Illinois Football: Mock draft has Illini with a top 15 pick in 2024 NFL Draft

Illinois football has a first-round pick in a mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Over the past week, the Illini saw great success when it comes to sending players to the NFL. We had our first top-five draft pick since 1996. There were three players selected in the first three rounds. Four players were selected overall. And then, after the draft, a handful of players were signed as priority free agents.

I would call the 2023 NFL Draft a major success for the Illinois football program. But now that the draft is over, pundits are already putting out predictions for the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

This draft is going to be loaded with talent, starting with the favorite to go No. 1 overall, Caleb Williams. But Illinois is also looking to make a splash in this draft. We actually have a player in Johnny Newton who is projected to go early in the first round.

Illinois defensive lineman Johnny Newton will be one of the top defensive linemen for the 2024 NFL Draft

On Tuesday, Pro Football Focus College published a way-to-early mock draft for 2024. They have the usual suspects at the top in Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Brock Bowers, to name a few. As you scroll down, you don’t have to go much further to find Newton.

With pick No. 11 in the first round, PFF College has the Seattle Seahawks taking the talented interior defensive lineman. He would be joining forces with former teammate Devon Witherspoon, who was taken with pick No. 5 in the 2023 NFL Draft.

In the write-up of Newton, PFF writes that one of the reasons that Newton returned to Illinois for another season was due to the fact he wanted to be a first-round pick.

Honestly, I think the coaching change at Illinois was the best thing for Newton. While he was going to be a star no matter what, moving to a 3-4 defense has enabled him to shine even more.

In 2023, Newton finished the season with 61 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries. These numbers and his impact on the Illini earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors, and he was selected as a second or third-team All-American by every outlet.

I believe Newton could easily be the No. 11 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He is going to anchor one of the best defensive lines in the country. Look for Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. to be one of the best one-two punches on the defensive line that we have seen in program history. This season is about to be special.