Monday Mocks: 2024 Landing Spots
Welcome to Monday Mocks, where I’ll bring you…you guessed it, a new mock draft every Monday during the off-season. In my opinion, drafting is the best part of fantasy football, so I do as much of that as I can. This series will be filled with all types of mocks. We’ll draft startups, rookies, devys, and more.
The countdown continues as we are now less than two weeks away from the 2024 NFL Draft. Much of the analysis throughout the past several months has been focused on individual players. As most would admit though, two of the most crucial data points in studying and projecting the outlook for these players comes on draft weekend – draft capital and landing spot.
Landing spot is a difficult piece to consider as there are so many layers to what makes up a “good” landing spot. Opportunity is obviously important, so a crowded depth chart would be imposing. The quality of the overall team and offense matters as well. Of course, landing spots will ultimately be revealed in 10 days, but we should all be prepared for what happens that weekend. One way to do that is to identify the ideal landing spots for the players we are hoping to acquire in rookie drafts.
In this mock, I “drafted” the landing spots that could be most beneficial for the players we care about. Whether your NFL Draft weekend is focused on Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. or Brock Bowers, these are the landing spots that could give incoming rookies a value boost come superflex dynasty rookie drafts.
ROUND ONE:
1.01 Chicago Bears QB
Okay, this one is cheating a little. We already know with near certainty that the Bears will be using their top overall pick on USC’s Caleb Williams. We are also quite sure that Williams will be the overwhelming favorite to be the top pick in most superflex rookie drafts. It has been a popular opinion leading up to the NFL Draft that Williams will have the best initial supporting cast of any top overall quarterback pick. That includes weapons like DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, along with a new offensive coordinator.
1.02 Minnesota Vikings QB
The Vikings are not in the same position as their division-foe Chicago, but still have a pressing need at the quarterback position. With Kirk Cousins gone, the Vikes signed Sam Darnold, but no one seems to view him as a long-term option, understandably so. Minnesota has made some pre-draft moves, hinting at a possible trade up for a quarterback. Like Chicago, the Vikings have strong pass-catchers that could make for an easy transition for any rookie signal caller. If the Vikings select Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, as has been rumored, it would be interesting to see if he could overtake Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels in rookie drafts.
1.03 Buffalo Bills WR
The Bills finally made the big move recently, dealing away disgruntled receiver Stefon Diggs. While the veteran had clearly lost a step, the trade leaves Buffalo with a major gap in their receiver depth chart. With Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir currently slotted as the top two pass catchers, this team needs a WR1. The Bills own the 28th overall pick and there should be a few options available for them, including Adonai Mitchell and Ladd McConkey. The rookie receiver that does land in Buffalo will certainly see a value bump in rookie drafts.
