Dr. Commish's First 2024 Mock Draft

Notre Dame's Joe Alt takes on Cincinnati's 2023 first-round selection out of Clemson, Myles Murphy. Alt is currently the 6th-ranked prospect on Dr. Commish's Big Board.

At last, the NFL regular season is over. Ron Rivera is currently unemployed, and so is legendary talent-sealer Arthur Smith. On the bright side, the order of the top 18 picks in the draft has been set in stone, giving us a slightly clearer picture of the dartboard we're blindly throwing at. A board that, to the welcome surprise of some and the chagrin of others, features the Chicago Bears twice in the top 10. Without further ado, we present to you our first official mock draft of the 2024 draft season from the Doctor himself. Wahoo!

The Current Order

1. CHI (from CAR)

2. WAS

3. NE

4. ARI

5. LAC

6. NYG

7. TEN

8. ATL

9. CHI

10. NYJ

11. MIN

12. DEN

13. LV

14. NO

15. IND

16. SEA

17. JAC

18. CIN

19. GB

20. TB

21. ARI (from CLE via HOU)

22. LAR

23. PIT

24. BUF

25. PHI

26. KC

27. HOU

28. DET

29. MIA

30. DAL

31. SF

32. BAL

The Picks

1. Chicago: Caleb Williams - QB, Southern Cal

I would have no complaints if the Bears elected to keep Justin Fields and continue to build the team around him after the growth he's shown in the pocket this season. But with the confusing offensive performance on Sunday leaving him winless against the Packers throughout his tenure, the right move for both his career and the organization's future may be to move on with the top rookie quarterback with the first pick. Now, rumor has it that Williams doesn't want to land in Chicago for the next four years; however, if the Bears choose to trade Fields, the USC star would be my top choice to replace him.

2. Washington: Drake Maye - QB, North Carolina

The Commanders are likely on their way to a complete tear-down-and-rebuild period over the next few years. Because of this, I could absolutely see them testing the trade market with this pick to bring in more young pieces later in the next few drafts. But I will refrain from hypothetical trade-back scenarios in this particular mock, leaving Washington to take the most valuable prospect left on the board in Maye.

3. New England: Jayden Daniels - QB, Louisiana State

This is the first real "shock of the mock" so far. New England has lacked a true WR1 since the Randy Moss days, and the honorable Marvin Harrison Jr., whose father was a contemporary of Moss, is still available. Not only that, but Jayden Daniels isn't even a top 10 prospect on my draft board. So why would owner Robert Kraft reach for a lesser quarterback prospect in this scenario? Well, there are two reasons I can think of off the top of my head: Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.

4. Arizona: Marvin Harrison Jr. - WR, Ohio State

This would make me unbelievably happy. Not only does this pick give Kyler Murray an ELITE wideout and true WR1 to fill the void left by the aging now-Titan DeAndre Hopkins, but this turn of events might also open the door for a certain LSU receiver to fall past 4 down to #9 and land in the Windy City for the next half-decade.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers - TE, Georgia

Fellas, Justin Herbert needs help. The man has single-handedly made his team relevant in the playoff discussion every year of his career while healthy despite the efforts of the league's second-worst head coach (Brandon Staley) to ruin his reputation as a franchise quarterback. Luckily, he wasn't healthy this year, leaving the Chargers with a top-5 pick and a shot at Jim Harbaugh as HC. Brock Bowers is a monster, and pairing him with Herbert's elite arm could spell a new era in the AFC West (Taylor Swift reference not intended).

6. New York Giants: Joe Alt - OT, Notre Dame

This team has potential. They just need protection first and foremost. Andrew Thomas is elite, but Evan Neal has struggled mightily in his first two seasons against NFL talent. There is still potential for Neal to develop, but the Giants need help now to protect their investment at QB in Daniel Jones while he's locked in as their starter. Joe Alt can provide that for them.

7. Tennessee: Olumuyiwa Fashanu - OT, Penn State

The Titans are in a similar situation; however, they don't have a cornerstone left tackle yet. Olu Fashanu is my top-ranked offensive lineman in this draft, and Tennessee could absolutely use his help up front opposite Andre Dillard.

8. Atlanta: Dallas Turner - EDGE, Alabama

I was tempted to give the Falcons another offensive skill position here, but with Arthur Smith out the door, I feel like the trend won't continue this year. Atlanta needs to juice up its defensive front, and Turner is one of the best athletes in the entire draft.

9. Chicago: Malik Nabers - WR, Louisiana State

Had Harrison Jr. not been in this draft, Nabers would have easily been my pick to land in Arizona at #4, which very well could still happen if Chicago keeps their quarterback. Malik Nabers is my "guy" among offensive prospects in this draft class, and teaming him up with Caleb Williams and DJ Moore is a tantalizing opportunity that GM Ryan Poles should take advantage of with little hesitation.

10. New York Jets: J.C. Latham - OT, Alabama

We all know what the Jets desperately want: A healthy franchise quarterback who can elevate their talented roster and win them a Super Bowl next year. Barring an unexpected transition to Jeopardy host or witch doctor, Aaron Rodgers is their man for the job. But with the 40-year-old QB having spent the 2023 season on injured reserve with an Achilles rupture, even that is uncertain. Building a 6'6", 350 lb. wall in front of him could ease that uncertainty.

11. Minnesota: Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry - CB, Alabama

The Vikings have many holes to fill on the defensive side and will likely be looking for Kirk Cousins' long-term replacement at QB. In this particular case, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would elect to re-sign star edge-rusher Danielle Hunter, making EDGE less of a need and more of a luxury. As a result, Minnesota takes a swing at a position they've lacked a difference-maker at for years by drafting arguably the best pure boundary defender in the class in McKinstry.

12. Denver: Jared Verse - EDGE, Florida State

I was hoping to sneak both Turner and Verse into the top 10, but this draft is just unbelievably loaded with high-end talent at the most important positions. The Broncos have some exciting young players in-house off the edge and could be in the market for a veteran here, so I considered DeJean or Newton at this spot. But Jared Verse is a premier EDGE talent with no known health concerns, and could give DC Vance Joseph (or his replacement) another elite impact player to build a defense around.

13. Las Vegas: Nate Wiggins - CB, Clemson

In this mock, the Raiders continue their habit of ruining NFL talent from Clemson (Clelin Ferrell, Trayvon Mullen, Hunter Renfrow). Wiggins is a high-upside playmaker in the secondary, and should develop into a solid piece in the Las Vegas secondary for years.

14. New Orleans: Rome Odunze - WR, Washington

By the time you read this, the Washington Huskies may or may not be the 2024 CFB National Champions; either way, Rome Odunze is a massive part of why their season has lasted this long. With an aging, oft-injured star receiver in Michael Thomas set to hit free agency this offseason, the Saints could look to replace him with a younger, more reliable version of himself.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Cooper DeJean - DB, Iowa

And for the second year in a row, the Hawkeyes send a white defensive back to the NFL via the draft.

16. Seattle: Laiatu Latu - EDGE, Cal-Los Angeles

With the midseason Leonard Williams trade, the Seahawks have some level of ability up front on defense. In bringing in Latu, the Seahawks bring in a true alpha off the edge to complete an already promising pass-rush with Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu.

17. Jacksonville: Terrion Arnold - DB, Alabama

Another versatile defender from Alabama makes his way into the first round of the draft, strengthening the Jags' secondary and paving the way for a Travon Walker breakout season in 2024.

18. Cincinnati: Amarius Mims - OT, Georgia

As tempting as it was to send Keon Coleman to Cincinnati with this pick, I believe the Bengals have finally learned the importance of investing deeply in Joe Burrow's safety in the pocket moving forward. Mims is my top tackle left on the board, and would provide the Bengals with another massive bookend up front opposite Orlando Brown Jr.

19. Green Bay: Taliese Fuaga - OT, Oregon State

David Bakhtiari is not reliable, and the Packers aren't prone to reaching for a position of greater need when they can fill a hole with good value. With no top options left in the secondary, Fuaga gives HC Matt LaFleur a cornerstone right tackle, opening the door for the incumbent Zach Tom to make his case on the other side.

20. Tampa Bay: Demeioun "Chop" Robinson - EDGE, Penn State

The Bucs could go a number of ways here, but I think the wisest path would be to bring in a young edge-rusher to provide some juice up front and potentially replace Shaquil Barrett long-term. "Juice" is exactly how I'd describe Chop's game, and his value should not be passed up this far into the draft.

21. Arizona: Jer'Zhan Newton - IDL, Illinois

Newton's slide ends here as the Cardinals opt to select the "best player available."

22. Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Guyton - OT, Oklahoma

The Rams solidify their protection on Matthew Stafford's blindside.

23. Pittsburgh: Quinyon Mitchell - CB, Toledo

The Steelers bring in another defensive back to solidify a developing secondary.

24. Buffalo: Keon Coleman - WR, Florida State

OC Joe Brady and star QB Josh Allen receive a true X-receiver opposite Stefon Diggs.

25. Philadelphia: Kamari Lassiter - CB, Georgia

Another Bulldog defender lands with the Eagles as GM Howie Roseman reunites Lassiter with former secondary mate Kelee Ringo.

26. Kansas City: Brian Thomas Jr. - WR, Louisiana State

Patrick Mahomes finally gets the elite deep threat he's been missing since Tyreek Hill left.

27. Houston: T'Vondre Sweat - IDL, Texas

The big man stays home to provide the up-and-coming Texans with a rock wall in their front four on defense.

28. Detroit: J.T. Tuimoloau - EDGE, Ohio State

Aidan Hutchinson receives help off the edge in the form of an old rival in Tuimoloau.

29. Miami: Jordan Morgan - OT, Arizona

An aging Terron Armstead is replaced with a star left tackle from the former Pac-12.

30. Dallas: Graham Barton - OL, Duke

The Cowboys continue to strengthen a formidable offensive front.

31. San Francisco: Troy Fautanu - OL, Washington

The O-Line run continues, providing the 49ers with stability up front outside of an aging Trent Williams.

32. Baltimore: Emeka Egbuka - WR, Ohio State

The Ravens provide MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson with sure hands following a drop-riddled 2023 season.