The 2024 NFL Draft is now not up to per week away, and Colin Cowherd of “The Herd” is revisiting his mock draft predictions for the main 12 picks.
With fresh coaches in dispute and the free-company duration achieved, Cowherd has narrowed down how he thinks subsequent Thursday’s draft will shake out in preserving along with his viewpoint and insight from NFL sources.
Listed below are Cowherd’s picks along with his plump tips — plus odds from FanDuel Sportsbook — starting with the Chicago Bears at No. 1.
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers) — QB Caleb Williams, USC
Odds to trudge No. 1: -20000
Cowherd’s tips: “The correct thing it be crucial to know about this child is 120 touchdowns and 14 picks in three years. He’s a machine. He is the closest thing to [Patrick] Mahomes. There might be nothing I originate now not like about him. He can generally lean into the spectacular. I originate now not care. [The] Bears might maybe likely use some spectacular.”
2. Washington Commanders – QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Odds to trudge No. 2: -110
Cowherd’s tips: “I’ve he works with Kliff Kingsbury. Or now not it is a ways a shaky O-line [and] shaky speed sport. He is an electric runner and a improbable downfield thrower. That is the assorted advantage: Drake Maye played in a lousy conference [whereas] this child played in the SEC, and he is the actual SEC quarterback to possess 40-plus landing passes and 10-plus speeding TDs in a season. Cam Newton played on this conference … Joe Burrow … Matthew Stafford … the Mannings. This child is a sure talent. I’ve he is going to crush it right here. I danger about [him being] a small spindly. [I] wish he became once bigger, but [there are] no excellent avid gamers.”
3. New England Patriots – QB Drake Maye, UNC
Odds to trudge No. 3: +125
Cowherd’s tips: “Or now not it is now not going to be gorgeous. He’ll likely sit unless Thanksgiving on the relieve of Jacoby Brissett. But they had the worst scoring offense in the league. Attain which you can likely possess to trudge 3-13 [or] 3-14? I’d find Drake Maye there. Next 300 and sixty five days’s now not a correct quarterback draft. Also, he led the ACC in passing in relieve-to-relieve years. I’ve which you can likely likely also must find him in-house. Probabilities are you’ll likely likely also find receivers [in the] 2nd, third, fourth [rounds] … but there might be not always going to be Drake Maye in the 2nd, third … or maybe subsequent 300 and sixty five days. … Inconsistency bothers me, but he does behold like Justin Herbert. He’s a enormous, sturdy child that moves.”
4. Arizona Cardinals — WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio Tell
Odds to trudge No. 4: -230
Cowherd’s tips: “They possess a gargantuan quarterback, a operating relieve [and] tight end I love. This might maybe be the actual receiver since DeAndre Hopkins. … He’s the actual college receiver I’ve ever considered. I’ve he’ll be a megastar — Rookie of the Yr candidate. He’s now not as quick as Randy Moss. Again, there are now not any excellent avid gamers in the league. … Ohio Tell became once going to beat Georgia … he got effort … wasn’t the identical personnel, and besides they had C.J. Stroud. Ohio Tell has all 5-megastar receivers, and he stands out above all of them.”
5. Minnesota Vikings (alternate with Los Angeles Chargers) — QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Odds to trudge No. 5: +450
Cowherd’s tips: “[McCarthy] is entering into a furnished house. He would not must play. He can sit on the relieve of Sam Darnold. They’ve the … excellent young left style out, excellent receiver in soccer, high-5 operating relieve, gargantuan No. 2 receiver, high-5 or six or seven tight end and a correct O-line. I originate now not have J.J. McCarthy has a enormous-time arm … [or] a enormous-time NFL body. Does Kirk Cousins? … Take into legend, attributable to you find rid of Cousins’ salary which you can likely likely add objects. So that you simply are going to find generally, I’ve, a Kirk Cousins-level prospect … with out the salary. Probabilities are you’ll likely likely find a possibility of games on this league doing that.”
Colin’s Mock Draft 2.0: Bo Nix to Denver, J.J. McCarthy-Vikings, Rome Odunze to Jets
6. New York Giants — WR Malik Nabers, LSU
Odds to trudge No. 6: +150
Cowherd’s tips: “LSU is a receiver factory. This child is huge-time OBJ explosive. They desire a possibility of stuff now with Saquon Barkley [gone]. Or now not it will doubtless be bumpy. They shall be relieve in the tip 5 or six subsequent 300 and sixty five days, but this child is like jump-off-the-TV quick. When you happen to are at LSU, and you take part in in opposition to Georgia, Bama and all these SEC colleges, and you turn on the TV … and you’re like, ‘Who’s that guy?’ … this child is particular. The Giants, I’ve, were ranked Thirtieth in yards after the earn. So, they find no extra yards. Now, you eradicated your megastar operating relieve … you should yards after the earn, and that’s the reason what he presents.”
7. Tennessee Titans — OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Odds to trudge No. 7: -145
Cowherd’s tips: “Worst offensive line in the league. I originate now not know if Will Levis is going to work, but the actual chance … is that if he is now not on his relieve. I’ve Joe Alt is a in point of fact correct prospect. He isn’t very any Trent Williams … [or] Jonathan Ogden. He’ll originate a few Professional Bowls. The of us I’ve talked to in the league have he is the actual left style out in a correct class. They originate now not have he somewhat has the ceiling of others, but which you can likely likely even possess a sturdy left style out. If Will Levis is going to work, which you can likely likely also must give the child a comely shot. Or now not it is a ways mandatory to retain him comely.”
8. Atlanta Falcons — Edge rusher Dallas Turner, Alabama
Odds to trudge No. 8: +200
Cowherd’s tips: “He became once the actual edge rusher in the SEC, and that’s the reason asserting one thing. He became once the SEC Defensive Participant of the Yr. … Bama does edge rushers in point of fact effectively. [Nick] Saban loves him. He’s now not going to possess as glossy numbers as varied weaker conferences. Probabilities are you’ll likely likely also simply possess NFL offensive tackles in the SEC. He’s a terribly correct participant. I care for Atlanta’s route lawful now. The varied thing they have not had is a double-digit sack guy since like Vic Beasley. Atlanta would not possess a ton of names, and I’ve Atlanta’s going to find that division in a quick time … and it be going to surprise of us.”
9. Chicago Bears — Edge rusher Jared Verse, Florida Tell
Odds to trudge No. 9: +430
Cowherd’s tips: “He had 18 sacks the closing couple of years at Florida Tell. Perchance right here is a attain by 5 or six spots, but … the draft presents you two or three correct edge rushers every 300 and sixty five days, and he is one in all them. I originate now not aquire that they want but another receiver. They possess Keenan Allen, two correct tight ends, nice [running] relieve D’Andre Swift, [and] DJ Moore. Probabilities are you’ll likely likely also very effectively be now not going to find an edge rusher wherever in the draft, if Dallas Turner is long gone, like this child. Montez Sweat … Jaylon Johnson … now they’ve somebody to trudge along with him.”
10. New York Jets — WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Odds to trudge No. 10: +850
Cowherd’s tips: “He’s very former. Ready to play. You find no ego with the child. He’s faithful an main participant. I watched him play live. I seen him play 15 conditions. I faithful have he is a grownup. Excellent routes. Rather Davante Adams. This child is all soccer. No nonsense. Generally speaking, Aaron Rodgers and [Tom] Brady originate now not care for young receivers. But this child is like an former 23 … he is going to rush in and be … an exact expert. And that is what the Jets want.”
11. Los Angeles Chargers (alternate with Minnesota Vikings) — OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon Tell
Odds to be first OL selected: +210
Cowherd’s tips: “He is the Oregon Tell lawful style out. They’ve Rashawn Slater at left style out, [but] he is the actual speed-blocker in the draft. What does Jim Harbaugh want to find? A more speed-dominant Baltimore Raven-like offense to let Herbert throw on play-lope. I became once told by any individual in the NFL, which you can likely likely almost now not secure a single play from his college occupation the build [Fuaga] did not find on speed-blockading assignments. He is the actual speed-blockading style out likely since maybe Tristan Wirfs. Culture is all the things to Harbaugh. This child is a mauler. They might likely possess each tackles and Justin Herbert.”
12. Denver Broncos — QB Bo Nix, Oregon
DEN odds to draft a quarterback: +190
Cowherd’s tips: “Bo Nix works for a possibility of what they deserve to total. Tons of under stuff. Sixty-one college starts; 22-5 with Oregon. Is he going to scramble around plenty? No. There are some Drew Brees qualities. Extremely productive. Very coachable. Huge lawful. [He’s] now not going to speed around … like Brees early in his occupation, but he can scramble. He is an improbable possibility-maker, who at Oregon mostly stayed on script. … I’ve what Sean Payton needs to find is a ball-preserve watch over offense. He souped up the offensive line closing 300 and sixty five days, and he has a operating relieve he likes. I’ve Bo Nix is a match.”
