The Falcoholic
The Falcons shocked the NFL by drafting Michael Penix Jr. at 8, making the decisions with their three Day 2 picks all the more important. Here are the best players available heading into the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Atlanta Falcons made the shocking decision to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick on Thursday. Penix is a prospect the team obviously hopes will be become a future franchise quarterback, but given the contract status of Kirk Cousins, is unlikely to see the field for at least two seasons. With Day 2—which consists of the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft—on deck tonight, the stakes have never been higher for Atlanta to find instant contributors.
Still, this is a deep class with a lot of talent available heading into the second round. If the Falcons play this right, I believe they can come away from Friday night with three potential starters and change the very bleak narrative currently surrounding the team. I’ve taken a look at the players left on the board and come up with a list of my favorite targets for Atlanta, sorted into the second and third round.
Before we get to the list, a reminder that the team is currently slated to have three picks on Day 2: Pick 43 (2nd), Pick 74 (3rd), and Pick 79 (3rd). It’s been confirmed that Atlanta was aggressively pursuing a trade up for Laiatu Latu on Thursday—and the team has a history of trades in the second round through Terry Fontenot’s tenture—so I wouldn’t be shocked if one or more of those picks change when it’s all said and done.
DT Jer’Zhan Netwon, Illinois — Consensus Rank: 20, PFF Rank: 11
CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa — Consensus Rank: 22, PFF Rank: 8
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama — Consensus Rank: 27, PFF Rank: 26
WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas — Consensus Rank: 29, PFF Rank: 22
WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia — Consensus Rank: 31, PFF Rank: 32
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon — Consensus Rank: 39, PFF Rank: 29
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri — Consensus Rank: 40, PFF Rank: 46
SAF Tyler Nubin, Minnesota — Consensus Rank: 45, PFF Rank: 31
DT Braden Fiske, Florida State — Consensus Rank: 47, PFF Rank: 44
DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan — Consensus Rank: 49, PFF Rank: 50
CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia — Consensus Rank: 50, PFF Rank: 56
EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama — Consensus Rank: 54, PFF Rank: 58
WR Roman Wilson, Michigan — Consensus Rank: 53, PFF Rank: 42
CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State — Consensus Rank: 55, PFF Rank: 51
EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan — Consensus Rank: 60, PFF Rank: 63
WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington — Consensus Rank: 62, PFF Rank: 48
**SAF Javon Bullard, Georgia — Consensus Rank: 63, PFF...
