Are you ready for the NFL Draft?

101.  Carolina Panthers – Mason McCormick, 6’4”, 309lbs, OG/C, South Dakota State
04/18/24 – Beaux Limmer, C, Arkansas
02/22/24 – Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP

Carolina needs to address the IOL, especially considering center Austin Corbett is coming off an ACL tear and there is little depth at OG behind the newly-acquired Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis.  McCormick is an athletic interior lineman who started 42 consecutive games for the Jackrabbits.  He is a mauler in the run game but is also effective as a puller and climbing to the second level, but also does a tremendous job anchoring in pass protection, which was on full display at the East-West Shrine Game.  His reps at center at the Shrine Game proved he has the chops to take on the position at the next level.

102.  Seattle Seahawks (from Washington) – Cam Hart, 6’3”, 202lbs, CB, Notre Dame
04/18/24 – Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
02/22/24 Washington – Marshawn Lloyd. RB, USC 

The Seahawks finished 22nd in the league in passing yards given up and while Devon Witherspoon was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Tariq Woolen failed to build upon his 2022 performance that got him a Pro Bowl selection.  Injuries slowed things up for him, but he also gave up 4 TDs, committed 9 penalties, per Pro Football Focus, and struggled with tackling.  Woolen was even benched in favor of Michael Jackson at one point in the season.  While Witherspoon and Woolen are locked in as starters, Jackson and Artie Burns are in the final year of their deals while Coby Bryant is better served at safety.  Cam Hart has the size Seattle covets, but he has a surprising ability to mirror the WR well in their transitions and is physical in press coverage.  He’s also willing to come downhill and make plays around the line of scrimmage against the run.

103.  New England Patriots – Cade Stover, 6’4”, 247lbs, TE, Ohio State
04/18/24 – Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
02/22/24 – Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Hunter Henry finished in the top three in receptions, yards and TD for the Patriots and will continue to be a key weapon as he’s under contract through the 2026 season.  Veteran Austin Hooper was signed to a one-year deal, but it would behoove New England to think about the future of the position.  Stover has been a solid blocker for the Buckeyes, but has also developed into a solid pass catcher, especially up the seam.  Stover offers good hands and is strong after the catch, breaking tackles and dragging defenders for extra yards.  His well-rounded game should fit well in the Patriots’ TE room.

104.  Arizona Cardinals – Malik Washington. 5’8”, 191lbs, WR, Virginia
04/18/24 – Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
02/22/24 – Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas

Even with Arizona likely taking a WR1 with the 4th overall pick, I could see the Cards doubling up on a WR, selecting a slot WR to push Greg Dortch for playing time.  Washington played four years at Northwestern and finished with 120 receptions for 1,348 yards and 3 TD.  However, he entered the transfer portal and found himself at Virginia, where he became the go-to target in a more WR-friendly offense and Washington responded in a big way, virtually passing up his career totals at Northwestern in one season with the Cavaliers.  Washington finished with 110 receptions for 1,426 yard and 9 TD.  Washington is diminutive and quicker than he is fast, but he’s sudden with his route running and plays bigger than his size with his exceptional leaping ability; he posted a 42.5-inch vertical leap at the Combine.  Washington is a sleeper in this year’s draft who could find his way off the board on Day 2.  This would be excellent value and I think Washington would beat Dortch out as the primary occupier of the slot.

105.  Los Angeles Chargers – Qwan’tez Stiggers, 5’11”. 204lbs. CB, Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
04/18/24 – Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
02/22/24 – Maason Smith, DT, LSU

The Chargers lost Michael Davis in free agency and while Kristian Fulton was signed to play opposite Asante Samuel Jr., his play has been underwhelming as he’s managed just 1 Int. and 10 PBU over the last two seasons and 23 games played.  While Fulton provides depth, he shouldn’t be counted upon as a viable starter, so expect Joe Horitz to target a corner in the draft.  Stiggers is the feel-good story of the draft and had a long journey to get here.  He was a freshman at Lane College when personal tragedy forced him to leave the program.  He later tried out for the Fan Controlled Football League where he caught the eye of the Toronto Argonauts.  After a tryout, Stiggers not only made the team, but ended up as the first DB to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award in 25 years after racking up 53 tackles and picking off 5 passes.  That eared him a shot in the East-West Shrine Game, where he proved he belonged.  Then his Pro day cemented his status as an early Day 3 pick after running a 4.45 40.  He’s still raw and is a bit of a project after having not played any college ball, but his instincts are off the charts and he’s proven to be sticky in coverage.  Stiggers feels like a Harbaugh guy and I think he gets drafted before people think.

106.  Tennessee Titans – Trevin Wallace, 6’1”, 237lbs, LB, Kentucky
04/18/24 – Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
02/22/24 – Khyree Jackson. CB, Oregon

Losing Azeez Al-Shaair definitely hurts for the Titans and while Kenneth Murray was signed in free agency, they need to find another LB to line up next to him.  Wallace is an athletic LB who can cover a lot of ground in the middle of the defense.  He does a great job scraping over the top to meet the RB on the edge and also has the speed to get outside the hashes and chase down the ball carrier trying to bounce it to the perimeter.  Wallace is around the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to knife in and blow up a run play or also use his speed to shoot gaps and get after the QB.

107.  New York Giants – DeWayne Carter, 6’2”, 302lbs, DT, Duke
04/18/24 – DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke
02/22/24 – Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State

Last year’s starting DTs A’Shawn Robinson and Dexter Lawence finished the season 7th and 8th in tackles, respectively, and Lawrence was 3rd on the team with 4.5 sacks.  However, Robinson left in free agency and backups Rakeem Nunez-Roches and DJ Davidson are best suited as role players and spot starters.  Carter has good quickness off the ball, but it’s his ability to convert speed to power and attack with leverage that allows him to drive interior linemen back into the backfield.  Carter had an exceptional junior season with 8.0 sacks and 50 total pressures.  Both totals dropped as he managed just 2 sacks and 22 total pressures, but Carter was still able to push the pocket to put stress on the QB and force him of his spot.  Teams have to hope that 2023 was an anomaly as Cater improved season over season as a pass rusher.  One area that can stand to be fixed would be his tackling as he missed 33 tackles in his career or 25% of his opportunities, including nearly 30% of his tackle attempts his senior year.  Carter has enough traits to get really excited if he can be more consistent.

108.  Minnesota Vikings – Austin Booker, 6’4”, 240lbs, Edge, Kansas
04/18/24 – Austin Booker, Edge, Kansas
02/22/24 – Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson

Danielle Hunter and DJ Wonnum combined for 24.5 sacks in 2023, which is more than half of the Vikings’ 43 total sacks.  However, both are gone and while Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were brought in as replacements, adding reinforcements through the draft should be expected.  Austin Booker really turned heads in 2023 after transferring to Kansas from Minnesota.  He registered 8.0 sacks and 12.0 TFL, while his 56 total tackles finished 4th on the team.  Booker showed a burst off the ball and the ability to convert speed to power to win in a variety of ways at the Senior Bowl but ran an underwhelming 4.79 40 at the Combine.  His potential could get him drafted on Day 2, but if he falls to the 4th Round, Minnesota would be wise to jump on this developmental gem.

109.  Atlanta Falcons – Jalen McMillan, 6’1”, 197lbs, WR, Washington
04/18/24 – Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama
02/22/24 – Gabriel Murphy, Edge, UCLA

WR depth was such a concern in Atlanta that the Falcons signed both Rondale Moore and Darnell Mooney to support Drake London.  However, there is still a need to draft another wideout to round out the group for new QB Kirk Coousins.McMillan had a breakout 2022 season where he went over 1,000 yards receiving and scored 9 TD and expectations were high for him coming into 2023.  A nagging knee injury forced him to sit out four games after getting off to a blazing start to the year with 20 catches for 311 yards and 3 TD in three games.  McMillan is such a weapon in the slot who is so good getting separation both off the line and at the top of his route, tracks the ball well and shows exceptional hands to pluck the ball out of the air.  He’s also dynamic after the catch making defenders miss in the open field.  McMillan is likely a Day 2 pick, but the Bucs would jump at the chance to take him here.

110.  Los Angeles Chargers (from Chicago) – Johnny Wilson, 6’6”, 231lbs, WR, Florida State
04/18/24 – Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
02/22/24 Chicago – Renardo Green, CB, Florida State

I expect the Chargerrs to select multiple WRs in this draft and adding Wilson could be the Bolts’ replacement for the departed Mike Williams.  Johnny Wilson is a unique athlete because he has tremendous size and length (35 3/8-inch arms) that makes him such a red zone threat, yet his long strides and vertical speed allow him to get behind defenders with regularity as evidenced by his 17.2 yards-per-catch average, including averaging 20.9 yards per reception as a junior. 

111.  New York Jets – Jared Wiley, 6’6”, 249lbs, TE, TCU
04/18/24 – Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona
02/22/24 – Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama

Tyler Conklin proved to be a viable option in the passing game for the Jets last season after finishing third in receptions (61) and receiving yards (621).  Aaron Rodgers could always use more weapons and even if Brock Bowrs isn’t the pick at No. 10, the Jets could absolutely use another TE to push   Jeremy Ruckert for the TE2 spot.  Wiley was known mostly as a blocker while at Texas, showing that he can keep the edge rusher square and can be effective when his pad level doesn’t get too high.  He then transferred to TCU prior to the 2022 season and began showing off his receiving skills, eventually racking up 520 yards on 47 receptions with 8 TD.  Wiley is a weapon over the middle and in the red zone as a receiver.  I’d expect Wiley to be a valuable asset for Rodgers on 3rd downs.

112.  Las Vegas Raiders – Blake Fisher, 6’6”, 310lbs, OT, Notre Dame
04/18/24 – Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
02/22/24 – Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington

Thayer Munford was expected to start at OG, but he was solid filling in for Jermaine Eluemunor at RT when he went down to injury.  I still think the Raiders will address the OL and adding another OT like Fisher, who handled the right side opposite Joe Alt for the Fighting Irish, would bring power, including tremendous grip strength, and athleticism to the OT position and would give Vegas options should they decide to kick Munford inside.

113.  Baltimore Ravens (from Denver) – Mohamed Kamara, 6’1”, 248lbs, Edge, Colorado State
04/18/24 – Mohamed Kamara, Edge, Colorado State
02/22/24 New York Jets – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech

The Ravens will be looking to address their pass rush this offseason from the OLB position.  Kyle Van Noy is back after tallying a career-high 9.0 sacks, but he’s now 33 years of age.  Odafe Oweh is expected to take over for the departed Jadeveon Clowney and the Ravens hope he can build upon last season which saw him win at a rate of 17.7%, which ranked top 15 in the league, and his 54 total pressures put him in the top 30 among edge rushers despite only starting in 5 games.  Then there’s David Ojabo, who has played in just 5 games in two seasons after tearing his Achilles at his Pro Day which wiped out his rookie season and an ACL tear took out this past season after just three games.  Can Baltimore count on Ojabo?  Who else can generate pressure off the edge to take pressure off Justin Madubuike rushing the passer from within?  Kamara was one of the more disruptive edge rushers this past season, finishing with 14 sacks and 64 total pressures, both of which finished top five in the FBS, and posted a 19.4%-win rate.  Kamara may be undersized, but he has an explosive first step, has good bend and rips underneath the OT pad level to gain the edge before flattening out and chasing down the QB in a hurry.  He also has good power in his hands and can convert speed to power to drive the OT back into the backfield.  Kamara can also be disruptive against the run with early penetration into the backfield to blow up the play and also has the speed to chase down ball carriers from behind.  He’s so good with his hands, but if an OT gets his hands on Kamara, he can get engulfed and dominated at the point of attack.  However, his explosiveness is something the Ravens can definitely use coming off the edge.

114.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Audric Estime, 5’11’, 221lbs, RB, Notre Dame, Jr.
04/18/24 – Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
02/22/24 – Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin

Travis Etienne finished 2023 with his second straight 1,000-yard season to begin his career and also finished third on the team with 58 receptions.  However, Jacksonville finished 24th in the league in rushing yards, meaning the Jags received little help from Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson.  I expect the Jaguars to target a physical back who can be a true change of pace to Etienne and Estime fits the bill.  Thick and powerful, Estime is difficult to bring down when he squares his shoulders.  Estime runs with a forward lean and has tremendous contact balance to bounce off would-be tacklers and uses the lower body strength to keep his legs churning and running through tackles.  Estime sets up his blocks well and shows the lateral agility to plant and cut right off the blocker’s hip to run to daylight.  He’s proven to be a big-play performer, racking up 1,341 yards and 18 TD this past season.

115.  Cincinnati Bengals – Justin Eboigbe, 6’4”, 297lbs, DT, Alabama
04/18/24 – Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
02/22/24 – Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State

The Bengals will be targeting a DT to support BJ Hill who was the only true interior pass rusher last season where he racked up 4.5 sacks.  Eboigbe was mostly a rotational player at Alabama until his senior season where he had a career year, finishing with 7.0 sacks and 11.5 TFL as well as 56 tackles, which was good for fourth-most on the team.

116.  Jacksonville Jaguars (from New Orleans) – Mekhi Wingo, 6’0”, 284lbs, DT, LSU
04/18/24 – Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
02/22/24 – Mohamed Kamara, Edge, Colorado State

New DC Ryan Nielsen will be looking to have four down linemen so you can expect there to be some attention to the interior of the DL at some point in the draft.  Wingo is a twitched-up undersized DT who has an exceptionally quick first step and can be disruptive getting early penetration into the backfield.  He looked especially dynamic at the Combine going through drills with very quick feet and the ability to change directions in a hurry.  Wingo could be a sleeper in this draft and Nielsen could easily use him in the same manner as Grady Jarrett in Atlanta last season.

117.  Indianapolis Colts – Brandon Dorlus, 6’3”, 283lbs, DE, Oregon
04/18/24 – Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
02/22/24 – Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State

The Colts will look for depth up front on the DL and Dorlus is one of the more versatile linemen in this year’s draft class, showing the ability to play all along the DL.  Dorlus can use quickness off the ball to beat interior linemen and is able to convert speed to power to drive OTs into the backfield.  He also uses his length and timing to knock passes down, including 9 this past season.  I envision Dorlus putting on some weight so he can be a full-time DT in an even man front, though he can also use his power to attack the end as a DE as well.

118.  Seattle Seahawks – Gabriel Murphy, 6’2”, 247lbs, Edge, UCLA, Jr.
04/18/24 – Gabriel Murphy, Edge, UCLA
02/22/24 – Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Boye Mafe had a career year and led the team with 9.0 sacks last season, while Darrell Taylor contributed 5.5 sacks, but is now in a contract year.  Uchenna Nwosu was limited to 6 games due to injury and is hoping to rebound, while Derick Hall didn’t manage any production getting after the QB.  Adding another edge rusher to the mix to push for playing time and round out the group makes sense here.  Gabriel Murphy was one of the top sack artists in the Pac-12 in 2023, getting to the QB 8 times.  However, Murphy isn’t just a one-trick pony as he does a good job getting early penetration on run plays and has a knack for blowing those plays up, having tallied 37.0 TFL in his career with North Texas and UCLA.  Murphy has a quick first step, uses his hands well to chop, slap and rip at the OT’s hands to gain the edge and has the speed to run the arc in a hurry to pressure the QB. 

119.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaden Hicks, 6’2”, 213lbs, S, Washington State, RS Soph.
04/18/24 – Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State  
02/22/24 – Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane

Keanu Neal was a casualty this offseason and Deshon Elliott was brought in to team with Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety.  Damontae Kazee is expected to see the field in three safety packages that we’ve seen the Steelers use.  However, adding another safety to the mix makes sense.  Hicks is a physical, big-hitting safety who looks comfortable playing in the box.  He also has good straight-line speed to handle man coverage, especially when lining up over TEs, and has impressive ball skills, using his length and timing to make a play on the ball at the catch point.  Hicks is stiff-hipped, which can get him into trouble in any non-vertical based routes, but his aggressive style of play fits   well with what Pittsburgh wants to do defensively.

120.  Philadelphia Eagles (from Los Angeles Rams) – Javon Solomon, 6’1”, 246lbs, Edge, Troy
04/18/24 – Javon Solomon, Edge, Troy
02/22/24 – Christian Jones, OT, Texas

Haason Reddick racked up double-digit sacks for the fourth consecutive season, but his trade to the Jets means Philly will be relying on the young Nolan Smith to step up opposite Josh Sweat.  Brandon Graham is 36 years of age, but he’s being brought back for another season.  After racking up a career-high 10.0 sacks with the Jets this past season, Bryce Huff was signed to a three-year deal worth $51 million.  Expect the future of the Eagles’ pass rush to rest with Sweat, Huff and Smith, but adding another edge rusher to eventually take the place of Graham has to be in the cards.  Solomon was a dominant pass rusher this past season at Troy, showcasing an explosive burst and an impressive bend to rack up 16.0 sacks to lead the FBS.  Solomon may be undersized, but he’s so good with leverage and active hands to attack the OT’s pad level and hands to get the edge.  He also uses his athleticism in the run game to chase down ball carriers from behind.

121.  Denver Broncos (from Miami) – Will Shipley, 5’11”, 206lbs, RB, Clemson, Jr.
04/18/24 – Will Shipley. RB, Clemson
02/22/24 – Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama

Javonte Williams struggled in his return from an ACL injury during the 2022 season, while undrafted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin was able to bear some the load on the ground and Samaje Perine was effective as a pass catcher, hauling in 50 passes last year.  With Denver struggling to find its footing in the ground game and with Williams and Perine both in the final year of their deals, I expect the Broncos to draft another RB to push for playing time.  Will Shipley is one of the draft’s most versatile RBs, finishing his three-year career with Clemson with 2,748 yards and 31 TD on the ground and 85 catches for 602 yards and 2 TD through the air.  Shipley is tough between the tackles, does a good job slipping tackles and avoiding tacklers in the hole, displays exceptional lateral agility in space and has the speed to go the distance.  As a receiver, he’s a solid route runner, soft hands and is athletic after the catch.  Shipley also silenced any questions about his speed, running a reported 4.39 40 at Clemson’s Pro Day.  This would be very good value for one of the draft’s most underrated players.

122.  Chicago Bears (from Philadelphia) – Matt Goncalves, 6’6”, 327lbs, OT, Pittsburgh
04/18/24 – Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
02/22/24 – Beau Brade, S, Maryland

RT Darnell Wright showed promise after being selected 10th overall in last year’s draft while Braxton Jones has proven he can be a starter on the left side.  The Bears could use a swing tackle who could push for playing time should either struggle.   Goncalves has starting experience at both OT positions and has good power and leg drive in the ground game and decent footwork as a pass protector.  Goncalves was a forgotten prospect after a toe injury kept him from the Combine and Pittsburgh’s Pro day, but his versatility is what will make him valuable despite some physical limitations.

123.  Houston Texans (from Cleveland) – Jarrion Jones, 6’0”, 190lbs, CB, Florida State
04/18/24 – Jarrion Jones, CB, Florida State
02/22/24 – Junior Colson, LB, Michigan

Houston appears to be set at CB with Derek Stingley Jr. Desmond King, Jeff Okudah, CJ Henderson Lonnie Johnson and Myles Bryant, not to mention a likely pick in on Day 2 of the draft.  However, all of the aforementioned corners not named Stingley Jr. are free agents at season’s end so expect the Texans to double dip into the CB draft class here.  Jones has the size and athleticism to play either on the outside or in the slot and does a great job anticipating throws and driving on the ball to make a play.  His motor is always running and he’s physical in run support as well. 

124.  San Francisco 49ers (from Dallas) – Zak Zinter, 6’6”, 309lbs, OG, Michigan
04/18/24 – Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
02/22/24 – Matt Goncalvez, OT, Pittsburgh

San Franciso’s interior offensive line struggled at times in the playoffs and could use an upgrade over Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford.  Zinter is a tough, hard-nosed OG who started 42 games in his career before suffering a broken tibia and fibula against Ohio State.  He’s very effective pulling around as a lead blocker, is heavy-handed as a pass protector and is always looking to sustain and finish his blocks in the most dominant way.

125.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Caelen Carson, 6’0”, 199lbs, CB, Wake Forest
04/18/24 – Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
02/22/24 – Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

Tampa’s secondary will look vastly different in 2024 after Carlton Davis was traded.  Is Zyon McCollum ready for a bigger role at CB?  Or is he better suited as a third safety?  Bryce Hall was brought in to push for playing time opposite Jamel Dean, but you have to expect to find another CB in the draft, especially with new NB Tavierre Thomas only signing a one-year deal.  Carson has battled injuries during his time at Wake Forest, but when healthy is a tough, physical cover corner on the outside.  He’s a sticky corner who does a great job mirroring WRs up the field and through the transitions.  Carson doesn’t allow much separation and looks to continue to squeeze the WR and not give much room for the QB to fit the pass in.  He matched up well with the bigger WR Keon Coleman this past season but wasn’t afraid to be physical with him and made it difficult for Coleman to create any separation.  His play on a fade showed his grittiness as he didn’t allow any separation and while Coleman tried to elevate over him, Carson was able to get a hand on the ball to break it up.

126.  Green Bay Packers – Jaylan Ford, 6’2”, 240lbs, LB, Texas
04/18/24 – Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah
02/22/24 – Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri

Isaiah McDuffie filled in well when De’Vondre Campbell went down to injury and now is the likely starter next to Quay Walker at ILB now that Campbell is gone in free agency.  However, expect the Packers to target another LB at some point to not only provide depth, but also to push for playing time and I think adding an instinctive LB like Ford could be the play here.  Ford is a very active LB who seems to always be around the football.  He had back-to-back 100-tackle seasons his last two seasons at Texas, showcasing solid instincts, the ability to take the proper angle to the football and isn’t afraid to crash downhill against the run.  Ford does a good job reading the routes dropping in coverage and his 6 career Int, including 4 in 2022, is proof that he knows how to make a play on the ball.

127.  Houston Texans – Jalyx Hunt, 6’4”, 252lbs, Edge, Houston Christian
04/18/24 - Jalyx Hunt, Edge, Houston Christian
02/22/24 – Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State

The Texans hit a homerun this offseason bringing in Danielle Hunter to team with Will Anderson Jr. coming off the edge.  However, only the duo and Dylan Horton are under contract beyond this season, so you can expect they’ll add another edge rusher in the draft and they could very well look to a local product with this pick.  Hunt is a converted safety who excels in coverage.  He’s a twitchy athlete with 4.64 40 speed and a 37-inch vertical leap.  He’s still learning the position, but can bend coming off the edge and uses his length to his advantage to win early and get into the backfield.

128.  Buffalo Bills – Tyler Davis, 6’2”, 301lbs, DT, Clemson
04/18/24 - Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
02/22/24 – Malik Washington, WR, Virginia

Daquan Jones and Ed Oliver from one of the most formidable DT duos in the NFL today.  There were significant questions up front beyond the two of them as all the depth pieces are no longer on the roster.  Deshawn Williams and Austin Johnson were brought in to fill the void left by Poona Ford, Linval Joseph, Tim Settle and Jordan Phillips.  You can expect Buffalo to also target a DT in this draft and Davis has been one of the most consistently disruptive DTs when healthy, having racked up 16 sacks and 30 TFL in his Clemson career.  He has tremendous power in his hands to generate a push up front with a strong leg drive and a powerful punch at the point of attack to collapse the pocket as an interior pass rusher and uses his quickness to be effective in the run game. 

129.  Minnesota Vikings (from Detroit) – Nehemiah Pritchett, 6’0”, 190lbs, CB, Auburn
04/18/24 - Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn

02/22/24 – Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona

Byron Murphy Jr. emerged as the team’s top corner in his first year with the Vikings.  Akayleb Evans started 15 games in his second year and after a solid year is expected to hold down the other starting spot, though Mekhi Blackmon had a solid rookie campaign and will push for playing time.  However, there are questions beyond this trio.  Pritchett is a versatile DB who has played multiple positions while at Auburn and is known for his ball skills after finishing with 3 Int. and 24 PBU with the Tigers.

130.  Baltimore Ravens – Jaylin Simpson, 6’0”, 179lbs, S, Auburn
04/18/24 – Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
02/22/24 – Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

Kyle Hamilton had a stellar year this past season and made his first Pro Bowl, but free safety Marcus Williams again battled injuries for the second straight season since signing his five-year deal prior to the 2022 season.  Can Williams stay healthy?  Geno Stone was his backup and wound up starting 11 games, picking off 7 passes in the process, and he’s now gone in free agency.  Simpson is versatile having experience at both CB and safety and shows off good range over the top and covering in the slot.  While his hips are a little tight and he didn’t make a big impact against the run, he uses his length to his advantage in coverage, does a great job anticipating the throw and driving quickly on the ball and showcased good ball skills, as evidenced by the 7 Int. and 14 PBU in his career with the Tigers. expect the Ravens to find another free safety as insurance and with depth needed all over the secondary in Baltimore, Simpson could find his way onto the field in a variety of ways.

San Francisco 49ers – forfeited
02/22/24 – Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

131.  Kansas City Chiefs – T’Vondre Sweat, 6’4”, 366lbs, DT, Texas
04/18/24 – T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
02/22/24 – Will Shipley, RB, Clemson

There were questions about whether Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi and Mike Pennel would return to the Chiefs, though all three have been brought back for the 2024 season.  While Jones signed a staggering 5-year $158-million deal, Nnadi and Pennel were signed to one-year deals.  KC can draft Lovett Sr. to add depth to the position up front and he could eventually slide into a more prominent role should Nnadi or Pennel look elsewhere at season’s end.  T’Vondre Sweat is a massive human being, measuring in at 6’4” and 366 pounds.  However, he carries the weight really well and moves like a guy 60 pounds lighter, as evidenced by his performance at the Combine which included a 5.28 40.  Sweat uses his power at the point of attack to plug holes and take on multiple blockers.  However, he also has surprising agility for his size, can disengage quickly and shows good pursuit of the ball down the line.  His 17.5 career TFL is evidence of his activity behind the line of scrimmage and the fact that he finished 6th among Longhorns in tackles is further proof he’s more than just a space eater.  Sweat may have only recorded 2.0 sacks, but he also was credited with 29 total pressures and his pass rush win rate was a solid 15.5%, per Pro Football Focus, meaning he is effective getting after the QB.  He paired well with Byron Murphy II at Texas, so it’s hard not to get excited about the prospects of Sweat teaming with Jones.  And KC could be the benefactor of Sweat’s freefall following his arrest for Driving While Intoxicated just prior to the draft. 

132.  San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection) – Ray Davis, 5’8”, 211lbs, RB, Kentucky
04/18/24 – Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
02/22/24 Baltimore – Jarrion Jones, CB, Florida State

Elijah Mitchell has proven to be a capable backup to the reining Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason provided some depth at the position especially when Mitchell missed six games with a knee injury, but Mitchell and Mason are both in contract years, so the 49ers should look to the future.  Davis began his career at Temple where he was the Owls’ leading rusher in 2019 but cut his sophomore season short to enter the transfer portal.  His first season at Vanderbilt was a loss after suffering a season-ending toe injury after three games.  However, he rebounded in a big way as a junior with a 1,000-yard season with the Commodores, a performance that started to get him on the radar of NFL scouts.  Davis then transferred to Kentucky where he became one of the top rushers in the SEC rushing for 1,139 yards and 14 TD.  Davis is strong between the tackles, showing the ability to run behind his pads, has tremendous contact balance and will continue to drive for extra yards.  He also has the lateral agility to make a quick cut to get outside and get down the field before lowering his pads to finish the run.  Davis is also a solid pass catcher out of the backfield, finishing with 94 receptions in his career.  He’s a willing blocker in pass protection but needs to get better to be a true three-down back at the next level.

133.  Buffalo Bills (compensatory selection) – Isaiah Davis, 6’0”, 218lbs, RB, South Dakota State
04/18/24 – Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State

James Cook had his first 1,000-yard season of his two-year career in 2023, but depth at the RB position is a concern as the No. 2 rusher was QB Josh Allen and Latavius Murray, who was third on the list, is no longer on the roster.  Isaiah Davis ended his career as a SDSU Jackrabbit with 4,548 rushing yards and 50 TD while also hauling in 53 passes for another 487 yards and 1 TD.  He’s a powerful back between the tackles with quick feet to avoid defenders in the hole and uses his lower body strength to drive for extra yards.  He’s also a strong pass blocker and has soft hands in the passing game.  Davis’ blend of power and speed would be a nice change of pace in the backfield.

134.  New York Jets (from Baltimore) (compensatory selection) – Malik Mustapha, 5’10”, 209lbs, S, Wake Forest
04/18/24 – Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest

Jordan Whitehead left in free agency, but Chuck Clark was brought in on a one-year deal to replace him opposite Tony Adams, who is also in a contract year after picking off 3 passes in 2023 for the Jets.  The Jets need to consider a safety at this point in the draft to not only add depth but to also prepare for the future.  Mustapha has tremendous range on the back end of the defense and closes quickly on the football, using his 41.5-inch vertical leap to make a play on the ball.  He’s also a physical presence in run support, coming up to deliver a big hit while driving through the ball carrier.  Mustapha ran a respectable 4.52 40 at his Pro Day but has tremendous strength as he’s said to be a 1,300-pound lifter in the bench press, squat and deadlift.  Mustapha filled up the stat sheets in just three seasons with the Demon Deacons, finishing with 175 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 Int, 7 PBU and 4 forced fumbles.  Mustapha is flying under the radar but looks to have starter potential.

135.  San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection) – Tip Reiman, 6’5”, 271lbs, TE, Illinois
04/18/24 – Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan

George Kittle is an All-Pro caliber TE because his game is so well rounded.  I think the Niners need a clearcut TE2 and I think they’ll pull the trigger on this year’s sleeper TE.  Tip Reiman has always been known as a blocker while at Illinois, showing physicality at the point of attack, the ability to sustain blocks and generate movement.  However, Reiman reminded everyone at the Combine that he is a tremendous athlete, running a 4.64 40 while also posting a 1.55 10-yard split, which was the fastest among the TEs, while also putting up 225 pounds 28 times in the bench press.  

2024 NFL Draft: Fourth Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 24, 2024