Three Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft sets record with 18 wide receivers selected after special NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is a wrap. NFL Free Agency is about to begin. We're in the heart of NFL Draft season. It's time for another three round NFL mock draft, but this one is unique. A new NFL record is set with 18 wide receivers getting selected in the first three rounds. Nine offensive tackles […]

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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The NFL Combine is a wrap. NFL Free Agency is about to begin. We're in the heart of NFL Draft season. It's time for another three round NFL mock draft, but this one is unique.

A new NFL record is set with 18 wide receivers getting selected in the first three rounds. Nine offensive tackles come off the board through the first 40 picks. A flurry of cornerbacks come off the board after the depth at this position shined at the NFL Combine. Plus, the RB and DL depth is a lot more intriguing that expected.

This mock draft will not include any trades. And yes, many things will change in the coming weeks with free agency and some likely trades coming soon. However, this mock draft should help highlight key team needs and top players who will most likely hear their name called early this April. Let's dive in.

Round 1

1. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB USC

The QB1 in this draft class for the last three years goes to the Bears here. Three straight seasons with elite pass efficiency marks, plus value mobility, and unmatched ability to make something out of nothing. He'll be the Bears best quarterback of all-time the moment he's drafted.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB LSU

The betting markets continue to show confidence in Drake Maye going to the Commanders as pick two, but Jayden Daniels just put up the most efficient quarterback season in the history of college football last fall. The new offensive coordinator has plenty experience playing with top tier mobile quarterbacks like Kyler Murray. This would be the perfect match.

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

Once the other two quarterbacks are off the board the Patriots likely just go with whoever's left given the level of talent among the top three. Drake Maye posted one of the best seasons we've ever seen (by the meaningful metrics) in 2022. Despite a slightly inconsistent season last fall he's still a slam dunk top five pick at quarterback. His tools and pro-level throws still flash every week on throws like this beauty down the middle of the field here:

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

Many analysts are beginning to overthink this, but Marvin Harrison Jr. is still the clear WR1 in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Everyone I talked to at the NFL Combine told me that there was no way Harrison Jr. falls below pick four. If the Cardinals are on the clock with Marvin Harrison still there, there's no way they pass up this son of a Hall of Famer with an immaculate production profile and game-changing tools.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT Notre Dame

At 6'9" he is the tallest player in the draft class. That may be a bit too tall for some, but he's the best offensive tackle on the board. If the Chargers select him they can move Rashawn Slater over to his original position of right tackle where he spent significant time in college.

6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR Washington

Rome Odunze put on a show at the NFL Combine both on the field and at the podium. He helped himself out immensely, locking in his status among the top tier of wide receivers. The Giants need a real lead receiver on the team with the perfect blend of size, speed, and route running ability. They can't have Darius Slayton lead the team in receiving yards again.

7. Tennessee Titans: Malik Nabers, WR LSU

The Titans have a receiver problem and new head coach Brian Callahan knows it. He made it clear in multiple interviews at the NFL Combine that he prefers to target a playmaker in this pick slot if given the chance. The only way the Titans don't select a wide receiver here is if all three of the top options are gone after pick six.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE Alabama

Dallas Turner spoke glowingly of his interview with the Falcons at the NFL Combine then posted a 99th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score. He's the most explosive edge defender prospect in the draft. When you mix that in with his pass rush pressure rate near 20% last fall and the fact that he's one of the youngest prospects in the draft, there's no way he drops past this point in the draft.

9. Chicago Bears: Quinyon Mitchell, CB Toledo

Quinyon Mitchell went from "he can't play anything besides off-man coverage" to "he's clearly in the mix for CB1 status" quickly this off-season. He annihilated the competition at the Senior Bowl. Then he showed up to the NFL Combine and posted the highest Speed Score among all defensive backs, proving he's not just a MAC athlete from Toledo. The Bears would get the best player left on the board here.

10. New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT Penn State

Olumuyiwa Fashanu apparently has some small hands for his size, but that might be the only real questionable aspect of his profile. He's still the same 6'6" beast who has been considered a top ten draft pick for more than a year now. The Jets have to make sure they keep Aaron Rodgers upright this fall, and Fashanu would help them do it.

11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan

Rumors have been swirling now for over a month that the Vikings have their eye on selecting J.J. McCarthy. They may have to trade up just to make sure they get their guy, because he continues to perform well at every turn throughout draft season. Here he is talking with me about what led to his elite rate stats last fall (top five in most meaningful metrics):

12. Denver Broncos: Jared Verse, EDGE Florida State

The Broncos were one of the worst pass defenses in the league and didn't have any player rack up even nine sacks last year. The Broncos may attempt to address quarterback in free agency given the fact that the first four options will likely be off the board by the time they pick at 12. Jared Verse offers elite proven production at the edge rusher position with top tier traits. He started a little slow last fall getting used to his new playing weight, but finished strong with nine sacks in his final six games alone.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT Alabama

The Raiders absolutely need a right tackle and it's hard to find one on the open market. JC Latham struggled in a few highlight moments last season, but overall he's one of the best lineman this class has to offer, and perhaps the best right tackle with NFL-ready measurables.

14. New Orleans Saints: Byron Murphy, DL Texas

Byron Murphy led all defensive line prospects in this class in pressure rate at over 16% last season, which would be top tier even if he were an edge rusher. He's a bit short, but he is the most dominant defensive lineman in this draft and the Saints need help there.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB Alabama

Terrion Arnold offers the most balanced skill set at corner in the draft class. An excellent run defender, great ball skills to turn passes defended into turnovers, and solid intelligence/instincts. He was a major winner at the NFL Combine on and off the field.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Laiatu Latu, EDGE UCLA

Laiatu Latu has the deepest arsenal of pass rush moves in this class and led all edge defenders in key rates stats last season. The only question with him are his medicals given that he retired briefly due to injury before his transfer to UCLA. The Seahawks love this kind of edge player.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Xavier Worthy, WR Texas

As I outlined earlier this week, several teams are looking at Worthy in between picks 15 and 28. His record-setting forty-yard dash time of 4.21 seconds only confirmed what every NFL team's spatial tracking data already knew. Worthy has the freakiest movement skills of any receiver in this draft class. The Jaguars need a difference making wide receiver and I personally know they're into Worthy. Here's the best angle of his historic forty that captures the crowd celebration at Lucas Oil Stadium, in case you haven't seen it:

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Brock Bowers, TE Georgia

Brock Bowers might not get treated as such, but there's a chance he's the best tight end prospect ever. Two-time John Mackey Award Winner. The most receiving yards through a tight end's first three seasons ever. Elite speed that he'll likely put on display at Georgia's pro day. The Bengals desperately need a special tight end and Bowers fits the bill.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Chop Robinson, EDGE Penn State

After running a 4.48-second forty at 254 pounds his hype train is going to regain steam. He had been dropping in recent mock drafts likely due to his raw skill set, but the athletic traits likely keep him in the middle of round one by the time draft day rolls around. Chop wins consistently with his speed, burst, and bend around the edge.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C Oregon

Jackson Powers-Johnson has quickly ascended to the clear first overall spot among interior offensive lineman in this draft class. He's got incredible size (97th percentile BMI) and length for the center position. And he was the anchor to the most efficient offensive line in all of college football last fall. Here's what he had to do say to me at the NFL Combine when I asked him about Oregon's success on the offensive line:

21. Miami Dolphins: Amarius Mims, OT Georgia

Amarius Mims is one of the least experienced tackles in this class given some of his injuries, but he has the best physical tools of the entire bunch. At 6'8", 340 pounds, with 11.25-inch hands, and arms longer than 36 inches, he's above the 96th percentile for offensive line prospects since 2000 in most every physically measurable way. Yet he doesn't move like he's that big. Dolphins would get a steal here at pick 21.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB Iowa

The Eagles need to get younger at cornerback quickly. Cooper DeJean would bring plug-and-play versatility to slide in at any defensive back spot as well as immediately become one of the most explosive returners in the league.

23. Houston Texans (via CLE): Jer'Zhan "Johnny Newton, DL Illinois

Johnny Newton has been dropping down mock draft boards for some reason as shinier new toys continue to rise, but he's still at worst the DL2 in this class. His 2022 was absolutely elite from a production and pressure standpoint for a defensive tackle. 2023 wasn't as impressive on paper as teams keyed in on stopping him since Illinois didn't have other strong defensive lineman. This move would help the Texans shore up their defensive center right away.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Troy Fautanu, OT Washington

The Cowboys are apparently letting Tyron Smith walk in free agency, but picking Troy Fautanu would make sense even if they bring him back. Fautanu was already a highly coveted offensive tackle, but then he posted a 98th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score at the NFL Combine, proving to be the second most athletic among all 70 offensive line prospects in the class.

25. Green Bay Packers: Taliese Fuaga, OT Oregon State

The Packers have a defense problem, but their offensive line needs some fresh faces too. Taliese Fuaga didn't measure or test like an elite offensive tackle athlete, but his ferocious play style at right tackle would make him a real value pick here at pick 25.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins, CB Clemson

Nate Wiggins would add some serious speed to the Buccaneers' secondary. He slightly injured himself on his 4.28-second forty-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, but he should be fine soon. Wiggins is a long, fast, smart cornerback. He's quite skinny, so he may want to bulk up a bit to beat bigger receivers, but the Buccaneers would be a great fit.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Darius Robinson, DL Missouri

Darius Robinson's versatility to play in multiple spots along the defensive front combined with his play strength make him a dangerous prospect. At 285 pounds he won't line up at nose tackle, but he has experience playing every defensive line tech two through nine. Robinson's NFL Combine performance didn't necessarily help him, but he was a popular prospect in Indianapolis last week.

28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR LSU

The Bills formally met with several early round wide receivers at the NFL Combine last week. They're clearly looking for their heir to Stefon Diggs, nd Brian Thomas Jr. might be that guy. He posted a 98th percentile Athletic Composite Score at the NFL Combine, running a 4.33-second forty time at 6'3", 209 pounds, leaping out of the building in the vertical and broad jump too. He was a touchdown scoring machine last fall and should continue to find success in that way in the pros.

29. Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Alabama

The Lions may go interior offensive line instead, but if Kool-Aid McKinstry is available it make sense to go with him here. They had inconsistent corner play all around last year with the exception of Brian Branch who is more of a hybrid defensive back. McKinstry didn't put up wild numbers last fall, but has long been considered a top tier cover corner in this class.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas

Adonai Mitchell was perhaps the most absurd athlete at the NFL Combine this year. His 99th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite certainly turned some heads as he ran a 4.34-second forty with a broad jump over 11 feet. His production profile is certainly imperfect, but the Ravens could use a special big-bodied athlete at the wide receiver position. The way he uses his athleticism to win via separation and at the point of the catch is rare. Here he is winning with physicality downfield:

31. San Francisco 49ers: Graham Barton, OT Duke

There are several offensive tackles projected to go early in this year's NFL Draft, but none of them likely project to have as much versatility as Graham Barton. He started out playing center for Duke, but then moved to the outside and found even greater success. The 49ers could plug him in anywhere on the inside to get him on the field right away, but could eventually ask him replace Trent Williams (however impossible that may sound).

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Troy Franklin, WR Oregon

Troy Franklin measured in incredibly skinny at the NFL Combine, but his verified on-field athleticism is some of the most impressive in the class. He routinely eclipsed 22 miles per hour almost every single week last fall. Franklin's production profile is one of the most impressive in the class as well. The Chiefs still need to improve their wide receivers, and Franklin would immediately make them more consistent and explosive.

Round 2

33. Carolina Panthers: Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia

34. New England Patriots: Tyler Guyton, OT Oklahoma

35. Arizona Cardinals: Kingsley Suamataia, OT BYU

36. Washington Commanders: Chris Braswell, EDGE Alabama

37. Los Angeles Chargers: T'Vondre Sweat, DL Texas

38. Tennessee Titans: Patrick Paul, OT Houston

39. New York Giants: Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington

40. Washington Commanders (via CHI): Kamari Lassiter, CB Georgia

41. Green Bay Packers (via NYJ): Tyler Nubin, S Minnesota

42. Minnesota Vikings: Trey Benson, RB Florida State

43. Atlanta Falcons: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB Missouri

44. Las Vegas Raiders: Bo Nix, QB Oregon

45. New Orleans Saints (via DEN): Jordan Morgan, OT Arizona

46. Indianapolis Colts: Keon Coleman, WR Florida State

47. New York Giants (via SEA): Christian Haynes, OG UConn

48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Adisa Isaac, EDGE Penn State

49. Cincinnati Bengals: Kiran Amegadjie, OT Yale

50. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO): Edgerrin Cooper, LB Texas A&M

51. Los Angeles Rams: T.J. Tampa CB Iowa State

52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Payton Wilson, LB NC State

53. Miami Dolphins: Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE Texas

54. Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Frazier, C West Virginia

55. Cleveland Browns:  Roman Wilson, WR Michigan

56. Dallas Cowboys: Sedrick Van Pran, C Georgia

57. Green Bay Packers: Braden Fiske, DL Florida State

58. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bralen Trice, EDGE Washington

59. Houston Texans: Jalen McMillan, WR Washington

60. Buffalo Bills: Kamren Kinchens, S Miami (FL)

61. Detroit Lions: Michael Hall Jr., DL Ohio State

62. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Dorlus, DL Oregon

63. San Francisco 49ers: Javon Bullard, DB Georgia

64. Kansas City Chiefs: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL Clemson

Round 3

65. Carolina Panthers: Cooper Beebe, OL Kansas State

66. Arizona Cardinals: Junior Colson, LB Michigan

67. Washington Commanders: Theo Johnson, TE Penn State

68. New England Patriots: Jermaine Burton, WR Alabama

69. Los Angeles Chargers: Blake Corum, RB Michigan

70. New York Giants: Mike Sainristil, CB Michigan

71. Arizona Cardinals (via TEN): Gabriel Murphy, EDGE UCLA

72. New York Jets: Devontez Walker, WR North Carolina

73. Detroit Lions (via MIN): Christian Mahogany, IOL Boston College

74. Atlanta Falcons: Xavier Legette, WR South Carolina

75. Chicago Bears: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR Washington

76. Denver Broncos: Calen Bullock, S USC

77. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaylen Wright, RB Tennessee

78. Seattle Seahawks: Blake Fisher, OT Notre Dame

79. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Taylor III, DL Miami (FL)

80. Cincinnati Bengals: Kris Jenkins, DL Michigan

81. Seattle Seahawks (via NO): Cole Bishop, S Utah

82. Indianapolis Colts: Maason Smith, DL LSU

83. Los Angeles Rams: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB Clemson

84. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Brownlee, CB Louisville

85. Houston Texans (via PHI): Ben Sinnott, TE Kansas State

86. Cleveland Browns: Jonah Elliss, EDGE Utah

87. Dallas Cowboys: Jonathon Brooks, RB Texas

88. Green Bay Packers: Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin

89. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zak Zinter, IOL Michigan

90. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Cam Hart, CB Notre Dame

91. Green Bay Packers (via BUF): Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE Western Michigan

92. Detroit Lions: Johnny Wilson, WR Florida State

93. Baltimore Ravens: Caelen Carson, CB Wake Forest 

94. San Francisco 49ers: Cade Stover, TE Ohio State

95. Kansas City Chiefs: Dominick Puni, OT Kansas

96. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaden Hicks, S Washington State

97. Philadelphia Eagles: MarShawn Lloyd, RB USC

98. San Francisco 49ers: Kris Abrams-Draine, CB Missouri

99. Buffalo Bills: Roger Rosengarten, OT Washington

100. Los Angeles Rams: Ricky Pearsall, WR Florida

101. Washington Commanders: Malachi Corley, WR Western Kentucky

Three rounds is as far as we'll go for now, but expect more like this from A to Z Sports as NFL Draft season continues. And in the meantime, enjoy the Biggest Winners & Losers from the NFL Combine in the video below with the A to Z Film Room!

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