Steven Cheah's 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

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Hello there - It's me, Steven Cheah, 2022's most accurate mock drafter in the world.

But I'm under NEW MANAGEMENT. We have a NEW Senior Draft Analyst, and his name is Liam Blutman. 

He's the man and I'm excited to be under his tutelage. 

And since the Chiefs have just defeated the 49ers in the Super Bowl, it's DRAFT SZN! So let's get started with this mock:

1) Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) - QB Caleb Williams (USC)

Unless the Bears get a "historic haul", they're picking #1 and they're going to take Caleb Williams. He's a "generational talent" and a guy you simply cannot pass on.

2) Washington Commanders - QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)

Washington just hired Kliff Kingsbury as their OC and I'm thinking they're leaning the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in Jayden Daniels. Daniels is super versatile and represents the most excitement the Franchise has had at QB since 2012.

3) New England Patriots - QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)

The Patriots will be happy that Drake Maye fell into their laps. At 6'4" 230 lbs. he's got ideal size and arm strength for the position, but he did take a bit of a step back this season with 14 fewer passing TDs and 2 more INTs.

4) Arizona Cardinals - WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)

The Cardinals will be thrilled to have the arguably the top player in the draft fall into their laps at #4 overall. At 6'4" 206 lbs. he's had back-to-back 1,200+ yard 14-TD seasons. 

5) LA Chargers - OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)

The Chargers need to protect Justin Herbert at all costs. Rashawn Slater is a very good Left Tackle, but they need help on the other side and Alt represents a safe bet from a school that continually churns out quality Offensive Lineman.

6) NY Giants - WR Rome Odunze (Washington)

The Giants have made no secret they'd be open to a QB, but at #6 overall they decide to give him a 6'3" 215 lbs. weapon on the outside. This will be the best Receiver Daniel Jones has ever had.

7) Tennessee Titans - OT Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State)

The Titans need to protect Will Levis at all costs and even though they drafted Peter Skoronski last year, but he started at Left Guard. Fuaga is 6'6" 332 lbs. with 33 3/8" inch arms and should be better suited to play outside.

8) Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Dallas Turner (Alabama)

With Raheem Morris in town they'll need to address the pass rush. He likes to get after the Quarterback and the Falcons didn't have a single player with seven sacks last season. Turner is the top EDGE in the class and gives them a building block on the outside.

9) Chicago Bears - WR Malik Nabers (LSU)

In this scenario, the Bears land a new QB1 in Caleb Williams and give him another blue chip weapon with Malik Nabers. Nabers paired with DJ Moore and Cole Kmet is a formidable duo and the Bears are all of a sudden exciting.

10) NY Jets - OT Olu Fashanu (Penn State)

The Jets need more building blocks on the outside to protect Aaron Rodgers. Mekhi Becton is constantly hurt, but with Fashanu, they can kick Alija Vera-Tucker back inside to Guard. Last season he played at Right Tackle.

11) Minnesota Vikings - EDGE Jared Verse (Florida State)

Danielle Hunter is coming off a 16.5 sack season but he's also a free agent. Verse can represent a huge cost savings if they decide to retain Kirk Cousins.

12) Denver Broncos - QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)

Denver is a total wildcard team because they're QB-needy, but they also have a ton of needs. I have Sean Payton taking McCarthy here who has had back-to-back 22 TD seasons and only 9 INTs over the past two seasons.

13) Las Vegas Raiders - CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama)

The Raiders are another team with a lot of needs and I have them going with Arnold at #13. At 6'0" 188 lbs., he gives better starting size than Amik Robertson who is much better suited for the slot.

14) New Orleans Saints - QB Bo Nix (Oregon)

The Saints are in a weird bind because Derek Carr hasn't been very good, but he's under contract with guaranteed money for another season. It would benefit Nix to play indoors and also take some time to learn under a veteran. I could see this as a match.

15) Indianapolis Colts - TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)

Bowers is a tough guy to find a landing spot. He's one of the top players in the class, but he also plays a fairly niche position that rarely is drafted high. He's also coming off an injury. But a good Tight End is a young Quarterback's best friend and Bowers would be a great security blanket for Anthony Richardson.

16) Seattle Seahawks - EDGE Bralen Trice (Washington)

The Seahawks need to get back to their roots of having a 'get off the bus' team full of giant dudes. Trice is a local product and at 6'4" 274 lbs. would be a big EDGE to help Seattle get back to their old ways.

17) Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)

The Jags have Calvin Ridley Jr. and Christian Kirk, but I have them giving Trevor Lawrence another weapon in Brian Thomas Jr. Zay Jones shouldn't be a starting WR.

18) Cincinnati Bengals - OT JC Latham (Alabama)

Latham is a massive 6'6" 360 lbs. and could start at RT and move Jonah Williams back inside to his more natural Left Guard position. They've got to protect Joe Burrow and Latham would be a good start.

19) LA Rams - OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)

Guyton is a big 6'7" 328 lbs. Tackle that had a nice week at the Senior Bowl. The Rams have some questions at Left Tackle and Guyton has earned himself a 1st Round slot.

20) Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo)

Mitchell is a Liam guy, but he's also a Steelers type guy. At 6'0" 196 lbs. with a feisty demeanor, he's coming off a 5 INT season in 2022. This past year he had just 1 INT, but with Patrick Peterson as CB1, the black and yellow need more youth on the back end.

21) Miami Dolphins - C Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)

Connor Williams was good at Center for Miami, but he tore his ACL in December and Tua Tagovailoa needs a sound interior of his Offensive Line. The man with three names that could all be last names could step in and secure that spot.

22) Philadelphia Eagles - LB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M)

I know, I know the Eagles never draft Linebackers early. But their Linebacking corps was SO BAD last season and Cooper is the top inside LB in the class. At 6'3" 230 lbs. he's the new breed of speedy tackling machines and would start Day 1 in Philly.

23) Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) - OT Troy Fautanu (Washington)

The Texans have Laremy Tunsil at Left Tackle but journeyman George Fant at Right Tackle. They've got to protect CJ Storud and Fautanu represents good value at #23.

24) Dallas Cowboys - OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)

Tyler Smith, who played Left Guard will likely kick out to Left Tackle when Tyron Smith calls it a career. On the Right Side, Terence Steele was solid this season, but I like Mims to take the Left Guard spot and have Tackle flexibility. Dallas needs to protect Dak and the Cowboys Offensive Line has taken a big step back from the monsters of years past.

25) Green Bay Packers - OG/OT Graham Barton (Duke)

David Bakhtiari has played 14 games in the past three years. Barton has flexibility to play Guard or kick out to Offensive Tackle. I like his fit in Green Bay.

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Cooper DeJean (Iowa)

This pick makes so much sense for Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers. Bowles LOVES Corners with position versatility to either play Safety or Nickel. Cooper DeJean is 6'1" 207 lbs. but will give this defense a lot of options. You'd then have Antoine Winfield Jr., Zyon McCollum, and DeJean being able to shift all over the place on Defense. He's also got ball skills.

27) Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans) - DT Byron Murphy II (Texas)

The Cardinals drafted Byron Murphy in 2019 the Cornerback. In 2024 they draft the Defensive Tackle Byron Murphy II. They have a lot of holes, but stopping the run should be a top priority and Murphy helps plug that gap.

28) Buffalo Bills - EDGE Chop Robinson (Penn State)

The Bills have swung on a lot of early EDGE rushers. Greg Rousseau had only 3 sacks last year. Will Von Miller be back? Leonard Floyd was a stop gap. Chop Robinson doesn't have eye-popping stats, but he's a game wrecker.

29) Detroit Lions - WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas)

The Lions could use another playmaker on Offense with size and Mitchell fits the bill. At 6'4" 196 lbs. this guy can float.

30) Baltimore Ravens - EDGE Laiatu Latu (UCLA)

Latu was medically retired in 2021 with a neck injury but then came back to have 10.5 sacks and 13 sacks in 2022 and 2023. At 6'5" 265 lbs. he would be a great pickup at the end of the 1st round.

31) San Francisco 49ers - CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson)

The 49ers let that one slip through their grasp and Wiggins could help bulk up a secondary that got a little leaky towards the end of the season.

32) Kansas City Chiefs - DT Jer'Zhan Newton (Illinois)

Chris Jones was outstanding but he keeps asking for raises. I'm sure he'll be back, but Newton can be groomed as his sidekick.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next version (2.0) after the Combine.