We’re about a month into the 2024 NFL season, which means some teams and fans are looking ahead to next spring’s draft, even if they won’t admit it publicly yet.
If you’re one of those people, or a draft nut, or whomever else, you’re in luck! Just please remember it’s super early, and to control your reactions accordingly.
In this edition, Nate Tice makes the selection of the odd-numbered draft picks while Charles McDonald selects the even.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Campbell is a technician on the left side who constantly stays balanced and in a winning position. His upright stance looks funky, but he’s a good athlete with light feet who can move in space and has the core strength to bring pop in the run game. Campbell is a consistent and smart player for a franchise desperately needing some of that. — Nate Tice
2. Miami Dolphins — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The Dolphins could use help on offense and defense as their 31-12 loss to the Titans showed, so why not go with the best player in college football? In this scenario, Hunter will slide in at cornerback across from Jalen Ramsey and chip in on offense as a wide receiver a few times a game alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That sounds fun, at the very least. — Charles McDonald
3. New England Patriots — Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Banks might not have ideal left tackle height (6-foot-4), but he has the length to help him win against edge rushers. He can move people in the run game, something that will translate into any landing spot (or final position if a team sees him better on the right side or even inside). Banks would be a big piece to solidify the Patriots’ line and help Drake Maye and their entire offense going forward.
4. Cincinnati Bengals — Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Cincinnati has to improve the spine of its defense, so here it can take a do-it-all defensive tackle in Graham to make sure they have the strength to stand up against tougher offensive lines that are really making the Bengals struggle right now.
5. Cleveland Browns — Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Even with a continued leaky Colorado offensive line, Sanders’ game and movement in the pocket has improved. It would be a stormy situation, with Deshaun Watson still having a contract that is hard to move off of, but the Browns need to address the position or otherwise leave the rest of the Browns’ team-building for naught. Sanders gives them excitement.
6. Tennessee Titans — Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Johnson might be the best cornerback in this class and he would make a quality Titans defense one of the better units in the league in terms of pure talent. He’s physical against the run, shutdown against the pass and has the elite athleticism that teams look for in No. 1 cornerbacks.
7. Carolina Panthers — Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
The Panthers address the Brian Burns-sized hole on their roster with Carter, a bendy player who has moved full-time to the edge but will also kick inside or off the ball in blitz packages. Carter’s game still lacks refinement — he goes rogue in the run game sometimes and is a bit jumpy on snap counts — but he flashes game-wrecking potential for the Panthers, who need more needle movers.
8. Los Angeles Rams — Cam Ward, QB, Miami
A reset is coming for the Rams, so why not take a quarterback now while they have a chance to sit and learn behind Matthew Stafford for a couple more years? Ward has been one of the darlings of college football this season, showing off the arm talent and playmaking ability that has the chance to get Miami to the playoffs.
9. Arizona Cardinals — Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
Walker is a gigantic defender whose nimble movements seem like an optical illusion. Walker can play across the defensive line and plays in a scheme at Kentucky that translates perfectly to the Cardinals’ front, which needs more tangible players. Walker has the ability to take over games on the inside and has been overall more consistent in 2024.
10. New York Giants — Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Surprise? Get used to seeing this name in mock drafts. Nussmeier has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country and has operated the LSU offense with extreme ease and efficiency. He could be the next face of the Giants if he keeps up this pace.
11. Indianapolis Colts — Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
The Colts will be looking long and hard at cornerbacks here, but will go with a toolsy edge rusher. Williams has barely played in 2024 because of an ankle injury, which is a shame because the biggest thing we need to see out of him is more production with consistent playing time. Williams has elite length and explosive athleticism, which is apparent even in limited snaps, with the ability to move across the line on pass rushing downs. The Colts have invested in edges, but Williams would give them another strong dart throw at the position.
12. Los Angeles Chargers — Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Chargers got their offensive tackle last year in Joe Alt, so now they can come back and continue to bolster the receiving corps for Justin Herbert and the rest of the offense. McMillan has been on a tear this season and looks to have potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
13. New Orleans Saints — Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia
Walker has taken over games at times in 2024 and from a variety of different spots. Whether his best spot is at edge or off ball, Dennis Allen’s defense would fit nicely with Walker’s ability to impact the game as a pass rusher, coverage player or run defender. He would also fit with the timeline of 35-year-old Demario Davis as well.
14. Dallas Cowboys — Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
That’s right, nerds. Running backs are back. Embrace it. The Cowboys take another trip to the first-round RB well and come away with the nation’s most productive back through the first portion of the season. Jeanty has 180 more yards than the second-place rusher in the country and is currently averaging 10.3 yards per carry — and that includes a 192-yard, three-touchdown performance against Oregon.
15. Chicago Bears — Emery Jones, OT, LSU
This is about injecting more talent into the offensive line and since there are no real center candidates that make sense in this spot, the Bears go with Will Campbell’s LSU tacklemate. Jones can get out of position at times, but he has the size and length to stay out at tackle. With the Bears, he could create a powerful right side of the offensive line with Darnell Wright.
16. Green Bay Packers — James Pearce, Edge, Tennessee
One thing the Packers still need on defense is a consistent pass rush, which is something that Pearce can definitely bring. Pearce hasn’t gotten off to the same hot start that he did last year, but he’s still a talented player NFL teams will covet in the draft.
17. San Francisco 49ers — Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Ersery finally allows the 49ers to move on from Colton McKivitz, providing even more insulation from any dropoff in their high powered attack. Ersery moves well in his big frame, letting him translate into any run scheme. Combining Ersery with this year’s third-round rookie standout Dominick Puni would turn a weakness into a strength, and even give the 49ers a long-term Trent Williams replacement option.
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18. Baltimore Ravens — Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Depending on how the Ravens handle some contracts that become movable after the season, they may be in line for a new safety to play next to Kyle Hamilton for the long term. Starks and Hamilton can both play everywhere, somehow giving the Ravens even more flexibility on defense.
19. Philadelphia Eagles — Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
Scourton has good size, can bend and even has a spin move that he can whip out from time to time. He plays hard and impacts the run and pass game with his strength and explosive movement. The Eagles love to invest in their lines, and Scourton would give them the size they desperately need on the edge spots.
20. New York Jets — Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Assuming Aaron Rodgers comes back for another season, the Jets need to continue bolstering their passing game to maximize whatever Rodgers has left in the tank. Burden is a smaller receiver (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), but would profile well as a long-term No. 2 WR across from Garrett Wilson.
21. Las Vegas Raiders — Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
I don’t think the Raiders will be picking this low come April, but right now they’re at 21 and we’re not doing trades. This might limit their quarterback options, but in this exercise that leaves Beck. He does a lot of things well at quarterback; he’s a solid athlete who pushes the ball over the middle and has shown flashes of creativity this year. He had a nightmare beginning of the game in last week’s classic against Alabama, but still showed off the throws that keep him relevant at the top of this draft’s quarterback class. The Raiders need to address a few things (their general run game being one), but a quarterback to build around is a nice step.
22. Denver Broncos — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
If the Broncos are going to live 3 yards at a time, adding a tough, talented tight end who performs well as a blocker and receiver is a must. The 2024 tight end class doesn’t have too many stars in it as things stand, but Loveland has a chance to continue to separate himself as the season moves along.
23. Atlanta Falcons — Shavon Revel Jr., CB, ECU
Revel’s 2024 campaign sadly came to an end with an ACL tear. He is a talented player with the length and movement ability to be a true lockdown option. Even with limited tape this year, he has shown enough to draw interest this early. The Falcons will also finally get another cornerback to play opposite A.J. Terrell.
24. Detroit Lions — Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona
Detroit still needs a long-term play at guard and Savaiinaea can fill that role as the second Wildcat in this first round. The offensive line is the most important part of this team so it makes sense to keep it strong.
25. Washington Commanders — Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Morrison loves to play in press situations and in man coverage, which fits right in with Dan Quinn’s preferred coverage style. Morrison doesn’t have ideal bulk, but his tenacious attitude overcomes any size deficiencies. The Commanders need help on the back end of their defense and Morrison gives them a player that loves a weekly challenge.
26. Buffalo Bills — Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
As their loss against the Ravens showed, the floor on this Bills team is fairly low, even though they are a good team. One quick way to raise their floor would be to get more stout against the run, which is where the athletic, 340-pound Grant comes into play. Michigan’s offense may be bad, but its defense is still quality because of pluggers like Grant on the interior.
27. Seattle Seahawks — Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
Connor Williams has helped, and Christian Haynes is getting snaps, but the Seahawks need to keep throwing more bodies at their offensive line until it solidifies. Jackson is a powerful guard who is still honing his technique. As he gets more consistent he has the upside to be an impactful player on the inside.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers — Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Wide receiver is the Steelers’ thinnest positions right now where they’ve been heavily relying on George Pickens to be the focal point and carrier of the passing game. Adding another playmaker like Bond would help take pressure off of Pickens and give Justin Fields another target as the Steelers decide what their future with Fields will be.
29. Houston Texans — Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
After Joe Mixon went down, the Texans’ run game has returned to being essentially wallpaper for the passing game with Cam Akers eating touches. Judkins is a doubles hitter who can thrive running from under center or the shotgun, and he would help overcome any shaky line play and help the entire Texans operation stay on schedule. At least enough until we get to the C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins Show. (Judkins can catch, too!)
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Harold Perkins, LB/Edge, LSU
Perkins is the wild card of the draft. He has extreme production at times throughout his career, but is currently out for the season with a torn ACL and playing somewhat of an undefined position as far as projecting to the NFL goes. He didn’t have a whole lot of traditional linebacker responsibilities and is smaller than most NFL edge rushers — so we will just give him to Todd Bowles and let him figure it out. The Buccaneers aren’t a stranger to tweener types in the front seven with guys like Calijah Kancey and YaYa Diaby. Perkins could be another weapon for this defense.
31. Minnesota Vikings — Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State
Another Buckeye in the back half of the first round. Sawyer is listed as an edge defender but has had playing time in his career across the front seven, depending on Ohio State’s defensive call. Sawyer has pass-rushing chops to win one-on-ones and can contribute in a lot of different ways. He would fit in nicely on a defense that loves its multi-use players (I’ve already used the jack of all trade jokes too many times).
32. Kansas City Chiefs — Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Kansas City could stand to beef up its interior and give All-World defensive tackle Chris Jones a running mate. Williams closes out the first round as an athletic, heavy-handed option to help the Chiefs’ front remain stout as they continue their quest for championships.
