Here’s a fresh 2024 NFL mock draft before college football bowl season gets underway.
The college football regular season is over, and with that comes bowl games, transfer portal entries and biggest of all, NFL Draft declarations. We’ve already seen multiple players begin declaring for the draft, but with most of the top guys still playing in big bowl games, those declarations will start to roll in soon.
With all that being said, we have another mock draft, with new faces in new places after the events of Week 13. I picked out some new names in new places that I thought were interesting to explain below. The order is based on Tankathon and is done before the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars square off on Monday night.
No. 9: New Orleans Saints select Georgia TE Brock Bowers
The New Orleans Saints could go a variety of ways with this pick, including trading down if they really wanted to. They need help along the offensive line, and could stand to get younger in some spots on defense. However, this season the Saints are top five in dropbacks and top 15 in rushing attempts out of 12 personnel, yet don’t really have a gamebreaker at the tight end spot. I mean, Jimmy Graham is still getting run for them at that spot.
Brock Bowers is one of the most complete tight ends to enter the NFL Draft in a while. He’s not only a legitimate threat down the seams, but has lined up everywhere for Georgia and is at his best after the catch. He’s also a good blocker and is great working back across the formation on split actions. The Saints need some more juice in that passing game, and I don’t think any of the QBs on the board really fit what they do offensively, so Bowers is the easy pick here.
It’s crazy to say Brock Bowers has an even higher ceiling than what we saw at Georgia. Huge upside after the catch and he can develop into an impactful blocker pic.twitter.com/7oHFK8UZbs
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) November 28, 2023
No. 10: Tampa Bay Buccanneers select LSU QB Jayden Daniels
I really toyed with the idea of giving Daniels to the New York Giants at 6 so he could work with Brian Daboll, but Tampa Bay is a realistic fit with a gaping hole at QB. Assuming the Bucs hold on to Mike Evans this offseason, Tampa has a pretty solid offensive infrastructure, complete with receiving talent and an offensive line that’s grown over the course of the season (and an All-Pro in Tristan Wirfs). However, the QB spot has been the biggest problem for Tampa this season, and will continue to be unless they address it. Baker Mayfield is fun occasionally, but is far too inconsistent to tie your boat to in an NFC South where anyone can make a run. Daniels is a highlight reel waiting to happen, capable of feathering in beautiful deep balls or running for 50 yards. I worry about his recklessness as a runner and the amount of major hits he takes, but he would inject a massive shot of energy into a Bucs offense that desperately needs it.
No. 17: Los Angeles Rams select UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
Age and medicals (missed two seasons at Washington due to a neck injury before transferring to UCLA) could force Latu down the board, but when he’s on the field he might be the best pure pass rusher of the draft class. He has refined hand usage with counters for all of his go-to moves, but also combines that with great burst and explosion around the corner. He’s also got great finishing ability: he’s fourth in the nation in sacks with 12.5 and tied for first in pressures with 59.
The Rams need all the defensive help they can get, but pass rush is a major area where they can stand to get better. Michael Hoecht is not the future out on the edge, and rookie Byron Young is a fun complementary piece, but Latu can be the cornerstone of a pass rush unit, and be versatile enough to win as a member of the Rams.
No. 19: Atlanta Falcons select Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
If you’re not familiar with Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell, get familiar with him soon. Mitchell is one of the best overall athletes at the position in this upcoming draft class. He’s got NFL size and speed, and is third among all FBS defenders in pass breakups per Sports Information Solutions. He also hasn’t been flagged for pass interference yet either. He’s got great length and timing, which helps him in both man and zone coverage.
#Toledo DB Quinyon Mitchell hasn’t been targeted much today but this was an excellent and well-times PBU. Stays in great position and punches the ball away at the catch point. pic.twitter.com/NB1LO3lAiX
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) December 2, 2023
Atlanta is pretty set almost everywhere outside of QB, but I don’t think HC Arthur Smith or GM Terry Fontenot will take a swing on one in this year’s draft. However, they could stand to give star corner AJ Terrell a legitimate running mate, and Mitchell is the perfect guy to add onto an already good defense.
Ni, 26: Jacksonville Jaguars select Duke OL Graham Barton
This isn’t a sexy pick, nor will it be one that makes a lot of headlines, but the priority in Jacksonville is protecting franchise QB Trevor Lawrence. Barton would be a major addition to that. Barton feels like a lineman that Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson would’ve taken in his days with the Philadelphia Eagles: incredibly physical player who will probably kick inside to guard. He does have short arms that might get him in trouble in the passing game, but he sets the tone as a run defender, and that’s something the Jaguars need.
The Jaguars offense is still working through some kinks, but one of the ways they can improve is in the short-area offense and on the ground. They lack physicality up front and need an edge, especially on the inside. With Ezra Cleveland becoming a free agent at the end of this season and Brandon Scherff on the wrong side of 30, finding the next interior lineman to protect Lawrence is massive.
