Steven Cheah's 2024 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
The Final Four is set and March Madness has two calendar days left. It's April 1st, so let's get into Draft Mode! Here is my 3rd Mock Draft.
And here is 1.0 and 2.0 for reference.
*This Mock Draft has been reviewed and approved by Senior Draft Analyst, Liam Blutman.
1) Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) - QB Caleb Williams (USC)
Justin Fields is having a Primanti Bros. sandwich far away from Chicago. With no other starting QB on the roster, it's clear that they're going with a signal caller. Caleb Williams is most people's top guy. He's got incredible escapability and arm talent. But I would openly question if he's built for NFL Quarterback life. And this has nothing to do with painted nails or a pink phone case. However, if your'e insecure enough to be responding to Jack Mac (who is the best) making fun of your phone case, how will you handle it when the spotlight is 1,000X brighter? This is simply not QB1 behavior. Also shoutout to Jack Mac the engagement gawd.
2) Washington Commanders - QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Liam called this about six weeks ago and now Daniels is now listed as -150 to be the 2nd overall pick. The one thing that makes me believe the reigning Heisman Trophy winner will be playing football in Landover, Maryland next year is that Dan Quinn was a Defensive Coordinator with the Cowboys last year. Dallas had losses last year to Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, and Josh Allen. Mobility, not only to buy time, but to have designed runs with your Quarterback is a Defensive Coordinator's worst nightmare. Daniels gives you that in spades and this time around, DQ is going to give himself a Quarterback with that dimension.
3) New England Patriots - QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
Jim Harbaugh called J.J. McCarthy the greatest Quarterback in Michigan history and Tom Brady agreed. Brady's sign-off isn't what the Pats need, but I do think it's a fair representation of what they're looking for in a Quarterback. McCarthy is a proven winner who has good size, decision making, and doesn't make mistakes. The Pats new Head Coach is a former Linebacker who likely won't stray too far from his mentor's principals in that you need a Quarterback who makes good decisions, doesn't make mistakes, and gives you a chance to win each week. That is McCarthy. And while it's nice that he went to Michigan and has that connection with Brady. This is more about a Defensive Head Coach who wants to rely on his defense and have a solid, young Quarterback who won't fuck that up.
4) Arizona Cardinals - WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
The Cardinals will be thrilled to have the arguably the top player in the draft fall into their laps at #4 overall. At 6'4" 206 lbs. he's had back-to-back 1,200+ yard 14-TD seasons.
5) *TRADE* Minnesota Vikings (via LA Chargers) - QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)
Minnesota trades the #11 pick, the #23 pick, and a 3rd round pick next year to the Chargers for the #5 pick
The Vikings have been acquiring assets to make a move with the intel that Maye is falling a bit. New Vikings QB Coach Josh McCown has a history with Maye dating back to High School when he would give him feedback on his tape. They could now be doing that at the highest level and with Kirk Cousins out the door and with Sam Darnold the only viable QB on the roster and the recent acquisition of the #23 overall pick, the Vikings are loaded up to make a move with the availability at the position for it to make sense.
6) NY Giants - WR Malik Nabers (LSU)
The Giants have made no secret they'd be open to a QB, but at #6 overall they decide to go back to the well and take an explosive LSU Wide Receiver with #1 WR potential in Nabers.
7) Tennessee Titans - OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
The Titans need to protect Will Levis at all costs and even though they drafted Peter Skoronski last year, but he started at Left Guard. At 6'8" 322 lbs. with good athleticism, Alt represents a safe bet from a school that continually churns out quality Offensive Lineman.
8) Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Dallas Turner (Alabama)
With Raheem Morris in town they'll need to address the pass rush. He likes to get after the Quarterback and the Falcons didn't have a single player with seven sacks last season. Turner is the top EDGE in the class and gives them a building block on the outside. And after running a 4.47 40-yard dash in Indy.
9) Chicago Bears - OT Olu Fashanu (Penn State)
This is all about Caleb Williams and making him comfortable. Yes, the Bears could use better protection around him. But keep in mind, Justin Fields was also endeared to that locker room. Fashanu is a guy who could not only protect Williams, but vouch for him having played with him in High School.
10) NY Jets - WR Rome Odunze (Washington)
The Jets have a window of 1-2 years and they are acting as such. They signed LT Tyron Smith to pair with RT Morgan Moses to make a veteran, patchwork Offensive Line and choose to spend their premium pick at Receiver. And at 6'3" 215 lbs. running a 4.45, Odunze has the size and speed to dominate opposite Garrett Wilson.
11) TRADE LA Chargers (via Minnesota Vikings) - OT Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State)
The Chargers need to protect Justin Herbert at all costs. Rashawn Slater is a very good Left Tackle, but they need help on the other side and Fuaga is 6'6" 324 lbs. with 33 1/8" inch arms and with Right Tackle experience. He also crushed the Combine running a 5.11 40-yard dash and a 9'1" broad jump.
12) Denver Broncos - EDGE Jared Verse (Florida State)
The Broncos have a ton of needs, so this is a best player available situation. Jarrett Stidham at QB isn't ideal, but I don't think picking the 5th best QB at 12th overall is very prudent. Verse can at least help heat up Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and whoever is playing QB for the Raiders.
13) Las Vegas Raiders - CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo)
Despite playing at Toledo, Mitchell has a real chance to be CB1 in this class. He bested Alabama's Terrion Arnold with a 4.33 second 40-yard dash which just continued to bolster his off-season which included a dominant week in Mobile for the Senior Bowl. The Raiders need a lot of help in pass defense so Mitchell fits the bill at #13.
14) New Orleans Saints - TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)
Derek Carr did his best work with Darren Waller with the Raiders. Despite having Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill at Tight End, they don't really have a guy who can step into the slot and dominate (*that also plays - shoutout finesse gawd Michael Thomas). Bowers could do just that and provide mismatches immediately in the NFC South.
15) Indianapolis Colts - CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama)
The Colts re-signed Kenny Moore II, but at 5'9" 190 lbs., he's more of a slot Corner. Arnold is 6'0" 189 lbs. and would give the Colts better size on the outside.
16) Seattle Seahawks - OT/OG JC Latham (Alabama)
The Seahawks need some help on the Offensive Line. They invested a top 10 pick in LT Charles Cross last year but outside of that have a lot of weak spots. At 6'6" 335 lbs. with 35 1/8" inch arms, Latham has the size to play Tackle but can also slide inside to bolster the interior and be a force in the run game.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)
The Jags lost Calvin Ridley to their division rival, Tennessee Titans and Thomas has great size and speed. At 6'3" 209 lbs. he blazed a 4.33 40-yard dash and has the tools to be a #1 Wideout at the next level.
18) Cincinnati Bengals - C/OG Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)
Yes, this is very early for a Center. But JPJ can play Center or Guard. And with Joe Burrow missing significant time over the past few seasons, protecting him is priority #1.
19) LA Rams - OT Troy Fautanu (Washington)
The Rams are slowly but surely building their Offensive Line. Steve Avila was a great pick last season and they continue to build in the trenches with Fautanu who is an ass kicker who can play Tackle.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers - LB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M)
At 6'3" 230 lbs. Cooper blazed a 4.51 40-yard dash solidifying himself as a 1st round prospect. The Steelers could use a young, sideline-to-sideline LB behind a fearsome pass rush.
21) Miami Dolphins - OT/OG Graham Barton (Duke)
The Dolphins never really replaced Mike Pouncey, but Barton offers similar position versatility. He can play Tackle, but is probably better suited inside at Guard or Center. Wherever he lines up, helping keep Tua healthy is the priority.
22) Philadelphia Eagles - EDGE Chop Robinson (Penn State)
The Eagles love to invest in D-Line and O-Line early and I have them taking a local guy, Chop Robinson, who while he doesn't have a ton of production as far as sack numbers, is a game wrecker with elite measurables.
23) *TRADE* LA Chargers (via Minnesota Vikings) - WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia)
The Chargers have this pick after trading out of the #5 spot. In return they got the 11th pick which they turned into Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga and now they take a bit of a surprise with McConkey out of Georgia. Not the biggest fella, at 5'11" 187 lbs, but he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. He is explosive in and out of his breaks and should translate quickly. He'll compliment Quentin Johnston nicely who can hopefully rebound from a tough rookie season.
24) Dallas Cowboys - WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas)
AD Mitchell has been jumping up draft boards like his 39.5" inch vertical leap. His combine was outstanding blazing a 4.34 second 40-yard dash at 6'2'" 205 lbs. His 11'4" inch broad jump also confirmed his elite explosion. He's a bit raw, but he's a big, fast field-stretcher opposite CeeDee Lamb would be tantalizing
25) Green Bay Packers - OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)
David Bakhtiari is gone. Mims ran a 5.07 40-yard dash at 6'8" 340 lbs. He's a mammoth protector that can help keep Jordan Love healthy early on.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB/S Cooper DeJean (Iowa)
This is such a Bucs pick and I love it. DeJean is a DB with position versatility. He can play Boundary CB, Nickel, or Safety. The Bucs LOVE that. They have tinkered with that with Antoine Winfield Jr., but more recently with Zyon McCollum and spent a 2nd rounder on MJ Stewart a few years ago because they thought he could do it all. The Bucs traded away CB Carlton Davis to Detroit this off-season and a big reason was lack of on-ball production. Cooper DeJean has the nickname, the playmaking machine not only because it rhymes. He has 7 INTs 13 PBUs and 3 TDs over the past two seasons. He'll fit in beautifully in Todd Bowles system.
27) Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans) - OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
DJ Humphries struggled last year and is no longer with the team. Guyton, who has had a great off-season circuit, could slot in there or at Left Guard to help keep Kyler Murray upright.
28) Buffalo Bills - EDGE Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
The Bills have swung on a lot of early EDGE rushers. Greg Rousseau had only 3 sacks last year. Will Von Miller be back? Leonard Floyd was a stop gap. Latu would be drafted a lot higher if not for medical concerns, though he appeared to get a clean bill of health at the Combine.
29) Detroit Lions - CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri)
The Lions traded for CB Carlton Davis, but still need more help in the secondary. Rakestraw has good size at 6'0" 188 lbs., but a lack of on-ball production (only 1 collegiate INT) keeps him from going higher.
30) Baltimore Ravens - CB Kamari Lassiter (Georgia)
The Ravens are always looking to improve their secondary and the truth is, Marlon Humphrey had a down year and missed multiple games in three of the last four years. Lassiter is 6'0" 186 lbs. and can help give the Ravens more depth in the secondary.
31) San Francisco 49ers - EDGE/DT Darius Robinson (Missouri)
The 49ers lost Arik Armstead to Jacksonville this off-season and Robinson offers similar position versatility. He's a big 4-3 DE at 6'5" 285 lbs. with 34 1/2" inch arms that can kick inside on obvious passing downs.
32) Kansas City Chiefs - WR Troy Franklin (Oregon)
Who knows what'll happen with Rashee Rice after that car accident stuff came out yesterday. But either way, they still need help at Receiver. Franklin is a polarizing player, but at 6'0" 176 lbs. running a 4.41 and with playspeed that's even faster than that, he'd be an awesome weapon for Patrick Mahomes and co.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for Mock Draft 4.0 in the coming weeks…