The one and only Tradition Mock: Predicting the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft
One mock, for all the marbles.
That’s the way we do it every year. Myself (Connor O’Gara) and Adam Spencer will attempt to accurately predict the NFL Draft once again. Round 1 coverage begins on Thursday at 8 pm ET, which means we won’t have very long to be wrong.
If we can get 10 picks correct, that’s a win for us. That’s including Caleb Williams coming off the board at No. 1.
Hey, it’s hard. Give us a break.
Also, yes, we do have a couple of trades in here. You have to. They feel inevitable with the way things are lining up this year, especially with the quarterbacks who could come off the board in the top 3.
Here’s our Mock 1.0 for 2024 (“CO” is Connor O’Gara and “AS” is Adam Spencer):
1. Chicago Bears — Caleb Williams, USC QB
Don’t get cute. It’s always been Williams. The Justin Fields trade made a 99.9% move a 100% move. The Bears will get their generational talent and new face of the franchise (CO).
2. Washington Commanders — Jayden Daniels, LSU QB
Here’s where things start to get fun. The Commanders are taking a quarterback. The only question is: Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye? They’ve done the UNC QB experience before (see: Howell, Sam). I think they’ll go with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in this spot as sort of a “what if RGIII didn’t get hurt?” experiment (AS).
3. Minnesota Vikings (via mock trade w/ Patriots) — Drake Maye, UNC QB
Trade! After all the speculation about the Vikings trading up to No. 5 to get JJ McCarthy, it instead ends up being a trade to the No. 3 spot to get Maye. The Patriots acquire the Vikings’ No. 11 and No. 23 picks because they need more than a quarterback. That allows the Vikings to step in and get the guy many felt was the No. 2 quarterback in the class (CO).
4. Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State WR
With the Vikings trading up to No. 3, the Cardinals will likely see their potential trade partners dwindle. I think they’ll stick at No. 4 and keep things simple. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the top receiver on many draft boards. Add him to the mix in the desert with QB Kyler Murray and see what happens (AS).
5. Los Angeles Chargers — Joe Alt, Notre Dame OT
You can close your eyes and picture Jim Harbaugh drafting a franchise offensive tackle. He’ll build a model of the Chargers that rivals what we saw him succeed with at Michigan. The latter half of the top 10 is giddy that Malik Nabers doesn’t come off the board, but Alt makes too much sense for the Chargers (CO).
6. New York Giants — Malik Nabers, LSU WR
Nabers doesn’t last long after the Chargers pass on him. The Giants are indeed giddy that the LSU receiver is still on the board. There’s some speculation the Giants could be in the market for a QB, but I see JJ McCarthy as a Daniel Jones type in the NFL. New York is on the Daniel Jones train, so they’ll go a different direction with this pick (AS).
7. Tennessee Titans — Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State OT
As tempting as it’ll be for the Titans to go with Rome Odunze, they instead pick another anchor on the offensive line to pair along with last year’s first-round pick, Peter Skoronski. They need to find ways to protect new franchise quarterback Will Levis, so Fuaga is the first early surprise pick after an All-American season at Oregon State. (CO).
8. Denver Broncos (via mock trade w/ Falcons) — JJ McCarthy, Michigan QB
The Patriots are looming down at No. 11 after trading with the Vikings. The Broncos will be eager to snag their franchise QB, so they’ll need to move up a few spots to get him. McCarthy lands in Denver, where his experience at Michigan will help in the cold Mile High winters (AS).
9. Chicago Bears — Rome Odunze, Washington WR
If Odunze had gone to the Titans, the Bears would’ve traded out of this pick. That didn’t happen, though. Instead, the Bears continue to beef up the supporting cast for Caleb Williams, which also includes DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Ryan Poles doesn’t whiff on 1 of the top 3 wide receivers in the NFL Draft (CO).
10. New York Jets — Brock Bowers, Georgia TE
This is a bit of a fall for the Georgia tight end, but that’s just the way the draft board played out this year. If QB Aaron Rodgers can bounce back from his Achilles injury, this is a great spot for Bowers. WRs Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams are an elite tandem. Breece Hall is one of the top running backs in the league. A lot to like about the Jets if Bowers joins that offensive unit (AS).
11. New England Patriots (via mock trade w/ Vikings) — Olu Fashanu, Penn State OT
After trading out of the No. 3 pick to get an additional first-rounder, the Patriots rebuild the offense from the inside out. Fashanu isn’t quite Alt as a prospect, which is why he took a hit on some more recent mocks. But he’s a franchise offensive tackle who’ll give New England’s quarterback of the future — whoever that is — a chance to stay upright (CO).
12. Atlanta Falcons (via mock trade w/ Broncos) — Dallas Turner, Alabama Edge
The guy the Falcons wanted at No. 8 is still on the board at No. 12. Our first Alabama player hears his name called here — extending the Tide’s Draft-record streak to 16 years of producing a 1st-rounder — as Dallas Turner also becomes the first defensive player drafted. The offense seems set under new QB Kirk Cousins. It’s time for the Falcons to work on the other side of the ball (AS).
13. Las Vegas Raiders — Terrion Arnold, Alabama CB
Arnold is the best corner in this class. He was excellent on a defense that had a more decorated corner in Kool-Aid McKinstry entering 2023, but by season’s end, there was no debate who was the better player. The Raiders land the 2nd defensive player of the NFL Draft and Antonio Pierce is ecstatic to add Arnold as an immediate starter as an outside corner (CO).
14. New Orleans Saints — JC Latham, Alabama OL
A 3rd consecutive Alabama player comes off the board here. The Saints won’t be happy about missing out on some of the top prospects along the line, but Latham has the potential to be an immediate impact player in 2024 (AS).
15. Indianapolis Colts — Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo CB
You could see a push for Brian Thomas Jr. at receiver, but the market at corner lines up well for the Colts. Some might have Mitchell as the top corner on the board, ahead of Arnold. The Colts don’t get a weapon for Anthony Richardson, but instead, they try to get their version of Devon Witherspoon (CO).
16. Seattle Seahawks — Troy Fautanu, Washington OL
The Seahawks keep things close to home by drafting a Washington offensive lineman. Fautanu can play almost anywhere along the line, so he should be a key part of the Seattle offense from the moment he arrives (AS).
17. Jacksonville Jaguars — Brian Thomas Jr., LSU WR
As the Jaguars ponder the 5th-year option for Trevor Lawrence, they make a move to add another weapon after losing Calvin Ridley. Thomas, who is one of the most physically talented players in the entire draft, is a nice complement to Christian Kirk. For the first time since the Justin Blackmon mess, the Jags finally go receiver in Round 1 (CO).
18. Cincinnati Bengals — Byron Murphy II, Texas DT
The Bengals are bummed to miss out on Brian Thomas Jr., so they focus on the other side of the ball. They’ll take the former Longhorn defensive tackle, who has plenty of speed and strength to wreak havoc on the interior (AS).
19. Los Angeles Rams — Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois DT
There’s only 1 Aaron Donald. Let’s not pretend that the Rams will be replacing one of the best defensive players with the No. 19 pick. But the late-rising Newton would give the Rams a potential game-wrecker up front. (CO).
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Cooper DeJean, Iowa DB
DeJean won’t have to change his uniform colors, going from one black-and-yellow combo at Iowa to another with the Steelers. Will he be a corner or a safety in the NFL? If there’s one team that can maximize his talent, it’s Pittsburgh (AS).
21. Miami Dolphins — Laiatu Latu, UCLA Edge
You could go interior defensive line here after losing Christian Wilkins, but let’s instead go with a different area to help the Dolphins up front. Latu might have been the best defensive player in 2023. The Dolphins are relieved to get him after some defensive-needy teams go in different directions (CO).
22. Philadelphia Eagles — Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma OL
The Eagles have the unenviable task of trying to replace Jason Kelce. Guyton isn’t about to move inside to center, but he could start at right tackle right away for the Eagles, who will start rebuilding their offensive line in 2024 (AS).
23. New England Patriots (via mock trade w/ Vikings) — Jared Verse, Florida State Edge
The Patriots need franchise guys in the trenches. They did that early on with Fashanu, and with that additional pick from the Vikings, they go grab a proven edge-rusher in Verse, who felt like he was in consideration for a top-10 selection during different points of the pre-Draft process. (CO).
24. Dallas Cowboys — Xavier Worthy, Texas WR
Worthy, who ran a 4.21 40, is officially the fastest player in NFL Combine history. The Cowboys need a receiver to stretch the field so CeeDee Lamb can continue to dominate underneath. This seems like a match made in heaven. Worthy will make the short move from Austin to Dallas (AS).
25. Green Bay Packers — Amarius Mims, Georgia OT
The Packers are devastated that DeJean doesn’t slip to 25, so instead of going with a defensive back, they take a swing for the mammoth offensive tackle out of Georgia. Mims might not be a Day 1 guy because of the lack of college reps, but the Packers would love to get Jordan Love’s future blindside protector late in Round 1 (CO).
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama CB
This is a bit of a drop for Kool-Aid, but he lands in a solid situation. The Buccaneers get a guy who has natural instincts on the field and can make plays defensively and on special teams (AS).
27. Arizona Cardinals — Chop Robinson, Penn State Edge
After the Cardinals inevitably get the top non-quarterback in the Draft in Marvin Harrison Jr., they address their need to get some guys who can get to the quarterback. As long as they keep the pick, Robinson gives them some nice value late in Round 1 (CO).
28. Buffalo Bills — Adonai Mitchell, Texas WR
A second Texas receiver comes off the board. The Bills will likely look to trade up, but I don’t think they’ll find a deal they like. Thus, I have them sticking at No. 28 and taking Adonai Mitchell as their replacement for Stefon Diggs (AS).
29. Detroit Lions — Darius Robinson, Mizzou DL
The Lions have been known for their rogue first-round picks under Dan Campbell, but make a relatively on-the-board pick in Robinson. They get a versatile defensive lineman who can play alongside Aidan Hutchinson (CO).
30. Baltimore Ravens — Ladd McConkey, Georgia WR
Heading into the 2023 season, no one probably expected to see McConkey’s name in Round 1 of a mock draft, but here we are! Baltimore has its future superstar WR in Zay Flowers. RB Derrick Henry and TE Mark Andrews are solid veterans at their positions. McConkey gives QB Lamar Jackson yet another weapon to use offensively (AS).
31. San Francisco 49ers — Jordan Morgan, Arizona OT
We can all agree that keeping Brock Purdy clean is the best path for the 49ers’ offense. Trent Williams is still playing at an All-Pro level, but he’ll be 36 this season. Morgan can play alongside Williams and perhaps eventually slide over to the left side (CO).
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington WR
Rashee Rice’s status for 2024 is now up in the air. Even if Rice is around for most of the year, the Chiefs need more from their receiving corps. Polk had 69 catches for 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns and also ran for a touchdown for the Huskies in 2023 as Washington made a run to the title game. He might just be the versatile guy the Chiefs have been trying to turn Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman into (AS).