The 2024 NFL Draft starts on Thursday night in Detroit and continues through the weekend.
How might the first round unfold? Travis Tyler and Justin DeSales present the first-ever first-round mock draft from The Dallas Express, using the draft board from the Pro Football Network. round The Dallas Express , using the draft, using the draft simulator from the Pro Football Network.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
JD: He is the clear number one choice here, with the potential to immediately make an impact in that room. He can do basically anything you ask of him on the field.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
TT: There’s a case to be made for Drake Maye here, but at the end of the day, the Commanders opt for the Heisman Trophy winner, who has more upside due to his running ability. Regardless, Washington absolutely needs to take a quarterback after the new front office decided to move on from Sam Howell.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
JD: He’s got a cannon of an arm and the ability to create something from nothing. Combine that with the Patriots’ desperate need for a quarterback, and he’s the perfect fit.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
TT: The Cardinals really need a top receiver, and Harrison Jr. fits the bill. He has the NFL bloodlines and was easily the best receiver in college football during his time at Ohio State. He should be able to step in immediately to give Kyler Murray and company a legitimate threat on the outside.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
JD: Malik Nabors was the other option, but everyone knows [Jim] Harbaugh’s looking to build from the trenches out. Alt’s going to be the perfect fit, and with as deep of a receiver class as it is, they could easily get someone at 37[th overall].
6. New York Giants: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
TT: Malik Nabers could also be an option here, but the Giants’ offensive line has been such a mess for most of the last decade that I’m taking a swing at another offensive tackle, and Fashanu is the best remaining on the board.
7. Tennessee Titans: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
JD: The offensive line is a mess, but having a receiver who some people thought was receiver No.1 fall to seven for them is too much to pass on, and they’d have to reach pretty heavily on the offensive line at seven.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
TT: Atlanta gets a sorely-needed pass-rusher to help its defense. Turner is on the lighter side for a defensive end, but he has an innate ability to get after the quarterback and completely disrupt the passing game.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
JD: He will fill an immediate need for them and create arguably the best wide receiver room in the league with Keenan Allen. [Allen] is going to be great this year, but in all likelihood, he’s not going to be on the team next year. It’ll give Rome a chance to immediately step in and make an impact next year and this year.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
TT: The Jets desperately need playmakers for their offense, and with no receivers on the board that make sense with this pick, they take Bowers. He’s a rare breed of tight end that can hold his own in the passing game and as a blocker, but his unique playmaking ability down the field is what teams are drawn to.
11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, quarterback, Michigan
JD: If the team was considering trading up to get him, having him available at 11, assuming no trades, would be like a dream come true for them.
12. Denver Broncos: Terrion Arnold, cornerback, Alabama
TT: I think Denver would consider trading out of this spot if the draft board unfolded this way. However, there is a need for a cornerback opposite Pat Surtain II, and Arnold is the top player available at this point.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, offensive tackle, Oregon State
JD: They might consider trading out, but instead, they will strengthen their offensive line by picking Fuaga. He is expected to have an immediate impact and should be a day-one starter. With a quarterback like Aidan O’Connell, they will need to protect him and give him as much time as possible.
14. New Orleans Saints: Troy Fautanu, offensive tackle, Washington
TT: This may be a bit earlier than expected for Fautanu, but he appears to be gaining favor on draft boards. Although he is listed as a tackle, his experience playing all five positions on the offensive line could significantly benefit the Saints.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, cornerback, Toledo
JD: He is expected to make an immediate impact, considered one of the most athletic players in the draft, and showcased his potential during the Senior Bowl. He will join a defense that has already been successful and is expected to create turnovers to support the offense.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, defensive tackle, Texas
TT: One of the most important gaps in the Seattle defense is in the interior of the defensive line. Murphy II could be argued as the top defensive tackle prospect in this class, and at this point in the draft, he perfectly matches what Seattle needs.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
JD: He will immediately join Josh Allen and they can generate turnovers and disrupt plays. Considering his potential top-10 status prior to the draft, getting him at 17 feels like a steal for the Jags.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, offensive tackle, Georgia
TT: Despite investing in the offensive line in previous drafts, the Bengals still need to bolster the unit. Mims is the top available player at this point and can help protect Joe Burrow, who endured another significant injury this past season. suffered yet another significant injury this past season. It’s all about protecting your assets, and Burrow, as the franchise quarterback, is their most important.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Johnny Newton, defensive tackle, Illinois
JD: The retirement of Aaron Donald has created an immediate need, and Newton is expected to make an immediate impact on the interior. Despite being a bit undersized, he has the agility and ability to cause disruption on the d-line. He will likely be a day-one starter.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: JC Latham, offensive tackle, Alabama
TT: It seems like there is a trend of selecting linemen at this point. With uncertainty about their future quarterback situation, it is crucial for the team to protect their assets, especially Joe Burrow as the franchise quarterback. declined The Steelers need to protect whoever will be playing quarterback for them in the next few years, especially in light of Justin Field's fifth-year option.
21. Miami Dolphins Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
JD: He's another player who could have been picked around the 10 to 12 range. The team has lost some defensive players, and even though they don't necessarily need more weapons on offense, choosing to impact the defensive line at number 21 was too good to pass up.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
TT: The Eagles have been working on their secondary and have some good players, but their defense can still be vulnerable to passing plays. Wiggins suffered a groin injury at the NFL Combine but is considered one of the most talented corners in this class when he's healthy, drawing comparisons to Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon. Additionally, Darius Slay is aging. suffered 7. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans): Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa drawn JD: He can play multiple positions and is known for his athleticism. His versatility makes him a valuable pick for a team, especially since he can switch between playing in the nickel and safety positions at number 23.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon
TT: The focus for the Cowboys should be on strengthening their offensive line, which used to be one of their best assets. Powers-Johnson, the best center in this draft, also has the ability to play guard if needed.
25. Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton, OC, Duke
JD: The Packers really need more depth at center, and with Josh Myers on a one-year deal, they have a chance to pick someone who can play all five positions in the NFL. He meets all of the Packers' requirements and could even become a starter by Week 3 or 4 if he outperforms Myers.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
TT: I was considering Chop Robinson and McKinstry for this pick. I chose McKinstry because the Bucs recently traded starting corner Carlton Davis to Detroit. McKinstry is an All-American with a talent for intercepting passes, which could greatly benefit the Tampa defense.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans): Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
JD: Brian Thomas Jr. was tempting, but with the best receiver already drafted, there's no need to pick another one this early. The team has a pressing need for athleticism in their line. breaking 28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
TT: The Bills have significant gaps in their receiving team after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston and Gabe Davis’s departure. Thomas Jr. is not only an athletic standout with impressive size for his position, but he is also the best remaining player on the list.
29. Detroit Lions: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
JD: He's an exceptional athlete who has broken records and has the potential to become the clear No.2 behind Amon-Ra [St. Brown] after the team lost a couple of players in the offseason.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Xavier Worthy, wide receiver, Texas
TT: The Ravens have been consistently looking for receivers to step up, and Worthy’s playing style suits their offense. Not only is he the typical, smaller playmaking receiver that the team seems to desire, but just imagine an offense that matches his speed with Lamar Jackson. It’s already a nightmare for opposing defenses, and that would make it even worse.
31. San Franciso 49ers: T.J. Tampa, cornerback, Iowa State
JD: If [Brandon] Aiyuk stays, there’s no need to take a receiver. I considered Tyler Guyton, but he’s so inexperienced, and the Niners are in win-now mode, so getting someone who can go out there and have the potential to shut down parts of the field immediately would be huge.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Guyton, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
TT: I feel like I should pick a receiver here, but the board doesn’t quite match up. I’ll choose Guyton, the best o-lineman left, who has plenty of potential at 6-foot-8 if he can stay healthy.
The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Detroit and runs through the weekend. How could the first round play out? Travis Tyler and Justin DeSales have you covered with the first-ever first-round mock draft from The Dallas Express, using the draft simulator from the Pro Football Network. 1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): Caleb […]
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
TT: I feel like I should take a receiver here, but the board doesn’t quite match up. I’ll settle with Guyton, the best o-lineman left, who has plenty of potential at 6-foot-8 if he can stay healthy.