Murray feels great hungry for big Game 7
It's time for a first look at which prospects could go where on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft. There were five trades in Round 1, but only one involved a pick in Round 2. The Bills traded back twice -- from No. 28 to No. 32 with the Chiefs, then to No. 33 with the Panthers -- with Carolina jumping into the end of the first round to take wide receiver Xavier Legette.
That means this mock draft order is very close to what it looked like entering the draft. There are several highly regarded prospects available, including Cooper DeJean, who is my third-ranked cornerback and No. 19 prospect overall. The wide receiver class is deep and there are a few on the board who could make an early impact as rookies, including Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey and Keon Coleman, each of whom is ranked in the Scouts Inc. top 40. Could they find early landing spots Friday night?
Let's get into my mock draft of how Round 2 will play out, Nos. 33 through 64. I'm doing this projection based purely on fit and need and how every team could fill roster holes. I'm not going to try to predict trades, though we know a few will throw off the order. It's even possible Buffalo could trade back from the No. 33 pick:
NFL draft coverage: Kiper's Round 1 recap: Winners, losers Experts debate Round 1: Biggest steals Scouting reports | DraftCast | More
Round 2 mock draft 33. Buffalo Bills (via CAR)Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Buffalo traded back on Thursday night, and it could still acquire a pressing need here by drafting the 19th-ranked player on my board.
34. New England PatriotsAdonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Trading down and drafting an offensive tackle later in the second makes sense, but the value at tackle isn't there at this pick. The next best option is getting a target for rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and Mitchell is good value.
35. Arizona CardinalsKool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Cardinals signed Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency, but they still have more to do at corner. McKinstry, my fifth-ranked cornerback in this class, falls to them in this scenario.
36. Washington CommandersEnnis Rakestraw Jr, CB, Missouri
The Commanders have a need at corner and land a potential starter in Rakestraw, who was a three-year starter in college.
37. Los Angeles ChargersLadd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The Chargers address their most pressing need at receiver after losing Mike Williams and Keenan Allen this offseason, snagging the No. 31 overall player on my board.
38. Tennessee TitansJer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
The Titans take the best available player (No. 21 on my board) and fill a hole with Newton, who is a steal at this point in the draft. He has some juice as an interior pass-rusher.
39. Carolina Panthers (via NYG)Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
Kneeland is the best available edge defender, and the Panthers need to continue to address their pass rush. He also has talent setting the edge in the run game.
40. Washington Commanders (via CHI)Edgerrin Cooper, ILB, Texas A&M
Washington could continue to address a defense that finished last in points allowed per game last year (30.5) by drafting the versatile Cooper.
41. Green Bay Packers (via NYJ)Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes missed significant time with injuries, so adding a corner makes sense. Lassiter is a good value at this point.
42. Houston Texans (via MIN)Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Houston added depth on defense in free agency, but Fiske is capable of pushing for a starting role. Over the past two seasons, he had 11.5 sacks when lined up as defensive tackle, which was the second-most in the FBS over that span.
43. Atlanta FalconsT.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Tampa would give the Falcons a corner capable of winning the starting job opposite A.J. Terrell.
44. Las Vegas RaidersJonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
The Raiders have good depth at running back, but they lack a true No. 1 after Josh Jacobs left for the Packers in free agency. Brooks is my top-ranked back in this draft.
45. New Orleans Saints (via DEN)Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
After adding offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga in the first round, the Saints continue to address the offensive line by adding Powers-Johnson. He can also play guard and would give them another physical tone-setter.
46. Indianapolis ColtsMax Melton, CB, Rutgers
With five corners going in the first 13 picks of the second round, you might think the Colts would have to reach to address their need at corner, but Melton is a good value pick here. He had elite testing numbers at the combine.
47. New York Giants (via SEA)Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
The Giants did well to land wide receiver Malik Nabers in the first round, and now they address another hole by adding Nubin, my second-ranked safety.
48. Jacksonville JaguarsKris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Jacksonville needs to get younger and more talented at defensive tackle. Jenkins is an excellent run-defender.
49. Cincinnati BengalsKeon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Coleman is the 37th-ranked player on my board, so I'll be surprised if he falls this far. If he does, this would be a value for the Bengals, who have questions at wideout because of Tee Higgins' trade request.
50. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO)Junior Colson, ILB, Michigan
The Eagles signed Devin White, but it's a one-year deal, and Nakobe Dean missed most of the 2023 season due to a Lisfranc sprain. Philadelphia adds to the off-ball linebacker position here.
51. Pittsburgh SteelersJa'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Pittsburgh could fill one of its most pressing needs by adding the best available receiver in Polk, who had 18 contested catches last season, which ranked third-most in the Pac-12 and in the top 10 in the FBS.
52. Los Angeles RamsCole Bishop, S, Utah
Bishop would give the Rams a safety capable of winning the starting job opposite free agent signing Kamren Curl.
53. Philadelphia EaglesKingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Suamataia grades out as a No. 3 swing tackle. He would provide the Eagles with depth on both sides and has the potential to develop into the heir to soon-to-be 34-year-old right tackle Lane Johnson.
54. Cleveland BrownsChris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
A team can never have enough edge rushers, and Braswell has the tools to quickly develop into an effective defender in the NFL. This is Cleveland's first pick in the draft.
55. Miami DolphinsMaason Smith, DT, LSU
Miami could plug its most pressing hole here and adds Smith, a defensive tackle with a high ceiling. He had 20 pressures when lined up as a defensive tackle in 2023, second-most in the SEC.
56. Dallas CowboysT'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Dallas needs to improve its run defense after allowing opponents to rush for 4.2 yards per carry last season, which was middle of the pack. The 6-4, 366-pound Sweat is a plugger at nose tackle.
57. Tampa Bay BuccaneersPayton Wilson, ILB, NC State
Devin White signed with the Eagles and Lavonte David is 34 years old, so Tampa Bay has to make a move at linebacker. Wilson is the best available player regardless of position.
58. Green Bay PackersJavon Bullard, S, Georgia
The Packers would get a safety to push for the starting role opposite free agent signing Xavier McKinney with Bullard. He did not allow a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage in 2023.
59. Houston TexansJa'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Houston could go for cornerback or possibly guard, but picking Sanders would improve the depth at tight end and give quarterback C.J. Stroud yet another target.
60. Buffalo BillsTroy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Trading leading receiver Stefon Diggs to the Texans and Gabe Davis signing with the Jaguars makes wideout a pressing need for the Bills. Franklin would give quarterback Josh Allen a target who can stretch the field.
61. Detroit LionsJalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
Hunt is a talented and versatile player with a high ceiling who has the potential to develop into an excellent complement to Aidan Hutchinson. He had 6.5 sacks last season and stood out at the Senior Bowl.
62. Baltimore RavensRoger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
The Ravens traded right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets, and Rosengarten is the best available tackle. He could challenge to be a starter in 2024.
63. San Francisco 49ersZach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Interior offensive line is a need for the 49ers, and Frazier could start at guard or center. He did not allow any sacks on his 328 pass blocks last season.
64. Kansas City ChiefsMatt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh
The Chiefs have a need at left tackle and could upgrade at right tackle. Goncalves can play both and he has the potential to develop into a starter early in his career.