After months of building the hype with speculation and opinions from around the league, the moment we’ve anxiously awaited has finally arrived. The 2024 NFL Draft officially begins Thursday in Detroit at 8 p.m. ET.
For one last time before things kick off, our NFL reporters gathered for a virtual mock draft to play the role of general manager and select players for their respective teams. While the top quarterbacks expectedly flew off the board early, quite a few of our reporters made first-round trades to grab the prospects they coveted most. Here’s how it all went down. (Trades are noted with an asterisk.)
From general manager Ryan Poles’ teardown of the Bears’ roster in 2022 to the start of his rebuild of the team in 2023 to eventually trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, what’s next has felt inevitable for quite some time. The Bears need their next quarterback, and Williams is the best one in this draft class. He’s already a superstar. The Bears are ready for him. They’re ready for everything. He’s next. He’s their future. — Adam Jahns
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Bears only have eyes for Caleb Williams at No. 1; could they go defensive tackle next?
Daniels’ seismic growth as a dual threat who stresses defenses on every snap is worthy of this choice, and his style fits the team’s offensive plan. That he’s become the largely consensus pick in mock drafts is what scares me. Similar to the Commanders’ coaching search, there’s a fear that the herd mentality is based on rumors because the team isn’t revealing its plans and no national reports are based on overt sourcing. I’m not ruling out general manager Adam Peters targeting Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy. However, Daniels has been my steady choice for two months. I’m staying with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner as the new face of the revitalized franchise, regardless of his Topgolf performance. — Ben Standig
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Commanders GM Adam Peters on draft plans: ‘We feel great about staying at No. 2’
Unlike the previous versions of this mock draft, we didn’t even listen to trade offers this time. A prototypical quarterback fell into the laps of the Patriots. Even though they have needs galore, we didn’t want to overthink this one. Just take the big, strong quarterback who can move and chuck the ball around. Maybe the Pats don’t have the best environment and roster with which to welcome a rookie quarterback, but Maye can start on the bench with Jacoby Brissett mentoring him. Now they can focus on building the roster around a quarterback with a high ceiling. — Chad Graff
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Patriots taking calls for No. 3 pick: Will they trade down?
The initial plan had two steps: Move back to acquire additional draft capital, then move back up, just as general manager Monti Ossenfort did in last year’s draft. Moving back was not difficult — No. 4 is in heavy demand. But the price to move back up was steep, and in the end not quite worth it. The Cardinals are in a great spot even without a deal. They have 11 picks in this draft, including six in the first three rounds. Receiver is their greatest need, and they could use some star power to fire up the fan base. Harrison is the guy. If they can swing a deal and still get him, great. If not, let’s not overthink this. — Doug Haller
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NFL Draft confidential: ‘Marvin Harrison is not No. 1’
Chargers trade Nos. 5 and 225 to Vikings for Nos. 11, 23 and a 2025 third-rounder.
The Vikings are in the market for a quarterback. This may not be the preferred landing spot or selection, but missing out wasn’t a risk worth taking. McCarthy is a solid option. His experience in a pro-style scheme would make for an easier acclimation into coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. Making this trade likely depends on the offer and extent of the Chargers’ ask. If it’s hefty (and this may even be too hefty), Minnesota could pursue an alternative route to finding a quarterback. It’s also possible the Vikings find a way to inch up to No. 3 in a trade with the Patriots. — Alec Lewis
J.J. McCarthy had a 27-1 record in his two years as a starter at Michigan. (Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
While the front office was open to trade-back offers, the Giants settled on staying at No. 6. With the top quarterbacks off the board, it was a matter of deciding between Nabers and Rome Odunze. And it was a tough decision, as both are projected to be top receivers. It’s just a matter of what kind of receiver the Giants want to inject into their offense. They went with Nabers for his separation abilities, which would lend itself nicely to explosive plays. Nabers’ dynamic athleticism was hard to pass on. — Charlotte Carroll
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Duggan: What the Giants’ ideal NFL Draft would look like
Titans trade Nos. 7 and 106 to Bills for Nos. 28, 60, 133, 160 and a 2025 first-rounder.
General manager Brandon Beane did his best last week to say he doesn’t think wide receiver is a glaring hole, but with only Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins as their top three, logic screams otherwise. Beane stressed last week that he wants receivers who are “smart, selfless and versatile,” and that perfectly sums up Odunze, who has the talent to be Josh Allen’s long-term No. 1 receiver. He also has the leadership the Bills covet and the versatility to start at X receiver but play across the formation. Having Minnesota’s potentially early 2025 second-round pick next year helps Beane justify sending away a major asset like their 2025 first-rounder. — Joe Buscaglia
Falcons trade No. 8 to Saints for Nos. 14 and 45.
The Saints trading up? It’s like the sun rising in the east when it comes to the NFL Draft. But with the hated Falcons? Hey, I can still envision good buddies Mickey Loomis and Terry Fontenot overcoming the franchises’ bitterness to pull off an unexpected move. Tackle is an obvious choice for the Saints given their question marks at both spots (vacant at left tackle, Ryan Ramczyk’s aching knee at right tackle). I expected to consider Olu Fashanu or JC Latham at No. 14. But it’s hard to pass on Alt, the clear best tackle in this draft, when he fell within striking distance. I can live with “Who Dats” complaining about losing a second-round pick in the trade. Alt is well worth it. — Larry Holder
9. Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The trade calls for No. 9 stopped after three moves were made before this selection. The flurry of activity left the Bears to consider taking the next-best offensive tackle or possibly the first defender in this year’s draft. But Bowers — the No. 7 player in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 rankings — must be considered in this range. He’s that good. Bowers is not your typical tight end. He’s a potential game-changer for the Bears. If you’re taking Williams at No. 1, then it’s important to always add talent around him. — Jahns
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Pretty much the worst-case scenario happened here for the Jets. All four of the top quarterbacks, three wide receivers, Alt and Bowers were taken. It decimated the draft board and removed much of the appeal for any team that might’ve wanted to trade up. But the Jets will still be happy to land a receiver they rate highly — and who many around the league don’t think would be a reach this high. Thomas is a dynamic playmaker and down-the-field threat who wouldn’t have to step in as a No. 1 or even No. 2 receiver with Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in the fold — and also would serve as ideal insurance if Williams isn’t himself coming off ACL surgery. It was tempting to take an offensive lineman such as Troy Fautanu or Taliese Fuaga, but the winds for the Jets seem to be blowing in the direction of another pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers. — Zack Rosenblatt
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The Chargers engaged in trade discussions with the Cardinals, who were considering moving down to No. 11. Los Angeles and Arizona were too far apart in negotiations, though, and those talks stalled. The Cardinals picked at No. 4. The Chargers were then approached by the Vikings about moving up to No. 5, and the two sides ironed out a deal rather quickly. Los Angeles picked up Nos. 11, 23 and a 2025 third-round pick. Then with the first pick of the Jim Harbaugh era, the Chargers invested in the offensive line. Fautanu was primarily a left tackle at Washington, but he could fit at several positions for the Chargers — right tackle, right guard or even center. — Daniel Popper
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Chargers GM Joe Hortiz on trading No. 5 pick: ‘They have to make it attractive for us’
It’s no secret the Broncos need a quarterback — even after acquiring Zach Wilson on Monday — but the board wasn’t friendly. After quarterbacks were selected with the top three picks, Denver was approached by the Cardinals about a possible trade up to No. 4 to select McCarthy. But a jump that high for QB4 — even if he’s QB2 or QB3 on Denver’s board — doesn’t make sense for a team that has already unloaded three first-round picks in trades since 2022. Landing arguably the best defensive player in the draft isn’t a bad consolation prize. Turner would immediately become Denver’s most talented player in the front seven. He’s a player with “freaky” tools, as Brugler wrote, who would give the Broncos their most explosive presence in that spot since Bradley Chubb was a rookie in 2018. — Nick Kosmider
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Broncos aim to build Zach Wilson up, but trade doesn’t change NFL Draft outlook
Well, we didn’t lose our minds and take Michael Penix Jr. at 13. (We were also unable to trade back into the end of the first round for a QB, because, let’s face it, beat writers are mean and greedy.) There are two elite cornerbacks in this draft, and we took Mitchell over Terrion Arnold because he’s an elite athlete (considerably faster than Arnold) who is physical, can cover, make plays on the ball and plays with that edge coach Antonio Pierce is looking for. We went with CB over OT because it’s a much deeper draft in the trenches. — Vic Tafur
Quinyon Mitchell had six interceptions and 37 pass breakups in his final two seasons at Toledo. (Emilee Chinn / Associated Press)
A late riser (at least publicly) in the draft process, the 6-foot, 297-pounder is maybe the most explosive player pound-for-pound in this draft. A member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” Murphy only started one year at Texas and didn’t put up spectacular numbers (eight career sacks and 70 career tackles), but he can be a pass-rush presence on the interior because of his quick twitch off the line of scrimmage. Plus, by moving down from No. 8 to No. 14, Atlanta now has the Nos. 43 and 45 picks and thus can address edge rusher and cornerback early in the second round. — Josh Kendall
Colts general manager Chris Ballard met with the media before the draft and vehemently backed his young cornerbacks, saying, “They’ve grown up.” But as it turns out, Ballard was blowing a bit of smoke since he still drafted Arnold. Indianapolis lacked a third starting-caliber cornerback to pair with veteran Kenny Moore II and 2023 second-round pick Julius Brents, regardless of how high Ballard is on 2023 seventh-round pick Jaylon Jones and 2022 undrafted free-agent signee Dallis Flowers. Arnold fills that void. He’s arguably the best cornerback in this year’s class and should instantly boost Indianapolis’ secondary, which struggled to limit big plays last season. Arnold also has a vibrant personality and will quickly endear himself to fans. — James Boyd
Seahawks trade No. 16 to Titans for Nos. 28, 60 and a 2025 fourth-rounder.
We’ve discovered the cure for mock drafting Alt over-and-over fatigue. The Titans field an offer they can’t refuse to let the Bills have No. 7, then jump back up from No. 28 to take the Seahawks’ pick at No. 16 — and still get a foundational left tackle in the process. Fashanu would have warranted consideration at No. 7 had Alt been gone, and now the Titans get him, get ahead of the run on tackles and add Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2025 as well. That’s well worth a 2025 fourth-rounder to Seattle and a move down from 106 to 133 (while adding 160). Tennessee holds on to No. 38 and can get another starter there, perhaps at edge rusher, receiver … or how about another offensive tackle? — Joe Rexrode
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Verse was the pick during the last beat writer mock draft, and I didn’t see any reason to change it, although UCLA’s Laiatu Latu was under consideration. Verse had 18 sacks and 29 1/2 tackles for loss in 25 games at Florida State. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have had major pass-rushing issues for a couple of seasons and need a boost behind Josh Allen and Travon Walker. The team’s 40 sacks in 2023 were the eighth fewest in the NFL — and that was only a slight improvement from 2022, when their 35 sacks were seventh fewest. Allen (17 1/2 sacks last season) and Walker (10 sacks) were a very good tandem, but they need reinforcements.— Jeff Howe
Latham has always felt like the most obvious intersection of player profile, team need and draft layout for the Bengals. They move from one first-round Alabama tackle (Jonah Williams) to another. But what makes the two different is what makes Latham so appealing to Cincinnati. It has leaned heavily into larger, more powerful tackles, pushing pure athleticism down the priority list. Nobody in this draft is more powerful than Latham. He’ll battle Trent Brown to start opening day at right tackle but have time to adjust in the background (or help inside) if need be. The Bengals will never go wrong protecting Joe Burrow. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Latu is considered one of the most toolsy pass rushers in this draft class, and the Rams badly need more pass-rush production (and did even before Aaron Donald’s retirement). Having such a wide arsenal of moves helps his case as a plug-and-play edge rusher, but the Rams will have had to green-light any health questions in their evaluation. — Ken Bradley
After returning from injury in 2022, Laiatu Latu totaled 23 1/2 sacks in his last two seasons at UCLA. (Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
The Steelers would have been more than willing to move up to grab a plug-and-play tackle like Fuaga, but the gamble to stay put might lead to a potential trade-up in the second round for a starting center. It marks the second straight year the Steelers drafted a tackle in the first round after not doing so for 26 years. It allows them to move Broderick Jones from the right side to his more natural left side, and provides the Steelers with potentially one of the best offensive lines in the league. Fuaga, who wouldn’t have to start immediately because of Dan Moore Jr., has been projected by many to go higher than 20 based on his dominant pass-blocking abilities. Brugler has him as the fourth-best offensive tackle in the draft and 17th-best prospect. Fuaga started two years for the Beavers and played more than 1,500 snaps. The Steelers brought him in for a pre-draft visit, and also sent offensive line coach Pat Meyer to Oregon State’s pro day. — Mark Kaboly
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Trading down was Plan A, but in the absence of offers, this pick came down to Mims versus Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Newton certainly would have filled a need following the departure of Christian Wilkins in free agency, but locking down the left tackle of the future felt more important. It’s become clear that 2024 could be Terron Armstead’s final season, so getting his replacement in the building took precedence. Mims is raw, having only started eight career games in college, so landing in Miami is somewhat ideal for him. He can hone his craft while taking lessons from Armstead. Mims is a mammoth of a man at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds with a giant wingspan and impressive athleticism. If he puts it all together, Miami won’t have to worry about left tackle for a long time. — Jim Ayello
The Dolphins made this decision easier. The Eagles might take advantage of this draft’s surplus of premier offensive tackles to secure an eventual successor for Lane Johnson. If Mims had been available, that might’ve been the move. Four of the six preceding picks were spent on offensive tackles. Why didn’t the Eagles trade up? The Titans’ package for No. 16 demonstrates why such a deal is too pricey. According to trade talks in this exercise, the Seahawks wanted a second-round pick. Trading away the No. 50 or 53 selection wouldn’t have made sense without receiving some draft capital in return. That left us with the key question: Is there more value in spending the capital necessary to leapfrog the Dolphins for the opportunity to draft Fuaga or Mims than staying put at No. 22 and taking DeJean? I decided the answer was no. DeJean, who fits the “dog mentality” the Eagles say they’re looking for in defensive players, fulfills a key position of need for a defense that surrendered the second-most passing yards in 2023. — Brooks Kubena
𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙠 😤
We asked Cooper DeJean to rank his 5️⃣ favorite plays. 👇@cdejean23 x @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/AqYzp80euG
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 21, 2024
23. Los Angeles Chargers (from Vikings, via Browns and Texans*): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
After taking an offensive lineman at No. 11, the Chargers were looking for defense at this spot. They have a pressing need at receiver, but there was not enough value at that position. The Chargers considered bolstering their interior defensive line by drafting Illinois’ Newton. Instead, they add another position of need in cornerback. Wiggins is an extremely fluid athlete and would compete for a starting job on the outside as a rookie. He brings the height-speed combination that defensive coordinator Jesse Minter covets. — Popper
Cowboys trade No. 24 to Chiefs for Nos. 32 and 95.
The logical and expected run on offensive tackles has led the Chiefs to make this move. Despite the appeal of taking a receiver in the first round, the biggest hole on Kansas City’s roster is that it doesn’t have a clear projected starter at left tackle, the player responsible for protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blindside. At this point, Suamataia appears to be the best candidate as a possible plug-and-play left tackle. He’ll compete against Wanya Morris, the team’s third-round pick from last year’s draft, for the starting role. By trading away the 95th pick to the Dallas Cowboys, the Chiefs can still target a quality receiver in the second round with the 64th selection. — Nate Taylor
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Barton played left tackle and center at Duke. Packers third-year do-it-all offensive lineman Zach Tom also played left tackle and center in college at Wake Forest. Now that the Packers have found their next franchise quarterback, or so it seems, priority No. 1 becomes protecting him for what they hope is the next decade-plus. The Packers could go with Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton or Barton here to accomplish that. They settle on Barton, who provides the versatility GM Brian Gutekunst covets. The Packers appear confident in Rasheed Walker starting at left tackle, but there’s more uncertainty at right guard and perhaps at center in the long term with Josh Myers entering a contract year. At the very worst, Barton can provide much-needed depth on the interior. — Matt Schneidman
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A 4.39 40-yard dash could move McConkey into the first round, even though he battled injuries last season. The Buccaneers could use depth at wide receiver behind high-caliber starters Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The team wants to give Baker Mayfield all he needs to continue to play like he did in 2023. McConkey could be a short-term complement for Evans and Godwin, lining up in the slot and contributing on special teams, and he could be a long-term replacement for Godwin, whose deal is up after the season. — Dan Pompei
27. Arizona Cardinals: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Robinson is a popular pick for the Cardinals at this spot. There’s a reason for that. Arizona last season ranked among the NFL’s worst in impacting the quarterback. This is a need that must be addressed. Robinson’s 2023 stats (four sacks in 10 games) were average, but sack numbers can be misleading. He gives Arizona the speed and explosion it needs. – Haller
4.49u for DL Chop Robinson. 🔥
Absolutely flying.
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9UjjsGhQvZ— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
The Seahawks are without a second-round pick because of the midseason deal to acquire Leonard Williams, which also cost them a 2025 fifth-rounder. Picking up the No. 60 pick and recouping some 2025 draft capital before taking someone they would have felt comfortable selecting at No. 16 is a win for Seattle, which needs to bolster its front-line depth and plan for the future with Williams turning 30 in June and 31-year-old defensive tackle Jarran Reed on an expiring deal. — Michael-Shawn Dugar
The Lions discussed the framework for a deal to trade back with the Raiders, who called hoping to get their QB of the future. But with the draft in Detroit, and our loyal fans set to take over the downtown area in anticipation of our first pick Thursday evening, you’re going to have to make it worth our while to move out of the first round. The Raiders were unwilling to meet our ask, though, so the deal never materialized. Instead, we’ll gladly take Powers-Johnson — No. 23 on Brugler’s big board — who has the look of a prospect who’d fit the Lions like a glove and projects as a high-level center or guard. This is the second time I’ve selected Powers-Johnson in a beat writer mock draft. It was an easy choice both times. — Colton Pouncy
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Lions ready to move — up or down — to get their guys in the NFL Draft
Guyton only started 15 games in college, so he has plenty still to learn. However, the Ravens traditionally do a nice job developing linemen. With Guyton, there’s so much to work with. He’s a well-proportioned 6-foot-7, 322-pounder who has long arms, strong hands and tremendous athleticism for a big man. The Ravens, who need a young and talented offensive tackle after trading Morgan Moses last month, will happily deal with Guyton’s inevitable growing pains. It was tempting to take Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry — and don’t be surprised if Baltimore does just that — but it was too hard to pass up a plug-and-play right tackle with Guyton’s upside. — Jeff Zrebiec
Tyler Guyton is one of six offensive tackles with a first-round grade in Dane Brugler’s NFL Draft guide. (James Black / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Morgan started at left tackle for Arizona, but he might be better suited for guard at the NFL level with his arm length, which falls just shy of 33 inches. Either way, Morgan projects to bring adaptability to the offensive line, an asset 49ers GM John Lynch espoused during his pre-draft news conference. Both of the team’s projected starting guards for 2024, Aaron Banks and Jon Feliciano, are only under contract through this season. Tackle is also a longer-term need. Morgan’s natural movement ability and reputation as a leader at Arizona can make him a good foundational piece for a San Francisco front in need of replenishment. — David Lombardi
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This was a difficult decision to move back with several quality offensive linemen available at pick 24. But the lack of free-agency moves and not having a fourth-round selection forced Dallas’ hand. The Cowboys desperately needed the extra pick. They added Kansas City’s third-rounder (No. 95) in the process, giving Dallas four in the top 100. Frazier fills a significant need at center after starter Tyler Biadasz departed in free agency. By not selecting a left tackle, Dallas faces the possibility of having to move second-team All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith to tackle. But Frazier was the best player available and should be a Day 1 starter. Had he been already picked, the next best option for the Cowboys might have been Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson. — Jon Machota
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Teams without a first-round pick
After passing on a couple of uninspiring trade offers, the Panthers stayed at 33 and took a receiver they’ve been connected to since the Senior Bowl. Legette told a reporter the Panthers have indicated they would draft him if he’s available at the top of the second round. And with McConkey the last of five wideouts to go in the first round, Carolina went with a big, physical receiver who also can run: Legette’s 22.3 mph clocking against Mississippi State was the fastest time by a ball carrier in the NCAA or NFL in 2023. — Joe Person
Having addressed their need at wide receiver with the Stefon Diggs trade, the Texans look to fortify the interior of their defensive line with Robinson, who last season recorded 42 quarterback pressures, 43 tackles (14 for loss) and 8 1/2 sacks. — Mike Jones
The Browns have options in this draft, and they don’t need a wide receiver. But with Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore only under contract through 2024, it would make sense that they take a shot on one — and Franklin seems to have a high ceiling. Franklin, 21, was mocked as a possible late first-round pick in December and January. But he weighed only 176 at the NFL combine (he was up to 187 at Oregon’s pro day), and it’s worth noting that he dropped more passes (nine) last season than he did in his previous two college seasons combined. Franklin needs to add strength and refine his game, but Cleveland is in position to be patient and potentially find a long-time starter. — Zac Jackson
(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Jayden Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Joe Alt: Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire, Ben Jackson, Michael Miller / Getty Images)
