CBS Sports releases updated 2024 NFL Mock Draft ahead of Week 8 of college football
Week 8 of the 2023 college football season is rapidly approaching, and conversations about the 2024 NFL Draft are starting to pick up. NFL teams are now about a quarter of the way through their schedules, and CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson released an updated 2024 NFL Mock Draft ahead of this week’s action.
It should be noted that Wilson determined where teams would pick based on their odds to win the Super Bowl using Caesars Sportsbook. That gives the Arizona Cardinals his No. 1 overall draft pick, though that may not end up being the case.
With the back half of the college football season ready to go, CBS Sports named some players that you could expect to hear on the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft if the season ended today.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Willams, QB, USC
The regining Heisman Trophy winner has all but locked up the top spot in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s not even close for CBS Sports.
Caleb Williams‘ 2,021 passing yards for 23 touchdowns have wowed fans since the start of the season. He had the worst performance of his career last weekend during USC‘s loss Notre Dame, throwing three interceptions in a single game for the first time in his career, but that isn’t expected to hinder the junior quarterback’s chances of getting selected No. 1 overall.
2. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. has combined for 268 receiving yards and two touchdowns for Ohio State over the past two weeks. He’s gained at least 105 receiving yards in each game that he hauls in five or more catches. Only twice this season has he had less — and he only possessed the ball two and three times, respectively, during those matchups.
On the season, he’s hauled in 31 total receptions for 604 yards and five touchdowns. The sure-handed receiver is a big reason why the Buckeyes are 6-0 and in prime position to lead his time to another College Football Playoff in 2023.
3. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
In any other draft class, Drake Maye is QB1. That’s not the case, however, which means two teams will get an opportunity to draft their potential franchise quarterback this April.
Maye’s 1,902 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions have North Carolina ranked in the top 10 and entering the back half of the season. Matchups against Duke and Clemson could prove tricky on Maye’s way to winning the ACC title for the first time in his career, but the Tar Heel legacy has always risen to the occasion when needed.
4. Chicago Bears: Olu Fashanu, OL, Penn State
Olu Fashanu likely would’ve been a top-10 pick last year, but instead decided to return to Penn State this year and will undoubtedly find himself toward the top of the board agian. It’s no surprise he’s landed in Wilson’s top five.
Fashanu is one of the best offensive linemen in the country and has anchored a unit that has allowed just three sacks this year. As CBS Sports knows, he’ll be a hot commodity come draft time as teams look to add to their offensive lines.
5. Las Vegas Raiders: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
A Jared Verse–Maxx Crosby EDGE duo in Las Vegas would be video game levels of insane for the Raiders next season if this projection were to come true. The transfer from Albany has been a defensive stalwart in the ACC since arriving in Tallahassee in 2022.
Since joining Florida State, Verse has compiled 11.5 sacks, 62 tackles and one forced fumble as one of the nation’s most disruptive defenders. With FSU ranked in the top five in the latest AP poll, it’s no surprise that Verse finds himself in the same position with many mock drafts.
6. Denver Broncos: Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
While Jer’Zhan Newton could see Denver looking for a left tackle instead, the fact that the Broncos allowed 70 points in a single game suggests that they need some defensive help. He played alongside 2022’s No. 5 overall pick in Devon Witherspoon, so he knows how to find a balance between success and expectations.
The Illinois product has totaled 39 tackles and 2.5 sacks on the season. It’s easy to overlook him based on where he plays, but can be a game-changing talent if pans out as projected.
7. New York Jets: Joe Alt, OL, Notre Dame
The unsung hero of Notre Dame‘s success — left tackle Joe Alt has helped lead Sam Hartman to become one of the most acclaimed passers in the nation this season. After defeating USC by four touchdowns last weekend, Alt and the rest of the ND offensive line deserves a ton of credit for not allowing a single sack during the matchup.
Of course, the Jets are still in need for a left tackle — and whose to say Alt isn’t the perfect candidate? Alt was an All-American one season ago, so CBS Sports thinks he’s more than ready to help protect Aaron Rodgers‘ blind side in 2024.
8. Washington Commanders: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Dallas Turner is the SEC leader in sacks through seven weeks of college football this season. With 7.0 to his credit, no one has been able to stop the 6-foot-4, 242-pound junior as the regular season inches nearer to its close.
To go with his sack total, Turner has 14 solo tackles and has been responsible for two torced fumbles this season. With Turner anchoring the defese, Alabama has yet to allow more than 24 points in a single game.
9. New York Giants: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
It’s not very often that a quarterback gets as lucky as Kyle McCord. Not only does he have Marvin Harrison Jr. to throw the ball at, but he has Emeka Egbuka as well.
Egbuka would be WR1 at any other program in the country. On the season, he’s hauled in 22 receptions for 303 yards and two tuchdowns. His season best performance came during the 17-14 Notre Dame win, catching seven passes for 96 yards during the contest.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: JC Latham, OL, Alabama
Alabama’s offensive line might not have performed the way many expected them to begin the year, but JC Latham has proven to be one of the nation’s best through his cohort’s struggles. Although the Buccaneers could be in the market for a quarterback depending on how Baker Mayfield’s season shakes out, adding a piece to the OL would go a long way toward their eventual long term quarterback.
Latham allowed only two sacks last year to anchor the Alabama offensive line. His toughness would be huge for any team, and pairing him with Tristan Wirfs would make for a talented duo for Tampa Bay.
CBS Sports’ No. 11-25
11. Los Angeles Rams: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
12. Indianapolis Colts: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
13. Tennessee Titans: Amarius Mims, OL, Georgia
14. New England Patriots: Patrick Paul, OL, Houston
15. Minnesota Vikings: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
16. Green Bay Packers: Kingsley Suamataia, OL, BYU
17. Atlanta Falcons: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
19. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
21. New Orleans Saints: Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
25. Baltimore Ravens: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
26. Detroit Lions: J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
27. Dallas Cowboys: Josh Newton, CB, TCU
28. Buffalo Bills: Leonard Taylor III, DL, Miami
29. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
32. San Francisco 49ers: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The 2024 NFL Draft is shaping up to have one of the deepest first rounds in recent memory. Some of the most exciting offensive and defensive standouts make up the list, and have the rest of the season to prove why they deserve the honor.