Eric Edholm 2024 NFL mock draft 3.0: Six QBs; three trades; Eagles move up for CB (2024)

Published: Apr 22, 2024 at 10:49 AM

Eric Edholm

Lead Draft Writer

Pick

1

Chicago Bears

(via CAR)

Caleb Williams

USC · QB · Junior

Nothing has changed on this front. If the Bears are indeed rejecting every overture for the pick, it only reinforces the belief that Williams is the future of the franchise.

Pick

2

Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels

LSU · QB · Senior

I got a little cute in my last mock draft, trying to jump the snap count by bumping J.J. McCarthy up to the No. 2 slot as a way to get ahead of the curve. I sensed he was going to rise to this general area eventually. But it feels like Daniels is the Commanders’ man. His age and experience make sense for a team with Marcus Mariota as the presumed other starting option.

Pick

3

New England Patriots

Drake Maye

North Carolina · QB · Sophom*ore (RS)

Some of the negativity hurled toward Maye in the pre-draft process has felt like overkill to me. The Patriots can take their time grooming him, but it might not be long before Maye could unseat Jacoby Brissett once we get a feel for what this Patriots offense has to work with.

Pick

5

Los Angeles Chargers

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Ohio State · WR · Junior

I feel like I keep hearing people say Jim Harbaugh is going to build the team "his way" and would never take a receiver this high. I get it, but I also don't really know what other direction they'd head in other than trading down or taking Joe Alt and possibly moving Rashawn Slater to right tackle. Or Harrison can just be a big-play, play-action target for Justin Herbert. That works, too.

Pick

6

New York Giants

Malik Nabers

LSU · WR · Junior

The Giants’ QB interest feels real, and they'd have the shortest trip up to pick one if they want. It likely depends on how big their offer is and how much they appreciate Drake Maye, who has been talking to Eli Manning and Daniel Jones, interestingly, during the pre-draft journey. But if a QB isn’t in the cards in Round 1, they could take arguably the most explosive playmaking receiver in the draft in Nabers.

Pick

7

Tennessee Titans

Joe Alt

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Notre Dame · OT · Junior

Every year, there’s a pick that just feels almost too easy to slot, and this year, it’s Alt to Tennessee. Now, that’s no guarantee it’ll happen -- and I’d be curious to see what might go down if Alt is off the board by this point. If he is there, Alt is an easy plug-and-play choice at left tackle, giving the Titans a highly promising duo along with Peter Skoronski on that left side.

Pick

8

Atlanta Falcons

Byron Murphy II

Texas · DT · Junior

Raheem Morris saw firsthand what pairing Kobie Turner with Aaron Donald did for the Rams last year, and he could find a similar pairing in Murphy and Grady Jarrett. It's not the edge rusher everyone seems to want for Atlanta, but Murphy is a viable pressure source who can line up in multiple techniques. This might feel early to some, but I think he’s a star in the making.

Pick

10

New York Jets

Rome Odunze

Washington · WR · Senior

It might be too tough for general manager Joe Douglas to pass on Odunze, even with Mike Williams on board and O-line worries still not completely addressed, in my opinion. The Jets likely can't count on Williams to stay healthy for a full season, and Odunze might be the perfect bookend to Garrett Wilson in time.

Pick

13

Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Penix Jr.

Washington · QB · Senior

Can the Raiders be sure Denver (or another team) won't snag Penix before it’s too late? If they're determined to land Penix, this might have to be the play here. Tom Telesco's first pick as Raiders GM is shaping up to be an utterly fascinating one.

Pick

14

New Orleans Saints

Taliese Fuaga

Oregon State · OT · Senior

The Saints are desperate for O-line help, so much so that I keep thinking a trade up might make sense. Fuaga falling into their laps would give them much-needed power and insurance at tackle.

Pick

16

Seattle Seahawks

Troy Fautanu

Washington · OT · Senior

I think there's a strong case for Fautanu being the best-case scenario at this pick. He can start out at guard and move to tackle eventually if the Seahawks want. Mike Macdonald will have to wait a bit for defensive help, but he adds a quality blocker. If Michael Penix Jr. was still on the board, I was going to consider him here.

Pick

17

Jacksonville Jaguars

Nate Wiggins

Clemson · CB · Junior

Wiggins doesn't quite have the length or mass the Jags typically want at the position, but he does possess the speed, playmaking ability, effort and upside to make this a smart pick. Jacksonville needs immediate corner help, and the AFC South is suddenly loaded with WR talent.

Pick

18

Cincinnati Bengals

JC Latham

Alabama · OT · Junior

This might be the ideal fit for Cincinnati's needs. Latham has youth and size, two things the Bengals typically love, and they can crosstrain him at right tackle and guard if they want. Trent Brown might be the starting tackle right now, but they'll need a fallback plan.

Pick

19

Los Angeles Rams

Laiatu Latu

UCLA · Edge · Senior

There's a chance GM Les Snead messes with us all with this selection -- which is set to be the Rams' first first-rounder since they took Jared Goff first overall in 2016 -- and trades out again. Or maybe Snead moves up. I think everything is on the table here. But Latu also makes sense in this spot. The Rams are seeking rush help, and a Latu-Byron Young pairing would keep NFC West tackles quite occupied for 60 minutes per week.

Pick

20

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyler Guyton

Oklahoma · OT · Junior (RS)

The Steelers might ultimately be tempted to wait for center help, which is why I passed on Graham Barton and others. It's not clear whether or not they would try Guyton at right tackle, which is where he played the majority of the time in college and where last year's first-rounder, Broderick Jones, spent most of his rookie season. Guyton's Day 1 readiness will be tested as he competes for a starting job in Pittsburgh, but even if he has to spend some time as a backup like Jones did a year ago, he has the rare tools to develop into a star.

Pick

21

Miami Dolphins

Olumuyiwa Fashanu

Penn State · OT · Junior (RS)

This was a shade lower than I imagined Fashanu going, but the Dolphins won't complain. We can assume they'll want to find Terron Armstead's possible replacement. Could Fashanu -- who played left tackle exclusively in college -- kick inside if needed? Maybe. But the talent would be too enticing to pass on here either way, I suspect.

Pick

24

Dallas Cowboys

Amarius Mims

Georgia · OT · Junior

The ultimate boom-bust prospect in Round 1, Mims has special traits and could be an absolute monster in time. But with a mere eight starts under his belt, all at right tackle, Mims also carries some serious risk. The Cowboys are the type of team that trusts its scouting department to find moldable talents that can be developed into starters, and there's an OL vacancy that requires filling.

Pick

25

Green Bay Packers

Cooper DeJean

Iowa · DB · Junior

The Packers got an up-close look at what kind of impact Brian Branch had for the Lions in the NFC North, and I think DeJean can play a similar role for the 2024 Green Bay defense. He's capable of playing safety, nickel or outside corner, all three of which are positions of need for the Packers; DeJean also has special-teams value. I considered both lines of scrimmage here, but DeJean makes sense.

Pick

26

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chop Robinson

Penn State · Edge · Junior

There's some buzz that Robinson could go off the board sooner than this. As for the Bucs, they don't appear to be married to one position, but this pick would check off boxes in terms of both value and need. Adding one more athletic rusher to the mix might really make this pass-rush unit sing in time.

Pick

27

Arizona Cardinals

(via HOU)

Jared Verse

Florida State · Edge · Senior

Arizona keeps playing the hits. If the Cardinals' draft unfolded this way and they somehow snagged Verse this late, it would make for a huge haul in Round 1. Verse might never be a huge sack producer, but he's a tough, tone-setting edge who can help round Arizona's work-in-progress defense into form.

Pick

28

Buffalo Bills

Adonai Mitchell

Texas · WR · Junior

If the Bills can make a reasonable trade up for Thomas, I think they would try. GM Brandon Beane is nothing if not aggressive when he sees an opportunity arise. But if Buffalo (which currently has no third-round pick) can't get up high enough, taking Mitchell here would be a good consolation. He's a big-play weapon with a knack for clutch performances who might really take off with a big role in the Bills' offense.

Pick

29

Detroit Lions

Zach Frazier

West Virginia · C · Senior

It was between Frazier and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry for this spot, and it was a close call. But during the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era, the Lions have tended to use their first-round picks on their kind of guy, and Frazier just screams Lions. He has the same gritty makeup as injury-prone C Frank Ragnow and can provide Detroit with depth at all three interior spots.

Pick

30

Baltimore Ravens

Graham Barton

Duke · OL · Senior

Barton could be the first center drafted, and there are other teams I could see jumping on him ahead of this spot. But in this scenario, he goes after Frazier and falls to the Ravens, who have center covered (by Tyler Linderbaum) but do have starting jobs open elsewhere on the line. Barton might fit best at guard, though he also has 34 college starts at left tackle, so Baltimore could try him outside, too. Either way, he's a tough, smart and ornery blocker who has the makeup to settle in as a quality pro.

Pick

31

San Francisco 49ers

Jer'Zhan Newton

Illinois · DT · Senior

If you're worried Newton's skill set overlaps too much with that of Javon Hargrave, consider that Hargrave is set to hit the salary cap at more than $28 million in the 2025 season -- when he'll be 32 years old. As a relentless scheme-wrecker, Newton would help alleviate the Niners' need for pressure. The DT class drops off noticeably after this.

Pick

32

Kansas City Chiefs

Ladd McConkey

Georgia · WR · Junior (RS)

Even with the addition of Hollywood Brown, the Chiefs can use as many reliable, efficient receivers as possible, especially in light of Rashee Rice's off-field issues. They've tried to wedge several uni-taskers into the rotation, so why not take a shot on a versatile, polished, shifty, multi-position receiver who also has strong special-teams value in McConkey?