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With the NFL Combine and all of its stories (Fastest 40 time ever! Caleb Williams declines his physical exam! Players are injured during workouts!) now out and ready to be examined as we approach Free Agency (which begins March 13).
There have already been a few Pro Days taken place and the Heavy Hitters are scheduled to begin in the next couple of weeks with Georgia's Pro Day taking place on the opening day of Free Agency and Alabama, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, and Michigan all set to take place in three days a week later.
All pending free agents and salary cap numbers are accurate as of Monday, March 11, 2024, and come from Sportrac.com. Also, if you missed it, here is my first mock draft for 2024
With all that said, we currently have no trades to report and, for now, the Chicago Bears are still on the clock. . .
Chicago Bears (from CAR)
2024 Cap Space (as of 3//24) - $63.8M
Biggest pending FA(s) - Eddie Jackson - FS
My pick - Marvin Harrison Jr. - WR - Ohio State - Unexpectedly skipping his Combine media appearance, no agent, and (likely) no Pro Day testing either? Surely this hurts him, right? Nope. I don't know that I would recommend it to anyone else but for MHJ, do you man, there's unlikely to be anything that would show up in him competing against air that isn't already on tape.
Washington Commanders
2024 Cap Space - $96.1M
Biggest pending FA - Kendall Fuller - CB
My pick - Jayden Daniels - QB - Louisiana State - Yep, I still like Jayden Daniels better than Caleb Williams, mostly because Williams is looking more like Ryan Leaf for a new generation every day (for anyone under twenty, "Ryan Leaf" is a way of saying that someone everyone seems to think can't fail will, in fact, fail). I think he's the safest pick at QB and his floor is a Cam Newton-type.
New England Patriots
2024 Cap Space - $72.6M
Biggest pending FA - J.C. Jackson - CB
My pick - Drake Maye - QB - North Carolina - Barring the Pats making a trade (Justin Fields?) or signing a free agent (Baker Mayfield?) QB is the almost certain pick at this spot, Do I think there's better value outside of the QB position? I do.
Arizona Cardinals
2024 Cap Space - $54.5M
Biggest pending FA - Marquise Brown - WR
My pick - Caleb Williams - QB - Southern Cal - I still think Williams is a bust in the making and while I'm joined by a small (but vocal) minority, the vast majority believe that either a) the Bears keep the pick and draft Williams or b) the Bears trade the pick for a haul.
Los Angeles Chargers
2024 Cap Space - $-20.6M
Biggest pending FA - Kenneth Murray - LB
My pick - Joe Alt - OT - Notre Dame - Depending on what cuts happen between now and the opening of free agency this could change to perhaps an EDGE or a receiver, for now, I'm sticking with Alt as a bookend for Rashawn Slater, some charger fan sites see the interior line as a bigger issue so a trade down might be in the offing.
New York Giants
2024 Cap Space - $41M
Biggest pending FA - Isaiah Simmons - LB
Best Draft/Free Agency rumor - OK, this happened
My pick - Malik Nabors - WR - Louisiana State - This could just as easily be Rome Odunze from Washington, but as we get closer to free agency and with all the available QBs finding chairs, New York might be stuck with "Danny Dimes" for another year.
Tennessee Titans
2024 Cap Space - $80.3M
Biggest pending FA - Derrick Henry - RB
My pick - Olu Fashanu - OT - Penn State - With the O-line in, well, maybe not "tatters", but certainly in need of help, Fashanu should be able to step in and help solidify at least one side of the Titans line. I still think this could be a receiver because it doesn't matter how good your line is if the QB has no one to throw to.
Atlanta Falcons
2024 Cap Space - $41.1M
Biggest pending FA - Bud Dupree - OLB
My pick - Dallas Turner - EDGE - Alabama - I had Turner down with Miami in my first mock, however, running receiver-type times in the 40 (4.46 for those interested) will boost your stock. Add that to the Falcons having an atrocious win rate for their pass rush (30.9%, last in the NFL), and while it might be tempting to add another offensive weapon for Captain Kirk, they need to help the defense too.
Chicago Bears
My pick - Jared Verse - EDGE - Florida State - With a shiny new receiver for the Bears already under the tree, the attention turns to giving Montez Sweat a partner-in-crime. It's possible the Bears could trade down from this pick to get a little more draft capital but if a Justin Fields trade happens, this becomes a receiver.
New York Jets
2024 Cap Space - $27.5M
Biggest pending FA - Carl Lawson - DE
My pick - JC Latham - OT - Alabama - I'm sticking with Latham here for the time being, at least until we see his pro day because I'm hesitant to move him above guys who chose to work out at the combine. Regardless, the Jets need to get their line in order or it won't matter who they have under center next year.
Minnesota Vikings
2024 Cap Space - $40.3M
Biggest pending FA - Danielle Hunter - OLB
My pick - J.J. McCarthy - QB - Michigan - If Kirk Cousins was staying in the Twin Cities this is a different pick entirely, he's not, so we see the Vikes rolling the dice on a QB that, depending on who you ask, is either a first-rounder or closer to a fourth-rounder. I'm neither hot nor cold on him I simply think the Vikings are desperate to show Justin Jefferson that he should re-sign with them.
Denver Broncos
2024 Cap Space - $25.5M
Biggest pending FA - Justin Simmons - FS (released)
My pick - Laiatu Latu - EDGE - UCLA - While no questions regarding the health of Latu's neck came out of Indianapolis, he also didn't work out for teams. With the Vikes taking McCarthy the Broncos are forced to trade into the bottom of the first round to get their QB or wait until Day 2.
Las Vegas Raiders
2024 Cap Space - $41.3M
Biggest pending FA - Austin Hooper - TE
My pick - Byron Murphy II - DT - Texas - The Raiders need help on both their lines but given the choice between the fourth-best offensive tackle or their choice of defensive tackles, and the choice (to me) is obvious. New HC Antonio Pierce will love having a disruptive three-down tackle in a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.
New Orleans Saints
2024 Cap Space - $-9.3M
Biggest pending FA - Andrus Peat - G
My pick - Taliese Fuaga - OT - Orgon State - I'm sticking with my pick, for now, of Fuaga to the Saints. I love his run-blocking and his aggression, he should be a Day 1 starter and he reminds me of another NFC South tackle, Tristan Wirfs.
Indianapolis Colts
2024 Cap Space - $52.8M
Biggest pending FA - Kenny Moore - CB
My pick - Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo - After turning in a good performance at the combine (#2 in the 40YD and #1 at the bench press, both among CBs), Mitchell moved up in my eyes and will almost certainly be in the mix for first DB off the board.
Seattle Seahawks
2024 Cap Space - $47.5M
Biggest pending FA - Jamal Adams - SS (released)
My pick - Troy Fautanu - OL - Washington - With three interior linemen all about to hit free agency, drafting someone like Fautanu who can provide tackle/guard flexibility would be a good idea, especially given that the 'Hawks look to be revamping their defense through free agency.
Jacksonville Jaguars
2024 Cap Space - $13.8M
Biggest pending FA - Calvin Ridley - WR
My pick - Brock Bowers - TE - Georgia - I know, this isn't a position of need for the Jags. It is a great value for the pick and a hedge against Calvin Ridley signing elsewhere, in fact, even if Ridley re-signs with Jacksonville, I feel adding Bowers to this offense would be a great idea.
Cincinnati Bengals
2024 Cap Space - $50.2M
Biggest pending FA - Jonah Williams - OT
My pick - Johnny Newton - DT - Illinois - Another flip-flop of players because someone (in this case Byron Murphy) worked out at the combine and Newton chose to wait until his pro day. Both possess a burst to the QB from the tackle spot that is rare and neither seems to miss when they have a clear path to the passer.
Los Angeles Rams
2024 Cap Space - $35.3M
Biggest pending FA - Jordan Fuller - SS
My pick - Terrion Arnold - CB - Alabama - I'm sticking with Arnold here mostly because of what we've seen from him on the field. His combine workout was good and despite a pedestrian time in the 40 (4.5) he did nothing that made me think he'd slipped, Quinyon Mitchell simply rose.
Pittsburgh Steelers
2024 Cap Space - $26M
Biggest pending FA - Allen Robinson - WR
My pick - Amarius Mims - OT - Georgia - The Steelers took Broderick Jones last year, so let's go back to that particular well and give them Jones' teammate Mims. Mims looks like a prototype tackle, maybe needs to drop a few pounds and get to 325 to play his best. Truthfully, the only thing he lacks is experience and the knowledge that comes with it.
Miami Dolphins
2024 Cap Space - $4.9M
Biggest pending FA - Emmanuel Ogbah - DE
My pick - Darius Robinson - DL - Missouri - With Christian Wilkins off to the desert the Dolphins will need someone to step into that role and Robinson can do that as well as fill in at the EDGE position. Stout against the run and able to play inside on passing downs, Robinson may never be an All-Pro candidate, but he can be the glue that holds the line together.
Philadelphia Eagles
2024 Cap Space - $39.8M
Biggest pending FA - Shaq Leonard - ILB
My pick - Ennis Rakestraw - CB - Missouri - Rakestraw feels like the sort of rangy, aggressive corner that would be great to put on the Eagles' defense because of the havoc he could wreak. I nearly put Iowa's Cooper DeJean in this slot because I think he'll be able to fit in as a ball-hawking safety, I still want to see him at his pro day though.
Houston Texans
2024 Cap Space - $63.4M
Biggest pending FA - Sheldon Rankins - DT
My pick - Nate Wiggins - CB - Clemson - Tall and fast with good "makeup" speed when he is beaten. Wiggins posted the top 40 time for corners (4.28) at last week's combine but injured himself in the process. He'll be ready for Clemson's pro day on April 6 and if he can equal or better that mark he'll push himself up the boards.
Dallas Cowboys
2024 Cap Space - $8.8M
Biggest pending FA - Tyron Smith - OT
My pick - Tyler Guyton - OT - Oklahoma - With Tyron Smith likely to get to test the free-agent waters, the Cowboys can get younger and cheaper even if Smith does re-sign by drafting Guyton. He's got solid physical traits but his technical work needs. . .ummm, work. He can be pushed off the POA by a bull rush or caught playing too tall despite good balance, but those are correctable.
Green Bay Packers
2024 Cap Space - $10.9M
Biggest pending FA - Aaron Jones - RB
My pick - Kingsley Suamataia - OT - Brigham Young - I mentioned in my first mock draft that David Bakhtiari would have a say in this pick and he did, sort of. The Pack released him on Monday this week, opening up a spot at tackle. Suamataia did well at the combine topping tackles on reps in the bench press (31) and measuring out well. Interesting note, he's Penei and Noah Sewell's cousin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2024 Cap Space - $22.4M
Biggest pending FA - Devin White - ILB / LaVonte David - ILB
My pick - Chop Robinson - EDGE - Penn State - You're going to see a lot of people comparing Robinson to the Cowboys' Micah Parsons, and with good reason, they're both explosive players with the ability to put pressure on tackles and force mistakes. Parsons was more polished coming out though and Robinson needs to learn how to string together moves to keep blockers guessing.
Arizona Cardinals (from HOU)
My pick - Brian Thomas - WR - Louisiana State - With Caleb Williams on board, the Cardinals need to give him someone to throw to and Brian Thomas is that someone. Averaging a touchdown every four receptions, Thomas factored into almost every game and outside of the @Alabama and Vs. Auburn games made opposing corners look silly more often than not. He's not super elusive after the catch and can be a bit of a body catcher, but the pedigree of LSU receivers is so good you almost have to chance it.
Buffalo Bills
2024 Cap Space - $-12.5M
Biggest pending FA - Micah Hyde - SS
My pick - Xavier Legette - WR - South Carolina - With Gabe Davis reported to sign with Jacksonville a wide receiver is needed in Buffalo and Legette is him. Posting a very solid 4.39 40 time and showed good explosion in the broad and vertical jumps. As I mentioned in the first mock, I feel like he's a playmaker who Josh Allen is going to love having as a target.
Detroit Lions
2024 Cap Space - $47.4M
Biggest pending FA - Charles Harris - DE
My pick - T'Vondre Sweat - DT - Texas - Given all the corners and EDGE players taken, the thought of giving the Lions a run-stuffing tackle was an easy choice. Sweat is going to compare favorably to a Haloti Ngata who can take on consistent double teams and come out the other side in great shape.
Baltimore Ravens
2024 Cap Space - $2.6M
Biggest pending FA - Patrick Queen - ILB
My pick - Xavier Worthy - WR - Texas - Worthy feels like a great fit in Baltimore as a vertical compliment to Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman (assuming he sticks around). He'll need to work on staying engaged when he's not expecting the ball and he'll need to put on some weight to survive in the NFL but his speed is just incredible.
San Francisco 49ers
2024 Cap Space - $-3.4M
Biggest pending FA - Chase Young - DE
My pick - Kool-Aid McKinstry - CB - Alabama - When he's being targeted and is engaged, McKinstry can be a top-level corner, when he's not? Well, he can seem disinterested and start to let plays pass him by. I think on a team that is competing for a Super Bowl title the vets on the team won't let that happen and if he learns from them he'll be a perennial Pro Bowler.
Kansas City Chiefs
2024 Cap Space - $1.6M
Biggest pending FA - Marquez Valdez-Scantling - WR
My pick - Payton Wilson - OLB - North Carolina State - Ran a 4.43 at the combine and should end up a three-down backer who can blitz or cover on third down. Don't look for him to take on blockers but rather be a hunter in the run game.
Teams without a first-round pick:
Cleveland Browns
2024 Cap Space - $.54M
Biggest pending FA - Kareem Hunt - RB
My pick - (2nd round #54) - Braylen Trice - EDGE - Washington - In what feels like a neverending attempt to find someone to compliment Myles Garrett the Browns finally managed to do that this season with Za'Darius Smith who finished with 5.5 sacks. No, that's not crazy good, but it's better than the production they've gotten in most years. Trice has a no-quit motor and should do well in a Jim Schwartz defense.
Carolina Panthers
2024 Cap Space - $13M
Biggest pending FA - CJ Henderson - CB
My pick - (2nd round, #33) - Graham Barton - IOL - Duke - Barton has played every position on the O-line while at Duke, and while he'll probably stick at a guard spot, that versatility will help the Panthers while they fill out the rest of the line.