Daniel Jeremiah 2024 NFL mock draft 4.0: Two trades; 49ers, Chiefs pick WRs to close Round 1

There are no surprises at the top spot. The Bears have had their sights set on Williams for a while now. They have acquired their new franchise figurehead.

As we approach the final stages, what was once a murmur about Washington’s favoritism for Daniels has now amplified into a deafening roar. I am confident that there have been potential buyers, including the Raiders, vying for the Commanders’ pick. However, I cannot envision GM Adam Peters overlooking the current Heisman Trophy champion.

I am certain that Maye will be the third pick. I’m inclined to believe that the Patriots will stay firm and make their selection. There’s no room for fancy maneuvers or shifting positions on the board when a quarterback is needed.

Given that the top three quarterbacks have already been selected, it’s uncertain whether Arizona will find the market for the fourth pick attractive enough to trade out of this position. The Cardinals secure an excellent player at a position they need to strengthen.

This is where we could potentially see a trade, but I’m going to take the Chargers at their word that they want to be a more physical team and improve their run game. It might be a little bit of a surprise to see Latham go before Joe Alt, but the former Alabama star is ready to rock at right tackle and is a more powerful blocker than his Notre Dame counterpart.

In this scenario, I think the Giants’ selection would come down to Nabers versus Rome Odunze. To me, that’s a flip-a-coin decision. Taking Nabers here, New York opts to get more dynamic and explosive. I expect the G-Men to try to make a move up the board for Drake Maye, but I don’t think they will be able to pull it off.

The Titans desperately need an offensive tackle. If both Alt and JC Latham are already chosen by the 7th pick, it’s possible that Tennessee might attempt to trade down.

I feel as though I’ve believed Turner would go to Atlanta for an eternity. My opinion hasn’t been swayed to think otherwise, so I’m standing by it. The Falcons have been in desperate need of assistance on the edge for a long time.

I believe the Bears might be interested in trading down from No. 9, which could still put them in the range to land Fashanu. Remember, they only have four picks this year. However, if they do stay at No. 9, I expect this will be a selection to support Caleb Williams, whether it’s a receiver (Rome Odunze) or offensive tackle. I’m going with an OT here because GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham understand the importance of the offensive line, and I see Fashanu — Williams’ high school teammate, by the way — as a massive upgrade over incumbent left tackle Braxton Jones.

I could see the Jets moving up a bit to secure Odunze, but he falls into their lap in this simulation. He’s a perfect fit for what they need. Aaron Rodgers would have a fantastic trio at receiver in Odunze, Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams (once he’s healthy).

I wouldn’t rule out Minnesota trading up a couple spots for a quarterback, but all the information I’ve gathered in the last couple days suggests the Vikings are not crazy about making a bold move up the board for McCarthy. I believe they’ve grown more comfortable with Michael Penix Jr. as a fallback option if a team were to leapfrog them for McCarthy.

PROJECTED TRADE WITH DENVER BRONCOS

It seems like everyone is assuming the Eagles will be aggressive to go get a cornerback, which is a need, but they always are willing to invest in big humans in the first round. Fuaga is a perfect fit. He can start at right guard as a rookie and eventually replace Lane Johnson at right tackle whenever the veteran decides to walk away. Philadelphia hasn’t drafted a cornerback in Round 1 since 2002 (Lito Sheppard).

I’ve been connecting Penix to the Raiders for more than a month now. I think they’ll try to move heaven and earth to go get Jayden Daniels, but with no deal coming to fruition, Penix offers a clear upgrade over the quarterbacks they currently have on the roster.

The Saints have been reaching out to teams in an attempt to trade up, presumably to secure one of the top offensive tackles. While I’m uncertain about their ranking of the OTs on their board, I am quite confident that New Orleans plans to acquire a key blocker in the first round.

The Colts are another team that’s had talks about trading up. I won’t be shocked if they end up with Bowers. Keep an eye on Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell as another potential fit here.

Last year’s No. 5 overall selection, Devon Witherspoon, was a home run pick as a nickel corner. Riq Woolen has had an up-and-down start to his career, but there’s a starting spot at CB available for Arnold. New head coach Mike Macdonald will appreciate Arnold’s ability to take the football away.

I won’t be taken aback if Mitchell gets drafted significantly earlier. He’s a favorite among teams. If he’s still on the table when the Jaguars pick at No. 17, it would be a tremendous value selection.

In this projection, the Bengals secure the top interior pass rusher in the draft. While I won’t be surprised if Murphy makes it to the top 10, his position is not yet confirmed.

PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES RAMS

I can’t imagine the Commanders are going to sit back at No. 36 and hope that fate lands them a top offensive tackle early in Round 2, given the expectation that there will be a run on them in the first round. They could and should be aggressive to move up for a premium prospect at the position. Based on my discussions with college programs and NFL teams, Washington has done a lot of work on the top OTs in the class. Poised to make a first-round pick for the first time since 2016, Rams GM Les Snead has a chuckle and trades out once again. This deal could net him the 36th and 40th picks in the draft if he gives up a third-rounder in the swap.

Cornerback is in play here, but the Steelers continue down the road they chose last year by upgrading the offensive line. Guyton and 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones are two extremely athletic and agile big men who will anchor the O-line.

The Dolphins can’t adequately replace Christian Wilkins in 2024, but Newton is an excellent prospect who will have an immediate impact.

PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

I don’t see the Broncos taking Nix at No. 12, and I know they’d like to fill the current Round 2 hole on their draft docket. This move allows them to add a second-rounder from Philly and come away with Nix, who looks to be a great fit for Sean Payton’s offense.

Robinson, a dynamic edge rusher, meets a requirement for Minnesota.

To me, this seems like an ideal match. Barton is the top center in the draft, and the Cowboys need to fill a gap in that position. Plus, he’s versatile enough to play any of the five O-line positions.

In recent drafts, the Packers have heavily focused on defense, and they continue this trend. DeJean has the versatility to play as a nickel back, outside corner, and also has the potential to evolve into an excellent safety.

If Verse begins to slide, a team such as Tampa Bay could potentially make a trade to acquire him. In this scenario, he’s available at No. 26, which would make him one of the greatest value picks of the first round.

I think the Cardinals would love to get a defensive tackle, so Jer’Zhan Newton could be the pick if he’s still waiting to hear his name called at No. 27. There’s a wide range of potential landing spots for Latu. At No. 8 overall, he could be in play for his former coach — Falcons DC Jimmy Lake, who served as the Washington defensive coordinator and head coach during Latu’s first college stop in Seattle. I also could see him sliding. He’s universally accepted as the most polished pass rusher in the draft and would fill a void for the Cardinals.

If Thomas starts to slip, it won’t surprise me if the Bills move up for him. I could also see Buffalo trading back and trying to land a couple of receivers early on.

The Lions have done a ton of homework on the cornerback class. I’m not sure which player they’re targeting. In this case, the decision would come down to McKinstry versus Nate Wiggins. Detroit opts to reunite Kool-Aid with his college teammate, Brian Branch.

The Ravens consistently appreciate players who can put pressure on the quarterback and those who can defend pass receivers. Wiggins exhibits exceptional pass coverage skills, but Baltimore will need to assist him in improving his urgency in defending against the run.

This is my favorite fit in the first round. We saw what Tank Dell did in a similar offensive system with Houston, and we know what Mike McDaniel has been able to build with so much speed at receiver in Miami. Worthy gives Kyle Shanahan a similar weapon.

Mitchell could potentially be the most promising wide receiver in the draft. This could provide the Chiefs with great value in a position they need to fill.