Live 2024 NFL Draft Grades: Round 2

These Live 2024 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2024 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades

Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State – A+ Grade
Charlie Campbell reported that this would be either Ladd McConkey or Keon Coleman, and surprise, surprise, Charlie is right again. Coleman makes a lot of sense for the Bills, as he fills a huge need. He also comes with some value because I know of one team that considered him at the end of the opening round. I also love that Buffalo moved down twice to land Coleman.

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Los Angeles Chargers: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia – B+ Grade
The Chargers finally get a receiver, as Ladd McConkey seems like a decent replacement for Keenan Allen. I like McConkey in this range, but I wonder why the Chargers had to surrender a fourth-round pick to make it happen with so many quality receivers available. Update: The compensation was a fourth- and fifth-round swap, so I like this better.
Atlanta Falcons: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson – MILLEN Grade
Oh, man. The Falcons are not having a great draft. I tweeted that someone who knows Kirk Cousins very well told me that Cousins is “legit pissed,” but won’t make a stink about it because he’s a nice guy. If Cousins knows anything about the draft, he’ll be even angrier because this is not good value. Ruke Orhorhoro is not a reach, but he wasn’t worth trading a third-round pick for either. The Falcons don’t seem to understand how to use their resources.
Washington Redskins: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois – B Grade
I don’t like that the Redskins are passing on a left tackle for their new quarterback because they don’t have one. However, I love the value they’re getting with Johnny Newton. While Newton doesn’t fill an immediate need, the Redskins aren’t ready to win the Super Bowl this year anyway, so they need to build for the future. I just worry about Jayden Daniels’ protection.
New England Patriots: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington – A Grade
I love when teams can take a prospect at a spot, but trade down and still get that player. This is what the Patriots did, so they should be graded highly for it. Ja’Lynn Polk makes sense here as a second-round prospect, and he fills a need. New England did well to move up into Day 2 and still acquire him.
Tennessee Titans: T’Vondre Sweat, NT, Texas – C Grade
The poor Bengals have to be upset that T’Vondre Sweat didn’t make it to their pick, and I’m not saying that because Sweat has character issues. They really wanted him. Sweat fills a need for the Titans’ defensive line, but his character concerns make him too risky for my liking atop the second round.
Los Angeles Rams: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State – A- Grade
The Rams traded up 13 spots for Braden Fiske, and it’s easy to understand why. There’s been a run on defensive tackles, and I would have been shocked had Fiske fallen to No. 52. Someone like Fiske was needed with Aaron Donald announcing his retirement.
Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa – A+ Grade
The Eagles have multiple second-round picks, so it makes sense that they would trade up, especially for a talented defensive back like Cooper DeJean. The Iowa product is very versatile and possesses high upside with his great athleticism. He should have been chosen in the first round, so I love this pick. I also am a big fan of the Eagles being aggressive with their Super Bowl window being wide open.
New Orleans Saints: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama – A+ Grade
Here’s another second-round steal. Kool-Aid McKinstry drew interest from some teams in the 20s, so it’s amazing that the Saints are getting him at No. 41. McKinstry fills a huge need with the Saints really struggling at cornerback outside of Marshon Lattimore.
Houston Texans: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia – B Grade
This is a solid pick by the Texans. Kamari Lassiter fills a need for the Texans, who suddenly have to worry about all the receiving talent being added to the AFC South. I had Lassiter going in my first round for a while before his stock fell a bit, but I projected him in the second frame.
Arizona Cardinals: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers – C Grade
I like that the Cardinals moved down to select a cornerback to help fill a need, but this seems like a bit too early for Max Melton. I also have to question Arizona eschewing some of the talented offensive linemen available to protect Kyler Murray.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon – A+ Grade
What a steal by the Raiders. Jackson Powers-Johnson easily could have gone at the end of the first round, so they did a great job of getting him with this pick. The offensive line has been a weak spot for the Raiders for a long time, but Powers-Johnson will be able to help improve that dreadful situation.
Green Bay Packers: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M – C Grade
If Edgerrin Cooper had no issues, he would have been in first-round consideration. He’s a talented and instinctive linebacker. However, he comes with some off-the-field concerns that really bothered some teams. Cooper comes with added risk, and I’m not sure the upside dwarfs the downside at this stage.
Carolina Panthers: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas – B Grade
So much for Jerry Jones getting his favorite running back. I thought some team would trade up above Dallas to take Brooks, and that’s what happened. Brooks is a talented running back who would have gone earlier than this if it weren’t for a torn ACL. Brooks won’t be able to play very well next year, but the Panthers will be gearing up for a possible playoff run in 2025, and Brooks will be able to help by then.
New York Giants: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota – B Grade
This is a decent pick by the Giants, selecting the top safety in the class at No. 47. Tyler Nubin is limited athletically, but he’s a sound player who will fill a huge need. The Giants lost Xavier McKinney, so they had to find a replacement.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Maason Smith, DT, LSU – C Grade
Maason Smith is another talented player available here in the second round because of health issues. I thought Smith could be chosen later than this, perhaps in the third round. This pick has upside, especially with Smith potentially filling a big need, but there’s a lot of risk with this choice as well.
Cincinnati Bengals: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan – A Grade
The Bengals wanted T’Vondre Sweat, but Sweat being chosen ahead of schedule is a blessing in disguise because this is a better player. Kris Jenkins could have easily snuck into the end of the first round, so this is a great value pick that fills a big need.
Washington Redskins: Mike Sainristill, CB, Michigan – B Grade
It can’t be a surprise that the Redskins are drafting a cornerback, given how much they struggled against the pass last year. Mike Sainristill fits the range here, as he’s a high-character cornerback who tested better than expected.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia – A Grade
There aren’t that many talented centers in this class, but the Steelers were able to land one of them in the middle of the second round. Zach Frazier is someone I’ve seen discussed as a possibility late in the opening round, so I definitely like this value. Frazier fits an obvious huge need at center.
Indianapolis Colts: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas – B Grade
Adonai Mitchell may seem like great value, but he has some issues. He has character concerns, and teams weren’t happy with how he managed his type-1 diabetes. However, Mitchell has immense upside, and I like the Colts finding a new weapon for Anthony Richardson.
Washington Redskins: Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State – D Grade
The Redskins needed a tight end, but this is a reach. We slotted Ben Sinnott in the Round 3-4 range. This isn’t an egregious reach, but the Redskins could have gotten Sinnot or a similar tight end later.
Cleveland Browns: Michael Hall, DT, Ohio State – C- Grade
Michael Hall is staying home in Ohio, but that may not be the best thing. Michael Hall was expected to fall even lower than this because of some glaring off-the-field issues. The Browns are getting a player with upside, but the risk is very high.
Miami Dolphins: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston – A Grade
I’m all for the Dolphins using resources to protect Tua Tagovailoa, given the injury history with the talented quarterback. Patrick Paul could have gone more than a dozen picks earlier than this, so I really like the value.
Dallas Cowboys: Marshawn Kneeland, DE, Western Michigan – B Grade
I assume the Cowboys would have drafted Jonathon Brooks here if they could. Instead, they’ll take a running back in the third round. Marshawn Kneeland makes sense as a new edge rusher, as I expected him to go in this area. He wasn’t overly productive in college, but he made a name for himself during the pre-draft process.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Braswell, DE/OLB, Alabama – B+ Grade
I had Chris Braswell going a bit earlier than this, so I like the value. The need makes sense as well, given that the Buccaneers let go of Shaq Barrett. Pass rusher was a huge need, and Braswell is a talented player who can easily fill that hole.
Green Bay Packers: Javon Bullard, CB/S, Packers – B Grade
The Packers have to regret trading Rasul Douglas, who could have helped the Packers against the 49ers in the playoffs. Javon Bullard will help ease the pain. Bullard is a useful defensive back who can play numerous positions. He fits the range here in the second round.
Houston Texans: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame – B+ Grade
C.J. Stroud was under immense pressure against the Ravens in the playoffs. The Texans needed to improve their offensive line, and they’re certainly doing that with Blake Fisher, who can provide a big upgrade at right tackle, while also moving Houston’s current right tackle to guard.
Buffalo Bills: Cole Bishop, S, Utah – B+ Grade
The Bills lost both starting safeties this offseason. This pick obviously fills a big need with a player I had going a bit earlier than this, so I like the value. Cole Bishop has tons of upside with his great athleticism. He’s a bit raw, but he could turn into a great defender for Buffalo.
Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri – A+ Grade
The Lions may not have trouble stopping the pass much longer. I love that they’re attacking cornerback, given how much of a weakness it has been in the past. Ennis Rakestraw provides amazing value because he was discussed as someone who could sneak into the end of the opening round. I’m surprised he lasted this long.
Baltimore Ravens: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington – B Grade
Some would call this a steal because there was some speculation that Roger Rosengarten would go in the first round. However, Charlie Campbell reported that Rosengarten would slide, so it’s not a surprise to see him here. Still, it’s a good pick because the Ravens really needed to find some replacements on the offensive line after losing three blockers to free agency.
Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU – A+ Grade
This is terrific value. I thought the Chiefs would consider Kingsley Suamataia with the 32nd-overall pick, yet they got him at No. 63! With receiver addressed, tackle became the team’s great need, and Suamataia could be a big upgrade.
San Francisco 49ers: Renardo Green, CB, Florida State – C Grade
This is a bit too early for Renardo Green, whom we had tabbed as a fringe second-day prospect. I don’t hate the selection because Green potentially fills a big need at cornerback, but Green didn’t produce very much at Florida State.