Seven-round NFL mock draft, Round 3: Building a win-now team from active players for 2024 season

Over the past five seasons, Hunter has been a consistent nuisance to offensive lines, accumulating 62 sacks and receiving four Pro Bowl recognitions.

Darrisaw has blossomed into one of the league’s top left tackles. He’ll give his new quarterback, Lamar Jackson, a chance to execute whether he’s throwing from the pocket or on the move looking for second and third options.

New Commanders head coach Dan Quinn signed former Cowboys defenders Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong this offseason, so grabbing Lawrence here makes a lot of sense.

Surtain attended his second consecutive Pro Bowl last season and aims for an even more successful campaign in 2024.

Wilkins possesses the athleticism to play either inside or outside, skillfully outsmarting guards to disrupt plays and overpowering tackles in a 5-technique position.

Hendrickson, one of the league’s top edge rushers, has been snagged by the Giants. He has recorded 13 or more sacks in three of the last four seasons, with a career-best of 17.5 sacks in 2023.

The Titans have selected another pass rusher, securing Allen who accumulated 17.5 sacks for a division rival in 2023.

Allen is an ageless wonder, grabbing 100 or more passes in five of the last seven seasons. He heads to the Jets as a red zone threat (43 receiving touchdowns since 2017) for mock teammate Jared Goff.

Winfield returns to Minnesota, where he played college ball. Following in his father’s footsteps, he has the potential to become a star defender for the Vikings.

The Falcons continue building along the line of scrimmage with one of the game’s top guards. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid recently said Thuney should be ready for the start of the season after having surgery on a pectoral muscle.

In his first season with the Falcons, Bates received a Pro Bowl nod for intercepting six passes and making 132 tackles.

Anderson, who was crowned the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, has a promising future ahead. The Broncos would undoubtedly be thrilled to see him still on the board at this stage in the mock draft.

Although off-ball linebackers may not hold the highest positional value in the current NFL landscape, Davis stands out due to his ability to intuitively interpret and respond from the center of the defense. This ability places him among the top 100 players in the league as he heads into his 13th year.

Sweat had no issues switching from Washington to Chicago after a 2023 midseason trade, so another move to Jacksonville should not impede him as a pass rusher or run defender.

Buckner’s power and stature pose a challenge as an interior pass rusher and an obstruction in the central part of a defense.

Mike Macdonald, the new head coach, has brought Hamilton from Baltimore, where he significantly contributed to Macdonald’s success as a coordinator, all the way across the country.

Williams stands out as one of the top off-ball linebackers in the game. His athletic ability aligns perfectly with what New Orleans has consistently sought in its secondary defenders.

Cooper finished in the top 10 in receiving yards last year and there’s no reason to believe he’ll fall off in his 10th season.

Nacua stays with the Rams to team up with Baker Mayfield, who will appreciate the second-year pro’s strong hands and ability to run after the catch.

The Steelers get a powerful, intelligent blocker to help earlier mock picks Russell Wilson and Christian McCaffrey play their best.

Due to his combination of size and speed, Sneed can match up with any receiver on the field.

In 2023, Bland snagged nine interceptions, five of which were pick-sixes. Regardless of whether he can replicate these impressive statistics in the future, his status as a key playmaker in a vital position cannot be overlooked.

Smith’s strength as an interior blocker is impressive. The Eagles select him just one spot ahead of the Cowboys – the team Smith actually plays for – in the draft.

The Cowboys repay the Eagles for snapping up Tyler Smith by bolstering the other side of the line of scrimmage with Carter, ensuring the matchup inside continues for another season.

During the 2023 season, Fields demonstrated sufficient improvement, which gave the Packers hope that Matt LaFleur could aid him in advancing further.

Huff broke out for the Jets last year, leading to a large payday in free agency. He seems a good fit as a quarterback chaser in the Buccaneers’ scheme.

The veteran of 12 years, who is still a shrewd playmaker, Mathieu, is returning to Houston, where he previously played in 2018.

Witherspoon experienced an impressive rookie season and is expected to only improve.

Penix’s pocket accuracy could be a great fit in Detroit.

Smith is a shrewd passer and leader who can occasionally exploit defenses that underestimate his athleticism.

It did not take long for LaPorta to be mentioned in the same breath with real-life 49er George Kittle as a top NFL tight end out of Iowa.

Gibbs’ blend of speed, readiness to run between the tackles, and receiving skills should mesh well with the Chiefs’ offense.