Seven-round NFL mock draft, Round 5: Building a win-now team from active players for 2024 season

Regardless of whether he is in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or San Francisco, Hargrave has posed a challenge for interior offensive linemen due to his skills as a pass rusher (with 44.5 career sacks) and run-stopper.

Judon is recovering from a biceps tear that limited his 2023 season to just four games. Nevertheless, his production and leadership is highly valued by the Patriots, a team he has secured 32 sacks for over the last three seasons, more so than any other franchise would.

In the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, New England discovered outstanding value in Barmore. The Cardinals followed suit at this position, acquiring an interior force who achieved 8.5 sacks in the previous season.

Hall delivered a strong performance for the Jets last year, recording 994 rushing yards, 76 catches, and nine total touchdowns in 17 games even after recovering from an ACL tear in 2022. Therefore, it’s anticipated that he will be one of the top running backs in the 2024 league.

The Chargers are expected to use Henry effectively in their ball game, who, despite turning 30 in January, should still have two or three more years of good performance left in him.

In 2023, as a third-year professional for the Lions, McNeill recorded 32 tackles and five sacks in 13 games. The former third-round pick is expected to perform well in his contract season.

Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter recently said he would love to clone James because the safety can “do it all.” James is the only player in the NFL to have totaled 350-plus tackles, 15-plus passes defensed, eight-plus sacks and at least five forced fumbles over the past three seasons.

In 2023, Barkley’s performance declined (962 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards) compared to his 2022 stats (1,312 rushing yards, 338 receiving yards). However, the Falcons are banking on a bounce-back by the seventh-year pro.

The Bears are opting for youth at the left tackle position, choosing their 2024 first-round pick to spearhead their O-line. Alt, who is robust and nimble, is their top choice.

Since missing his rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury, Etienne’s put up two 1,000-yard campaigns for Jacksonville. The former first-round pick scored 11 times on the ground last season while catching 58 passes.

It feels like Pittman has been in the league forever, but he’s just 26 years old and entering his fifth pro season, having signed a three-year extension with the Colts in March. He would be a strong No. 1 receiver for Matthew Stafford to lean on in this simulation.

Fuller has been an underappreciated defender over the past four seasons. Since 2020, the 29-year-old intercepted 10 passes for the Commanders, tied for 20th-most in the NFL in that span — but he’s never made the Pro Bowl or earned first-team All-Pro honors. (Though he did ink a two-year, $16.5 million pact with the Dolphins in the offseason.)

In this imaginary scenario, the Raiders miss out on their real-life edge rusher, Maxx Crosby, who comes off the board in Round 1, shortly after Las Vegas takes QB Jordan Love. So in Round 5, they turn to Granderson, a sixth-year pro who has the strength and length to get double-digit sacks in 2024 after piling up 8.5 in his first season as a full-time starter with the Saints.

Vea is returning to the state where he once played college football for the Washington Huskies. This former first-round pick, who was drafted 12th overall by the Bucs in 2018, is known for his ability to tackle running backs and put pressure on the quarterback – impressive for a 347-pound player. Over the past two seasons, he has recorded a total of 12 sacks.

In real life, Higgins is set to play 2024 for Cincinnati on the franchise tag. In our scenario, he escapes the shadow of Ja’Marr Chase to become a true No. 1 option with the Saints.

Williams missed five games in 2022 but was a rock in 2023, when he became the first NFL player since 1930 to suit up in 18 regular-season games, with the timing of his midseason trade from the Giants to the Seahawks causing him to miss both teams’ bye weeks.

Mosley won’t slow down at age 32. The five-time Pro Bowler provides strength between the tackles for Jacksonville, while also chasing down ball-carriers trying to get outside.

Cincinnati has recruited the large-bodied Thomas, hoping that the former first-round pick will recover from his setback in 2023, when a hamstring injury caused him to miss seven games.

Cook’s speed and receiving ability were on full display for the Bills in 2023, when he led the team in rushing yards (1,122) and scrimmage yards (1,567). The former Georgia Bulldog should be even better in Year 3.

Over the past three seasons in San Francisco, Samuel has had an average of 46 rushing attempts and managed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards only once (in 2021). However, in Pittsburgh, he transitions into a receiver-only role, which could potentially increase his catch numbers and possibly extend his career in this hypothetical scenario.

Williams looks like a slot corner but is most effective on the outside, where he challenges larger receivers with attitude and athleticism. Over the past two seasons, he collected 35 passes defensed in Jacksonville, more than any other NFL player in that span, then signed a deal to return to the Rams, with whom he first made a name for himself as a pro.

The Browns acquire a powerhouse in Nelson for their line, a player who has six Pro Bowl appearances and three first-team All-Pro recognitions under his belt, setting the offensive pace.

Miller is a reliable left tackle. Before a shoulder injury in 2023 sidelined him for four games with the Raiders, he had never been absent for more than two games in any of his prior five professional seasons.

Concerns over Smith’s lack of bulk when he entered the NFL, given his 6-foot, 170-pound build, should no longer be an issue. Smith has proven himself in the last three seasons with the Eagles, with an average of 80 catches, 1,059 yards, and six touchdowns.

Rousseau’s substantial size (6-6, 266 pounds) is well-suited for Green Bay’s latest 4-3 scheme under the coordination of Jeff Hafley. In this set-up, the Packers are optimistic that he will capitalize on more sack opportunities in 2024, building on his record of eight for the Bills in 2022 and five in 2023.

Although his name doesn’t fit as nicely with “Scary Terry,” based on his consistent performance, McLaurin could adopt the nickname “Steady Eddie.” Over the past three years, he has featured in every game for Washington, securing 77, 77, and 79 catches respectively, each season surpassing 1,000 yards.

Latham, with his impressive size (6-6, 342 pounds) and agile feet, has the potential to excel as a left or right tackle. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Titans’ seventh overall pick in April soon earns a spot in the Pro Bowl.

The Bills take McBride after watching him improve greatly in Arizona last season. He’d be a fine target for QB Drake Maye to lean on as one of the better two-way tight ends in the league in 2024.

Chubb suffered a torn ACL in Week 17 last season — but before then, he showed what he could do when healthy, reaching the 16-start benchmark for the first time since his rookie season in Denver, putting up 11 sacks and forcing six fumbles (tied for most in the NFL). Presuming he’s able to recover, Chubb’s versatility fits in the Lions’ multiple scheme.

Over the past two years, Taylor has played in just 21 games, yet he managed to rack up more than 69 rushing yards in 13 of those games. This far into the mock draft, the Ravens select him, hoping he might regain his 2021 form when he led the NFL with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.

Gary is heading into his sixth NFL season, but he still hasn’t played his best football. If he’s fully healthy throughout 2024, he should be able to log 10 or more sacks and grow as a run defender.

OK, so Moses changed teams for the third time in his NFL career this offseason, heading from the Ravens back to the Jets via trade. He was still one of the most consistent right tackles in the game as a pass- and run-blocker in 2023.