Getty Images The 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are Chicago Bears, the New England Patriots tabbed Drake Maye as their franchise quarterback, and there were only nine defensive players chosen in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
After a frenetic first night of picks that sent war rooms across the league into frenzies of fist-bumps, high-fives, and thrilling phone calls to the players chosen after the arduous pre-draft process, Round 2 of the draft looms large.
The second round begins at 7 p.m. Eastern on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Friday night, Heavy will be grading every pick of the second round as they happen, starting with the Buffalo Bills starting the festivities roughly 20 hours after trading back with the Carolina Panthers to acquire the No. 33 overall selection, first of the second round.
No. 33 – Buffalo Bills (via Carolina Panthers)
Pick: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Bills traded back twice on Thursday night, to the Kansas City Chiefs, who selected elite burner Xavier Worthy to drop into Patrick Mahomes’ supporting cast, and then with the Carolina Panthers who selected big-bodied red-zone threat Xavier Legette.
Naturally, comparisons to Worthy and Legette will follow Keon Coleman, But, Coleman was one of the best receivers on the board and excels in making contested catches. Adding Coleman softens the blow a bit from the production lost from trading Stefon Diggs.
Grade: B+
No. 34 – Los Angeles Chargers (via New England Patriots)
Pick: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The run of wide receivers continues, as another pass-catcher with a Round 1 grade comes off the board early on Night 2.
McConkey was a focal point of Georgia’s vertical passing game, averaging 16.1 yards per reception last season in Athens, and 6.3 yards after the catch per reception. A versatile receiver who can line up on the perimeter or in the slot, McConkey’s a great scheme fit. Bonus points for Los Angeles trading up to add McConkey to Justin Herbert’s supporting cast.
Grade: A-
No. 35 – Atlanta Falcons (via Arizona Cardinals)
Pick: Ruke Orhorho, DT, Clemson
The Falcons bolster the interior of the defensive line, with Orhorho, who logged 13 sacks across three seasons in Clemson as a consistent interior pass-rush specialist. Orhorho can line up at defensive tackle or on the edge, and his explosiveness will be an asset for an Atlanta defense that is seemingly built from the secondary forward.
Grade: B
No. 36 – Washington Commanders
Pick: Jer’zhan Newton, DL Illinois
Philosophically, it’s impossible to have enough talent along both lines of scrimmage, and while the Commanders already boast the likes of DaRon Payne, Jonathan Allen, and newcomers Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong, Newton is a disruptive and explosive pass-rush presence who can contribute quality snaps immediately.
Last season, Newton posted 7.5 sacks with 8.5 tackles for loss, and if he’s able to come close to matching that level of production, he’ll have a bright future as a rotational piece in 2024 and much more to come in the future.
Grade: A-
MORE on Washington Commanders DL Jer’zhan Newton
No. 37 – New England Patriots
Pick: Ja’Lynn Polk
After taking Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick, the Patriots do the prudent thing by rounding back and adding a weapon to his supporting cast in the passing game in Round 2.
Polk boasts explosive speed, averaging 16.8 yards per reception last season. A propensity to make contested catches will help hasten Maye’s development, and his 567 deep yards in 2023 could make him a favorite target early for New England’s new quarterback who loves to push the ball vertically.
Grade: A
No. 38 – Tennessee Titans
Pick: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
T’Vondre Sweat is the definition of a space-eater, at 6-4, 366-pound who swallows up double-teams, but has the explosiveness to be disruptive as an interior pass-rusher. But, he excels as a run-stuffer.
Thanks in part to his elite 15.3 pass-rush-win rate and 12.8 run-stop win rate, both on the upper echelon of the scale from Pro Football Focus, Sweat could be the kind of player who anchors the Titans’ defensive line.
Grade: B
No. 39 – Los Angeles Rams
Pick Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
It’s going to take a committee to replace Aaron Donald, but Fiske can play a role in softening the blow of the future Hall of Famer’s retirement.
Fiske finished last season with a strong 8.9 pass-rush win rate, along with 181 run-stops, underscoring his versatility.
Grade: B
No. 40 – Philadelphia Eagles (via Washington Commanders)
Pick: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Howie Roseman stood pat in Round 1, but aggressively moved up via a division rival to select arguably the premier cornerback in this year’s class.
DeJean is a versatile playmaker, capable of lining up on the outside, in the slot, or even dropping into a strong-safety role. Given the pressure Vic Fangio puts on cornerbacks in coverage, and that DeJean held opposing quarterbacks to a 37.8 passer rating last season, he could be an ideal fit while also contributing on special teams.
Grade: A+
MORE on Eagles Cornerback Cooper DeJean
No. 41 – New Orleans Saints (via Green Bay Packers)
Pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Arguably the most instinctive cornerback in this class with elite ball-skills, the Saints land a big-play gambler who isn’t afraid to jump routes and take his chances.
While McKinstry didn’t intercept a pass last season, he forced 10 incompletions and is a bit of a big-play gambler on the back-end who could be a big-play machine in the New Orleans’ secondary.
Grade A
No. 42 – Houston Texans
Player: Kamari Lassiter, DB, Georgia
DeMeco Ryans’ defense gets a plug-and-play slot cornerback who is hypercompetitive and battle-tested from matchups against some of the premier wide receivers in the nation in the SEC.
Last season in Athens, Lassiter held opposing quarterbacks to a meager 48.7 passer rating on his 39 targets, while only surrendering 15 receptions. For a defense that has a pair of elite pass-rushers, Lassiter is a corner who can anchor the secondary and benefit from the chaos created up front.
Grade: A+
No. 43 – Arizona Cardinals
Player: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
This is now unquestionably the Jonathan Gannon draft, and what a draft the Cardinals have had. Honestly, anything after Marvin Harrison Jr. is gravy.
However, pairing Melton, who excelled in zone coverage by garnering a 74.6 grade from Pro Football Focus, adds a ballhawk to the secondary after dropping explosive pass-rusher Darius Robinson in the first-round. Quality team building by GM Monti Ossenfort in this draft, so far.
Grade: A
No. 44 – Las Vegas Raiders
The Pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Powers-Johnson is the premier center in this class, and has a strong case as the most gifted interior lineman. A complete mauler, and locker room leadership presence, Powers-Johnson has the upside as the centerpiece of the Raiders’ offensive line for years to come.
Grade: A+
No. 45 – Green Bay Packers
The Pick: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Cooper is an incredibly athletic and twitchy linebacker who gets downhill in a hurry and is a violent run-stuffer. Coming off the strongest season of his collegiate career, that saw him post 75 total tackles while posting an 87.6 run-stopping grade from PFF. Cooper and Quay Walker are going to give offensive linemen fits.
But, it’s a bit surprising, given the need at cornerback, that Brian Gutekunst and the Packers didn’t go that direction to fill a pressing need at a vital position in new head coach Jeff Hafley’s system.
Grade: A-
No. 46 – Carolina Panthers
The Pick: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
The most explosive running back in this class, easily, Brooks would have gone significantly higher had he not had injury concerns following a torn ACL last season. Posting 732 yards after contact, Brooks is a five-tool player and a decisive runner.
This is exactly the kind of pick that the Panthers needed to make, in order to build around Bryce Young following a colossally disappointing rookie season in 2023.
Grade: A+
No. 47 – New York Giants
The Pick: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
New York desperately needed to replace Xavier McKinney, who departed via free agency to sign with the Green Bay Packers. Nubin played 468 snaps at deep safety last season, and 198 in the box. Quarterbacks found Nubin to be a black hole, holding opposing passers to a 39.6 passer rating and intercepting 13 passes over the past four seasons.
Grade: A+
No. 48 – Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick: Maason Smith, DT, LSU
If the Jaguars selected Smith to be a rotational pass-rusher opposite Josh Allen, this could prove to be a prudent move and a piece of the puzzle. However, Smith struggled mightily against the run and missed his share of tackles. Given the talent that remained on the board and the caliber of players picked around Smith, this pick leaves a bit to be desired.
Grade: C+
No. 49 – Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
A complete bull in the China-closet, Jenkins has incredible strength and is a disruptive force along the interior of the defensive line. Jenkins is a potentially elite run-stuffer at the next level, which will come in handy with Derrick Henry now residing in Baltimore and the Steelers’ propensity to win with a ground-and-pound offense, Jenkins is a worthy counterpunch.
Grade: B
MORE on Cincinnati Bengals’ DT Kris Jenkins
No. 50 Washington Commanders
The Pick: Mike Sainristill, DB, Michigan
An elite and versatile playmaker, Sainristill was opportunistic in coverage but also was deployed as a weapon pretty frequently, logging three sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss during his career. Pulling down seven interceptions during his career in Ann Arbor, Sainristill excelled in zone coverage. Given Dan Quinn’s propensity for churning out All-Pro caliber cornerbacks, Sainristill could become a building block and marquee player in Washington’s secondary.
Grade: A
No. 51 – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Frazier adds physicality, toughness, and consistency into the middle of the Steelers’ offensive line in front of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Last season in Morgantown, Frazier did not allow a sack in 2023, and is a stonewall il pass protection. Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been declining in recent years, and the Steelers doubling down on the commitment to keep their quarterbacks upright is exactly what this organization should be doing right now.
Grade: B+
No. 52 – Indianapolis Colts
The Pick: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
In an elite class of wide receivers, Mitchell might be the most tantalizingly athletic of the bunch. A contested reception factory, Mitchell only dropped one pass last season, posted 302 deep yards, and his eight deep catches are going to make him an asset for Anthony Richardson’s arm-strength. The Colts’ now have the makings of a dynamic receiving duo with Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr. in place.
Grade: A+
No. 53 – Washington Commanders
The Pick: Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Washington lands a physical playmaker at tight end into new quarterback Jayden Daniels’ supporting cast. Sinnott is a capable route runner who could quickly develop into a security blanket for Daniels, while Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin stretch the field on the perimeter.
Grade: B
No. 54 – Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
At his best, Hall is a disruptive force who can stonewall against the run while also having the ability to push interior linemen into the quarterback’s lap. The problem is, Hall has lapses when it comes to consistency during his career. Perhaps playing alongside Myles Garrett will bring out the most in Hall, but he might not yet be a finished product.
The Grade: B-
No. 55 – Miami Dolphins
The Pick: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
If there was one weakness for the Dolphins’ explosive offense last season, it was a lack of toughness, especially up front. Paul is a massive force, weighing in 6-foot-7 and 331 yards, and he only allowed five sacks over the past three seasons. But, Paul is far from a finished product, so he could benefit from sitting behind Terron Armstead for at least a season.
Grade: C
No. 56 – Dallas Cowboys
The Pick: Marshawn Kneeland, DL, Western Michigan
Dallas needs to overhaul the defensive line, and add disruptive talent, especially after losing Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Neville Gallimore, and Johnathan Hankins in free agency this offseason. Kneeland posted 149 total tackles across four seasons, adding 12.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. This is a selection that marries filling a desperate need with emerging talent.
Grade: B+
No. 57 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
One of the most prolific and productive pass-rushers in this year’s class, the Buccaneers land a heat-seeking missile in Alabama’s Chris Braswell. In addition to his 13 sacks last season, Braswell added 33 total pressures and 10 quarterback hits while posting an elite 18.2 pass-rush win rate. Tampa found the centerpiece for his pass-rush.
Grade: A+
No. 58 – Green Bay Packers
The Pick: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
A top priority for the Packers was to emerge from this draft with a complementary safety to pair alongside Xavier McKinney, especially given how vital strong defensive back play is in new coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme. Bullard plugs a big hole, earning an elite 88.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while holding opposing quarterbacks to a paltry 34 passer rating when targeting him.
Grade: A
MORE on Packers S Javon Bullard
No. 59 – Houston Texans
The Pick: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
Fisher is a prototypical left tackle with positional flexibility, who only allowed three sacks last season for the Fighting Irish. The Texans wind up adding quality offensive line depth and a potential starter to keep wunderkind quarterback C.J. Stroud upright.
Grade: A+
No. 60 – Buffalo Bills
The Pick: Cole Bishop, S, Utah
Bishop has plenty of athleticism and fills a glaring need in the Bills’ backfield after Buffalo’s significant losses during free agency this offseason. With strong ball skills and even better instincts, Bishop has a legitimate chance to emerge as a plug-and-play starter alongside Taylor Rapp.
Grade: A
No. 61 Detroit Lions
The Pick: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
It’s now wholly obvious that the Lions saw what happened in San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game and have set out to build out a secondary as stingy as the front-seven is disruptive. Pairing Rakestraw opposite Terrion Arnold doubles down on a premium position adding tremendous value after logging a strong 85.2 zone coverage grade from PFF.
Grade: A
No. 62 Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
A major investment in opening running lanes for Derrick Henry and helping keep Lamar Jackson upright. Rosengarten didn’t allow a sack across his two seasons at the University of Washington and could walk into a starting role immediately.
Grade: B+
No. 63. Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Tremendous value here. One night after taking Xavier Worthy to significantly upgrade the vertical passing game, Brett Veach and the Chiefs add Suamataia who can fill the void at offensive tackle to keep Patrick Mahomes vertical. Smart team-building approach for Kansas City through the first two rounds.
Grade: A+
No. 64 San Francisco 49ers
The Pick: Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
A stingy lockdown cornerback who the 49ers shouldn’t hesitate to leave on an island, Green earned a 90 man-coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, while intercepting four passes over the past two seasons with one returned for a touchdown and forcing 16 incompletions last season. The 49ers’ defense got a lot more aggressive with this pick.