We’re in the second half of the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft, here is a list of my final pick predictions for picks 17-32 tonight made prior to the draft starting.
There’s been a lot of changes and a surprise or two so far. How will the final 16 picks play out?
Let’s find out.
This list will be updated with the actual pick as they are made and a brief post-pick comment. So keep checking back throughout the night.
A separate post covers picks 1-16.
Vikings Keep Wheeling And Dealing
17. Minnesota Vikings (via a trade with Jacksonville Jaguars)
Predicted Pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Jaguars have yet to replace Jalen Ramsey after trading him away. Arnold is a ballhawk that Jacksonville could really use.
Actual Pick: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Turner slipped down the line and the Vikings made the move to get up and grab him. The Vikings are involved in both trades so far and have done well with both.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Predicted Pick: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Bengals need to keep Joe Burrow healthy. Adding a walking mountain like Fashanu to the offensive line is a good first step.
Actual Pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Outside of quarterback, offensive tackles apparently are the most coveted this year. Good pick for the Bengals to keep Burrow on his feet.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Predicted Pick: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Rams could go defensive tackle – especially with the retirement of Aaron Donald. But DeJean fills a big need in the defensive secondary.
Actual Pick: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
With the offensive player run, Verse also slid down the board and the Rams replaced the retired Aaron Donald on their line.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Predicted Pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Oregon
The Cowboys want Powers-Johnson. But if they don’t trade up, the Steelers are going to take him first. Pittsburgh needs a center.
Powers-Johnson is the best center in this year’s draft class hands down.
Actual Pick: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The year of the offensive tackle continues. Apparently the Steelers decided on tackle over Powers-Johnson.
21. Miami Dolphins
Predicted Pick: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
The Dolphins are looking to replace Christian Wilkins, who bolted to Las Vegas in free agency. This pick will be the one that leads to Dallas’ ultimate pick at No. 24.
Actual Pick: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Dolphins needed help on the defensive line and Robinson fell right into their laps.
Eagles Land Their Cornerback
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Predicted Pick: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Eagles’ cornerbacks — Darius Slay and James Bradberry – are getting older and slower. Mitchell has the speed and the size to offset Father Time in Philadelphia.
Actual Pick: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Pretty much had to happen once Mitchell was still there.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (via a trade with the Minnesota Vikings)
Predicted Pick: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
If the Vikings do manage to land a quarterback earlier in the round, Newton can be just what they need to shore up the interior of their defensive line.
Actual Pick: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Jacksonville trades down, adds draft picks and gets Trevor Lawrence a great target.
24. Detroit Lions (via trade with the Dallas Cowboys)
Predicted Pick: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (Cowboys)
Most mocks have Dallas going OL in the first two rounds. Maybe I’m crazy, but the Cowboys need a WR2 more than another offensive lineman.
Especially with TJ Bass, Brock Hoffman, and Asim Richards ready to move up the depth chart. They can find o-line later.
Finding a legitimate deep threat won’t be there later in this draft.
Actual Pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Dallas gave up one of their 7th rounders and picked up the Lions’ third rounder in addition to swapping the 24th and 29th picks in the first round.
Tampa Bay Shores Up The Offense
25. Green Bay Packers
Predicted Pick: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Green Bay has Justin Love and Josh Jacobs. Now they need a bruising tackle to block pass rushers and open up running lanes. That’s Tyler Guyton’s playing style.
Actual Pick: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
With Guyton on the board Green Bay goes with Morgan instead. Interesting.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Predicted Pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Buccaneers are looking to punch (sorry, not sorry) up their defensive backfield.
Cornerback play last year in Tampa Bay was – less than refreshing (still not sorry) – and McKinstry will be a welcome addition.
Actual Pick: Graham Barton, C, Duke
Interesting decision. I would have thought their secondary was of more pressing concern. I guess we’ll see how this plays out.
27. Arizona Cardinals
Predicted Pick: Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington
The Cardinals need to shore up their offensive line. Last year they took a tackle. This year they grab a guard.
Somewhere Kyler Murray and James Conner are smiling.
Actual Pick: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
The o-line was picked clean, so Arizona shored up the defensive line instead.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (via trade with the Buffalo Bills)
Predicted Pick: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Bills traded Stefon Diggs, lost Gabe Davis to free agency, and so far have only added Curtis Samuel. Josh Allen needs help.
Thomas could be the replacement for Diggs without the drama that Diggs brought onto the field.
Actual Pick: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Thomas didn’t fall to Buffalo after all so the Bills moved the pick to Kansas City. The Chiefs gave Patrick Mahomes a shiny new toy.
Can you say four rings for Pat?
Cowboys Finally Make Their Pick
29. Dallas Cowboys (via trade with the Detroit Lions)
Predicted Pick: (Lions) Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Lions added Marcus Davenport in free agency. But adding Robinson to the mix might be the difference for Detroit in making it to their first-ever Super Bowl this year.
Actual Pick: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Cowboys decided to address the offensive line. Guyton will likely be starting at left tackles with Tyler Smith staying put at guard.
Dallas did turn a seventh rounder into a third rounder at the same time. So it looks like they did okay this year.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Predicted Pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Ravens could go wide receiver here for sure. But I think they’d leap at the chance to add Mims to their line and grind down the opposing defenses.
Actual Pick: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Mims didn’t make it down this far. So they changed gears and took Wiggins to shore up the defensive backfield.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Predicted Pick: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Yes, the 49ers have Charvarius Ward. But Rakestraw would only make the 49ers defensive backfield that much harder to throw against.
Actual Pick: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
The 49ers appear to be moving on from Brandon Aiyuk.
32. Carolina Panthers (via trade with the Buffalo Bills (via trade with the Kansas City Chiefs))
Predicted Pick: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
I was originally leaning toward Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham here. But Rashee Rice’s recent legal issues have changed my mind.
Kansas City needs to play defense and expect a lot of time off for Rice after the NFL lowers the boom on him.
Pearsall would be a great target for Patrick Mahomes in Rice’s absence and only make the Chiefs offense that much more potent when Rice returns.
Actual Pick: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
The Panthers traded up into the first round and got last year’s first-rounder some help.
