TDN scout Keith Sanchez recently dropped his latest 2024 first-round NFL mock draft. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive linemen dominate the opening 10 selections of Sanchez's mock draft, one I’ve been selected to dissect. Read the full mock draft here.
Our latest TDN100 update has served as a reference point for both Sanchez’s mock draft and my analysis. I've identified my favorite selections, scheme fits, and the best prospect not selected. I also have some question marks. Let’s dive into Sanchez’s latest 2024 NFL mock draft.
Favorite pick: Malik Nabers, WR, New York Jets (No. 10 overall)
Malik Nabers is among the five best overall players in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jets would be thrilled if he's available with the 10th overall selection. General manager Joe Douglas is searching for instant contributors to surround franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers with. The Jets will almost certainly pick a pass-catcher or offensive tackle as a result.
New York’s Super Bowl window is swiftly closing given Rodgers’ advancing age. Maximizing Rodgers' supporting cast is of the utmost importance. Drafting Nabers and pairing him with Garrett Wilson would give the Jets the best route-running duo in all of football.
Biggest Question Mark: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 20 overall)
The Steelers are understandably looking for an appropriate cornerback partner opposite Joey Porter Jr. Mike Tomlin's pass defense allowed 227.1 air yards per contest last season. Improvement is necessary within a competitive AFC North division that features Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson as adversaries.
Is Kool-Aid McKinstry the best the Steelers can do with the 20th pick? McKinstry did not participate athletically at last week's NFL Combine after his medical checks reportedly discovered a Jones fracture in his right foot. McKinstry plans to work out at his Pro Day on March 20th, but he'll then undergo surgery. That could scare off suitors like the Steelers, who could have drafted McKinstry's partner Terrion Arnold in this scenario instead, a player I believe to be a better overall prospect even when all things are equal.
Best Scheme Fit: JC Latham, OT, Miami Dolphins (No. 21 overall)
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel unlocked the full capabilities of his run game in 2023 after fielding a struggling unit in 2022. The Dolphins averaged a sixth-ranked 135.8 rushing yards per contest. McDaniel must ensure he continues overseeing a well-balanced offense next season.
Physicality is crucial to maintaining that effectiveness. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead has mulled retirement this offseason and still faces an uncertain future. If Armstead decides to return for 2024, it'll almost certainly be his final professional season. Drafting a physical mauler like JC Latham would give the Dolphins an in-house succession plan. Latham's mauling mentality is a great fit for Miami's offense.
Best Value: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 26 overall)
Brian Thomas Jr. was one of the most impressive performers at the NFL Combine. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Thomas Jr. ran the 40-yard dash in a lightning-quick 4.33 seconds. It was the second-fastest time recorded by a receiver behind Xavier Worthy's record-breaking 4.21. It was an electric result for a playmaker of Thomas Jr.'s size and stature.
It likely catapulted Thomas Jr.'s pre-draft stock into the top 20, possibly the top 15. Drafting Thomas Jr. with the 26th pick would represent the best value of the entire first round. It would also provide the Buccaneers with one helluva pass-catching trio, placing Thomas Jr. next to Chris Godwin and the recently re-signed Mike Evans.
Best Player Not Selected: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Sanchez’s mock features a whopping seven offensive tackles, but he couldn't find a landing spot for one notable blocker. Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton is absent from the opening 32 selections. I believe Guyton has established himself as a first-round pick throughout this process.
Guyton's easy movement skills and athleticism were on display at the Senior Bowl. His NFL Combine results included an elite 34.5-inch vertical, and his 1.76 10-yard split was equally eye-opening. Guyton features terrific size at 6-foot-7 and 322 pounds. His performance ceiling is as high as any tackle in this class.
