Chris Perkins’ 2024 NFL mock draft . . . do Dolphins fill need at No. 21 or take best player available?
The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s initial 2024 NFL mock draft features Miami Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins making first-round selections. Trades, which are sure to happen, weren’t factored into this mock draft. The NFL draft is April 25-27 in Detroit.
1) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams, at this point, is considered the consensus No. 1 selection.
Top needs: QB, Edge Rusher, WR
2) Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
There’s chatter that Daniels is a possibility at No. 1.
Top needs: QB, OT, Edge
3) New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
There are no trades in this mock draft. Perhaps Minnesota trades up, however.
Top needs: QB, OT, WR
4) Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Surely they’ll take this dynamic talent and pair him with quarterback Kyler Murray. Right?
Top needs: WR, CB, Edge
5) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
It’s tempting to go offensive line here, but after losing receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, this is the choice.
Top needs: WR, OL, CB
6) New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
You need a quarterback-wide receiver pairing, and this is a good fit for QB Daniel Jones.
Top needs: WR, Interior OL, S
7) Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
This is protection for quarterback Will Levis after getting wide receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency.
Top needs: WR, OT, DL
8) Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, Edge Rusher, Alabama
The Falcons got quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, now they get an impact defensive player.
Top needs: Edge, CB, LB
9) Chicago Bears: Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Florida State
This is a nice edge rusher to put opposite edge rusher Montez Sweat.
Top needs: QB, Edge, WR
10) New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Although a few of the top wide receivers are gone, the Jets still get a top-notch playmaker for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Top needs: TE, WR, S
11) Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
With Cousins gone, McCarthy slides in. Well, if there’s no trade.
Top needs: QB, IOL, DL
12) Denver Broncos: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Putting Mitchell opposite All Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II should be an exciting combination.
Top needs: CB, QB, DL
13) Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Fuaga fits in at right tackle, opposite left tackle Kolton Miller, to give the Raiders a nice set of bookends.
Top needs: OT, QB, DL
14) New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
This is a solid pick. The Saints might prefer a wide receiver but they end up going offensive line.
Top needs: OT, WR, DL
15) Indianapolis Colts: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
It’s not a top need. but in a common theme in this first round, quarterback Anthony Richardson gets a top target.
Top needs: CB, Edge, S
16) Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, T-G, Washington
As is the case with many of the top tackles this year, Fautanu could also slide inside to guard.
Top needs: IOL, S, Edge
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
The interior defensive line pass rush is a big thing nowadays, and Murphy provides that and more.
Top needs: Edge, DT, CB
18) Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mims, who didn’t allow a sack in more than 400 snaps, has only made eight starts in his career.
Top needs: OL, TE, CB
19) Los Angeles Rams: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
This is a quality backup for starter Matthew Stafford, and Nix can be brought along slowly.
Top needs: Edge, CB, OT
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C-G, Oregon
Powers-Johnson is perhaps the best center in the draft and has the ability to play guard.
Top needs: IOL, WR, CB
21) Miami Dolphins: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
With veteran edge rushers Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Philips (Achilles) recovering from injuries this makes sense.
Top needs: Edge, OL, DT
22) Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins is long, fast and athletic with big-play ability.
Top needs: CB, WR, LB
23) Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland through Houston): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
McKinstry is regarded as a smart player but along with that he’s comfortable playing on an island.
Top needs: QB, CB, IOL
24) Dallas Cowboys: Graham Barton, G-T, Duke
Dallas could use a center or a left tackle. Barton played left tackle at Duke but projects as an NFL center.
Top needs: IOL, OT, RB
25) Green Bay Packers: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton, a TCU transfer, can play either side and could be a solid anchor for quarterback Jordan Love.
Top needs: OT, IOL, S
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
DeJean is big and athletic, and also brings punt return skills.
Top needs: CB, Edge, IOL
27) Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
The Cardinals went wide receiver earlier, so now they get help for the defense.
Top needs: Edge, CB, LB
28) Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Mitchell provides size, speed and athleticism, which could be an upgrade over Gabe Davis (free agent departure to Jacksonville).
Top needs: WR, S, Edge
29) Detroit Lions: Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
You can’t go wrong with pass rushing nowadays, and Robinson has size and power.
Top needs: Edge, WR, IOL
30) Baltimore Ravens: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Rakestraw plays tough at the line of scrimmage and gets his hands on passes.
Top needs: CB, WR, OL
31) San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Left tackle Trent Williams is 35 years old, so planning for the future is wise. Morgan can also play guard.
Top needs: OT, IOL, LB
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Paul is regarded as borderline first-round talent right now but his smarts and versatility make him attractive.
Top needs: OT, DT, WR