The first major waves of free agency have subsided, leaving behind value veteran contracts for teams to fill the needs they couldn’t shore up with the big-money contracts.
But for some teams – including the Houston Texans – the NFL draft will be where they find their next star that they couldn’t or didn’t want to pay for during free agency. Houston will have to wait until the second round, though, after the Texans traded their first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a second-round pick this year and another one in 2025.
For the rest, the first-round is rife with talent to fill positions of need in the NFL. Free agency validated the first few picks, so not much will change early in this mock. But after around pick No. 6, things get a little more interesting …
(Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)
This pick speaks for itself.
(Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
The Vikings are in a good spot to trade up to grab one of the quarterbacks. While it would be cheaper to go anywhere in the top-5, Minnesota should make the move to No. 2 to secure their top target. In this case, it’s UNC’s Drake Maye.
(Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)
The Patriots could just as easily trade out of this pick for a quarterback-hungry team. But in this scenario, no team offers a deal worth it to give up the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft – Marvin Harrison Jr. New England should be fine with veteran Jacoby Brissett under center and new weapon will certainly help.
(Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports)
The Raiders have a good backup in Gardner Minshew who can start Week 1 and now get a potential franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels.
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
What? Didn’t the Cardinals just trade out of the top-5? Sure, but Arizona still needs pass catchers and would risk missing out on the best ones if they waited to see what the Chargers, Giants or any other team did in these next couple of picks.
(Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)
Suddenly, the Giants are in a very enviable situation. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is still on the board, as is offensive tackle Joe Alt and Washington receiver Rome Odunze. This is an easy trade-out spot if they wanted, but New York instead goes with the polished pass-catcher in Odunze.
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This is where the McCarthy slide ends. The Broncos go up and grab the Michigan quarterback with the No. 7 pick in a trade with the Titans, who acquire another first-round pick in 2025 and still put themselves in a good position to draft a quality offensive lineman. Denver gets its quarterback, meanwhile, without selling the farm.
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Edge rusher makes sense here too, but Falcons head coach Raheem Morris understands the importance of a good secondary and adds the best cornerback in the class with Arnold. He and A.J. Terrell would form a fantastic duo for Atlanta and give the Falcons a top-flight secondary in the NFC South.
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
This is a coup for Chicago. Alt is the best offensive tackle in the class and now the Bears get extra protection for Caleb Williams. Finally, all the hard work by general manager Ryan Poles is paying off in 2024 as Chicago looks to make a massive leap with their franchise quarterback, stud left tackle, two great pass-catchers in D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen and a good defense.
(Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)
Brock Bowers is a salivating prospect, but the Jets need to focus on protecting Aaron Rodgers first and foremost. Fashanu is one of the best tackle prospects and should solidify New York’s offensive line either as a Day 1 starter or as a key backup in case of injury with starter potential.
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
The Commanders hoped a quarterback would fall to them here. Instead, Washington turns its attention to the defense. The Commanders moved on from Montez Sweat and Chase Young in 2023, so the need for at edge rusher is there and Turner is the best in the class.
(Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)
The board fell perfectly for Tennessee after the trade out of No. 7. The Titans still get a good offensive tackle in Fuaga to build its protection for Will Levis and picked up more draft capital in the process. A great start for Ran Carthon in his second season as general manager.
(Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News)
The Chargers are in a weird rebuild mode with a franchise quarterback, no offensive weapons, a new head coach and a new general manager. It makes sense that the team would focus on the trenches first and solve the receiver problems later, especially in a deep class. Latham is the pick here over others because of his size, age and scheme fit in L.A.
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
The offensive line suddenly became a huge need for New Orleans after head coach Dennis Allen revealed that right tackle Ryan Ramczyk might not be medically ready to play in 2024. With offensive tackles quickly coming off the board, the Saints snag Guyton as a possible replacement.
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Mitchell’s fall is the Colts’ gain. Indianapolis needed a young outside cornerback and found one in the Toledo product with the No. 15 pick. His coverage skills are elite and he will be tasked with trying to stymie some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in the competitive AFC South.
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Seattle needs to focus on the offensive line early in this draft. Mims is a big body who can step in and start on the Seahawks offensive line and give Geno Smith some much-needed protection.
(Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Jaguars go for the best interior defensive lineman in the draft to fill out their front four. Defense will be important in the competitive AFC South and Murphy can stuff up the middle of the defensive line and get to the quarterback.
(Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
Bowers falls to the Bengals, who finally have a quality tight end to fill out their offense. Bowers won’t be Joe Burrow’s top option, but he should replace some of the targets left behind by Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd in the middle of the field. He’ll be an awesome complement to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, if Higgins remains on the team.
(Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)
The Rams need another defensive tackle after Aaron Donald retired this offseason. Newton is a great option to fill out Los Angeles’ youthful defensive line for 2024 and beyond.
(Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Pittsburgh needs more pass-catchers and Mitchell would be a solid replacement for Diontae Johnson to play alongside George Pickens.
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
The Dolphins will need to extend quarterback Tua Tagovailoa soon, meaning they need to build the best offensive line around him starting in 2024. Center is a need for Miami, and Powers-Johnson is the best available one in the draft.
(Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)
The Eagles’ aging secondary will need to be resolved sooner rather than later. DeJean is a versatile defensive back who could be the team’s starting cornerback or play safety in 2024.
(Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports)
The Commanders need to take a swing at quarterback in this draft even after they traded out of the No. 2 pick. Penix Jr. has the arm talent and the experience to step in and start Day 1.
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys are potentially in their “Last Dance” era with Dak Prescott under center. But before Dallas can make a final decision on the future of their quarterback, the team should give him a good offensive line to put him in a position to succeed in 2024.
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Offensive linemen are flying off the board like hotcakes and the Packers need one to protect Jordan Love. Morgan can take over for David Bakhtiari and provide a good foundational piece for Green Bay’s youth movement.
(Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports)
The Buccaneers are all-in on Baker Mayfield, so why not give him more protection up front?
(Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
The Cardinals get a steal here late in the first round with Verse. He’ll upgrade their defensive line in the competitive NFC West.
(Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports)
The Bills added Curtis Samuel to replace Gabe Davis, but the addition of another wide receiver would be much-appreciate for Josh Allen to go along with Stefon Diggs and tight end Dalton Kincaid.
(Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports)
Detroit needs ballhawks in the secondary to help them make the leap from NFC runner-up to the Super Bowl.
(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
The Ravens need more pass-catchers for Lamar Jackson. McConkey is a reliable target in the middle of the field that could stabilize Baltimore’s receiver room.
(Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
The only way to protect the 49ers key players is to rebuild the offensive line. That’s a little bit harder this late in the draft, but Barton would be a solid addition.
(Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports)
Cornerback is a little too on the nose after the departure of L’Jarius Sneed, but Kansas City has had a lot of success with young defensive backs in the draft. There are a lot of options left on the board, but Tampa would be the best fit for the Chiefs.
2024-03-29 14:00:00
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