Mock Draft 3.0
Kade Nix’s 2024 Mock Draft 3.0: 4 QB’s in Top 5 Picks
Published 3/19/2024 at 9:01am Updated 3/19/2024 at 9:45pm
The third edition of my mock drafts, with quite a few picks significantly shaken up. Head over to the Podcast “Kade’s Draft Room” for a deeper analysis of the picks.
NOTES:
As of this writing, the picks 1-32 are all locked in. This mock draft will include trades. All picks are subject to change as prospects rise and fall in draft stock throughout the process.
(via CAR)
Caleb Williams
PICK
Chicago Bears
1
USC | QB
This pick is about as locked in as you can get in my opinion. There is zero chance the Bears select anyone other than the best quarterback on the board
PICK
Washington Commanders
2
Jayden Daniels
LSU | QB
I now think the Commanders view Jayden Daniels as the best quarterback left on the board behind Williams. I still think Maye is the better prospect but Jayden Daniels feels like the pick here.
PICK
New England Patriots
3
Drake Maye
UNC | QB
People will want to argue that the Patriots are going to select Marvin Harrison Jr. That’s just not going to happen. Jerod Mayo wants to build his team the best he possibly can, and it all starts with the quarterback. There aren’t any starters left in free agency so Maye is their best bet. Luckily for them it’s a good bet.
PICK
Arizona Cardinals
4
Marvin Harrison Jr.
OHIO ST. | WR
This pick stays the same. If anything it’s more solidified now that we know the Bears will take Caleb Williams. Cardinals land the best prospect in the entire class. Fittingly, my comparison for Marvin Harrison Jr. was Cardinals legend, Larry Fitzgerald.
PICK
Minnesota Vikings (TRADE w/ LAC)
5
JJ McCarthy
MICHIGAN | QB
JJ McCarthy has been a hard prospect to place when it comes to Mock Drafts. From all the sources, it sounds like the Vikings are making a hard push to land one of the top quarterbacks. In this mock trade, the Vikings send picks 11 & 23 to the Chargers in exchange for the 5th overall pick
PICK
6
LSU | WR
New York Giants
Malik Nabers
I think the Giants may be pretty upset with the Vikings jumping them and selecting McCarthy. But Nabers is one of my favorite prospects in the class and my #2 overall prospect, so it’ll probably lessen the pain.
PICK
Tennessee Titans
7
Joe Alt
NOTRE DAME | OT
The Titans land the best offensive tackle in the class to help protect Will Levis. The Titans have put together some nice help for Levis in the past weeks and this just adds to it. I do wonder how in play Brock Bowers is here. Especially considering that he said the Titans were his desired draft team.
PICK
Atlanta Falcons
8
Dallas Turner
ALABAMA | EDGE
With the signing of Kirk Cousins, this feels like one of the easier picks to predict. The Falcons have lacked a difference maker on defense and I think Dallas Turner solves the problem for Atlanta. Turner adds a level of versatility that the Falcons lack. He’ll be an early DROY favorite in Atlanta.
PICK
Chicago Bears
9
Taliese Fuaga
OREGON ST. | OT
The Bears cap off a successful day one of the draft with some solid protection for Caleb Williams. The Bears addressed WR through free agency so it seems as if offensive tackle is their biggest need.
PICK
New York Jets
10
Brock Bowers
GEORGIA | TE
The Jets did some good work in free agency and signed Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith to protect Aaron Rodgers. They’re reward? Brock Bowers
PICK
11
WASHINGTON | WR
Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE w/ MIN)
Rome Odunze
The Chargers land one of the best receivers in the draft after trading back six spots and adding on an extra first round pick. It doesn’t get much better than that. The Chargers off season moves point towards WR as their first selection.
PICK
Denver Broncos
12
Bo Nix
OREGON | QB
While this may be a little hasty, the Broncos are a great fit. I recently compared Bo Nix to Drew Brees so who better to fall to than Sean Payton in Denver.
PICK
Las Vegas Raiders
13
Terrion Arnold
ALABAMA | CB
We know the Raiders love to shop at Alabama. Luckily for Vegas, the best corner in the draft falls right here in your lap. Arnold is a good fit with Las Vegas and should perform well there.
PICK
New Orleans Saints
14
Jared Verse
FLORIDA ST. / ED
The fall ends here. Cam Jordan isn’t gonna play forever, why not take the best player available?
PICK
15
TOLEDO | CB
Indianapolis Colts
Quinyon Mitchell
After Toledo’s pro day and the NFL Combine, I don’t think anyone will argue that Mitchell is top 15 pick worthy. He’s gonna fly in the 40 and notch himself as a top 3 corner. The Colts get an absolute playmaker at 15. Mitchell could go off the board before Arnold as well, depends on teams views and fit.
PICK
16
WASHINGTON | OT
Seattle Seahawks
Troy Fautanu
Fautanu had a really great combine. He seems to me like a top 20 player. The Seahawks address a need here with one of the best on the board
PICK
Jacksonville Jaguars
17
Brian Thomas Jr.
LSU | WR
The Jaguars secure Calvin Ridley’s replacement. This will help out the Jaguars offense a ton.
PICK
Cincinnati Bengals
18
JC Latham
ALABAMA | OT
The Bengals simply pick one of the best players on the board to make sure Joe Burrow stays happy and healthy.
PICK
Los Angeles Rams
19
Jackson Powers-J.
OREGON | C
JPJ is one of the best plug and play day 1 type of guys. JPJ will give great support to the Rams rushing attack, and keep Stafford healthy for as long as he has left.
PICK
20
PENN ST. | OT
Pittsburgh Steelers
Olu Fashanu
Someone had to fall, and unfortunately Fashanu is the one to do it. His inexperience is at fault for his slip. However, the Steelers shopped at the Penn State store last year and they loved it. Hopefully they do this time as well.
PICK
Miami Dolphins
21
Byron Murphy II
TEXAS | DL
I’m not quite sold on Murphy being a top 15 player. He lands in Miami because the Dolphins are allowed to select the best available.
PICK
22
CLEMSON | CB
Philadelphia Eagles
Nate Wiggins
The Eagles main concern is powering up their secondary. Wiggins is a ultra balanced defensive back they can feel solid in. It seems as if one of the top corners is going to have to fall out of the top 20 and unfortunately Wiggins does in this scenario.
PICK
Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE w/ MIN)
23
(via MIN/HOU/CLE)
Amarius Mims
GEORGIA | OT
The Chargers make good use of their extra pick and get some protection for Herbert. Now the Chargers have filled their two biggest needs of the draft with great talent.
PICK
Dallas Cowboys
24
Tyler Guyton
OKLAHOMA | OT
The Cowboys need to fill the role of Tyron Smith. Guyton is a nice compliment to Tyler Smith, and the Cowboys would bolster a nice young duo on the front lines.
PICK
Green Bay Packers
25
Cooper DeJean
IOWA | CB
The Packers secondary let up far too many yards last year. With a promising offense, DeJean adds a nice level of ball hawking ability and versatility to the Packers secondary.
PICK
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
26
Laiatu Latu
UCLA | EDGE
Latu may fall. Nonetheless, Latu has all the skills to be a polished pro, and will slide right into Bowles system.
PICK
27
PENN ST. | EDGE
Arizona Cardinals
Chop Robinson
Robinson is one of my favorite players in the draft and luckily for the Cardinals, they get him at 27 to cap off a successful first day of the draft.
PICK
Buffalo Bills
28
Adonai Mitchell
TEXAS | WR
The Bills biggest need is arguably another playmaker to take some of the load off of Josh Allen’s back. Mitchell will be a nice compliment to that wide receiver room.
PICK
29
WVU | C
Detroit Lions
Zach Frazier
Frazier’s wrestling background makes him a good fit for Detroit and Dan Campbell. He’ll be a good fit for the Lions for years to come
PICK
Baltimore Ravens
30
Darius Robinson
MISSOURI | EDGE
Robinson’s great showing at the Senior Bowl propels him into the first round. Right into the hands of a solid Ravens defense that just keeps getting better.
PICK
31
DUKE | OT
San Francisco 49ers
Graham Barton
The 49ers hold one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. Why not take the best tackle available to keep Brock Purdy fresh for as long as they can?
PICK
32
TEXAS | WR
Kansas City Chiefs
Adonai Mitchell
Speed gets you drafted higher than anything else. Worthy gives Mahomes another solid weapon to compliment Rashee Rice as the Chiefs look to three-peat.