Winners & losers from Day 2 of the NFL Draft

The second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft are when the great drafting teams start to stand out.

The second day of the NFL Draft is just as important as the first. (Thanks, John Madden).

Teams that pick on both days have the chance to shift their roster, fill potential holes or pick for the best player on their board.

The second and third rounds are also how teams start to separate themselves as great drafting teams or stay mediocre. We saw that in full force on Friday night.

Here are the winners and losers from the second day of the NFL Draft in Detroit.

Winners

Denver Broncos

The Broncos got their quarterback and addressed the need for edge depth in the third round. Denver gets a young guy in Jonah Elliss who Sean Payton and Co. can mold into the player he can become. As the adage goes in the NFL, you can never have enough depth at the edge position. And Elliss brings a twitchy trait none of the other edges on Broncos currently have.

Philadelphia Eagles

Howie Roseman is one of the best executives in the NFL. And it’s starting to feel like he’s lapping the field and showing off. The Eagles entered the Draft in need of replenishing their secondary. Hence the reports of them trading with the Denver Broncos to move up and/or trade for Pat Surtain II. Instead, Roseman remained patient and got two of the best cornerbacks in the entire Draft with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Granted, he did have to move up in the second round to get the second one, but this is masterclass drafting by Philly.

Washington Commanders

Adam Peters is having a wonderful Draft in his first year as the GM in Washington. He obviously got the quarterback he and the Commanders coveted with the No. 2 pick in Jayden Daniels, but he followed that up with some incredible picks on Day 2. Peters got Jer’Zahan Newton, Mike Sainristill, Ben Sinnott and Brandon Coleman. Sainristill could become the best player in this Draft. Great drafting by Washington.

Pittsburgh Steelers

If ever there was a Steelers pick, we saw it in the second round when Pittsburgh selected Zach Frazier. Not only a player that fills a need for the Steelers but one with a lot of talent upside. That’s on top of the first-round pick, tackle Troy Fautanu.

Indianapolis Colts

After selecting Adonai Mitchell at No. 52, the Colts could have a really fun and fast offense. That’s especially true if Anthony Richardson returns healthy from his injury. Indy also got arguably the best defensive player in the Draft when it selected Laiatu Latu at No. 15.

Carolina Panthers

Similar to the Colts, Carolina is working to get its young QB weapons on offense. In the first round, the Panthers selected receiver Xavier Legette and followed that up in the second with running back Jonathan Brooks. Carolina also traded down and still got Brooks.

Meh

Buffalo Bills

I really want to put the Bills in the loser category for trading with the Kansas City Chiefs and allowing them to add a very talented receiver. That is just what Patrick Mahomes needs. However, Josh Allen did get a beast at receiver in the first pick of the second round in Keon Coleman.

Los Angeles Chargers

There’s no question Jim Harbaugh knows what he wants from his teams and how to construct it. Joe Alt is what the Chargers need. But when you lose Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and the replacement is Ladd McConkey? That’s not to say McConkey isn’t a good player, but that’s the replacement? Not that I’m complaining.

Losers

Atlanta Falcons

I have no idea what the Falcons are doing in this Draft. There’s the masterclass drafting that we’re seeing from the Eagles and Commanders and then there’s whatever the hell the Falcons are doing. Not only in taking Michael Penix but also in trading up to take a defensive tackle Atlanta could have selected with its original second-round pick.