My favorite pick from each team on Days 2 and 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft
These are the picks I liked most outside of the first round.
I spent a good chunk of my free time this month studying up on the 2024 NFL Draft class, and now I’m a little sad that this will be my final draft-related newsletter of the year. But maybe that’s because the conclusion of the draft officially ushers in the “slow” season on the NFL calendar1.
I don’t think anyone can properly evaluate a team’s draft haul until years in the future, once we see how the players perform (or don’t) on the field. Even so, I understand why immediate draft grades are popular — it’s all about trying to project what will happen and judging the process each franchise took to land its prospects (sorry, Falcons, you’re the ones getting picked on this year).
To wrap up my draft coverage, I knew I didn’t want to hand out grades or highlight the “best” or “worst” of anything. Then I thought of how I found myself repeating the same line throughout the weekend when the announcements were made: “Ooh, I like that pick!”
So that’s the direction I decided to go in: my favorite picks, based on a few factors such as need, value, fit, and the player himself. And since I already weighed in on the first round, I limited these selections to Days 2 and 3 only.
Arizona Cardinals: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers (2nd round)
The Cardinals waited until the second round to address the position that I had singled out for them, but they still came away with a corner who can contribute immediately. The athletic Melton can play outside or in the slot, as well as on special teams — and he earned the seal of approval from both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Nick Saban.
Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon (4th round)
While a couple of reaches defined the early part of the Falcons’ draft, they started Day 3 on a high note by snagging Dorlus. The versatile lineman, who was projected to be a Day 2 pick, is especially good at getting pressure from the interior.
Baltimore Ravens: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington (2nd round)
As is tradition, there’s much to like about the Ravens’ draft. Although they took Rosengarten a little higher than his projection, that could be because he was a bit undervalued. Rosengarten, who did not give up a sack while blocking for southpaw Michael Penix Jr., has a lot of upside and can win Baltimore’s starting right tackle job as a rookie.
Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State (2nd round)
I liked this pick even before Coleman’s comedic gold of a press conference and first trip to Buffalo. His 40-yard dash time at the combine raised eyebrows — not in a good way — but his speed in actual games isn’t a concern. Josh Allen needs a reliable downfield target, and Coleman can play that role.
Carolina Panthers: Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas (4th round)
It’s been a while since the Panthers have had much stability at the tight end position. Sanders probably won’t change that right away, but he is a skilled receiver already and with a little more seasoning can grow into a TE that Bryce Young can count on consistently.
Chicago Bears: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale (3rd round)
Unlike the Bears’ first two picks (Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze), Amegadjie is a work in progress and won’t be expected to make a huge impact in year one. Still, he has the size and skills to become a fixture at tackle, if the Bears can develop him properly.
Cincinnati Bengals: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan (2nd round)
The Bengals followed my advice and boosted their interior defense on Day 2 of the draft. Jenkins won’t completely make up for the loss of D.J. Reader, but he will be able to help a run defense that ranked 30th in the league in yards per carry (4.7) allowed.
Cleveland Browns: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State (2nd round)
Just like the Bengals, the Browns also took my suggestion and added youth to their defensive line. Hall, a Cleveland native, is only 20 years old and has a high ceiling. DC Jim Schwartz should be able to turn him into a consistent disruptor on his attack-mode defense.
Dallas Cowboys: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State (3rd round)
I’m a little surprised that Beebe lasted into the third round, but the Cowboys were there to scoop him up as they continued to load up in the trenches. Beebe can and has played all along the offensive line — except at center, where he’s expected to line up as a rookie. No matter which position he settles into, though, he should improve the Cowboys’ blocking from the get-go.
Denver Broncos: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon (4th round)
Franklin wasn’t still supposed to be on the board by Day 3. When he was, the Broncos decided to trade up to get the speedster. The late-round picks they had to surrender will be worth it if Franklin and Bo Nix display the same chemistry in Denver as they did in Eugene —Franklin led all Oregon receivers last season with 14 touchdowns. He can be the deep threat that the Broncos lost when they sent Jerry Jeudy to the Browns.
Detroit Lions: Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU (6th round)
Here’s another prospect who was drafted later than his projections. While he’s on the smaller side, Wingo is quick and ferocious — the exact kind of player that Dan Campbell loves, and one who can earn snaps in the rotation as a rookie.
Green Bay Packers: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia (2nd round)
The Packers checked off a major item on their to-do list and landed a safety who should fit in seamlessly in Jeff Hafley’s defense. The “interchangeable” Bullard, who can also play nickel when needed, is a good tackler and a high football IQ player.
Houston Texans: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State (4th round)
The Texans did not draft a wideout this year like C.J. Stroud was probably hoping they would, but reuniting him with Stover might be an ever better outcome for the young quarterback. Stroud already knows he can rely on Stover, who was his third-favorite target in 2022, as a receiver. After the pick, GM Nick Caserio raved about Stover’s work ethic, which he has shown both on the field and off with his farm videos.
Indianapolis Colts: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas (2nd round)
It was strange when the halfway point of the second round came and Mitchell, a potential first-rounder, hadn’t been taken yet. The Colts stopped his slide — and soon after, GM Chris Ballard came to Mitchell’s defense in an impassioned speech. The super-athletic Mitchell might need to refine his game a little, but he and Anthony Richardson should quickly be able to create fireworks in Indy.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri (4th round)
This one was hard. The Jaguars deserve praise for trading down in the first round and still drafting the fourth-best receiver in this class (Brian Thomas Jr.). The rest of their haul is a big question mark. I ultimately decided to go with Foster, who isn’t a finished product just yet. Luckily, the Jags don’t necessarily need him this year. If they can bring him along on schedule, then next year — when tackles Cam Robinson and Warren Little hit free agency — is when this pick could start to pay off.
Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU (2nd round)
I understood why the Chiefs went with a wide receiver in the first round, even if I wanted them to prioritize offensive tackle. Then they wound up with one of the OTs I thought would be a candidate for them at the end of the first round. Suamataia is young and raw, but he has a ton of promise — the kind of offensive lineman that KC can turn into a starter in a hurry.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon (2nd round)
I thought the Raiders might grab an offensive lineman in the first round, but instead they delivered one of the surprise Day 1 picks with Brock Bowers. It didn’t really matter, though, since they managed to stumble on Powers-Johnson, a first-round caliber lineman who is expected to be a starting guard in Week 1.
Los Angeles Chargers: Brenden Rice, WR, USC (7th round)
I didn’t highlight Rice here because he’s Jerry Rice’s son. A cool story, no doubt, but this isn’t a Marvin Harrison Jr. situation where he’s WR1 from the start. Rather, I chose the younger Rice because of the value he brings to the Chargers. They desperately needed wide receiver depth in this draft — and got three pretty good prospects out of it — and Rice was supposed to be selected earlier than the final round. He became a trustworthy weapon of Caleb Williams at USC, where he led the team in TD receptions, and I think he can eventually do the same for Justin Herbert.
Los Angeles Rams: Brennan Jackson, Edge, Washington State (5th round)
Although Jackson won’t be as big of a factor as first-round edge Jared Verse, the Washington State product plays with such intensity that he should carve out a role. Jackson totaled 14.5 sacks over his last two seasons and was the subject of one of the best anonymous quotes this draft cycle.
Miami Dolphins: Malik Washington, WR, Virginia (6th round)
Washington is yet another player who had to wait longer to hear his name called than I was expecting. Maybe it’s because he’s on the small side, but that shouldn’t matter much in Mike McDaniel’s offense. The dynamic slot receiver is a big play waiting to happen and should fit right in with the Dolphins.
Minnesota Vikings: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon (4th round)
Brian Flores wanted a cornerback in this draft, and the Vikings DC got his wish with a player who should excel in that scheme. Jackson is a long, strong ball hawk (team-leading three INTs last season), and he can find ways to make his presence felt on Flores’ defense, especially with a little more coaching.
New England Patriots: Javon Baker, WR, UCF (4th round)
The Patriots at least tried to do right by new quarterback Drake Maye. After drafting him at No. 3 overall, they used their next four picks on wide receivers and offensive linemen. That said, Baker was the only one of the four who didn’t seem like a reach based on where he was selected. He went early on Day 3, as expected, though he has the field-stretching abilities — and the confidence, based on this quote — to emerge as a favorite for Maye.
New Orleans Saints: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama (2nd round)
In most other drafts, McKinstry probably would have been a first-round pick. But in this offense-dominated year, the Saints were happy to snatch him up in the second round. McKinstry is an instinctual and disciplined corner who would fit in well on that New Orleans defense. As Nick Saban said, McKinstry can play right away — and if he’s a success, then perhaps the perpetually cap space-limited Saints can trade Marshon Lattimore.
New York Giants: Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue (5th round)
The Giants’ running back room left something to be desired after Saquon Barkley’s exit. This wasn’t a great RB class, but Day 3 was a good spot to try to bolster the position. Tracy, a former wide receiver, is dangerous with the ball in his hands. His receiving skills can help fill the void left by Barkley, and he can also make his mark as a returner as he continues to learn the finer points of playing running back.
New York Jets: Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts (5th round)
In an unprecedented move, the Jets drafted someone from the CFL who never played at the college level. Stiggers took a winding journey to get to the NFL, though he has the talent to become a difference-maker on defense. The CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Rookie has a nose for the ball; he came down with five interceptions last year in Toronto.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson (5th round)
The Eagles produced yet another strong draft class, so it was difficult to choose only one prospect here. In the end, familial ties won out. It would’ve been tempting to pick Trotter based solely on the fact that his dad is a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame. Yet Trotter offers more than the same name as his dad. He has the football acumen to be able to chip in at a thin position for Philly, despite his smaller stature. His ability to diagnose plays can perhaps turn him into a regular contributor down the road.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan (3rd round)
Like the Eagles, the Steelers can be counted on to draft wisely, and this year was no exception. I honestly liked all of their picks, particularly their decision to load up the offensive line with three of their selections. But Wilson is the type of receiver who can thrive in Pittsburgh. He’s fast, knows how to get open, and can bring the ball down in tough situations. I saw him bail out J.J. McCarthy several times in college, and I think he similarly can be a safety blanket for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields.
San Francisco 49ers: Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest (4th round)
This is another pick that feels like the perfect match of team and player. The hard-hitting Mustapha plays with a “hair on fire” mentality — kinda like new teammate Talanoa Hufanga and new division rival Budda Baker, both of whom Mustapha has studied. He can help out immediately on special teams and see some snaps on defense.
Seattle Seahawks: Christian Haynes, G, UConn (3rd round)
A couple of weeks ago, I recommended that the Seahawks use their No. 16 pick to draft a starting guard. They did not, but everything still worked out. Haynes, who was surprisingly available midway through the third round, fulfills that need and should be in the lineup come Week 1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington (3rd round)
It would have been easy for McMillan to get overshadowed when he was competing with fellow draftees Rome Odunze (first round) and Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) for targets. Even so, McMillan showed out for the Huskies. He led the team in catches and TD receptions in 2022 and, during his injury-plagued 2023, he was the only player to haul in a TD pass in two College Football Playoff games. In Tampa, he’ll cede the spotlight to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but he can be a solid third option for Baker Mayfield, with the potential to earn a bigger role later on.
Tennessee Titans: Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville (5th round)
In a division with young gunslingers, the Titans took the smart approach to try to rebuild their secondary this offseason. Brownlee is their newest and youngest member, and he has the tenacity and love of tackling that DC Dennard Wilson — who worked wonders as the defensive backs coach in Baltimore — can use to the Titans’ advantage.
Washington Commanders: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois (2nd round)
I found a typo in an article from the Commanders’ official site: It said that Newton was the No. 26 pick in the draft, when in fact he was the No. 36 pick. Normally, I would use this occasion to complain about how no one employs copy editors anymore, but in this case, I understand the confusion. Newton should have been taken in the first round. He’s a powerful and high-motor interior pass rusher who I can’t wait to watch in Dan Quinn’s defense.
And soon enough, the extremely hot weather is coming, and I’m not ready for that!