Happy Draft Day 2 Everybody. Yesterday I live-graded the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Well we are in Day 2 and I will do the same thing for Round 2.
As always, If I give a HACKENBERG Grade, that is a failing grade. I call it a HACKENBERG as a reminder of former Jets prospect Christian Hackenberg who is the worst draft choice in New York Jets History.
I am going to even Bold it as last year I got a lot of people tweeting at me that I was a moron, stupid, and every word in the book for grading players a HACKENBERG. Heck, I even got threats because of it. All because they thought I was comparing Anthony Richardson to Christian Hackenberg. Again this was over a simple draft grade on one player.
Let’s get right into the grades with the Buffalo Bills now on the clock.
33. Buffalo Bills (From Carolina Panthers) – WR Keon Coleman Grade A
Makes Sense. It was either going to be a cornerback or wide receiver here. The Bills desperately needed to find another wide receiver after they traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. Keon Coleman to me was the best player available and I honestly had Carolina going Coleman here 2 days ago. He has potential to be a number 1 receiver in this offense and if he can play consistently then this pick will be a steal.
34. Los Angeles Chargers (from New England Patriots) – WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia – Grade B+
Oh now the Chargers decide to select a wide receiver. They should have went this route in round 1, but hey better late then never. I don’t think the Chargers needed to trade up here, but I guess they wanted to ensure they got there guy. to be honest, I would rather have Mitchell here, but McConkey going to the Chargers is a solid schematic pick.
35. Atlanta Falcons (from Arizona Cardinals) – DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson – Grade HACKENBERG
Okay, I get that Atlanta’s defense is an absolute mess, but what in the world are they doing here. I had Orhorhoro as a 4th round prospect in this draft and Atlanta trade up to get him is a headscratcher. Orhorhoro struggles at rushing the passer and is super sloppy with his mechanics. As a run stopper he has potential, but he is super raw. Plus his shoulder issues and knee injuries concern me. There were much better options to choose for this team.
36. Washington Commanders – DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois Grade A
I like it. Washington needed defensive line help and there depth has been lackluster since they traded Chase Young, Newton was a guy that many had going as a 1st round pick and I was one of them, but in the early 2nd round makes sense. He should be a Day 1 starter on this defense if he develops quickly.
37. New England Patriots (from Los Angeles Chargers) – WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington – Grade D
In the Early 2nd Round? I had Polk as a Late 3rd/Early 4th Round Selection. Is this a Hackenberg grade. No, because Polk really intrruiges me as a pick and the Patriots did trade down. Also the Patriots had to get a wide receiver for Maye to build chemistry with for the future. There were much better options at this spot, so I can’t grade this higher then a D.
38. Tennessee Titans – DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas Grade D
Did not see Sweat going in Day 2 with how the past few months have went. Especially him going to the Titans as defensive tackle was not one of there big needs, but they clearly felt that Sweat was too good for them to pass on. The on the field talent is there, but his off the field issues really scare me. If he can mature, then he should be a solid defensive player on a rebuilding Titans team, but I would have rather had Fiske at this spot.
39. Los Angeles Rams (via Carolina Panthers, from New York Giants) – DT Braden Fiske, Florida State Grade A
I like it. Fiske was a guy I constantly mocked to the Rams and the more I watch tape of him, the more I like what I see. He fits the syystem that the La Rams have like a glove and the Rams need to find a way to replace Aaron Donald. Jared Verse is the 1st step and the 2nd step is with Fiske who helps at the defensive tackle position. Fiske should be a guy to watch because he has a ton of potential.
40. Philadelphia Eagles (via Washington Commanders, from Chicago Bears) – S/CB Cooper DeJean Iowa Grade A+
I once considered DeJean to be drafted by Philadelphia in the first round of the draft. Especially with his versatility, you could plug him in at cornerback or safety and the Eagles secondary is an absolute mess. If DeJean can stay healthy and develop well, then he should be a strong player on this team for many years to come. Nice job Philadelphia, here is an A+ grade.
41. New Orleans Saints (via Green Bay Packers, From New York Jets) – CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Grade A+
Finally. I get he has injury concerns, but Kool-Aid McKinstry should have been a 1st round pick. the Saints needed secondary help too and they get a guy who checks off a majority of the traits that you want to see in a cornerback. Well done New Orleans, you also get an A+ grade.
42. Houston Texans (From Minnesota Vikings) – CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia Grade A
Lassiter was a guy I had potentially sneaking in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. The Texans could use some help at cornerback as the AFC South as a ton of talented recievers and they need solid depth options to make a much deeper run in the playoffs. He was way too good to pass here at this spot. I really like what the Texans have been doing for the past few years. Good stuff Houston, you also get an A+ grade, we are on a role here.
43. Arizona Cardinals (from Atlanta Falcons) – CB Max Melton, Rutgers – Grade B
Melton is an interesting prospect and going to Arizona makes sense as the Cardinals were rumored to be high on Melton. Now I think there were better options available, but I don’t hate the Cardinals going in this direction. He is a good fit to there defense and they needed a cornerback badly. I don’t mind it.
44. Las Vegas Raiders – OG/C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Grade A+
Raiders getting more protection for whoever there week 1 QB will be. I like it and the Raiders needed an interior offensive lineman as that was a big weakness for the team. i wonder if he will be moved to guard or stay at center though. it doesn’t matter he will help protect the QB and give options to open holes as a run blocker. Not bad Raiders. You also get the award of an A+ grade for a selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
45. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans Saints, From Denver Broncos) – LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M Grade B-
Over Payton Wilson? I mean I don’t hate Cooper, but Wilson was the much better overall prospect. Cooper has talent and his instincts really impress me along with his strong level of awareness. His off the field issues are a concern along with his injuries. He is also a little raw too, but in time if coached right he should fit well on this packers defense.
46. Carolina Panthers (from Indianapolis Colts) – RB Jonathan Brooks, Texas Grade A
Ohhh this is a nice pick. Miles Sanders has declined and Chuba Hubbard was not great as the starting running back. A lot of people had Trey Benson as the number 1 running back, but I like Brooks as well. I had him as a 1st round prospect until he tore his ACL. If he is healthy though he will be a much needed weapon on the Panthers offense.
47. New York Giants (From Seattle Seahawks) – S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota Grade B+
This is the Xavier McKinney replacement on defense. The Giants needed to find a replacement and Tyler Nubin was the best safety on the board. While he is not the most athletic secondary player on the board, he is strong in coverage and is a nice tackler. Giants defense has a very nice prospect to add to that young secondary.
48. Jacksonville Jaguars – DT Maason Smith, LSU Grade C-
No Joke, I forgot that Maason Smith was still on the board with the amount of defensive tackles that have been taken. I like Maason Smith, but i am not a fan of him going to Jacksonville, because I don’t think he is that great of a fit schematically. His injuries are a concern too and he is going to need some time to translate from college into the NFL. The risk is there, but if Maason can translate well and stay healthy, this pick will pan out.
49. Cincinnati Bengals – DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan Grade A
Another defensive tackle, is Round 2 going to be the round where defensive lineman go. I actually am a Jenkins guy and the Bengalis could use defensive tackle. there depth in that position is not great and with Trey Hendrickson requesting a trade, you could experement using Jenkins as a pass rusher. Apparently it was rumored the Bengals were aiming for T’Vondre Sweat with this pick, but it did not work out for them and Jenkins was there Plan B. Jenkins is a solid Plan B and he should help as a run stopper for this team.
50. Washington Commanders (via Philadelphia Eagles, from New Orleans Saints) – CB Mike Sainristell, Michigan Grade B
The Commanders secondary was super sloppy last season. Emmanuel Forbes was terrible last year and the commanders need to get more depth at cornerback. Mike Sainristell went a little early, but Washington is desperate to improve the secondary and I don’t mind him going at this spot. Plus he can be a solid part being put as a slot cornerback.
51. Pittsburgh Steelers – OC Zach Fraizer, West Virgina Grade A
Nobody should be surprised that the Steelers went Frazier here. They have often been linked to taking Frazier and the Steelers interior o-line is a mess. Protecting Fields or Wilson is going to be key and the o-line was lackluster last season. I am glad Pittsburgh is fixing the o-line and trying to fix the center position, especially after Mason Cole was a flop.
52. Indianapolis Colts (from Los Angeles Rams) – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas Grade B-
Excluding Michael Pittman, name me another wide receiver on this team? I honestly could not unless I looked it up on Bing. Mitchell fell during the draft due to injury concerns and off the field/character concerns. In fact there is a rumor that teams were angry with how he was managing his Type 1 Diabetes. His talent at this spot for the Colts is just way too good to pass on. If Mitchell matures and stays healthy he will be a nice target for Anthony Richardson to throw too.
53. Washington Commanders (from Philadelphia Eagles) – TE Ben Sinnott, Kansas State Grade HACKENBERG
Woah. I did not see Ben Sinnott being the second tight end taken off of the board. I had a 5th/6th round grade on Sinnott. He is a sloppy route runner, not the greatest blocker and his explosiveness is very lackluster. I did not see him going as a Day 2 pick at all and there were much better options at tight end and other positions for the Commanders.
54. Cleveland Browns – DT Michael Hall, Ohio State Grade D
Ehhh, not a fan of this pick for Cleveland. Hall has had very notable off the fielld problems and I had him ranked as a 3rd round prospect. Especially with the rumored conditioning issues that Hall has had and how he often gets overpowered, I did not see him going round 2. He has potential as a run blocker though and Cleveland did need that. Well, at least Hall has experience playing in Ohio.
55 Miami Dolphins – OT Patrick Paul, Houston Grade A
Never will complain about getting more protection for the QB. I would rather have Blake Fisher and Kingsley Sumamatia at this spot. I actually like Paul a lot and had him as a 2nd round prospect in this class. He is a very strong pass protector and while his run blocking could be improved, he has the athleticism to be worthy of a 2nd round prospect.
56. Dallas Cowboys – DE/EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan – Grade B
You can tell Jerry Jones was mad in that draft room as he was known to really want Jonathan Brooks , but Carolina took the opportunity to trade up and they got him. Dallas really does not have a ton of pass rushing depth and whole Kneeland was not great on college, he did provide a lot of pressure at the quarterback. He really impressed in his pro days and many workouts he had with teams.
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE/EDGE/LB – Chris Braswell, Alabama Grade B
Interesting. Braswell could be the replacement to Shaq Barret who departed the team in the offseason. However he could also be used at linebacker as the replacement to Devin White. He is a super talented pass rusher and I honestly debated labeling him as a 1st round prospect in this draft. Tampa fills a big need with this selection and I am interested to see how he performs on Todd Bowles’s defense.
58. Green Bay Packers – CB/S Javon Bullard, Green Bay Packers – Grade A
One of the biggest mistakes the Green Bay Packers made last season was trading Rasul Douglas during the trade deadline. The Packers were sorely missing him in that game against the San Francisco 49ers. You know who I had a pro comparison label as Rasul Douglas? Javon Bullard. He reminds me so much of Rasul Douglas as he fits this defense so well. The best part with Bullard is his flexibility as I can see Bullard playing at Safety as Well as at Cornerback. This was a really nice pick for the Packers and I am excited to see how he does in Green Bay.
59. Houston Texans – OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame Grade A
Ahh Notre Dame offensive lineman, they are a really notorious as being dependable offensive lineman for transitioning into the NFL. Blake Fisher was a player I thought was going to be an early 2nd round prospect in this class. The Texans needed a right tackle badly in this draft and Fisher was one of my favorite right tackle prospects at this spot. You can even experement him at guard too, but he would fit like a glove at right tackle. Protecting C.J. Stroud is always a W.
60. Buffalo Bills – S Cole Bishop, Utah Grade B
I would rather have Ennis Rakestraw here as the bigger need was cornerback, but Cole Bishop is fine as well. The Bills secondary got weaker due to being in cap hell and the Bills need to replace the talent that left. the big concern i have with Bishop is that he is a super raw prospect, but the potential is there for Bishop to succeed.
61.Detroit Lions – CB Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri Grade A+
Man, i really like how the Detroit Lions are drafting so far. Rakestraw is the type of player that the Lions need to help build there secondary up. Rakestraw was a player that easily fits the Detroit Lions defensive scheme and thrives in man to man, press, and slot coverage. You can even make a case that Rakestraw should have been taken in round 1. Well Done Detroit, keep making picks like this.
62. Baltimore Ravens – OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington Grade C
Over Kingsley Sumamatia? Rosengarten is not a terrible blocker, but there were much better options at this spot. Want to know something crazy as well, Rosengarten has had many scouts label him as a 1st round prospect. At least this is the potential replacement for Morgan Moses who was traded to the New York Jets. Rosengarten is going to need time, but he could be a solid blocker in a few yearrs.
63.Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco 49ers) – Kingsley Suamataia, BYU grade A+
Its about time Suamataia got drafted. I has him going to the Chiefs originally at pick 32 and can’t believe he fell to pick 63. The Rich just keep getting richer and Mahomes gets another offensive lineman to help protect him and give him time to make the throws. Well done Kansas City.
64. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City Chiefs) – CB Renado Green Florida State – Grade C+
I has Green as a late 2nd/3rd round prospect in this draft. Green is a solid prospect who will be a nice depth piece on a strong 49ers defense. He would fit well as a nickelback, but his size could be a problem, along with being a little to handsy while in coverage it can be a problem. He will need time to improve, but with the talent in San Francisco, they can take it slow with Green.
That concludes the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft. I will eventually grade rounds 3 tomorrow and the entire draft in the next few days.
