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 persistent menace to offensive lines, accumulating 62 sacks and receiving four Pro Bowl nominations.

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.

Last season, Surtain made his second consecutive Pro Bowl, and he is aiming for an even better performance in the 2024 campaign.

Wilkins has the athletic ability to play both inside and outside positions, skillfully evading guards to interfere with plays and overpowering tackles in a 5-technique style.

Hendrickson, one of the league’s top edge rushers, has been snapped up by the Giants. In three out of the last four seasons, he has recorded over 13 sacks, reaching a career-best 17.5 in 2023.

Another pass rusher is taken from the board as the Titans select Allen, who accumulated 17.5 sacks for a division competitor 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 his college ball. He has the opportunity to follow his father’s legacy as 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.

After intercepting six passes and making 132 tackles in his first season with the Falcons, Bates was awarded a Pro Bowl nod.

Anderson, the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, has a promising future ahead. The Broncos should be thrilled to see him still up for grabs at this stage in the mock draft.

While off-ball linebackers may not hold the highest positional value in the current NFL, Davis’ talent for analyzing and responding from the center of the defense places him among the top 100 players in the league as he enters 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 render him a challenge as an inside pass rusher and lane blocker at the heart of a defense.

Mike Macdonald, the new head coach, brings Hamilton from Baltimore to the other side of the country, a place where he significantly contributed to Macdonald’s success as a coordinator.

Williams is regarded as one of the top off-ball linebackers in the game. His athleticism fits the criteria that New Orleans has consistently sought for in its second-tier 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 compete with any receiver on the field.

Even if Bland never manages to replicate his impressive statistics of nine interceptions, including five pick-sixes from 2023, his position as a crucial playmaker cannot be overlooked.

Smith’s prowess as an interior blocker is impressive. The Eagles select him just one slot ahead of the Cowboys, which is Smith’s actual team, are due to pick.

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 progress to give the Packers confidence that Matt LaFleur could assist 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 clever playmaker, Mathieu, is returning to Houston where he previously played in 2018.

Witherspoon experienced a robust 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, at times, exploit defenses that overlook his athletic abilities.

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 proficiency should seamlessly mesh with the Chiefs’ offense.