• Buffalo Bills can beef up their interior offensive line: Christian Haynes would be a Day 1 starter in Buffalo.
• Tyler Nubin is the perfect addition to the New York Jets secondary: On throws into his primary coverage last season, he allowed completions on just 36.4 percent of passes.
• Draft and trade for yourself: Try PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team.
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Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft is finally in the books, which means we can look forward to an even more exciting Day 2. Look for Friday night to be loaded with even more receivers and offensive linemen. Here are some of our favorite fits for tonight’s second and third rounds.
ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CIN | CHI | CLE | DEN | DAL | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Haynes looks like a Day 2 starter in the NFL, as he has the natural strength and nasty demeanor teams love. He also has the athletic chops to transition quickly to the next level, as his 89.2 PFF grade on zone blocks last year suggests.
The Dolphins should consider going back to the well with a Clemson interior defender after losing standout Christian Wilkins in free agency. Orhorhoro was strong against the run in college, as he graded positively on 19.1 percent of all run-defense snaps.
The Patriots need all sorts of help at receiver, and Rice would give them the big body they need who is also capable of creating separation with precise route-running. He improved his hands significantly in 2023, dropping just two passes all season.
Nubin would be an outstanding coverage asset on Day 2 in New York. On throws into his primary coverage last season, he allowed completions on just 36.4 percent of passes. He racked up an impressive five interceptions with four forced incompletions.
The Ravens seem eternally in need of wide receiver help, and adding Burton could provide a huge boost. While he had just 41 receptions in 2023, he recorded no drops and created 20 explosive plays.
In a more pass-friendly system, Wilson likely would have had a monster season in 2023. This being said, he was still outstanding for the national champions, as he turned his 48 receptions into 23 explosive plays and 12 touchdowns, with just one drop to his credit.
Amari Cooper is now 30 years old and has a voidable contract after this season, so bringing in an heir-apparent with top-end ball skills this year would be a wise move by the Browns. On 52 receptions last year, Coleman amassed 11 scores, 15 explosive plays and forced 11 missed tackles after the catch.
The Steelers have a long history of finding productive receivers on Day 2 of the draft and with the Diontae Johnson loss this offseason, they’d do well to go back to the well. Corley’s RB-build and physical playing style make him an absolute pain in the open field, as evidenced by his 56 forced missed tackles in his last two combined seasons at Western Kentucky.
Outside of franchise QB, an off-ball linebacker that excels in coverage may be the single most difficult position to find. Wilson was just that at North Carolina State, as he racked up three interceptions and four forced incompletions on his way to a lofty 90.0 PFF coverage grade.
The Colts need more help on the back end, and Bullard excels in coverage. In 2023, he was targeted 27 times as the primary coverage defender and yielded just 14 catches and 119 yards while posting two picks and seven forced incompletions.
The Jaguars need another threat off the edge, and Elliss could provide exactly that. He posted a 90.1 PFF pass-rush grade in 2023 with 13 sacks and 46 total pressures for the Utes.
The Titans need to continue to add to the offensive line, and Suamataia has the athleticism and raw power to potentially start at either tackle or guard. While he graded better as a run blocker in 2022, he was better in pass protection with an 86.1 category grade and just 13 total pressures surrendered.
Green is one of the more entertaining corners to evaluate in this class because of his willingness to play the run and excellent ball skills. When targeted in 2023, he surrendered completions on just 31 of 66 targets while forcing a whopping 17 incompletions and notching two picks.
Fisher is a two-year starter at right tackle. He wins with power as both a run-blocker and a pass-blocker. He has a wide, strong base that allows him to generate a ton of power through his lower half, making for an impactful punch at contact.
Jones may be one of the true gems of Day 2 or 3, as he possesses the size, speed and ball skills to be an impact player at the NFL level. Opposing QBs tested him 114 total times in 2022 and 2023, and he surrendered just 48 receptions with seven interceptions and a whopping 27 forced incompletions.
While slot cornerback Mike Sainristil is a rightfully popular mock draft selection for Harbaugh’s Chargers, Colson could be the more critical addition to the defense. Just as adept in coverage as he is against the run, he amassed 37 total defensive stops in 2023 for the national champions.
Running back is sure to be a critical focus of the Cowboys’ draft, and Benson’s vision and explosion make him an ideal fit. He forced 46 missed tackles on the ground and ripped off 24 explosive runs for the Seminoles in 2023.
With a premium wide receiver locked up with their first-round pick, the Giants now need to focus on fixing the offensive line. Paul could offer help at tackle or guard for New York. Pass protection is Paul’s specialty, as he posted PFF grades over 91.0 in the category each of the past two seasons.
Cam Jurgens slides inside to center this year to take over for retired Eagles legend Jason Kelce, leaving a hole at right guard. Beebe allowed just nine total pressures last season while posting an impressive pass protection grade of 90.4.
Goncalves’ 2023 season was cut short due to a season-ending torn ACL. He won’t “wow” with athleticism or length, but he’s a solid prospect who has the chance to be a starter at tackle or guard in the NFL.
Improving the pass rush should be a primary Day 2 focus for the Bears. This is an area Booker excelled at while at Kansas, as he amassed nine sacks and 41 total pressures during his breakout campaign in 2023.
McCormick’s potential versatility throughout the offensive line and nasty demeanor just screams Detroit Lion. He posted an outstanding 90.8 PFF run-blocking grade in 2023 while showing equal dominance in pass protection (just four total pressures against with no sacks surrendered).
Day 2 is the sweet spot for safeties, and Hicks is a PFF favorite. In coverage last season, he had two picks, five forced incompletions and 10 stops while also contributing with a 27.3 percent win rate on pass rushes.
Jenkins was one of the key leaders on Michigan’s national championship defense and a top performer on the field. He posted positive PFF grades on an impressive 24.6 percent of run plays while also contributing 22 total QB pressures.
An outstanding athlete, Rosengarten would have the chance to sit and learn early in Atlanta while developing into the Falcons’ left tackle of the future. He did not surrender a sack in two full seasons as a starter for the Huskies.
The Panthers spent significant free agent dollars on the offensive line in an open attempt to bolster the run game and would be wise to further emphasize the point by selecting PFF’s second-ranked running back in the class. In three seasons at Michigan, Corum amassed 56 touchdowns, 156 forced missed tackles and 85 explosive runs, with two of the scores and three explosives coming against Washington in Michigan’s national championship effort.
Isaac enjoyed a breakout campaign for the Nittany Lions in 2023 and will be one of the more intriguing Day 2 edge options. He tallied 34 total pressures last year while also contributing 19 run stops, 10 going for no gain or a loss.
Lloyd’s time at South Carolina was marred at times by injury, but he was excellent for Southern Cal in 2023. Forcing 47 missed tackles on the ground is all the more impressive when factoring in the fact he carried the ball just 118 times.
Amegadjie is an intriguing tackle prospect for the future. His 2023 campaign was cut short by a torn left quad, but in three years at Yale, he allowed just one sack and five QB hits in pass protection.
The Rams need to start considering “life after Stafford,” thus it makes perfect sense for them to target a signal-caller like Rattler on Day 2. His 79.4% adjusted completion rate in 2023 ranked eighth among all FBS quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks.
The 49ers need to continue to bolster their secondary, making Melton an excellent Day 2 choice. While some considered 2023 a “down year” for Melton, he allowed completions on just 49 percent of throws into his coverage while racking up three picks and seven forced incompletions.
The Seahawks have Noah Fant locked in for two years, but that should not dissuade them from looking for more talent at the tight end position. Sanders was an absolute force for the Longhorns in 2023, as 346 of his 682 receiving yards were achieved after the catch. Of his 45 receptions (with no drops), 31 went for first downs and two ended in touchdown celebrations.
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