PFF releases updated 2024 NFL Mock Draft

With more than a month of the college football season in the books we have a pretty good idea which players are playing their way into the mix for the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. There are dozens and dozens of players making compelling cases.

Pro Football Focus has been grading each player throughout the 2023 season and has some thoughts on who might go where.

Let’s take a look at one of the first 2024 NFL Mock Drafts to see which players are putting themselves into positions to go in the first round. PFF provides its first-round mock below.

1. Chicago Bears – QB Caleb Williams, USC

Williams is the unquestioned leader of one of college football’s playoff contenders this fall, though he may have to outduel his own defense to get his Trojans into the mix. Still, he’s been special from Day 1.

The veteran USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has already accounted for 1,603 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, while throwing just one interception. He’s also run for three scores and has arguably been the best player in college football this season.

2. Chicago Bears (via Panthers) – WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

One of the top receivers in the class, Harrison Jr. has picked up where he left off a year ago. He’s easily one of the most talented players in the class and shows it off on a consistent basis with his elite route-running and ability to get open.

So far in four games, Harrison has logged 17 catches for 336 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes have even experimented with getting him the football in other ways, as Harrison has one rush for seven yards, as well.

3. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Surprisingly Maye hasn’t gotten quite as much Heisman Trophy talk as he did a year ago, but that hasn’t put a dent in his 2024 NFL Draft stock. He’s still very much considered a top prospect, as evidenced by PFF having him at No. 3 overall.

Maye also has his team undefeated and in position to challenge for an ACC title. He’s thrown for 1,187 yards and five touchdowns, against four interceptions. But he’s also run for 119 yards and three scores, proving to be a capable dual-threat prospect.

4. Denver Broncos – EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Though he’s had a quieter last two weeks, Latu got the season started off with a major bang. He tallied four sacks in the first two weeks, showing he can be an elite edge rusher when given the opportunity to attack the quarterback.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound prospect has excellent size and length, something that really helps him off the edge. In 2023 so far he has logged 13 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 4.0 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and a quarterback hurry.

5. Minnesota Vikings – QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan

McCarthy hasn’t been asked to go win games by himself, courtesy of Michigan having a very dependable and strong ground game. Still, he’s proven to be just the kind of game manager the Wolverines need, and it has showed. Michigan has won every game by at least 25 points.

The junior quarterback hasn’t put up exceptional numbers and struggled with three interceptions in the Bowling Green game, but he’s still been solid. McCarthy has thrown for 1,071 yards and 10 touchdowns, against three interceptions. He’s also run for 116 yards and a score.

6. New York Jets – OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Widely considered a first-round pick had he entered the 2023 NFL Draft, Fashanu is a virtual lock for the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s an imposing presence on the edge and has considerable experience now, to boot.

Fashanu is a 6-foot-6, 317-pound tackle who has already earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week Award once this season (Sept. 26). He’s also been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

7. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

Like Fashanu, Alt is his team’s anchor on the offensive line out at tackle, and he’s a big anchor. At 6 foot 8, 322 pounds, he has impressive reach to be able to get to even the shiftier edge rushers he goes up against.

Alt has been a real team leader, a quality that will stand out in the 2024 NFL Draft process. It’s not accident that Notre Dame has an imposing ground game with Alt suiting up in the trenches.

8. New England Patriots – QB Bo Nix, Oregon

Nix has quietly been excellent while a trio of other Pac-12 quarterbacks seemingly get most of the hype out on the West coast. Nix, though, has led Oregon to an undefeated 5-0 start, with some big games still looming and affording a stage to really put him on the map.

So far through five contests, Nix has thrown for 1,459 yards and 15 touchdowns, against just one interception. He’s also run for 87 yards and a score, not taking quite as much advantage of his legs as he did a year ago.

9. Arizona Cardinals – TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Few players are as big a mismatch in the passing game as Bowers is at Georgia. Seemingly whenever the Bulldogs need someone to emerge it’s Bowers doing so at the perfect time. Just ask Auburn, who was torched by him in the second half last week.

On the season Bowers has recorded 30 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns. And though he hasn’t really gotten going as a runner yet this year, he’s also capable, rushing three times for seven yards and a touchdown.

10. New York Giants – WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

The Michigan State transfer has been a revelation for Florida State, perhaps keeping the team’s unbeaten season intact, particularly with a game-winning overtime catch against Clemson. He’s been that meaningful.

Through four games, Coleman has recorded 17 catches for 256 yards and six touchdowns. He’s shown he’s capable of going up against just about anybody and winning 50-50 balls, making him a likely target high up in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Picks No. 11-32

11. Green Bay Packers – OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
12. New Orleans Saints – EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State
13. Arizona Cardinals (via Texans) – CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
14. Houston Texans (via Browns) – WR Malik Nabers, LSU
15. Los Angeles Chargers – CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – OL Graham Barton, Duke
17. Washington Commanders – OT JC Latham, Alabama
18. Los Angeles Rams – EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
19. Atlanta Falcons – QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
20. Indianapolis Colts – CB Kalen King, Penn State
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
22. Tennessee Titans – WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
23. Seattle Seahawks – DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
24. Dallas Cowboys – EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
25. Detroit Lions – WR Rome Odunze, Washington
26. Miami Dolphins – OT Patrick Paul, Houston
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington
28. Buffalo Bills – S Kamren Kinchens, Miami
29. Baltimore Ravens – DL Maason Smith, LSU
30. San Francisco 49ers – DL Leonard Taylor, Miami
31. Kansas City Chiefs – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
32. Philadelphia Eagles – WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

The rest of the first round is absolutely loaded with talent, with three excellent cornerbacks complementing what is a very, very deep receiver class. In fact, after PFF had two receivers coming off the board in the first 10 picks, the publication has five more going between picks No. 11-32 of the 2024 NFL Draft. That’ll make it a fun draft for fans of offense. In any case, there you have it, the complete first-round mock from PFF.