Well, it is that exciting time of the year again! The NFL Draft. Welcome to my first ever mock draft! Since it is my first time doing this, I went with many consensus picks, but put a little bit of my own spin on it, more specifically towards the bottom of the first round. I kept the trades to a minimum with just two towards the top of the draft as shown below. This mock draft will feature brief player bios/analyses along with NFL player comparisons.
The 2024 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the more offense-heavy drafts in recent years. Four quarterbacks are projected to go in the top ten and many analysts are comparing this receiver class to the legendary 2019 class. There is no shortage of talent in these offensive skill players and there will be many offensive linemen taken in the first round, due to a combination of both need among teams and talent among prospects. Although there are many intriguing offensive prospects to choose from this year, this is not to say that there are not quality defensive prospects as well. Defensively, this draft appears to be rather deep at edge and cornerback.
With that being said, enjoy my first ever mock draft! And be sure to check out fansonlysportz.com for your local sports updates! - WD
1. Chicago Bears - Via Carolina Panthers: Caleb Williams: Quarterback- USC
Well, we could have written this in sharpie as soon as the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Steelers last month. Caleb Williams appears to be the cream of the crop of this quarterback class. Although Williams is a bit on the smaller side, standing at 6’1’ and weighing 214 pounds, he appears to have Mahomes-like qualities. The USC product can make all the throws as well as improvise in the pocket and run if needed, he seems to have all the things you would want in a modern NFL quarterback. Williams can do just about everything well, but it is his off-platform and on the run throws that stand out among everything else. Williams is one of the more impressive quarterback prospects in recent years, hovering towards the same tier as Trevor Lawrence was as a prospect in 2021. Even though there are many positives with Williams, his game still has some warts, like holding on to the ball for too long at times and taking sacks along with making some rather head scratching decisions with the football. All in all, it would be a shock if the Bears did not pick Williams here.
Player Comparison: Patrick Mahomes
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels: Quarterback- LSU
It is obvious the Commanders need a quarterback and they’re going to get one. The Heisman Trophy-winning LSU product has exhibited elite running ability comparable to the likes of Lamar Jackson and RGIII. Although Daniels is a mobile quarterback, that does not mean he can’t pass, which was the initial skepticism of Jackson when he came into the league. On his tape, Daniels shows that he can read through progressions and deliver the ball with velocity and accuracy. One of the few knocks on Daniels is that he has more of a slender build at 6’4’, 210, which raises questions regarding his ability to withstand contact, it is also worth noting that Daniels was throwing to two potential top-15 picks in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Despite these drawbacks, Daniels still has a high ceiling, and the Commanders are willing to take the gamble.
Player Comparison: Lamar Jackson/ RGIII
3. TRADE: New England Patriots – Minnesota Vikings: Drake Maye: Quarterback- UNC
Although one of the Patriots’ most glaring needs is at quarterback, they can’t say no to the two first-round picks the Vikings have to offer, as well as a 2025 second-round pick. Like New England, Minnesota is also in need of a quarterback after Kirko Chainz went to Atlanta, and they are not willing to wait until 11. With arguably one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson, as well as an emerging Jordan Addison, this is a dream scenario for the Vikings; drop Drake Maye into this offense with the arm cannon that he has. When watching Maye, he can make all the throws, and some even consider him a one-B to Caleb Williams, since he can also improvise and make impossible looking throws out of the pocket and on the run. Another impressive quality about Maye is his 6’4’ 230-pound frame, which he is not afraid to use. Some knocks on Maye are that his footwork can get messy at times, and he can make some boneheaded throws, but like the last two quarterbacks, the potential upside is worth the bust.
Player Comparison: Josh Allen/Justin Herbert
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.: Wide Receiver- Ohio State
The Cardinals need weapons badly, and they are going to take a swing on the potential star power of Marvin Harrison Jr. Besides the obvious attraction to the Harrison bloodline, Harrison Jr. has many intriguing qualities, such as his ball tracking, body control, and contested catch, just to name a couple. Although Harrison Jr. is not a speedster, which is likely why he declined to participate in the forty-yard dash at the combine, he makes up for it with his ability to find the soft spots in zone coverage, precise route running, and ability to create yards after the catch. The Biletnikoff Award winner can line up at any of the receiver positions and produce, he can take a crosser for 60 yards, or he can catch a deep ball 60 yards down the field. With Harrison Jr., it is hard to point to one skill and say, “this is his superpower”, and that is only because he is so good at pretty much everything. Standing at 6’3’ and weighing 210 pounds, Harrison Jr. has the ideal measurements for an NFL receiver and is expected to be an impact starter from day one.
Player Comparison: Larry Fitzgerald
5. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers – New York Jets: Malik Nabers: Wide Receiver- LSU
It is no secret that the Chargers are likely open to trading down, and with the Jets scrambling to make a playoff run while the 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers is still in the building, they are going to be aggressive and trade up to get another playmaker at wide receiver in Malik Nabers. Nabers is projected to be one of the best receivers in this draft class and deservedly so, coming off a 1,500-yard 14 touchdown season as well as being named a Biletnikoff Award finalist. Nabers is a tough and explosive playmaker who can take any catch to the house if you’re not careful. If he ends up working out in the NFL, Nabers could have Tyreek Hill level big play ability. When watching his tape, Nabers exhibits all three gears, which often confuses defenders and creates next-level separation because he can shift from gear one to three in the blink of an eye. Despite all these elite traits, Nabers needs to work on his route running, but having a teammate like Garrett Willson to learn from could benefit him in that regard. Although Nabers is not a huge guy, standing at 6’0’ and weighing just over 200 pounds, he plays larger than his size, often taking on multiple tacklers after the catch. If he works out for the Jets, they could have themselves a two-headed monster at receiver.
Player Comparison: Tyreek Hill
6. New York Giants: J.J. McCarthy: Quarterback- Michigan
Having missed out on the top two receivers in the draft, the Giants are going to rip the band aid off and draft Daniel Jones’ replacement in the polarizing J.J. McCarthy. At Michigan, McCarthy proved that he was a winner, going 27-1 in his collegiate career as a starter. Being a winner is an intangible trait, which this kid seems to be full of. McCarthy’s draft stock has risen significantly since he first declared for the draft after his true junior season, and the reason for this could have something to do with his former college coach turned Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh gushing over him publicly. It is reasonable to speculate whether Harbaugh’s comments are genuine or just a smoke screen to shift the draft board in his favor, since there is really nothing in McCarthy’s film that necessarily jumps out. It has been said that McCarthy could be one of the “safer” picks at quarterback, due to his experience working under center in a pro-style offense at Michigan. McCarthy also seems to have a little bit of a “clutch” factor, with him having an impressive third and long tape. The Michigan man has decent size for an NFL quarterback, standing at 6’2’ and weighing 220 pounds, he also seems to have a reasonable amount of athleticism. McCarthy still has a lot of concerns, such as his wide throwing base, which needs to be accommodated by a clean pocket, his lack of a “plus” arm, and him often playing in structure at Michigan, usually only going through two reads. No matter how much his stock rises, I am still not fully buying it, but I would be happy if the Giants did.
Player Comparison: Brock Purdy
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt: Offensive Tackle- Notre Dame
When going through mock drafts online, Joe Alt to the Titans seems to be one of the most common picks, and it makes sense, with Tennessee having a clear need at the offensive tackle position. This tackle class has some elite-level talent at the top, but then there appears to be a bit of a drop off, which forces Tennessee’s hand in taking Alt after he has fallen out of the top five due to a top-heavy crop of quarterbacks taken. Alt appears to be one of the more promising tackle prospects in recent years. Standing at 6’9’ and weighing 321 pounds, Alt is a hulking presence with the tools to protect the quarterback’s blindside. Coming from an athletic bloodline, with his father being Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tackle John Alt and his brother Mark playing in the NHL, it should be no surprise that Alt exhibits freakish quickness and footwork for a man of his size. Alt uses his long frame to his advantage by having a stiff right hand in pass protection and creating leverage. By the same token, Alt’s size can be his downfall at times, because he has a habit of having an excessive forward lean and a high center of gravity, which can spell trouble against bull rushers. All in all, Alt appears to be the most pro-ready tackle in this draft, and the Titans are getting a good one.
Player Comparison: Kolton Miller
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner: Edge- Alabama
With the Flacons addressing the offense through free agency with the blockbuster signing of Kirk Cousins, they will use their first-round pick to address the defense, more specifically, the pass rush, taking Dallas Turner at eighth overall. Turner has freakish measurables, standing at 6’3’ and weighing 247 pounds while also boasting a 40 time of 4.46, which explains his next level off the ball quickness and closing speed. Turner came to Alabama as a five-star recruit out of high school and showed why in 2023, recording 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 53 tackles and two forced fumbles. The edge rusher’s 2023 effort would earn him honors such as First Team A.P. All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC, as well as being a Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award finalist. Some of Turner’s eye-popping traits are his use of multiple moves to get around blockers (swim, bull, spin), his determination to chase down mobile quarterbacks and refusal to give up on a play. Turner is long, athletic, and appears to be one of if not the best edge prospects of this draft. On the other hand, Turner could benefit from polishing up his game in areas such as creating space and angles. The Falcons get a potential game-wrecker in the first round.
Player Comparison: Brian Burns
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze: Wide Receiver- Washington
After taking Caleb Williams first overall, now it is time for the Bears to go and get him a weapon, and what better than the third receiver off the board in Rome Odunze? Standing at 6’3’ and weighing 212 pounds, Odunze has an ideal frame for a number one receiver, which could be his ceiling in the NFL. Odunze played most of his snaps in 2023 on the barrier and excelled at it, racking up 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. Odunze’s 2023 campaign earned him honors such as first team A.P. All-American and being a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Although the Washington product lacks top end speed and crisp route running, he makes up for it in his contested catch ability, with strong hands and excellent body control. Odunze can also produce inside the hash marks with the ability to make yards after the catch with a deceptive second gear and the strength to run through tackles. The Bears are trying to be generational.
Player Comparison: Deandre Hopkins
10. Los Angeles Chargers - Via New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga: Offensive Tackle- Oregon State
The argument could be made for the Chargers to target a receiver in the first round after losing both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but they also have the rest of the draft to do that. This receiver class is deep, and some are even comparing it to the 2019 receiver class. Classically, Harbaugh wants to build through the trenches, causing L.A. to take the Oregon State man: Taliese Fuaga, who stands at 6’6’ and weighs 324 pounds. With Fuaga boating elite pass protection skills, there is little to no question that he will help keep Justin Herbert safe, but will he carve the holes in the running game that Harbaugh craves? Well, that part will be a work in progress, since his lack of range and pad level gives him trouble in the running game.
Player Comparison: Taylor Decker
11. New England Patriots - Via Minnesota Vikings: Olu Fashanu: Offensive Tackle- Penn. State
After having less than ideal line play last season and letting Trent Brown walk to Cincinnati, the Patriots prioritize the line with a ready-made left tackle in Olumuyiwa Fashanu out of Penn. State. Measuring in at 6’6’ and 312 pounds, Fashanu presents the ideal measurables for a left tackle, which is currently a vacant job in Foxborough. Fashanu is a well-rounded leader who was a team captain and made First Team A.P. All-American in 2023. New England fills a glaring need after trading down.
Player comparison: Cam Robinson
12. Denver Broncos: Jared Verse: Edge- Florida State
The Broncos currently need a lot, and the pass rush is one of those many needs, so they will take the value pick in the Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse. Verse led Florida State in sacks this past season with nine, as well as posting 41 tackles, 12.5 of which for loss, while also posting three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. At the combine, the 6’4’ 254-pound Verse recorded a 4.58 40-yard dash time, explaining his quick get-off and impressive pursuit. What Verse lacks in ideal size and footwork he makes up for in impressive hand fighting, a fierce bull rush, and a high football I.Q. which shows itself in his ability to diagnose the run. The Broncos get a playmaker on the line.
Player Comparison: Lance Briggs
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Kool-Aid McKinstry: Cornerback- Alabama
If you watched any Raiders games last year or the year before, there has been a constant, and that is a horribly weak defensive backfield, so that is why Vegas is going with the safe pick in Kool-Aid McKinstry. Although McKinstry may lack the ideal size of an outside an NFL corner, standing at just 5’11’ and weighing 200 pounds, he appears to have just about every other aspect of what makes a top-flight corner in the pros. McKinstry is an instinctive ball hawk that is physical enough to get involved in the run game as well as taking on bigger outside receivers. McKinstry was a three-year starter at Alabama that was comfortable on an island and rarely busted in coverage. Although McKinstry lacks top end speed, he makes up for it in NFL-level abilities such as reading receivers’ and quarterbacks’ eyes with purpose as well as being a good communicator on the back end. The Kool-Aid man’s film shows his ability to stay right in the receiver’s hip pocket, and in the rare times that he is not there, his ability to accelerate and recover is elite, and did I mention he can return punts? The Raiders are getting the full package in the Alabama corner.
Player Comparison: A.J. Terrell
14. New Orleans Saints- Troy Fautanu: Offensive Tackle- Washington
The offensive line in New Orleans needs work, and they will start that process by taking Troy Fautanu, who stands at 6’4’ and weighs 317 pounds. In the past two years, Fautanu has started nearly 30 games at left tackle and a full game at left guard, showing a bit of versatility. The Washington man is on the shorter side for a tackle, which can be glaring at times when he goes against longer edge rushers, but he relies on a disciplined technique to get things done. On tape, Fautanu exhibits stellar footwork and lateral movement, but he can at times overset the edge, likely trying to compensate for his lack of length. At guard, Fautanu has shown that he can execute pulls on run blocks with precision and power, but he must be more consistent with keeping his hand fighting to a minimum. The Saints get help and versatility on the line in the Washington product.
Player Comparison: Ali Marpet
15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold: Cornerback- Alabama
Another Alabama corner comes off the board in the top 20! This one seems to be obvious, with Indianapolis having a need at corner and them being linked to Arnold in various mock drafts and articles. Although Arnold hovers around the same size as his college counterpart, Kool-Aid McKinstry, at 6’0' and 189 pounds, he appears to have more pure coverage talent. It is apparent that Arnold has polished footwork that helps him stay with his guy, and he highpoints the ball instinctively, which explains the five interceptions he tallied with the Tide last year. At the combine, Arnold recorded a 4.50 40-yard dash time, which is on the slower side, but it is clear that he can play, with his tape showing him playing tight press, breaking on the ball, and getting off blocks when trying to make the tackle.
Player Comparison: Marshon Lattimore
16. Seattle Seahawks: Amarius Mims: Offensive Tackle- Georgia
The Seahawks get some protection for Geno Smith in the form of the 6’8’ 340-pound monster that is Amarius Mims. Mims came to Georgia as a five-star recruit, and for good reason, with him having the ideal frame for a tackle, as well as practicing good technique and hand placement. Mims can play at either left or right tackle, which is important in the NFL due to consistent injuries in linemen. It is not often that you will see Mims get beat off the ball, but when he does, he has a good enough recovery to put himself right back in the game. The downsides about Mims are his lack of starting experience, recording just eight starts in college, and some inconsistencies in the run game. By the same token, Mims’ greenness makes him a bit more moldable for a franchise. With Mims' size and what he’s shown he can do already with a rather small sample size; he could have good future blocking for Seattle.
Player Comparison: Trent Brown
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brock Bowers: Tight End- Georgia
Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, one of the best tight end prospects to date is off the board! After a little bit of a fall, Bowers is off to Jacksonville to likely be Trevor Lawerence’s pacifier. With no Calvin Ridley, the Jags are missing a playmaker on offense, and they cannot pass up on the potential ceiling of the back-to-back John Mackey Award winner at 17. Standing at 6’3’ and weighing 243 pounds, Bowers has good size for a receiving tight end. Bowers hit the ground running at Georgia as a freshman, leading the Bulldogs in receiving with 56 receptions for 882 yards, while also breaking a school record with 13 touchdowns. Bowers would go on to be Georgia’s leading receiver for the next two seasons using his explosive speed and toughness to attain yards after the catch. Much like Travis Kelce, Bowers is lethal on screens and out of the flat, he’s one of those guys that you just need to get the ball to. At the same time, Bowers has shown that he has a dynamic route tree, making plays at all three levels of the field. The Georgia man has everything you want in a receiving tight end, speed, shiftiness, and the ability to sit down in the soft spot of the zone. When talking about Bowers, I emphasize “receiving tight end” because his blocking could use some work, but it is not a major concern. The Jags start to build their offense back up with Bowers.
Player Comparison: Travis Kelce
18. Cincinnati Bengals: J.C. Latham: Offensive Tackle- Alabama
Cincinnati’s offensive line has been a mess for years, and if they still aspire to go back to the Super Bowl, they need to get Joe Burrow some protection. The Bengals go with the giant at 18th in J.C. Latham. Latham is comparable to Amarius Mims in size, standing at 6’6’ and weighing 342 pounds, but he has more experience. Besides oversetting at times and lacking some recognition, Latham comes out of college as a very balanced tackle that should become a good starter in the NFL. Latham has a good initial pop and exploits early advantages. Joey B might be able to stop looking over his shoulder on every snap with this pick.
Player Comparison: Jawaan Taylor
19. Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu: Edge- UCLA
After Pro Bowler Aaron Donald called it a career, the Rams now need some help with their pass rush, and drafting Laiatu Latu is a start. Latu started his collegiate career at Washington before transferring to UCLA in 2022 after he had a concerning neck injury. After a couple lackluster seasons at Washington, Latu exploded in his first season with the Bruins, racking up 12.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 36 tackles. The following season Latu took it up a notch, posting 21.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 49 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Latu’s 2023 season earned him the Lombardi Award for the nation’s top defensive lineman as well as the Ted Hendricks Award for top defensive end in the nation. Latu certainly has some of the most impressive statistics out of this edge class, but his neck injury still seems to raise some questions. On Latu’s tape, you can see how he was able to earn his freakish numbers, as he attacks tackles and tight ends with dynamic hands and good angles. Latu is one of those rangy guys who just seems to have everything in his arsenal: a great initial burst, well-timed bull rushes that gain leverage, run stuffing ability, instinctiveness, and he can break through double teams using his 6’5’ 259-pound frame, not to mention his motor has said to be one of a kind. The Rams begin to patch the hole that Donald left behind.
Player Comparison: Chandler Jones
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson: IOL- Oregon
Some may consider this a little bit of a reach, but for the Steelers, interior linemen are at a premium. The 6’3’ 328-pound Jackson Powers-Johnson is a 2023 Rimington trophy winner that has an aggressive, old-school mauler style of play that I could see the Steelers being sold on. What Powers-Johnson lacks in length, he makes up for with upper body power and above average pass protection skills. Before coming to Oregon, Powers-Johnson was a nationally ranked top-five center prospect, and he has been steadily improving his game since. Powers-Johnson is still very green, and that shows itself with him having some issues with lateral movement. The Steelers begin mending their interior line with a first-round center.
Player Comparison: Quinn Meinerz
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson: Edge- Penn. State
Last season, the Dolphins’ defense was lacking in their pass rush, and they hope Chop Robinson will bring some juice. Although Robinson’s stats and measurements don’t jump off the page like Laiatu Latu’s, he was still a force to be reckoned with at Penn. State. Robinson is known for his quick first step and twitchiness. At 6’3’ and 254 pounds, Robinson exhibits a lower center of gravity than most edge rushers, but he uses this to his benefit in the form of dipping very low to gain leverage. Although he explodes out of his stance like a sprinter and shows impressive strength, Robinson must learn to marry his footwork with his hands as well as working on angles.
Player Comparison: Micah Parsons
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins: Cornerback- Clemson
The Eagles are needy at corner, so they will take the third corner off the board in Nate Wiggins. Standing at 6’1’ and weighing 173 pounds, Wiggins is a long, tall, and fast corner, clocking in a 4.28 40-yard dash time. In 2023, Wiggins posted 22 tackles, 6 pass breakups and two interceptions, which earned him the honor of First Team All-ACC. In his film, The Clemson product exhibits good hips, instinctiveness, and an impressive ability to jump routes. Wiggins certainly has the ideal length and height for an outside corner, but he must pack on some weight for the NFL and could work on his run support skills.
Player Comparison: Tyson Campbell
23. New England Patriots - Via Minnesota Vikings: Brian Thomas Jr.: Wide Receiver- LSU
The Patriots use their second first round pick to address another glaring offensive need in wide receiver. At the moment, New England’s receiver room is populated entirely by a bunch of number twos and threes, so they need a number one, and that is what they are going after in Brian Thomas Jr. Although Thomas Jr. was playing Robin to Malik Nabers’ Batman at LSU, he is still a legitimate “X” receiver, standing at 6’3’ and weighing 210 pounds. Thomas Jr. creates great separation with his 4.34 speed on the outside, as well as having the ability to win contested catches. At LSU, most of Thomas Jr.’s shining moments were off deep balls, which came mostly in the form of go routes or fades, so he will need to expand his route tree when coming into the league. The Patriots take a swing at a number one receiver after trading down.
Player Comparison: Martavis Bryant
24. Dallas Cowboys: Graham Barton: IOL- Duke
The Cowboys are known for their proficiency in drafting offensive linemen, so it should be no surprise that they are taking the versatile potential Center in Graham Barton. Although Barton played most of his snaps at left tackle in college, he is likely set to play center in the NFL, partly due to his lack of length. Looking at Barton’s draft profile and tape, it seems that length is likely his only negative, because he sems to do everything right. The two-time First Team All-ACC Duke product has an aggressive yet smart playstyle and hardly gets beat. Barton is consistent and balanced, as well as having good measurements, standing at 6’5’ and weighing 313 pounds. Barton at 24th is just what the boys need in the wake of some shifting in names on the line.
Player Comparison: Cody Whitehair
25. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Guyton: Offensive Tackle- Oklahoma
The Packers need some protection for the ascendent Jordan Love, so they will pick Tyler Guyton, who was proficient in playing both tackle spots for the Sooners. Guyton has a very high ceiling in terms of his pass protecting capabilities, with good hand strikes, ideal length, and high-level footwork. There are some legitimate concerns with Guyton in terms of his run blocking. Even though Guyton displays good movement while pulling as a lead blocker, he doesn’t always have the best strength while on the move. Standing at 6’8’ and weighing 322 pounds, Guyton has a rather high center of gravity, which can be exploited by leverage dependent bull rushers. There have also been questions about the Sooner’s ability to stay healthy. Nonetheless, the Packers will take a swing at a position of need with Guyton.
Player Comparison: George Fant
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cooper DeJean: Defensive Back- Iowa
With limited depth at defensive back, the Bucs pick up the versatile Cooper DeJean, who is capable of playing both safety and corner as well as being a projected day one starter on special teams. If Bill Belichick was coaching this year, this guy would’ve already been nabbed. In DeJean’s second season with Iowa, he tied the now Washington Commander Emmanuel Forbes for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns with three. The following year, in 2023, DeJean intercepted two passes while breaking up five and collecting 41 tackles in ten games. DeJean was a star on special teams as well, gathering 241 punt return yards along with a touchdown. The Iowa product’s 2023 effort earned him honors such as First Team A.P. All-American, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and Return Specialist of the Year. Not only can DeJean return punts, but he put a lot of good plays on tape as a gunner. In the defensive backfield, DeJean’s strengths are his strong hits, ability to read the quarterbacks’ eyes in zone coverage, and his ball skills. DeJean’s limitations are his tight hips and lack of fluidity in man coverage. It should be noted that the Hawkeyes played some pretty bad offenses last season. All that considered, the 6’0’ 203-pound Hawkeye will bring some depth to Tampa’s defensive backfield.
Player Comparison: Jevon Holland
27. Arizona Cardinals - Via Houston Texans: Byron Murphy II: Defensive Tackle- Texas
After going offense with their first pick, the Cardinals will now address their defense, more specifically, their defensive line, with Byron Murphy II. Murphy is a rather compact nose tackle, standing at 6’0’ and weighing 297 pounds, but he makes up for his lack of length by having strength and quickness. The Texas product is known for his shocking quickness and perfectly married handwork and footwork. When watching Murphy, his lengthy motor is apparent, with him bringing it every single play, either penetrating and getting through to the quarterback or eating up space on run downs. Murphy knows what gap is his and gets to it nearly every snap, pushing offensive linemen back with ease through a powerful bull rush. Murphy’s tape also shows that he can take on double teams and still get the upper hand. The Cardinals get a dog on the defensive line.
Player Comparison: Ed Oliver
28. Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell: Wide Receiver- Texas
This is another popular one, and for good reason, because much like the Chargers losing Allen and Williams, the Bills have lost Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason. Buffalo will get a replacement and potential number one receiver in Adonai Mitchell, who is a well-rounded, prototypical pass catcher. While Mitchell’s teammate Worthy relies heavily on his speed, Mitchell is more of the “ideal” receiver, having better size at 6’2’, and 205 pounds. At the combine, Mitchell showed off speed of his own, running a 4.34. Mitchell is fast enough and has the burst to come out of crisp breaks in his routes, and he can catch balls well outside of his radius. One thing Mitchell does need to work on is winning battles for the ball, but other than that, the Bills get a rather complete prospect in Mitchell, and they hope he can help fill the hole that Diggs and Davis left behind.
Player Comparison: Odell Beckham Jr.
29. Detroit Lions: Quinyon Mitchell: Cornerback- Toledo
The Lions get some help at cornerback with the 6’0’ 195 pound, 4.33 40 running Quinyon Mitchell. At Toledo, Mitchell exhibited strong tackling, good feet, positioning, and a magnificent burst. In 2023, Mitchell led the Rockets in pass breakups with 18, which helped him break a school record for career pass breakups with 46. Although Mitchell has shown he is a force in the passing game, there are still a lot of question marks with him, which explains his fall in the draft. Mitchell appeared to play mostly zone in college and did not necessarily shadow receivers, but rather used his burst to break and make a play, so he will need to adjust his playstyle a bit when coming into the NFL. Also, Toledo is in the MAC Conference, which is no SEC, so there is a question mark in terms of the quality of competition Mitchell was facing in college. It appears that Mitchell will have some growing pains, but he could potentially jump off the screen in his rookie year on special teams, having all the right qualities to be an effective gunner. Mitchell may need some coaching up and development before making a true impact at corner.
Player Comparison: Steven Nelson
30. Baltimore Ravens: Xavier Worthy: Wide Receiver- Texas
The record breaker has arrived in Baltimore. Xavier Worthy ran the fastest 40 time ever recorded at this past combine with a blazing 4.21. Speed is obviously Worthy’s superpower, which should compliment Zay Flowers’ twitchiness and inside quickness with the Ravens, but there are still a lot of questions about the young Longhorn. Standing at 5’11’ and weighing just 165 pounds, there are concerns about Worthy’s durability in the league. On the other hand, if Worthy starts gaining NFL weight, will that take away from his jaw-dropping speed? Luckily, Worthy has other abilities in his toolbelt such as route running, ability to bounce off tackles and make defenders miss for yards after the catch, as well as elite level ball tracking. If Worthy can withstand NFL contact, the Ravens are getting a potential game breaker to pair with the dynamic Flowers.
Player Comparison: Tank Dell
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ladd McConkey: Wide Receiver- Georgia
With rumors of Brandon Aiyuk being traded floating around, it would not hurt for the 49ers to get some insurance in Ladd McConkey. The 6’0’ 186-pound slot receiver is not limited to uncovering in just the first two levels, because his deceiving vertical speed makes him a threat at all three levels. Although McConkey has a colorful history with injuries and trouble against press coverage at times, his route running, and sure hands make up for it. When watching McConkey run his routes, he keeps his feet under his pads to make sharp cuts, and he instinctively knows where the soft spots in coverage are. Not only does McConkey’s ability to stop on a dime aid him in his route running, but it is visible after the catch too. The Bulldog also has experience in returning punts. San Francisco beefs up their offensive roster once again, partly in preparation of the departure of Aiyuk.
Player Comparison: Elijah Moore
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Legette: Wide Receiver- South Carolina
Even though they are the defending back-to-back Super Bowl Champions, the Chiefs could use some explosiveness in the receiver room, and they are going to get it with Xavier Legette. At South Carolina, Legette used every inch of his 6’1’ 221-pound frame to his advantage, making contested catches a specialty of his by boxing out defenders and timing his jumps perfectly to go up and snare the ball. Not only is Legette a contested catch artist downfield, but he is excellent in the open field, having a deceiving third gear to break away from the defense after the catch. Legette is still relatively inexperienced, and that shows itself in his film. The Gamecock will need to fine tune his route running once he comes into the league. Nonetheless, the South Carolina product appears to be a true football player, having impressive run blocking on his film as well as returning kicks. The Chiefs get the freak they are looking for to up the ante in the receiver room.
Player Comparison: D.K. Metcalf