Lance's 2024 Acting GM Mock Draft

In case you've caught one of my "Acting GM" mocks in the past, this isn't like those ones. In this one I wanted to take four teams, play their GM, and make their picks through the first three rounds. But in order to do that I needed a way to "auto-draft" for the remaining 28 teams. So what I did was I looked at 9 mock drafts, 4 of which were multi-round mocks. And then used the consensus on what position to pick for each of the other teams, and a general consensus on what pick range each player was going in to slot a player into those picks. For example, all 9 mock drafts had the Bears taking a QB at 1, and all 9 mock drafts had Caleb Williams going first overall. So, I wasn't allowed to say, "well I like Williams at 2 for Washington, so I'll just give Chicago Drake Maye instead." The mock is below. The four teams I selected were Minnesota (my favorite team), Jacksonville (my wife's favorite team), New Orleans (Bryar's favorite team), and Washington because they were tied for the most picks in the first three rounds and I wanted to have some fun. You will only see an analysis written for each of those team's picks. Oh, and also, no trades because there isn't a counterpart to keep me in check.

ROUND 1

1) Chicago Bears (via Carolina): QB Caleb Williams (USC)

2) Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)

I haven't put my draft boards out yet (the first position will go up either Sunday or Monday), so spoiler alert, Maye is my #1 rated QB. I know a lot of people believe Daniels is the better fit for Kingsbury because of his time in Arizona with Kyler Murray, but they're forgetting that he coached players like Davis Webb and Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech (not to mention he worked with Caleb Williams at USC last season). Mobility is useful in his system, but he doesn't need a world class sprinter for his offense to work.

3) New England Patriots: QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)

4) Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)

5) Los Angeles Chargers: WR Malik Nabers (LSU)

6) New York Giants: WR Rome Odunze (Washington)

7) Tennessee Titans: OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)

8) Atlanta Falcons: Edge Dallas Turner (Alabama)

9) Chicago Bears: Edge Jared Verse (Florida State)

10) New York Jets: TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)

11) Minnesota Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)

I know I didn't include trades in this, but even if I had I would stick and pick here (unless Maye was still available at 3 and the Pats were willing to trade down). Maybe we miss out on McCarthy in doing so, but the needs are many and Penix would be a solid consolation prize. Also, McCarthy over Penix because of Penix's injury history.

12) Denver Broncos: QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)

13) Las Vegas Raiders: OT Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State)

14) New Orleans Saints: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State)

Another spoiler for a soon to be released draft board, my top three Tackles are Alt, Fuaga and Fashanu in that order. Tackle is a major need for the Saints right now, so this is a no-brainer for me. Even if Fuaga slid to here I would still go Fashanu. He figures to be the better fit at Left Tackle and maybe a move to the right side would help get Penning going in the right direction (that's provided Ramczyk really isn't able to play).

15) Indianapolis Colts: CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo)

16) Seattle Seahawks: OG Troy Fautanu (Washington)

17) Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama)

New Defensive Coordinator has brought in a new scheme and that's led to a lot of turnover at Corner. Arnold is my #2 Corner, but based on the projected draft ranges, it would be a smarter move to take Arnold over my #1 here (plus he fits the new DC's scheme better).

18) Cincinnati Bengals: OT JC Latham (Alabama)

19) Los Angeles Rams: DL Byron Murphy II (Texas)

20) Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)

21) Miami Dolphins: OG Graham Barton (Duke)

22) Philadelphia Eagles: CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson)

23) Minnesota Vikings (via Houston/Cleveland): Edge Laiatu Latu (UCLA)

A gift! Latu is my #1 Edge Rusher, but prior to doing this I didn't think he would actually slide this far (I was fully prepared to go Corner). The events that led to this slide were: OT being the favored position for Cincy over DL, which allowed Murphy to slide to the Rams who they took over Latu. I'd be absolutely thrilled if the draft worked out this way for the Vikings.

24) Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)

25) Green Bay Packers: CB Cooper DeJean (Iowa)

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Chop Robinson (Penn State)

27) Arizona Cardinals (via Houston): CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)

28) Buffalo Bills: WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)

29) Detroit Lions: CB Kamari Lassiter (Georgia)

30) Baltimore Ravens: OT Jordan Morgan (Arizona)

31) San Francisco 49ers: OT Patrick Paul (Houston)

32) Kansas City Chiefs: WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas)

ROUND 2

33) Carolina Panthers: WR Xavier Worthy (Texas)

34) New England Patriots: WR Troy Franklin (Oregon)

35) Arizona Cardinals: OG Brandon Coleman (TCU)

36) Washington Commanders: WR Xavier Legette (South Carolina)

McLaurin is a stud, the verdict is still out on Dotson, Curtis Samuel is gone and your depth isn't really scaring anyone. Kingsbury's offense requires Receiving options, and I have a first round grade on Legette.

37) Los Angeles Chargers: OT Kingsley Suamataia (BYU)

38) Tennessee Titans: WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia)

39) Carolina Panthers (via NY Giants): CB Ennis Rakestraw (Missouri)

40) Washington Commanders (via Chicago): CB Khyree Jackson (Oregon)

Jackson is my #1 Corner. The draft range for him was late second to early third. Our next pick is #67. No guarantee he'd still be there, so I jump at the chance to land him here to work on solidifying an area of need.

41) Green Bay Packers (via NY Jets): S Tyler Nubin (Minnesota)

42) Houston Texans (via Minnesota): DL Jer'Zhan Newton (Illinois)

43) Atlanta Falcons: CB T.J. Tampa (Iowa State)

44) Las Vegas Raiders: QB Bo Nix (Oregon)

45) New Orleans Saints (via Denver): DL Braden Fiske (Florida State)

I was going between an interior Defensive Lineman and an Offensive Guard here. Fiske was the better value based on projections and my board, so I went that route. He'd pair really nicely with last year's first round pick, Bryan Bresee, on the inside of their D-Line.

46) Indianapolis Colts: WR Keon Coleman (Florida State)

47) New York Giants (via Seattle): OT Roger Rosengarten (Washington)

48) Jacksonville Jaguars: DL Kris Jenkins (Michigan)

Not their biggest need at this point, in my opinion, but the best player available at a position of need. Jenkins would give their defensive front a boost, especially if there's anything still lingering for DaVon Hamilton.

49) Cincinnati Bengals: DL Darius Robinson (Missouri)

50) Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans): C Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)

51) Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Jermaine Burton (Alabama)

52) Los Angeles Rams: Edge Chris Braswell (Alabama)

53) Philadelphia Eagles: S Javon Bullard (Georgia)

54) Cleveland Browns: Edge Marshawn Kneeland (Western Michigan)

55) Miami Dolphins: DL Michael Hall Jr. (Ohio State)

56) Dallas Cowboys: RB Jonathon Brooks (Texas)

57) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Max Melton (Rutgers)

58) Green Bay Packers: LB Payton Wilson (North Carolina State)

59) Houston Texans: OT Kiran Amegadjie (Yale)

60) Buffalo Bills: DL T'Vondre Sweat (Texas)

61) Detroit Lions: OG Christian Haynes (UCONN)

62) Baltimore Ravens: WR Roman Wilson (Michigan)

63) San Francisco 49ers: DL Maason Smith (LSU)

64) Kansas City Chiefs: OG Zak Zinter (Michigan)

ROUND 3

65) Carolina Panthers: CB Cam Hart (Notre Dame)

66) Arizona Cardinals: WR Ricky Pearsall (Florida)

67) Washington Commanders: Edge Austin Booker (Kansas)

They added several options through free agency that will be way better options than what they ran with after trading away Young and Sweat last season. They could still use more bodies to try and, at the very least, gives themselves a talented rotation. I'm high on Booker, I could see him turning into a full-time starter in a year or two.

68) New England Patriots: IOL Cooper Beebe (Kansas State)

69) Los Angeles Chargers: RB Blake Corum (Michigan)

70) New York Giants: LB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M)

71) Arizona Cardinals (via Tennessee): CB Mike Sainristil (Michigan)

72) New York Jets: WR Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky)

73) Detroit Lions (via Minnesota): Edge Jonah Elliss (Utah)

74) Atlanta Falcons: OG Layden Robinson (Texas A&M)

75) Chicago Bears: DL Ruke Orhorhoro (Clemson)

76) Denver Broncos: WR Johnny Wilson (Florida State)

77) Las Vegas Raiders: CB Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri)

78) Washington Commanders: OT Javon Foster (Missouri)

A reach by the mock draft's standards, but I'm pretty high on Foster. Beyond the three tackles that earned first round grades on my board, he's the next highest. With Charles Leno gone, Foster gives them an extra body to compete for the starting Left Tackle spot.

79) Atlanta Falcons (via Jacksonville): WR Tez Walker (North Carolina)

80) Cincinnati Bengals: RB Trey Benson (Florida State)

81) Seattle Seahawks (via New Orleans): C Zach Frazier (West Virginia)

82) Indianapolis Colts: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (Texas)

83) Los Angeles Rams: CB Jarrian Jones (Florida State)

84) Pittsburgh Steelers: S Kamren Kinchens (Miami)

85) Cleveland Browns: OT Matt Goncalves (Pittsburgh)

86) Houston Texans: RB Jaylen Wright (Tennessee)

87) Dallas Cowboys: LB Junior Colson (Michigan)

88) Green Bay Packers: RB Bucky Irving (Oregon)

89) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Clemson)

90) Arizona Cardinals (via Houston): Edge Adisa Isaac (Penn State)

91) Green Bay Packers (via Buffalo): OT Julian Pearl (Illinois)

92) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Detroit): C Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin)

93) Baltimore Ravens: CB Chau Smith-Wade (Washington State)

94) San Francisco 49ers: Edge Bralen Trice (Washington)

95) Kansas City Chiefs: CB Johnny Dixon (Penn State)

96) Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Tylan Grable (UCF)

Grable rounds out my top five at Tackle. By my numbers, Jacksonville has the worst starting pair of Tackles in the league. Anton Harrison was a rookie last year, so there's plenty of room for growth there, but Cam Robinson should've been cut heading into the offseason. Grable would provide more competition for the Jags this preseason, and given how last year went they should strongly consider making both Tackle spots an open competition.

97) Cincinnati Bengals: OG Dominick Puni (Kansas)

98) Pittsburgh Steelers (via Philadelphia): C Sedrick Van Pran (Georgia)

99) Los Angeles Rams: S Jaden Hicks (Washington State)

100) Washington Commanders (via San Francisco): OG Mason McCormick (South Dakota State)

Sam Cosmi was a solid Tackle, but his move inside to Guard really helped him shine last year. I'm definitely not suggesting moving him back out to Tackle. But the other Guard spot needs fixing. They signed Nick Allegretti in free agency, but competition breeds excellence, and McCormick, my #1 Guard, can provide that competition.