Day 2 of the 2024 Draft – The best of who’s left

Washington seriously thought about moving back up into the first last night, but they kept their powder dry, and now they have a full arsenal going into Day 2 of the draft. Two picks in the top 8 and three more picks in the third round of the draft, ensure that Adam Peters and company have maximum flexibility to pick over talent that slipped through the first round and build the future of their franchise.

This piece will focus on the possibilities at picks 36 and 40, examining both “best players available” as well as “need fits” for the team.

Here are the top 8 draft slots in the second round:

1. Buffalo
2. New England
3. Arizona
4. Washington
5. LA Chargers
6. Tennessee
7. Carolina
8. Washington

Top Talents Left on the Board

Jackson Powers-Johnson

Position: C/G

Rank: Low 20s

Need?: At center, not with Tyler Biadasz signed to a multi-year deal. But at guard, JPJ could make a ton of sense.

Draft Profile:

Powers-Johnson has checked important boxes throughout the draft process. After stringing together an outstanding season in the Pac-12, he then traveled to Mobile, Alabama and was one of the best overall performers at the Senior Bowl. Powers-Johnson wasn’t a full participant at the NFL Combine, but he displayed athleticism with a 32-inch vertical and an 8-foot-8 broad jump. Powers-Johnson looked smooth and athletic throughout on-field drills, showcasing his easy movement skills despite weighing a 98th-percentile 328 pounds.

The Draper, Utah native is also versatile enough to play guard. Powers-Johnson routinely dominated at both interior positions throughout practice reps at the Senior Bowl. That versatility is a game-changer when discussing his draft stock.

The best offenses in the league have a Pro Bowl-caliber center overseeing it. Patrick Mahomes appreciates Creed Humphrey in Kansas City. The now-retired Jason Kelce had an obvious impact on the Philadelphia Eagles and their revolutionary “tush push.” Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have Tyler Linderbaum. Frank Ragnow has played a sizable role in the Detroit Lions’ offensive explosion in recent years. All four of these centers qualified for the Pro Bowl in 2024.

Powers-Johnson has that kind of potential with an All-Pro ceiling. That’s worthy of a top-32 pick.

Cooper DeJean

Position: DB

Rank: Mid 20s

Need?: This almost completely depends on how the defensive staff see DeJean’s future, as either a corner (big need) or safety (lesser need). That said, DeJean – based on his evaluations strikes me potentially as one of Peters’ “gold helmet” guys. A leader who could shape this defense for years.

Draft Profile:

Highly competitive defensive back with plus ball skills and noteworthy special teams value. DeJean is big and bundled for a cornerback, with muscular arms and tight hips. He has fantastic interception production, but his movements are more linear than fluid, and he doesn’t have the easy change of direction needed in man coverage on the next level. His best football is played with his eyes forward, using his instincts to challenge quarterbacks and his big downhill burst to smack whatever needs smacking. He would seem to be a no-brainer as a punt returner and gunner in Year 1. DeJean should be a big athletic tester, which will help get the hype train going, but finding the proper schematic fit will be important in unlocking his best football as a zone corner or interchangeable safety.

Johnny Newton

Position: DT

Rank: Late 20s

Need?: DT isn’t a need for the team in the near future, and this isn’t considered a great draft for DTs.

Draft Profile:

Active interior defender with the potential to build on his disruptive production in college. Newton’s size and length don’t stand out, but he has shown a consistent ability to gain extension and set edges against bigger opponents. Newton is clever in setting up blockers and then beating them with sudden hand usage and foot quickness as both a run defender and a pass rusher. He’s strong enough to hold the point, but he’s not going to overwhelm NFL guards with force or power. His skill level and athleticism should create additional playmaking opportunities for him as a three-down 3-technique with early starting potential.

Kool-Aid McKinstry

Position: CB

Rank: Early 30s

Need?: CB is definitely a need.

Other options at the position: Mike Sainistril, Ennis Rakestraw

Draft Profile:

Three-year starter and former five-star prospect with a quirky name and consistent game. McKinstry is patient and well-groomed in matching the outside release and riding the inside release from press. He’s confident to handle business on an island and is able to stay in phase as the route travels vertically. He’s not overly fast but does play with plus acceleration to close out crossing routes or make aggressive plays on the catch point. As with most college corners, McKinstry will need to transition some of his open-field hand usage into quality footwork to avoid downfield penalties. He’s more aggressive in coverage than he is as a tackler and could find himself forced to prove his toughness in that area. McKinstry is more of a pure cover man than a playmaker, but his poise, intelligence and athleticism should lead him toward becoming a good outside corner with scheme versatility.

Ladd McConkey

Position: WR

Rank: Early 30s

Need?: WR is a need at some point in the draft. Not sure if it’s a need at 36.

Draft Profile:

Ladd McConkey brings all the athleticism and route-running traits to be a high-quality receiver, but size and strength could limit his potential.

McConkey is one of the better route-runners in the 2024 draft class. His quick feet, smooth hips and instant acceleration allow him to run any route effectively. McConkey particularly excelled running digs, posts and comebacks at Georgia thanks to his acceleration, which helped him put defensive backs on their back foot immediately. The detail in many of his routes is advanced for a player his age.

Likewise, McConkey is not a ball-winner in the air. He just does not have the length, strength or explosive leaping ability to go up for the ball in the air. Contested catches will not be in his bag of tricks in the NFL.

McConkey can be a good slot/Z type in the NFL. He can play both inside and out, he is a highly effective route-runner and his hands are reliable enough. With that said, McConkey’s lack of size and strength will likely limit him to being a complementary piece rather than a core part of his future offense.

Marshawn Kneeland

Position: EDGE

Rank: Early 30s

Need?: EDGE is a need, and Kneeland was a Top 30 visit for Washington. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him chosen with one of these picks.

Draft Profile:

Kneeland is a former high school tight end and his open-field agility can be seen when he’s pursuing the football around the field. He deals consequential first blows to opponents that often create openings for him to generate movement as a run defender or pass rusher. Teams might drop him in as a 4-3 base end, but he’s actually a more consistent playmaker when he’s standing, surveying and using his athleticism rather than fist-fighting at the point of attack. He’s a forceful rusher with a relatively simple game plan, but he does have enough bend to diversify somewhat. There are some mismatched pieces in his game but he offers toughness and talent to mold.

Adonai Mitchell

Position: WR

Rank: Early 30s

Need?: WR is a potential need. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mitchell go to the Bills.

Draft Profile:

Ascending prospect with size, speed and ball skills to become a very good NFL receiver, but he’s still in the process of bridging those traits. Mitchell can beat press and has the speed to take the battle to the third level but he’s still learning the art of bullying the catch space in tight quarters and jump-ball battles. He’s not always a natural hands-catcher, but his ability to snare balls outside his frame is top-notch. His route running currently lacks focus and consistency, but agility and burst out of breaks will not be an issue. Mitchell is rugged after the catch and has the ability to become a winner on all three levels. The difference between becoming a WR2 or WR1 could rest on his urgency and willingness to go to work on the unpolished areas of his craft.

Zach Frazier

Position: IOL

Rank: Mid 30s

Need?: The team could be improved at guard.

Other options at the position: Cooper Beebe, Christian Haynes

Draft Profile:

Sawed-off frame with short arms and terrific power once he gets locked in. Frazier’s lack of ideal arm length will be a problem for some evaluators and could cause him problems on the next level. Frazier has bulldozer drive strength in his lower half but allows his hands to do too much grabbing and hugging at times. He has quick eyes and a firm punch in pass protection, but because of his lack of length and recovery ability, he’s going to have issues if he’s forced to protect on an island. Frazier has the potential to be a good backup or eventual starter, but he needs to play with consistent inside hands and must stay tight to his targets in order to mitigate his physical deficiencies.

Kris Jenkins

Position: DT

Rank: Mid 30s

Need?: No.

Draft Profile:

For NFL general managers, Jenkins will be an investment. He’s not the most consistent pass-rushing threat, but he’s a high-level run defender with the explosiveness, take-on strength, natural leverage, and anchoring ability to swallow blocks and limit displacement. And those same traits give him a pass-rushing upside.

As a 3-tech with stunting versatility as a pass rusher and 5-tech functionality on running downs, Jenkins has merit in the early rounds. He’s a stellar early-down defender on day one, and in time, he could grow to be an impact starter in both phases.

Keon Coleman

Position: WR

Rank: Late 30s

Need?: Yes, a second tier need.

Other options at the position: Roman Wilson, Troy Franklin

Draft Profile:

Above-the-rim artist with circus catches resembling a scene from the tents of Cirque du Soleil. Coleman has excellent size and ball skills. He’s not sudden and doesn’t have great speed, so beating press and creating breathing room against tight man coverages will depend on his ability to improve as a route-runner. The former star basketball player has a rebounder’s blend of extension and timing to give jump-ball defenders the blues. He’s big and strong with soft hands, but he can play with a little more aggression in claiming his deep-ball space and getting after it as a run blocker. Coleman might lack the athletic traits to be a well-rounded WR2. Instead, keep an eye on him as a big slot receiver who can be a red-zone specialist.

Kingsley Suamataia

Position: OT

Rank: Early 40s

Need?: Yes, tackle is the top need for the team at this point.

Other options at the position: Patrick Paul, Brandon Coleman, Roger Rosengarten

Draft Profile:

While Suamataia has the foundation in place to play on an island in the NFL, he will drift and overset to create a soft inside shoulder and has an upright playing style that allows quick access into his frame against speed to power. He’s also unrefined when it comes to spacing, depth and recognizing stunts, games and late-developing blitzes that creates leakage and penetration.

Suamataia’s burst and quickness get him to his landmarks and fits on time, and he has the mass to jar defenders on contact before creating seals and alleys off his backside on down blocks, climbs and pulls. He is an asset on the move with the ability to track, intersect and blot out smaller targets.

Suamataia’s pad level, hand placement and sustain skills are hit or miss against moves across his face when he has to adjust his aiming points on the fly, leading to him getting overextended and falling off blocks too quickly looking for a kill shot. He also needs to refine his footwork on backside cut-offs to prevent stepping under himself and falling behind his target.

Overall, Suamataia has the physical tools of a starting tackle with an unrefined skill set that is built on flashes rather than proven consistency. But he’ll be only 21 when he gets drafted, and he has the runway to add polish to his game and bridge that gap within his first contract in an RPO/play-action based system that can help bring him along slowly.

Junior Colson

Position: LB

Rank: Early 40s

Need?: LB is not a current need, but could easily be one next year. Colson is considered by some to be the best LB in this year’s draft.

Draft Profile:

Inside linebacker with an excellent combination of size and strength to take on blocks and patrol the action from the second level. Colson’s upper-body strength and body control stand out when battling blocks or finishing tackles. He has adequate sideline-to-sideline range but needs to play with faster recognition to keep from getting trapped by climbing blocks. He doesn’t play with a trigger-happy, downhill mindset, so he misses out on playmaking opportunities. Colson is a tough guy with good stopping power and can handle himself in coverage. He projects as a good three-down linebacker, but improving block recognition and taking a few more chances could elevate him into the next tier at the position.

Edgerrin Cooper

Position: LB

Rank: Mid 40s

Need?: LB is not a current need, but could easily be one next year. Cooper is considered by some to be the best LB in this year’s draft.

Draft Profile:

Highly physical linebacker with elite top-end speed and a burning desire to get to the football that can lead to some inconsistencies in his play. Cooper is average at diagnosing the run but takes off around traffic on a mission to find the ball-carrier once he sees it. He can be undisciplined playing his run fits and takes unorthodox paths downhill, but he somehow finds ways to slither around blocks and make challenging tackles. Cooper is a punishing hitter/tackler from any spot on the field, but he’s going to overshoot the mark from time to time due to his lack of control in pursuit. He’s a capable quarterback spy, can blitz the pocket and will be an instant hit on special teams, but teams will need to balance the inconsistencies with the passionate run-and-hit mentality.