Late 2023 | [2024 Mock] Bundy's Rough Draft, Vol. 1

[Bundy]

In this way too early mock, we look at the potential picks of the teams selecting with 2024's first 10 picks. 

1. Carolina Panthers (from Indianapolis)

The Panthers still have a long way to go to reach greatness, but the foundation they've built thus far is truly admirable, and they're still reaping the rewards of their trades from seasons past. I would bet massively that they trade out of this pick for future 1sts, with the Jets, Texans, and Falcons as the likeliest of bidders (with extended cost to the Falcons for trading in-division). We know it takes a bit for young QBs to contribute properly, so Panthers might not actually mind trading with Atlanta, in order to send Hiram Maronde to his future home. 

The Colts shipped this pick to Carolina for Rashaan Lyons, who has yet to look close to his potential. They can first hand tell the tale of "risking it all" might not pay off. But Lyons still has time to put it together, which is why I think a team, especially like Atlanta, would feel comfortable moving up.

Unfortunately, I'm not mocking trades at this point, so I have to find a different future Panthstar. 

WR Paul Canha, Alabama

Canha hasn't quite been able to play to his pedigree just yet, but initial scouting shows that he has the makings of a future star in this league. I still believe in Dekoda Link, and the Panthers should too. They traded for Russell Barnes with Chicago last year, but their current next true WR by ability is return specialist Jose Maldonado, along with 2023 #32 overall pick Marco Thompson. Making Don Scott a true TE1 instead of a hybrid receiver, along with adding Canha's speed, could elevate this team from "competing for the lowly NFCS title", to competing into the Divisional and Conference Rounds within the next 1-2 seasons. 

2. Miami Dolphins (from San Francisco)

The Dolphins landed this pick by trading out of the teens last year, where the Niners took Tulane stud Fernando Thomas, who underwhelmed as a rookie due to atrocious QB play. If the Panthers for some reason don't trade out of #1, the Dolphins most certainly will trade #2 to someone who wants to jump the Jets for Maronde. I think Detroit could join the suitors if Mironde truly falls to #2, reuniting @Jmjacobs with his elite collegiate talent. 

Again, no trades in this mock yet, so Miami goes instead with a position they missed out on last year. Defensive tackle was absolutely filthily loaded in 2023, and the Dolphins have a roster littered with middling veteran lower 60s overall DTs. 

DT Logan Lopez, Houston

Lopez beat up on the conference as Houston joined the Big 12, and with the Bills rocking Yusei and the Jets looking for their QB of the future, adding an interior do-it-all all-star is a safe, sure thing. 

3. New York Jets

The Jets rush to turn their card in, grabbing

QB Hiram Mironde, UCLA

as fast as possible. I think the Jets are more than a QB away from competing, but unless they go after Washington QB Jose Padilla, or Giants QB Jan Miles, I think its a safer bet for them to take Mironde and build around him than to chase a vet from a different team. 

4. New York Giants

The Giants could be a darkhorse in the Mironde chase, but I think they end up trying to bring back either Miles or Padilla and focus their draft elsewhere. Wilfredo Joseph was obviously not the option in current scheming, but with a roster lacking young and long-term talent on offense, I think the big play is to find offensive weapons. 

RB Clayton McGee, Florida State

If there's one position that can show up from day one, it's RB. McGee surprisingly declared early for the draft, but unsurprisingly is a top tier player out of the gate. Current RBs Joseph Cale (5YE, 74) and Paul Mcguire (8, 56) are set to hit free agency, and rather than pay top dollar to an already peaked running back, they can build for the future with a veteran QB on a bridge deal, a chance for Wilfredo to develop into something a year after being the 51st overall pick, and give the Giants a RB to be reckoned with for at least 4-5 years.

5. Carolina Panthers

Panthers are picking Top 5 here again, so no need to say much about them. Vikings castoff Michael Naccarrato was their star linebacker this season (which doesn't say much talent wise), and rookie ILBs showed they can play early last year, so it makes logical sense for them to switch their gaze to defense with this pick.

ILB Kenny Daniel, Wake Forest

In a division the Buccaneers won by running the ball a lot, and with the Falcons who also want to involved Devonta Doyle into the ground game a lot, nabbing the top Run Stopper is just logical. Daniel gets to play pro ball not far from where he played college ball, and local fans hungry for more than "potential" now have a local name to follow.

6. New Orleans Saints

The Saints feel like the most forgotten NFCS team to me. They could be in play for landing Clayton McGee, but I'm going to go with potentially my first "shocking" pick, and with good reason.

SS Garrett Smith, Baylor

Smith has shown he can be a dominant box safety, with a name known around the nation. The Saints don't currently need a strong safety, with 81 overall Daryl Lee signed through 2025, but Smith could plug in at OLB in base defenses, has coverage ability to work in at nickel back, and in general, the defense beyond the DL is getting older. Smith can play all over while he's young, and then could be primed to drop back to a more natural SS spot once Lee's contract is up. Right now, the Saints need household names that strike fear into opponents, and he is certainly that and more.

7. Houston Texans

Jerome Morrison is young but hasn't looked good. which is why I think the Texans front office could be big on looking into a move for Mironde. Their offensive line is extremely young, which only makes Ryan Johnson's successes more impressive, but their defensive line depth seems to be in the same boat, and it makes it hard to say "we're going to draft a non-sexy OT or DT" at this pick when those aren't necessarily the teams' biggest needs. 

WR Logan Njoku, Kentucky

The Texans also have a young receiving corps, but they don't have a true star who can challenge opposing defensive backs. Njoku at the least gives them a respectable option who could help take pressure off of John Fernandez, and the duo could one day be a legitimate threat down the line.

8. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta's QBs were young last year but looked terrible, but they miss out on Mironde, Canha, and Njoku in this mock. It's likely too early to grab USC WR Trevor Wood at this point in draft season, but they could have used another young talent to pair with last year's Richie Igwebuke. With Carolina making offensive moves thus far, Atlanta counters by taking top cornerback 

CB Rashard Hilliard, Georgia State

who gets to stay in Georgia. Hilliard excels in Man, which is a scheme mismatch from CB1 Gregory Williams, but with Carolina being such an offensive nightmare on the horizon, the Falcons can match Hilliard with current 2YE CBs Adonis President and Nathan McKinney to have at least some sort of coverage for the Don Scotts and Paul Canhas of the NFCS. 

9. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle and Toucan picked 1st overall last year, taking stud Alejandro Rua with 2023's premier pick. Kemoko Allard looked competent as a mid round rookie QB, so I think he gets another year as QB1, especially with Seattle not wanting to move up the capital for #1 again. I know I just said Trevor Wood might be a reach at #8, but he could be a legitimate fit with the Seahawks, who have a bunch of aging WRs to go with 2023 4th rounder Austin Duvernay-Tardif. Instead, Seattle sets Rua up for success with a bookend DE,

DE Whit Wilson, Oklahoma State

who also went to school with ADT. Wilson wasn't someone who caused chaos throughout his collegiate career, seeing non-existent playing time in 2021, and posting just 2.5 sacks in 2022. But his athletic prowess is off the charts, and with the Rams having an elite passing attack, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to stock up on premium defensive linemen to make Philip Avila's life a little bit harder. Seattle only got 7.0 and 6.0 sacks out of their starting DEs last year, and neither of them is inspiring long-term.

10. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers have quietly slipped into obscurity, and haven't offered any extensions that I've seen, so I'm not sure how active their FO has been/will be in early offseason. The team lacks a rushing identity, but still has veteran QB Miguel Aguilera, so adding a threat for both their ground game and receiving room is a priority. They can knock both out with this single pick

RB Richard Bianchi, Hawaii

In this mock, a LOT of defensive tackles are falling through the board, but this draft seems a lot sexier at the top in terms of position diversity than last years. Bianchi might not be known to everyone just yet, but as an A+ caliber prospect, grabbing a skill player at #10 is massive.