2024 NFL Draft: ESPN releases final mock draft, predicting trades, all 32 first round picks

ESPN released its final NFL Mock Draft, predicting multiple trades in the first round and finalizing the first 32 picks Thursday night.

Field Yates waited til the day of to make any changes to his mock and there are some doozies. Of course, there are the usuals at the top, but different trades occurred throughout the top 10 and beyond.

So let’s dive into Yates final mock draft for ESPN as the draft approaches Thursday night.

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB – USC

This is it, the final prediction. Williams has been the projected No. 1 pick since 2024 mocks started and nothing will change now.

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is in while Justin Fields is out. The latter was traded to Pittsburgh. Williams is now the new face of the franchise and arguably the most talented QB the Bears ever had.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB – LSU

Daniels goes next to become the new face of the Commanders’ franchise. The Heisman Trophy winner has all the tools to succeed at the next level.

Putting him in the right offense is key though. Kliff Kingsbury could certainly unlock more of his dual threat capabilities.

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB – North Carolina

The Patriots get their quarterback as well with Maye. He’s got the size, the arm and the IQ to succeed at the NFL level. Kiper is firmly in the camp of Maye to New England.

Now, it’s about the Patriots franchise itself. A new era could mean success as they usher into a different look, style and scheme.

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

A can’t miss prospect. Harrison Jr. is the best wide receiver in the class and that’s despite him not testing at all ahead of the draft. It doesn’t affect Yates’ opinion.

Just go look at his tape throughout his college career. Just try and stop him. Doubling him will just open up the rest of the offense or Harrison Jr. will beat you anyway.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: JC Latham, OT – Alabama

The Chargers stand pat here and get an offensive lineman to protect Justin Herbert. Sure, there’s a need at wide receiver right now, but you have to keep your franchise quarterback upright.

Jim Harbaugh built through the trenches while at Michigan and it paid off with a national championship. It looks like the model is the same as LA takes their best tackle available, even above Joe Alt.

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR – LSU

The Giants get their playmaker as well and it’s not a bad consolation prize. If you can’t get Harrison Jr., you might as well get Nabers.

Nabers aided Daniels to a Heisman at LSU and he can run the entire route tree. Some analysts might even try to put Nabers above the Ohio State star, but it’s still more likely he is the second wideout taken.

7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT – Notre Dame

This is where Alt ends up within the first round of the NFL Draft. He’s been a popular selection around this section anyway and nothing changes here, even for Yates in his final mock.

The Titans get a good one though. Alt should be able to protect whoever is taking snaps behind center next season as a day-one starter and be a franchise piece for the next decade.

8. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB – Michigan (Trade with Falcons)

A trade into the top 10! McCarthy is going to the Vikings after Minnesota used its extra first round pick to move up in a deal with the Falcons.

McCarthy is the fourth quarterback off the board here as well. He lost one game in college, won a national title and has the prototypical tools. But he’s definitely in the second tier behind the top three.

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR – Washington

Odunze is the latest wide receiver to go in the first 10 picks and the Bears get a great tandem. Williams and Odunze were on opposite sidelines in college, but now they get to play together.

Boy this would provide such a great amount of juice to the franchise. Odunze could be an instant star in Chicago with a Heisman winner throwing him the football. Yates loves this fit.

10. Indianapolis Colts: Brock Bowers, TE – Georgia (Trade with Jets)

While it seems like the Jets could land Bowers, Yates projected a trade as the Colts want the all-star tight end. Pairing him up with Anthony Richardson at quarterback just sounds so fun doesn’t it?

Bowers is as pro-ready as a prospect can get. At this point, it’d be a crime for him to fall out of the top 10 in this year’s draft.

Rest of NFL Mock Draft No. 11 to 32

11. Atlanta Falcons: Byron Murphy II, DT – Texas (Trade with Vikings)
12. Denver Broncos: Dallas Turner, EDGE – Alabama
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB – Washington
14. New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT – Penn State
15. New York Jets: Taliese Fuaga, OT – Oregon State (Trade with Colts)
16. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB – Toledo (Trade with Seahawks)
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, CB – Alabama
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Jared Verse, EDGE – Florida State
19. Los Angeles Rams: Bo Nix, QB – Oregon
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, G/C – Duke
21. Miami Dolphins: Xavier Worthy, WR – Texas
22. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OL – Washington (Trade with Eagles)
23. Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, EDGE – UCLA
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT – Oklahoma
25. Green Bay Packers: Amarius Mims, OT – Georgia
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE – Penn State
27. Arizona Cardinals: Cooper DeJean, CB – Iowa
28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR – LSU
29. Washington Commanders: Jordan Morgan, OT – Arizona (Trade with Lions)
30. Baltimore Ravens: Darius Robinson, EDGE – Missouri
31. San Francisco 49ers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB – Alabama
32. Kansas City Chiefs: AD Mitchell, WR – Texas

So there it is. Throw out the mock drafts after this one because it’s finally time for the real thing. The NFL Draft begins Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.