The South Florida 蜜兔直播’s mock draft series concludes with Miami Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins making first-round selections. Unlike the first mock draft, trades, which are sure to happen, were factored into this mock draft. Trades were also factored into the 蜜兔直播’s second mock draft, authored by Dolphins writer David Furones. The NFL draft is Thursday-Saturday in Detroit.
1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
They’re not moving off of this selection. No way.
Top needs: QB, Edge rusher, WR
2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Same as the Bears … they won’t move off this pick. It would be highly unlikely.
Top needs: QB, OT, Edge
3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
This is where the draft gets interesting. Do the Patriots make a trade with, say, Minnesota or the New York Giants, or do they keep the pick? I think they keep it.
Top needs: QB, OT, WR
4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Some say it’s a push among the top three wide receivers. The Cardinals will go with Harrison.
Top needs: WR, CB, Edge
5) Minnesota Vikings (through trade with Los Angeles Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Vikings want to do better than Sam Darnold at quarterback, and this is their answer. In this trade, the teams swap first-round picks and Minnesota, which also has pick No. 23, gives the Chargers a first- and third-round pick in exchange for first-, second- and fourth-round picks.
Top needs: QB, Interior OL, DL
6) New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
He’s the second selection on the run on receivers in the top of the first round.
Top needs: WR, IOL, S
7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans can grab one of the best players in the draft and fill a position of need.
Top needs: WR, OT, DL
8) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
The Falcons get the best and most impactful defensive player in the draft.
Top needs: Edge, CB, LB
9) Chicago Bears: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Bears will pair Nabers with Caleb Williams and hope they have a magical combination.
Top needs: Edge, WR, OT
10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
He’s ready to start, which fits with the plan for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Top needs: TE, WR, S
11) Los Angeles Chargers (through trade with Minnesota): Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
This is a bit sooner than most had him going, but it fits with the offense-heavy theme for the first round at this point.
Top needs: WR, OL, CB
12) Los Angeles Rams (through trade with Denver): Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
The Rams need a pass-rushing partner for edge rusher Byron Young, and Verse is still surprisingly available. In this trade, the teams swap first-round picks and Denver picks up a second-round pick.
Top needs: Edge, CB, OT
13) Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
This makes sense from the standpoint the Raiders have left tackle Kolton Miller.
Top needs: OT, QB, DL
14) New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
It’s a quality player who also fits a need. What could be better?
Top needs: OT, WR, DL
15) Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell is strong and athletic, and should be a Day One difference-maker.
Top needs: CB, Edge, S
16) Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, T-G, Washington
Fautanu can play inside or outside, but with the Seahawks he’d probably begin at guard.
Top needs: IOL, S, Edge
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Arnold is strong and physical, and this division has receivers such as Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Stefon Diggs.
Top needs: Edge, DT, CB
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
Murphy is strong against the run and pass, and the Bengals need the former more than the latter.
Top needs: OL, TE, CB
19) Denver Broncos (through trade with Los Angeles Rams): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
This works out perfectly for the Broncos because taking Nix at No. 12 was a bit too high.
Top needs: CB, QB, DL
David Furones’ 2024 NFL mock draft: Do Dolphins pick at 21 or trade up/down?
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, G-T, Duke
Some think Barton’s best position is center. Either way, he’s a high-quality selection.
Top needs: IOL, WR, CB
21) San Francisco (through trade with Miami): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mims can play right tackle as a rookie and take over at left tackle for Trent Williams in a year or two. In this trade, the teams swap first-round picks and the Dolphins pick up a second-round pick (No. 63).
Top needs: OT, IOL, LB
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
McKinstry checks all the boxes, including being a good fit for the Eagles.
Top needs: CB, WR, LB
23) Los Angeles Chargers (through trade with Minnesota): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Chargers get some protection for quarterback Justin Herbert with Guyton, who can play right or left tackle.
Top needs: DL, CB, OL
24) Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C-G, Oregon
He’s the best interior offensive linemen in the draft, and he’s best at center.
Top needs: IOL, OT, RB
25) Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, CB-S, Iowa
DeJean could be the top-rated cornerback but some think he’s better suited for safety.
Top needs: OT, IOL, S
Chris Perkins’ 2024 NFL mock draft: Do Dolphins fill a need at No. 21 or take best player available?
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Latu is considered by many as the best pure pass rusher in the draft.
Top needs: CB, Edge, IOL
27) Arizona Cardinals: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
He’s a three-down player who has a high motor and lots of athleticism.
Top needs: Edge, CB, LB
28) Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Worthy is the speedy choice for a team that lost receivers Diggs (traded to Houston) and Gabe Davis (Jacksonville).
Top Needs: S, WR, Edge
29) Detroit Lions: Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
Robinson is big enough to play inside in certain packages and he can rush the passer from outside or inside.
Top needs: Edge, WR, IOL
30) Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins is a big-play guy, which makes him a good fit for Baltimore’s defense.
Top needs: CB, WR, OL
31) Miami Dolphins (through trade with San Francisco): Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Morgan can play right or left guard as a rookie with a future eye on , and the Dolphins pick up a second-round pick with this trade.
Top needs: Edge, OL, DT
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
He runs great routes and has great hands, two things quarterback Patrick Mahomes needs.
Top needs: OT, DT, WR
