Alex Katson's 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
With the draft just hours away, Alex Katson gives his final predictions on the first round of the draft.
Before we get started: welcome to my first piece on Two Gap, my new project with my good friend Devin Jackson. We’re extremely excited to close the gaps (get it?) in draft coverage year-round, and felt so strongly about getting started that we just had to launch before this year’s draft. Please consider subscribing and supporting while we continue to build everything out!
After spending the bulk of smokescreen season in the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I have returned to give you a completely correct account of how the first round will go down tomorrow evening. While I’ve done plenty of full first-round mock drafts on my Twitter, this is the only one I’ve fully written up all season.
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I included trades but did not predict compensation besides moving picks in the first round around, because everyone in media is ultimately extremely bad at predicting that side of things.
1. Chicago Bears (via CAR) - Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The only thing left to do for Williams to become a Bear is walk across the stage and shake Roger Goodell’s hand on Thursday night. Chicago has been keyed in on the USC star since they secured the first overall selection via Carolina’s miserable 2023 season, to the point that neither the Bears nor Williams had much contact with any other parties leading up to the draft.
Despite the sensationalized reports about his character, Williams was a cornerstone leader at USC and will be expected to step into a similar role in Chicago. I think the concerns about his ability to play in-structure are overblown by the nature of Lincoln Riley’s offense, and he clearly has the ability to extend plays and make throws from every arm slot to bail a team out when things break down.
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels’ agents tweeting cryptic emojis and reports that the reigning Heisman Trophy winner didn’t like Washington’s group date at Topgolf aside, it certainly seems as though the Commanders will opt for the LSU signal-caller to lead their new ownership and front office group into the future.
Washington continues to insist to NFL sources that nobody knows what they’re going to do when they come up on the clock, but it feels more like someone trying to distract from the fact that they’ve been caught. Daniels publicly downplayed the drama at an NFL Play 60 event in Detroit on Wednesday, and the momentum seems to be swinging back in his direction with the second overall pick.
A slightly built passer who adds an undeniable dimension as a runner, Daniels will need to both add weight and learn how to slide if he’s going to be the face of Commanders football for the next decade plus. But he’s also the latest in the line of Joe Burrow and Zach Wilson as the one-year wonder that cracks the top five with a transcendent final season as a collegiate player.
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
I fully believe that Minnesota and the Giants are all-in on the Drake Maye experience. But I also fully believe that New England will want far too much to trade out of their own shot at Maye, unless ownership intervenes at the last minute and swerves them into the JJ McCarthy intersection.
Maye has lower half mechanics to clean up, which can sometimes affect his accuracy on throws outside the hashes. But if you’re looking for the easiest mechanical fix at quarterback, footwork is certainly it, especially with most pro staffs asking at least slightly different things from their passers than was asked of them in college.
Maye’s most frequent pro comparison has been Justin Herbert, but I think they sit on opposite ends of the decision making spectrum. While Herbert is safe with the ball to a fault, Maye will make some reckless decisions to try to drag an underperforming offense out of the mud. There’s a happy medium for both of them, and if Maye hits it, New England will have a clean bridge to their next franchise quarterback.
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort is playing hardball, repeatedly emphasizing that any deal for this selection will not come until Arizona is on the clock. It’s a clear play to introduce a forcing function for a team to overpay for the chance to make this the first draft class to ever feature four quarterbacks with the first four picks.
Ultimately, I don’t see it happening. There are a lot of similarities to draw between the 2021 class, where many thought Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields would be the first four selections. Lawrence, Wilson, and Lance went 1-2-3 before Fields fell to (a very coincidental) 11th overall.
Occam’s razor also comes into play here: Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best wide receiver prospect since (at least) Ja’Marr Chase, and is certainly in the mix as one of the best receiver prospects of the last decade. While Michael Wilson was a solid contributor as a rookie, Arizona’s next option at receiver is…Chris Moore? Greg Dortch?
5. Minnesota Vikings (via LAC) - JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Forgive me for being boring through the top five here. While I’m less confident in Minnesota trading up than I was a few weeks ago, it still feels as though the Vikings are the team to beat for McCarthy. The snag here will be the compensation: Chargers GM Joe Hortiz has made it clear that he’s not interested in “fair” offers, while Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is an analytical mind who doesn’t seem likely to be as desperate as it’s been painted in the lead-up to Thursday night.
There’s been recent buzz about the Jets moving up to this spot, ostensibly for a wide receiver, but Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated omitted them from his list of teams in the top half of the first round who have made calls on moving up. Breer also said that Minnesota has been more aggressive in calling teams ahead of them to gauge interest on a trade.
Minnesota would be the best landing spot for McCarthy, who would instantly have a franchise wide receiver, tight end, and offensive tackle lining up with him, in addition to ascending wide receiver Jordan Addison. I think it’s possible that McCarthy slips further than this, in which case I’d expect the Chargers to take Notre Dame OT Joe Alt here.
6. New York Giants - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants sent the full-court press to both Odunze and Malik Nabers’ pro days, the only difference being that offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was at LSU, while assistant GM Brandon Brown supplanted him at Washington. Otherwise, GM Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll, and wide receiver coach Mike Groh watched both players work out.
This feels like a decision that will come down to the margins. Odunze seems to be seen as a slightly worse prospect than Nabers, but he comes without any off-field concerns, injury or otherwise. Nabers, while perhaps the better prospect, has a minor shoulder flag, according to Breer. There’s also the dropped gun charges stemming from an incident on Bourbon Street last February and more nebulous off-field concerns reported in various places and alluded to by a personnel staffer employed by the Tigers in 2023 in conversations with Two Gap at the NFL Combine.
Todd McShay also reported Wednesday that he had heard Odunze was ahead of Nabers on the Giants’ board. If New York intends to move forward with Daniel Jones at quarterback, adding a contested catch threat like Odunze could go a long way towards minimizing some of Jones’ issues as a passer.
7. Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Tennessee seems content to be the team in the top ten that does not field any calls and simply takes the best offensive tackle that hits the no. 7 pick, whether that’s Alt or Alabama’s JC Latham. Here, because the Chargers trade out, that’s Alt.
The 6’8” Alt, whose father played 13 seasons for the Chiefs, didn’t play offensive line until he got to college, instead developing a tantalizing set of athletic tools as a quarterback and tight end. That’s a large part of the reason those around the league think Alt can play on either side despite only playing left tackle in South Bend. In Tennessee, Alt would likely take over for Nicholas Petit-Frere on the left side, but could just as easily replace Dillon Radunz on the right if things don’t work out on Will Levis’ blindside.
8. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Rams have been active in calling about a trade up, and it sounds as though those discussions have centered around the 8th overall selection. I believe that’s to target one of four players: Nabers, Odunze, Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, or Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu.
While the latter two players fill a need for LA - Murphy would go a long ways towards replacing the retired Aaron Donald, Fashanu would be the long-term answer at left tackle - it seems like the Rams are interested in building a Big 3 in the wide receiving corps, reminiscent of when they had Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Brandin Cooks in their respective primes. With Kupp and rookie record breaker Puka Nacua already in the fold in this iteration, the Rams add the downfield speed threat here.
Nabers, as previously mentioned, will have a smattering of off-field questions to answer, which could lead to him sliding further than expected. But teams seem to be enamored with his talent and 4.3 speed as a modern slot receiver and field stretcher. Those players typically don’t last long in the draft.
9. Chicago Bears - Byron Murphy II, IDL, Texas
Chicago misses out on a wide receiver to pair with Caleb Williams in the top ten, but the duo of DJ Moore and Keenan Allen should still be more than enough to operate with in the Bears offense. Offensive line could also be in play here (as it could be at seemingly every other pick in the first round). Ultimately, I think this comes down to a decision between Murphy and Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner as to who is the first defensive player off the board.
Murphy has gained a lot of media steam in recent weeks as the somewhat sneaky favorite, with the Bears at the center of those discussions. Frequently compared to Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, one of the league’s premier interior pass rushers, Murphy would give Chicago some pass-rushing juice on the inside to pair with Gervon Dexter Sr.
10. New York Jets - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
I just can’t shake this one. Bowers comes with an obvious question: who’s taking a tight end that high in the first round? And I think the answer is probably as simple as the regime quickly running out of things to lose.
The Jets seem committed to going all-in on the impending end of Aaron Rodgers’ career, signing two veteran offensive tackles (Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses) and a 30-year-old receiver coming off an ACL tear (Mike Williams). GM Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh will be on the chopping block if this team does not produce results this season, barring another Rodgers injury - and even then, their seats will be awfully warm. So taking a developmental player, like an offensive tackle to sit behind Smith or Moses for a year, just doesn’t seem to fit the timeline.
Bowers gives the Jets the best chance to win more games in 2024, and New York seems to be a team focused only on the present to distract from their impending immolation. Seems like a great fit to me. Garrett Wilson and Bowers then emerge from the ashes as an attractive young duo for the next regime and quarterback if things don’t work out in the short term.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN) - JC Latham, OT, Alabama
A lot of media attention has suggested the Chargers could be comfortable taking Latham with their original pick at no. 5 overall. While I don’t think that’s the whole truth, reports like that often are rooted in a genuine interest, especially when the team in question is widely rumored to be moving around the board.
Los Angeles has done a ton of homework on Latham, sending offensive line coach Mike Devlin to Alabama’s pro day to help conduct positional drills. He’s a humongous run blocker - a fit in Greg Roman’s offense - who profiles as a natural right tackle, solving the problem of flipping a prospect to that side. It still relegates Trey Pipkins, set to count $8.75 million against the 2024 salary cap, to a swing tackle or oversized right guard, but Pipkins’ contract is both tradeable this season and easy to escape after the season.
12. Denver Broncos - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Denver has already traded Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland, and there’s now building smoke around the Broncos trading Courtland Sutton, likely to Pittsburgh, as early as this weekend. Even if that deal doesn’t go through, Denver has a pair of WR2s behind Sutton - the recently signed Josh Reynolds and 2023 second rounder Marvin Mims.
Sutton has two years left on his contract, but the deal will only get more tradeable as that time continues to tick down. It seems unlikely that the Broncos will sign him to another deal, leaving them without a long-term option at the position.
Thomas has one of the widest ranges of anyone on Thursday night, as I believe he could be in play as early as no. 10 and fall as far as no. 28. But I think he ultimately lands towards the front end of that range - Thomas is in Detroit for the draft despite the NFL bringing a smaller set of players to the venue than usual this year, presumably to avoid having awkward moments like Will Levis and his family simmering alone as the night stretches on. Thomas is also a naturally gifted player whose major flaw right now is route running, a skill most receivers grow into as professionals.
13. Las Vegas Raiders - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
While Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell has long been presumed to be the first corner off the board, it’s hard to find him a landing spot before this pick if Atlanta trades out of the top 13. He’d certainly be in contention with this pick, but I can’t shake the feeling that Las Vegas will prefer the energy of Arnold.
New Raiders general manager Tom Telesco never drafted a non-Power 5 player in the first round in ten years with the Chargers, which may be more noise than signal considering how those percentages look across the league. But the separating factor between Arnold and Mitchell is level of competition versus speed - Mitchell is a tenth of a second faster and Arnold a tenth slower than Telesco’s average drafted cornerback in the 40 yard dash. But Arnold could be seen by head coach Antonio Pierce as a more polished player with an energy more aligned to the new look of the Raiders under his guidance.
14. New Orleans Saints - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
New Orleans’ offensive line is a mess, which is sort of fortunate in a roundabout way because of how strong this offensive line class is. Left guard James Hurst retired on Wednesday, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s time in the NFL seems to be winding down because of a gnarly knee problem, and left tackle Trevor Penning is well…still like that.
Fashanu would allow New Orleans to move Penning to right tackle if Ramczyk isn’t able to play, or to move the former first rounder inside if Ramczyk can stick it out. He’s more of a finesse tackle on the left side, but that pairs more closely with the Saints’ usage of Alvin Kamara and Derek Carr’s strengths as a passer.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
This would be a bit of a fall for Turner, but there are good players every year who have to take a bit of a tumble for one reason or another. The good news for him in this situation would be that Indianapolis has proven to be a relatively friendly pass rushing environment, especially for players with the athleticism Turner possesses.
Turner also spent the pre-draft process working with private coach Eddy McGilvra, who trains Colts pass rushers Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Dayo Odeyingbo in the offseason. Adding another McGilvra client could certainly be in the cards regardless of draft slot for Indianapolis: he also worked with Laiatu Latu and Bralen Trice in their pre-draft training.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via SEA) - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
I know, the Eagles haven’t drafted a defensive back since 2001. Why would they do it now, let alone trade up for one?
Well, consider that both starting cornerbacks (Darius Slay Jr. and James Bradberry) are over 30 and are regressing. The depth behind them starts and essentially ends with 2023 4th round pick Kelee Ringo and undrafted free agent Eli Ricks. It’s one of the biggest reasons Philadelphia couldn’t hang in the playoffs (besides some of the issues they had on offense).
While Arnold would certainly be a more seamless fit for GM Howie Roseman’s tendencies (read: wears an Alabama or Georgia helmet), I think Philadelphia will try to make a move for either of the two that start to slip. The Eagles brought Mitchell in for a top 30 visit, a near-prerequisite for their first round selections, and Toledo head coach Jason Candle is close friends with Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
Jacksonville has been heavily rumored to be taking a cornerback here, but that’s part of the motivation for Philadelphia jumping ahead of them. With the top two options off the board, I don’t think the Jaguars would be thrilled with the prospect of Kool-Aid McKinstry or Nate Wiggins in this spot. They could trade back for a team that needs offensive line, however.
Or, they could just start the run on linemen. There’s not a clean fit for Fuaga in 2024 with Cam Robinson, Anton Harrison, Ezra Cleveland, and Brandon Scherff still on the roster. But Robinson and Scherff have struggled to make it through full seasons in recent years, and both are unlikely to be Jaguars for much longer beyond this season. If Robinson is allowed to walk after this season, Jacksonville could move Harrison to left tackle and plug Fuaga in on the right side. They could also just start him at right guard if Scherff leaves in free agency as well.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu feels like he could end up going higher than this, but he’s been fairly open about the fact that most teams view him as a guard, and guards tend to fall a bit unless they’re Quenton Nelson. His meetings outside a visit with the Jets reflect this sort of draft range - Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Baltimore were the other teams to bring him in for a top 30 visit.
Fautanu could instantly upgrade the left guard spot for the Bengals, supplanting 2022 fourth round pick Cordell Volson, who is probably better suited for a swing role after struggling as a starter in 2023. With right tackle Trent Brown on a one-year deal, Cincinnati could also explore moving Fautanu to right tackle long-term, a position he practiced but never played while at Washington.
19. Atlanta Falcons (via LAR) - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
This feels like the best way to square Atlanta’s reported interest in Latu with his expected draft range, especially given recent reports that the Falcons will take calls on moving around the board.
Latu is the draft’s most refined pass rusher, but a cervical fusion that’s been likened to the surgery Peyton Manning had before going to Denver will be the determining factor in how high or low he ends up being selected. That process has been compared to Jaelan Phillips, who ended up being the 18th overall selection after a medical retirement early in his college career.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
As friend of the site and rockstar Steelers reporter Nick Farabaugh would say: Amarius Mims.
Mims is one of the few prospects to qualify for the Khan-Tomlin rule this year, as both general manager and head coach curtailed the travel schedule for major prospect pro days this season. They both made the trip to Georgia, however, a historically strong indicator of interest in the first round.
Mims would allow former teammate Broderick Jones to move back to the left side, where he was expected to start when he was drafted 14th overall last season. Jones instead started at right tackle, with Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle, where he struggled. Moving Jones to the left side and plugging Mims in on the right gives Pittsburgh valuable swing depth with Moore while also upgrading the offensive line in front of new quarterback Russell Wilson.
21. Miami Dolphins - Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Miami lost Robert Hunt and Connor Williams in free agency, replacing Williams with former Titans center Aaron Brewer. Hunt is currently slated to be replaced by 2021 undrafted free agent signing Robert Jones, who played 418 snaps a season ago.
Barton has true five-position versatility on the line, but seems most likely to stick on the interior in the NFL, whether that’s at guard or center. He’d step in for Miami at right guard from the jump, with the ability to kick over to center if Brewer doesn’t pan out. (Brewer isn’t much of an option at guard because of how undersized he is.)
22. Seattle Seahawks (via PHI) - Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
DeJean has been the subject of plenty of interest from Seattle in recent weeks, taking a top 30 visit with the Seahawks before a report from Breer on Wednesday that teams running defenses similar to Baltimore’s 2023 scheme were showing interest in the former Iowa defensive back. Baltimore’s defensive coordinator that season was Mike Macdonald, now the head coach in Seattle.
The thinking there is surely that DeJean would play a role similar to that of Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, who moved all around the formation for Baltimore in 2023. While DeJean has primarily been evaluated as a cornerback first and foremost, a team with a true chess piece role built into its scheme could very well drop him into that spot, regardless of whether you call it a corner or a safety. DeJean also brings return ability, raising his floor a bit.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN) - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
I could just as easily see this pick be Kool-Aid McKinstry if it is indeed owned by Los Angeles by Thursday evening. The Chargers have done their homework on both Crimson Tide corners and Wiggins, the latter of whom worked out in front of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and national scout James MacPherson, a staple of the Chargers pro day circuit, at Clemson’s pro day.
Wiggins is a work in progress as a run defender largely due to his slight 173 pound frame, but 4.28 speed with plus awareness in both man and zone coverage is hard to ignore even for the most hard-nosed football teams. Described as a confident competitor despised by opponents, Wiggins may not bring the physicality expected of a Jim Harbaugh player, but he has the mentality in spades.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Injuries, schminjuries. This is the same franchise, and largely the same front office, that took the leap on linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. Powers-Johnson has been falling down boards because of groin, hip, and concussion concerns, but Dallas desperately needs a center after Tyler Biadasz left for the Commanders in free agency.
While relatively inexperienced at center with only one season of starting reps, that one season also made Powers-Johnson a unanimous All-American and Rimington Award winner. He plays longer than his 32 1/4” arms and would solidify the pivot point for the Cowboys for the foreseeable future.
25. Green Bay Packers - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Green Bay reportedly believes that 2023 starting right tackle Zach Tom could be a Hall of Famer at center, which would only deepen the need for a new tackle after the Packers cut David Bakhtiari and let Yosh Nijman leave in free agency.
Guyton has only been playing football since his senior season of high school, prior to which he was a purely basketball athlete. As such, he has the footwork to play either side of the line despite primarily playing right tackle in college. He did take ample reps at left tackle during the Senior Bowl, but struggled a bit with oversetting issues.
Green Bay has a proclivity for players with high RAS scores and low draft ages - the only two players older than 21 on draft day that the Packers have taken are cornerback Eric Stokes and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt. Stokes was 22; Wyatt was 24 but was also selected with Green Bay’s second first rounder of the 2022 draft. Guyton turns 22 in June and finished with a 9.71 RAS, well within the range of Brian Gutekunst’s preferred players.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Verse falling this far makes me uncomfortable, but it’s a function of not having the first pass rusher come off the board until 15th overall and trusting in Latu’s medical picture being clearer than perhaps expected.
It’s a win for Tampa Bay, of course, who has Yaya Diaby and Randy Gregory as the pass rushers opposite Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who hasn’t quite taken the leap as a top-end pass rusher since being selected in the first round in 2021. Verse has a similar rawness to him after three seasons at FCS-level Albany and two seasons in Tallahassee, but there are clear paths towards him becoming a true disruptor.
From an athleticism and motor standpoint, Verse has the makings of a long-term NFL starter. The question will be how okay teams are with the possibility that he’s closer to Dante Fowler than Maxx Crosby. With a stable of adequate, but not great, pass rushers already in the room, I think Tampa takes a swing.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Arizona gave Sean Murphy-Bunting over $17 million guaranteed this offseason to be their CB1, but there’s still not a clear option at CB2 unless you’re really high on Kei’Trel Clark, Garrett Williams, or Starling Thomas V. I like those guys, but not enough to avoid drafting over them with this pick.
McKinstry feels like he could find his way higher than this, but there are a number of teams prior to this range who either don’t need a cornerback and/or are stingy about athletic testing thresholds this early in the draft. McKinstry’s RAS came in at 7.55, a score discounted by the Jones fracture discovered in his foot at the NFL Combine.
Despite his moderate athleticism, McKinstry approaches the game with the instincts of a veteran. That, combined with his length (32” arms at 5’11”) will put him in a position to compete for starting reps as a rookie regardless of landing spot and ease the transition to the pro game.
28. Buffalo Bills - Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
I don’t really expect this pick to be a wide receiver, unless Buffalo decides to flip it for a veteran. But even then, I’m not really sure which one that would be.
The most obvious option as far as rookies would be Adonai Mitchell, but that seems like a no-fly zone for the Bills, who just traded Stefon Diggs for, among other things, being a locker room malcontent pretty much whenever possible. Mitchell has long had character flags on his evaluation for taking plays off, but recent reporting on his mood fluctuating with his blood sugar due to diabetes has only exacerbated those concerns, to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if he was off Buffalo’s board.
On the other side of this coin is the fact that Brandon Beane is addicted to drafting pass rushers, especially toolsy ones lacking elite college production. With Von Miller’s production in question after he looked extremely rusty coming back from a torn ACL, Buffalo really only has Gregory Rousseau and AJ Epenesa to rely on in 2024. Both are only under contract for two seasons (assuming Buffalo picks up Rousseau’s option).
29. Detroit Lions - Johnny Newton, IDL, Illinois
Normally, when a prospect confirms mutual interest between them and a team, it’s to be taken with a grain of salt. Teams lie, players lie, agents lie, etc. etc. But this is Detroit we’re talking about, Johnny Newton we’re talking about.
So when Newton says “they fuck with me and I fuck with them” about the Lions, I’m inclined to listen. Is defensive tackle the most pressing need for Detroit? No, not really. Alim McNeill has emerged as enough of a star that he’s being featured in jersey reveals and the Lions signed DJ Reader to play next to him this offseason.
Doesn’t matter. Newton would add a pass rushing element that Detroit lacks from McNeill, allowing passing down sets to consist of Reader and Newton absolutely wrecking shop on the interior. Newton can also flex all the way out to the edge - or at least, did occasionally at Illinois - giving Detroit some extra flexibility in getting after the quarterback.
30. Washington Commanders (via BAL) - Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Baltimore could very well be the ones to take Morgan here as well, but there seems to be plenty of momentum both for the Ravens to trade down and for the Commanders to get back into the first round for some additional offensive line help to protect Jayden Daniels.
A five-year starter at left tackle, Morgan is projected to move inside in the NFL due to length (32 7/8” arms) and a proclivity to give up inside counters to rushers by trying to get too far outside. In more confined space, Morgan could focus on his aggression as a run blocker and utilize his quickness as a puller, both traits that are evident on film but would not be optimized at tackle.
Morgan could potentially play tackle for the Commanders, who gave Nick Allegretti $9 million guaranteed this offseason, but he could just as easily slide in at right guard while 2021 second rounder Sam Cosmi transitions back out to tackle.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
I’m calling my shot here. Rosengarten had a private workout with general manager John Lynch and offensive line coach Chris Foerster after one of Washington’s spring practice sessions earlier this month. (Lynch’s son Jake is a graduate assistant for the Huskies as of the 2024 season.) He also trains with 49ers legend Joe Staley and played for Christian McCaffrey’s father, Ed, in high school. The connections are all there.
In an offensive line class where the only sure thing is that players will be flying off the board, I think it’s extremely possible that San Francisco looks at the state of this board, the connections Rosengarten has to the 49ers already, and the seamless scheme fit he’d be in their wide zone offense and says that they cannot afford to wait. He’d step in at right tackle, allowing Colton McKivitz to kick inside to guard, and could potentially play left tackle once Trent Williams retires.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Everyone seems to be under the impression Kansas City will go wide receiver here, especially with the recent legal problems Rashee Rice has put himself in. But recent rumblings seem to suggest that the Chiefs are eager to put their names in the offensive tackle sweepstakes as well and are willing, as many of these other teams, to wait on a wide receiver in a deep draft class at the position.
The Chiefs are reportedly decently high on 2023 third rounder Wanya Morris, but awarding him the starting left tackle job without introducing competition seems a bit nearsighted for the normally clear-headed team builders in Kansas City. Suamataia just turned 21 in January, and comes with a number of transitionary obstacles that will require patience, but the Chiefs have shown a willingness to stock the cupboard with players expected to contribute down the line rather than in year one.