2024 NFL Draft: Two-Round April Mock Draft

Let's get a little creative for my second-to-last mock draft of the 2024 draft cycle

This is my second-to-last mock draft for the 2024 cycle. The final one will come out the week of the 2024 NFL Draft and will be submitted to competitions for grading. In the meantime, we’re going to get a little silly with this mock. If I hit on a few random picks, I’m a genius. If I miss all of them, this isn’t my final mock draft so no one will care in a week anyway.

This is not a “what I would do” mock draft. There are predictive elements here, I just scrambled around a few of the potential outcomes.

This article will be cross-posted on my friend Erik Buchinger’s Substack, Gunslinger Buzz, which covers quarterback recruiting, transfer portal, depth chart, and injury news. Make sure to go check out his work. No one offers more in-depth updates on the quarterback position than Erik.

The quarterback write-ups in this mock are longer than usual to give the Gunslinger Buzz readers something a little extra.

Mock Draft 1.0 l Mock Draft 2.0 l Mock Draft 3.0 l Mock Draft 4.0 l April Top 300 Big Board

Please leave your complaints in the comment section or send them to my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33.

2024 NFL Draft First Round

1. Chicago Bears (Via Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB USC

Alternative: None. Just make the easy pick.

This is an easy pick that the Bears decided on a while ago. Williams is a twitchy, elusive quarterback who creates off platform at an elite level. It’s rare to find a passer with his level of creativity, mobility, and arm strength/velocity.

Chicago has a much better offensive line than Williams played behind at USC, so the former Heisman Trophy winner will have time to develop as a pocket passer. The Trojans often didn’t afford him these opportunities. There are times when Williams passes up open short passes for deeper, riskier throws, but he’s good at playing smart and taking what the defense gives him.

Williams has elite-level accuracy, but his vision is sometimes inconsistent. This showed up against Notre Dame (2023) when he clearly didn’t see Fighting Irish defenders on some of his worst throws of the night. His willingness to trust his arm and challenge double coverage can lead to turnovers.

Williams must be careful about not holding the ball for too long in the NFL. He is willing to play within the pocket and structure, but hero-ball elements to his game sometimes lead to him retreating and trying to create something from nothing instead of throwing the ball away. Williams carries the ball too loosely, which leads to fumbles, but he is an elusive runner with great change of direction skills and impressive cutting ability.

Overall, Williams is one of the top five or six best quarterback prospects since 2010, and his traits are perfectly suited for the modern NFL.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB LSU

Alternative: Trade back with Minnesota OR draft Drake Maye

In the first year of a new regime with holes at several premier positions, Washington would heavily benefit from trading back and accumulating a king’s ransom. It seems unlikely that will happen. It also seems increasingly unlikely that the Commanders select Drake Maye, who has been widely viewed as QB2 for most of the season and pre-draft process.

It’s worth noting that the Commanders haven’t made their intentions known yet. Chicago is really the only team that has declared their selection.

Daniels is a thin quarterback with the best pure speed of any passer in this class. He erases angles and can outrun defensive backs. It wouldn’t be shocking if his top speed crossed the 20-miles-per-hour threshold. Unlike Caleb Williams, Daniels scrambles to run instead of scrambling to extend plays.

Daniels takes too many big hits at his size. He’s more reminiscent of Robert Griffin III than twitchier, more elusive and well-protected athletes like Lamar Jackson. Daniels needs to take fewer hits and reduce how often he invites pressure. He could struggle in this area because of the state of Washington’s offensive line.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is terrific at dropping the ball in the bucket deep down the sideline and throws one of, if not the best, go-balls in the class despite lacking a truly elite arm. His touch on fade routes is excellent, and his velocity pops on throws over the middle of the field. He’s also very protective of the football and has clearly improved his processing speed over the past two seasons.

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury previously coached Kyler Murray, a mobile quarterback from a college-friendly offense with a unique build that sometimes hindered his ability to throw over the middle of the field. Daniels embodies some of those same traits, although he is less twitchy than Murray, more prone to scrambling, and willingly passes up throws over the middle of the field instead of being unable to fully see and access them.

The LSU quarterback will feel at home in Kingsbury’s offense and has two field-stretching receivers to work with. Expect a lot of 9 routes for Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin in 2024.  

3. New England Patriots: J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan

Alternative: Draft Drake Maye OR Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Patriots do not have a general manager. Director of scouting Eliot Wolf is the highest-ranking man in their war room, which means soon-to-be 83-year-old owner Robert Kraft will leave a heavy imprint on this year’s draft class. Kraft, who voiced his displeasure with New England’s struggles over the past two years, isn’t used to losing.

Kraft wants to win, and he wants to do it now. This could lead the Patriots to passing on the opportunity to trade back and build a better environment for a 2025 rookie quarterback.

McCarthy isn’t a top-ten caliber prospect in the 2024 class. Without positional value, he’s arguably not even a top-25 prospect in the class. None of that matters because, once upon a time, Kraft’s team drafted an often-questioned quarterback from Michigan who won a lot in college and turned out to be the greatest player of all-time. That man (Tom Brady) has since called McCarthy the greatest quarterback in Michigan history.

With only two losses as a starter in his career since he entered high school, McCarthy fits the profile of a winning, embattled quarterback that Kraft might be seeking. In an ideal world, McCarthy would redshirt for his rookie season. New England can enter the year with that as the plan, considering Jacoby Brissett is one of the best backup/low-level starters in the NFL. However, few redshirt rookie quarterbacks actually ride the bench for their entire first year.

McCarthy is a good athlete with nice mobility and fluidity to operate outside of structure and off platform. He struggles to create rolling to his left but is very comfortable doing so rolling right. McCarthy has B-caliber arm strength and throws with some of the best touch in the 2024 class. He layers the ball between the defense’s second and third level and has shown significant strides with his ball placement.

McCarthy’s vision doesn’t reveal defenders lurking in throwing lanes, and he’s guilty of staring down his targets. He overestimates his arm strength and velocity when challenging difficult coverages and doesn’t throw with great anticipation. McCarthy occasionally misses throws from a clean pocket by wide margins because he double clutches or mistimes the throw and floats the ball high and outside his receiver’s catch radius.

He is still learning to recognize what the defense shows him, which leads to him overthinking some plays and working through his reads too slowly.

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

Alternative: Trade back with Minnesota OR New York (Giants)

Quarterbacks don’t go in the first four consecutive picks of the draft. It just doesn’t happen. Plus, the Cardinals don’t need to trade back since they already have a second first round pick in this year’s class. They’re in the perfect spot to draft one of the five best wide receiver prospects in the past 14 years. That’s not an opportunity they should trade away.

Trade: Chargers send No. 5 to Giants for No. 6 and No. 107

5. New York Giants (*Via Chargers): Malik Nabers, WR LSU

Alternative: Draft Drake Maye OR Rome Odunze

Trading up one spot for a prospect might seem weird, but it’s the same move New York made last year to select Deonte Banks. The Giants know wide receiver is a high-ranking need for the Chargers and that Chicago might be interested in moving up for another pass catcher. Trading up to five lets New York play the game their way without worrying about their top player getting sniped by another team.

New York might also feel comfortable drafting either Nabers or Rome Odunze, in which case they would stay put at sixth overall.

Trade: Chargers send No. 5 to Giants for No. 6 and No. 107

6. Los Angeles Chargers (*Via Giants): Rome Odunze, WR Washington

Alternative: Trade back with Minnesota OR draft Joe Alt

Wide receivers going in three consecutive picks seems highly unlikely, but the top three receivers in this class have the chance to receive even higher grades than some of their counterparts in the 2021 class. That year, pass catchers went at No. 4 (slot tight end Kyle Pitts), No. 5 (Ja'Marr Chase), No. 6 (Jaylen Waddle), and No. 10 (DeVonta Smith).

The new front office in Los Angeles has no loyalty to Quentin Johnston, who the past regime selected in the first round last year. Lacking a true top option for Justin Herbert makes selecting a receiver a priority. Jim Harbaugh didn’t throw much at Michigan, but his successful 49ers teams from 2011-14 had 1,000-yard receivers in Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree plus a high-caliber tight end in Vernon Davis. They aren’t going to run the ball 600 times…right?

7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, LT Notre Dame

Alternative: Trade back with Minnesota, but probably not

This has been the second-most copied and pasted selection I’ve projected in my mocks this year, only trailing Chicago taking Caleb Williams. Tennessee has one of the worst offensive lines in the league, but lauded offensive line coach Bill Callahan is one of the best developers in the NFL. There’s a chance the team trusts him to get the most out of the current group.

On the other hand, Callahan’s successful Browns units had former first round picks at tackle (Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr.), two former second round picks on the interior (Joel Bitonio and Ethan Pocic), and drafted Dawand Jones, a top-30-caliber prospect, when he fell to their lap in the fourth round. They should probably just draft Alt.

Trade: Falcons send No. 8 and No. 79 to Vikings for No. 11, No. 23, and 2025 First Round Pick

8. Minnesota Vikings (*Via Falcons): Drake Maye, QB North Carolina

Alternative: Stick at 11 and 23 unless Broncos or Raiders threaten to move up for a QB

Quarterbacks haven’t gone consecutively in the first four picks on the NFL Draft before, and that’s not going to change this year. The 2021 quarterback class was viewed much more highly than this current group, and a tight end went fourth overall. It shouldn’t be surprising if one of the quarterbacks slides, similar to how Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, or Josh Rosen have in the past.

The Vikings would love for Maye to fall to eight (if they have a first round grade on him). That might even allow them to keep their 2025 first round pick, unless teams like Denver and Las Vegas drive up the bidding price.

Maye has prototypical size at 6'4 3/8", 223 lbs. and is comfortable scrambling to keep the play alive and create off platform. His mobility is often understated. Defenses can’t leave him alone in space or he will quickly eat up ground and pick up a first down. There are times when he is too quick to duck his head and scramble, or he puts too much faith in his mobility and gets chased down by second level defenders.

Maye comes from a wonky North Carolina offense that hindered his development and won’t translate cleanly to the NFL. Fortunately, Kevin O'Connell is one of the best offensive minds in the business and will help him get back on track.

Maye is productive at all levels of the field and possesses elite arm strength and velocity. He drives the ball into tight windows along the sideline and can connect with receivers in-stride on 9 routes for big plays. Maye applies touch to feather throws between the defense’s second and third levels and generally leads receivers away from defenders with his ball placement. There are also flashes when he puts the ball where only his man can catch it versus tight coverage.

While operating from the pocket, Maye is willing to step up and take a hit if it means delivering a laser pass. He gets through reads cleanly but sometimes struggles to decipher what the defense is showing him. This leads to some poor decisions, which make Maye one of the more interception-prone members of the 2024 class. His decision-making breaks down against pressure, and he’ll force throws rather than take a sack.

Similar to J.J. McCarthy, Maye has some odd misses from a clean pocket. While he does have stretches of high-end accuracy and ball placement, these perplexing passes that often drift low and away from the receiver leave a lot of yards on the table.  

9. Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner, Edge Alabama

Alternative: Brian Thomas Jr. OR Byron Murphy  

Turner is at the top of the edge class for the NFL, but he doesn’t have the same high-end upside as past pass rushing stars like Will Anderson Jr., Aidan Hutchinson, Micah Parsons, and Chase Young. However, Chicago doesn’t need Turner to be a superstar. He just needs to complement Montez Sweat and give the Bears a viable pairing.

The Bears have already invested heavily in their secondary and don’t really need a Quinyon Mitchell, even if he’s arguably the top defender in the class. Chicago also heavily invested in the interior defensive line last draft, not that Gervon Dexter Sr. or Zacch Pickens should stop them from drafting Byron Murphy if they have an early first round grade on the Texas product. The Bears really can do anything here and shouldn’t feel pressured to make a needs-based pick.

10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE Georgia

Alternative: Draft Byron Murphy OR Olu Fashanu

Byron Murphy feels like such a Joe Douglas/Robert Saleh draft pick, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if that was the move here. Olu Fashanu could also be on the board considering Tyron Smith’s recent injuries, but the Jets seem to have faith in their swing tackles, Max Mitchell and Carter Warren.

A pass catcher group of Bowers, Mike Williams, and Garrett Wilson with limited contributions from Jason Brownlee, Tyler Conklin, Xavier Gipson, and Allen Lazard is good enough to get by in the AFC East.

Trade: Falcons send No. 8 and No. 79 to Vikings for No. 11, No. 23, No. 157, and 2025 First Round Pick

11. Atlanta Falcons (*Via Vikings): Quinyon Mitchell, CB Toledo

Alternative: Draft Terrion Arnold OR trade Kyle Pitts and draft Brock Bowers (if available)

A.J. Terrell is a very talented 25-year-old, but he hasn’t quite matched the performance from his 2021 All-Pro season. He actually hasn’t intercepted a pass since that breakout campaign. He and Mitchell would be an excellent pairing, but they might only be together for one season if Atlanta opts not to pay Terrell $19 million or more per year next offseason.

12. Denver Broncos: Byron Murphy, IDL Texas

Alternative: Draft Terrion Arnold OR Olu Fashanu OR best pass rusher available

Sean Payton is an offensive-minded head coach who doesn’t deal well with losing. If he had the opportunity, he would probably draft a quarterback, tight end, and replace most of his wide receiver room, but that’s not going to happen. The quarterback and tight end markets are empty here. Brian Thomas Jr. might be in play, but the WR4 in drafts usually doesn’t go until the late teens or early twenties.

When Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis had the Saints in perennial playoff contention, they threw endless picks at offensive and defensive linemen. Maybe Payton will adopt that strategy in Denver.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, RT Alabama

Alternative: Draft Taliese Fuaga OR Terrion Arnold

The right side of Las Vegas’ offensive line features Jordan Meredith, Thayer Munford Jr., and Dalton Wagner. Combined, those three have 1,024 career offensive snaps, and Munford (a 2022 seventh rounder) was the only one actually drafted. Maybe the Antonio Pierce staff likes Munford enough to give him the year at right tackle, but you won’t find a tackle class like this again. Strike while the iron is hot!

14. New Orleans Saints: Troy Fautanu, LT Washington

Alternative: Draft Jared Verse OR Olu Fashanu

We already discussed this when covering Denver, but you can bet on New Orleans taking an offensive or defensive lineman as long as Mickey Loomis is in power. They went d-line heavy last year with Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey. Now it’s time to address the o-line, especially if the Ryan Ramczyk injury could lead the former All-Pro right tackle to an early retirement.

Fautanu going over more traditional tackle prospects like Olu Fashanu and Taliese Fuaga might come as a surprise, but I wanted to shake things up from my usual selections.  

15. Indianapolis Colts: Brian Thomas Jr., WR LSU

Alternative: Draft Terrion Arnold OR Cooper DeJean

General manager Chris Ballard has a type: Big men who run fast. Thomas is a big man (6'2 7/8", 209 lbs.) who runs fast (4.33 40-yard dash with a 1.5 ten-yard split). He has a similar but slightly better testing profile to current Colt Alec Pierce.

Pierce is a good athlete and has a nice future in the NFL as a WR3 or WR4, but he capped out at under 600 yards in each of the past two seasons. Bumping him to the bench to pair Thomas with Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs gives the Colts one of the deeper wide receiver rooms in the league.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Terrion Arnold, CB Alabama

Alternative: Draft Byron Murphy (if available) OR Jackson Powers-Johnson

The Seahawks are such a strange team to draft for. They have offensive tackle depth and good enough guards to get by on the offensive line. It also feels like general manager John Schneider wants to give Olu Oluwatimi a shot at center (it’s a deep center class anyway). The pass rusher room lacks standouts but has four legitimate contributors. Jared Verse might be in play here, although he and Derick Hall share similar styles.

Instead, Schneider tries to get back to the good old days by building up Seattle’s secondary. Devon Witherspoon was dynamite as a rookie. It’s strange to suggest letting a top-five pick continue to play in the slot, but a death lineup of Arnold, Witherspoon, and Riq Woolen with Tre Brown, Coby Bryant, and Michael Jackson in reserve roles looks pretty enticing on paper.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, DB Iowa

Alternative: Draft top pass catcher available OR Nate Wiggins

I’ve seen DeJean’s versatility compared to Jalen Ramsey’s versatility in recent draft discussions. While I agree that DeJean could fulfill a wide variety of roles, including outside corner (in the right scheme), slot defender, and safety, I don’t think he’s anywhere near Ramsey as a prospect. He lacks the man coverage skills and lower body fluidity that made early-career Ramsey one of the best cornerback prospects of the past decade.

All of that said, Jacksonville runs a large percentage of zone looks and desperately needs help in the secondary. DeJean will start for the Jaguars somewhere. I’m not sure where that is, but they’ll figure it out.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Taliese Fuaga, T/G Oregon State

Alternative: Draft Amarius Mims OR Nate Wiggins OR Graham Barton

Cincinnati really feels like a good landing spot for Amarius Mims. Trent Brown has enough left in the tank that the Bengals can slowly introduce Mims to the league as he gains experience. However, Fuaga has been receiving significantly more pre-draft looks because of his experience and potential guard versatility. Mims is the better tackle, but not every team will be willing to take the risk of drafting a young prospect with under ten starts and an injury history.

It makes me grind my teeth that I didn’t put Mims here.   

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge Florida State

Alternative: Draft Laiatu Latu OR Olu Fashanu OR Nate Wiggins

The Rams hit big last draft with Steve Avila, Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young, accelerating their retooling process. They seem content to roll with Alaric Jackson at left tackle, although Olu Fashanu is surely tempting here. The real talent voids on this roster are along the defensive interior, at the second edge rusher position, and at cornerback.

There are a lot of bodies on this roster that Los Angeles could trot out at corner in any given week. Tre'Davious White and Darious Williams are the maybe-good, maybe-not-good veterans, and Cobie Durant, Shaun Jolly, Derion Kendrick, Quentin Lake, and Tre'Vius Tomlinson are the physically limited corners on rookie deals.

That secondary could use a Nate Wiggins, but the edge room is just as young and unproven. Last year, Verse was considered a potential top-ten caliber prospect. He still carries a lot of that potential. Byron Young brings the speed and burst, Verse packs the power.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Olu Fashanu, LT Penn State

Alternative: Draft Amarius Mims OR best DB available…no centers please

I originally had Graham Barton penciled in here and sent Fashanu to Miami at 21, but I was given such a dead-eyed look when I brought this scenario up earlier today that I switched the picks. Fashanu lacks the high-level physicality the Steelers seem to be pursuing for their Arthur Smith/Najee Harris-led offense, but you don’t find tackles with feet this nimble very often.

With holes in their wide receiver room, secondary, and interior offensive line, the Steelers are more than one draft away from patching up their roster. Getting a young, ascending tackle like Fashanu shortens that retooling process.

21. Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton, OL Duke

Alternative: Draft Troy Fautanu (if available) OR best DB available

Sorry Miami, you just missed out on getting Olu Fashanu. I envisioned the Penn State tackle as the long-term plan to take over for the often-injured Terron Armstead, but the former Pro Bowler is far from the only concern along Miami’s offensive line. The Dolphins have a nice crop of backup interior players, but all of their starters between the tackles are at best average. At worst, Miami will be scraping Tua Tagovailoa off the baking Hard Rock Stadium turf.

Two of Miami’s eight first round picks since the start of 2016 have been offensive linemen, and five of the picks have been offensive or defensive trench players. The earliest Miami has taken a guard or center during that time was 39th overall (Robert Hunt, who just signed for $20 million per year in Carolina). Maybe try more of that. And who knows, Barton might actually start a few games at left tackle before all is said and done.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia

Alternative: Draft Laiatu Latu OR Amarius Mims OR Graham Barton (if available)

Similar to Chicago’s second pick or Seattle’s pick, the Eagles have a ton of options and are hard to predict. They could always opt for some extra trench help, especially with Jason Kelce retiring and Cam Jurgens presumably kicking inside to center. They still have four viable edge rushers, maybe 3.5 considering Brandon Graham’s age.

Corner is a problem, but Philadelphia hasn’t drafted that position in the top 100 since 2017 (Sidney Jones at 43 and Rasul Douglas at 99). The franchise has drafted three first round wide receivers since the start of 2015. Adding McConkey bumped DeVante Parker to the bench, which is where he belongs at this point in his career.

Trade: Falcons send No. 8 and No. 79 to Vikings for No. 11, No. 23, No. 157, and 2025 First Round Pick

23. Atlanta Falcons (*Via Vikings): Laiatu Latu, Edge UCLA

Alternative: Draft Nate Wiggins OR Jer'Zhan Newton OR Chop Robinson

General manager Terry Fontenot and former head coach Arthur Smith set up a strong offensive foundation for Raheem Morris, who is a defensive head coach. He and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake are going to employ more of a traditional 3-4 scheme going forward, which is a good fit for Laitau. Quinyon Mitchell and Laitau are a strong duo for Atlanta to add after spending limited premier picks on defenders in recent years.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT Georgia

Alternative: Draft Jackson Powers-Johnson OR top pass catcher available

For the record, I’m not in favor of the “draft a talented right tackle and assume he can play on the left side” argument. It’s not conducive to early career success, especially for a win-now team like Dallas. This won’t be the pick I have for my predictive mock draft, but I needed to fill space and stop Mims’ slide.

Mims has the potential to be the top tackle in this class by the end of his career, but he was frequently injured at Georgia and didn’t see much playing time. Maybe his lack of experience at right tackle means he’ll be able to learn left tackle more easily. Maybe. Probably not.

Personally, I would keep Tyler Smith at left guard where he was an All-Pro. It feels like Dallas wants to kick him back out to left tackle, which makes this pick null and void. I have a lot of digging to do to figure this one out, and not much time to do it.

25. Green Bay Packers: Nate Wiggins, CB Clemson

Alternative: Trade out of Round 1 (share the wealth guys)

The Packers hired Jeff Hafley from Boston College to be their new defensive coordinator. Boston College ran a lot of man coverage last year, but Green Bay didn’t. Wiggins has the physical profile to excel in man coverage like he did at Clemson.

This pick unfortunately means the Packers will take reps away from former first round selection Eric Stokes and 2023 rookie standout Carrington Valentine.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C Oregon

Alternative: Draft Kool-Aid McKinstry OR best edge available

There are enough concerns about Powers-Johnson’s lower body injuries and concussions that he could justifiably fall out of the first round. We’ve seen it happen plenty of times before. We’ve also seen players medically retire in college but return to play and eventually go in the first round. Every team’s doctors are different.

Taking Powers-Johnson here isn’t the safest pick for the Buccaneers, but letting Robert Hainsey start at center for a third consecutive season isn’t exactly safe either.

27. Arizona Cardinals (Via Texans): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Alabama

Alternative: Draft an edge with “Robinson” as the last name

The Cardinals have been trying to get their cornerback situation under control for how many years at this point? They do need edge rushers, but you can build a pass rush rotation with several young players. Cornerback rotations aren’t really a thing. McKinstry never ascended to the level fans expected, but he’s still a worthwhile investment for Arizona.

28. Buffalo Bills: Chop Robinson, Edge Penn State

Alternative: Draft best pass catcher available OR Amarius Mims (if available)

Robinson’s inability to defend the run at a high level might push Buffalo in a different direction. There just aren’t many players with true first round-worthy ceilings left. Robinson has that ceiling, even if Darius Robinson and Marshawn Kneeland have higher floors.

The Bills need another outside weapon on offense, but I think they’ve had enough diva receivers for a while. Sit this one out, and circle back in the second round.

29. Detroit Lions: Keon Coleman, WR Florida State

Alternative: Draft Marshawn Kneeland OR best offensive lineman available

Separation? Who needs separation? Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, and the Lions don’t give a hoot about anyone’s draft takes. It’s popular to mock Coleman outside of the first round right now, but adding him gives Detroit three very different pass catchers at wide receiver, not to mention tight end Sam LaPorta or dynamic running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

I like the philosophy that NFL teams should build their wide receiver rooms like they’re building basketball teams. You need a point guard, a wing, and a big man. The analogy works because Coleman actually played basketball at Michigan State before transferring to Florida State…just go with it.

Coleman has the Michigan State ties, but Marshawn Kneeland went to Western Michigan. He also plays a position of need for Detroit, and his effort and production in run defense will likely catch the eye of Lions leadership.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Darius Robinson, Edge Missouri

Alternative: Draft Adonai Mitchell OR best RT available (Tyler Guyton)

Despite their inability to turn Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo into standout players, I somehow trust Baltimore to figure out Robinson’s best alignment and role in the NFL. The Ravens would pounce on Amarius Mims if he ever made it this far down the board, and I’m sure they’ll consider Tyler Guyton as well.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton, RT Oklahoma

Alternative: Draft whoever the Chiefs want! Don’t let them have nice things.

San Francisco probably won’t take an offensive lineman in my final predictive mock draft. Kyle Shanahan’s scheme is very offensive line-friendly, and the 49ers do a good job of succeeding despite a lack of premier talent (outside of Trent Williams). Guyton has elite traits for a guy his size but is still rough around the edges. He could potentially kick over to the left side if/when Williams retires.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Kris Jenkins, IDL Michigan

Alternative: Draft Adonai Mitchell OR best LT available

The Chiefs seem to take whoever they like, regardless of positional value or needs at other positions. Jenkins is a very athletic interior lineman who can be a wrecking ball in the run game and a pocket pusher as a pass rusher. His pass rush plan showed signs of improvement in 2023, and there’s some untapped potential to build on there.

Wide receiver or left tackle would make the most sense here, but the Chiefs probably expect to land a Round 2 receiver. As much as I disagree, I could see them liking Wanya Morris enough to roll with him as the Week 1 starter.

2024 NFL Draft Second Round

33. Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas

34. New England Patriots: Jordan Morgan, LT/G Arizona

35. Arizona Cardinals: Jer'Zhan Newton, IDL Illinois

36. Washington Commanders: Kingsley Suamataia, LT BYU

37. Los Angeles Chargers: Zach Frazier, C West Virginia

38. Tennessee Titans: Christian Haynes, RG Connecticut

39. Carolina Panthers (Via Giants): Marshawn Kneeland, Edge Western Michigan

40. Washington Commanders (Via Bears): Roman Wilson, WR Michigan

41. Green Bay Packers (Via Jets): Junior Colson, LB Michigan

42. Houston Texans (Via Vikings): Braden Fiske, IDL Florida State

43. Atlanta Falcons: Xavier Legette, WR South Carolina

44. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington

45. New Orleans Saints (Via Broncos): Michael Hall Jr., DL Ohio State

Trade: Colts send No. 46 to Broncos for No. 76, No. 145, and a 2025 Third Round Pick

46. Denver Broncos (*Via Colts): Bo Nix, QB Oregon

47. New York Giants (Via Seahawks): Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE Texas

48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL Clemson

49. Cincinnati Bengals: Ricky Pearsall, WR Florida

50. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Saints): T.J. Tampa, CB Iowa State

51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malachi Corley, WR Western Kentucky

52. Los Angeles Rams: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB/NB Missouri

53. Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Braswell, Edge Alabama

54. Cleveland Browns: Maason Smith, IDL LSU

55. Miami Dolphins: Xavier Worthy, WR Texas

56. Dallas Cowboys: Jonathon Brooks, RB Texas

57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kamari Lassiter, CB Georgia

58. Green Bay Packers: Patrick Paul, LT Houston

59. Houston Texans: Dominick Puni, G Kansas

60. Buffalo Bills: Troy Franklin, WR Oregon

61. Detroit Lions: Cooper Beebe, OL Kansas State

62. Baltimore Ravens: Javon Bullard, S Georgia

63. San Francisco 49ers: Max Melton, CB Rutgers

64. Kansas City Chiefs: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR Washington

Best Available: Offense

Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina

Trey Benson, RB Florida State

Blake Corum, RB Michigan

MarShawn Lloyd, RB USC

Jaylen Wright, RB Tennessee

Theo Johnson, TE Penn State

Ben Sinnott, TE Kansas State

Jared Wiley, TE TCU

Jermaine Burton, WR Alabama

Devontez Walker, WR North Carolina

Malik Washington, WR Virginia

Kiran Amegadjie, LT/G Yale

Blake Fisher, RT Notre Dame

Christian Jones, RT Texas

Roger Rosengarten, RT Washington

Isaiah Adams, G Illinois

Brandon Coleman, G TCU

Christian Mahogany, G Boston College

Zak Zinter, G Michigan

Best Available: Defense

T'Vondre Sweat, IDL Texas

Austin Booker, Edge Kansas

Adisa Isaac, Edge Penn State

Bralen Trice, Edge Washington

Edgerrin Cooper, LB Texas A&M

Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB Clemson

Payton Wilson, LB North Carolina State

Kris Abrams-Draine, CB/NB Missouri

Andru Phillips, NB Kentucky

Mike Sainristil, NB Michigan

Cole Bishop, S Utah

Calen Bullock, S USC

Jaden Hicks, S Washington State

Tyler Nubin, S Minnesota