Winners, losers and head-scratching picks: Kiper wraps Rounds 2 and 3
Which NFL teams fared well in the second and third rounds of the draft, and which reached for picks? Mel Kiper Jr. makes sense of Day 2.
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Let's get into my recap of Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, evaluating the picks I liked and didn't like and trying to figure out which of the 32 teams got the best value with their selections in Rounds 2 and 3.
Heading into Friday night, only three prospects in the top 34 of my Big Board were available, the best of whom was top cornerback Cooper DeJean. Once Round 2 started, the wideouts and corners started flying off the board, and there were a few reaches among the offensive tackles.
Just as I wrote after Round 1, the opinions below are based on my rankings and grades for each prospect. I'll evaluate trades up and down the draft order to see which teams fared best -- and worst. I'm trying to find the steals of Day 2 and the selections that confused me based on who else was available.
My post-draft grades for all 32 teams will be out late Saturday night, and I'll empty my notebook with thoughts for each class there. I'll see you all early Saturday as we'll be back for Rounds 4-7 (noon ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App).
Here are my best available prospects heading into Saturday: CB T.J. Tampa (No. 38 overall); WR Troy Franklin (52); OLB Mohamed Kamara (67); S Jaden Hicks (71); TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (75).
NFL draft coverage:
Kiper's Round 1 recap: Winners, losers
Kiper's final Big Board: Top 150
Experts debate Round 1: Steals, surprises
Scouting reports | DraftCast | More
Biggest winners and my favorite picks from Rounds 2 and 3
Philadelphia Eagles
The picks: CB Cooper DeJean (No. 40) and OLB Jalyx Hunt (No. 94)
Credit GM Howie Roseman for identifying his roster's biggest need and doubling down. Roseman landed Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1, then DeJean after a trade up on Day 2. They are my top two corners in this class. I had DeJean at No. 14 overall, and Roseman landed him at No. 40. That's an incredible haul for Philadelphia, which has two aging starters on the outside in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. DeJean could play in the slot or as a center fielder too.
The knock here is Roseman gave up a lot in the trade with Washington to move 10 spots up the board. The Commanders landed Nos. 50, 53 and 161, while Philly got Nos. 40, 78 and 152. If DeJean develops into a Pro Bowler, Eagles fans won't remember that their team once had two second-rounders in this draft. There's at least a little bit of risk here, though.
Roseman & Co. traded down again twice in Round 3, acquiring Nos. 86 and 123 from the Texans for No. 78 and then flipping No. 86 with the 49ers for Nos. 94 and 132. He came away with my favorite outside linebacker in the entire class in Hunt, who is raw and will need some time to develop but has all the tools to be a double-digit-sack player -- in time. That's his ceiling, of course, and Philly will have to coach him up to get him there.
Washington Commanders
The picks: DT Jer'Zhan Newton (No. 36), CB Mike Sainristil (No. 50), TE Ben Sinnott (No. 53)
I mentioned the Commanders' trade with the Eagles above, and Washington ended up with three second-round picks. New GM Adam Peters landed a game-wrecker for the middle of his defense. He got the best slot corner in this class. And he got my second-ranked tight end, a player who could make plays in the pass game and block his butt off in the run game. This is a home run Round 2 class for the Commanders, who entered this draft with a lot of holes.
To finish out Round 3, Washington took wideout Luke McCaffrey, which was a reach based on my rankings. Still, Christian's brother has the physical traits to be an intriguing flier.
Green Bay Packers
The picks: LB Edgerrin Cooper (No. 45) and S Javon Bullard (No. 58)
I'm a huge fan of Cooper, who flies to the football. He makes plays all over the field. He's my No. 1 off-ball linebacker, and I have him at No. 26 in my rankings. He will be a three-down linebacker for Green Bay, which released De'Vondre Campbell last month. He ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, a great time for a defender who weighs 230 pounds. This is a great pick. Even better, Green Bay was able to trade down to get Cooper. It added Nos. 45, 168 and 190 while sending No. 41 to New Orleans.
Green Bay also landed my top-ranked safety in Round 2 in Bullard, who will be a rookie contributor for a team that rebuilt its safety room this offseason. He will be a nice complement next to free agent signing Xavier McKinney.
In Round 3, the Packers added running back MarShawn Lloyd (No. 88) and off-ball linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper (No. 91). I would have preferred Jaylen Wright over Lloyd, but they're both really solid. As for Hopper, I had several linebackers ranked above him who were still available. He's my 15th-ranked LB.
Indianapolis Colts
The pick: WR Adonai Mitchell (No. 52)
Mitchell lasted a lot longer into Day 2 than I anticipated, and Indianapolis scooped him up. I thought he could sneak into Round 1. He has everything teams want in a prototypical wideout: He's 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the combine, has great hands and can pick up first downs at will.
I don't know why he fell, but the Colts got a really good player and now have a fantastic receiving corps around quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Indianapolis also landed toolsy offensive tackle Matt Goncalves at No. 79, trading Nos. 82 and 191 to the Cardinals to move up. It was a little high on my board, but I can understand the pick based on all the tackles who have been taken so far.
Baltimore Ravens
The picks: OT Roger Rosengarten (No. 52) and DE Adisa Isaac (No. 93)
How about the Ravens landing a right tackle starter at the end of Round 2? Rosengarten, who made my favorites list, is a perfect fit for the Baltimore offense. He might have been a first-rounder in 2025 if he had remained in school.
As for Isaac, I gave him a mid-Round 2 grade and Baltimore was able to get him at the end of Round 3. He put up a lot of pressures in college, and even though he doesn't have elite tools, he has a chance to be a really good edge rusher for the Ravens. GM Eric DeCosta got two talented players at a value on Day 2.
More picks I liked in Rounds 2 and 3
I thought the Bills might trade down again from the top of Round 2 -- they made two deals on Thursday -- but they stuck at No. 33 and grabbed 6-foot-3 wideout Keon Coleman, who can help replace Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. He's not the fastest pass-catcher, but he can be a red zone threat, high-pointing the football for scores.
Cooper Beebe is a really good pick for the Cowboys at No. 73. He played guard and tackle in college, but I have him as my second-ranked guard. It's stellar value for Dallas, which now has taken two O-linemen with its first three picks. I wonder if Beebe might be tried out at center.
Speaking of guards, Seattle plugged its hole with Christian Haynes at No. 81. The tackles have been overvalued so far in this draft, and the guards are going under the radar. I wouldn't be surprised if he started for the Seahawks in 2024.
I love wideout Roman Wilson's landing spot in Pittsburgh, which picked him at No. 84. Let him run crossers and he will beat cornerbacks once the ball is in his hands.
The Jets traded up a few spots to get wideout Malachi Corley, one of the most productive pass-catchers in the nation the past few years, at No. 65. He's No. 42 in my rankings. He's dynamic after the catch. I could see a role for him for New York in Year 1.
One more wideout: I was surprised Jalen McMillan lasted until the end of Round 3, but the Bucs might have gotten a steal at No. 92. Baker Mayfield will love him.
Running back Jonathon Brooks might have been a first-round pick if he hadn't torn his ACL in November. He's the clear No. 1 back in this class. He'll be an instant-impact player for the Panthers, who took him at No. 46. If you play fantasy football, you might want to get him on your squad ASAP.
The Lions went corner on Day 1 with Terrion Arnold, and they went corner again in Round 2 at No. 61. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was a three-year starter in college who flashed No. 1 corner tools but was a little inconsistent at times. Detroit ranked 31st in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.8) last season, so credit GM Brad Holmes for going hard at a need for his roster.
I have been really high on defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, who made my list of favorite prospects. I have him at No. 45 overall in my rankings, and he's my No. 3 DT. The Falcons took him at No. 35 and got a super-talented run defender who has pass-rush traits next to Grady Jarrett. The only issue here is Atlanta had to give up its third-rounder to move up eight spots, which is a lot to give up.
How about Jim Harbaugh landing his former Michigan linebacker Junior Colson? The Chargers took the tackling machine at No. 69. I think he could be a three-down player for L.A.
Questionable picks and reaches from Rounds 2 and 3
New England Patriots
The picks: WR Ja'Lynn Polk (No. 37) and OT Caedan Wallace (No. 68)
Here are the available wide receivers I had ranked above Polk when the Patriots selected him: Adonai Mitchell, Malachi Corley, Roman Wilson, Troy Franklin and Polk's college teammate, Jalen McMillan. I thought Polk was more likely to go near the end of Round 2. Sure, the Patriots had to get some help for Drake Maye, but Polk is not a burner and he thrived on contested catches last season, which can be a risky profile. This was just a little high based on my board, where I have him No. 74 overall.
I didn't love the value for Wallace, either. I saw him as more of a mid-Day 3 pick. He's No. 154 in my rankings. He will compete for time at right tackle, but he gave up too many pressures for my liking.
San Francisco 49ers
The pick: CB Renardo Green (No. 64)
This was the biggest reach of Round 2, by far. I graded Green as more of a fourth- or fifth-round pick. He is No. 143 on my Big Board and is my No. 21 corner. My pal Louis Riddick called Green the best press-man cornerback in this class, but when I watched his 2023 tape, I saw too much grabbing on routes. That won't translate well to the NFL level, where referees protect wide receivers. Green led the ACC with 13 pass breakups, but I'm not sure he's going to be a starter at the next level.
I did like GM John Lynch's addition of guard Dominick Puni at No. 86, though they surrendered Nos. 94 and 132 to trade up. Puni played some left tackle in college, but he's a little undersized to stick there in the NFL. He plays with fire, though, and I love his game as a run-blocker.
Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Isaiah Adams (No. 71) and TE Tip Reiman (No. 82)
The Cardinals reached for Adams; I have him as my No. 10 guard and he somehow went ahead of Cooper Beebe. That's a head-scratcher for me. Some teams think he can stick at tackle, but I didn't see great feet on tape.
Reiman, meanwhile, went ahead of Ja'Tavion Sanders, Theo Johnson and Cade Stover. If Arizona really wanted a tight end to play next to Trey McBride, I would have gone with any of those over Reiman.
I should say that I liked GM Monti Ossenfort's first two picks on Day 2 in slot corner Max Melton (No. 43) and running back Trey Benson (No. 66), both of whom will play early and often. Plus, Ossenfort got value with cornerback Elijah Jones (No. 90), my 12th-ranked corner.
More reaches based on my Big Board and position rankings
The Titans took the best nose tackle in the draft at No. 38 in T'Vondre Sweat, a 366-pound run plugger. The problem is Sweat is a two-down player who has struggled to keep his weight down. He also was arrested in early April for driving while intoxicated. Those are serious red flags for a second-round pick. I have him at No. 87 in my rankings, nearly 50 spots lower than where he actually went.
I praised the Cowboys earlier, but they reached for off-ball linebacker Marist Liufau at No. 87, particularly with Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Payton Wilson and Cedric Gray all available. Liufau is versatile, but I'm not sure he has the coverage traits to play three downs.
I question the value of offensive tackle Delmar Glaze at No. 77 to the Raiders. I know teams are desperate for starting-caliber tackles, but he's my No. 18 tackle and there were better guys available, including Christian Jones and Matt Goncalves. I thought he'd be a fourth-rounder.
The Giants took my No. 4 safety -- Tyler Nubin -- before any other safety was selected, at No. 47. I had Javon Bullard, Cole Bishop and Jaden Hicks all ranked above Nubin. That's about 30 spots higher than I had him. Nubin is a ball hawk who had 13 career interceptions, but he doesn't have great speed. Will he be able to cover wideouts in the NFL?
Winners, Losers And Head-scratching Picks: Kiper Wraps Rounds 2 And 3
