2024 NFL Draft: ESPN updates 1st round mock draft predictions following College Football Playoff

With the college football season in the books and the pool of players for the 2024 NFL Draft beginning to become more clear, ESPN has taken a stab at an early mock draft.

The first 18 picks in the draft order have already been set, with the playoff field established. But ESPN goes a full 32 picks in the first round, giving you a great idea of the depth of the draft class.

Let’s dive into ESPN’s early 2024 NFL mock draft below.

1. Chicago Bears – QB Caleb Williams, USC

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner didn’t quite match is dominance from last season, but he did manage to post some pretty impressive performances nonetheless. Nothing has really changed, as he remains the favorite to go No. 1 overall.

Williams is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,633 yards, with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also displayed his ability as a runner at times, rushing for 136 yards and 11 scores.

2. Washington Commanders – QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Like Williams, Maye didn’t quite match his statistical output from a very, very good 2022 campaign, but he was still plenty impressive. NFL teams will love Maye’s ability to make things happen when plays break down, as he’s an above-average runner.

Maye showed off that quality by running for 1,209 yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons with the Tar Heels. He also threw for 8,018 yards and 63 touchdowns.

3. New England Patriots – QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner dazzled all season long with his ability to navigate tricky situations and now the Patriots could use someone who could revitalize the offense… and maybe the franchise. Daniels certainly has that potential.

The LSU star threw for 3,812 yards and had 40 touchdown passes with only four interceptions. Meanwhile, he was an equally big threat with his legs, rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 scores.

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

The Cardinals could use a little more big-play ability in the offense and it doesn’t get much better than Harrison, arguably one of the best receivers to come out of the last few draft classes. He was a monster at Ohio State.

Despite being the focus of most defensive gameplans in 2023, Harrison still managed to rack up 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving. It was his second season with 14 touchdowns in college.

5. Los Angeles Chargers – WR Malik Nabers, LSU

Not far behind Harrison in a draft full of elite receivers, Nabers was one of the best big-play threats in college football last season. He developed an excellent rapport with Daniels, who seemed to have a knack for finding him at the perfect time.

After posting 1,017 yards in 2022, Nabers came out and topped that this fall. He finished the year with 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.

6. New York Giants – WR Rome Odunze, Washington

ESPN has a third receiver in a row going at pick No. 6 in the 2024 NFL mock draft. Like Harrison and Nabers, Odunze has proven he’s a major big play threat and has the kind of tools that should readily translate at the next level.

Odunze was the best of a very good set of Washington receivers. He racked up an astounding 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Huskies reach the national championship game.

7. Tennessee Titans – OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

Everyone can use help on the offensive line, but the Titans really need it. They can find it in this pick, with ESPN designating Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt as the selection.

Alt was part of a very good Notre Dame offensive line, one that helped pave the way for a special season for tailback Audric Estime. Alt was the leader of the bunch up front, as well as one of the most physical players in the unit.

8. Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

The Falcons need help with their pass rush and they could do a whole, whole lot worse than Latu at this spot. He’s got the potential to continue developing into a truly special player in the coming years.

As it is, Latu absolutely racked up the stats at UCLA. He piled up 34 tackles for a loss and 23.5 sacks in two seasons. But he also impacted the game in other ways, forcing five fumbles, picking off two passes and recovering a fumble.

9. Chicago Bears – EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama

The next pick also goes to a deadly pass rusher, this time Turner. Turner had some elite seasons at Alabama and has proven productive across three seasons at the highest level of college football.

In three years at Alabama, Turner registered 120 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and a pass defended. That’s some high level production off the edge.

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

The second offensive lineman comes off the board out of Penn State, with Fashanu going in the first round a year after passing up on the NFL Draft to stay in school. Fashanu is a highly intelligent player who should be able to help the Jets right away.

Fashanu was a key cog on a very good Penn State offensive line in 2023. He was widely considered one of the top offensive linemen in college football.

ESPN’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft, 11-32

11. Minnesota Vikings – DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
12. Denver Broncos – QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan
13. Las Vegas Raiders – CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
14. New Orleans Saints – OT JC Latham, Alabama
15. Indianapolis Colts – TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
16. Seattle Seahawks – G Troy Fautanu, Washington
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
18. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
19. Green Bay Packers – CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
22. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston) – CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
23. Los Angeles Rams – OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
24. Miami Dolphins – OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
25. Kansas City Chiefs – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
26. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) – DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
27. Philadelphia Eagles – DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
28. Detroit Lions – EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington
29. Buffalo Bills – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
30. Dallas Cowboys – C Graham Barton, Duke
31. Baltimore Ravens – EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State
32. San Francisco 49ers – CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo