Richard Janvrin: Predicting All 32 Picks in Thursday’s NFL Draft

(SNH) — The 2024 NFL Draft is here. After all the wait and hype, we’ll finally have plenty of questions answered regarding the top prospects in the draft.
Below is a mock draft predicting how things will shake out tonight.
- Chicago Bears (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC.
Everyone has known this for months. The Bears get their guy.
- Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU.
Daniels will be able to perform offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense well and has a plethora of weapons around him to succeed.
- New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, UNC.
This one took some time to settle in on, but the Patriots won’t get cute here and draft a prototypical signal-caller in Maye.
- Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State.
There’s a possibility of the Giants trading up to grab McCarthy, but the Cardinals have faith in Kyler Murray and will get him with the safest pick in the draft.
- Los Angeles Chargers: J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama.
Joe Alt is the better prospect here, but Latham feels like a guy Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh would want—a powerful right tackle that’ll do exactly what Harbaugh wants him to do, and that’s perform in the run game.
- New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU.
They could take McCarthy here, but one could argue that drafting a top receiver here could buy general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll more time in their current roles. Nabers is arguably the top receiver in the draft.
- Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame.
The Titans are committed to Will Levis at quarterback. They brought in wide receiver Calvin Ridley to be his No. 1 guy. Now, they draft an offensive tackle prospect they can plug and play for a decade or more.
- Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama.
We flirted with the Jets trading up here to secure wide receiver Rome Odunze, but the Falcons need pass rush help so badly that they could just stick and pick. Alternatively, Laiatu Latu is a possibility with a connection between defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake as he coached Latu once upon a time.
- New York Jets (via CHI): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington.
The Jets are in win-now, and Odunze provides them with an immediate weapon to help propel their offense forward. He, along with Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams, would be a fantastic trio.
- Chicago Bears (via NYJ): Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State.
The Bears could very well stay at No. 9 and take Odunze, but general manager Ryan Poles was an offensive lineman himself and drafting a former teammate of Williams’ while getting a bit of draft capital when they have just four total picks in the draft makes a lot of sense.
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan.
We believe the Vikings will stay at No. 11 if they can’t secure Maye. If someone else takes McCarthy, look for Michael Penix Jr. to be a fallback option.
- Philadelphia Eagles (via DEN): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo.
The Eagles haven’t drafted a cornerback in the first round since 2002, but they do here, moving up to get a player who was elite in coverage last season.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington.
The Raiders need a quarterback, and Penix Jr.’s arm talent is very different from anything they currently have on the roster. He and Davante Adams are a fun pairing.
- New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State.
A possible trade-up candidate, the Saints stick and pick an offensive tackle who’s already an elite run blocker and has all the tools to be a top left tackle. He can start at guard, too, if needed.
- Indianapolis Colts: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia.
This feels like the floor for Bowers, who joins the Colts and adds another top weapon to an Anthony Richardson-led offense.
- Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington.
Fautanu doesn’t need to move far, staying in state to join the Seahawks. He can play guard and tackle and has elite movement skills.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama.
A receiver is a sneaky pick here to help load up quarterback Trevor Lawrence with more options with Ridley leaving.
However, here, they land a phenomenal athlete in Arnold. If there’s one thing we know about Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke, he’s not afraid to go after the elite athletes, regardless of polish.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy, DI, Texas.
It feels odd dropping Murphy this low, but that’s how the board fell. The Bengals have a ton of questions heading into the draft regarding Trey Hendrickson and Tee Higgins, but here they land arguably the best defender on the board, period.
- Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA.
The Rams desperately need edge-rushing help. Latu is arguably the best edge in the class, but his medical concerns could turn teams away. Not the Rams, though. Alternatively, receiver could be an option to pair with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua to send quarterback Matthew Stafford out with as much firepower as possible.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia.
They traded up for Broderick Jones last year, and here, they get another Georgia lineman in Mims. Fuaga would be ideal with Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator, but getting a tackle here will help protect whoever their starter is. They’ll draft a receiver in the second round.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via MIA): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State.
Incumbent edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka hasn’t panned out and the Buccaneers make a small move to get up and get another player that you could argue is the best at their position. Verse is a monster off the edge, and his strength will be able to push offensive tackles off their spot.
- Denver Broncos (via PHI): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon.
The Broncos cannot leave the first round, let alone this draft, without a quarterback. Here, they get a player who started more than 60 games in college and can come in and manage the offense right away, especially under the tutelage of Sean Payton.
- Minnesota Vikings: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson.
It’s likely you couldn’t name the starting cornerbacks for the Vikings last year, and that’s why they take one here in Wiggins with their second first-round pick. They didn’t need to use it in a trade-up and instead landed a guy with excellent speed, athleticism, and drive. His frame could be a concern for injury, but other than that, he’ll be fantastic for Minnesota.
- Dallas Cowboys: Graham Barton, OL, Duke.
The Cowboys are always a team we project as making a giant splash, but they’ve shown a willingness to take an offensive lineman in the first round. Barton is definitely more so a guard at the next level and he’ll plug that hole for a decade.
- Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa.
DeJean could play corner well, but he’ll also be an elite safety in a defensive backfield with Jaire Alexander.
- Miami Dolphins (via TB): Johnny Newton, DI, Illinois.
They lost Christian Wilkins and gained an excellent athlete in Newton to plug that hole. Problem solved.
- Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama.
It would be fun to see Arizona double-up on the receiver, but they have plenty of Day 2 picks to get another guy. McKinstry is a physical player who could set the tone for the defense—something the Cardinals definitely could use.
- Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas.
We’re convinced this pick is either Mitchell or LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. Both possess great measurables, but Mitchell’s fluid route-running ability wins out here.
- Detroit Lions: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri.
There’s been rumblings about this guy going in the first round for some time and he fits the Lions mold well—a powerful defensive lineman with an intimidating bull rush.
- Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma.
The Ravens cannot leave this first round without a tackle. Ronnie Stanley is always hurt, and they traded Morgan Moses. Guyton is a bit of a project, but if anyone can help him reach his true potential, it’s Baltimore.
- Washington Commanders (via SF): Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona.
Whether Washington moves up for San Francisco, Morgan is an excellent pick here. He’s been rock-solid for many years in college but will need to get a lot tougher playing in the NFC East with Micah Parson breathing down his neck. The Commanders land their franchise quarterback and get a tackle to help protect him in the first round.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU.
Of all the picks, this feels the least likely. We like Thomas Jr. as a mid-first-round talent, but that’s how the board fell. The Chiefs added Marquise Brown, but now Rashee Rice is facing potential criminal charges. Thomas Jr. is a 6-foot-3 massive wideout who ran a low 4.30 40-yard dash. He’ll be excellent with Kansas City.
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