2024 NFL mock draft: Will Bills draft Texas' Adonai Mitchell to replace Stefon Diggs?
The 2024 NFL draft is a few weeks away and speculation is running rampant.
There are 11 former Longhorns who are hoping to have their names called at some point in the draft. Only a few players will be lucky enough to be chosen in the first round of the draft, and Texas fans may see some of their favorites be taken in that range. Byron Murphy II, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and T'Vondre Sweat are all players who are rumored to be taken within the first two-three rounds.
Some teams' needs have changed before draft night, raising the stock of some players and sending others spiraling down boards. For example, Stefon Diggs being traded from the Bills to the Texans may have set up a certain Texas receiver to be taken at a certain draft slot.
Here's what the latest mock drafts are saying.
Adonai Mitchell
Yahoo Sports: Steelers in the 1st round, pick 20
"The Steelers need to take a swing at wide receiver with George Pickens as the only established starter on their roster. Mitchell would fit right in as a high-upside option to mold into the next great Steelers wideout." - Charles McDonald, Nate Tice
The Athletic: Bills in the 1st round, pick 28
"With Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs gone, Buffalo gives Josh Allen more firepower. The 6-2, 205-pound Mitchell, who transferred from Georgia to Texas for his final college season, is a fantastic athlete. As expected, he showed out at the combine. His teammate Xavier Worthy may have made the biggest headlines with his 4.21 40, but Mitchell might’ve been even more impressive. He ran a 4.34 40 with a 1.52 10-yard split." - Bruce Feldman
CBS Sports: Bills in the 1st round, pick 28
"Adonai Mitchell is a bit more of a vision than a finished product, but he brings a much-needed explosive element to the Bills offense." - Josh Edwards
NFL.com: Bills in the 1st round, pick 28
"The departure of Gabe Davis stings less after the Bills add a faster vertical threat with a higher floor." - Lance Zierlein
The Ringer: Bills in the 1st round, pick 28
"Mitchell could walk into camp and win a big part of the offense as the player that Davis never became: a big speed threat who can actually run some routes, win some underneath reps, and create at all three levels. As Stefon Diggs starts to decline, young WR talent should and will be a priority in Buffalo."
Byron Murphy II
Yahoo Sports: Rams in the 1st round, pick 19
"Murphy is not a 1:1 replacement for Aaron Donald. No one could ever be. But he would help at least somewhat fill the hole on the roster that Donald has left, in impact and also in terms of down-to-down alignment. Murphy is a gap-shooting defensive tackle who can get in the backfield and create explosive plays. I like this pairing with Kobie Turner." - Charles McDonald, Nate Tice
The Athletic: Bengals in the 1st round, pick 18
"Signing Trent Brown diminishes the need for an offensive lineman here, although the likes of JC Latham and Olu Fashanu are intriguing. So is Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, but I think Cincinnati goes for Murphy after losing D.J. Reader. The 6-0 1/2, 297-pound Murphy didn’t receive as much hype as his much larger Texas linemate T’Vondre Sweat, the Big 12 defensive player of the year, but opposing coaches say Murphy gave them more headaches. Murphy had 8.5 TFLs and five sacks in 2023, then showed off his freaky athleticism at the combine, running a 4.87 40 with a 33-inch vertical jump." - Bruce Feldman
CBS Sports: Broncos in the 1st round, pick 15 (Trade)
"If they miss out on the top quarterback prospects, rather than get desperate and overdraft the position, the Broncos pick up additional draft capital and address multiple areas of need." - Josh Edwards
NFL.com: Colts in the 1st round, pick 15
"Figuring out the Colts is a challenge in terms of which position they will address here. What we do know is that this Indy regime covets traits and trench warriors. Murphy's undersized, but the DT might be too talented for Chris Ballard to pass on." - Lance Zierlein
The Ringer: Jaguars in the 1st round, pick 17
"Murphy is my favorite defensive tackle in the class, and he’s actually a good fit beside Armstead, with his short, stocky build complementing Armstead’s height and length. Between Murphy, Armstead, Josh Allen, and Travon Walker, there might finally be a pass rush in Jacksonville."
Xavier Worthy
The Athletic: Panthers in the 2nd round, pick 33
"For all the flash of his blazing speed, Worthy has blue-collar work ethic. Texas coaches told The Athletic that he was the best practice player they’ve had. He really couldn’t track the ball well as a sophomore, but worked very hard to improve as he’s continued to become a more complete player." - Bruce Feldman