Gabriel Trevino’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Final mock with five trades.
Note: For player breakdowns, go read my Top 40 players Big Board. Usually I do a “what would I do if I were the GM of every NFL team” style mock draft, and I did some of that in this, but this is more of a prediction style mock, which is why this contradicts with my player rankings.
1. Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The only question regarding the №1 pick this year is if Williams can break Bears passing records in his first year.
2. Washington Commanders — Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Daniels has been the expected second pick for months — and I’m not buying it. Maye’s tape should show to every team he’s the rightful second best quarterback, and I think the Commanders know that too.
3. Minnesota Vikings (trade with New England Patriots) — JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
In this scenario, Minnesota moves its two first (and maybe more) to jump eight spots and take a quarterback. It’s not Daniels, though, as the Vikings want to maximize upside and potential with the capital they are moving.
4. Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Instead of trading down, Arizona takes perhaps the best player in the class to give Kyler Murray a potential top 10 receiver in Harrison Jr.’s first season.
5. Las Vegas Raiders (trade with Los Angeles Chargers) — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
With Daniels slipping, and the Chargers wanting to gain more draft capital, Vegas trades up to select its next quarterback the Raiders hope can be a star.
6. New York Jets (trade with New York Giants) — Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets go offense for all of their picks this draft. Trading up for the generational Alt will make the worst offense last season more dynamic for years.
7. Tennessee Titans — Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu will be cornerstone in Nashville for 15 years for a franchise with a deep history — and need — of offensive lineman.
8. Atlanta Falcons — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Atlanta has lacked a pass rush for years now, but with new coach Raheem Morris, he’ll build his defense with what he knows best, defensive backs, and Arnold is the best one in this draft.
9. Chicago Bears — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Caleb Williams and Odunze flew on the same plane to Detroit for the draft, and they’ll be flying together to Chicago after. Odunze will be a great fit for Williams on the outside, especially as the quarterback continues to develop.
10. New York Giants (trade with NY Jets) — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Giants have yet to replace Odell Beckham Jr. at wideout, and Nabers could be New York’s next superstar.
11. New England Patriots (trade with Minnesota Vikings) — Tailese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Patriots are far from Jayden Daniels or JJ McCarthy away from being a good team in the AFC. Trading back will allow them to build the roster with added draft capital, and Fuaga can start right away in Foxborough.
12. Denver Broncos — Graham Barton, OL, Duke
In a great center class, Barton leads the way as a fantastic run blocker who will fit Sean Payton’s power run scheme and culture perfectly.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (trade with LV Raiders)— J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
John Harbaugh would like a player like Latham—a big offensive lineman who plays with violence and can support Justin Herbert and the backfield for years.
14. New Orleans Saints — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Trevor Penning (to my disappointment) has been a bust in the NFL, and New Orleans gets a chance to correct that mistake and improve its offensive line with Fashanu, a stonewall on the left side.
15. San Francisco 49ers (trade with Indianapolis Colts) — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk to the Colts — who add another dynamic weapon for Anthony Richardson — and use this pick to take one of the most exciting players in the class, possibly creating one of the best tight end rooms of all time.
16. Seattle Seahawks — Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Seattle regressed in the trenches last season, and adding Murphy II can bring a high-floor and high-ceiling player to Mike MacDonald’s defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars — Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Jaguars seem to be doing anything to make Trevor Lawrence’s life as hard as possible, but can fix that by selecting a big-play wide receiver with star potential.
18. Cincinnati Bengals — Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
Whether Trey Hendrickson is traded or not, Verse could make Cincinnati’s defense from great to one of the best in the league.
19. Los Angeles Rams — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell’s off-coverage ability will match the Rams’ scheme well and will make plays on a defense that just lost the GOAT.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
This feels like a do-or-die year for everyone in Pittsburgh, so though it’s a safe pick going with JPJ, he can help that offense going forward no matter what.
21. Miami Dolphins — Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
He’s fast.
22. Philadelphia Eagles — Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Leave it to Philly to draft another Georgia player who is raw, inexperienced and in dire need of development, and leave it to Philly to make that player a Pro Bowler.
23. New England Patriots (trade w/ Minnesota Vikings) — Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
With its second pick from trading down, the Patriots add a quarterback who won’t face the pressure of being a top draft pick, but has the arm-talent to be a quality NFL starter. They should also add a receiver or two on Day 2. Penix may not be the next franchise guy, but can be a solid player that the Pats can bet while it builds the rest of an offense. And if he hits, great.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia
The great wall of Dallas needs renovations, and Frazier can be the center the Cowboys have missed for years. If not, he can be a quality guard if Tyler Smith is moved to tackle.
25. Denver Broncos (trade with Green Bay Packers) — Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama
Green Bay trades its first for superstar corner Patrick Surtain, and Denver adds another pick to use on a defense end: a position it has lacked star-power at for years.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
Latu reminds me of George Karlaftis — a feisty fighter with his hands at defensive end who won’t stop until the play is over, even if he’s not the twitchiest, though I won’t be surprised if this pick is reminiscent of TJ Watt going in the late first round and developing into a 15-sack season machine.
27. Arizona Cardinals — Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Cardinals and Jonathan Gannon should draft straight defense for the rest of the weekend after the №4 pick, and starting with DeJean, who will be an explosive playmaker from the secondary and on special teams.
28. Buffalo Bills — Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Please, Buffalo, let Coleman run routes over the middle of the field, where he can use his in-game speed and size to give Josh Allen another option. He’ll also be a solid deep threat, though the Bills should still invest in track-speed on Day 2.
29. Detroit Lions — Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Rakestraw Jr.’s motor and high-football character will be a great fit with Dan Campbell and Detroit’s kneecap-biting defense. And he’ll start at corner for a team that needed one down-the-stretch.
30. Baltimore Ravens — Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Baltimore’s right side of the offensive line could be patched if Guyton meets his ceiling as a 6–8 tackle with proven pass pro chops and run blocking upside.
31. San Francisco 49ers — Kingsley Suamaitai, OT, BYU
Outside of the great, but aging Trent Williams — who has been enough to carry San Francisco’s offensive line — the 49ers don’t have much. Suamaitai can start on either side of the ball and take over at left tackle when it’s time.
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins could be the steal of the draft, and he’s worth a first round pick despite his thin size, especially if he develops in Kansas City. Him and (future Hall of Famer) Trent McDuffie could be a tandem for a decade.
