Andrew Harbaugh’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The college football season is underway which means it is also time for a 2024 NFL mock draft. This season of college football is going to be special, the NFL draft, however, it may be an all-timer when the dust finally settles.

So many questions surrounding quarterbacks both in college and the NFL will make teams make critical choices. In this mock draft, I make some of these critical decisions with some trades and projections of roster moves that may make teams make certain moves come April.

Enjoy this first installment of my 2024 NFL mock draft series.

TRADE: The Cardinals trade the 1st overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for a package centered around the 7th overall pick

1). Las Vegas Raiders (via ARI) – Caleb Williams, QB, USC

The Raiders have a flair for the dramatics, trading for the top pick does that and more. Caleb Williams goes to a team with talented skill players, a decent offensive line, and an underrated defense to support him on the back end.

2). Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

They stick with Kyler Murray and give him a true number one to enjoy for as long as he is a Cardinal. Marvin Harrison Jr. fits right into this team and makes an impact on day one for the entire offense.

3). Indianapolis Colts – Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The skill players are in place for Anthony Richardson, the offensive line may be as well if Bernard Raihman turns into something. In the event he doesn’t, a franchise tackle isn’t a bad choice to par with a young quarterback.

4). Tennessee Titans – Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

Jared Verse is a gritty, high-motored wrecking ball and is the type of player the Titans target on defense. Him on the line with Jeffrey Simmons working next to him would almost be unfair for teams to play against.

5). Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

The Buccaneers are rolling with Baker Mayfield to start the year with Kyle Trask waiting in the wings. Neither of them has the long-term upside of Drake May and with the current skill players, the team boasts he could find success immediately.

6). Los Angeles Rams – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

The Rams need…a lot of work, it all starts by rebuilding this defense while the offense still has some legs. A playmaking corner like McKinstry is a good start to pair with Aaron Donald for as long as they are together.

7). Arizona Cardinals (via LV) – Kalen King, CB, Penn State

The Cardinals’ defense was gutted by departures in free agency as well as a retirement from J.J. Watt. Kalen King can come in and be the team’s number one corner while Marco Wilson plays a complementary role opposite him.

8). Chicago Bears (via CAR) – Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

The offense is taking shape, Justin Fields is getting the help he needs but now the defense gets some help. Chop Robinson brings a nastiness they haven’t had on the defensive line since Khalil Mack departed.

9). Washington Commanders – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

This team could be facing an identity crisis a year from now, regardless they need playmakers on defense. Cooper DeJean is a versatile piece that can play multiple roles on defense and makes plays at every one of them.

10). Atlanta Falcons – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Jake Matthews isn’t getting any younger, Alt could be a plug-and-play choice for the Falcons and could help this loaded offense keep any flow it gains in 2023.

11). Green Bay Packers – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

They need to give Jordan Love some top-end receiving talent. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are nice but Egbuka is on another level entirely and could take this offense to the next level.

12). New England Patriots – Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois

Bill Belichick with the ability to coach and scheme with Jer’Zha Newton would be beyond hysterical. A fun piece in the middle of a defense that can become the identity of this team in the Mac Jones era.

13). Minnesota Vikings – Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

They threw a bandaid on the Danielle Hunter situation but need a long-term answer. With money being a potential issue, drafting Dallas Turner to fill his role on the edge works out just fine.

14). Chicago Bears – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Yes, I just said earlier that Justin Fields has plenty of help but let us get him one more receiver. Malik Nabers can be used in several roles on the offense which is perfect to keep the eyes of the defense on him and free up more play design for Fields.

15). Denver Broncos – Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

Denver on offense may have something, the defense needs to catch up to it now. Laiatu Latu plays with a mean streak that would be great opposite Zach Allen, sign me up for that pass rush duo in the AFC West.

TRADE: The Texans trade the 16th overall pick to the Detroit Lions for a package centered around the 24th overall pick

16). Detroit Lions (via HOU) – Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

The Lions get aggressive for the first time in the Brad Holmes era by utilizing the last deal of Jared Goff’s deal. Quinn Ewers can sit a year, get acclimated, and keep this uptick the Lions are on rolling with the amazing offensive pieces around him.

17). Pittsburgh Steelers – JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State

Cam Heyward has shown no signs of stopping but why not add another Buckeye pass rusher? Tuimoloau needs some development, no better examples to be around than Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt.

18). New York Giants – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Giants are now all-in on Daniel Jones and they need to keep building that way. The defense is lowkey one of the best in the NFL, giving Jones a big athletic target like Odunze makes all the sense in the world.

19). New Orleans Saints – Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington

Cameron Jordan, like Heyward, has shown no signs of stopping as he is aging like fine wine. Trice can develop alongside Jordan while being in the rotation of pass rushers they have on the roster before eventually taking over.

20). Seattle Seahawks – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

https://twitter.com/AHarbaugh_/status/1663529170691817473

Geno Smith signed a favorable three-year deal with the Seahawks this offseason but again he may not be the answer beyond that. Bo Nix has shown a career renaissance in the Pacific Northwest so why not keep him in that area while on an offense loaded with skill players?

21). Jacksonville Jaguars – Kamren Kitchens, SAF, Miami (FL)

The Jaguars are in a good place and can kind of take the best player available approach for once. That lands them Kamren Kitchens here who could be a fun playmaking safety on the back end of the defense.

22). Los Angeles Chargers – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Giving Justin Herbert the weapon that is Brock Bowers almost seems unfair but here we are. Him being with Quinten Johnston and Mike Williams long-term could give the Chargers the best offense in the league in the next two to three years.

23). Miami Dolphins – JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Austin Jackson has not been the greatest pick in the Chris Grier era and that’s okay. JC Laham is a right tackle prospect with all the size and all the promise to be a centerpiece of their offensive line to keep Tua Tagovailoa both happy and healthy.

24). Houston Texans (via DET) – Leonard Taylor, DL, Miami (FL)

The Texans have a lot of potential on defense but they need to sure up the middle of their defensive line. Leonard Taylor does that and more in a Demeco Ryan defense both immediately and in the future.

25). Baltimore Ravens – Josh Newton, CB, TCU

https://twitter.com/InsiderTCU/status/1694799461044642023

Marlon Humphrey needs some help and Josh Newton is a fun complimentary piece opposite him. Newton is a physical corner who can play man or zone and could be a great fit on the Ravens’ defense.

26). Green Bay Packers – Graham Barton, OT, Duke

The steal of the draft may be the Packers getting a franchise tackle at pick 26. Graham Barton plays with a controlled mean streak and would be the perfect shoo-in for David Bahktiari who may not be in a Packers uniform beyond this season.

27). Dallas Cowboys – Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

Speed on the edge with Micah Parsons, playmaking cornerback play with Trevon Diggs, and getting Barrett Carter and his cruise missile play style in the middle of them could be insanely fun.

28). Buffalo Bills – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

https://twitter.com/BR_CFB/status/1459702342144741378

Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis need a complimentary piece between them either outside or in the slot, Xavier Worthy can be that and more. A small build receiver who separates well and plays bigger? Yes, that will do.

29). San Francisco 49ers – Kris Jenkins Jr., DL, Michigan

No one more than me wants Javon Kinlaw to develop into something, thus far he hasn’t. Getting Kris Jenkins Jr. as an insurance choice behind him isn’t a bad idea.

30). Cincinnati Bengals – Maason Smith, DL, LSU

Getting interior pass rush and run defense in the AFC North goes a long way. Maason Smith can do both of those while also being gifted physically to handle the NFL-sized interior blockers he will be facing.

31). Philadelphia Eagles – Tyler Nubin, SAF, Minnesota

Great run support, and decent pass coverage, no matter what he makes plays and could fill the role that was left empty by CJ Gardner-Johnson while being a great playmaker they can scheme around with.

32). Kansas City Chiefs – Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan

They missed on Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and they hit on late-round pick Isiah Pacheco, but they need an every-down playmaking back. Edwards can score on every touch he gets in a game while also being reliable as a pass blocker.