2024 Rookie Mock Draft 2.0
With the NFL Combine finished, it's time for Bobby to revisit his rookie mock draft.
With the NFL Combine just behind us but still fresh on our minds, I wanted to update what the production in Indy did to these players in the mock. Free agency has also created some clarity around where these rookies could land. While we are all still waiting for the NFL Draft to help us out, we have more data points to help us see these players’ values more clearly. With that in mind, let’s fire up Mock 2.0.
1.01: Marvin Harrison Jr. // Ohio State // WR
Prev: 1.01
Even though I’d like to embrace the chaos and take Malik Nabers here, I just can’t do it. Every time I go to put Nabers at 1.01, I go back and watch Harrison tape and then need help getting my jaw off the floor. There is nothing more I can say about Harrison. He looks special. I feel confident saying he is landing spot-proof. Even in a poor New England offense, for example, he will see plenty of targets.
1.02: Malik Nabers // LSU // WR
Prev: 1.02
If Harrison is the Corvette in this draft, Nabers is a sleek Porsche. Nabers has the speed and swagger to make defenders look lost in space. I mean, seriously, some of his tape is comical. Nabers looks like he is primed to land somewhere special like the Chargers, who are now seemingly vacant at WR with the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. It is going to be difficult to show restraint and not draft a Nabers at 1.01 if he finds himself catching balls from Justin Herbert.
1.03: Rome Odunze // Washington // WR
Prev: 1.05
I might have been wrong about Odunze. I think the problem watching his tape might not have been his abilities, but his quarterbacks. With a RAS of 9.91, Odunze’s athleticism was on show during the Combine. We all saw Odunze taking multiple shots at hitting the 3-cone number he had in his head. Going back and rewatching his 2023 tape, Odunze’s abilities are top-notch. I have him locked in here at 3.
1.04: Brian Thomas Jr. // LSU // WR
Prev: 1.03
It's no wonder that so many scouts are into Jayden Daniels — look at who he had to throw the ball to! While I see Harrison and Nabers as 1A and 1B, I also see Odunze and Thomas as 2A and 2B. I love everything that Thomas has to offer.
The Combine also did wonders for Thomas as he ran a 4.34 40 and finished the day with a 9.97 RAS. He did this at 6’3” and 209 pounds. His gauntlet was smooth and his routes were crisp. I am eyeing Jacksonville in the mid-1st as a landing spot to replace the recently departed Calvin Ridley. Gabe Davis managers beware.
1.05: Xavier Worthy // Texas // WR
Prev: 1.08
The fantasy community is skeptical about wide receivers who are lighting fast, but here’s something Worthy has that guys like Jalen Reagor, John Ross, and Henry Ruggs did not: college production. If the 4.21 wasn’t impressive enough, how about in three years of production at Texas, Worthy put up 197 receptions, 2,755 yards, and 26 TDs? He has 12 TDs his freshman year! I get the skepticism as we’ve been bit over the years by quick receivers, but Worthy feels different. I think NFL GMs know that, too.
1.06: Adonai Mitchell // Texas // WR
Prev: 2.02
Yes, Brian Thomas Jr.’s 9.97 RAS was impressive. But how about a 9.98 for Mitchell? Pairing a 4.34 40, a 39.5” vertical, and an 11’4” broad jump with a 6’2,” 205-pound frame is dangerous. The only negative for Mitchell is that he disappeared in some games while blowing up in others. Will he be boom/bust in the NFL, too?
1.07: Xavier Legette // South Carolina // WR
Prev: 2.04
Legette came in shorter than we thought, but I don’t see that as a big deal. His frame and skillset were on display at Indy. His 40” vertical and his 4.39 40 were just the numbers we needed to see to raise him up the draft board. His college production is a bit eyebrow-raising as he did little to nothing before his senior year when he posted 71 receptions, 1,255 yards, and 7 TDs. I have heard all about his past and the things he has been through. I am in love with Legette and I think some GMs will be too.
1.08: Trey Benson // Florida St. // RB
Prev: 1.09
Benson has all the traits we are looking for in a 3-down back. He only solidified this in his testing at the Combine, posting a 4.39 40 and a 10’2” broad jump. Will the NFL pass on the first running back off the board this year until the late 2nd round or maybe even the 3rd? If free agency was any indication, that might be the case, but I am going to bet that some smart organization snatches Benson up in the 2nd.
1.09: Brock Bowers // Georgia // TE
Prev: 1.06
Is this too low for Bowers? Maybe, but I’m OK with being wrong on this one. I see the talent and the production here with Bowers. I am just worried about ancillary pieces to his game. He isn’t a great run blocker, I don’t think he is the biggest tight end, and I think he may have hurt himself by not testing at the Combine. Do I still think he will be drafted high? Yes. Am I worried about taking a round-one tight end in my rookie draft? Also, yes. I bet the Kyle Pitts manager would agree.
1.10: Keon Coleman // Florida St. // WR
Prev: 1.04
The Combine isn’t everything, especially for a wide receiver, but it is difficult to look at Coleman’s 4.61 40 and not be a little disappointed. He did run it at 6’3” and 213 pounds, so that makes it a bit more understandable. Coleman is one of those types that I feel just plays faster in pads. A lot of managers are going to be turned off by Coleman’s 40 time but I would use that as ammunition to scoop him up later in drafts. He did have the fastest MPH in the gauntlet drill and looked impressive doing so. His body makeup is just different. I like him here at the end of the first.
1.11: Jonathan Brooks // Texas // RB
Prev: Unranked
Do you have time to wait? Great, then Brooks could be the RB for you. His December injury is going to have some managers on edge when drafting him worrying that they are missing out on another wide receiver. But, if you could sculpt the perfect running back, Brooks might be it. Yes, Brooks is likely to be a 3rd-round NFL Draft pick and that is OK because it’s mainly due to his injury. We can’t take him much earlier in the 1st because of the risk, but here at the back of the 1st, I like the upside.
1.12: Ladd McConkey // Georgia // WR
Prev: 1.10
I just finished watching some McConkey workout tape. My analysis: fast feet and soft hands. His change of direction and sudden movements might be the best in the class. McConkey has done everything he needed to do this offseason: impress at the Senior Bowl, Combine, and now his pro day. I’m giddy at this guy’s potential.
2.01: Jaylen Wright // Tennessee // RB
Prev: Unranked
Wright opened some eyes at the Combine and has now entered the top 5 RB category for me. He has big play ability and breakaway speed are unlike almost anyone in the class. With 4.38 40 speed in a 5’10,” 210-pound frame, he could become a dude real quick in dynasty. He is starting to check a lot of boxes for me.
2.02: Caleb Williams // USC // QB
Prev: 1.11
With Justin Fields traded, Caleb Williams looks like a lock in the Windy City. He’ll have a dynamic group of playmakers surrounding him: Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift. And Chicago could still grab another playmaking WR in the 1st round at #9 overall. Williams will have the ability to showcase that incredible arm and scrambling ability from Week 1. He feels right here in the 2nd round.
2.03: Malachi Corley // WKU // WR
Prev: 1.12
Call it hometown bias if you must but I still like the upside that Corley offers us fantasy managers. His YAC and the ability for him to catch the ball around the line of scrimmage give him a dynamic skill set for an offensive coordinator.
2.04: Jayden Daniels // LSU // QB
Prev: 2.01
Have you seen Jayden Daniels’ running style compared to Johnny Knoxville yet? (Hat tip Nate for that one.) Daniels opens himself up to getting hurt but I love the rushing upside he carries. Was he elevated at LSU because he was throwing to two of the top four receivers in this draft? It’s possible, but his athleticism gives him a safe floor.
2.05: Drake Maye // UNC // QB
Prev: Unranked
Speaking of Nate Tice, he’s had Maye as his QB1 for a while and I can see why. His accuracy is spot on. With the potential landing spot of the Washington Commanders, pairing him with Dotson and McLaurin could prove beneficial for them both. I lean more toward the thought that Maye is a massive hit than a miss.
2.06: Troy Franklin // Oregon // WR
Prev: 1.07
I can still see Franklin weaving through that horrible gauntlet drill. Is that going to affect the way GMs value Franklin? I could see Franklin as the faller of the bunch. His Oregon tape is still really good, but I am a bit worried about drafting him.
2.07: Dallas Turner // Alabama // EDGE
Prev: 2.03
Turner dominated in Indy. Running a 4.47 40 at 6’2” and 247 pounds was nothing short of impressive. That was enough but then Turner went and jumped out of the building putting up a 40.5” vertical. I have to believe Turner helped his draft stock a ton. I can’t wait to see which NFL franchise snatches up this athletic specimen.
2.08: Jared Verse // Florida State // EDGE
Prev: 2.05
Verse was not to be outdone by Turner as he put up a lot of impressive numbers himself. At 6’3” and 254 pounds, I didn’t think running a 4.49 40 was in the cards. I would’ve liked a faster 3 cone, but his 10’7” broad jump makes up for it a bit. It will be interesting to see if Verse or Turner will be the first IDP off the board.
2.09: Ricky Pearsall // Florida // WR
Prev: Unranked
Pearsall has had a small rise since Mock 1.0. The Combine helped his case, as Pearsall ran a 4.41 40, had a 42” vertical, and a 10’9” broad jump. Pearsall is a polished route runner with great hands. He is going to be a great value as he falls in drafts.
2.10: Payton Wilson // NC State // LB
Prev: Unranked
You could barely see Wilson running his 40 as his 6’4,” 233-pound frame flew by in 4.43 seconds. He looked fluid in drills and hearing that he is talking to Luke Keuchly helps his value. Wilson feels like a lock at LB and I feel confident about him hitting in year one, which is something we haven’t seen from a rookie linebacker in a while.
2.11: Tahj Washington // USC // WR
Prev: 2.07
There is just something about Washington that I like. He is one of the undersized receivers in this class but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Guys like Tank Dell, Josh Downs, and even DeVonta Smith have shown us in recent years that there is a place for these smaller receivers. If I am going to swing on a guy in the 2nd that I like, it is going to be a guy who can create separation. Washington can do that.
2.12: Edgerrin Cooper // Texas A&M // LB
Prev: 2.12
Cooper checked all the boxes for us at the Combine: 4.52 40, check. Look buttery smooth in drills, check. Now we need the prime draft capital and landing spot and I am completely head over heels. Cooper possesses those prototypical linebacker traits that we are longing for in our IDPs. A day-two landing spot to an LB-needy team could even have him jumping Payton Wilson in ADP (and in my heart).
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