2024 NFL Mock Draft: If every player in college football was eligible

2024 NFL Mock Draft: If every player in college football was eligible

April 20, 2024

The latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft from Pro Football Focus was released and it features players from multiple classes.

If every college football player was eligible for this year’s draft, PFF revealed how the first round would shake out. This makes for an interesting thought exercise. 

Let’s dive into PFF’s mock draft, with 2025 players, or later, marked if they are selected.

(acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

Surprise, surprise. We kid of course as Williams has been the projected No. 1 pick since 2024 mocks started. Even with 2025 players here, Williams is the top choice.

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is in while Justin Fields is out. The latter was traded to Pittsburgh. Williams is now the new face of the franchise and arguably the most talented QB the Bears have ever had.

Drake Maye
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

The Commanders opt for the big man with the elite arm here. Maye, ironically, replaces former UNC teammate Sam Howell as the team’s starter in this scenario.

Maye has all of the tools but is considered by some to be more of a project than others. Still, you can’t deny his potential under center.

elite-nfl-draft-prospects-set-showcase-lsu-pro-day-updates
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s where the Patriots get their quarterback of the future. Heck, Daniels will probably go right away anyway.

The Heisman Trophy winner could go No. 2 or 3 in this draft but it doesn’t seem like he’ll get further than that. It’s a new era in New England.

marvin harrison jr.-ohio state-ohio state football-buckeyes
(Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

A can’t-miss prospect. Harrison Jr. is the best wide receiver in the class, and that’s despite him not testing at all ahead of the draft. It doesn’t affect PFF’s opinion.

Just go look at his tape throughout his college career. Just try and stop him. Doubling him will just open up the rest of the offense or Harrison Jr. will beat you anyway.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR – LSU

LSU WR Malik Nabers (Photo: USA Today)
LSU WR Malik Nabers (Photo: USA Today)

Jim Harbaugh is going to get a brand new weapon for quarterback Justin Herbert. Some analysts consider Nabers the best wide receiver prospect in this draft class, even over Harrison Jr.

Nabers would immediately come in as the top pass catcher after LA remodeled their wide receiver room. Look for instant chemistry between him and Herbert.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With Harrison Jr. and Nabers off the board, the Giants will opt for Odunze, who made defenders look silly while with the Huskies. He could be an instant star in New York.

Daniel Jones is going to need all the help he can get in 2024. This mock at least has the Giants trying to support the quarterback, rather than drafting his successor.

joe alt nfl draft
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

So here’s where Alt ends up within the first round of the NFL Draft. He’s been a popular selection around this section anyway and nothing changes here, even for PFF with others available.

The Titans get a good one though. Alt should be able to protect whoever is taking snaps behind center next season as a day-one starter and be a franchise piece for the next decade.

James Pearce - Tennessee
(© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel/ USA TODAY NETWORK)

Here’s where it gets interesting as Pearce is the first 2025 player off the board in this hypothetical scenario. He was a menace on the defensive line last season.

Pearce logged 28 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2023. That was after a year of development as a freshman.

arizona-wildcats-wide-receiver-tetairoa-mcmillan-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona wideout would go here if he was available. Boy that’d be a nice pairing with Williams and the Bears have a QB-WR duo for the next decade.

McMillan’s been a star for two years and had over 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. In total, he has 129 catches for 2,104 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons.

10. New York Jets: Will Campbell, OT – LSU (2025)

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Campbell is one of the best offensive linemen in college football. He might just be No. 1 this coming season.

But if he were available, he wouldn’t get out of the top 10 in this draft. The Jets need protection up front, that’s for sure. And Campbell would do quite the job for Aaron Rodgers.

Rest of PFF’s Mock Draft

11. Minnesota Vikings: Will Johnson, CB – Michigan (2025)
12. Denver Broncos: Carson Beck, QB – Georgia (2025)
13. Las Vegas Raiders: JJ McCarthy, QB – Michigan
14. New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks, OT – Texas (2025)
15. Indianapolis Colts: Brock Bowers, TE – Georgia
16. Seattle Seahawks: Laiatu Latu, EDGE – UCLA
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Benjamin Morrison, CB – Notre Dame (2025)
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Luther Burden III, WR – Missouri (2025)
19. Los Angeles Rams: Dallas Turner, EDGE – Alabama
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Olu Fashanu, OT – Penn State
21. Miami Dolphins: Mason Graham, DL – Michigan (2025)
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Travis Hunter, CB/WR – Colorado (2025)
23. Minnesota Vikings: Shedeur Sanders, QB – Colorado (2025)
24. Dallas Cowboys: Deone Walker, DL – Kentucky (2025)
25. Green Bay Packers: Caleb Downs, S – Ohio State (2026)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nic Scourton, EDGE – Texas A&M (2025)
27. Arizona Cardinals: Jared Verse, EDGE – Florida State
28. Buffalo Bills: Quinyon Mitchell, CB – Toledo
29. Detroit Lions: Dillon Thieneman, S – Purdue (2026)
30. Baltimore Ravens: Taliese Fuaga, OT – Oregon State
31. San Francisco 49ers: Cooper DeJean, CB – Iowa
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Zachariah Branch, WR – USC (2026)

This would be quite the wild draft if you had the next two classes available for selection. Even some 2026 prospects snuck into the first round!