Windy City Gridiron
Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books! With one day remaining before the start of undrafted free agency, we’ll look back on the busy night on what was good and bad.
For as few trades as we saw on Night 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, we were given a show early on Night 2. In total, there were eight trades in the first 17 selections. It was an active night for multiple teams, including the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles. With different team boards starting to cloud due to the perception of the draft (after the first round), there were many surprise picks. In turn, there were plenty of good values that were had.
Before we turn our attention to the draft’s final day, let’s look back on a busy Friday night.
We’ll use Arif Hasan from Wide Left’s Top 300 consensus board to help provide further context into these rankings.
1. CB Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles) at No. 40
Defensive back was a big need for the Eagles, and through two picks, they’ve handled business. General manager Howie Roseman has done a fantastic job of finding value in both selections. One could argue, he got a pair of Top 5 defensive backs in back-to-back rounds. It’ll be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio uses him. He’s a versatile player who could play outside, nickel, or safety. The concerted effort to improve the secondary should pay off.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #22
2. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (New Orleans Saints) at No. 41
Similar to the DeJean pick, the Saints trade up to capitalize on a great value at a key spot. McKinstry did have a foot injury pre-draft but killed his pro day. All in all, this is another outstanding value pick and was well worth the cost of the trade-up. New Orleans’ defense should stay strong. His 2023 product was a little more inconsistent, but he’s got the size and speed combo to go with good man coverage skills. He’s a perfect fit in the Saints’ defensive scheme.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #27
3. iOL Jackson Powers-Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders) at No. 44
Las Vegas has made a pair of value selections, even if they aren’t exactly positions of need. This is quite a departure from their previous regimes. JPJ is arguably the best center prospect in this draft but has the size and movement skills to play guard. Considering they announced him as a guard and just signed their starting center, Andre James, to a three-year extension, it appears Powers-Johnson will start his career at one of the two guard spots. Either way, it’s a great value for a first-round talent that was taken halfway into the second round.
Hasan’s Consensus Ranking: #28
4. WR Adonai Mitchell (Indianapolis Colts) at No. 52
Mitchell was a player most had going in the Top 25 picks of the draft. Some reported maturity concerns, and effort questions dropped him...
