Today’s Best Bets
Sam Choudhury
The NFL Draft is quickly approaching. As we go, increasing rumors and pro days sculpt our opinions on all the top names in the draft and unmuddy the waters. We have already seen plenty of teams begin to set themselves up to make a push for one of the top-tier quarterbacks, while others will have a plethora of first-round talent across the board to pick from.
Today, I am diving into a first-round mock draft with no trades or jockeying. Here’s how I see it as of April 1.
2024 NFL Mock Draft — First Round
1. Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Everything the Bears have done this offseason has proven they are not trading this pick anymore, and they would be mistaken to pass on Caleb Williams. He is the best quarterback prospect in the class and has all the tools to become an elite player at the next level.
2. Washington Commanders — J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
This selection has begun to gain some steam after a strong combine and pro day where J.J. McCarthy displayed his raw talent. He was limited in the Michigan offense, but his tape is littered with NFL-level throws. In addition, he offers a dual-threat ability that allows him to make plays off-schedule or on the move — these traits will fit perfectly into Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive scheme.
3. New England Patriots — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Jayden Daniels is the only quarterback to pass for over 12,000 yards and rush for more than 3,000 in his college career, and this dual-threat ability is perfect for what New England is building. After being tormented by Josh Allen for multiple years, the Patriots understand the advantage Daniels will offer in game-planning. His ability to stretch the field with his arm will also be a welcome sight in an offense that has been stale for years.
4. Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison, WR, OSU
If the Cardinals stay put, selecting Marvin Harrison is a perfect fit to fill the void in their depth chart. Harrison is fresh off two 1,200-yard seasons and back-to-back 14-touchdown seasons for the Buckeyes. He is technically sound and creates big plays with ease. His combination of fluidity, speed and hands puts his ceiling in the same tier as Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase — in other words, a franchise-changing receiver.
5. Los Angeles Chargers — Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
This is likely not the pick the fans want after seeing Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams go out the door, but it is clear though that the Chargers plan to lean heavily on the run moving forward. Both head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz know that the key to success starts in the trenches, and with their left tackle position secured, why not add a promising stud on the other side in Dallas Turner. Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa have struggled to stay on the field in reason seasons, so Turner will bring a high motor and a breath of fresh air to the pass rush, setting the Chargers for the longterm.
6. New York Giants — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants have plenty of needs and have a plethora of options here, but Rome Odunze makes perfect sense for them. Odunze is the first Husky with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and is fresh off an NCAA-leading 1,640 yards in 2023. He is not an elite separator but offers elite traits at the catch point and can run any route with ease. He is a perfect fit for this offense that will move him around and create plenty of space for him to operate.
7. Tennessee Titans — Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans have struggled to create any push up front for the past few years. Nicholas Petit-Frere has struggled since entering the league, earning a sub-40 grade from PFF last year. So an upgrade is needed on the left side, and Joe Alt can be that. He has had a PFF grade of 90-plus in back-to-back seasons while displaying impressive pass blocking and quick hands. He will fit perfectly next to Peter Skoronski and become a building block for the next chapter of this pass-friendly Titans offense.
8. Atlanta Falcons — Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Falcons’ defensive unit exceeded expectations last year due to the back end of the defense, but they failed to put much pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It will be hard for them to pass on the high-motored Jared Verse to help take some of the load off Grady Jarrett. Verse has immense speed around the edge and is well-versed in diagnosis plays quickly, displayed by his back-to-back nine-sack seasons at Florida State, top three in the ACC each year.
9. Chicago Bears — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
After selecting their franchise quarterback, why not get him his franchise receiver in Malik Nabers? Nabers would be a steal this late. He is an electric athlete who offers a tremendous ability after the catch, something the Bears have lacked from their receivers for a long time. He will have two great mentors in Keenan Allen and DJ Moore to learn from as he polishes his game. The pairing of Caleb Williams and Nabers could turn the Bears’ fortune around for years to come.
10. New York Jets — Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Olumuyiwa Fashanu is not a sexy pick but a much-needed one for the Jets. Yes, they added a ton to their line in free agency and via trade, but both of projected starting tackles are 33. Fashanu is a toolsy player with high-end potential but needs to be refined. This makes him a perfect fit here — he can sit and soak in the knowledge and inherit the role in 2025 and secure the edge for many years.
11. Minnesota Vikings — Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Vikings may trade up, but if not this could be a dream scenario for them, with Drake Maye falling into their lap. Maye is a highly skilled athlete who has the ability to play off-schedule and threaten a defense with his arm or his legs. He does play on the edge at times — even erratic — which gets him in trouble, but if he can rein this in some, Maye has one of the highest ceilings in this class.
12. Denver Broncos — Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
In desperate need of a quarterback with only Jarrett Stidham on the roster, it feels like the Broncos have their hands tied slightly here and have to take a chance on Bo Nix. Nix has improved dramatically from his days in Auburn but still gives off game-manager vibes. He has a solid arm that allows him to make any throw, but he is very inconsistent, especially under pressure. In the right system Nix can succeed and Denver feels like one of those spots.
13. Las Vegas Raiders — Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Raiders need help everywhere, and there is no better place to start than in the trenches with Taliese Fuaga, who demonstrates a physical edge to his game. He is a tremendous pass blocker and adequate run blocker who struggles to latch onto blocks. With some refining he can develop into a cornerstone tackle and anchor the right side of the line for years.
14. New Orleans Saints — Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Brock Bowers is the next in line of high-end tight-end prospects who can offer more in the receiving game than the blocking game. He is no slouch in the blocking game but is far from a bully. Bowers has elite speed for the position and runs above-average routes, and once the ball is in his hands, he is a menace. Juwan Johnson has done fine with his opportunity, but it’s hard to pass up on a versatile prospect like Bowers here, especially in an offense looking for weapons after Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave.
15. Indianapolis Colts — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Terrion Arnold is a toolsy defensive back who has tremendous closing speed and agility, which is something the Colts need desperately on the back end. He has the potential to become one of the better cover corners in the league. His ball skills are adequate, and his understanding of leverage makes him a terror at the catch point. He can develop into the corner stone defensive back in a young Colts defense for years to come.
16. Seattle Seahawks — Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Last year the Seahawks took steps to sure up the defensive side of the ball and continued during the season, adding Leonard Williams to the line. They get more reinforcements here with Laiatu Latu, who has been a menace off the edge for the Bruins with 24 sacks in four years. Latu has the ability to play off the ball and play through the line while displaying a high motor. He will be a strong complement to Boye Mafe and the young defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
After attacking the offensive side of the ball in free agency, the Jaguars look to the other side here at the much-needed corner back position. Adding the extremely athletic Quinyon Mitchell gives them a player who has the versatility to play any coverage asked of him. He has all the physical traits to become a lockdown corner at the NFL level but will need to refine his game some to reach this ceiling in the NFL.
18. Cincinnati Bengals — Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Tee Higgins this offseason. He’s since asked for a trade, which may or may not happen, but at this point it seems he has at the most one more year in Cincinnati, opening a need for another receiver on the roster sooner or later. Brian Thomas would be a perfect fit — his combination of speed and ball tracking make him a viable deep threat. He also displays a nose for the end zone, coming off a 17-touchdown season. There wouldn’t be a significant drop off from Higgins to Thomas within this potent offense.
19. Los Angeles Rams — Byron Murphy, IDL, Texas
The retirement of Aaron Donald opens up a huge hole in the middle of the Rams defense that will be about as hard to fill as any hole on any roster. Byron Murphy is a strong start, though — what he lacks in the athletic department, he makes up for in competitiveness and motor. He has an impressive quickness and disruptiveness to become an anchor in the middle of any defense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Last year, the Steelers started rebuilding their offensive line by selecting Broderick Jones with the 14th pick, so why not lock down the opposite side this year with Troy Fautanu? Fautanu has some positional versatility that allows him to play either left guard or tackle. With Russell Wilson now under center, the team needs to prioritize keeping him upright, and this is a step in that direction.
21. Miami Dolphins — JC Latham, OT, Alabama
If the Dolphins plan on keeping Tua Tagovailoa as their franchise quarterback, they need to work to keep him upright. Enter JC Latham. With the left side locked down by Terron Armstead, Latham can step in as the blindside blocker (right), where he played most of his college snaps. Latham is closer to the toolsy side of the spectrum but can step in and learn on the job with ease.
22. Philadelphia Eagles — Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Nate Wiggins was the fastest cornerback at the combine to no surprise, as he displayed a great fluidity and speed on tape. Wiggins has an ability to play in the pocket of any player and recover with ease when beaten. His ball skills offer a Pro Bowl ceiling, this will be breath of fresh air for a secondary that was torched regularly by opposing offenses.
23. Minnesota Vikings — Chop Robinson, EDGE, PSU
After losing Danielle Hunter in free agency, the Vikings could use someone of Chop Robinson’s skill set coming off the edge. His combination of speed and finesse moves make him a potent pass rusher. With some development in his run game technique, he can transform into a three down player for the Vikings but for now can be used as a pass rush specialist.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
With Tyler Biadasz moving on this offseason a huge hole has opened up in the Cowboys front, and Jackson Powers-Johnson can fill that void. Powers-Johnson has a nasty attitude and often leans on his upper body strength to bully defenders. He lacks some fundamentals and prototypical size, but it hasn’t affected him dramatically yet. It may be a roller coaster rookie year, but he has the traits to become a staple in the line long term.
25. Green Bay Packers — Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
As a big-bodied corner Cooper DeJean seems like a perfect candidate to shift to safety, where he can use his plus athleticism and ball hawking skills to torment opposing quarterbacks. This will also allow him to play downhill more often where his physicality will shine through in both the pass and run game. The Packers need to fill a void at the safety position, so making the switch could give us vintage Micah Hyde feelings.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Even with Mike Evans returning there is is still a need at the receiver position for the Buccaneers. Troy Franklin is the perfect complement to the existing roster. He is a prototypical swing-Z receiver who possesses tremendous speed and long strides. There are questions about his ball skills and elusivity, but as a deep threat alongside Evans and Chris Godwin, Franklin could feast on solo coverage.
27. Arizona Cardinals — Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
The Cardinals need a disruptor in the middle of their defense, and Jer’Zhan Newton can be that. He is on the slender side but offers plenty of power and quickness to beat larger opponents regularly. Learning some patience when it comes to run lane integrity will help him become a true three-down player, but with his work ethic, it’s within reach.
28. Buffalo Bills — Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
With the loss of three key pieces to their secondary the Bills need to add reinforcements quickly. Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of the better prospects in this class and is well rounded in all facets of the game. A lack of high-end speed will be an issue, but he makes up for that with quickness and physicality in coverage. His ability to play on an island is reminiscent of Tre’Davious White, who found great success in the Sean McDermott defense.
29. Detroit Lions — Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Darius Robinson is not the most polished pass rusher in this class, but his physical traits outweigh that. His lengthy but stout frame give him an advantage over many, and he pairs it with a ferocity that allows him to bully blockers and be dominant at times, though he lacks consistency. If he hits this ceiling, the Lions would have a vaunted pairing off the edge with Robinson and Aidan Hutchinson.
30. Baltimore Ravens — Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Ravens have struggled to find that premiere receiver on the outside despite spending plenty of draft capital on the position. Zay Flowers seems to be the real deal early on, but they still lack a true X receiver, which Adonai Mitchell would give them. He was never asked to be the guy in a passing attack and that will be the case here. His combination of size and athleticism makes him a red zone savant and allows him to stretch the field with ease.
31. San Francisco 49ers — Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
Graham Barton is a perfect fit for the 49ers — he primarily played tackle in college but expected to move inside at the NFL level, a spot of need for the 49ers. Barton’s quickness and ability to climb to the second level and get out on screens with ease make him the perfect fit in the 49ers’ offensive scheme. He lacks great length but makes up for that with a physicality and relentless pursuit to finish blocks.
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Chiefs’ offense has lacked a speed element ever since Tyreek Hill was traded, and Xavier Worthy can fill that spot after setting the combine record in the 40-yard dash (4.21). He offers more than just speed to his game, though — he is a twitchy route runner who separates with ease and leaves defenders grabbing for air after the catch. Worthy is slight of frame so he struggles in press situations, but Andy Reid will scheme up plenty of free releases and motions to allow him to operate in space regularly.
