2024 NFL Draft: Pick-by-pick analysis for Day 2

After trading back twice on Thursday, the Bills stick at 33 and take a big, physical and athletically gifted target. Coleman isn't fast and isn't a deep threat, but he can win in a variety of ways. But who will Josh Allen's deep threat be? Stay tuned.

Our second pick, second receiver and first trade of the night. The Patriots slide back a few spots, and the Chargers get a receiver who should be thrust right into the mix. Although McConkey had injury issues at Georgia, if he's able to stay healthy, he could be Justin Herbert's favorite target in due time. With great route-running skills and impressive separation ability, McConkey could be an 80-catch player one day.

Another trade, with the Falcons swooping up. And this is their second curious pick of this draft. Nothing against Orhorhoro, who has some intriguing skills and might be a better stat stuffer in the NFL than he was at Clemson. But with Johnny Newton on the board, this pick felt like a reach when you consider Atlanta's biggest need -- pass rush.

The Commanders clearly read the comment above this one. They'll happily take Newton, who is a ferocious scheme-wrecker as a 3-technique and probably should have gone higher than this. They might have bypassed offensive tackle for now, with no talent worth taking here, but they interestingly are pretty stocked at defensive tackle.

I wonder if the Patriots weren't hoping for Coleman to fall to them. Polk has some nice physical traits, possesses really nice body control to adjust to passes outside his frame and stepped up nicely when Jalen McMillan was hurt midseason last year. But I saw Polk's upside as lower, viewing him more as a third-round talent. He'll add size to New England's smaller WR room, though.

Our first mini-shocker of the day. The massive Sweat was believed to be a possible top-50 pick at one point, but that was prior to his recent arrest. Credit to the Titans if they did the requisite work on Sweat's character in the past few weeks. He's a massive human being capable of closing down two gaps by himself, but some teams felt Sweat might be available entering Round 4 based on recent developments.

Fiske isn't Aaron Donald -- no one is -- but he's a highly active, highly disruptive, undersized interior rusher who will join his college teammate, Jared Verse, on a rebuilt Rams D-line. Fiske and Verse will provide boundless energy up front, even if neither is truly an elite pass rusher. The move up the board to snag Fiske cost the Rams a 2025 second-rounder. GM Les Snead doesn't care, though; he loves full-tilt defenders such as these.

The Eagles somehow managed to trade up and land DeJean, who might be best in a nickel/safety hybrid role, to supplement their Day 1 pick of Quinyon Mitchell. Consider the secondary upgraded. DeJean could do for the Eagles what Brian Branch did last year for the Lions. This feels like a terrific selection for a defense that was way overtaxed by season's end in 2023. Plus, DeJean is a quality returner.

The secondary figured to be a spot the Saints might attack, and they traded up to land McKinstry. He's a steady, smart, solid corner with good field awareness and decent but not great ball skills. This selection feels like a solid line drive into the gap for a team that needs more reliable defenders.

If you need a receiver, defensive lineman or corner, you might quickly be out of luck. The Texans got in on the action with their first pick of the draft, and it arguably was their most glaring remaining need after a banner offseason. Lassiter isn't a top playmaker, and he features only average physical traits, but he could be a great nickel corner with his toughness, instincts and patience.

"Mad Max" really sold me in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. He's a typical Rutgers DB in that he's smart, tough and instinctive, but Melton's speed and press-man coverage ability take him to another level. Another strong piece added to what's looking like a terrific Cardinals draft so far.

Brock Bowers felt like a throwback Raiders pick to me, but JPJ really feels like an Al Davis classic. Powers-Johnson is a big, brawling interior lineman who played center last year but also can line up at guard -- the position he was announced at -- and bury the man opposite him, even if he's a little stiff and an average athlete.

Green Bay slid back and drafted a top-40 talent on my board in Cooper. He's the classic mold of what this Packers scouting staff seeks in a linebacker, possessing excellent speed, length and pursuit ability. There's a starting spot opposite Quay Walker, and I think Cooper will grab it, but both those players can play a little too freely and loosely at times.

Had Brooks not suffered a torn ACL in November, he might have been a first-round pick. He's a shifty, speedy back who can hit the hole and go, and he should be Carolina's starter before long. I thought they might go center here, but Brooks makes sense for a team that lacked offensive juice.

Nubin might lack a superpower as a prospect with no special trait, but he does a lot of things very well. He can be the Giants' post safety as an assignment-sound defender who will bring excellent intensity and commitment to the locker room.

When I spoke to Smith last week, he made sure to highlight his workout with the Jaguars -- his final team visit -- as clearly his best. The Jags agreed. Smith has first-round tools but has been beset by injuries and a rotating cast of defensive coaches at LSU. His production is lacking, but his potential is downright exciting. If they're patient, the Jaguars might have something here.

Jenkins wasn't a high-snap player at Michigan, but he was relatively productive on a per-snap basis and could end up a better pro than he was a college player. He has NFL bloodlines (the former Panthers DT of the same name) and should be a good addition to the Cincinnati rotation. Jenkins saved his best football for down the stretch last season, helping lead Michigan to a national title.

One day, Sainristil will be your favorite nickel back's favorite nickel back. Scouts love the guy in spite of his smaller, leaner frame and despite switching over from receiver only a few years ago. His football instincts are extremely sound, and his intangibles are off the charts. This is a terrific pick for a franchise bent on completely remaking the football culture in Washington.

Following the first-round selection of Troy Fautanu, Frazier makes for another commendable OL addition. He's not a top-tier athlete, but with 46 college starts, strong football intelligence and a gnarly demeanor, Frazier is a typecast Steelers center.

After a mini-slide, Mitchell lands in a Colts offense in need of more firepower. He has the length and speed to be a vertical, jump-ball target for Anthony Richardson and showed a knack for clutch performances in college. Mitchell's lean build and his need for more refinement might cap his early-career production a bit, but he's well worth the risk here.

The newfangled Commanders seem to get this draft thing. Their three Day 2 picks so far have all been personal favorites, including Sinnott, whom I appeared to be higher on than some other media draft folks. He's got some Mark Andrews to his game, as Sinnott can find open spaces readily, has reliable hands and will break tackles in the passing game. He also gives good effort as a blocker. 

The Browns enter the draft chat with a local pick -- and an on-brand one. Hall is one of the younger prospects in the draft, something the Browns certainly favor in their evaluations, and he's an exciting prospect inside with pass-rush potential. He started only 12 college games, with six sacks, but if you watch the Buckeye's tape down the stretch, it's easy to see his potential as a twitchy rusher if he can keep the motor running hot.

With the offensive tackle ranks significantly thinned, the Dolphins jumped in on Paul after going defense in Round 1. He wasn't my favorite OT prospect this year, with Paul giving me some Josh Jones vibes. His mass and reach are impressive, and he has 44 college starts at left tackle. But if Paul is Terron Armstead's eventual replacement, getting a year to develop his craft, this pick might work out.

Demarcus Lawrence turns 32 in a few days, so taking a pass rusher whom many evaluators believed would be a top-50 pick makes a lot of sense. Kneeland caught my eye in Mobile at the Senior Bowl with his effort, natural strength and mass as a strong-side rush prospect. He's not ready for primetime yet, but Kneeland is a very intriguing player and a smart value pick here.

It's not often that a player with two college starts lands inside the top 60 picks, but Braswell did emerge last season as a jack of all trades for the Crimson Tide. At the very least, he could be a terrific special-teamer, but the Bucs likely hope to develop Braswell's pass-rush arsenal and squeeze even more out of his terrific athletic profile.

The Eagles might lead the NFL in drafting Georgia defenders, but the Packers have been giving them a run for their money in recent years. Bullard fills a need at safety, and he brings the kinds of intangibles this scouting department places a premium on. He can play out of control at times and isn't a tremendous athlete, but Bullard is an intense competitor who can play multiple spots in the secondary and be a four-down player.

Joe Alt was the Irish's best blocker last year, but Fisher once was a higher-rated high school recruit -- and his stock has been on the rise since the combine. Fisher has toned up his body and shed a lot of bad weight, and he also showed a little more killer instinct in his style last season after earning a reputation of being something of a finesse blocker, in spite of his mass and length. He's young and moldable but probably best as a right tackle or guard.

Safety was a big need for the Bills, and they go back to the Utes for help after taking Dalton Kincaid in Round 1 a year ago. Bishop is a very good athlete and field general who can play the post safety spot and cover a lot of ground. He played like the QB of the Utes' defense the past two years and could be a rookie starter for Buffalo.

I mocked Rakestraw to the Lions in Round 1 back in late January, and here he lands in Detroit a round later. Rakestraw's injury and pre-draft process complicated his scouting report and pushed him behind a few other corners, but he has the mentality to fit in very well in Detroit. He's a willing tackler and a talented man-cover guy -- even if Rakestraw lacks elite length or athleticism.

The Ravens really needed some OL help, and here it is. Rosengarten was a standout in Ryan Grubb's quick-strike offensive system and is an above-average athlete for the position, possessing the footwork to match talented rushers. Rosengarten played the right side, which was Michael Penix Jr.'s blind side, but previously played left tackle and could do the same in the NFL.

Another player whom I once mocked to the correct team (but a round too high), Suamataia is a former five-star high school recruit who boasts elite size and length and all the tools to be good. But Suamataia is not likely ready for the big leagues just yet and will have to have his motor revved up to earn a starting role as a rookie.

Green made a name for himself with his coverage vs. Malik Nabers in the 2023 season opener and had a strong final college season after switching back from safety to outside corner. Green does lack great size and athletic traits, but his natural coverage skills and improved playmaking skills give him a decent chance.

Some have likened Corley to "Deebo Samuel Lite" for his running back-like build and tackle-breaking ability, although he's not as dynamic a player yet as Samuel is. The Jets can use him in the Randall Cobb role and upgrade that spot, however.

Benson was a consistent producer at FSU, able to rip off big plays readily with his home run speed (including on kickoff returns). He has an excellent chance to win the Cardinals' starting job down the line; for now, he profiles as a very good complement to James Conner. The Cardinals are making the most of their picks, folks.

He was announced as a guard, interestingly, which is not where Coleman played primarily last year -- and tackle is certainly the biggest worry in Washington. But he did see time at guard, too, and has the athleticism to work in a Kliff Kingsbury offense predicated on OL movement.

Wallace is a thick-bodied right tackle who developed into an NFL prospect later in his six-year college career. With 40 college starts, he has experience, but it's almost all at that position, and Coleman was considered something of an underachiever earlier in his career. A reach for me.

If there was one player I would have bet would follow Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers, it would have been Mike Sainristil or Colson. The latter was the emotional heartbeat of a championship Michigan defense, as Colson is a full-tilt competitor who brings his all to every game and every practice. He's a tackling machine whose coverage limitations were likely what caused him to fall out of the top 50 picks.

Phillips had a few rough games last season, but he could develop into a useful piece in the Giants secondary, either as a nickel or an outside safety. His size and ball production are subpar, but his toughness and tackling skill(s) give him a solid floor.

Adams was miscast as a tackle last year out of necessity, but his best home appears to be inside in the pros. He's an ornery run blocker and strong finisher in tight quarters but can be taxed by speed rushers. A solid piece with experience at multiple spots.

A late addition to my top 100 prospects list, Wallace is a top-tier athlete who finally seemed to find his groove last season -- on special teams but especially on defense. He's capable of covering tight ends and running backs and should impact all four downs, but Wallace is young and could use a redshirt year before he's ready to be featured on defense.

I'm shocked Beebe lasted this long. To me, he's one of the most bust-proof players in this draft class, even if it's at a lower-priority position. But Beebe is a perfect fit in Dallas, where he can compete for a starting job eventually and provide strong depth inside. He could even be tried at center, if needed.

Trice was a consistent pressure source the past two years for the Huskies but had a rough pre-draft process. He shed a bunch of weight for the NFL Scouting Combine but failed to display better speed because of it. But Trice was smart to bulk back up for his pro day because I think his game is predicated on winning with a combination of effort and surprising pop in his hands.

Amegadjie might have been a top-50 selection had he not been limited to four games last season and restricted in what he could do, workout-wise, leading up to the draft. With his mass and length, Amegadjie passes the eye test instantly, and he often dominated Ivy League competition, but he has "developmental player" written all over him.

The son of massive former Lions DL Luther Elliss, Jonah is -- by contrast -- an undersized rusher. He broke out last season with quickness off the ball, decent length and consistently good effort. I thought he was more of a Day 3 player than Day 2, but he could surprise me.

A left or right tackle with great length and so-so athleticism, Glaze was considered a question mark because of some past injuries (including an ACL), but the Raiders clearly feel good about him here. He's likely a swing tackle to start out but could compete for a starting job down the line.

Bullock checks off a lot of boxes -- height, ball production and age (he doesn't turn 21 until next week) -- and might end up a sleeper in this class. His lean frame likely makes him a center fielder type, although a few teams talked about possibly trying him at corner leading up to the draft. 

Goncalves has played both OT spots, taken reps at center and could be tried at guard in Indy. He's a large-framed man with athletic limitations, but his fierce, disciplined style could make him a valuable super-sub on the O-line.

Burton was a player who was in my initial top 100 list but fell out after some teams indicated that he might need time to learn how to be a pro. But the traits and skill are there to be a surprise performer for a Bengals team that might have to move on from Tee Higgins eventually. Burton's natural hands and vertical speed give him a chance.

UConn had its struggles in recent years, but Haynes made watching them a lot more fun. He brought his no-nonsense style and lunchpail to Mobile and performed admirably at the Senior Bowl, likely solidifying himself as a Day 2 pick there. Haynes is a bit stumpy-framed and doesn't quite look as athletic as his testing numbers suggest, but he's a fun competitor.

One of the clear winners at the NFL Scouting Combine, Reiman arrived in Indy a semi-unknown (at least in fan and media circles) but left with people scurrying to watch his tape. The thick-framed Reiman didn't catch many passes in college, as he's primarily known for his blocking -- and that remains his strength. But the athletic traits suggest he might have untapped receiving potential.

Corum and Jim Harbaugh might end up neighbors for all we know, but they'll be rivals. The Rams are getting another smaller, compact runner to pair with Kyren Williams; both he and Corum are instinctive, tough and possess good vision. NFC West foes won't enjoy tackling these two.

With Diontae Johnson traded to Carolina, there was a vacancy for a quick slot receiver. Consider that filled now. Wilson can win with toughness and competitiveness and has the route-running savvy to separate without ideal measurables and strength. The Steelers scout wide receivers well.

Rich Eisen might not be able to handle all this. First, the Michigan players trotted out the trophy, then three straight Wolverines go off the board. Zinter is a smart, tough, athletic interior blocker whose medical evaluation clouded his draft picture, but he has a winner's mentality and is a born leader.

A college tackle who has made the most of his ability, Puni is an easy player to appreciate with the unbridled power he packs in his punch. He has five-position backup potential and eventually could be a starting interior player. 

Liufau was one of the last players on the cutting-room floor of my final top 100 list. He uses unusually long arms and rare burst to blow up his fair share of plays, but Liufau might be best off as a special teams demon until he can refine his craft more as a linebacker.

This could be Aaron Jones' replacement, even if the Packers added Josh Jacobs this offseason. Lloyd's messy medical history likely was the biggest reason he fell behind some other backs, but his burst, three-down ability and make-you-miss agility make him sort of a poor man's D'Andre Swift.

Smith has a Mike Edwards-like projection, so it's easy to see why the Bucs took Smith here, in the same range they drafted Edwards in 2019. Although Smith is undersized and not an elite athlete, he has the nose for the ball and enough special teams value to be a contributor in Year 1.

Jones put on an athletic show at the combine and pumped some life into his draft stock after six years in college. He can help in man coverage and will be a special teams contributor after doing that extensively at BC.

Hopper wasn't quite as productive last season for Mizzou as he was in 2022, looking a step slow a number of times. Injuries were a big reason why, and Hopper's pro day workout likely was the difference in him landing in Round 3 and not on Day 3. He has pass-rush potential and can drop in zone coverage.

A smooth-moving slot or outside receiver, McMillan returned from injury to help the Huskies make it all the way to the national title game. He has big mitts, good hands and more juice than he's sometimes given credit for. This is a really nice weapon to add to the Bucs' WR room.

A top-60 player on my board, Isaac is a very good athlete with quickness and football IQ, although his production was a bit spotty. I believe in his well-rounded skill set and ability to fit just about any front. He's a very Ravens-ish prospect with upside.

The rare Ivy League safety-turned-Southland Conference pass rusher. Hunt is an unusual prospect, but he's intriguing and athletically blessed enough to be a pass-rush project who can be groomed behind the scenes while he works out on special teams. His development could take time but might pay off in a big way.

When I first watched Carter at the Senior Bowl, I wrote in my notes: "rolling ball of knives." Carter's game doesn't have a lot of pretty to it, but he's a scheme disruptor with his low center of gravity, ferocious style and nasty demeanor.

Measuring nearly 6-feet and running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash helped Jones' cause quite a bit. He has inside and outside experience but likely will be a nickel corner in the NFL. I thought he was a Day 3 prospect because of his short arms and long injury history, but Jones has gone up against talented receivers and won some battles.

Likely a two-down player in the NFL, Jackson has a prototypical nose tackle build and enough length to close down passing lanes in quarterbacks' faces, but he's not going to offer much as a pass rusher.

Wilson's health concerns were the biggest reason why he fell this far. A top-40 football talent (even with short arms), Wilson has three-down ability and might be a spectacular steal here -- or the type of player who struggles to stay healthy. He might not have a long career, but Wilson is one of the better all-around linebackers in this class.

He's not the biggest guy, or the fastest, but Kinchens has some similarities to former Rams third-rounder John Johnson III. There are very few big holes in Kinchens' game but also very few high-level traits. But he can be a solid NFL safety.

GM Adam Peters came from San Francisco, where they had another guy with the same last name. This McCaffrey is a converted QB who has settled in nicely at receiver, able to translate his football IQ and athleticism into production. He has good hands, likely will work best in the slot and is regarded as a future coach. Another culture pick for Washington.