ESPN releases updated 2024 NFL mock draft

The dog days of summer mean one thing for football fans: mock drafts. Now that the 2023 class is off to the pros, it’s time to start guessing who goes No. 1 next spring.

Thankfully, the folks at ESPN are already in the lab cooking up their mock drafts for 2024. It’s a pair of star quarterbacks who lead the way in draft discussion so far, with a certain playmaker at Ohio State making a pretty strong case as the best non-QB prospect. Overall, it features a fair share of recognizable names and 2023 stars, but also includes a number of lesser-known players who ESPN predicts will make themselves into household names and NFL prospects come January.

You can read a bit about the first ten picks below and then see the full 32 listed out towards the bottom. Take a look:

1. Cardinals: Caleb Williams (QB) | USC

If you’re looking for creative takes on next year’s draft, then ESPN does not have the mock draft for you. They penciled in the obvious choice at No. 1 here in USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman winner and favorite to repeat.

Williams made the Lincoln Riley system look elite in year one at SoCal. We know Riley is lauded as a forward-thinking offensive mind and someone whose play-calling closely resembles that of some NFL coaches. So seeing Williams thrive in that environment for a third straight season should seal him as the No. 1.

2. Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) | Ohio State

Well it’s the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the last few draft classes going No. 2 overall here and once again to the Cardinals, who are likely possess two top picks and may grab a QB-WR duo to lead them into a much-needed new era.

Harrison is just a freak athlete at the position. He’s not Ja’Marr Chase quite yet, but he’s dang close with his combination of speed, agility and incredible catch-point playmaking. He’s got it all for a future No. 1 option.

3. Buccaneers: Drake Maye (QB) North Carolina

If anybody but the Cardinals were slotted at two, the pick would have been Drake Maye, the other bonafide top tier quarterback prospect in the class. Look for him and Williams to stride neck-and-neck across mock drafts throughout the season.

How does Maye surpass Williams? By looking like the superior physical talent in terms of size and arm strength while also remaining a clinical passer in the short and medium game. It’s not impossible he becomes a darling at No. 1 before next spring, but it’ll take a heck of a year for the Tar Heel passer.

4.  Colts: Olu Fashanu (OT) | Penn State

ESPN is assuming Indianapolis has a rough go of it in year one of the Anthony Richardson era. Which is totally fine, since he entered the 2023 draft precociously and another poor season could actually lead to some extra help along the offensive line.

The Colts have prided themselves on solid and dependable OL play and showed that the position group is still extremely valuable when they picked up Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson the last time they had the fourth pick. ESPN predicts they run it back with more reinforcements up front.

5.  Rams: Jared Verse (DE) | Florida State

Verse completes the sweep of your normal top picks. As in, we’ve now seen a quarterback, a wide receiver, a brick wall O-lineman and now a game-wrecking D-lineman in the mock draft. That’s a pretty accurate representation of the position groups normally selected in these five spots.

Oh, and need we say more about the potential of an Aaron Donald-Jared Verse pass rushing duo? Good luck to the NFC West.

6. Titans: JC Latham (OT) | Alabama

Here’s your typical Alabama offensive tackle that gets drafted really high. The Tide have had a tackle drafted in four straight drafts and put three in a row in the first round in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Latham is the logical next float in Saban’s endless parade of NFL offensive linemen. And at No. 6, he would be the highest ‘Bama O-linemen taken since Andre Smith became a Bengal at the same pick in 2009.

7. Packers: Joe Alt (OT) | Notre Dame

Here comes the run on tackles. All three teams projected to select an O-lineman this early could all have first-year starters in 2023, leading ESPN to believe these squads will bolster their units up front for their new passers next spring.

If poor offensive line play was part of Aaron Rodgers’ decision to flee to New York, well, then the Packers would be assuring they don’t make a similar mistake with the next face of their franchise. When it comes to the OL, you’re usually pretty safe with whoever Notre Dame has.

8. Commanders: Quinn Ewers (QB) | Texas

Washington’s history of drafting quarterbacks is flat-out horrendous this century. There’s one lone gem in 2012, when they selected Kirk Cousins in the 4th round, after they’d already selected RGIII in round one.

So, here they are, taking the third best QB in the draft, per ESPN. Maybe he’ll be the one? Or maybe he’ll just be another long-shot that flies astray in the District.

9. Raiders: Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB) | Alabama

Las Vegas hasn’t been terrible on defense, but they also haven’t been too great as of late. With a long-term answer at quarterback completely up in the air and their pick slated at No. 9, ESPN has LV taking perhaps the most gifted defensive back in the entire draft.

McKinstry still has a lot of show if he’s to make good on this high of draft position. However, the physical tools are undeniable, and in the end, those often win out in the NFL Draft.

10. Bears: Dallas Turner (DE) | Alabama

What’s a Bears defense without a dominant pass rusher? It’s a staple of the franchise and they’re getting thin and old at the position since they had that incredible defense in 2019. In 2024, it’ll be time to reload at defensive end once more.

Plus, that’s already three Alabama players in the first 10 picks, making the Tide the standard once again when it comes to putting players in the league. For the remaining picks in the ESPN Mock Draft, go ahead and look below:

ESPN Mock Draft, picks 11-32

11. Bears: Emeka Egbuka (WR) | Ohio State

12. Patriots: Brock Bowers (TE) | Georgia

13. Falcons: Bralen Trice (DE) | Washington

14. Steelers: Maason Smith (DT) | LSU

15. Giants: Rome Odunze (WR) | Washington

16. Broncos: JT Tuimoloau (DE) | Ohio State

17. Texans: Michael Hall (DT) | Ohio State

18. Dolphins: Donovan Jackson (G) | Ohio State

19. Seahawks: Jer’Zahn Newton (DT) | Illinois

20. Saints: Christian Mahogany (OG) | Boston College

21. Vikings: Chop Robinson (EDGE) | Penn State

22. Chargers: Kris Jenkins (DT) | Michigan

23. Packers: Kamren Kinchens (CB) Miami

24. Ravens: Cooper Beebe (OL) | Kansas State

25. Lions: Kalen King (CB) Penn State

26. Jaguars: Kamari Lassiter (CB) | Georgia

27. Cowboys: Jason Marshall (CB) | Florida

28. Bills: Jeremiah Trotter (LB) | Clemson

29. 49ers: Kingsley Suamataia (OT) | BYU

30. Bengals: Graham Barton (OT) | Duke

31. Eagles: Javon Bullard (S) | Georgia

32. Chiefs: Xavier Worthy (WR) | Texas

A lot of your usual suspects in here with several players each coming from the current three-headed college football monster of Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. Frankly, ESPN shied away from including very many off-the-radar players or off-the-radar schools. Of the entire first-round mock, only eight players came from teams outside the final AP Top 25 from last season, and zero players came from outside the power conferences now that BYU is in the Big 12.

Surely, we’ll see quite a bit of shakeup between now and next April.