2024 NFL mock draft: How free agency, trades impact 3-round forecast

How could free agency and recent trades impact the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft? Let’s find out.

The 2024 NFL draft is right around the corner, and with the first week of free agency officially in the books, we’ve got a much better idea of what each team needs in the early rounds.

While some clubs have been able to fill the biggest holes on their roster with veterans in free agency, others could be left reaching with their top picks in this year’s draft after whiffing on the best targets on the open market.

We’ve also seen some big trades that will also have a significant impact on the early going on draft weekend.

How will it all shake out?

Here’s an updated three-round projection for the 2024 NFL draft:

 

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Roman Wilson, Michigan

This productive vertical threat from a major program will have suitors.

University of Michigan receiver Roman Wilson heads to the NFL after a four-year run that ramped up to culminate in a 12-touchdown senior season.

A natural athlete with long speed for days, Wilson wasn’t heavily targeted due to the Wolverines’ ground-based approach, but he managed to make the most of his opportunities throughout the course of his FBS run.

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 pounds
40 time: 4.39 seconds

Table: WR Roman Wilson, Michigan (2020-23)

Year School Class Gm Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds TD
2020 Mich Fr 6 9 122 13.6 1 1 9 0
*2021 Mich So 13 25 420 16.8 3 3 59 0
*2022 Mich Jr 12 25 376 15.0 4 2 39 2
*2023 Mich Sr 15 48 789 16.4 12 1 10 0
Total 46 107 1,707 16.0 20 7 117 2

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Has shown improvement in the hands department as his collegiate career went along and doesn’t often lose focus in contested situations — regularly plucks the ball away from his frame
  • Excellent vertical speed to challenge down the field and rack up yardage after the catch, especially when thrown open
  • Versatility as a possible rusher on jet sweeps and end-arounds that allow him to have already built up his speed
  • Demonstrates ability to freelance when his QB buys time
  • Feels the soft spots in zone coverage and has improved over time in this regard
  • Dangerous crosser over the middle, unafraid in traffic — at his best when he can run to a spot and catch in stride
  • Spacial awareness in tight quarters and along boundary lines
  • Has a knack for clutch plays in big moments
  • Offers return potential on special teams despite having limited experience
  • Production drastically increased as a senior, especially in the TD column

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Cons

  • Not all twitched up in short-area situations
  • Inconsistently demonstrates how to use leverage against a defender in man — didn’t see a lot of man-on-man coverage, in fairness
  • Could struggle off the line vs. jams and longer corners
  • Size and style of play could relegate him to the slot even though he has lined up all over
  • Doesn’t have extensive experience throughout the route tree
  • Not a bad route runner but rounds off sharp corners enough to notice — more angular in nature and may be pigeonholed into specific routes that maximize his natural movement traits to gain separation
  • Extremely limited offerings as a blocker

Fantasy football outlook

Given his pedigree, improvement, physical traits, and upside for growth, Wilson should be a Day 2 pick, likely in the third round.

Reuniting with Jim Harbaugh’s receiver-starved Los Angeles Chargers is kind of appealing as the Greg Roman-run offense will resemble the same type of system from Michigan. It would position Wilson for early contributions, albeit in a low-volume situation.

Regardless of where he lands, Wilson has limitations that should prevent a full-time role. There figures to be a ramp-up period of a year or two before fantasy owners consider Wilson to be a draftable option — and only a matchup-based play at that.

Lions draft prospect of the day: Bralen Trice, DE, Washington

Trice has some real athletic limitations but he’s also proven to be a very effective pass rusher

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day was a pressure-creating machine for one of the nation’s most successful teams. 

The focus for these prospects is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting: OL, EDGE, CB, DT, S and WR. 

Today’s prospect is a player I projected to the Lions in the first round early in the college season, but one who now projects deeper in the draft. 

Height: 6-foot-3 1/2″

Weight: 245 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Trice was a three-year player for the Huskies and a very effective one, starting 29 games. He was Washington’s defensive MVP in both 2022 and 2023, and was also All-PAC 12 both seasons. The team captain logged 26.5 TFLs and 16 sacks in 28 games over the final two years while playing almost exclusively as a stand-up rush OLB on both the left and right side of the defense. PFF recorded the Arizona native with 150 total QB pressures in his final two seasons. Trice turned 23 in February.

What I like

  •  Proven he can win over either shoulder of the offensive tackle
  • Really good first step that he follows with power nicely
  • Relentless effort to try and get to the quarterback
  • Angles his shoulders and hips well to avoid getting squarely blocked in the run game
  • Above-average nose for screens, wham blocks and draws
  • Can set a hard edge against the run even though he doesn’t shed blocks better than average
  • Really nice club and rip moves
  • Reliably wins hand-to-hand combat
  • Can set up moves for later in the game and adapt to how he’s being blocked to the best of his physical abilities

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Poor ankle/hip flexibility and very straight-linish as an athlete
  • He was listed by Washington at 274 pounds but hit the combine at 245 and still didn’t test well
  • Lacks a real closing burst or chase gear
  • Will try to initiate tackles from too far away
  • Gets stuck to blocks at times when he tries to break inside
  • Almost exclusively a stand-up OLB pass rusher; rarely dropped into coverage or played off-ball roles and didn’t play well at either when asked

Best game I watched: Stanford

Worst game I watched: Michigan (national championship game), Oregon State 2022

Overall

 Trice certainly fits the “grit” for Detroit; his motor and high-energy on-field personality scream “Lions.” More cynical Detroit fans will point to the astronomical pressure total but meager sack conversion rate from all those pressures and say that screams Lions, too. 

Trice just doesn’t have the twitch or flexibility to project as much more than a complementary rusher in the NFL. He’s also lacking alignment versatility; he’s quite likely an odd-front stand-up EDGE only. Pretty good football player and will be an asset in the locker room, but taking him higher than the third round is probably putting expectations too high for what his athletic limitations can deliver. Having said that, Trice would be a fun presence opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

 

Graham Barton to the Cowboys in latest PFF mock draft

Pro Football Focus’s Trevor Sikkema released a new mock draft on Monday, and he had Duke lineman Graham Barton end up with an NFC playoff team.

Pro Football Focus’s Trevor Sikkema released an updated mock draft on Tuesday, and he ended up with Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton as a first-round pick.

Barton, who played offensive tackle at Duke for the last three seasons but will likely move to guard or center at the NFL level, was projected to be the 24th pick by the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys lost two offensive lineman to free agency after longtime tackle Tyron Smith signed with the New York Jets and center Tyler Biadasz joined the Washington Commanders.

“As a player who can play all five spots on the line, Barton would be an excellent choice for Dallas to build its ‘best five’ for 2024 and beyond,” Sikemma wrote.

Barton started his Blue Devils career as a center four seasons ago before transferring to the outside. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 314 pounds.

49ers lose draft pick after accounting error

The #49ers were penalized in the draft for an accounting error.

The NFL is penalizing the 49ers twice in upcoming NFL drafts thanks to an accounting error at the end of the 2022 season. San Francisco will have its fifth-round pick in next year’s draft revoked, and their No. 131 pick in the fourth round this year will be moved to the end of the round instead.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle posted on Twitter that the league determined the error wasn’t made intentionally and that the 49ers would’ve been under the salary cap even without the mistake.

 

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Vikings future at quarterback: Purple Daily on Draft

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of momentum after acquiring pick 23 from the Houston Texans. Purple Daily on Draft talks every angle

The quarterback of the future is on the table for the Minnesota Vikings after making a trade with the Houston Texans. The idea was that they were going to move up for a quarterback but will they end up being able to get that guy?

It’s a difficult conversation to have discussing the worst case scenario for the Vikings when there is so much hope with the future but it has to be done.

The latest episode of Purple Daily on Draft breaks down every angle with the future of the Vikings.

  • What is the cost of a trade-up?
  • What happens if they don’t make a move up to go get a quarterback in the top five?
  • Is there too high of a price to pay?

All of that and more on the latest episode of Purple Daily on Draft, dropping every Monday afternoon on the Purple Daily YouTube channel.

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UCLA’s Laiatu Latu heads to Rams in latest Touchdown Wire mock

Latu staying in LA would be fun.

Mock draft season is upon us. 

According to Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar’s latest mock, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is staying in Los Angeles. With the 19th overall pick, the Rams select Latu to help bolster their front seven. 

With the recent retirement of former Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald, the Rams add Latu to fill in the gap.

Donald, a disrupter in the run and passing game, will be missed along the Rams’ defensive line. The Rams’ defense ranked 24th in both total passing and rushing defense. Needing to inject some talent into their line, taking Latu makes perfect sense for them in the first round. 

With a strong pass-rushing ability as well as NFL-caliber size and athleticism, Latu could be a turn-key addition to the Rams’ defense and have a day-one impact. 

Given the high price that edge players control on the free agent market, Latu would also be a bargain for Los Angeles at 19th overall, with four years of team control and the potential to pick up his fifth-year option. 

Devon Witherspoon gives scouting report on Illinois DT Johnny Newton

He comes from the same tenacious defense that spawned Seattle’s first selection in last year’s draft, gremlin slot corner Devon Witherspoon – who should have won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

One of the most popular prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class that’s been frequently connected to the Seahawks and their No. 16 overall pick is Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. He comes from the same tenacious Fighting Illini defense that spawned Seattle’s first selection in last year’s draft, gremlin slot corner Devon Witherspoon – who should have won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

In any case, Newton says that he’d love reuiniting with Witherspoon and playing together on the Seahawks. It sounds like Spoon wouldn’t mind it, either. Replying to a thread between former Seahawks scout Jim Nagy and ESPN analyst Mina Kimes, Spoon gave a short scouting report on Newton.

The clip Spoon is referring to is below, where Newton breezes past the right tackle and chases down Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis for a sack.

Here’s a longer video with more highlights from Newton’s time at Illinois.

We certainly wouldn’t hate seeing Newton get drafted by Seattle. However, after re-signing Leonard Williams to a significant new contract, the chances of the Seahawks spending a first-round pick on an interior defensive lineman probably dwindled significantly. While we certainly can’t rule it out, we are expecting the team to address other positions first.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Every NFL team’s biggest move to start free agency

2024 NFL mock draft: Post-free agency projections

Grading first wave of Seahawks free agent signings

Browns schedule top-30 2024 NFL draft visit with Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie

Something about the Browns and Ivy Leaguers…

With the 2024 NFL draft right around the corner, the Cleveland Browns are bringing in one of the most intriguing prospects in for a top-30 visit as Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie will make a trip to Berea.

Known as one of the best tackle prospects in this year’s class, Amegadjie missed the majority of Yale’s season with a quad injury. This also did not allow for him to do any athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. He did, however, speak to the media where he stated that he had formally met with the Browns.

Amegadjie is expected to be ready to test by his Pro Day. He is currently viewed as a Day 2 prospect in the 2024 NFL draft.

As the Browns look to add offensive line talent, and young talent at that, they were actively meeting with tackles at the combine. They remain active with top-30 visits as well and Amegadjie is up on their list first.

Bears WR Keenan Allen had high praise for Caleb Williams

The Bears are expected to draft Caleb Williams next month. His potential new teammate, Keenan Allen, likes what he’s seen from Williams.

The Chicago Bears finally made a quarterback decision, opting to trade Justin Fields and start over with a rookie in the 2024 NFL draft.

The expectation is Chicago will select USC star and Heisman winner Caleb Williams at No. 1. Whether it’s Williams or another rookie, this is an ideal situation for an incoming young quarterback.

General manager Ryan Poles is building a situation ideal for a rookie to step in and find immediate success. There have been upgrades on what looks to be a top-10 defense, as well as a slew of weapons on offense, including Chicago’s newest receiver Keenan Allen, acquired in a recent trade.

Allen, who’s been in Los Angeles during Williams’ two seasons at USC, has been impressed with what he’s seen from the young quarterback.

“Hell of an athlete,” Allen said of Williams. “Obviously, he can make tremendous plays with his feet, with his arm. Looks like he knows the game really well. Really good.”

Following the Justin Fields trade, the Bears will be drafting a rookie with the No. 1 overall pick. Allen believes his presence will help a rookie as he makes the acclimation to the NFL game.

“I know the game. I know the ins and outs, I know the zones, I know how to beat man, I know pretty much how to play the game,” Allen said. “I just think I’m friendly for the quarterback because I’ll be in the right spots. I know how to communicate with him, and my body language is solid, too.”