NFL Draft Week Is Here: Armando Salguero 2024 OutKick Mock Draft

Welcome to NFL draft week 2024. The first round on Thursday night will be known for its ravenous hunger for quarterbacks, receivers and offensive linemen, the pushing down of defensive talent, and a total disregard for running backs (you'll see).

And while the Bears and Commanders own the first two picks, what happens starting with the third overall selection will probably be most interesting.

What follows is OutKick.com's 2024 Mock Draft that has been authored with the help of information gathered from scouts, personnel department people speaking about rival teams, agents and others. 

Here we go: 

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 29: J.J. McCarthy of Michigan poses for portraits at the Indiana Convention Center on February 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Bit Of A Surprise By Pats

1. Chicago: Let's make this quick because there really is no intrigue here. The Bears spent more time with Caleb Williams than any other prospect, have invested more man hours on his evaluation than anyone else's. It's him, people. Bears pick: QB Caleb Williams (USC).

2. Washington: When the 2023 college football season began, no NFL team had an initial first-round grade on Jayden Daniels. Then he dominated, throwing more TD passes than he had the previous three seasons (40 to 32). Daniels was more dynamic but also more careful with the ball. He became a better leader. That all matters. Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels (LSU). 

3. New England: The Patriots would like to trade down but not so far as to miss out on a QB and that's not possible with Minnesota or even the Giants. So they almost have to pick here despite their significant desire to pick up more draft capital. The surprise, though, is their choice. Patriots pick: QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan).

Drake Maye responds to NIL rumors. (Credit: Getty Images)

Drake Maye To Giants

4. Arizona TRADE With Giants: The Cardinals want 3 first-round picks to trade this pick to the Vikings and the move would still require stomaching a major drop to No. 11 overall. Too far for the Cards and too rich for Minny, especially with McCarthy gone. So the Giants at No. 6 are the trade partners. The Cards pick up a 2025 first-rounder. And the Giants pick up a QB to eventually replace Daniel Jones when he continues to be Daniel Jones. Giants pick: QB Drake Maye (North Carolina).

5. Chargers: Fans want Jim Harbaugh to pick a wide receiver for Justin Herbert, but the coach values protecting the QB more. Fans want GM Joe Hortiz to trade the pick and gain multiple other picks, but his price is too high for anyone to meet. So the pick here is safe and smart. Chargers pick: OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame).

6. NY Giants TRADE With Cardinals: Here is the brilliance of GM Monti Ossenfort trading down only a couple of spots and still picking up future draft capital: They still get the best WR on the board for most teams. Cardinals pick: WR Marvin Harrison (Ohio State).

NFL Draft Week Wheeling And Dealing

7. Tennessee: Practically every mock has them selecting Alt. He's gone here. So do the Titans pick the second-best offensive lineman or address the defensive line that suffered the loss of Denico Autry? Titans pick: DE Dallas Turner (Alabama).

8. Atlanta TRADE to NY Jets: The value here is Malik Nabors because the entire Earth has him going to the Bears one pick later if he's there. So the Jets leapfrog the Bears to add a potentially dynamic downfield threat to combine with Garrett Wilson. Jets pick: WR Malik Nabors (LSU).

9. Chicago: Yeah, bummer for the Bears, who are now looking for a trade down with either Denver or Las Vegas, who need a QB and might want to get ahead of the Vikings. The Vikes will be freaking if they don't give up a mint to move up much, much earlier into the top 5. Ultimately, the Bears pick: WR Rome Odunze (Washington).

10. NY Jets TRADE to Atlanta: The Falcons would have loved Turner, but he went one pick earlier than their original spot, so the trade down makes sense, and they still fill a need with a top 10 prospect that helps against opposing passing attacks. Falcons pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo).

Michael Penix Jr. gifts Texas some free bulletin board material. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Vikings Get Their QB

11. Minnesota: They've been tied to J.J. McCarthy longer than they were tied to any of their 2023 starting quarterbacks, but that ship has sailed. What now? If anyone has studied Washington's tape the last two seasons, it's obvious Michael Penix Jr. is a top 10 talent. His biggest issue is his previous four years at Indiana when he was seemingly always injured. The Vikings will focus on the last two years. Vikings pick: QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington). 

12. Denver: They didn't have the draft capital to trade up for McCarthy, whom they love. But Bo Nix has fallen right in their laps. The question is do they overdraft him here, trade down, or trade up in the second round to grab him? Bird in the hand thinking here. Broncos pick: QB Bo Nix (Oregon).

13. Las Vegas: Oh, no's!!! The Raiders seem to be the odd man out of the first-round QB sweepstakes and, well, they still need a QB. They can look to trade down to gain extra resources, but luckily for Las Vegas, there's a need just about everywhere you look on their roster, including cornerback and pass rusher to join the rotation -- and perhaps give Maxx Crosby a play or two off. The QB might have to come in the second round, maybe Spencer Rattler. Raiders pick: CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama). 

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 7: Brock Bowers #19 of the Georgia Bulldogs surveys the field during a run during a game between University of Kentucky and University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium on October 7, 2023 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Help For Anthony Richardson

14. New Orleans: If they plan to field a team in 2024, they might want to add a tackle here. So they do. Saints pick: OT Troy Fautanu (Washington).

15. Indianapolis: With the best and second-best cornerback prospects gone, the debate begins in Indy about maybe giving still-inexperienced QB Anthony Richardson a security blanket. So let's do that. Colts pick: TE Brock Bowers (Georgia).

16. Seattle: Hometown fave Fautanu is gone (if not, he's the pick) and there's about to be a run on offensive tackles so let's be part of it here. Seahawks pick: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State).

17. Jacksonville: The glaring need is at cornerback and there's going to be a run of those coming up, so the best bet is to jump into the fray because later rounds will be too late. Jaguars pick: CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson).

Eventual Tee Higgins Replacement

18. Cincinnati: The Bengals have a good team and draft flexibility. They could go any number of ways, not the least of which is getting a little nutty and trading Tee Higgins then drafting a replacement receiver. They say they're not going to trade Higgins. But he's definitely not going to be there next year, so replacing him with a similar body-type player is smart. Bengals pick: WR Brian Thomas (LSU). 

19. Rams: They haven't had a first-round pick since 2016 so they're kind of giddy about all the possibilities this presents. They're definitely going to listen to trade offers if they come, but because they're in L.A. they should have the best intelligence on UCLA's Laiatu Latu and his neck issues. Remember, they need some pass-rush help following the retirement of Aaron Donald. Rams pick: Edge Laiatu Latu (UCLA).

20. Pittsburgh: The Steelers got your attention with the addition of QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but while we're all staring at the shiny objects over there, the team wants to run the ball better and keep the quarterbacks off the injured list. So the offensive line, specifically at tackle and center glow in neon. The pick is a kid who's played both center and left tackle in college. Steelers pick: Graham Barton (Duke).

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Byron Murphy II #90 of the Texas Longhorns and Kitan Crawford #21 take the field before the game against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Dolphins Address Wilkins Loss

21. Miami: A team whose left tackle is likely playing his final season, whose presumptive starting center is undersized, whose two top pass rushers are coming off major injuries, and who bled a lot of talent in free agency, can go any number of directions this draft and this pick. The need that glows is the loss of interior defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. Luckily, there's Byron Murphy II of Texas and Jer'Zhan Newton of Illinois on the board. Let's go with the more dynamic player. Dolphins pick: IDL Byron Murphy II (Texas).

22. Philadelphia: Cornerback or nothing. That has to be the note GM Howie Roseman should scribble to himself Thursday morning. Eagles pick: CB Cooper DeJean (Iowa).

23. Minnesota: Still not J.J. McCarthy. Oh well, it's time to address what seems like an obvious need and that is get some pass rush up the middle and stop the run. So Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton makes the most sense as the highest rated interior defensive lineman on the board. Vikings pick: IDL Newton (Illinois).

24. Dallas: The Cowboys have an obvious void at left tackle they could address by moving outstanding left guard Tyler Smith there. Or they could simply keep Smith at his spot and draft a left tackle. The problem is all the first-round tackles remaining played right tackle in college. So let's pick a left tackle who can be a fine left guard and fill the void left by Smith. Cowboys pick: LG/LT Jordan Morgan (Arizona). 

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 1: Defensive end Jared Verse of the Florida State Seminoles poses for portraits at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Pass Rush Help For Buccaneers

25. Green Bay: They found a quarterback last year, so it might be wise to protect him. The problem the Packers will face here is they need a LT and all the top graded tackles remaining played on the right side in college. So they're going to have develop someone like the dickens. Packers pick: OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma).

26. Tampa Bay: When the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in the 2020-21 season, they were rolling with Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett chasing quarterbacks. Barrett was the most productive pass rusher that postseason and JPP was fifth. The Bucs have neither now and coach Todd Bowles needs a threat to get to the QB beyond one of his blitzes. Buccaneers pick: Edge Jared Verse (FSU).

27. Arizona: The Cardinals work this mock into adding the draft's top WR prospect, adding draft capital in this or next year's draft, and now addressing their pass rush need with a player whose combine time in the 40-yard dash made some cornerbacks envious. Cardinals pick: Edge Chop Robinson (Penn State).

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 02: Adonai Mitchell #WO19 of Texas participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 02, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Bills Need Diggs Replacement

28. Buffalo: They could probably use some cornerback help because Tre'Davious White is gone and Kaiir Elam hasn't developed as expected. They also want help on the interior defensive line. But did you hear they traded Stefon Diggs? And Gabe Davis left in free agency? QB Josh Allen needs help. So the Bills must get Allen help or bye-bye AFC East title run because Mack Hollins ain't it. Bills pick: WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas).

29. Detroit: They traded for CB Carlton Davis, which seemingly addresses their need at the position, but did you know Davis has only one year remaining on his contract? And he's never played a full season in his six-year career? This was a draft flexibility move and the Lions address the full-blown need here. Lions pick: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama).

30. Baltimore: John Harbaugh told us he has a depth chart, and it shows he's got some issues on the offensive line, most notably at right tackle. Luckily, there are RT candidates here, including Amarius Mims and J.C. Latham, both of whom played for top programs in the SEC. The question is which is a Raven in attitude, demeanor, work ethic? Ravens pick: RT Amarius Mims (Georgia).

31. San Francisco: If they're going to trade Brandon Aiyuk or even Deebo Samuel, this is the time. If that happens, they're adding WR help. If it doesn't, they should be looking at RT because that spot begs upgrade. Let's go with the offensive lineman, but remember a WR trade is on the table. 49ers pick: J.C. Latham (Alabama). 

32. Kansas City: The Chiefs struggled last season when their receivers led the NFL in drops. Not good. It doesn't escape them that Rashee Rice, their fine young receiver, faces charges and an eventual trial following his auto wreck while allegedly racing in Dallas. That's going to put his status for at least part of 2024 at risk. And that all speaks to the Chiefs addressing the WR spot. Chiefs pick: WR Xavier Legette (South Carolina).