Daniel Jeremiah 2024 NFL mock draft 3.0: Making some sense

Daniel Jeremiah's newest mock draft is making sense to me.

It's still too early but I agree with about 95% of his top 25 picks as of 03/19/24.

Daniel Jeremiah 2024 NFL mock draft 3.0:
Published: Mar 19, 2024 at 08:48 AM

Pick
1
Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams
USC · QB · Junior
The Bears have cleared the runway by trading Justin Fields. I’ll be stunned if Williams isn’t their choice at No. 1, and they’ve built an outstanding supporting cast for him.

Pick
2
Washington Commanders
Drake Maye
North Carolina · QB · Sophomore (RS)
I don’t have any more clarity on this pick than I did in my last mock. The Commanders did move on from Sam Howell, and I’m sticking with Maye here.

Pick
3
New England Patriots
Jayden Daniels
LSU · QB · Senior
I’m sure the Patriots will receive lucrative offers for this pick. At the end of the day, they need to address the most important position on the field and could do so with the third overall selection.

Pick
4
Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy
Michigan · QB · Junior
PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS

Now the fun really begins. After their recent trade with the Texans, it seems the Vikings are situated to aggressively move up to draft Kirk Cousins’ replacement. The Cardinals trade down, bypassing a chance to pick the first receiver off the board, but they address the position later in Round 1 (SEE: Pick No. 23).


Pick
5
New York Jets
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Ohio State · WR · Junior
PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The Jets are all-in with a veteran quarterback and they recently acquired two offensive tackles to shore up the O-line. They desperately need another playmaker in the passing game to complement Garrett Wilson, so they trade up to select Harrison, the top receiver in the draft and Wilson’s former Ohio State teammate.

Pick
6
New York Giants
Malik Nabers
LSU · WR · Junior
I wouldn’t rule out the Giants trading up for a quarterback this year. If they stick and pick at No. 6, adding Nabers’ playmaking ability would be a good move.

Pick
7
Tennessee Titans
Joe Alt
Notre Dame · OT · Junior
The Titans’ experiment with Andre Dillard did not work out last season, so they select Alt to be a staple at left tackle for the next decade.

Pick
8
Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Turner
Alabama · Edge · Junior
The Falcons took care of their offense in free agency, most notably with the signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins. They still need to address their annual pass-rush concern.

Pick
9
Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze
Washington · WR · Senior
The Bears could go pass rusher here after adding Keenan Allen at receiver, but I can't resist the prospect of playing Odunze alongside Allen and DJ Moore to give projected first overall pick Caleb Williams a Bengals-like receiving corps.

Pick
10
Los Angeles Chargers
Taliese Fuaga
Oregon State · OT · Senior
PROJECTED TRADE WITH NEW YORK JETS

The Chargers have stressed that they want to be able to protect Justin Herbert and run the ball under Jim Harbaugh. Fuaga is the most physical blocker in the draft and would start at right guard in Year 1 before becoming the long-term right tackle. I know there are Bolts fans who want to see them pick a receiver early in Round 1, but they can get a first-round-caliber wideout in the second round this year -- and they'd also pick up a second-round pick in next year’s draft by making this projected trade with the Jets. Getting extra picks is going to be part of the building plan here, allowing Los Angeles to add starters via the draft at an affordable price after paying Herbert big bucks.

Pick
11
Arizona Cardinals
Jared Verse
Florida State · Edge · Senior
PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The Cardinals trade back and still get an elite edge rusher in Verse.

Pick
12
Denver Broncos
Brock Bowers
Georgia · TE · Junior
I know tight end is not a pressing need for the Broncos, but this is a "best player available" situation. They can deploy Bowers in the slot, similar to the way Sean Payton utilized Michael Thomas in New Orleans.

Pick
13
Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Penix Jr.
Washington · QB · Senior
The Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to compete against Aidan O’Connell. However, I don’t think those two quarterbacks have the ceiling that Penix does in the NFL. There’s an assumption that Penix is more of a second-rounder, but I believe his skill set is a unique fit for the Raiders’ style of play.

Pick
14
New Orleans Saints
Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Penn State · OT · Junior (RS)
2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has not worked out for the Saints. Fashanu is the new solution at left tackle.

Pick
15
Indianapolis Colts
Quinyon Mitchell
Toledo · CB · Senior
I’ll always look to connect the Colts to toolsy prospects. Mitchell ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and he was phenomenal at the Senior Bowl.

Pick
16
Seattle Seahawks
Troy Fautanu
Washington · OT · Senior
Fautanu reunites with Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who was his OC at UW. Fautanu can play tackle, but he would slide in at guard as a rookie with the 'Hawks.

Pick
17
Jacksonville Jaguars
Terrion Arnold
Alabama · CB · Sophomore (RS)
Arnold plays much faster than he timed at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.50 40-yard dash). He can line up inside and outside for Jacksonville.

Pick
18
Cincinnati Bengals
JC Latham
Alabama · OT · Junior
Addressing offensive tackle is a must for the Bengals, even with Trent Brown signing a one-year deal with the team. In a draft that is stacked at the position, they should be able to stay patient and have a talented player fall to them.

Pick
19
Los Angeles Rams
Laiatu Latu
UCLA · Edge · Senior
I think adding a complementary edge rusher makes a lot of sense, with 2023 rookie sensation Kobie Turner the main man in the middle following Aaron Donald’s retirement. Latu is the most natural pass rusher in the class.

Pick
20
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tyler Guyton
Oklahoma · OT · Junior (RS)
The Steelers have undergone a complete makeover at quarterback, but they still need an upgrade at tackle to play opposite last year’s first-round pick, Broderick Jones.

Pick
21
Miami Dolphins
Graham Barton
Duke · IOL · Senior
The Dolphins have endured a lot of losses in free agency, including on the interior of the offensive line. Barton has legitimate five-position flexibility.

Pick
22
Philadelphia Eagles
Nate Wiggins
Clemson · CB · Junior
The Eagles' pass defense was atrocious last season. Wiggins is the most natural cover man in this year’s draft.

Pick
23
Arizona Cardinals
(via CLE through HOU)
Brian Thomas Jr.
LSU · WR · Junior
PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The Cardinals passed on a chance to pick a receiver at No. 4 in this scenario, but they still land a premier pass catcher after trading down.

Pick
24
Dallas Cowboys
Jackson Powers-Johnson
Oregon · IOL · Junior
Eleven years ago, the Cowboys took center Travis Frederick near the bottom of the first round and that worked out well. They go back to the same formula with Powers-Johnson.

Pick
25
Green Bay Packers
Amarius Mims

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