With the Combine wrapped up, the NFL Draft is approaching expeditiously. Let’s get into an exciting 2024 mock draft of the first round and talk about how much it affects some of these players from a dynasty perspective.Â
1. Chicago Bears (From Carolina Panthers 2-15)
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
He has been the consensus projected number-one pick for over two years now. If the 21-year-old signal caller doesn’t go first overall in April, something unforeseen and unprecedented happened. Don’t overthink the 1.01 pick in your SF rookie drafts, and smash the draft button on Williams any chance you can.
2. Washington Commanders 4-13
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
New ownership, coaching staff, and second-overall draft pick indicate signs that a new franchise QB will be drafted. With Jayden Daniel’s draft stock increasing day by day, this isn’t as far of a long shot to happen as it once was. In an offense where Sam Howell produced a QB12 finish last season, along with Daniel’s rushing ability, this is an exciting fantasy outlook, to say the least. In this scenario, Daniels would solidify himself as the consensus 1.02 in SF rookie drafts.Â
3. New England Patriots 4-13Â
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Many people, including myself, expect New England to take their next QB with this pick in April’s draft. I believe this would be a home run pick for the Patriots. What has been their glaring hole over the past couple of seasons? A competent WR1 that either Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe can consistently depend on. MHJ would be a dominant addition to their talent-deprived offense and be the first key to rebuilding their roster. I can already see the disappointing reactions across the dynasty community regarding this landing spot. Where MHJ lands, he will make an NFL offense much better, and I am confident his production will flourish.Â
4. Arizona Cardinals 4-13
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
5. Los Angeles Chargers 5-12
Brock Bowers, TE, GeorgiaÂ
The most exciting TE prospect we have seen in recent years fills a humungous need for this Justin Herbert-led offense. This is the only pick of my mock draft that I am pleading to the draft gods to happen. Outside of Keenan Allen, there needs to be more consistency and dependability amongst the receivers for the Chargers since Herbert was drafted. With Jim Harbaugh coming to LA as their new HC, he will be ready to build around Herbert and get this team on track. Bowers consistently comes off the board around the 1.05-1.07 range in non-TE premium dynasty rookie drafts. This landing spot would likely move Bowers up 1 or 2 spots in rookie ADP, and rightfully so. Bowers immediately produced his first year at Georgia and built on that success over the next two seasons. For context, he had 714 yards in just 10 games this year before his injury. To top it all off, Bowers is an exceptional blocking TE, and that should keep him on the field for more than 85-90% of snaps.
6. New York Giants 5-12
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Growing frustrations with Daniel Jones and his bloated second contract, the Giants take their new franchise QB, who falls to them in this scenario. I admit this would be a headscratcher, similar to when the Giants took Jones sixth overall in 2019. Although Drake Maye is a much better prospect than what Jones was coming out. This would give the Giants flexibility with Jones’ behemoth of a contract with a potential out going into the 2025 season. Just like the fall in this draft scenario, Maye’s rookie ADP wouldn’t bode well either, probably resulting in him becoming valuable in rookie drafts.Â
7. Tennessee Titans 6-11
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Pairing Odunze with Deandre Hopkins would be astonishing from the NFL game perspective. Tennessee has yet to be pass-happy in recent years, but expect that to change with the new HC – Brian Callahan, who has coordinated the Bengals elite passing offense since 2019. This gives us another reason to watch what star RB Derrick Henry does in free agency; if he stays, it would be much harder for Odunze to get the targets to warrant a top 7 selection in rookie drafts. A new-look Titans offense with second-year QB Will Levis could be exciting, though!Â
8. Atlanta Falcons 7-10
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Another shocking development since the NFL Combine has been the WR ranking discussion surrounding Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers. Nabers was considered a tier higher, at least amongst most dynasty analysts, before the NFL Combine. Now, the draft community is raving about Odunze’s Combine performance and ranking Odunze 2nd and Nabers 3rd. The Falcons are ecstatic about this, though, as they are beefing up their already exciting skill position group with another elite prospect. If Nabers falls in rookie drafts similar to this mock draft scenario, this would be a perfect example of a time to trade up to get your guy.Â
9. Chicago Bears 7-10
Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama
10. New York Jets 7-10
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
11. Minnesota Vikings 7-10
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
12. Denver Broncos 8-9
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
This is a chalk selection for mock drafts everywhere. There have been consistent reports linking McCarthy to the Broncos. With Russell Wilson being released, the Broncos are desperate for a new QB but need more cap space to spend on free agents. McCarthy profiles more as a developmental QB and should sit his first year for optimal long-term career success, but what do I know? This will surely be their selection if Sean Payton sees a day 1 starter in J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy is already being taken around the 1.08 in rookie drafts. If this scenario happens, I could see McCarthy climbing up draft boards because he would have a clear path to being a Day 1 starter.Â
13. Las Vegas Raiders 8-9
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
14. New Orleans Saints 9-8
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
After number 1 WR Chris Olave and big-play threat Rashid Shaheed, there is a steep drop off in talent to the third option in this offense. Especially with Michael Thomas expected to be released at the start of the 2024 league year. This feels like a luxury pick for the Saints, who have multiple glaring needs on their offensive and defensive lines, but with the way this board played out, the Saints take a chance on the electrifying WR and his ridiculous speed. The dynasty community would not fall in love with this landing spot, though, so we could see a slide in Worthy’s rookie draft ADP. This situation could make Worthy a value in rookie drafts compared to where he was taken in this draft.Â
15. Indianapolis Colts 9-8
Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
16. Seattle Seahawks 9-8
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
17. Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
I haven’t seen any WRs mocked to the Jags, so it would be intriguing to explore this possibility! This would make for an abundance of receiving options for Trevor Lawrence in his third season. Calvin Ridley is set to be a free agent after the 2024 season, and the Jags could be planning for his departure with this selection. This scenario would make Thomas Jr.’s projection for his rookie season inferior to other potential landing spots. After the 2024 season, though, it would be wheels up for Thomas Jr.s fantasy outlook, assuming Ridley leaves Jacksonville.Â
18. Cincinnati Bengals 9-8
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
19. Los Angeles Rams 10-7
Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7
Laiatu Latu, DT, UCLA
21. Miami Dolphins 11-6
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
22. Philadelphia Eagles 11-6
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
23. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns 10-7)Â
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
24. Dallas Cowboys 12-5
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
25. Green Bay Packers 9-8
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans 10-7)
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
28. Buffalo Bills 11-6
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Do you want to talk about a dream landing spot? Well, this has to be the one for me from an actual football perspective and fantasy. If there’s a quarterback you want to throw to your wide receiver, then Josh Allen has to be near the top of your list. Of course, Stefon Diggs is still in town as the number 1 receiver for the 2024 season, but imagine if the Bills cut ties with him leading to the 2025 season. An already stellar prospect going to this type of situation is a recipe for fantasy hype and actual on-field production, making Mitchell a dynasty asset you could build your receiving core around for years.Â
29. Detroit Lions 12-5
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
30. Baltimore Ravens 13-4
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
31. San Fransisco 49ers 12-5
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
32. Kansas City Chiefs 11-6
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
This is reminiscent of the 2020 draft when the Chiefs had the 32nd pick and drafted LSU RB Clyde Edwards Helaire. This time, they made a much better selection addressing a dire team need. Even though Franklin lands with Patrick Mahomes, the fantasy community must be more excited about this landing spot. The burn that Clyde left in fantasy managers’ hearts (including mine) could keep Franklin at a decent value in rookie drafts compared to where he lands in this scenario with the best quarterback in the league.Â
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