Arkansas Bengal Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 Published: Feb 16, 2024 at 11:16 AM Dan Parr Original Content Editor, Draft Strategy We're still about a month away from the 2024 NFL Draft outlook coming into clearer view, with the NFL Scouting Combine kicking into high gear a couple weeks from now and the start of free agency following shortly thereafter. Many questions will be answered between now and then. With that, I submit my first foray into the mock-verse, where I tried to untangle the 32-pick web by filling team needs as they stand in mid-February. Pick 1 Chicago Bears (via CAR) Caleb Williams USC · QB · Junior A lot can change between mid-February and the start of the draft, but right now, anything other than Williams to the Bears at No. 1 would be a surprise to me. Pick 2 Washington Commanders Drake Maye North Carolina · QB · Sophomore (RS) The Commanders explore moving up to reunite Caleb Williams with OC Kliff Kingsbury, but the asking price is too rich for a team with plenty of other needs. Maye gives Washington a foundation to build on. Pick 3 New England Patriots Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State · WR · Junior In this scenario, the Patriots trade for Justin Fields and start a new era by giving him arguably the best player in the draft. Pick 4 Atlanta Falcons Jayden Daniels LSU · QB · Senior PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS Atlanta pounces before another team moves up for the Heisman Trophy winner’s services. Daniels brings dual-threat electricity to the Falcons’ offense under new head coach Raheem Morris. Pick 5 Los Angeles Chargers Joe Alt Notre Dame · OT · Junior Jim Harbaugh has made it abundantly clear he wants a tough, physical team that can protect Justin Herbert. There might be bigger needs on paper come draft day, but selecting Alt to play right tackle seems like the pick most in line with the head coach’s philosophy. Pick 6 New York Giants Malik Nabers LSU · WR · Junior If the Giants are going to run it back with Daniel Jones, they might as well give him a true No. 1 wide receiver for the first time in his career. Nabers has the talent to provide the G-Men with an element they have missed since Odell Beckham Jr.'s heyday. Pick 7 Tennessee Titans Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State · OT · Junior (RS) The Titans have to give Will Levis better protection if they want him to make progress in Year 2. Fashanu, Levis' teammate for a year at Penn State, should be part of the solution. Pick 8 Arizona Cardinals Rome Odunze Washington · WR · Senior PROJECTED TRADE WITH ATLANTA FALCONS GM Monti Ossenfort now owns multiple picks in each of the first three rounds after trading down to No. 8. He holds the keys to the draft and still manages to find Kyler Murray a receiver who has drawn comparisons to Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald. Pick 9 Chicago Bears Dallas Turner Alabama · Edge · Junior The Bears have to find someone who can pressure quarterbacks other than Montez Sweat. They can make a case that they left Round 1 with the top quarterback and top edge rusher available this year. Pick 10 Las Vegas Raiders J.J. McCarthy Michigan · QB · Junior PROJECTED TRADE WITH NEW YORK JETS You really think Michigan Man and soon-to-be Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is going to let McCarthy fall to the Vikings at No. 11 or the rival Broncos at No. 12? Not happening. Vegas goes all in on the national title winner. Pick 11 Minnesota Vikings Jared Verse Florida State · Edge · Senior With free agency potentially leaving the Vikings thin off the edge, Verse’s relentless effort will be welcomed by DC Brian Flores. Pick 12 Cincinnati Bengals Brock Bowers Georgia · TE · Junior PROJECTED TRADE WITH DENVER BRONCOS I know, it never happens. The Bengals haven’t traded up in Round 1 since 1995, when they took Ki-Jana Carter first overall. Well, it’s time to put that streak to an end. The value of a top-five talent at No. 12 is too great for Cincinnati to resist, and the team doesn’t have a tight end under contract for 2024 as of this writing. Denver needs more draft picks, and the Bengals need Bowers. Pick 13 New York Jets Taliese Fuaga Oregon State · OT · Senior PROJECTED TRADE WITH LAS VEGAS RAIDERS The Jets recoup some draft capital after trading for Aaron Rodgers last year, and they get some much-needed help up front for the QB with the selection of the ultra-tough Fuaga. Pick 14 New Orleans Saints JC Latham Alabama · OT · Junior New Orleans might need new starters at both left and right tackle. The powerful Latham can immediately step in on the right side. Pick 15 Indianapolis Colts Terrion Arnold Alabama · CB · Sophomore (RS) There’s a decent chance Arnold will go earlier than 15th overall. If he’s still available, GM Chris Ballard delights in his good fortune, landing the draft’s top corner in the middle of Round 1. Pick 16 Seattle Seahawks Troy Fautanu Washington · OT · Senior New OC Ryan Grubb grabs his former pupil at UW. Fautanu can line up anywhere on the offensive line, but the Seahawks might be best served playing him at guard. Pick 17 Jacksonville Jaguars Byron Murphy II Texas · DT · Junior The Jaguars add some serious juice on the interior. If they bring back pending free agent Josh Allen and new DC Ryan Nielsen fully unlocks 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker’s potential, Murphy could be part of a ferocious front. Pick 18 Denver Broncos Bo Nix Oregon · QB · Senior PROJECTED TRADE WITH CINCINNATI BENGALS Sean Payton is desperate for help after parting with Russell Wilson in this hypothetical and missing out on the first four quarterbacks off the board. Nix has the experience and intelligence to be a good fit in Denver. Pick 19 Los Angeles Rams Laiatu Latu UCLA · Edge · Senior If you want wins off the edge, Latu is your guy. He will kick the intensity of the Rams’ pass rush up a notch. Pick 20 Pittsburgh Stealers Tyler Guyton Oklahoma · OT · Senior Pittsburgh slides last year’s first-rounder, Broderick Jones, to the left side, making room for Guyton at right tackle. Now, which quarterback will they be protecting? Pick 21 Miami Dolphins Jackson Powers-Johnson Oregon · C · Junior This looks good on an offensive lineman’s résumé, folks: Zero sacks allowed on 714 career pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. Powers-Johnson steps right in at center, filling a void for Miami. Pick 22 Philadelphia Eagles Quinyon Mitchell Toledo · CB · Senior The Eagles had one of the worst pass defenses in the league last season, and their top corners -- Darius Slay (33) and James Bradberry (31 in August) -- aren’t getting any younger. Mitchell showed at the Senior Bowl that he deservers to be in the draft’s CB1 conversation. Pick 23 Houston Texans (via CLE) Nate Wiggins Clemson · CB · Junior At least one scout views Wiggins as a better prospect than Seahawks stud rookie Devon Witherspoon was a year ago. High praise. The Texans snag a Clemson Tiger to play opposite Derek Stingley Jr. Pick 24 Dallas Cowboys Graham Barton Duke · IOL · Senior If Tyler Biadasz departs in free agency, Barton could be the perfect successor at center. Pick 25 Green Bay Packers Cooper DeJean Iowa · CB · Junior The Packers can’t quit Iowa defenders. For the second year in a row, Green Bay turns to the Hawkeyes in the first round, this time adding a versatile defensive back with a knack for making big plays. Pick 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chop Robinson Penn State · Edge · Junior The production might give some teams pause (9.5 sacks in last two seasons), but the freakish athletic ability will make other teams salivate. The Bucs can’t resist here, especially with Shaquil Barrett’s play trending in the wrong direction. Pick 27 Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) Amarius Mims Georgia · OT · Junior The Cardinals have the picks to move up the board for help in the trenches if they want to be aggressive, but they stay put in this scenario. This selection gives them two young bookends to build the offensive line around, with Mims joining last year’s first-rounder, Paris Johnson Jr. Pick 28 Buffalo Bills Brian Thomas Jr. LSU · WR · Junior It’s been a decade since the franchise spent a first-round pick on a receiver. With Gabe Davis headed for free agency, now is the time to strike for Thomas, who led the FBS with 17 touchdown catches in 2023. Pick 29 Detroit Lions Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama · CB · Junior I can hear Dan Campbell saying “Kool-Aid? Oh yeah!” when GM Brad Holmes sends this pick in. McKinstry’s game might not have a lot of flash, but he’s a well-schooled, confident cover corner who will reunite with Alabama teammate Brian Branch in the Detroit secondary. Pick 30 Baltimore Ravens Keon Coleman Florida State · WR · Junior An offensive lineman could be the play for the Ravens in Round 1. In this case, they decide to give Lamar Jackson a receiver who can win jump-ball battles and be a menace in the red zone. Pick 31 San Francisco 49ers Darius Robinson Missouri · DE · Senior NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah likened Robinson’s evaluation to that of the 49ers’ Arik Armstead. With Armstead potentially a year away from hitting free agency, why not take the 6-foot-5, 286-pounder to be his successor. Pick 32 Kansas City Chiefs Devontez Walker North Carolina · WR · Senior Walker might not have received glowing reviews at the Senior Bowl, but teams will go back to the tape and see what he did at North Carolina last season (41 catches for 699 yards and seven TDs in eight games). He can be a reliable wideout for Patrick Mahomes. https://www.nfl.com/news/dan-parr-2024-nfl-mock-draft-1-0 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griever Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 Brock is definitely the trendy pick for the Bengals right now...truth is idk if he'll even last that long and like the article says, very rare they trade up. New Dey and all of that tho I suppose. I just have a feeling some team before us is high on him as well. Sign THuddy and Sample and pick someone up in the later rounds and I think that'd work for the time being. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 Unless we kill it in free agency, we won't be in position to trade up for Bowers or anyone else. This roster needs a talent infusion. Bowers would certainly fix the TE position but we'd probably have to give up our 2nd to move up 6 spots in the first round. That means trading away a couple of pretty good players for 1 excellent one. Might work but it's not the sort of risk the Bengals like to take. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKOTA Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 As you’re going to lose Tee after this year, Bowers makes alot of sense as he would instantly be a legitimate 2nd receiving option behind JaMarr. Bowers is a mismatch waiting to happen. Too big and strong for 99% of DBs and way too quick and fast for 99% of LBs. Not happening though most likely but I think he would be a welcome addition to this offense. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_C_Deadpeople Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 13 hours ago, IKOTA said: As you’re going to lose Tee after this year, Bowers makes alot of sense as he would instantly be a legitimate 2nd receiving option behind JaMarr. Bowers is a mismatch waiting to happen. Too big and strong for 99% of DBs and way too quick and fast for 99% of LBs. Not happening though most likely but I think he would be a welcome addition to this offense. But we could tag Tee twice. If Joe's contract does not kick in until 2025, then a new Chase deal would not kick in until 2026? So we could afford the 2025 tag on Tee? He would not betoo happy but that's business. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 6 minutes ago, I_C_Deadpeople said: But we could tag Tee twice. If Joe's contract does not kick in until 2025, then a new Chase deal would not kick in until 2026? So we could afford the 2025 tag on Tee? He would not betoo happy but that's business. Gosh, I’m not sure there are many humans who would “not be too happy” to make between $20-$40 million in two years’ time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 14 hours ago, IKOTA said: As you’re going to lose Tee after this year, Bowers makes alot of sense as he would instantly be a legitimate 2nd receiving option behind JaMarr. Bowers is a mismatch waiting to happen. Too big and strong for 99% of DBs and way too quick and fast for 99% of LBs. Not happening though most likely but I think he would be a welcome addition to this offense. Saw Goodberry talking about drafting him and essentially turning him into a slot receiver/move tight end. They think he’s going to show up to the combine fairly light ~235ish and run fast which would possibly drop him a little bit since he’s not prototypical size for a standard 11 personnel TE. Could turn them into a more Ravens/Chiefs like team that has the ability to run 11 or 12 personnel on any given play. If teams go light - Brock is big enough to hold his own in the run game and if they go big - you can split Brock out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 * If you're into numerology ... Chase is #1 ... Burrow is #9 ... Bowers is #19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_C_Deadpeople Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 7 hours ago, Le Tigre said: Gosh, I’m not sure there are many humans who would “not be too happy” to make between $20-$40 million in two years’ time. Most players hate being tagged because they want $50M + guaranteed now instead of the one year guarantee. So they hate being tagged twice even more 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 20 Report Share Posted February 20 If they “hate” being paid obscene amounts of money—even on a year-by-year basis, they could be paid only for one year, and make more than the cumulative totals for populations of small nations. I recall some NBA player a while ago—Sprewell I think—who was lamenting he had “to feed my family” when offered $20 million. That’s entertainment I suppose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted February 21 Report Share Posted February 21 The tag number at 21.7 mil is probably more than Tee's open market value. He has no reason to complain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_C_Deadpeople Posted February 21 Report Share Posted February 21 14 hours ago, sparky151 said: The tag number at 21.7 mil is probably more than Tee's open market value. He has no reason to complain. None of the tagged guys have any reason to complain, but most still do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted February 21 Report Share Posted February 21 The twitter photoshops have already begun ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griever Posted February 21 Report Share Posted February 21 13 minutes ago, BlackJesus said: The twitter photoshops have already begun ... I sort of wish we had gone back to traditional block numbers... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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