2024 NFL Mock Draft: Top 10 Picks

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Top 10 Picks

The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit from April 25 to April 27, but all eyes will be on the main stage on the first day when the Top 10 picks are announced.

Below, you’ll see my mock draft based on team needs, player upside and positional scarcity and also then see the best bets to take advantage of at the moment, paired with BetQL’s exclusive sportsbook offers.

Without further ado, here’s my mock for the Top 10!

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams (QB, USC)

After posting 42 passing touchdowns with 4,537 yards compared to just five interceptions with 10 rushing scores in his 2022 Heisman season with USC, Williams is coming off another elite campaign in which he amassed 30 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns with just five interceptions for the Trojans and is clearly the top quarterback prospect in this draft class. New OC Shane Waldron will install him in a new-look offense that will feature Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, D’Andre Swift, Cole Kmet and more. I’m not exactly sold that Williams is a “generational” level talent, but we haven’t seen this level of prolonged consensus certainty around a No. 1 pick since Andrew Luck. It feels weird to say this, but it is a very exciting time to be a Bears fan! 

There aren’t any logical Draft-related bets to place on Williams, but he will undoubtedly be the Week 1 starter who will probably have the most value in Offensive Rookie of the Year markets immediately when those are released. 

Best Bet: None (no value).

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)

After moving on from former North Carolina star Sam Howell, I don’t think we’re going to see the Commanders take fellow Tar Heel Drake Maye at this spot. Obviously this pick is more nuanced than that, so let’s also consider that new OC Kliff Kingsbury and HC Dan Quinn are in town. Daniels’ dual threat skill set will give Kingsbury’s high-flying offense more upside and as he showed during his Heisman season at LSU last season (40 passing TD, 10 rushing TD, four INT), he knows how to get the most out of his weapons. Austin Ekeler, Terry McLaurin, Jahon Dotson and Zach Ertz should help him succeed and I don’t think there should be much discussion about who the 2nd-best QB in this draft class is. 

Best Bet: Jayden Daniels No. 2 overall pick (-200, BetRivers)

3. New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State)

These Patriots are in need of not only a quarterback of the future, but weapons all over their offense. At the Combine, New England’s director of scouting Eliot Wolf told reporters that he wants to “weaponize” the offense and new head coach Jerod Mayo publicly hinted that he wants to draft players that opposing defenses have to game-plan for and scheme to limit. The best weapon in this entire draft is Harrison, who caught 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns while getting double-teamed constantly at Ohio State. 

The 6’3 physical freak would instantly give this franchise something they haven’t had since Randy Moss: a bonafide WR1. With Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe at QB on the depth chart, the Pats would likely be able to bring in a guy like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. in the 2nd Round or Spencer Rattler, Michael Pratt, Jordan Travis, or Austin Reed later in the Draft. Or (gasps), could we even see Tom Brady return to New England?!

Best Bet: Marvin Harrison Jr. No. 3 overall pick (+2000, DraftKings)

4. Arizona Cardinals: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)

Nabers might be the next Tyreek Hill and that’s something that the Cardinals should not pass on, having continued to support and anoint Kyler Murray as their franchise quarterback. Especially since Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore are now gone, receiver is Arizona’s top need and they can address it with this pick. Nabers caught 89 passes for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior at LSU and his 4.35 speed would be an incredible asset indoors at State Farm Stadium. 

Could a QB-hungry team move up in pursuit of Drake Maye and offer up a solid package of picks for it? Yes. But, I suspect it’ll be hard for Arizona to pass on a potential game-breaker who could vault their entire offense like former great Larry Fitzgerald did for so long. After Harrison, Nabers and Rome Odunze, there’s a huge drop-off in talent at the WR position and Arizona can’t afford to mess up this pick in a pass-centric NFL. Not only is winning on the line, but so is their investment in Murray at QB.

Best Bet: Malik Nabers No. 4 overall pick (+1700, FanDuel)

Best Bet: Malik Nabers to be a Top 5 pick (+175, BetMGM)

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt (LT, Notre Dame)

With new head coach Jim Harbaugh in town, we know the Chargers are going to run the football and need to do a better job of protecting franchise QB Justin Herbert. Alt met with the Chargers at the Combine and has been outspoken about his openness to moving to the right side, where Los Angeles would likely use him since they have All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater on their roster. General manager Joe Hortiz indicated that he’s planning to take the best player available at No. 5 regardless of position and it’s easy to see the fit here, especially with Harbaugh and new OC Greg Roman at the helm. 

We saw the success that the Lions had with Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker on either side of their line and this is a chance for Los Angeles to replicate that. If Herbert gets protection and is able to riff off of a solid running game, the sky’s the limit. This makes too much sense to me.

Best Bet: Joe Alt No. 5 overall pick (+475, DraftKings)

Best Bet: Joe Alt Top 5 pick (+450, BetMGM)

6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)

After reeling in 92 catches and amassing a Division I-best 1,640 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns and leading Washington to the National Championship Game, Odunze is the best 50/50 ball wideout in this class and I firmly believe that the Giants are going to give Daniel Jones another chance to prove he’s worth the contract they signed him to, especially with Saquon Barkley gone. (When watching Odunze play, you can see shades of prime DeAndre Hopkins.) 

The state of this Giants offense will likely hinge on the effectiveness of the offensive line (which the team has addressed and will likely address more), but Odunze’s pick would give this team a legitimate Day 1 WR1, something that isn’t currently on the roster. If Harrison or Nabers is available here, I could see either of their names called, too, but Odunze is a stud who would fit in right away.

Best Bet: Rome Odunze No. 6 overall pick (+450, BetRivers)

7. Minnesota Vikings via trade with Tennessee Titans: J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)

Since the Titans are in the midst of a full rebuild, I have them using this pick and trading back for a more desperate team. With Kirk Cousins now gone via free agency, the Vikings have a glaring need at QB and are also in position to immediately contend in the NFC. Coming off a National Championship at Michigan, J.J. McCarthy would essentially be asked to do high-percentage, low-risk things at the helm of this offense: facilitate the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson and support the team’s running game by managing the game. McCarthy is a proven winner and has a very strong arm that wasn’t exactly showcased with the Wolverines. I absolutely love this fit and think it’s a safer one than calling Drake Maye’s name.

Best Bet: J.J. McCarthy No. 7 overall pick (+2000, FanDuel)

Best Bet: J.J. McCarthy to be selected by Vikings (+115, BetMGM)

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama)

Not only would this be the first defensive player taken, but I have this as the only defensive player selected in the Top 10. The winner of the 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Turner racked up 10.0 sacks and 53.0 total tackles for the Crimson Tide and fits the most glaring positional need for the Falcons. Atlanta hasn’t had a 10-sack performer since 2016 (Vic Beasley), which is the longest drought in the entire NFL! 

New head coach Raheem Morris and new defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake worked together with the Rams and will want to draft the highest-upside defender with this pick and they’ll have the opportunity to. Turner’s blend of athleticism, wingspan and playmaking ability make him a fantastic option. 

Best Bet: Dallas Turner No. 8 overall pick (+320, BetMGM)

Best Bet: Dallas Turner 1st defensive player drafted (-115, BetMGM)

9. Las Vegas Raiders via trade with Chicago Bears: Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina)

After taking Williams at No. 1, the Bears will only have three more picks in the draft, thus making them a logical trade-down candidate (in an effort to acquire more selections). The Raiders have made it clear that they’re willing to go after their next franchise QB and will probably want to leap over the Broncos, who are also a major threat to take a QB. Since I expect Harrison, Nabers and Odunze to be gone at this point, I don’t see an issue for Chicago to trade down from here and still potentially select the same player at No. 13. 

Throwing for 62 touchdowns compared to 16 interceptions with 16 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons at North Carolina, Maye undeniably has a lot of upside, but also some question marks about his performance in big games. Nonetheless, the perceived value here would be obvious since Maye was a legitimate No. 1 pick candidate at one point in time. 

Best Bet: Raiders to select QB with their first pick (+400, BetMGM)

10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)

With a rebuilt offensive line and now Mike Williams opposite Garrett Wilson on the outside with Breece Hall in the backfield, Aaron Rodgers would certainly benefit from someone like Bowers, who would be able to step in and instantly contribute as one of the most exciting and dominant collegiate pass-catchers at the position in recent years. 

Considering that this is the end of Rodgers’ career and the team made a large investment in him, I suspect that they’re going to provide him with another weapon with this pick, something that he routinely didn’t get in Green Bay. Bowers has met with the Jets and is no stranger to accolades, as the first two-time winner of the Mackey Award, which honors the best tight end in college. In 40 games at Georgia, he had 175 catches for 2,538 yards and 26 receiving touchdowns and also added five rushing scores, lining up at tight end, in the slot and even in the backfield. I think this would be a home run pick for New York. 

Best Bet: Brock Bowers 10th overall pick (+250, BetMGM)

Best Bet: Jets to draft Brock Bowers (+150, BetMGM)