With the 2024 NFL Draft only 141 days away, it is never too early to start with the mock drafts. The 2024 NFC North first-round mock draft will be the first mock draft. I will be doing a first-round mock draft for each division. In these mock drafts, there will be no trades. The draft is very much unpredictable as is, and trades add to that chaos. Each team will be picking the picks that they own in the first round.
Let’s take a look at what picks each team will be having this the 2024 NFC North first-round mock draft. All four teams have their original first-round pick, with the Chicago Bears at pick number five, the Green Bay Packers at pick number 20, the Minnesota Vikings follow that pick with the 21st pick overall, and currently leading the division at pick number 28, the Motor City Kitties, the Detroit Lions. The Chicago Bears now sit with the first pick overall from the Carolina Panthers due to the trade last year, where the Panthers moved up to the first pick overall to grab Bryce Young.
With that, let’s get started with this 2024 NFC North first-round mock draft:
Chicago Bears Pick 1.1: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Most people think Caleb Williams or Drake Maye will be the first man off the board; with the Chicago Bears having a quarterback that is usable in the NFL, I went with Marvin Harrison Jr first off the board in this 2024 NFC North Mock Draft. It gives the Chicago Bears a once-in-a-generation talent and a perfect man to pair with DJ Moore. If the Chicago Bears decide to move on from Justin Fields, there is a chance that Williams or Maye will be there as their first-round pick for the Chicago Bears; Marvin Harrison Jr likely will not. Harrison Jr. will help open up the run game more and will force teams to choose who they will double.
Chicago Bears Pick 1.5: Brock Bowers
Drake Maye and Caleb Willaims were taken before the Chicago Bears could get back on the clock. With that being the case, I made the choice to ride with Justin Fields one more year and surround him with the most weapons possible. With the top receiver already a member of the Chicago Bears, I selected the top tight end for the Chicago Bears, Brock Bowers from the Georgia Bulldogs. This allows Fields to be loaded with weapons and will show if he is their franchise quarterback. Bowers can do everything, plus a little more. He can be lined up anywhere on the field, just not offsides.
Green Bay Packers Pick 1.20: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
With having traded Rasual Douglas to the Buffalo Bills at this year’s trade deadline and the injuries to current cornerbacks on the Green Bay Packers, the Green Bay Packers selected Cooper DeJean, the defensive back from Iowa, in this 2024 NFC North first-round mock draft. DeJean will be able to plug into the Green Bay Packers defense and will have a shot at being the punt returner. Cooper DeJean will also be an excellent replacement for Rasual Douglas; they are built and play the game similarly, but DeJean is just faster.
Minnesota Vikings Pick 1.21: JJ McCarthy
With the 21st pick in this 2024 NFC North first-round Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings let Kirk Cousins walk and take the quarterback from Michigan, JJ McCarthy. The Minnesota Vikings look like they are not able to get over the hump, with Kirk Cousins being their starting quarterback. Josh Dobbs looked to be promising, but there seems to be lots of doubt in Dobbs after his four-interception game. McCarthy gives the Minnesota Vikings a fresh start at quarterback. As a quarterback who has thrown for over 5,000 yards in the past two seasons combined, going to a team with Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockensen, and Jordan Addison will only allow his success to continue.
Detroit Lions Pick 1.28: Nate Wiggins
The Detroit Lions have struggled to find a shutdown cornerback ever since they traded Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020. In this 2024 NFC North first-round mock draft, the Detroit Lions welcome the cornerback from the Clemson Tigers, Nate Wiggins, to the Motor City. Wiggins is a big-body defensive back that stands at 6’2 and weighs 185 pounds. This site will allow him to go up and battle against the bigger wide receivers in the 2024 NFC North, like Christian Watson, Justin Jefferson, and Marvin Harrison (if drafted by the Chicago Bears). Wiggins will be just another defensive weapon Coach Campbell would love to have on his defense and continue the Detroit Lions’ rise to relevance.
2024 NFC North First-Round Mock Draft Recap
I do not believe there were too many surprises in this 2024 NFC North first-round mock draft. Every team went out and got exactly what they needed in the first round. It would come as no surprise if the Chicago Bears decide to stick with Justin Fields and surround him with weapons like Marvin Harrison Jr and Brock Bowers and build up the offensive line so that way they can truly see if Fields is the guy they want to go with.
The Packers and Lions are both grabbing cornerbacks, which is their critical defensive need. Still, I could also see them going on the offensive side of the ball and grabbing a wide receiver or offensive lineman. The Minnesota Vikings need to change it up at quarterback, and JJ McCarthy is the perfect fit.
Keep an eye out for more mock drafts coming out, not only for the NFC North but for the NFC East, NFC West, NFC South, AFC North, AFC East, AFC West, and the AFC South!