2024 NFL Mock Draft: Giants, Vikings take quarterback in first round; Bills pick WR after Stefon Diggs trade

Perhaps the only thing that rivals the fun of filling out a March Madness bracket is creating a mock draft. The possibilities are endless, and there's always the feeling of satisfaction when some of your picks come to fruition on draft night. Of course, there's also the feeling of disappointment if your mock doesn't match up with reality. 

No matter how it ultimately shakes out, a mock draft is extremely helpful. It allows you to have a much better idea which positions teams are looking to fill with their first-round pick. It can also help you determine which teams may decide to move either up or down in the first round. 

There were no trades in my mock draft, but based on how I have things playing out, no one had to move anywhere. The Giants, for example, got the player they are reportedly interested in who can possibly challenge Daniel Jones this season. The Vikings were rewarded for their patience and, like New York, were able to select a quarterback with the 11th overall pick. The Bills, who recently traded top wideout Stefon Diggs, also stayed put, but were still able to select one of the draft's top-ranked receivers. 

Will things actually play out that way? It's hard to say, but one thing we do know is that quarterback names will be flying like hot cakes during the draft's opening night. Several teams are in need of a quarterback, and that will ultimately make for an interesting night. 

Without further ado, here's a complete look at my first round mock draft.

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.

Round 1

2024 NFL Mock Draft

From Carolina Panthers Round 1, Pick 1 Caleb Williams QB USC • 6'1" / 215 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3633 RUYDS 121 INTS 5 TDS 41 No surprise here. The Bears replace Justin Fields with the top-rated QB prospect in the draft. Williams' glittering college career included 93 touchdowns against just 14 picks. He'll look to take full advantage of a restocked Bears offense.

Round 1, Pick 2 Drake Maye QB North Carolina • 6'4" / 225 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3608 RUYDS 449 INTS 9 TDS 33 Maye lands in D.C. after lighting up the ACC during his two years as North Carolina's starting QB. He'll get the keys to a revamped offense that continues to feature veteran wideout Terry McLaurin.

Round 1, Pick 3 Jayden Daniels QB LSU • 6'4" / 210 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 3rd PAYDS 3812 RUYDS 1134 INTS 4 TDS 50 The reigning Heisman Trophy winner put up video game-like numbers during his final season at LSU. He tossed 40 TDs, completed over 72% of his passes and also ran for 1,134 yards and 10 scores.

Round 1, Pick 4 Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State • 6'4" / 205 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 67 REYDS 1211 YDS/REC 18.1 TDS 15 The first non-QB selected is the draft's top-ranked wide receiver prospect. Harrison rewrote the Buckeyes' career receiving record book despite playing with multiple quarterbacks during his Ohio State career.

Round 1, Pick 5 Malik Nabers WR LSU • 6'0" / 200 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 2nd REC 89 REYDS 1569 YDS/REC 17.6 TDS 14 Justin Herbert gets a new weapon after losing Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Jayden Daniels' favorite target last season caught 14 touchdowns and averaged 17.9 yards per catch during his final year at LSU.

Round 1, Pick 6 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan • 6'3" / 219 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 4th PAYDS 2991 RUYDS 202 INTS 4 TDS 25 Big Blue gets a quarterback to compete with Daniel Jones. McCarthy comes to the NFL after leading Michigan to its first national title since 1997.

Round 1, Pick 7 Joe Alt OT Notre Dame • 6'8" / 322 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd The Titans beef up their offensive line by adding Alt, who is hoping to duplicate his father's career as a Pro Bowl offensive tackle.

Round 1, Pick 8 Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama • 6'3" / 247 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st Atlanta addresses its pass-rush issues by selecting Turner, who racked up 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last fall.

Round 1, Pick 9 JC Latham OT Alabama • 6'6" / 342 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 5th I'm going against conventional wisdom and have the Bears selecting an OT instead of either a pass rusher or WR. The Bears need help at those positions, too, but I think they'll prioritize OT given their need to protect Williams.

Round 1, Pick 10 Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon State • 6'6" / 324 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 3rd Like the Bears, the Jets get a top-tier tackle prospect who can help protect franchise QB Aaron Rodgers.

Round 1, Pick 11 Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington • 6'3" / 215 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 5th PAYDS 4903 RUYDS 8 INTS 11 TDS 39 Penix's stock is on the rise, and it's easy to see why. He threw 67 touchdowns during his final two years at Washington, and he should continue to put up numbers in Minnesota with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.

Round 1, Pick 12 Brock Bowers TE Georgia • 6'4" / 230 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 1st REC 56 REYDS 714 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 7 The first tight end taken off the board, Bowers caught a whopping 26 touchdowns in three seasons at Georgia.

Round 1, Pick 13 Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo • 6'0" / 193 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st It took a little bit, but the first cornerback is off the board. Mitchell goes to Las Vegas after terrorizing receivers during his highly productive career at Toledo. He leaves the Rockets as the school's all-time leader in pass breakups (46).

Round 1, Pick 14 Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT Penn State • 6'6" / 312 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st The Saints get an offensive lineman who didn't allow a sack in 365 pass-blocking snaps in 2023.

Round 1, Pick 15 Terrion Arnold CB Alabama • 6'0" / 199 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 2nd Arnold goes to Indianapolis after a highly productive college career at Alabama. Last year, he picked off five passes and batted down 12 more for the SEC champs.

Round 1, Pick 16 Troy Fautanu IOL Washington • 6'4" / 317 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st Fautanu won't have to travel far to continue his football career. He's a Pro Bowl-caliber player who saw time at both tackle and guard in college.

Round 1, Pick 17 Byron Murphy II DL Texas • 6'0" / 306 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st The reigning Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year also scored two offensive touchdowns at Texas. Keep that in mind when Doug Pederson's offense is near the goal line this season.

Round 1, Pick 18 Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU • 6'2" / 209 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 4th REC 68 REYDS 1177 YDS/REC 17.3 TDS 17 Joe Burrow gets another former LSU standout to throw to. This also gives the Bengals flexibility should Tee Higgins depart next offseason.

Round 1, Pick 19 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State • 6'4" / 260 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd Verse's slide ends here. Los Angeles gets a highly consistent and productive player who had 18 sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in his two seasons at Florida State.

Round 1, Pick 20 Nate Wiggins CB Clemson • 6'1" / 182 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 4th Pittsburgh gets another young cornerback a year after drafting Joey Porter Jr. in the second round. The duo will look to contain opposing AFC North quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson.

Round 1, Pick 21 Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL Oregon • 6'3" / 328 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 2nd The draft's top-ranked center prospect is taking his talents to South Beach. Powers-Johnson's skill set should benefit Tua Tagovailoa while making an already talented offense even better.

Round 1, Pick 22 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Alabama • 5'11" / 199 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 3rd As you can see, cornerbacks are starting to come off the board at a frenzied pace. The Eagles get some help for a defense that finished 30th in points allowed in 2023.

From Houston Texans Round 1, Pick 23 Johnny Newton DL Illinois • 6'2" / 295 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 2nd With their QB in tow, the Vikings address their other pressing need on the defensive line. Newton was a one-man wrecking crew at Illinois who became the school's first player in 29 years to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Round 1, Pick 24 Amarius Mims OT Georgia • 6'8" / 350 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 4th Mims falls to the Cowboys, who don't pass up the chance to select him despite their other needs at receiver and cornerback. Mims' addition should bolster Dallas' running game.

Round 1, Pick 25 Cooper DeJean CB Iowa • 6'0" / 198 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 5th Green Bay will likely either pick a pass rusher or cornerback with this pick. I have the Packers taking DeJean, who had a whopping three interception returns for scores in 2022.

Round 1, Pick 26 Graham Barton OT Duke • 6'5" / 314 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 51st POSITION RNK 8th Tampa Bay gets an experienced tackle who made 38 starts at Duke. Barton has experience at both tackle and center.

From Houston Texans Round 1, Pick 27 Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd Arizona also needs offensive line help, but it would almost be impossible for the Cardinals to pass up the chance to draft Latu, who had 23.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles during his two seasons at UCLA.

Round 1, Pick 28 Ladd McConkey WR Georgia • 6'0" / 185 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 6th REC 30 REYDS 478 YDS/REC 15.9 TDS 3 Buffalo gets its receiver who can help fill the void of Stefon Diggs' departure. While his college stats aren't terribly impressive, McConkey stood tall in big games throughout his career at Georgia.

Round 1, Pick 29 Darius Robinson EDGE Missouri • 6'5" / 285 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th Last year's NFC title game reinforced Detroit's need to get better on defense. Coming to the rescue is Robinson, the top player on a Missouri defense who led the Tigers to an 11-2 record in 2023.

Round 1, Pick 30 Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma • 6'7" / 322 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 38th POSITION RNK 6th The general consensus is that the Ravens are taking Guyton if he's still on the board. Guyton allowed no sacks on 355 pass-blocking snaps during his final season at Oklahoma.

Round 1, Pick 31 Chop Robinson EDGE Penn State • 6'3" / 254 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 4th The 49ers are likely targeting an edge rusher, offensive tackle or cornerback with this pick. I have them taking Robinson, who should quickly help improve San Francisco's pass rush.

Round 1, Pick 32 Adonai Mitchell WR Texas • 6'2" / 205 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 5th REC 55 REYDS 845 YDS/REC 15.4 TDS 11 Texas has two top-ranked receiver prospects in Mitchell and Xavier Worthy. I have the Chiefs choosing Mitchell largely due to his size (6-foot-4, 190 pounds).