2024 NFL Mock Draft: 4 QBs in top 12, NY Jets land franchise left tackle

The 2023 NFL season has officially come to an end for 18 of the league's 32 teams, and a further six will meet their fate when the first round of the playoffs concludes. For teams like the NY Jets, 2024 also brings new hopes that the failures of yesteryear won't come back.

With another strong crop of quarterback prospects out there to entice the weary populace alongside a collection of skill position players that look poised to make immediate impacts. With so many teams regressing offensively, this talent is sorely needed.

In the first salvo fired during the ceaseless battlefield of takes that is draft season, let's take a stab at what each of the 32 teams out there will do to better themselves. Note that the draft order was taken from Tankathon.com for this exercise.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: QBs dominate top of order

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): Drake Maye, QB, UNC

For the sake of this mock draft, the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Atlanta Falcons and added another sensational quarterback prospect. Drake Maye beats out Caleb Williams here, as his superior pocket presence, equally strong arm, and consistent accuracy make him a player every GM would relish the chance to take.

2. Washington Commanders: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Williams, a DC native, has as high a ceiling as any player in this class at any position. His whip-like arm is special, and his playmaking out of structure is truly one of a kind. The Commanders are resetting with a new regime, and giving them Williams to play with could supercharge the rebuild.

NFL Mock Draft: Caleb Williams was picked after Drake Maye

3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Daniels is a bit skinny and might be viewed as a one-year wonder to some, but his Heisman Trophy was deserved. With dead-eye accuracy and great mobility that will help him make plays immediately, Daniels is all set up to help whoever coaches the Patriots remake the offense.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State

Kyler Murray isn't going anywhere, so why not get him the best receiver prospect in a decade? It's hard to think of an area where Harrison does not excel, which should give Arizona the easiest job of any of the top teams. Take Harrison if he's available, and don't look back at all.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Bowers is as dominant a prospect as Kyle Pitts, who went No. 4 overall in 2021, was in college. The Chargers could use a lineman on either side of the ball, but getting Herbert a tight end locked down for the next 10 seasons could be too enticing an opportunity to pass up.

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Giants seem willing to give Daniel Jones another shot, which means a QB pick would likely come on Day 2 or 3. The least they can do is give Jones another wide receiver who can rip off big plays down the field, as Nabers did with frightening regularity at LSU.

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

Fashanu is one of two extremely well-regarded tackles in this draft class, as his pass protection was nothing short of impeccable. Keeping Will Levis upright should be the top priority for Tennessee. Fashanu and Peter Skoronski could lock down the left side of the line.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The Falcons have their offensive skill position stars already locked in, making them a prime "best player available" candidate. Turner could be the best defensive player in this draft, as his speed-to-power and motor can make him a double-digit sack machine if he clicks well.

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Chicago could give Maye a left tackle, but the idea of pairing Odunze and D.J. Moore would set their new top pick up for success. Odunze has the strongest hands in this class, all while flexing his deep-threat muscles in a vertical offense at Washington that got the most of him.

NFL Mock Draft: Joe Alt could help the NY Jets

10. New York Jets: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

The Jets need to add multiple offensive linemen this offseason, and it seems like a foregone conclusion they will add some in the draft. The 6-foot-8 Alt projects as a rock-solid pass protector that could represent a serious upgrade over the underperforming Mekhi Becton in 2024.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

The Vikings could add a quarterback, but the idea of a Kirk Cousins return or another veteran quarterback has serious appeal. Latu could be a nice Plan B for Minnesota, as adding a Danielle Hunter replacement to Brian Flores' defense will keep as fearsome as ever.

12. Denver Broncos: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington

Sean Payton wants nothing to do with Russell Wilson, meaning it is time for him to pick his guy. Penix is old and has some serious health concerns, but his soft touch on deep throws and surprisingly solid arm talent could help Denver break cleanly and start a rebuild around him.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

The Raiders are another team that might not spend their top pick on a quarterback. Latham struggled against Michigan, but his tape is littered with dominance in both run and pass pro. Vegas can put to rest the demons of the Alex Leatherwood selection here.

14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

If you look up "nasty" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Fuaga. A mauling run blocker who has seen his stock shoot up during his final season with the Beavers, Fuaga going to New Orleans will help them make another earnest run at a division title with Derek Carr.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Kool-Aid isn't the Top 10 lock that he was earlier in the season, but he is still the best cornerback in this class. McKinstry's athleticism and ability to cover ground in zone will influence Chris Ballard and an Indianapolis team that has valued traits above production in the past.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

With the lack of great linebacker depth in this draft, Seattle might use their first-rounder on a defensive lineman to pair with Boye Mafe. Verse is a premium athlete who took over at times in Tallahassee, and Pete Carroll should have a ton of fun drawing up plays to take advantage of him.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Jer'Zhan Newton can be a terrific defender

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jer’Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois

The best way for Jacksonville to help Trevor Lawrence is to build a balanced team, and that includes huge improvements in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Newton has great mobility for a lineman his size, though he hasn't sacrificed his penetration ability as a run-stuffer.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mims has struggled to stay healthy, and his bumps and bruises might be enough to sink his stock come April. With Joe Burrow suffering his second season-ending injury in four years, the Bengals need to finally get the tackle situation settled once and for all.

19. Green Bay Packers: Kamren Kinchens, SAF, Miami

Green Bay's amazing 2023 Draft class and Jordan Love's development have helped them fill multiple egregious holes. Safety is still somewhere the Packers could use another big name, and Kinchens stands out as a uniquely physical player for the position.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Even without Mike Evans' uncertain future, drafting the physical 6-foot-4 Coleman to act as a spiritual successor would be a very prudent strategy. With Evans getting long in the tooth, Jason Licht and Tampa Bay can snatch his heir apparent and 2024 WR3 in one motion.

21. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Jonathan Gannon is a defensive coach, but the roster he was handed last year was not properly equipped to execute what he asked of them. Wiggins is a pesky corner who can smother receivers when he's locked in, and the Cardinals will value that as they try to remake the squad.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Chop Robinson wil keep the Rams' defense strong

22. Los Angeles Rams: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

While Robinson is more of a long-term projection than a player who will dominate in his first season, the Rams have shown to be able to get the most out of quality athletes in the draft. Robinson gives a defensive line with minimal depth another piece to work with.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Arnold has been streaking up draft boards, with some even declaring him a better prospect than his teammate McKinstry. Pittsburgh has drafted defense well under Mike Tomlin, and Arnold could make for a tremendous secondary alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr.

24. Miami Dolphins: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington

With Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both going down to serious injuries this season, Miami needs to think long and hard about a possible succession plan. Trice has been the anchor of Washington's defense this year, and he can enter the league in a favorable situation.

25. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

The Eagles' defense went from aggressive, yet flawed, to a complete joke in record time. The secondary falling off a cliff has been the main culprit for this fall, and the playmaking DeJean should be an immediate starter if he is fully recovered from his injury.

26. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

You don't even have to know football to see that Kansas City's wide receivers were bordering on XFL quality. Worthy is a speed demon that will give Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs the verticality element they have missed since Tyreek Hill departed.

27. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Leonard Taylor, IDL, Miami

Houston has a strong edge rusher in Will Anderson, but DeMeco Ryans likely wants more long-term pieces in the front seven. Taylor can plug gaps on the interior, and he plays in a style not dissimilar to many of Ryans' best linemen from his days in San Francisco.

28. Detroit Lions: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Detroit could add a receiver here, but the recent decline on the defensive side showed that Brian Branch needs another running mate in the secondary. Lassiter clamped the SEC's best regularly, and his athleticism gives him a Pro Bowl ceiling.

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

The Bills need a No. 2 wide receiver, as Stefon Diggs is declining, and Gabe Davis will be given a big contract by someone else in free agency. Thomas may have had the benefit of playing next to Nabers, but his strong hands and route running will help him get picked in the first round.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Edgerrin Cooper could start for the Cowboys

30. Dallas Cowboys: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

In a class that is very thin on linebacker talent, Cooper has a chance to be the best of the bunch. The Cowboys need to prepare for the very real possibility that Leighton Vander Esch is done in the NFL, and Cooper gives them a solid guard against that due to his speed.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Graham Barton, IOL, Duke

San Francisco's biggest need might be the non-Trent Williams areas of the offensive line, which is where Barton comes into play. Offering guard-tackle versatility and solid mobility, Barton could become the undoubted top interior lineman in this class if he kicks inside full-time.

32. Baltimore Ravens: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

Baltimore is always seemingly in the hunt for skill position players, but a bell-cow running back could be their biggest need if they don't make any free-agent additions. Like many of the Ravens' best backs, Corum is a sledgehammer in the backfield.