ESPN shakes up 2024 NFL Draft predictions with new mini mock following free agent moves
NFL free agency is off to the races, with many franchises securing some serious help for their organizations through the annual roster-shifting process. And that has led to some significant shakeups in 2024 NFL Draft predictions.
On Thursday, ESPN released a new 15-pick mock draft based on some of those changes, with the selections shifting around quite a bit.
Today we poke through that 15-round mock to see what might happen in the 2024 NFL Draft, as well as outlining what some teams could be getting should things pan out as ESPN has outlined. Let’s dive into it below.
1. Chicago Bears – QB Caleb Williams, USC
No real change here, as Caleb Williams has long been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The USC star can do it all, with many pointing to his penchant for taking unique arm angles as similar to a Patrick Mahomes.
Williams has plenty of production to back him, should this be the choice for Chicago. In two years at USC, Williams threw for 8,170 yards and 72 touchdowns, while tossing just 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 21 scores.
2. Washington Commanders – QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
The LSU quarterback has really risen up the projected 2024 NFL Draft ranks in recent weeks, with many analysts now projecting him to be selected over North Carolina‘s Drake Maye. Both would offer the Commanders a considerably dynamic threat at the quarterback position.
Daniels might be a little thin for the NFL level, but the game has shifted toward more dynamic quarterbacks in recent years, even at the expense of size. And Daniels can do it all. He threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at LSU in 2023.
3. New England Patriots – QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Also an excellent option at the quarterback position, Maye probably wasn’t quite as consistent as his two counterparts projected to go before him by ESPN. He hit a couple lulls during his final season, though he was still remarkably productive.
Maye has ideal size and toughness for the position at the next level, listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. The Patriots could get a quarterback to build around who threw for almost 8,000 yards, with 62 touchdowns, over the last two seasons.
4. Arizona Cardinals – WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
With three dynamic quarterbacks off the board, ESPN now turns to a talented wideout in the draft slot for the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4. And Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. has talent to burn.
The son of the former NFL great by the same name, ‘Maserati Marv’ topped 1,200 yards receiving in each of his last two seasons with the Buckeyes, even while facing plenty of extra coverage. He also had 14 touchdown receptions in both of those campaigns.
5. Los Angeles Chargers – OT JC Latham, Alabama
ESPN points out that the Chargers could go for other needs at this pick, like wide receiver, but that the value might simply be too good to pass up with JC Latham. He’s widely viewed as one of the top offensive linemen in the class.
In his Alabama career, Latham turned into a starting right tackle and managed to earn all kinds of accolades for his play. He was named an All-American by the Associated Press, FWAA, The Sporting News and Walter Camp. And those honors are not handed out lightly.
6. New York Giants – WR Malik Nabers, LSU
Back to the receiver well, the New York Giants tap the talented LSU passing corps for Malik Nabers in ESPN’s projected 2024 NFL Draft picks. And the Giants have certainly fared well with an LSU standout receiver before, with Odell Beckham Jr. turning into a star.
Nabers has comparable ability, if not the theatrics of the ridiculous catches Beckham is known for. In the last two seasons, Nabers recorded 2,586 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns, breaking out as a junior in 2023.
7. Tennessee Titans – OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
While Will Levis is one of the toughest pound-for-pound quarterbacks in the NFL, even he needs a little blindside protection. And Joe Alt can offer just that as one of the top offensive tackles in the draft class.
The Notre Dame star was a team captain for the Fighting Irish, showing he can mesh well in a locker room and be a strong leadership presence. He was also a unanimous All-American in 2023.
8. Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
Remarkably, we get all the way down to pick No. 8 before a defensive player is selected in ESPN’s 2024 NFL Draft projection. But the Atlanta Falcons will feel it was well worth the wait, taking one of the most disruptive players in college football.
Turner has the ability to wreck games off the edge, something that could greatly help the Atlanta defense. He racked up a whopping 120 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as an edge presence for the Crimson Tide.
9. Chicago Bears – WR Rome Odunze, Washington
The defensive theme doesn’t hold here, as Chicago uses its second pick on a weapon for its quarterback of choice — whether that ends up being Caleb Williams or Justin Fields. And it’s a good one.
Odunze was part of a prolific Washington pass attack the last couple years, playing with another likely high NFL Draft pick in quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Odunze put together a 1,640-yard campaign in 2023 in which he snagged 13 touchdown passes. He also ran for a score.
10. New York Jets – OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
Back to the offensive line for the New York Jets, who have to get better at protecting the quarterback. And it’s hard to do much better than Olu Fashanu out of Penn State, who likely would have been a first-round pick a year ago too.
Fashanu has the capability to play left tackle in the NFL after doing so at Penn State. As a senior, he was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
11. Minnesota Vikings – QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan
After letting franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins walk to Atlanta, the Vikings have a major need at the position. Someone to develop behind Sam Darnold and potentially start if things go south would be ideal, and JJ McCarthy fits the bill here.
McCarthy is nothing if not a winner, having done a whole lot of that during his Michigan tenure. He’s not quite as tested as some of the other quarterbacks in the draft, but he showed up when it mattered most during Michigan’s national championship run.
12. Denver Broncos – CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
For only the second defensive pick in the early goings of ESPN’s 2024 NFL Draft projections, the Denver Broncos take a player who can offer immediate help — and versatility — in the secondary. Arnold can do it all.
Arnold showed his ability to be a lockdown cornerback in 2023 when he picked off five passes and broke up 17 more. He’s just got a knack for getting the ball out when it’s in the air. That’s something just about every NFL team can put to use.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
ESPN points out that because the Raiders have already made a mega-signing on the defensive line, inking free agent Christian Wilkins to a four-year deal, they can now focus their efforts on the offensive side of the ball. And offensive line is a need.
Fuaga would certainly fit the bill as a veteran player who has played plenty of snaps and shown he can move a pile. He played in 39 games for Oregon State over the past four years, earning All-Pac-12 honors.
14. New Orleans Saints – OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
For New Orleans, beefing up the offensive line has to be a priority this offseason and the team has yet to make any moves in free agency to help that goal. So naturally, ESPN thinks the draft early on could be a chance to add some help.
Few tackles will be more coveted than Troy Fautanu, who played tackle at Washington but can also slide inside to guard, by most estimation. Fautanu started 28 games for Washington over the last two years and was named a third-team All-American in 2023.
15. Indianapolis Colts – CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
With the final pick in ESPN’s 2024 NFL Draft mock selections, the Indianapolis Colts are on the board and also turn to a defensive selection. Because of the re-signing of Michael Pittman, the Colts can likely avoid receiver in the first round.
That leaves Mitchell as a potential selection, an athletic cornerback who blazed at the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Like Arnold, Mitchell has a real knack for getting his hands on the football, with six interceptions and 32 pass breakups over the past two years.