2024 1QB Rookie Mock Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft is a day away! Before we know it, our favorite prospects will be finding their new homes. For fantasy football, this is such an exciting time of the year because this changes how we as fantasy managers see many of our viewpoints about certain players and certain rosters in the NFL for fantasy purposes.
Let’s look at how your rookie drafts might play out if they were done right now, before the draft brings the changes.
Round One
1.01: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR Ohio State
For a one-quarterback league, Harrison Jr should be the first pick at the 1.01 spot. He is commonly drafted here according to DLF’s ADP tool, and I would rank him here as well. Not only is he the son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison, but he has also made a name for himself as one of the best wide receiver prospects we have seen over the last decade. He stands at six feet, four inches, 209 pounds, and can do pretty much anything you want him to do as an outside wide receiver. He has blazing speed and can beat defenders downfield, he can make contested catches, he runs every route with elite footwork and he is extremely smooth in and out of his breaks.
One criticism that can be made about Harrison is his lack of versatility. During Ohio State’s regular season this past year, he ran only 19.4% of his routes from the slot, compared to 14.1% the previous year, as reported by Pro Football Focus. He can play in the slot, but he was mostly subjected to an outside role throughout his college career. NFL teams like that versatility, which is why it is understandable to me if Malik Nabers is ranked higher for some in their rankings. Overall though, due to what he has shown he is still my WR1.
1.02: Malik Nabers, WR LSU
Nabers is an excellent second-place prize for those who miss out on the Ohio State superstar. Nabers is a big strong powerful wide receiver standing at six feet, 200 pounds, and he can seriously do it all. He is an exceptional route runner and possesses a great level of explosiveness both off the line and in and out of his breaks, as well as in open spaces. He is versatile and can play in both the inside and outside positions, making him a valuable asset to any team in any situation. Not only can he line up from everywhere, but he was also number one in PFF’s receiving grade both against man and zone among the wide receivers in this class to receive at least 30 targets.
While I prefer Harrison to Nabers, he is an excellent prospect who will likely go inside the top six picks in the NFL Draft and potentially be a superstar in this league from the get-go. When watching him play he seriously reminds me of Ja’Marr Chase, who ironically went to the same school as Nabers.
1.03: Rome Odunze, WR Washington
If you miss out on Marvin Harrison Jr, get Malik Nabers. If you miss out on Nabers, get Rome Odunze – an excellent prospect who could be the best wide receiver in plenty of draft classes. He is the third player taken on DLF ADP, I am in line with that.
The wide receiver from Washington is an imposing figure, standing at 6’3″ and weighing 212 pounds. Although he can be inconsistent at times, he possesses the ability to run polished routes with quick footwork, which can throw off defenders. He is a player who is always hungry for the ball. His game involves stretching the field, making contested catches, and racking up yards after the catch. It would be surprising if he did not get selected in the top fifteen of the draft, and he will likely be picked in the top ten.
1.04: Brock Bowers, TE Georgia
This is where things get interesting. Both DLF and I rank Bowers as the fourth-best player in a rookie draft, which sparks controversy. He is a player whose ranking fluctuates often from site to site.
The talent he has is quite evident. His athleticism and size along with a smart, aggressive blocking style catapult him into the conversation of being one of the best tight end prospects we have ever seen. The argument against him is the pretty grim history of tight ends. The hit rate of these players coming out of the draft is low compared to many other positions in the NFL, and many do not believe that at the 1.04 he would be worth that risk. They will bring up Kyle Pitts, who so far for fantasy has been disappointing after being the fourth overall pick in his draft. However, I would debate that Bowers is one of the best tight-end prospects we have ever seen and is set up to be a major outlier. Also, Pitts had a great rookie season with over 1,000 yards. The only thing that held him back from taking the next step was horrible quarterback play, injuries, and every fantasy manager’s worst nightmare, Arthur Smith. There is still plenty of hope for him to have a breakout season with his body in shape and Kirk Cousins as his quarterback.
Overall, Bowers is someone you have to plant your flag on. I am willing to shoot my shot at getting the next potential Travis Kelce even with the risk he holds because if the pick hits, he will be beyond worth it due to the advantage he will give you at a shallow position.
1.05: Xavier Worthy, WR Texas
Worthy is a fantastic wide receiver prospect and he is my clear-cut fourth-best wide receiver in this class. While the DLF ADP tool has him at pick six, I think he is worthy (pun intended) of a higher ranking than that.
His blazing 4.21-second 40-yard dash has led to him being touted as the next John Ross by some. However, to be quite frank, that is an incredibly unwise assumption. Worthy possesses much more than just speed. He is an excellent route runner with the ability to win in every area of the field. Not only is he fast, but his hip fluidity while running routes is beyond elite. He can smoothly break in and out of routes, constantly making defenders look silly.
His 165-pound frame is another worry that fantasy managers have. While it does limit him in some areas, NFL coaches are starting to use these smaller players more and more effectively, and I am sure whoever drafts Worthy has a special plan for him. He proved he can be a number one wide receiver for an NFL offense and I am quite excited to see which team picks him up.
1.06: Caleb Williams, QB USC
We are in a one-quarterback draft with this rookie mock, but Williams is deserving of being near the top of the first round. The prospect fatigue is real with Williams as many are trying to poke holes in his game, but I do not see why. He is easily one of the best quarterback prospects we have seen in a while and he provides so much potential as a prospect due to his elite passing across all areas of the field and his running ability. While he does not provide Jayden Daniels levels of rushing power, he takes off when he needs to and is plenty athletic to dish out three to four hundred rushing yards every season with the upside for more.
On top of that, most number-one overall picks do not get thrown into a good situation, just think about Bryce Young last season. Caleb Williams will have the loaded Bears offense in front of him featuring Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, D’Andre Swift, and a pair of athletic tight ends in Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. He could take off from day one and bloom into a fantastic quarterback who dominates dynasty fantasy football for years to come.
1.07: Brian Thomas Jr, WR LSU
Next to Malik Nabers, we have another potentially great wide receiver coming out of LSU. Thomas is an intriguing prospect in this loaded wide receiver class, but compared to DLF, I am a little lower than the consensus on him having him at seven instead of five.
Thomas is a physical specimen standing at six foot, three inches, 209 pounds, but running a 4.33 forty-yard dash. That athleticism is a blessing, and Thomas uses it well. He put up 60 receptions, 1,079 yards, and 15 touchdowns in LSU’s regular season with Jayden Daniels as his quarterback. He has some issues with his footwork and his route running, and he also uses his body to catch way too often as well. However, with development, this kid could become something special. In the middle of your rookie drafts, he is worth the shot, but I, unlike a lot of people, would personally rather have Worthy, Bowers, and Williams instead.
1.08: Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas
Worthy is not the only intriguing wide receiver prospect we have from Texas, as we also have Mitchell, who, much like Brian Thomas, is a very tall and athletic player. However, Mitchell proves to struggle to track the football and his route running is not exceptional. But, his athleticism is something that can take him far in the game.
However, unlike Thomas, Mitchell does not use that blessing enough. He gives up on routes and gives up on tracking deep balls often. He also lacks effort when run blocking and he barely breaks tackles. Under the right coaching staff, this could change, but if he wants success in the big leagues he has to have a different mindset. Right now he has the talent because he can make amazing plays and be a wide receiver one, but the effort he puts in has held him back.
Since he is projected to be a late first-round pick, there are a few extremely intriguing teams waiting there to pick a wide receiver like Buffalo, Kansas City, and even Jacksonville if you want to think a little earlier.
1.09: Drake Maye, QB North Carolina
Here comes a second first-round quarterback with Drake Maye! This ranking is extremely high when comparing it to the DLF site, which has him down in the twenties in ADP. Drake has a big prototypical quarterback build and he is overall all around a very good passer. He has a huge arm and can deliver the ball with accuracy across the field well. The only major concern is his inconsistent and elongated decision-making, but he is extremely young and can learn under the right coaching staff and develop nicely into an impact player in the big leagues.
Adding on, he is a Josh Allen style of runner where he may not be elite with his speed but he is physical and will challenge defenders consistently. He wins often due to his sheer strength and physicality.
He is set up to go high in the 2024 draft and could be set up in a situation with good weapons. Washington and Minnesota are two teams heavily pursuing a quarterback that have really good weapons. He deserves to be in the first round of rookie drafts even in a one-quarterback league, and if he lands in a spot with a ton of weapons he could move up significantly.
1.10: Troy Franklin, WR Oregon
Another pick, another wide receiver in this mock. Franklin is a very intriguing prospect in this class who is a tad undersized at 179 pounds but is a scary athlete.
He keeps defenders on their toes with his blazing speed and his quick breaks in and out of routes. He is also a dangerous player with the ball in his hands, he constantly rips away from defenders for big gains if given the space to do so. I would be quite nervous being a defensive back having to line up against #11 knowing his abilities.
The biggest concern with him is his size, I notice he gets beat by press coverage more often than I would like so he may need some better technique and some added muscle to help him out there, but he has the speed to potentially dominate at the next level.
1.11: Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia
I am in line with DLF ADP saying that I like McConkey and see him as a player to target in the back of the first round of rookie drafts. His footwork is astonishing and he constantly creates space and gets open both in zone and against man coverage. He will most definitely be a quarterback’s best friend in the NFL due to how wide-open he gets so quickly.
Some questions surrounding him primarily are about his production, which I think we can put to rest. First off, everyone likes to argue he never had a breakout and does not have a breakout age. The metric used to determine that is having a 20% dominator rating (percentage of the team’s yards and touchdowns), and McConkey had a season of 19.9%, so technically he did not hit that mark but he was a fraction of a percent off. Adding on, with Brock Bowers and questionable quarterback play along with Georgia always having lots of leads, it made it hard for McConkey to produce elite numbers.
1.12: Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin
I understand he is risky, I understand he could be the next AJ Dillon, and I get that some things point towards him being a total bust. However, Braelon Allen’s upside and potential are so immense that I am willing to take that risk, especially in this running back class where everyone is essentially a dart throw.
He displays an immense amount of physical strength, and on film, he appears very fast for his size. All he needs is a couple of extra steps of momentum and he can fly down the field. He is not elite at it but he can also catch the ball and take plenty of dump-off passes. In the right situation, he could truly be the next Derrick Henry of the NFL.
I do hope he goes to Dallas or Los Angeles in the second round. That would seriously be a dream landing spot for him where he could immediately take a huge role.
Round Two
2.01: Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
2.02: Trey Benson, RB FSU
2.03: Jonathon Brooks, RB Texas
2.04: Roman Wilson, WR Michigan
2.05: Blake Corum, RB Michigan
2.06: Ricky Pearsall, WR Florida
2.07: Keon Coleman, WR FSU
2.08: JJ McCarthy, QB Michigan
2.09: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE Texas
2.10: Audric Estime, RB Notre Dame
2.11: Xavier Legette, WR South Carolina
2.12: MarShawn Lloyd, RB USC
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, I greatly appreciate it and hope it gave you insight heading toward the NFL Draft and your rookie drafts. Check out all that the DLF website has to offer!
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