. New England Patriots
The pick: Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
The Patriots have no problem snagging Maye as the third quarterback off the board. Maye is every bit an elite quarterback prospect; he's just unlucky to be in a class that has two other dynamic prospects.
The Patriots need a franchise quarterback like a fish needs water, and with the Mac Jones trade speculation heating up, this fit feels perfect.
4. Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Cardinals benefit from three quarterbacks being taken with the first three picks and have the generational wide receiver fall onto their laps.
Although some have a sour taste in their mouths after Harrison Jr. didn't show up for his Combine media interview, that is the last thing that should derail his status as arguably the draft's best player.
Although the Cardinals have been rumored to be open to trading back in the draft, they should be ecstatic to land a player whose upside feels limitless catching passes from their franchise quarterback Kyler Murray.
5. TRADE: Chicago Bears (via LAC)
The pick: Malik Nabers, Wide Receivers, LSU
Trade:
LAC receives picks 9, 75, and a 2025 third-round pick
Chicago receives pick 5 and a 2025 fifth-round pick
Now here's something you haven't seen yet -- the Chicago Bears trading UP in the 2024 NFL Draft! It's a banger, too.
The Bears have a ton of ammo to use in the draft and they should use it to be aggressive and get their guys. I suggest ensuring you get a top-end wide receiver prospect to play with your new franchise quarterback.
Nabers is a WR1 in most drafts, but like Maye, he is being overshadowed by the guy ahead of him. Nonetheless, Nabers is elite. Pairing him across from D.J. Moore is exactly how you make an offense better.
6. New York Giants
The pick: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
All we've been hearing is that McCarthy is going to get drafted higher than we think. Well, here he is as a top-ten pick.
Yes, the Giants just gave Daniel Jones a fat contract, but Brian Daboll is coaching for his job in 2024, and drafting a young quarterback can not only give him a longer leash, but it can also give him his guy, considering Jones was drafted by the previous regime.
McCarthy throws a pretty ball and is agile as a runner. He will fit perfectly in Daboll's offense.
7. Tennessee Titans
The pick: Joe Alt Jr., Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
I stand firm that the Titans must continue investing in their offensive line. Alt Jr. is the certified OT1 in this class and is only available at seven because of four quarterbacks being taken ahead of him.
Pairing him with last year's first-round pick, Peter Skoronski will give Tennessee a great young nucleus to protect whoever is slinging the ball.
8. TRADE: Chicago Bears (via Atlanta)
The pick: Dallas Turner, Edge Rusher, Alabama
Trade:
Atlanta receives Justin Fields and a 2025 fifth-round pick
Chicago receives Jake Matthews and pick 8
Another trade for the Bears! This time, it's to move off of Justin Fields.
Atlanta has been the hot name for Fields this offseason and all we've heard this weekend is that he's going to be a Falcon when it's all said and done. It won't come cheap, but I do think they get it done.
For the Bears, they move Fields and get an extra first-round pick and a solid left tackle in Matthews who at worst can be a bridge guy.
Now for the pick, Turner made A LOT of money this weekend and Chicago would be more than happy to add him to a reloading defense. Turner will exit the draft as the heavy favorite to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year no matter where he lands.
9. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers (via Chicago)
The pick: Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia
Trade:
Chicago receives pick 5 and a 2025 fifth-round pick
LAC receives picks 9, 75, and a 2025 third-round pick
The Chargers got to move down four picks, add an extra third-round pick, and still ended up with their guy. You couldn't draw it up any better.
Bowers is as good a tight end prospect as we have ever seen. Putting him in Jim Harbaugh's offense and catching passes from Justin Herbert should make him a threat from day one.
10. New York Jets
The pick: Olu Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State
The Jets considered trading up from 10 but opted to stay firm and let the board fall to them. They're rewarded with Fashanu, who was once believed to be the top offensive tackle prospect in the draft.
Although Fashanu isn't viewed (by many) that high anymore, he's still a really good prospect. A Jets team that's hurting for offensive linemen will race to the podium.
11. Minnesota Vikings
The pick: Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama
Arnold continued to make his case for CB1 in the draft after a strong Combine performance. Arnold is a complete corner with size, athleticism, and ball skills. The Vikings need a guy like Arnold on their backend and they'll be pleased to see Arnold fall to their laps with all the offensive players drafted ahead of him.
12. Denver Broncos
The pick: Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington
"DOOMSDAY" falls just outside of the top 10 to no fault of his own. Odunze was one of the nation's top receivers last season and can immediately be a team's number-one receiver. Denver is likely looking at rebuilding their wide receiver room and Odunze is a perfect start.
13. TRADE: Indianapolis Cols (via Las Vegas)
The pick: JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Trade:
Las Vegas receives picks 15 and 118
Indianapolis receives pick 13 and a 2025 sixth-round pick
Another trade!
The Colts need an offensive tackle and jump ahead of the Saints to secure a versatile tackle who can play left or right. Latham is seen by some as the second-best tackle in the draft and others closer to the fifth-best. Here, the Colts are happy to add a guy who can bring some versatility to their line.
14. New Orleans Saints
The pick: Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle, Oregon State
The Saints won't be happy to have missed out on Latham, but the consolation prize of Fuaga will quickly ease their frustrations. Fuaga is likely a right tackle only at the next level, but that doesn't mean anything when you consider he looks like a Pro Bowler from day one.
15. TRADE: Las Vegas Raiders (via Indianapolis)
The pick: Quinyon Mitchell, Cornerback, Toledo
Trade:
Indianapolis receives pick 13 and a 2025 sixth-round pick
Las Vegas receives picks 15 and 118
A trade down netted the Raiders an extra fourth-round pick and they still got one of the top corners in the draft. Mitchell dominated the Combine and showed off some serious strength to go along with his tape. Mitchell might be flirting with top-15 status when the draft rolls around in April.
16. Seattle Seahawks
The pick: Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher, UCLA
Some players just look like they belong on a specific team. Latu looks like he was born to be a Seahawk.
Latu has one of the most impressive resumes in the draft class and his versatility to line up all over the front seven will be very attractive to a Seahawks team that loves versatility. New head coach Mike Macdonald would love to have a pass rusher like Latu.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Florida State
Josh Allen may or may not leave the team this offseason, whether it be via free agency or trade. Although the Jaguars would like to retain him, he may have priced himself out of Duval County. But even if he returns, there's no rule that you can't continue to improve the pass rush.
Verse is a high-floor pass rusher who had a stellar Combine performance, all but assuring him a spot in the top-20 picks, maybe even higher. Verse can either replace Allen or join Allen across from Travon Walker and give the Jags a pass rush they haven't seen since the 2017 "Sacksonville" defense.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
The pick: Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson
The Bengals' roster is pretty good from top to bottom, so they can afford to let the board fall to them and select the best player available. The lightning-fast Wiggins fits that mantra perfectly.
Cincy needs to get younger and cheaper in the secondary and have good foundational pieces with Cam Taylor-Britt, D.J. Turner, and Dax Hill. Wiggins can be the replacement for Chidobe Awuzie and make sure that the Bengals can stay dynamic on the backend to slow an AFC conference with no shortage of elite quarterbacks.
19. TRADE: Miami Dolphins (via LAR)
The pick: Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
Trade:
LAR receives pick 21 and a 2025 fourth-round pick
Miami receives pick 19 and 153
The Dolphins have to improve their offensive line if they want to become true contenders rather than pretenders. Not only that, but they need to be aggressive in adding a top-level player, even if that means moving up two picks to secure their guy.
Mims is an absolute behemoth of a man at 6'8", 340lbs with excellent tape to match. Mims is the kind of lineman that opposing pass rushers line up against and know that it's going to be a long day. For a unit that needs a tone-setter, Mims is a great choice.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
The pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Interior Offensive Line, Oregon
Powers-Johnson to the Steelers is quickly becoming my new favorite pick to make. Pittsburgh invested in the line last year in Broderick Jones and must continue to improve the unit, this time with an elite center.
21. TRADE: Los Angeles Rams
The pick: Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa
Trade:
Miami receives pick 19 and 153
LAR receives pick 21 and a 2025 fourth-round pick
The Rams moved down two picks and still landed a player they would have happily taken at 19. DeJean is being called a safety by some and a cornerback by others. For me, he's an eraser wherever he gets slotted.
The Rams' defense was great up front in 2023, so improving the backend is the direction they should head to next.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
The pick: Kamari Lassiter, Cornerback, Georgia
When in doubt, give the Eagles a Georgia Bulldogs defender in the first-round.
Philly experienced some buyer's remorse this season after handing out extensions to Darius Slay and James Bradberry, who both underachieved given their contracts. There are some young and intriguing guys to be developed like Kelee Ringo (another Georgia product), but that doesn't mean they should bypass a great prospect if he's available.
Lassiter is a long, smooth operator who emerged as a stud cover man in 2023. The Eagles can stash Lassiter to be developed and potentially see their return on investment sooner rather than later.
23. Houston Texans
The pick: Jer'Zhan Newton, Interior Defensive Line, Illinois
Newton dropping all the way to 23 is highway robbery and the Texans are more than happy to end his slide. Newton is an ass-kicker and a player that DeMeco Ryans should be excited to add to a defense that got better as the season progressed. Placing Newton into a unit that features Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingly Jr. creates a young nucleus with seemingly limitless upside.
24. Dallas Cowboys
The pick: Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
The Tyron Smith era is set to end in Dallas after 13 seasons. The eight-time Pro Bowler is likely heading to the Hall of Fame whenever he decides to hang his cleats up, but in the meantime, the Cowboys need to find his heir apparent.
Dallas has done a great job evaluating offensive line talent for over a decade now, so we shouldn't be surprised that a player with Guyton's upside could immediately become a star for the Cowboys (no pun intended).
25. TRADE: Buffalo Bills (via Green Bay)
The pick: AD Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Texas
Trade:
GB receives picks 29, 129, and a 2025 fourth-round pick
BUF receives pick 25
Mitchell made some big bucks at the Combine and his status as a round-one wide receiver seems certain. The Bills have needed wide receiver help since Josh Allen was a rookie. Stefon Diggs needs a running mate, and Mitchell compliments him well with his size, speed, and play-making ability.
At worst, he's Gabe Davis. At best, he's a Pro Bowl receiver. Buffalo won't mind getting ahead of a few teams to secure his services.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The pick: Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Washington
Penix Jr. is a polarizing prospect because of his previous injury history and that he throws left-handed. But he's been completely healthy for two straight seasons and has paced college football in passing yards in that time frame. And if you look at his tape, you'll see a pro-ready quarterback who can make every throw.
Consider me sold.
I am all in that the Buccaneers should bring back Baker Mayfield and even if they do it shouldn't stop them from adding competition. Seeing Penix Jr. at the tail end of the first round feels irresponsible for Tampa to pass up.
27. Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Chop Robinson, Edge Rusher, Penn State
Robinson is among the biggest winners of the Combine. It's been a rollercoaster of a ride for Robinson's draft stock between the start of the season to now, but it feels safe to keep him in round one.
The Cardinals need more out of their pass rush and Robinson brings explosion to that unit.
28. TRADE: Carolina Panthers
The pick: Brian Thomas Jr., Wide Receiver, LSU
Trade:
GB receives pick 33, a 2025 fifth-round pick, and safety Vonn Bell
CAR receives pick 28
The last thing the Panthers should be doing is trading draft picks, right?
Wrong.
Carolina now has a rookie quarterback in Bryce Young who will need all the help he can get, so being aggressive and surrounding him with talent is a top priority. Thomas Jr. is a big dude who can win matchups in more ways than one. Plus, he scores touchdowns. A lot of them.
29. Detroit Lions
The pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama
Talk about a value pick here. McKinstry entered last season as the undisputed CB1 and a top-10 lock. Now just under two months away from the draft, he's the sixth corner off the board and is just barely a first-round pick.
No matter, because he's still really good at football. The Lions just made an improbable run to the NFC Championship Game and if they want to get back then they need to bolster their defense at every level.
30. Baltimore Ravens
The pick: Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas
The Ravens have taken a wide receiver in the first round of the draft three times since Eric DeCosta took over as the team's GM in 2019, so drafting another receiver feels excessive.
But if you saw the look on DeCiosta's face after Worthy ran a Combine record 4.21 40-yard dash you could understand how this makes some sense.
Adding Worthy to a receiver room that features Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman gives Lamar Jackson nothing but track stars and big-play weapons to take their passing attack to the next level.
31. San Francisco 49ers
The pick: Kingsley Suamataia, Offensive Tackle, BYU
The 49ers have few needs, but they have to get younger, cheaper, and better on the offensive line. Suamataia is built like the bouncer outside the club you can't get into. He can play across from Trent Williams and perhaps be his eventual successor.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
The pick: Byron Murphy II, Interior Defensive Line, Texas
It sounds like Chris Jones may be back for the right price, but that shouldn't stop the Chiefs from continuing to inject youth into the position.
Murphy II has seen some serious bump in his draft stock the last few months with some places having him listed ahead of Jer'Zhan Newton. It's an easy plug-and-play pick for KC.
Round Two:
33. Green Bay Packers (via CAR): T.J. Tampa, Cornerback, Iowa State
34. New England Patriots: Ladd McConkey, Wide Receiver, Georgia
35. Arizona Cardinals: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Cornerback, Missouri
36. Washington Commanders: Jordan Morgan, Offensive Tackle, Arizona
37. Los Angeles Chargers: Braden Fiske, Interior Defensive Line, Florida State
38. Tennessee Titans: Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Oregon
39. New York Giants: Troy Fautanu, Offensive Tackle, Washington
40. Washington Commanders: Graham Barton, Interior Offensive Line, Duke
41. Green Bay Packers: Edgerrin Cooper, Linebacker, Texas A&M
42. Minnesota Vikings: Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon
43. Atlanta Falcons: Darius Robinson, Interior Defensive Line, Missouri
44. Las Vegas Raiders: Kamren Kinchens, Saftey, Miami FL
45. New Orleans Saints: Adisa Isaac, Edge Rusher, Penn State
46. Indianapolis Colts: T'Vondre Sweat, Interior Defensive Line, Texas
47. New York Giants: Jonathon Brooks, Running Back, Texas
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyler Nubin, Safety, Minnesota
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Leonard Taylor, Interior Defensive Line, Miami FL
50. Philadelphia Eagles: Trey Benson, Running Back, Florida State
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jermaine Burton, Wide Receiver, Alabama
52. Los Angeles Rams: Zach Frazier, Interior Offensive Line, West Virginia
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State
54. Cleveland Browns: Chris Braswell, Edge Rusher, Alabama
55. Miami Dolphins: Christian Haynes, Interior Offensive Line, UConn
56. Dallas Cowboys: Braelon Allen, Running Back, Wisconsin
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devontez Walker, Wide Receiver, North Carolina
58. Green Bay Packers: Kiran Amegadjie, Offensive Tackle, Yale
59. Houston Texans: Payton Wilson, Linebacker, NC State
60. Buffalo Bills: Brandon Dorlus, Edge Rusher, Oregon
61. Detroit Lions: Kris Jenkins, Interior Defensive Line, Michigan
62. Baltimore Ravens: Bralen Trice, Edge Rusher, Washington
63. San Francisco 49ers: Roman Wilson, Wide Receiver, Michigan
64. Kansas City Chiefs: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tight End, Texas
