Mock Draft 4.0 is here! Just like four quarters in football, here’s the fourth and final installment of the DownField Read 2024 NFL Mock Draft. Be sure to check out the evolution by reading Mock Draft 1.0, Mock Draft 2.0, and Mock Draft 3.0. We’re less than 24 HOURS AWAY! Leave some comments and let me know what you think!
1. If the Bears were smart, they would find a way to get out of this spot. Caleb Williams is NOT the guy. Justin Fields COULD have been the guy, especially with the tools that were added to the offense this offseason, but we will never know. I would trade this pick to Washington straight up at this point.
Williams didn’t beat any ranked teams last year, couldn’t come back from behind, cried like a baby, and now wants ownership options. You have to question his mental toughness, and that makes him a terrible #1 pick. He’s a franchise KILLER! Bears: Do NOT feed the WILLIAMS!
2. I’m going back to Drake Maye on this pick only because Jayden Daniels was so unpleased with the Washington organization over hosting multiple QBs when he thought that it would be only him (?). Daniels made it known that he was unhappy, and you just don’t need that kind of personality in the locker room.
Maye and Daniels are both VERY good QBs, but I would go with the more “level-headed” option for my locker room. Maye is the “Stroud” of this year’s draft. If Washington doesn’t take him, they are FOOLS.
3. New England NEEDS a QB. 31-year-old Jacobi Brissett is not the guy you want to hand your offense over to if you’re new HC Jerod Mayo.
Daniels is a talented QB (72% Pass completion, and 50 TOTAL TDs and 4 INTs last year), and you can look for him to make an impact in his rookie season. HOWEVER, don’t be surprised, if the Pats feel nostalgic and go for another Michigan Wolverine QB here. I would personally love to see McCarthy with the Pats.
4. Arizona is starving for a great WR since DHop left, and “Hollywood” Brown didn’t work out. Marvin Harrison Jr. is just that guy, and the Cards get lucky that the first three teams are QB needy. Would Harrison Jr. still be considered the best WR in the draft without his name though?
5. A lot of people think the Chargers are going to trade this pick to Minnesota, but they WON’T. The Bolts need a WR as well after letting Keenan Allen go. Herbs and Harbs will add Nabers to their young and talented group featuring Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston.
6. THIS is where the Vikings make their move to get a franchise QB, right? NO! . The Giants don’t have a true #1 WR. Darius Slayton hasn’t proved it, Wan’Dale Robinson is 5’8″, and Jalin Hyatt is still unproven. The Giants gave Daniel Jones a big contract and they won’t move away from him; they’ll get him a good weapon instead.
7. Tennessee needs to protect it’s young QB, and what better way than by taking the best OT in the draft. Joe Ott reminds me of Joe Thomas, and he should be in the league for a long time.
8. The Falcons need to add some youth to their defense, and without Calais Campbell, they also need to add some pressure on opposing QBs. Dallas Turner is the best Edge in the draft.
9. Originally, I had Rome Odunze, but without a Vikings “trade-up”, Rome is gone. Honestly, they wouldn’t go wrong either way, but they can pick up a WR later in the draft. IF they’re going with Caleb Williams, they’ll need to give him as much time as possible. That’s something Fields DIDN’T have last year.
10. The Jets are NOT taking a Tight End here. Stop it. Tyler Conklin was 13th in receiving yards for TEs with TERRIBLE QBs! The Jets need to PROTECT RODGERS and they have probably the oldest OT duo in the league. The Bears took Olu Fashanu, so the next best is Taliese Fuaga. JC Latham is close second option though.
11. The Vikings simply DON’T have the draft capital to trade up to get JJ, and the best part is…they DON’T HAVE TO! The ONLY way that Minnesota loses out on one of the top four QBs is if Denver trades up ahead of them. However, Vikings GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been terrible in the draft since showing up in MN, and he’ll probably want to make a “splash” and screw this up.
12. If the top four QBs are gone at this point, which they will be…I don’t think the Broncos settles here for Nix or Penix…especially with Bowers on the board. They’ll make some moves to trade up late in the first or early in the second round for a QB. Bowers will make any QB better.
13. The Raiders were 30th in rushing yards and 23rd in passing yards. Offensive line is a must, and LV has a couple viable options to choose from, but Latham is more balanced, and he fits Antonio Pierce and “Raiders Nation”.
14. TRADE ALERT! The Jags trade up with the Saints because Jacksonville wants the best CB in the draft, and if they don’t get him at #14, he’ll be gone at #15. Mitchell should immediately help this squad that finished 26th in passing yards allowed.
15. Terrion Arnold could make this defensive backfield one of the scariest in the NFL. The Colts defense finished 24th in yards allowed last year, but having another shut-down cornerback would allow Anthony Richardson Jonathan Taylor and the rest of the offense to cook!
16. From Washington Huskie to Seattle Seahawk, Fautanu is a guy that helps this offensive line that was 28th in rushing yards last year with one of the best RBs in the league; Kenneth Walker III. Geno Smith and Sam Howell should also be relieved with this pick.
17. Byron Murphy is one of the only prospect that I have selected to be on four different teams. Why? Because he could help THAT many teams! The Saints finished 22nd in rushing yards allowed and 28th in sacks! They need to get pressure on Stroud, Richardson, and Mayfield!
18. The Bengals love LSU (Burrow, Chase, etc.), and they will go back to that well after losing Tyler Boyd. Brian Thomas Jr, and Ja’Marr…the Bengals offense doesn’t lose a step.
19. Aaron Donald is gone, but they don’t need another DT like Byron Murphy. Their current DT, Kobie Turner is legit with nine sacks last year. I’m not saying that he’s going to the “next Donald”, but they’ll get him a great teammate by drafting Latu.
20. The Steelers were 25th in passing yards, 25th in total yards, and 28th in points scored. Now they have all new QBs to protect (Russell Wilson and Justin Fields) and they need offensive line help. Mims was my original pick in Mock 1.0. Solid.
21. If Jared Verse is still here at pick #21, the Dolphins are going to take him. Verse has been projected to go has high as #9, and averages in the teens. Miami needs offensive line help more than D-Line, but…best player on the board…
22. The DBs in Philly were showing their age at the end of last year. They were 31st in passing yards allowed, 30th in points allowed, and 25th in INTs. Cooper goes from Hawkeye to Eagle.
23. IF the Vikings still have this pick, they’ll need to protect their new franchise QB, McCarthy. Personally, I think the Vikes should trade back to pick up some more picks, because they have a lot of holes to fill, especially on the O-Line.
24. There are a lot of question marks on the Dallas OL, and Tyler Guyton is the best offensive lineman on the board at this point.
25. The Packers had the second fewest INTs last season with seven. Nate Wiggins is tall (6’2), fast and agile. Coming into a division against two rookie QBs, Wiggins should be licking his chops.
26. The Bucs either go with Jackson Powers-Johnson or CB, Kool-Aid McKinstry here. Have you seen their interior O-Line? Weak! 23rd in total yards, and DEAD LAST in rushing yards. Ouch! Captain, we need more POWERS(-Johnson)!
27. Newton is one of those guys who might go at the end of the first or the beginning of the second round. The Cards run a 4-3 and added some off-season DTs, but Newton could be the game-changer. The Cards were 25th in total yards allowed, 30th in sacks, and DEAD LAST in rushing yards allowed. They need some Newton!
28. After losing Wire Receivers, Stefon Diggs AND Gabe Davis, the Bills could use a big (6’2″), FAST (4.34 40) receiver like Mitchell. This is just a no-brainer. If Mitchell is on the board here, then he’s a Bill here.
29. The Lions were 27th in passing yards allowed and have already started to revamp their CB room. Chop Robinson and Aidan Hutchinson?! Oh my word! Did you know that “Chop” is short for “pork chop”? You do now!
30. Baltimore lost most of it’s O-line this offseason, HOWEVER, all the top tier OL are gone at this point, so they’ll go with the best player on the board, and their SECOND biggest need with a CB. The Ravens LOVE drafting from Bama. Grape Kool-Aid!! Ohhhh yeeeaaahh!
31. Those OTs that the 49ers have aren’t getting any younger. Jordan Morgan is a solid LT with three years experience that doesn’t need to come in and be an immediate starter, which is good because of his injury history.
32. Who ARE the Chiefs going to throw to now? If ever there was a glaring need for a WR, it comes down to the Bills and the Chiefs. Worthy had the best “Athleticism Score” and broke the 40-yard dash record at 4.21 seconds. This guy is “Flash” and deserves the red suit.
