Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman offers his first edition of 2024 NFL Mock Draft

Corrections & Clarifications: In a previous version of this article, offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga's college team was incorrect. Fuaga played for Oregon State.

Arizona Republic NFL writer Bob McManaman offers the first edition of his 2024 NFL Mock Draft. Follow him on X @azbobbymac.

The NFL draft begins on April 25, but it’s never too early to see how things could play out in the first round. Last year in my final mock draft, I correctly projected 24 of the 31 players that would be selected in the first round.

My picks are based on observations, team needs, scouting services and NFL sources:

1. Chicago Bears (via trade with the 2-15 Panthers): QB Caleb Williams, 6-1, 215, USC

There’s a chance the Bears trade down with Washington or New England, keep Justin Fields as their starting quarterback, and select the best non-QB in this draft — former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 2 or 3. I still see Williams going first overall, regardless of who picks first.

2. Washington Commanders (4-13): QB Drake Maye, 6-4, 230, North Carolina

He’s better than you think and he’s better than what the Commanders have. And I like Sam Howell a lot. Lock it up.

3. New England Patriots (4-13): QB Jayden Daniels, 6-4, 210, LSU

If the Bears don’t trade down and the Pats pick here, they probably should roll the dice just a bit and go with a quarterback. Daniels, the former ASU product who shined once he transferred to the SEC, is a logical pick at this spot.

4. Arizona Cardinals (4-13): WR Marvin Harrison Jr., 6-4, 205, Ohio State

In this scenario, the Cardinals can’t lose. They get the best prospect possible at a real position of need and even though the draft isn’t supposed to be about that this early in the first round, it works wonders for Arizona. Now, if the Bears do trade down and land Harrison, don’t sweat it. GM Monti Ossenfort could go with the best offensive tackle available, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Alabama’s JC Latham, grab the next-best receiver, LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze, or go edge rusher with either Alabama’s Dallas Turner or Florida State’s Jared Verse, and everyone will be pleased.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (5-12): WR Malik Nabers, 6-0, 200, LSU

Adding an explosive receiver for Justin Herbert feels like a no-brainer, especially considering Keenan Allen is set to turn 32 and is entering the final year of his contract and Mike Williams is returning from a torn ACL.

6. New York Giants (6-11): OT Joe Alt, 6-7, 322, Notre Dame

Who knows what the G-men will do at quarterback in 2024? They could make a play for a veteran or younger player that might be available via trade, but whoever it is, they should fortify their front five, stabilize things up front, and protect whoever it is they bring in — even if they stick with Daniel Jones.

7. Tennessee Titans (6-11): OT JC Latham, 6-6, 360, Alabama

This might be a little too high for Latham, but the Titans seem poised to add to their offensive line, especially after last year’s top pick, tackle Peter Skoronski, was moved to guard.

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10): EDGE Dallas Turner, 6-4, 245, Alabama

A quarterback is still in play here, especially if the Falcons make a play to trade up in the first round. If they decide to go the free-agent or trade route to find their next QB, however, defense and pass rush would be their most likely move and Turner tops that list.

9. Chicago Bears (7-10): WR Rome Odunze, 6-3, 215, Washington

Again, this is all predicated upon whether the Bears trade down from the No. 1 spot or not. If they determine it’s best to go with a new QB in USC’s Williams and work a trade for Fields, then adding a wideout such as Odunze makes perfect sense. If they keep Fields and draft Harrison with their first pick, they could easily go edge rusher here if there’s one they really covet.

10. New York Jets (7-10): OT Taliese Fuaga, 6-6, 325, Oregon State

The Jets are still banking on veteran Aaron Rodgers as their franchise quarterback, and they’ll want to protect him at any cost. Fuaga is a stellar right tackle whom they can move wherever they need him to be and as tempting as adding another wide receiver might be, this is the smart move for New York.

11. Minnesota Vikings (7-10): EDGE Jared Verse, 6-4, 248, Florida State

A quarterback could be in play here, whether the Vikings decide to trade up or not. Assuming they find their man elsewhere, edge rusher is the way to go early in the draft. Yes, the wide receiver spot is tempting here as well and there are still a handful of great prospects from which to choose, but I’ll roll with Verse in this situation.

12. Denver Broncos (8-9): EDGE Laiatu Latu 6-4, 265, UCLA

Don’t sleep on Latu, who could end up as a real difference-maker at the next level. Denver could use lots of help elsewhere as well, but they’ll make many of their necessary moves before we get to the draft.

13. Las Vegas Raiders (8-9): CB Nate Wiggins, 6-2, 185, Clemson

It’s anyone’s guess what the Raiders will do with this pick, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they trade up to make a play for one of this year’s top overall prospects and that could mean anything and everything. For now, they upgrade their secondary with a pretty stellar cornerback.

More NFL mock draft: Cardinals have options with second first-round draft pick

14. New Orleans Saints (9-8): OT Olu Fashanu, 6-5, 317, Penn State

Could they roll the dice on a quarterback here? Possibly. Derek Carr will be back next season, but the Saints could go anywhere here. They do need to bolster their depth along both the offensive and defensive lines, however, and depending on how much they like Fashanu, this could end up being the pick.

15. Indianapolis Colts (9-8): TE Brock Bowers, 5-4, 240, Georgia

If Bowers should slip this far, it’s an absolute steal for the Colts and it gives young quarterback Anthony Richardson an outstanding security blanket when it comes to targeting pass catchers in his second season. I love this pick for Indy if it happens.

16. Seattle Seahawks (9-8): DT Der’Zhan Newton, 6-2, 295, Illinois

These guys have identified some very quality defensive players in recent drafts, and we shouldn’t discount them from nailing it again if they go this route. Newton projects as the best interior defensive lineman in the entire draft. What could possibly go wrong?

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8): OL Troy Fautanu, 6-4, 317, Washington

They could easily go wide receiver here, especially if Calvin Ridley is on the move, but the Jags need to upgrade the interior of their offensive line and this is a good way to start. Fautanu can play inside and outside and help protect QB Trevor Lawrence.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8): OT Amarius Mims, 6-7, 330, Georgia

We’ll know soon enough what happens with some of their impending unrestricted free agents, including wide receiver Tee Higgins. If that situation doesn’t get resolved, keep an eye on a receiver here. But finding more help on the O-line is imperative as well and the Bengals will make the right call.

19. Los Angeles Rams (10-7): CB Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry, 6-1, 195, Alabama

The Rams haven’t had a first-round pick since they selected quarterback Jared Goff out of Cal in 2016. If they hold onto this pick, eyeing a cornerback figures to be the route and everyone seems to be in love with Kool-Aid, even if I think there are at least two prospects I like better overall.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): CB Cooper DeJean, 6-1, 207, Iowa

They nailed last year’s first-round pick with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but it’s clear the Steelers need another standout starting outside corner to pair with him. DeJean could easily be the answer if this is how the draft board should fall. Keep your eyes on Alabama corner Terrion Arnold, too.

21. Miami Dolphins: (11-6): EDGE Chop Robinson, 6-3, 254, Penn State

If there isn’t a top-rated offensive lineman they really like, the Dolphins can address the defense and add a pass rusher in Robinson. He’s a prospect who shows relentless pursuit and has a knack for getting around blockers on the edge.

22. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): CB Terrion Arnold, 6-0, 196, Alabama

The Eagles need to improve their secondary and Arnold is a young talent who’s going to get better and better. He even overshadowed his teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry at times this past season when he finished with five interceptions.

23. Houston Texans (via trade with the 11-6 Browns): WR Keon Coleman, 6-4, 215, Florida State

Adding a future No. 1 wideout like Coleman will only increase the arsenal for young quarterback C.J. Stroud, who already has Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The Texans go from rebuild to reload after just one season with new coach DeMeco Ryans.

24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5): OT/IOL Graham Barton, 6-5, 314, Duke

Dallas may have to do a makeover with a chunk of its offensive line and Barton might be a smart decision as a replacement part. Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan and Washington’s Fautanu, if he’s available, are other solid options.

25. Green Bay Packers (9-8): CB Kamari Lassiter, 6-0, 180, Georgia

In a perfect world, Green Bay would love to have one of the premier offensive tackles available here but it’s doubtful one of them will slip this far down. Though finding a replacement for aging tackle David Bakhtiari is a necessity, the defense could use more help in the secondary and Lassiter looks like he’ll be picked somewhere in this range.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8): EDGE Bralen Trice, 6-4, 267, Washington

Trice is an explosive pass rusher, and the Buccaneers didn’t get enough out of theirs this season despite a nice run. Trice finished with 16 sacks and 23½ tackles for loss the past two seasons for the Huskies and should shine at the next level.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with the Texans): OT Kingsley Suamataia, 6-6, 315, BYU

The need for another tackle became obvious when veteran D.J. Humphries suffered a torn ACL in Week 17 at the Eagles. Last year’s first-round pick, Paris Johnson Jr., can slide over from right tackle to fill Humphries’ spot and Suamataia can step in on the right side. Edge rusher and cornerback are also options here, and so is a trade to move back up higher into the first round to find one.

28. Buffalo Bills (11-6): WR Tony Franklin, 6-3, 187, Oregon

Gabe Davis is more serviceable, but the Bills need another top-level wide receiver to pair with Stefon Diggs and Franklin could be the guy. They could go tackle or D-line here as well.

*29. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6): WR Brian Thomas Jr., 6-4, 205, LSU

Thomas ranks among the top five wideouts in this year’s draft class and he might not even be available when the Chiefs make this pick. If he is, Kansas City should nab him.

*30. Detroit Lions (12-5): S Tyler Nubin, 6-2, 210, Minnesota

Coach Dan Campbell would love to give some help to pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and another way to do that besides drafting another edge man is by tightening up the secondary. In Nubin, the Lions get one of the premier defensive backs in the draft.

*31. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): OT Jordan Morgan, 6-5, 325, Arizona

Trent Williams will be 36 and return as the 49ers’ left tackle next season, but these guys could use an injection of some solid youth up front. Morgan could be it.

*32. Baltimore Ravens (13-4): CB Quinyon Mitchell, 6-0, 196, Toledo

Adding another skillful corner to pair opposite of standout Marlon Humphrey seems like the way to go for Baltimore. The Ravens might also target help at the offensive line and defensive line here.

*--Final draft positions to be determined by playoff outcomes.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL mock draft: Who and why for each pick in the first round