PurplePTSD/Vikings Territory 2024 NFL Mock Draft (2.0): Vikings Land Their QB, 3 Trades Shift the Landscape
Josh Frey
|
Folks, we’ve finally made it.
It’s officially NFL Draft week, and that means we very soon will be able to put aside all the rumors and get some concrete results regarding this spring’s draft. In celebration of draft week getting underway, a quartet of writers both for PurplePTSD and Vikings Territory put their minds together to write up a mock draft.
The group included Dustin Baker, Janik Eckardt, Josh Frey, and Kyle Joudry.
PPTSD/VT 2024 NFL Mock Draft (2.0)
1. Chicago Bears (KJ): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Reasoning: At times, the easy decision is the right decision. The Bears won’t overthink this and neither will I.
2. Washington Commanders (DB): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Reasoning: Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has a football fetish for mobile quarterbacks, and Daniels is the fetish here. Sportsbooks have maintained for about a month that Daniels will end up in Washington, and they aren’t wrong. Daniels’ college coach even spilled the beans a couple of weeks ago.
3. New England Patriots (JE): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Reasoning: Patriots Nation desires a new franchise quarterback, Tom Brady’s true successor. Drake Maye can be that guy. He has the physical tools to star early in his career, but can refine his game behind Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots aren’t under any pressure to compete in 2024.
4. Arizona Cardinals (JF) Minnesota Vikings (JE): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
TRADE: MIN sends Nos. 11, 23 and 2025 first to ARI for No. 4
Reasoning: Following Kirk Cousins’ departure, the Vikings trade up into the top five of the draft to select the new franchise quarterback. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is a perfect fit in Kevin O’Connell’s system and he will benefit from Minnesota’s wonderful infrastructure on offense.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (KJ): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Reasoning: Would it be odd for the former Michigan HC to sink a high pick into the Ohio State alumnus? Maybe, and yet LA is navigating an offseason that has featured the loss of their top two wideouts. The Herbert/Harrison connection could be dominant for the next decade.
6. New York Giants (DB): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Reasoning: The Giants’ best wide receiver is Darius Slayton, and that’s what you need to know about this pick. If they want Daniel Jones to succeed — they probably do — the man needs help when he can’t play Ed Donatell’s defense every weekend.
7. Tennessee Titans (JE): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Reasoning: The Titans haven’t replaced left tackle Taylor Lewan, who left a year ago, and setting up quarterback Will Levis for success is a priority for the Titans. Joe Alt is one of the top players in the draft class and will protect the blindside in Tennessee for years to come.
8. Atlanta Falcons (JF) Arizona Cardinals (JF): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
TRADE: ARI sends Nos. 11 and 35 to ATL for No. 8
Reasoning: The Cardinals snatched a third first-round pick by trading down from No. 4, but they still need help from a top wide receiver. In order to avoid a scenario where Chicago or New York snatch Odunze ahead of them, Arizona moves back up to get their new WR1.
9. Chicago Bears (KJ): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Reasoning: Some temptation to support the new QB with an OT or a WR but we’ll instead role with Mr. Turner. Last year, the Texans turned themselves around in a hurry by drafting both C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson. Look for the Bears to do something similar with Williams and Turner.
10. New York Jets (DB): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Reasoning: Per talent, Bowers should go higher than this, but he falls into the Jets’ lap and gets to roll with Aaron Rodgers for a year or two alongside former Viking Tyler Conklin.
11. Minnesota Vikings (JE) Arizona Cardinals (JF) Atlanta Falcons (JF): Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Reasoning: The Falcons could use some extra pass rush help, and while Johnny Newton is a smaller player at the defensive tackle spot, he can slide into the spot next to Grady Jarrett and eventually take on a premiere role in the defense.
12. Denver Broncos (JF): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Reasoning: The Russell Wilson experiment ended horribly in Denver. They need to come out of this draft with a quarterback, so they go ahead and take Bo Nix to be the next leader of their offense.
13. Las Vegas Raiders (KJ): Michael Penix, QB, Washington
Reasoning: Seeing all of those passers get scooped up makes Vegas skittish. They snag Michael Penix with the hope that they’ve just snagged their QB1 for the next decade.
14. New Orleans Saints (DB): Olumuyiwa Fashanua, OT, Penn State
Reasoning: Trevor Penning isn’t very productive and Ryan Ramczyk missed five games last year. New Orleans could explore and EDGE or wide receiver here, but Fashanua is the safest bet to build the trenches.
15. Indianapolis Colts (JE): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Reasoning: The Colts need an upgrade at the cornerback position to improve the suspect pass defense. Quinyon Mitchell offers elite physical tools and has the potential to turn into a true shutdown defender.
16. Seattle Seahawks (JF): Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Reasoning: The Seahawks have done a great job of shoring up their offensive tackle spots over the past few years, but they desperately need some help on the interior. Jackson Powers-Johnson can be an immediate anchor at the center spot.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (KJ): Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Reasoning: The most obvious way to support Mr. Lawrence is to give him an excellent lineman or an excellent receiver. Both of those paths have merit, and yet another way to help is by bringing that defense along. Adding a DB to shut down the skies – while maybe picking off a pass or two along the way – will help the Jags.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (DB) Buffalo Bills (JF): Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
TRADE: BUF sends Nos. 28, 60, and 2025 fourth to CIN for No. 18
Reasoning: The Bills not only lost Gabe Davis in free agency, but they also traded away Stefon Diggs a couple weeks later to the Houston Texans. They need WR talent, and Brian Thomas is a great player to pair with Josh Allen.
19. Los Angeles Rams (JE): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Reasoning: Aaron Donald, one of the greatest defenders in NFL history, retired. Because of his presence, the Rams never had to invest in the defensive line, but since he’s gone, why not immediately spend the first pick in the top round since 2016 on his replacement? Byron Murphy is an immediate contributor and has Pro Bowl potential down the road.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (JF): JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Reasoning: JC Latham said at the combine that he wanted NFL teams to give him a chance at left tackle, and he very well could get that opportunity in Pittsburgh playing opposite of Broderick Jones. The tumble ends for one of the best offensive tackle prospects in this class.
21. Miami Dolphins (KJ): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Reasoning: No such thing as too many pass rushers. Landing an excellent one in the early 20s is a win.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (DB): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Reasoning: Philadelphia ranked 20th via passing DVOA in 2023 — not ideal for a team calling itself a Super Bowl contender. The Eagles’ starting CBs (Darius Slay, James Bradberry) are aging, so they grab Wiggins in Round 1 as the eventual keynote corner.
23. Minnesota Vikings (JE) Arizona Cardinals (JF): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Reasoning: The Cardinals filled their need at WR in the top 10, and now, they snatch a top-tier edge rusher to shore up a pass rush that struggled mightily during the 2023 season.
24. Dallas Cowboys (JF): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Reasoning: Without Tyron Smith, the Cowboys need help at offensive tackle. Amarius Mims doesn’t have a ton of starting experience under his belt, but he offers plenty of upside with massive size and elite athleticism.
25. Green Bay Packers (KJ): Darius Robinson, DE/EDGE, Missouri
Reasoning: Green Bay responds to Minnesota’s abundant skill, Detroit’s top offense, and Chicago’s Williams addition with a major boost to their defensive front.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (DB): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
Reasoning: The Buccaneers have two starting offensive guards on deck to start in 2024 with Pro Football Focus scores below 45.0. This pick is a total no-brainer.
27. Arizona Cardinals (JE): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Reasoning: The Cardinals have filled their WR need by selecting Rome Odunze in the top ten, and Laiatu Latu will boost the pass rush. Alabama’s Terrion Arnold fell in the draft, and the Cardinals could use a top cornerback. It’s a terrific value pick to finish an outstanding first round from GM Monti Ossenfort.
28. Buffalo Bills (JF) Cincinnati Bengals (DB): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Reasoning: Right tackle Trent Brown is scheduled to hit free agency next March, and the Bengals grab and stash Fuaga at pick No. 28 for the future.
29. Detroit Lions (KJ): Kool-Aid McKinstry, Corner, Alabama
Reasoning: Detroit invests in one of the sport’s most important positions by choosing a defensive back coming out of a major college problem and with some good size.
30. Baltimore Ravens (DB): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Reasoning: Both Ravens’ offensive tackles, Ronnie Staley and Patrick Mekari, are free agents in 2025. They prepare for the future with Guyton at No. 30.
31. San Francisco 49ers (JE): Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Reasoning: The offensive line is a key aspect of San Francisco’s offense. As future Hall of Famer Trent Williams turns 36 in July and a couple of other spots could use an upgrade, Fautanu is a perfect pick because he possesses starting-caliber potential at every position across the line.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (JF): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Georgia
Reasoning: It’s anyone’s best guess as to whether or not Rashee Rice will be available to play in 2024, and regardless, the Chiefs need some more WR help if they are going to make a run for a third straight Super Bowl. Adonai Mitchell’s speed will be a great fit alongside Patrick Mahomes’ rocket-powered arm.
The Vikings Trade up the Board Could Come Sooner than Expected
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.