2024 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots trade back but still land first-round QB; Steelers fortify OL for Russell Wilson

Justin Fields has yet to be traded, but that doesn’t impact the Bears’ draft plans. Caleb Williams will be the pick here.

New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury gets another dual-threat dynamo and Heisman Trophy winner (with Kyler Murray being the other) in Jayden Daniels.

Of teams with top-three picks, it seems as though the Patriots have the weakest roster. So, while New England badly wants to find a long-term successor to Tom Brady, it opts to trade back eight spots and acquire valuable assets it can use to build out its team under new head coach Jerod Mayo. Meanwhile, the Vikings get their Kirk Cousins replacement in Drake Maye using the second first-round pick they gained in a trade with the Texans.

The Cardinals opt to keep the No. 4 pick and select one of the best WR prospects in recent memory.

It’s never a bad thing to provide Justin Herbert with the best offensive tackle in the draft class, but the Chargers decide to go the receiver route after releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen. Malik Nabers has all of the tools to be a big contributor right away in Los Angeles.

Best-case scenario for the Giants, who get the QB they’re reportedly interested in without giving up anything.

The Titans got Will Levis a stud RB (Tony Pollard) and a stud WR (Calvin Ridley) in free agency. Now they get him a stud LT in Joe Alt.

With Kirk Cousins signed, the suddenly dangerous Falcons turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball. Dallas Turner gives Atlanta firepower off the edge.

This pick was initially Rome Odunze. Then the Bears traded for Keenan Allen. I don’t think the Allen trade prohibits Chicago from still going WR here, especially if they view Odunze as a blue-chip player, but in this mock draft, the front office pairs Montez Sweat with one of the best pass rushers in this class in Jared Verse.

The Jets were reportedly keyed in on Taliese Fuaga at the Senior Bowl, and the Oregon State standout has done nothing to hurt his chances of being a top-10 pick. The offensive line remodel continues in front of Aaron Rodgers.

The Patriots reportedly tried to land Calvin Ridley in free agency, but the star WR ended up signing with the Titans. New England’s consolation prize at WR1 is the powerful and productive Rome Odunze.

Russell Wilson is officially gone, so the Broncos are definitely in the mix to add a QB. I just don’t know if Sean Payton is willing to give up as many assets as other teams (Vikings, Giants, etc.) to move into position to take one of the top prospects. Instead, Denver adds a arguable top-5 talent outside the top 10.

Olu Fashanu falls into the laps of the Raiders, who are in need of quality offensive linemen after Jermaine Eluemunor left for the Giants in free agency.

Michael Thomas out, Brian Thomas Jr. in for Derek Carr and the Saints offense. The other LSU standout has all the tools to thrive alongside Chris Olave.

The Colts made Kenny Moore the highest-paid nickel cornerback in NFL history, but they still need an outside guy opposite Dallis Flowers, who missed most of last season with a torn Achilles. Quinyon Mitchell can be that player from Day 1.

The Seahawks brought back Leonard Williams, but they need more on the defensive interior. Byron Murphy II will not only disrupt the passer; he’ll help a rush defense that allowed 24 rushing touchdowns (tied-second worst in NFL) in 2023.

All of the sudden, the AFC South has some offensive firepower with C.J. Stroud and the Texans and Will Levis and the Titans, the latter of which has both DeAndre Hopkins and newly signed Calvin Ridley. If the Jaguars want to get back on top of the division, they’ll need better defensive players at premium positions. Getting potentially the top CB in the class certainly qualifies.

Protect Joe Burrow at all costs — that needs to be the goal for the Bengals this offseason. Yet Cincinnati let right tackle Jonah Williams walk and haven’t signed any offensive linemen during the first week of free agency. That makes it imperative that Cincinnati invest significant draft capital into the position, and it does so here by selecting the massive yet nimble JC Latham.

Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald has retired, which means defensive tackle just became a major need for the Rams. Johnny Newton doesn’t compare to one of the best defensive players of all-time, but he’ll help lighten the blow of Donald hanging up the cleats.

Easy one here. Steelers select the Oregon Mauler to replace the recently released Mason Cole. New QB1 Russell Wilson gets a rookie center.

The Dolphins get younger and much cheaper after replacing the departed Robert Hunt (who signed a 5-year, $100M deal with the Panthers) with Troy Fautanu. He played left tackle at Washington but will likely kick inside.

The Eagles addressed edge rusher by retaining Josh Sweat and signing Bryce Huff. Now they address the aging secondary, adding the long and blazing fast Nate Wiggins.

The Patriots traded back, used the extra pick to snag a No. 1 WR, and now get that wideout his college QB in Michael Penix Jr. The main concern for the Heisman Trophy finalist was his medical history, but “With the First Pick” podcast host and former GM Rick Spielman said recently that he passed that test with flying colors. Combine that with a squeaky clean combine workout, and he’s worthy of first-round consideration.

The Cowboys let All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith hit free agency, so they find his replacement in Amarius Mims.

The Packers have used 12 of their past 13 first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball — with the lone offensive player being Jordan Love — and I expect that to continue this year. Green Bay snags the sliding Laiatu Latu to improve their pass rush.

The Buccaneers shipped Carlton Davis to the Lions, which made sense based on Davis’ price tag and Tampa’s previous moves (re-signing Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans). Kool-Aid McKinstry isn’t as highly touted as former Alabama teammate Terrion Arnold, but he has all the tools to develop into a consistent outside corner.

The Cardinals invested heavily on defense in the first wave of free agency, but they need to get Kyler Murray some playmakers, especially after Marquise Brown signed with the Chiefs. Adonai Mitchell only had one year of big-time collegiate production, but his skillset lends itself to being one of Murray’s favorite targets right away.

Want to finally unseat the Chiefs? You have to be able to make Mahomes uncomfortable. With veteran pass rusher Leonard Floyd signing with the 49ers, the Bills replace him with the explosive and athletic Chop Robinson.

Like Troy Fautanu, Graham Barton was a college tackle who’s expected to move inside in the NFL. The Lions could certainly use him there after Jonah Jackson signed with the Rams.

The Ravens immediately replace Morgan Moses, who was traded to the Jets during the first week of free agency.

The 49ers go best player available and stop the slide of Cooper DeJean, a versatile and productive playmaker who will make the secondary better in whatever role he plays.

Yes, Chris Jones is back, but you can never have enough pass rushers. Darius Robinson is a Round 1 talent with the versatility that DC Steve Spagnuolo will love.