Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books! With one day remaining before the start of undrafted free agency, we’ll look back on the busy night on what was good and bad.
For as few trades as we saw on Night 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, we were given a show early on Night 2. In total, there were eight trades in the first 17 selections. It was an active night for multiple teams, including the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles. With different team boards starting to cloud due to the perception of the draft (after the first round), there were many surprise picks. In turn, there were plenty of good values that were had.
Before we turn our attention to the draft’s final day, let’s look back on a busy Friday night.
We’ll use Arif Hasan from Wide Left’s Top 300 consensus board to help provide further context into these rankings.
Best Five Selections Of Day 2
1. CB Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles) at No. 40
Defensive back was a big need for the Eagles, and through two picks, they’ve handled business. General manager Howie Roseman has done a fantastic job of finding value in both selections. One could argue, he got a pair of Top 5 defensive backs in back-to-back rounds. It’ll be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio uses him. He’s a versatile player who could play outside, nickel, or safety. The concerted effort to improve the secondary should pay off.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #22
2. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (New Orleans Saints) at No. 41
Similar to the DeJean pick, the Saints trade up to capitalize on a great value at a key spot. McKinstry did have a foot injury pre-draft but killed his pro day. All in all, this is another outstanding value pick and was well worth the cost of the trade-up. New Orleans’ defense should stay strong. His 2023 product was a little more inconsistent, but he’s got the size and speed combo to go with good man coverage skills. He’s a perfect fit in the Saints’ defensive scheme.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #27
3. iOL Jackson Powers-Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders) at No. 44
Las Vegas has made a pair of value selections, even if they aren’t exactly positions of need. This is quite a departure from their previous regimes. JPJ is arguably the best center prospect in this draft but has the size and movement skills to play guard. Considering they announced him as a guard and just signed their starting center, Andre James, to a three-year extension, it appears Powers-Johnson will start his career at one of the two guard spots. Either way, it’s a great value for a first-round talent that was taken halfway into the second round.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #28
4. WR Adonai Mitchell (Indianapolis Colts) at No. 52
Mitchell was a player most had going in the Top 25 picks of the draft. Some reported maturity concerns, and effort questions dropped him down to the midway portion of Round 2. General manager Chris Ballard took the risk and could be rewarded with a WR1 type of player. Mitchell’s talent is undeniable. When he’s playing at full speed and using his speed, he’s one of the best in the class. He does need quite a bit of refinement, but head coach Shane Steichen is one of the better offensive minds in the league. If any team is going to un-tap the potential that Mitchell brings, it might be the Colts. The overall value, especially considering how early in the draft this was, is undeniable. It’s a risk worth taking.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #29
5. iOL Cooper Beebe (Dallas Cowboys) at No. 73
Beebe was one of the weirder evaluations in this draft class. Some analysts were very high on him, while others had him as a fourth-round talent. I had him closer to the late second, but landing him at No. 73 is a quality value. Dallas has still yet to address their big hole at running back but adding more talent in the trenches is rarely a bad thing. Beebe has all the tools to be a Day 1 starter, and this will give the Cowboys more flexibility. The good news: There’s still plenty of talent at the running back position heading into Day 3.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #46
Worst Five Selections of Day 2
1. OT Caeden Wallace (New England Patriots) at No. 68
This is a pick that just made absolutely no sense to me. The Patriots had a few pretty big reaches (if you go off of the consensus board), but this one was egregious. Not only is Wallace an older prospect, but he doesn’t project as a Day 1-ready offensive lineman. Defacto general manager Elliot Wolf says he will compete at left tackle, but this feels like a pick that could have waited into Day 3. Most boards didn’t have him as a Top 150 player. This was a steep price to pay at the start of the third round. Despite Bill Belichick no longer being employed in New England, the strange valuation of their picks continues.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #186
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Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
2. DT Ruke Orhorhoro (Atlanta Falcons) at No. 35
Ruuuuke! This was a name that I thought could have gone earlier than he was projected, but I did not expect to see him as the third pick in the second round, especially with Newton still on the board. Orhorhoro is a physical freak, and there’s plenty to like, but the production was never consistent. He’s much more of a developmental project, and a guy like Newton comes in and starts right away. It’s been a very confusing start to the draft for Atlanta. On top of that, they traded up to make this selection.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #68
3. CB Renardo Green (San Francisco 49ers) at No. 64
I really liked Green as a late third, early fourth-round defensive back. The last pick in the second round feels a bit too rich for me. Sure, he locked down Malik Nabers when they faced LSU, but he’s a bit on the small side, and his overall production has been inconsistent. The second round was full of many “reaches” based on the consensus board, but this one was one of the bigger ones, especially with players like T.J. Tampa still on the board.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #110
4. WR Ja’Lynn Polk (New England Patriots) at No. 37
The Patriots made the list twice, and for good reason. Now, don’t get me wrong: I have nothing against Polk. He’s a fine player and should carve out a nice role as a complimentary piece. My bigger issue was the talent remaining on the board when the Patriots made this selection. I’m sure their medical evaluations played a part in this decision, but they passed on names like Mitchell, Malachi Corley, and even Roman Wilson. For the value, this just does not seem like the right pick for a rebuilding team with a new regime.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #62
5. DT Maason Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars) at No. 48
At one point, Smith looked destined to be a Top 15-20 pick, but then injuries happened. The ceiling is there, but the production and overall consistency are not. I understand shooting for upside, but with Kris Jenkins still on the board (#49 overall), this pick is a bit of a head-scratcher. The Jaguars are reworking the defensive line, which makes sense, but the value here feels like a round too early.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #86
Who were your best and worst picks for day two?
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