• JC Latham is the first offensive tackle off the board: New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to run the football, and he tends to use man/gap scheme run-blocking concepts. Latham earned a 75.0 PFF run-blocking grade last season on those concepts while playing right tackle.
• Indianapolis Colts trade up for Brock Bowers: The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson in the top five last year and have been focused on surrounding him with good offensive talent. They could continue that by trading into the top 10 to get Bowers.
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With just hours away from the 2024 NFL Draft, here are some bold predictions we could see happening on Day 1.
JC Latham is the first offensive tackle off the board
We’ve all talked about Notre Dame’s Joe Alt as the top offensive tackle on the board in a stacked offensive tackle class, which could end up being the case. However, there is a not-so-far-fetched reality where Alabama’s JC Latham could be the first offensive tackle selected. The team that could make that happen is the Los Angeles Chargers. New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to run the football, and he tends to use man/gap scheme run-blocking concepts. Latham earned a 75.0 PFF run-blocking grade last season on those concepts while playing right tackle. The Chargers' current right tackle, Trey Pipkins, earned a 35.7 PFF grade on man/gap blocking plays. The position and style preference could make this one true.
Indianapolis Colts trade up for Brock Bowers
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard isn’t known for trading up. Since he took over as GM in 2017, he has only traded up four times compared to trading down 11. None of those four trade-ups happened in the first round, and Ballard has said he likes more picks throughout the draft. However, I think this could be the year the Colts make a big splash. They drafted Anthony Richardson in the top five last year and have been focused on surrounding him with good offensive talent. They could continue that by trading into the top 10 to get Bowers. The Titans and Falcons could be key teams to monitor for such a trade up.
Baltimore Ravens trade up for an offensive tackle
The Ravens' draft talk has often been centered around wide receiver for the last month or so. However, I think the real bold prediction for Baltimore is trading up for an offensive lineman. Ronnie Stanley has suffered two season-ending ankle injuries over the last three seasons and is in the last year of his contract. I love the idea of the Ravens trading up from pick No. 30 into the late teens or early 20s to get offensive tackle Amarius Mims. The Georgia prospect has all the natural talent in the world but just hasn't played a ton of football over the last three seasons. Drafting him this year would be enable him to acclimate to NFL life, get some snaps under his belt and become a long-term answer for the Ravens moving forward.
Chicago Bears pick a defensive tackle in the first round
The most common pick for the Bears at No. 9 is a wide receiver — mostly Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze. While that is possible, I think there is a legitimate chance they select a defensive tackle in the top 10, specifically a dominant three-technique defensive tackle. Most consensus picks would tell you that if they’re going to do that, it would be Texas’ Byron Murphy, but I also believe Illinois‘ Jer'Zhan Newton would be a major difference maker. Matt Eberflus’ defense needs a good three-technique defensive tackle to really fire on all cylinders. They have most of the rest of their defensive pieces already in place. They could believe one of Murphy or Newton holds the key to really taking their defense to a top-10 level.
Xavier Worthy is the fourth wide receiver off the board
Worthy landing in the first round isn’t a bold prediction. After he ran his record-breaking 4.21-second 40-yard dash, it felt like that was written in stone. However, it feels like the winds of wide receiver talk have moved him even higher than expected. Marvin Harrison Jr., Nabers and Odunze are going to be the first three receivers off the board in some order, but Worthy really could be the next after that. It doesn’t seem like there’s a consensus in league circles for who is that next receiver. Acknowledging that drop-off means also acknowledging that Worthy, who has a true elite trait, could stand out for certain teams.
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