I’ve had this website for years, and have been sports blogging since 2017. But one challenge I’ve never tackled is an NFL Mock Draft. It’s a daunting task, and to be quite honest, my knowledge of the best college football players available is usually limited.

This year, I committed myself to taking a crack at a 1st Round Mock Draft, starting in early March. I figured by getting out a mock five to seven weeks ahead of the draft would give my article time to flourish and circulate. But as it goes, I’m sitting here the day before the 2024 NFL Draft begins, with just a rough outline of my mock completed.

Long story short, I’m sticking to my commitment of releasing Sak Sports Blog’s first-ever NFL Mock Draft, but I just wanted to preface the predictions by saying I won’t have time to go in to grave detail about much of any of my anticipated selections. I’ll highlight a few selections in the Top 10, quarterbacks for sure, and any interesting/surprising landing spots. But for some players, I may offer just a one-liner or no insight at all, especially on the back end of the first round.

Additionally, I won’t be projecting any trades for my first attempt: that would get too messy. I will say that the third overall pick, held by the New England Patriots, and the fifth overall pick, held by the Los Angeles Chargers, are prime targets for teams looking to trade up, specifically for quarterbacks.

Without further ado, here’s my 2024 NFL 1st Round Mock Draft. If you’d like to debate or discuss any rankings, or want to follow for more NFL content including Picks and Power Rankings, be sure to connect with Sak Sports Blog on Twitter or on Facebook!

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

The Chicago Bears had a monumental decision to make: keep Justin Fields and trade the number one overall pick for a second straight season, or keep the pick, assuredly selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams. By trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bears have opted for the latter.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Heisman-winning LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels should be both the second player and quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, giving the Washington Commanders a new potential franchise quarterback.

3. New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Here’s where my mock draft differs from most: I don’t have the New England Patriots selecting a quarterback with the third overall pick. While New England will definitely add a rookie signal-caller after parting ways with Mac Jones, the remaining quarterback prospects aren’t “can’t-miss” enough to pass up on the best overall player available with the third pick: wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr..

4. Arizona Cardinals: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Most mocks slot Marvin Harrison Jr. here to add to Kyler Murray’s offense on the Arizona Cardinals. While there may be other “best players available” at this spot, Arizona could still go wide receiver and select Malik Nabers out of LSU. With the Patriots passing up on a quarterback in my mock, this pick could also become a hot commodity via trade.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

There’s not an obvious slam dunk pick here, but offensive lineman Joe Alt could help sustain Justin Herbert’s growth by keeping the quarterback upright in the pocket.

6. New York Giants: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

For the New York Giants, this would be a dream scenario, as many around the league anticipate the Giants could move up to as high as the third selection to take North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

7. Tennessee Titans: Olymuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Almost every mock draft I’ve seen has Notre Dame OT Joe Alt going here, but as he’s off the board in this scenario, the Tennessee Titans lands the next best option, Penn State OT Olymuyiwa Fashanu.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama

The Atlanta Falcons will get their pick of the lot for the first defensive selection of the draft: Alabama DE Dallas Turner gets the nod over Texas DL Byron Murphy II.

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Chicago Bears have a lot of picks, and a lot of ways to get better. They could go best player available, soup up the defense, strengthen the trenches, or even trade the pick with J.J. McCarthy still on the board. Instead, the Bears ensure Caleb Williams has all the offensive tools he needs to succeed.

10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

It’s not every year you see a tight end go in the Top 10, or even the first round, but that just goes to show how much tight end Brock Bowers could make an immediate impact in Aaron Rodgers’ return season.

11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

The Minnesota Vikings moved on from Kirk Cousins and brought in Sam Darnold, but it certainly doesn’t feel like they’re finished at the quarterback position. Darnold may be a band-aid, but McCarthy could be the Vikings next long-term starter if he pans out correctly.

12. Denver Broncos: Byron Murphy II, DE, Texas

The Denver Broncos likely would’ve loved if J.J. McCarthy fell to them, without the need to trade up, even after landing Zach Wilson earlier this week. Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. are options here, but with limited first round selections in their future, the Broncos can’t blow this one: I’ve seen Byron Murphy II land anywhere from #8 to #23 in mock drafts, but as potentially the second-best defensive player available, Murphy II could be a great building piece for Denver’s defense.

SEE ALSO: Zach Wilson Traded from New York Jets to Denver Broncos

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The consensus seems to be that the first defensive back off the board will go to the Las Vegas Raiders at #13, and that the defensive back will be CB Quinyon Mitchell.

14. New Orleans Saints: J.C Latham, Alabama, OT

If Olymuyiwa Fashanu is still on the board, that would be the New Orleans Saints pick, but instead they end up with the third-best offensive lineman prospect in the draft: Alabama OT J.C. Latham.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, Alabama, CB

If an offensive weapon like Brock Bowers or Rome Odunze starts to fall, the Indianapolis Colts would probably love to pick them up, but in this scenario, upgrading the defense with Alabama CB Terrion Arnold makes sense.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, IOL, Washington

Most mocks have the Seattle Seahawks upgarding in the trenches with this pick, on either side of the football. I’ll give them the next offensive lineman up: Troy Fautanu, who wouldn’t have to travel far from the University of Washington.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

All six mock drafts I compared had the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting a cornerback with the 17th overall pick, and the best one remaining here is Iowa CB Cooper DeJean.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

The Cincinnati Bengals are another team heavily projected to upgrade their offensive line, and some mocks have Taliese Fuaga going as high as #10: this could be a steal to upgrade Joe Burrow’s offense.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

Four out of six CBS Sports Writers agree: the Los Angeles Rams should compensate for the retirement of Aaron Donald with senior edge-rusher Laiatu Latu out of UCLA.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, OT, Duke

The Pittsburgh Steelers were uncharacteristically “flashy” in acquiring both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this off season, but don’t expect the same out of Mike Tomlin’s first round pick: a bread-and-butter senior offensive lineman out of Duke, Graham Barton is the pick here.

21. Miami Dolphins: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Some mock drafts have Jared Verse as a borderline Top Ten pick, so to those high on Verse’s talent, this could be a great steal for the Miami Dolphins at #21.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The next cornerback up, Nate Wiggins, out of Clemson, lands on a Philadelphia Eagles team with more than enough offensive talent, in need of defensive upgrades.

SEE ALSO : NFL Post-Free Agency Power Rankings

23. Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Newton, DL, Illinois

With their second pick of the first round (acquired from the Houston Texans, who don’t hold a 1st round pick as a result), the Minnesota Vikings beef up their defensive lineman with Johnny Newton, a junior from Illinois.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Dallas Cowboys could go a few ways with this pick, but ultimately Tyler Guyton, a sturdy offensive lineman out of Oklahoma, makes too much sense to pass up.

25. Green Bay Packers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

In a cornerback-heavy first round, the Green Bay Packers join the party in upgrading their secondary with Kool-Aid McKinstry, who easily might have the best name in the 2024 NFL draft pool.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

A lot of Top 20-caliber players could potentially still be available here depending on if any teams reach for quarterbacks and wide receivers. In this mock, edge-rusher Chop Robinson is the best player available, but if Bo Nix and Michael Pennix Jr. are off the board for some reason at this point, Tampa Bay might get to reach upwards for a more valuable prospect.

27. Arizona Cardinals: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon

After grabbing Nabbers at wide receiver in the Top Five (or maybe Marvin Harrison Jr. as many expect), the Arizona Cardinals upgrade their offensive line to give Kyler Murray time to find his new weapon.

28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

After the shocking trade of Stefon Diggs, the Buffalo Bills get Josh Allen a new target on a rookie contract in LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr..

29. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

The Detroit Lions were nearly a Super Bowl team last season, so they don’t need to do anything cute with this pick: just get better. Detroit would prefer seeing Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean, or Kool-Aid McKinstry falling to this pick, but upgrading with Ennis Rakestraw Jr. still gets the job done.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Baltimore Ravens were nearly a Super Bowl team last season as well, but lost some ground in free agency. This team doesn’t function without an elite offensive line, so the Ravens add to their depth chart at that position.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

This slot is a prime pick to be traded if Michael Pennix Jr. and Bo Nix are still on the board. The San Francisco 49ers are already elite, and might benefit more from two or three mid-round players than one pick at the back end of the first round. But sticking to no trades, the 49ers add OT Jordan Morgan from Arizona.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

With drama surrounding Kansas City Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice and a general lack of a killer option at wide receiver, it can’t hurt the defending Super Bowl champions to use the final pick of the first round on Texas WR Adonai Mitchell, giving Patrick Mahomes a fresh young target.

SEE ALSO: 2024 NBA Playoff Bracket Prediction

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