NFL Draft Day is right here.
Dwell from Detroit, the 2024 NFL Draft will get underway Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. ET with the primary spherical.
The opening spherical will then be adopted by rounds two and three on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. ET at the start will get wrapped up Saturday at midday ET with rounds 4, 5, six and 7.
With the Senior Bowl, the NFL Scouting Mix, professional days and High-30 visits all firmly within the rearview mirror, it’s time to get issues going.
And meaning the NFL Draft beginning a superb 15-20 minutes after 8:00 p.m., Roger Goodell getting booed by the gathering of followers in attendance, each awkward and healthful moments with prospects and their households celebrating of their residing rooms. And, after all, the incredible-to-insane trend selections made by the gamers attending the NFL Draft (the identical goes for a number of the superfans who make the journey, too…).
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell – Picture by: USA Immediately
However most significantly, groups put their months and months of preparation into taking the following step towards constructing their rosters in a method that they hope results in Tremendous Bowl glory.
That’s the place Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo (and to a lesser extent, Bailey Adams) is available in.
After releasing his large board on Wednesday, Queipo has tried his hand at operating by means of your complete first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft and projecting what groups will do — not essentially what they ought to do.
And should you haven’t guessed it by now, Bailey Adams is me, the not-so-secret ghostwriter of this mock draft.
Queipo’s picks, my evaluation.
Now, let’s get into it.
2024 NFL Draft: Josh Queipo’s FULL First-Spherical Mock DraftBy Josh Queipo & Bailey Adams
1. Chicago Bears (through CAR) — USC QB Caleb Williams
The Bears formally moved on from their 2021 No. 11 total decide Justin Fields this offseason, clearing the way in which for USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Williams, who very probably would’ve gone No. 1 total final 12 months, steps into a good state of affairs in Chicago. He’s set to quarterback a crew that went 7-10 final 12 months (versus a 2- or 3-win crew that sometimes owns the primary decide), and he’ll have D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet round him. To not point out, the Bears even have the No. 9 total decide, which supplies them an opportunity so as to add one other weapon for his or her new franchise quarterback.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels – Picture by: USA Immediately
2. Washington Commanders — LSU QB Jayden Daniels
With a brand new regime in place, Washington takes a stab at discovering its personal franchise quarterback. The Commanders try this by deciding on Jayden Daniels, final 12 months’s Heisman winner, out of LSU. Daniels is the definition of a dual-threat quarterback, as evidenced by a 2023 season that noticed him put up 3,812 passing yards and 1,134 speeding yards whereas racking up 50 whole touchdowns.
3. New England Patriots — North Carolina QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye has the instruments essential to grow to be a franchise quarterback, and he’ll get a shot at blossoming into precisely that underneath a brand new, Invoice Belichick-less regime in New England. The Patriots want a signal-caller they’ll construct round, as Mac Jones was not the successor that the crew was searching for within the post-Tom Brady years. Maye has the best dimension and arm expertise to be “the man” going ahead for a franchise and fan base that badly wants somebody to hold them ahead.
4. Arizona Cardinals — Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Following the offseason departures of Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore, the Cardinals get a brand new No. 1 receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Marvin Harrison. Measurement, velocity, energy and smarts — the previous Ohio State star has all of the traits to be a ready-made contributor in 12 months one, and he’ll have a superb likelihood of placing up large numbers with the resurgent Kyler Murray as his quarterback.
5. Minnesota Vikings (through LAC) — Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
With the highest three quarterbacks off the board and with the Giants lurking at decide No. 6. the Vikings make a transfer right here and leap forward to pick nationwide title-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy. There’s much more projection with McCarthy than there is perhaps with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, and that’s simply because he wasn’t all the time requested to do all the things at Michigan the way in which the others have been for his or her groups. He has good bodily and psychological instruments, and with the weapons Minnesota has, he may benefit from stepping proper into an incredible state of affairs.
LSU WR Malik Nabers – Picture by: USA Immediately
6. New York Giants — LSU WR Malik Nabers
With the highest 4 quarterbacks gone within the first 5 picks, the Giants nonetheless in all probability received’t really feel dangerous “settling” for a man who has a professional case for being WR1 on this 12 months’s stacked class. Malik Nabers doesn’t even flip 21 till late July, but he’s a plug-and-play star straight away. Amazingly, Daniel Jones’ future in New York is already in query, however Nabers very nicely may assist save him by being the true WR1 he wants.
7. Tennessee Titans — Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
The highest offensive sort out lastly comes off the board at decide No. 7. Joe Alt could possibly be a godsend for the Titans, whose sort out play has been terrible for the higher a part of the final two years. Tennessee will not be positive about its quarterback of the longer term, however each time they discover him, that quarterback will closely profit from attending to play behind Alt, a three-year starter who’s certain to be a long-term starter.
8. Atlanta Falcons — Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
The Falcons have positioned themselves nicely to threaten for the Bucs’ NFC South crown, however they is perhaps just a few items away from really getting over the road. Dallas Turner could possibly be the cross rusher the crew is at present lacking, as he was High 10 in cross rush win price final 12 months and posted 25 sacks during the last three years at Alabama. New Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris will get a key piece of his protection right here with the No. 8 decide.
9. Chicago Bears — Washington WR Rome Odunze
The Bears have already got Caleb Williams in a great spot with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet, however they offer him one more electrical member of his supporting solid by selecting Rome Odunze with their second first-round decide. Odunze completes the highest tier of large receivers on this 12 months’s class, as he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023. The second of these seasons noticed him catch 92 passes for 1,639 yards and 13 touchdowns, and now he’ll full one of the vital spectacular receiver trios in soccer as Chicago appears to arrange its new quarterback for the long run.
10. New York Jets — Georgia TE Brock Bowers
The Jets simply miss out on the highest tier of large receivers, however they nonetheless hand Aaron Rodgers a big-time weapon in Georgia tight finish Brock Bowers. Regardless of being on the smaller and leaner aspect for a good finish, there’s a lot to like about his recreation. Lining up nearly all over the place, Bowers displayed elite yards-after-catch capability on his option to changing into one of the vital dominant faculty tight ends of all time. And now he’ll present one more spark to a New York offense hoping for at the least one 12 months of magic out of Rodgers earlier than he retires or pursues some type of profession in politics or goes off on one other darkness retreat.
Washington OT Troy Fautanu – Picture by: USA Immediately
11. Los Angeles Chargers (through MIN) — Washington OT Troy Fautanu
Jim Harbaugh will leap on the likelihood to construct up his offensive line, and he and the Chargers do precisely that with the choice of Troy Fautanu. An impressive athlete, Fautanu doesn’t have the best top for a sort out, however he possesses good size and might provide positional versatility to a Los Angeles offensive line that would use some assist.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (through DEN) — Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
With the highest quarterbacks off the board, the Broncos can commerce down and purchase some extra picks as they appear to construct out their roster. The Jaguars leap up and get the cornerback they want, selecting Quinyon Mitchell out of Toledo. With good legnth and all the best traits, Mitchell may quickly develop right into a CB1 within the NFL. He solely picked off one cross in 2023, however he had 5 interceptions in 2022 to associate with elite Professional Soccer Focus grades.
13. Las Vegas Raiders — UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
Laiatu Latu is aware of easy methods to win in quite a lot of methods off the sting, and he stays on the West Coast because the Raiders’ first-round decide. He has a flexible cross rush repertoire and positively possesses the manufacturing to match, having tallied 27 sacks during the last two seasons at UCLA. The neck problem that prompted him to medically retire at Washington a few years in the past seems to be behind him and whereas there could also be some lingering concern about that, his ceiling is phenomenal — particularly as a decide in the midst of the primary spherical as he’s right here.
14. New Orleans Saints — Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
The Saints have quite a lot of wants, however maybe none of them are extra important than the one they’ve on their offensive line. They tackle that right here with the choice of Taliese Fuaga, who has positional versatility and might step proper in at both guard spot and assist the run recreation from day one. He might discover a residence at sort out, although New Orleans nonetheless has hope for left sort out Trevor Penning, its first-round decide in 2022. For now, Fuaga steps in and fills a giant want in entrance of an costly quarterback in Derek Carr.
15. Indianapolis Colts — Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
The Colts want extra takeaways from their secondary, they usually’ll hope that Terrion Arnold interprets what he did at Alabama to his professional profession in Indianapolis. He had 5 interceptions in 2023, coming largely from his elite man protection capability. It helps that he was additionally distinctive towards the run throughout his time with the Crimson Tide. The Colts had up-and-down cornerback play final 12 months and Arnold could possibly be the man to come back in and regular the ship.
Florida State EDGE Jared Verse Picture by: USA Immediately
16. Seattle Seahawks — Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
The Seahawks have some good items off the sting in Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, however the addition of Jared Verse with the sixteenth decide solely raises the ceiling for the protection. With a superb construct, spectacular play energy and large sack manufacturing between Albany and Florida State (27 sacks within the final three years), Verse has main upside to deliver to the Seattle protection.
17. Denver Broncos (through JAX) — Oregon QB Bo Nix
After buying and selling down, the Broncos are in a cushty sufficient spot to pick the following quarterback on the board in Oregon’s Bo Nix. Head coach Sean Payton and a few of Denver’s personnel reportedly had a non-public exercise with Nix within the lead-up to the NFL Draft and whereas he has some creating to do, there’s rather a lot to love about Nix as an skilled passer with good processing capability and a penchant for shielding the ball.
18. Cincinnati Bengals — Alabama OT JC Latham
Defending franchise quarterback Joe Burrow stays a giant precedence for the Bengals, at the same time as issues start to crumble with the franchise-tagged Tee Higgins and gifted cross rusher Trey Hendrickson, who each have reportedly requested trades. Drafting JC Latham is a large assist for the Cincinnati offensive line and whereas he’ll want to chop down on the penalties, his dimension and refined talent set make him an instant-impact sort out.
19. Los Angeles Rams — Texas DL Byron Murphy II
The Rams really make a first-round decide within the NFL Draft? The Rams really make a first-round decide within the NFL Draft! Los Angeles simply misplaced future first-ballot Corridor of Famer Aaron Donald to retirement, in order that they make their first first-round choice since 2016 and decide Byron Murphy II to melt the blow. Energy, velocity and flexibility make Murphy an distinctive three-down defensive lineman with the chops to contribute each as a cross rusher and towards the run.
Duke OL Graham Barton – Picture courtesy of Duke
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Duke OT Graham Barton
The Steelers need assistance up entrance for whoever finally ends up enjoying quarterback in 2024 and past, they usually get it with the choice of Graham Barton. A sort out at Duke, Barton is more likely to kick inside on the subsequent stage. Whether or not that’s at guard or heart stays to be seen, however his dependable palms, good motion and ending capability within the run recreation will serve him nicely wherever he performs.
21. Miami Dolphins — Georgia OT Amarius Mims
Amarius Mims is a uncooked prospect, however at 6-foot-7, 340 kilos, he clearly has insane dimension. He’s a superb cross blocker, having allowed only one strain on 168 cross blocking snaps a 12 months in the past. That’s one thing the Dolphins will love as they appear to guard Tua Tagovailoa. He’ll want some creating, however the ceiling is clearly there for Mims.
22. Philadelphia Eagles — Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
The Eagles protection really fell aside down the stretch in 2023 they usually look to rectify that with their first-round decide on this 12 months’s NFL Draft. Cooper DeJean can really play anyplace, whether or not that’s exterior cornerback, slot nook or security. He’s an explosive athlete with good footwork and excellent ball expertise. He might turn into the kind of affect participant who makes individuals query for years how he fell all the way in which to select No. 22.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (through MIN) — LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
After buying and selling again and opting to beef up their offensive line earlier within the first spherical, the Chargers now add an affect receiver in LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. The nation’s chief in receiving touchdowns with 17 final 12 months turns into a big-time weapon for Justin Herbert after the crew traded Keenan Allen to the Bears this offseason. A formidable vertical menace with good dimension and velocity, Thomas is maybe a tier under the highest three receivers however actually nonetheless has the potential to make an affect from day one in Los Angeles.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
The Cowboys’ offensive line has skilled some turnover and is in want of a brand new spark. That’s the place Jackson Powers-Johnson is available in. A nasty finisher the way in which Bucs heart Ryan Jensen was, Powers-Johnson may be a right away plug-and-play starter with the potential to anchor the Dallas offensive line for a very long time to come back. A possible top-20 expertise going at No. 24 is a relative steal for the Cowboys, who will proceed their ongoing take a look at of whether or not Dak Prescott can win them that elusive sixth Tremendous Bowl.
25. Inexperienced Bay Packers — Alabama CB Kool-Assist McKinstry
Kool-Assist McKinstry stepping proper into the Packers protection and pairing up with Jaire Alexander is a dream come true for brand new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. McKinstry isn’t essentially an elite athlete, however he performs the cornerback place with excessive intelligence and possesses good size and fluidity that can assist him in press man protection on the subsequent stage.
Illinois DT Johnny Newton – Picture courtesy of Illinois
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Illinois DL Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton
For the third 12 months in a row, the Bucs use their high decide within the NFL Draft on a defensive lineman. They usually shouldn’t really feel dangerous about it both, on condition that Johnny Newton is a High 15-caliber participant who possesses elite cross rush instruments and might immediately elevate Tampa Bay’s defensive entrance. Taking part in alongside Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey whereas kicking Logan Corridor to a rotational function, the St. Petersburg native (and cousin of Bucs linebacker SirVocea Dennis) could be proper at residence underneath Todd Bowles’ steering.
27. Arizona Cardinals (through HOU) — Michigan CB Mike Sainristil
After enjoying a key function in the most effective protection in faculty soccer final 12 months, Sainristil finds himself as a first-round decide within the NFL Draft. He’ll step proper in and begin because the Cardinals’ slot nook, and Arizona will hope that his ball expertise translate as he got here up with six interceptions in 2023. He additionally scored 4 touchdowns final season for Michigan and brings good particular groups capability to go along with the truth that he can play each within the slot and at security.
28. Buffalo Payments — Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
After buying and selling Stefon Diggs and letting Gabriel Davis stroll this offseason, the Payments add a receiver in Adonai Mitchell who possesses nice dimension and good quickness. He caught 11 touchdowns for Texas in 2023, and he’ll want to offer some instantaneous manufacturing in Buffalo because the crew appears to maneuver on from Diggs and Davis whereas nonetheless competing through the window that’s Josh Allen’s prime.
Missouri EDGE Darius Robinson – Picture by: USA Immediately
29. Detroit Lions — Missouri EDGE Darius Robinson
The Lions add some immense dimension and flexibility to their defensive entrance with the addition of Darius Robinson out of Missouri. Robinson doesn’t have a whole lot of velocity to work with, however he can win with energy and toughness — simply as Detroit head coach Dan Campbell would need him to.
30. Baltimore Ravens — Penn State OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
The Ravens give Lamar Jackson some assist up entrance with the choice of Olumuyiwa Fashanu, an athletic sort out out of Penn State. This late within the first spherical, he’s a tough participant to cross on, particularly given the place he already is at a younger age and the potential he has to develop within the coming years.
31. San Francisco 49ers — Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
Jordan Morgan can play sort out or guard within the NFL, and his athleticism will go well with him nicely wherever he in the end traces up. The 49ers may decide to commerce out of the primary spherical right here, however as a substitute they choose a flexible lineman who can use his quick palms and fast ft to assist him in cross safety.
32. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — Oregon WR Troy Franklin
The back-to-back Tremendous Bowl champions amazingly received all of it in 2023 and not using a true WR1. Rashee Rice was the de facto WR1 and No. 2 goal behind Corridor of Fame tight finish Travis Kelce, however along with his authorized troubles this offseason, he’s certain to be suspended to some extent this season. Regardless, the Chiefs want extra dependable pass-catchers, and that’s what Troy Franklin is. An excellent deep ball menace who’s clean and has nice palms, the previous Oregon large receiver (who caught 14 touchdowns final 12 months) could be a harmful weapon for the all-time nice Patrick Mahomes.
And there you may have it. What’re your ideas on this first-round mock, Pewter Folks? Tell us (as should you wanted a nudge) within the feedback under.
