Seven-round NFL mock draft, Round 6: Building a win-now team from active players for 2024 season

Though Nabers is merely a rookie in the league, I believe Andy Reid would greatly appreciate his speed and route running skills in his offense.

Using his speed and toughness, Queen, who has started every game in his four-year career, anchors the middle of the Niners’ defense.

Reader, one of Cincinnati’s top run defenders in recent years, should fit comfortably into the nose tackle position for the Ravens.

Due to injury, Simmons was limited to just 12 games last year. However, if he returns to full health in 2024, he possesses the game-changing abilities the Lions need. His knack for blocking passes at the line of scrimmage and halting the run could be instrumental for the team.

Dawkins may not be showy, but his three-time Pro Bowler status with the Bills is due to his consistent performance in not getting beaten on the edge.

The Texans got some nice contributions from rookies last year (SEE: Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards), so a player like Murphy, who has leverage and quick feet, would be on the radar for their defensive interior.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said last month that Diggs “looks great” after missing all but two games due to a knee injury last season.

Green Bay has placed higher value on safeties this offseason, adding Xavier McKinney in free agency and three others in the draft, so grabbing a potential bargain in a leader and playmaker like Fitzpatrick, who’s coming off injury, makes sense.

Depending on the alignment, Dallas could utilize Autry either on the edge or at 3-technique. In his 10th season in the league in 2023, he achieved a career-best record of 11.5 sacks.

The Browns take the tough-running, electric back, who can also be a solid receiving option for Deshaun Watson out of the backfield after notching 44 receptions in 2023.

Achane demonstrated why Mike McDaniel desired to pick him in the third round of the previous year’s draft. His suitability for the offense is so exceptional that placing him in another position would be impractical.

Considering his speed and underrated power game, it’s easy to envision the Eagles showing interest in Turner’s abilities prior to the 2024 draft.

McKinney efficiently establishes the Steelers’ secondary, equally adept at playing both the run and pass.

Choosing Turner in the third round of the 2023 draft was not only a wise move due to his outstanding rookie season, but it also proved beneficial as the Rams will now require his leadership on the field in the wake of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s departure, who is of similar build.

When healthy, Jones can be one of the top dual-threat backs in the league. After missing six games in 2023, he’s due to get back to 1,000 rushing yards and 50 catches this season.

The Colts take Smith after smartly moving him to right tackle when most believed his below-average length meant a pro career at guard. 

Douglas intercepted four passes in nine games for the Bills last season after being traded from Green Bay.

Swift showed last year in Philadelphia that he can be a feature back, so the Bengals add him to take Joe Mixon‘s spot.

In 2024, Reddick is aiming for his fifth consecutive season with double-digit sacks. Over the previous two years, he has started every game in Philadelphia.

The Raiders have acquired Mixon following his former team’s selection of Swift just two picks before. Despite entering his eighth year, Mixon is only turning 28 this month and potentially is on the brink of his best season since 2021. In that year, he amassed over 1,500 yards of total offense and scored 16 touchdowns.

Brock Purdy would likely love to have a healthy Andrews in the red zone, running down the seam or to bail him out on off-platform plays.

Addison nearly amassed 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie (911) and scored 10 times for Minnesota. He gives the Bears an up-and-coming speedster to play across from Mike Evans.

Throughout his career, Armstead has often been sidelined due to injuries. However, this offseason demonstrated the Jets’ willingness to gamble on skilled, experienced offensive linemen with a history of injuries.

Why not team up Greenard with the Vikings, especially after they signed him as a free agent following his career-best season with the Texans where he achieved 12.5 sacks?

In this scenario, the Falcons retain one of their own, anticipating that the buzz surrounding Ebiketie, who achieved six sacks last season, will materialize in his third year.

Decker is as steady a left tackle as they come, stabilizing a position in a manner Tennessee hopes rookie JC Latham can do in the real world this fall.

In the 2023 draft, Gonzalez’s talent was undervalued by teams, but his impressive performance with the Patriots before a premature injury ended his rookie season was recognized by the Giants.

The Chargers snatch the formidable run blocker from their stadium sharer.

A cancer survivor who turned 29 years old in May, Conner looked like a spring chicken in 2023. He and Lamar Jackson would comprise a nice thunder-and-lightning running duo in the desert.

Despite recently recovering from an injury, Holland remains one of the most talented safeties in the current NFL. The 24-year-old excels in run defense and possesses the ability to disrupt the passing game.

Kirk couldn’t stay healthy last season after a breakout 2022 campaign, but at this point in this exercise, the Patriots can assume he’ll at least be a reliable target for Joe Burrow.

Carolina arguably acquires the league’s top slot corner, Moore, who last season returned two out of his three interceptions for touchdowns.