If you have not seen parts 1 and 2 of my mock draft 1.0, check them out first. With only a month until the NFL draft, it starting to be better known who your favorite NFL team will select in the first round. Here is the final part where we see picks 22-32.
2024 NFL Draft Picks 22-32
#22: EDGE Laiatu Latu – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Trade with Philidelphia Eagles)
With Latu starting to fall down the board, the Bucs trade up a few spots to get their superstar edge rusher. The Bucs edge rushers had a good 2023, but adding Latu could take them to the next level. There is a good chance that Latu could fall this far because of medical history, but Tampa Bay snags him here at 22.
#23: QB Michael Penix Jr – New England Patriots (Trade with Minesota Vikings)
After the trade back with the Vikings, the Patriots missed out on guys like Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy. Luckily for the Patriots, they get their future QB in Michael Penix Jr. Penix could go high in the draft and could also fall out of the first round because of his injury history but was one of the best NCAA QBs the last two years.
#24: WR Adonai Mitchell – Dallas Cowboys
With losing starters in free agency, the Cowboys have massive holes along the offensive line. Instead, Jerry goes for flashy play and drafts a receiver. After cutting Michael Gallup, and an aging Brandin Cooks, Dallas get their new WR2. Mitchell is a smooth jump ball receiver that gets to stay close to home with the Cowboys.
#25: CB Cooper DeJean – Green Bay Packers
If Cooper DeJean falls to the Packers, it feels like a lock that they would take him. With needs in the secondary DeJean would fit right into the Green Bay defense. DeJean can play anywhere on the defense and has a nose for the football. The Packers are able to pair him back up with Iowa teammate Lukas Van Ness.
#26: CB Nate Wiggins – Philidelphia Eagles (Trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
After a trade back with the Buccaneers, the Eagles fill a huge need on defense. Other than Darius Slay, the Eagles secondary was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Therefore, Philadelphia they get a fast aggressive corner in the draft. Wiggins is a small corner at 175lbs. but he is still a great ball player.
#27: DT Jer’Zhan Newton – Arizona Cardinals
After their trade with the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL draft, the Cardinals get an extra first round pick in 2024. With new head coach Johnathan Gannon loving his freaky defensive lineman, he gets another here in Jer’Zhan Newton. With two incredible picks in the first round, the Cardinals are already in the conversation for best draft.
#28: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Buffalo Bills
After cutting Tre’Davious White this offseason now have a hole at corner. The Bills also have needs at receiver and center. The knock-on Kool-Aid was his speed and effort and did not participate at the combine because of injury. After he ran a 4.47 at Alabama’s pro day, he seems to be a lock for the first round, and in this situation ends up as a Buffalo Bill.
#29: OT Tyler Guyton – San Fransico 49ers (Trade with Detroit Lions)
With Kool-Aid coming off the board the pick before the Lions decide to trade back. With the run-on defense, tackle Tyler Guyton has fallen down the board. The 49ers take the opportunity and jump the Ravens to get their next franchise tackle, and only have to trade up two spots to do so. Guyton is a right tackle that should be a starter for the niners week one.
#30: EDGE Chop Robinson – Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens lost pieces across their offensive in free agency and traded away tackle Morgan Moses. Unfortunately for the Ravens miss on the opportunity to fill that spot with Tyler Guyton. Instead, they fill a need on defense with getting speedy edge rusher Chop Robinson. With losing Jadavion Clowney in free agency, Robinson should fill that role for Baltimore.
#31: QB Bo Nix – New Orleans Saints (Trade with Detroit Lions)
Not seeing the value at corner at number 31, the Lions trade back again. With Michael Penix coming off the board earlier, the Saints get on the phone to move from the second round back into the first round to draft QB. Bo Nix is a similar quarterback to Derek Carr and should be able to learn from sitting behind him for a year, along with gaining the fifth-year option by drafting him in first round.
#32: WR Xaiver Worthy – Kansas City Chiefs
After having the worst offense during the Mahomes era, the Chiefs were able to go back-to-back in the Super Bowl. One of the Chiefs struggles last season was receiver, which they address here. After running a 4.21 40-yard dash, Kansas City adds a huge weapon for Mahomes, and it looks like the chiefs have a good chance to go for the three peat.
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