Making a 2024 NFL mock draft only using southwest Missouri high school football players
The NFL Draft is just a few days away and the sports world is buzzing about the quarterbacks who will be taken after the Chicago Bears likely take Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.
Here at the News-Leader, we're wondering if the Commanders will use its pick on Republic's Wyatt Woods or if the Vikings will trade up to try and take Camdenton's Kade Durnin.
For the third straight year, we've made an NFL mock draft only using high school football players from southwest Missouri. Two years ago, Lebanon's Tristan Wilson went first overall while the Panthers took Glendale's Cole Feuerbacher with the top pick a year ago.
Our rules for this fantasy draft include:
All high schoolers (including the outgoing seniors) are eligible
We're using the draft order as of April 18
We're not projecting trades
We're drafting based on team needs
Here's who NFL commissioner Roger Goodell better get ready to hug on a Detroit stage later this week.
1. Chicago Bears: Blandy Burall, QB, Reeds Spring
The Bears traded Justin Fields away for what they hope will be a generational quarterback. Burall was just that for Reeds Spring during his career, leading it to its first state runner-up finish as a junior while breaking many school records.
2. Washington Commanders: Wyatt Woods, QB, Republic
Woods is the play-making quarterback the Commanders need after leading the Tigers to a state runner-up finish. He knows what it takes to help rebuild a program into a winner and that's exactly what Washington needs.
3. New England Patriots: Kade Durnin, QB, Camdenton
Durnin was the area's leading passer in 2023 when he was a first-year starter for the Lakers. There is a lot of potential here when the Patriots need a reset at the position.
4. Arizona Cardinals: James Dowdy, WR/DB, Reeds Spring
The Ozarks' leading receiver has been a monster in the Wolves' passing game for the last two seasons even when everyone on the field knew the ball was going his way. He also doubled up as one of the region's best defensive backs.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Talan Chandler, OL, Nevada
Jim Harbaugh would love an offensive tackle who recorded over 140 total pancakes and knockdowns last season. It's the way the Michigan man would like to build despite being short on weapons.
More: Here were southwest Missouri's high school football statistical leaders for 2023
6. New York Giants: Briggs Hughston, WR, West Plains
Daniel Jones could use a big target and there's no one bigger than Hughston who stands at 6-foot-6 and recorded 20 touchdowns last season for the Zizzers.
7. Tennessee Titans: Jackson Cantwell, OL, Nixa
A new era under Brian Callahan starts with the Titans picking the player with the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft. Cantwell is one of the top recruits in the country and is coming off a season in which he allowed zero sacks.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Spencer Ward, DB, Nixa
The Falcons need some help in the secondary and they get the top one in the draft with Ward coming off a great career in a Nixa uniform. He's as fast as they come and should be an immediate impact player on a team that's trying to compete now after signing Kirk Cousins.
9. Chicago Bears: Kellen Lindstrom, DL, Glendale
The Bears have a lot of options here but they couldn't help but take the top pass rusher in the field. Lindstrom would be a perfect compliment to Montez Sweat solidifying Matt Eberflus' defense as one that can be elite. Lindstrom had 13 sacks and 109 tackles despite seeing double- and triple-teams almost every snap.
10. New York Jets: Dontrell Holt, OL, Joplin
Aaron Rodgers needs all the protection he can get. Holt is the best available.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Gavyn Hoover, QB, Seneca
The Vikings could trade up for their quarterback but they're happy with landing Hoover here after he led Seneca to a state runner-up finish.
12. Denver Broncos: James Rexroat, WR/TE, Republic
Rexroat is a monster who somehow always finds a way to get open despite seeing multiple defensive backs try to lock him down. He'll be the best friend of whoever is throwing the ball in Sean Payton's offense.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Whit Hafer, TE, Joplin
Hafer is 6-foot-7, 255 pounds and can run. He's an easy choice for the Raiders as they try to figure out what they'll do offensively after trading away Josh Jacobs and releasing Jimmy G.
More: Dominant Dozen: The Ozarks' best high school football players of the 2023 season
14. New Orleans Saints: Toby Moore, OL/DL, McDonald County
The Saints need help on the offensive and defensive lines. They grabbed Moore here when he was great on both sides for the Mustangs.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Ian Ngugi, DB/ATH, Lamar
The Colts get speed and a lockdown defensive back here. Ngugi could help redefine how teams draft when he's an excellent kick returner and could take advantage of the league's new kickoff rules.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Cameron Wray, DB, Logan-Rogersville
The Seahawks went with a defensive back early last year and they'll do the same here. Wray has been great in the Rogersville secondary for several years and would look great opposite Devon Witherspoon.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jarrett Zerby, DB, Mount Vernon
Zerby was the leader of a secondary with 22 total interceptions last season. The Jaguars would love to bring that production to northeast Florida.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Danen Conrad, OL, Lebanon
The Bengals always seem to need offensive line help. Lucky for them, Lebanon always seems to be producing top-tier offensive linemen.
More: Meet the News-Leader's 2023 All-Ozarks high school football teams
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jayden Antonelli, DL, Nixa
Aaron Donald isn't on the Rams' defensive line anymore and they need pass-rush help. Antonelli has been among the best in the area for several years and is a good jumpstart as L.A. looks to replace a legend.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Carter Nation, OL, Republic
Whether it's Russell Wilson or Justin Fields behind center, the Steelers need to get whoever some protection. Nation has been one of the best in the area in recent years leading Republic's improving offensive unit.
21. Miami Dolphins: Kellen Lair, ATH, Fair Grove
The Dolphins don't necessarily need another running back but they couldn't help but take the fastest player in the draft who only knows how to break away for long touchdown runs.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Bryer Guerin, DB/QB, Marionville
A defensive back is needed in Philly and the sophomore excelled for the state-champ Comets in both the secondary and as its starting quarterback. A quarterback isn't needed right now but he offers great insurance.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Trevor Wilson, DL, Central
Minnesota needs some pass rush after Danielle Hunter departed for Houston. Insert Wilson, Central's sack artist, and the Vikings won't have too big of a dropoff.
More: How Marionville football secured a state championship that was 20 years in the making
24. Dallas Cowboys: Hugh Eaton, RB/LB, Marionville
Jerry Jones wouldn't be able to help himself if he saw Eaton still on the board. Eaton was among the state's best dual threats a year ago as a top-tier running back and linebacker for the Class 1 state champs.
25. Green Bay Packers: Jax Glendenning, RB/LB, Lebanon
Glendenning offers the Packers some breakaway speed in a backfield that already features Jacobs and A.J. Dillon. He also gives the Packer defense a sideline-to-sideline linebacker.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quin Renfro, RB, Joplin
There's not a better pure running back in the draft than Renfro who instantly becomes Baker Mayfield's best friend. Renfro rushed for 1,601 yards in just eight games last year.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Jordan Arthur, DB, Houston
Arizona needs help in the secondary and it grabs one of the area's best ballhawks who finished last year tied for second in interceptions.
28. Buffalo Bills: Dane Efird, K, Branson
Josh Allen needs weapons after losing Stefon Diggs and Gave Davis this offseason. The Bills also need a kicker after fittingly missing a kick late in their loss to the Chiefs in the playoffs last year. Efird is an elite kicking prospect who would shock the world as a first-round pick.
29. Detroit Lions: Mason McCurry, LB, Bolivar
There was not a more productive defensive player in the area last year than McCurry at Bolivar who finished with nearly 230 total tackles and 11 sacks. He'll bite off a kneecap or two for Dan Campbell and be a great addition to the Lions' defense.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Allen, DB, Republic
Baltimore will continue to be a contender and it can never have enough secondary help. Allen was a key corner in one of the area's best secondaries last season.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jackson Marrs, RB/LB, Seneca
The Niners already have a championship-level roster and adding one of the state's best two-way players can maybe help them get past the Chiefs next season. Marrs can complement Christian McCaffrey in the backfield and look great next to Fred Warner defensively.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ethan Altic, WR, Seneca
It's no secret that Kansas City needs wide receiver help and Altic could be the big-play receiver Patrick Mahomes needs. Altic averaged 34.3 yards per reception last year and finished third in the region in receiving yards.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 2024 NFL mock draft using only Southwest Missouri HS football players
