Gabriel Trevino’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: AFC West teams trade up for quarterbacks
This draft may be one of the most influential in the NFL for the next few years.
The offensive talent is especially great with players who can transform the trajectory of the franchises who can develop them. I’ve watched around 50 players so far, which is enough to make a comfortable first round mock draft.
Note: Past mock drafts have been thousands of words, so I tried to keep this short. For more, I’ll have more in-depth player breakdowns posted later until draft day here or on my Twitter/X, @GabeCTrevino, such as individual studies or when I release my Big Board.
- Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams is a can’t pass on prospect that can transform an organization due to his natural playmaking abilities, both with his unreal arm talent and upright scrambling to extend plays. The Bears have pieces and assets to build around him and contend for years to come.
2. Washington Commanders — Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Washington’s rebuild can start with Maye, a quarterback who can make plays from Week 1 while he develops through the years, especially working west coast, quick game passing concepts. The new regime can build around its new face of the franchise.
3. New England Patriots — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
New England has lacked a vertical, explosive passing game, but can start with Harrison Jr., perhaps the best player regardless of position in this class. Whoever the future quarterback is will get to throw to a receiver with the potential to be the best in the league.
4. Arizona Cardinals — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Odunze catches almost everything thrown his way. He’s good after the catch, too, and is an experienced route runner who can work at any level of the field; giving Arizona a №1 receiver.
5. Los Angeles Chargers — Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt leads the best offensive line class in a number of years. While he isn’t a perfect prospect, and the gap between him and the next is far from large, you can plug him at either tackle spot to protect Justin Herbert and as a quick run blocker.
6. New York Giants — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Giants’ offense hasn’t featured a star wide out since Odell Beckham Jr, but Nabers can be the next. He’s special with the ball in his hands, and has a great feel for the field and defenders’ leverage running routes from the slot.
7. Denver Broncos — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (Mock Trade with Tennessee Titans)
Denver appears looking for a new franchise quarterback, and with Sean Payton’s power run scheme he ran effectively last season, adding the Heisman Trophy winner can make it better. Though Daniels isn’t the prospect as Williams or Maye, quarterbacks will be sought after in the first round with teams paying a high price to get one.
8. Atlanta Falcons — Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Robinson not only has the best name in the draft but is my top pass rusher. Atlanta has been near or at the bottom of the league in pressures and sacks in recent years. I’d bet with coach Raheem Morris, the Falcons will be fixing that problem.
9. Las Vegas Raiders — JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan (Mock Trade with Chicago Bears)
The Bears stay active in trading down as they have been, and the Raiders get their next quarterback. He shouldn’t start his first year while Las Vegas builds its roster, but with development, McCarthy has the tools to be a franchise quarterback.
10. New York Jets — Tailese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Fuaga and Alt are comparable in current skill and upside. New York getting a right tackle who may be better on the left side five picks after Alt is a win, and is a move that will make Aaron Rodgers and Breece Hall happy.
11. Minnesota Vikings — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Was Xavier Rhodes the last good Vikings corner? It’s been a while. Arnold is sticky in man, understands and communicates in zone well and is a good athlete who can be the star of Minnesota’s defense.
12. Tennessee Titans (from Denver) — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
While Fashanu isn’t as versatile as others in this class, the Titans don’t need that. They need a franchise left tackle to pass protect and continue to grow as a run blocker. And that’s who he is.
13. Chicago Bears (from Las Vegas) — Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Chicago has invested draft picks and cap space into secondary and linebackers but not much on the line. Trading for and extending Montez Sweat was a great start but more is needed (and never enough). Verse is a big, powerful rusher with good hands who likes to attack tackles’ inside shoulder.
14. New Orleans Saints — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
With movement and positional value, don’t be surprised if Bowers falls. He’s a top 10 player in terms of talent, whose catch radius is wide and is a force after the catch. Route running and blocking aren’t great, but he can be another quality vertical threat tight end in the league for a Saints team that needs anything.
15. Indianapolis Colts — Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Thomas was LSU’s 1b wide receiver this year, leading the country in touchdowns. His a big body wide out who is great in the red zone, down the field and is a good athlete. Indianapolis can give Anthony Richardson another wide target to throw to.
16. Seattle Seahawks — Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Despite his size, Turner is a powerful rusher and a fantastic run blocker, who can also drop back to shadow tight ends and backs. He keeps his own against bigger tackles, but needs to tap into his speed upside to be a team’s №1 defensive end.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars — Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Murphy II is the best run defender in the class who can use his speed, hands, motor and eyes to develop into a good interior pass rusher as well. He’s not the strongest, but Murphy II is one of the smartest defensive players that Jacksonville would love to add to their front.
18. Cincinnati Bengals — Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu dominated the Pac-12 at left tackle this season, but I project he could play all five positions on the line in the NFL. He has great hands, anchors against power and is laterally quick against bendy rushers.
19. Los Angeles Rams — Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Get your “Iowa white cornerback” comments out now, because DeJean is a freak athlete. He’s great in zone coverage with hawk eyes in the backfield, and reminds me of a smaller Christian Gonzales. Interceptions are natural for him, he’s a great run defender and will make an impact returning on special teams.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
The situation has to be similar to his at Washington for Penix Jr. to work, but the Steelers could make that happen. Penix Jr. releases the ball quick to make up for his lack of scrambling and has a strong arm to connect anywhere on the field. Pittsburgh has good playmakers and receivers with large catch radius to make Penix Jr.’s life easier, but needs to invest in more offensive line. The Steelers will hope this 20th pick quarterback will go better than the last.
21. Miami Dolphins — Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
Powers-Johnson can play all three interior spots, which could all be positions Miami needs to replace this offseason. He uses his upper body in tandem with a strong base against power rushers and can get to the second level.
22. Philadelphia Eagles — JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham’s hands are violent and has a wide frame that’s hard to get around. He could probably cut some weight, but he’ll have time to as he can develop behind Lane Johnson until he retires.
23. Houston Texans — Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Motor isn’t often talked about with corners, but Rakestraw Jr.’s got it. Off the line, his aggressiveness makes it tough for receivers to create separation and can stay with them down the field. Adding him to the Texans’ defense will be another player who fits right into their culture and success.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton was a welcome surprise on tape, as he didn’t get as much hype as other tackles or in the Big 12. He’s quick for his size, allowing for him to be a good run blocker in space and recover in pass pro. At 6–7, 330, rushers can go through or around Guyton, who often puts one hand on their chest and one on their shoulder blade, making them unable to move. Guyton can develop and eventually take over for Tyron Smith in Dallas.
25. Green Bay Packers — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
I profile Mitchell as a nickel in the NFL due to his run defending and quickness when making a play at the ball in off coverage, but he can work outside. Even if Jaire Alexander returns, the rest of the Packers’ secondary was questionable. Mitchell can play right away and become one of the best nickel corners in the league.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
Latu is the technician archetype of rusher. He’s good with his hands and uses a number of moves to get into the backfield. He’s not the best athlete and can’t rely on his strength like others, but his high floor will be welcome in Tampa.
27. Arizona Cardinals — Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Newton was a game wrecker in some fourth quarters this year. His hands are violent, he knocks down linemen’s arms before ripping to the backfield, but is also not the best athlete nor run defender.
28. Buffalo Bills — Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
In talent, Coleman is as good as other receivers in this class. Too bad Florida State didn’t use him much in the Noles’ offense this year. He may fall, but he also may be the steal of the draft. He’s a big, fast receiver who works well over the middle of the field and can catch almost anything in his vicinity.
29. Detroit Lions — Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins is a thin corner who relies on instincts and athleticism more than size. He’s fluid in coverage and reaches for the ball through the receivers hands or in the air. He struggles against bigger receivers, but in the run game stays engaged and doesn’t give up on plays.
30. Baltimore Ravens — Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Teams can never have too many pass rushers, and Robinson’s versatility can impact Baltimore’s already great defense. He lines up best as a 3-tech or 5, and uses his length to win in pass rush and run defense.
31. San Francisco 49ers — Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Barton understands run fits well — perfect for Kyle Shanahan. He played left tackle at Duke but can play center or guard in the league. His hands are active and lower body is quick in pass pro.
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Route running isn’t a problem for Mitchell at his size. He’s one of the best in the class and can high-point the football in the red zone for some aesthetically looking contested touchdowns. He likes to work in the middle of the field and can run with long strides after the catch. Why not give Patrick Mahomes another target?
