Down… set… mock!
It’s time for the annual Los Angeles Times beat-writer mock draft, in which we consult the seasoned reporters who cover their particular NFL team on a daily basis.
There are no trades allowed in this mock, even though there’s sure to be some swapping when the first round of the NFL draft rolls around Thursday night.
Watch for quarterbacks to disappear off the board quickly — and for runs on wide receivers and offensive tackles.
🚨 The live reporters’ mock draft is complete. Here’s how reporters from across the country see the first round of the 2024 NFL draft unfolding:
1. Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams (QB) | USC
“It’s a shot to get a franchise quarterback, a player that changes the trajectory of a team that has gone nearly 20 seasons without consecutive winning seasons.” (Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune)
2. Washington Commanders — Jayden Daniels (QB) | Louisiana State
“The Commanders have cycled through 22 starting quarterbacks over the last two decades and only two of those have started full consecutive seasons. With new GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn now pulling the strings, Washington hopes Daniels can finally bring some stability — and wins. His accuracy, knack for big plays and dangerous running ability give Washington a dual threat and natural playmaker at the position, maybe, a star for not just this year, but years to come.” (Nicki Jhabvala, Washington Post)
3. New England Patriots — Drake Maye (QB) | North Carolina
“Maye has the size, arm strength and athleticism needed to play in the inclement weather of Foxborough. He has some areas to fix, and it may be tempting to trade down with the Bears or Vikings, but the Pats need a franchise QB, no need to overthink it.” (Ben Volin, Boston Globe)
4. Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) | Ohio State
“GM Monti Ossenfort will be tempted to trade down with a quarterback-needy team, but he’s got enough draft capital as it stands with 11 picks and gets the top wide receiver to give Kyler Murray a huge weapon on offense.” (Bob McManaman, Arizona Republic)
5. Los Angeles Chargers — Joe Alt (OT) | Notre Dame
“Every move the Chargers’ new regime has made on offense this offseason has had the net effect of aiding the run game and boosting the line of scrimmage. Why would that trend not continue in the draft? Alt was a left tackle at Notre Dame but possesses the athletic ability and gifted feet to move to the right side opposite standout LT Rashawn Slater.” (Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times)
6. New York Giants — J.J. McCarthy (QB) | Michigan
“The Giants probably don’t have to trade up to get their QB of the future, as this draft indicates, but the biggest threat will be other teams trying to leapfrog them to snag McCarthy, the fourth of the big four at the position. It’s why the Giants may have to make a deal with New England or Arizona to make sure they get him.” (Tom Rock, Newsday)
7. Tennessee Titans — Malik Nabers (WR) | Louisiana State
“The Titans have to find a starting left tackle in this draft and they lack a third-rounder from their 2023 trade up to select Will Levis. But in this scenario, the explosive Nabers is too good to pass up as a weapon for Levis and piece of Brian Callahan’s new offense. With Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins, they will be as dangerous as they’ve been at WR since the 1999 reinvention as the Titans.” (Paul Kuharsky, PaulKuharsky.com)
8. Atlanta Falcons — Dallas Turner (OLB) | Alabama
“The Falcons are switching to a 3-4 and Turner is a wonderful scheme fit. He can rush the passer and was not lost when he dropped in coverage. Instant upgrade.” (D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
9. Chicago Bears — Taliese Fuaga (OT) | Oregon State
“In this scenario, it probably comes down to an offensive tackle or Rome Odunze if the Bears stay true to their board. Neither would be a bad pick, but the Bears probably need an impact player for the defense more.” (Dan Pompei, the Athletic)
10. New York Jets — Rome Odunze (WR) | Washington
“The Jets face a decision — add a playmaker or a protector for Aaron Rodgers, their 40-year-old quarterback. If the draft falls this way, I think they grab Odunze and pair him with Garrett Wilson to give the Jets offense a jolt.” (Brian Costello, New York Post)
11. Minnesota Vikings — Byron Murphy II (DT) | Texas
“I think the Vikings will actually trade up for a quarterback here, but if they were to stay and pick at 11, Murphy makes sense for them. They spent time with him before the draft, and he’d provide a disruptive force for Brian Flores’ defense they haven’t had in the middle of their line for years.” (Ben Goessling, Minneapolis Star Tribune)
12. Denver Broncos — Brock Bowers (TE) | Georgia
“There is a gravitational pull to take Bo Nix, but the value is not there at 12. Instead, coach Sean Payton takes a player who can be a joker — a wild card — in his offense and provide much-needed yards in the middle of field for years to come.” (Troy Renck, Denver Post)
13. Las Vegas Raiders — Michael Penix (QB) | Washington
“Ideally the Raiders can pick Penix up in the second round. But they can’t risk passing on him at 13 and missing out of him later.” (Vincent Bonsignore, Las Vegas Review-Journal)
14. New Orleans Saints — Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT) | Penn State
“The Saints are desperate for tackle help. They need a blindside protector for Derek Carr after former first-rounder Trevor Penning bombed there last season, and there’s also concern about right tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s chronic knee issues.” (Jeff Duncan, New Orleans Times Picayune)
15. Indianapolis Colts — Quinyon Mitchell (CB) | Toledo
“The Colts have one of the younger secondaries in the NFL, but they like the upside of their talent and could add to it again here. The Colts ranked 21st in allowing explosive completions last season.” (Stephen Holder, ESPN)
16. Seattle Seahawks — Laiatu Latu (DE) | UCLA
“With a new defensive-minded coach in Mike Macdonald, Seahawks add a dynamic pass rusher who began his college career in Seattle.” (Bob Condotta, Seattle Times)
17. Jacksonville Jaguars — Terrion Arnold (CB) | Alabama
“The Jaguars’ biggest need is cornerback, and an Alabama corner being available seems like better value than Clemson’s Nate Wiggins.” (Gene Frenette, Florida Times-Union)
18. Cincinnati Bengals — JC Latham (OT) | Alabama
“As the Bengals reflected on their Super Bowl loss to the Rams, they pivoted and started prioritizing a different style of offensive lineman. The type of tackle they’re trying to build around looks just like JC Latham, [whose] size, strength, arms and power would fit perfectly on one of the bigger lines in the NFL.” (Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer)
19. Los Angeles Rams — Jared Verse (DE) | Florida State
“Sean McVay might opt for a player on offense, but Verse helps fill an immediate need.” (Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Troy Fautanu (OT) | Washington
“The Steelers traded up a year ago to grab tackle Broderick Jones in the first round and don’t be surprised if they have the same mindset this year. The Steelers are all-in on being a power running team and are a right tackle (and a center) away from being in that spot.” (Mark Kaboly, the Athletic)
21. Miami Dolphins — Jer’Zhan Newton (DT) | Illinois
“Christian Wilkins will be difficult to replace because of his impact on and off the field, but Jer’Zhan Newton might match his sack production in a season or two because he’s a slippery defensive tackle who knows how to hunt quarterbacks.” (Omar Kelly, SI.com)
22. Philadelphia Eagles — Tyler Guyton (OT) | Oklahoma
“I’m thinking Howie Roseman doesn’t want to pick at No. 22, especially if the board falls this way. He’s best when he trades up, and worst when he has to stay in the 20s. But if he can’t move under these circ*mstances, I could see him selecting for Lane Johnson’s eventual replacement.” (Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer)
23. Minnesota Vikings — Bo Nix (QB) | Oregon
“If the Vikings decide the best course of action is indeed to stick and pick at both No. 11 and No. 23, based on the way the draft board has fallen to this point, they are going to make damn sure they leave the first round with a quarterback. Though it might not be the sexiest selection on the surface, Nix fits the mold of what head coach Kevin O’Connell is looking for under center.” (Dane Mizutani, St. Paul Pioneer Press)
24. Dallas Cowboys — Graham Barton (C) | Duke
“Amarius Mims was almost the pick here, and if this scenario surfaces Thursday, I’d argue he should be — insert him at left tackle, keep Tyler Smith at left guard, and draft a center later. But without knowing where the Cowboys stand on Mims’ inexperience, Barton is a safe projection for a team that values versatility and just lost center Tyler Biadasz in free agency.” (Michael Gehlken, Dallas Morning News)
25. Green Bay Packers — Amarius Mims (OT) | Georgia
“GM Brian Gutekunst has plenty of needs, and Mims has big upside for an offensive line that needs a young challenger for a starting job at left tackle.” (Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jackson Powers-Johnson (C) Oregon
“The Bucs were last in rushing average the past two seasons. They have never adequately replaced Ryan Jensen, who suffered a career-ending knee injury in training camp in 2022. Center Robert Hainsey has been adequate at best and could backup guard or center.” (Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times)
27. Arizona Cardinals — Chop Robinson (OLB) | Penn State
“The Cardinals were inconsistent with their pass rush last season and while players would have a couple of good games, they tended to disappear after that. Arizona gets a playmaker in Robinson who should have a chance to make an immediate impact with a fairly young group of edge rushers.” (Jose M. Romero, Arizona Republic)
28. Buffalo Bills — Brian Thomas Jr. (WR) | Louisiana State
“Thomas being on the board at this point would be the ideal scenario for Bills GM Brandon Beane, who traded away No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason. Thomas’ combination of size, speed and proven production provides excellent value at this point in the first round.” (Jay Skurski, Buffalo News)
29. Detroit Lions — Cooper DeJean (CB) | Iowa
“The Lions got good returns on two Iowa players they drafted last year, Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell, so they go back to the well again for DeJean, one of the most versatile defensive backs in the class and someone who has excellent return ability.” (Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press)
30. Baltimore Ravens — Nate Wiggins (CB) | Clemson
“The best-case scenario for the Ravens would be landing a first-round offensive tackle, but with Guyton and Mims off the board and Jordan Morgan and Kingsley Suamataia more second-round guys, there’s no obvious fit. Cornerback is both a current and future need, too, and Wiggins is the type of long and athletic corner with ball skills that the Ravens love.” (Jeff Zrebiec, the Athletic)
31. San Francisco 49ers — Darius Robinson (DE) | Missouri
“As any self-respecting mock drafter knows: When in doubt, give the pass-rush-obsessed 49ers a defensive lineman. It’s not clear the 49ers came out ahead in the offseason reshuffling of their front four in which they added Leonard Floyd (good) but parted with Arik Armstead (not great). And adding Robinson should ensure they’ll upgrade a unit that was less than the sum of its parts in 2023. Robinson, who had a breakout final season (8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss) and wowed at the Senior Bowl, could form a formidable edge-rushing trio with Floyd and Nick Bosa. (Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle)
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Adonai Mitchell (WR) | Texas
“If the draft played out like this with a few receivers falling, the Chiefs most likely would’ve tried to trade up with an NFC team in the 20s (Tampa Bay? Arizona?) to snipe Brian Thomas Jr. away from Buffalo. As it stands, Adonai Mitchell is too good of a talent to pass up at 32, with the Chiefs getting quarterback Patrick Mahomes a cost-controlled, “X” receiver of the future.” (Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star)
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
