2024 NFL Mock Draft: Grading former NFL players' alternating picks; Cowboys take QB, Bills wait on WR

Pick made by: Brady Quinn -- A layup to start, it feels like the Bears are locked in on Williams, the best player in this class. Zero qualms here. Grade: A

Pick made by: Leger Douzable -- Daniels is a dynamic athlete with amazing touch from in the pocket. On paper, he should jell perfectly with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Grade: A

Pick: Quinn -- Maye is my QB2, ever so slightly behind Williams. Size. Major arm talent. Aggression. It's all there with Maye, and he's capable of making challenging connects with receivers deep downfield off-structure. Grade: A+

Pick: Douzable -- I have Malik Nabers graded ahead of Harrison, but the Ohio State star is still one of my top-five overall prospects. Big, ultra-fast, runs the whole route tree and is a magnet on deep shots. He's exactly what the Cardinals need. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- Alt is the consensus top offensive tackle on the board, but he's a career left tackle and Rashawn Slater is locked into that spot with the Chargers -- maybe this precipitates a move to the right side for the former first-round pick? Alt is a towering, freaky athlete. While this would fill a need for Los Angeles, I don't think Alt wins cleanly as frequently as a top-five offensive tackle should. He has to get stronger. Grade: B

Pick: Douzable -- There's an argument to be made the Giants should simply roll the dice at the quarterback spot given the potential payout and seeing that it's the third draft for GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. But if they decide against that, this is the next-best option. Nabers is a certified baller. Complete skill set. Incredibly explosive. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- Fashanu has looked like a future All-Pro since the 2022 season, and while he may not be the nastiest mauler in the run game, he has an NFL frame, supreme balance, length and power to rock as a pass protector for a long time in Tennessee. Smart pick entering Year 2 of the Will Levis era. Grade: A+

Pick: Douzable -- Turner is the freakiest specimen with ridiculous length for his size and elite explosiveness. He put everything together in 2023 at Alabama, but it was truly his only high-caliber season with the Crimson Tide. With youth on his side, this is a sensible pick for the Falcons given his upside and their need on the edge. Grade: B+

Pick: Quinn -- I would have understood either Rome Odunze or Brian Thomas Jr. here because of the direct impact on Caleb Williams, but I don't have either graded quite this high, and Verse is an instant-impact stud at defensive end, which is a clear need for the Bears. And the receiver position is significantly deeper than the edge-rusher spot, so this is a smart approach. Grade: A-

Pick: Douzable -- The Jets might be more all in for one given season than any team in NFL history. Is this the most massive need? Probably not. But the roster is already darn good, and Odunze should be able to star instantly as a back-shoulder-type wideout with Aaron Rodgers. Yes, there's a bit of redundancy here after the Mike Williams signing, but when Rodgers is cooking, he'll consistently give his receivers a chance. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- In a mock without trades, this represents, arguably, the most reasonably best-case scenario for the Vikings. McCarthy's game is tailor made for operating a Shanahan-style offense, which is precisely what he'd run with Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota. The upside is deceptively high, particularly with Justin Jefferson and Co. with the Vikings. Grade: A

Pick: Douzable -- With the top four quarterbacks off the board, this is a smart consolation idea for the Broncos. Best player available type for an offense that still does need a quarterback. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- Latu is so clean on film. Size, insane pass-rush moves, two years of high-level productivity. There are just those injury concerns in his past, and he doesn't have tremendous length. The Raiders could really use another defensive end running mate given how many snaps Maxx Crosby plays on a yearly basis. Grade: A

Pick: Douzable -- Goodness gracious, the Saints need an offensive tackle in the worst way. Fuaga is an absolute masher at right tackle with outstanding feet and stellar pass-protection abilities. Plug-and-play with All-Pro upside. Grade: A+

Pick: Quinn -- Arnold is twitchy, excels in man and zone, tackles like a champ and has awesome ball skills. If his combine was a bit better, he probably would be gone by now. He's exactly what the Colts need in their secondary. They've had a need for a lockdown outside cornerback for a long time. Grade: A

Pick: Douzable -- I don't have Fautanu valued this highly -- he has to get significantly stronger -- but the Seahawks do have a glaring need at guard, and that's probably where this Washington blocker starts his career next to Charles Cross. Grade: B

Pick: Quinn -- Even after signing Arik Armstead in free agency, the Jaguars have a reasonable need along the defensive line, and Robinson is an inside-outside rusher best rushing from the interior. He looks the part of a hybrid who could thrive in the NFL but I'm a bit concerned with his athleticism on the edge. Grade: B

Pick: Douzable -- Home run of a pick here for Cincinnati, which needs reinforcements -- particularly pass-rushers -- on the inside. Murphy is ultra-explosive and plays with supreme leverage. Grade: A+

Pick: Quinn -- Newton is a dynamic upfield rusher with a packed pass-rush move arsenal and plenty of power. Of course, he can't instantly replicate Aaron Donald, but this is quality pick. Grade: A

Pick: Douzable -- Rakestraw ran slower than expected at the combine -- 4.51 -- and his film in 2023 was so consistent. This may be a tick early for him, but it clearly fills a need in Pittsburgh. Grade: B

Pick: Quinn -- Powers-Johnson to Miami is one of the most exquisite prospect-team pairings in the entire first round. Even after signing Aaron Brewer this offseason, Miami can certainly upgrade at center long-term, and JPJ is unequivocally the best center in the class. Grade: A+

Pick: Douzable -- DeJean is an electric mover and playmaker -- sure tackler, drifts to the football with ease in coverage and provides a spark in the return game. Smart selection. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- The value is really good here, and Brian O'Neill is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in early January. Latham could be the starter at right tackle Week 1. But when he's healthy, O'Neill will reassume that gig. Clear best-player-available pick here, and Latham does have the size -- and some experience at guard. Grade: B+

Pick: Douzable -- This feels like the last season for Dak Prescott as the Cowboys starter, and while Penix isn't necessarily a quarterback who needs a redshirt year, he'll likely get one in 2024. The upside is there -- even though he's an older prospect -- because of his big-time throw capabilities. Taking a swing at this game's most vital position is probably not the worst idea for the Cowboys now. Grade: B+

Pick: Quinn -- Wilson's film is first-round caliber, no question. Athleticism galore, plus coverage, tackling reliability. It's all there. There are some concerns that dip the grade on this pick. He has a lengthy injury history, and a severe length deficiency, which could hamper his ability to beat blocks at the next level. And he'll turn 24 the week before the draft. Linebacker is a need for the Packers, but offensive tackle would've been a better allocation of a first-round pick. Grade: C+

Pick: Douzable -- One of the skinniest prospects in the entire class at over 6-foot-1 and 173 pounds with 4.28 speed, Wiggins can, of course, really go, and plays with plus instincts in coverage. After losing Carlton Davis this offseason, the Buccaneers need a boundary cornerback. This feels like quality value too. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- The Cardinals got their franchise receiver in Harrison earlier, and pick a rock-solid perimeter cornerback with the length, athleticism and man-coverage ability to be a star boundary defender in the NFL. Grade: A-

Pick: Douzable -- This would be a surprise positionally after the Stefon Diggs trade, yet it is a mostly very deep receiver class. Robinson may be too talented of a prospect to pass here for the Bills and would give Buffalo a long-term solution at the edge-rusher spot with someone who can win in a flash. But neither Ladd McConkey nor Adonai Mitchell here? Grade: B-

Pick: Quinn -- On the field, Nubin is an absolute problem. He tallied 13 interceptions and 11 pass breakups over the past four seasons at Minnesota in an NFL-caliber frame, there's a legit argument that he's the premier free safety in the class. And the Lions are a little thin at the safety spot. However, Nubin's testing numbers were not close to first-round caliber, which dips this grade. Slightly. Was the range he demonstrated in college only Big 10 range? That'd be the concern with his disappointing workout. Grade: C+

Pick: Douzable -- The Ravens could use more receiver help. Odell Beckham Jr. is unlikely to return, and despite the fun rookie season from Zay Flowers, are they ready to lean on him as a No. 1 wideout? Sure, Mark Andrews will probably continue to be the top option, but more size and speed at the receiver position wouldn't hurt. Mitchell has size, length, smoothness and speed. Grade: A-

Pick: Quinn -- Mims did some unbelievable things at the combine given that he measured in at nearly 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds. There were impeccable displays of balance at Georgia, too. I wouldn't call him an ideal stylistic fit in Kyle Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme, but the 49ers have transitioned to more power concepts the past few years. Given Trent Williams' age and Mims ability to start at right tackle at the outset of his NFL career, this is a solid selection. Grade: B+

Pick: Douzable -- Morgan is one of the most underrated blockers in a loaded offensive tackle class. He moves like a nimble guard, but has the length to stay on the edge, where the Chiefs desperately need a steady force opposite Jawaan Taylor. Grade: B+