2024 NFL Draft Second-Day Values: Offense

In the recent weeks, there have been a lot of questions about who are my value picks for the 2024 NFL Draft. A value or sleeper prospect is basically a player who is taken after the first round and proves to be a steal. The second day of an NFL draft is where the men are separated from the boys among NFL general managers. All the players have strengths and flaws, but the top evaluators find future starters and team building blocks on Day 2. Every year, I pick my favorite second-day values. In case the player I picked goes in Round 1, I started picking two or three players in case one or two ends up being a first-round pick. If a player goes in Round 1, I should not get credit for calling them a second-day value pick if they pan out. Here is my track record, starting in 2008 going back to my time with Pewter Report.

This year my top candidates are Ladd McConkey, Kris Jenkins and Keon Coleman. It would not shock me if any of those three is a first-round pick because they have a lot of fans with team sources. McConkey has the potential to be a dangerous playmaker, and Jenkins could turn into a potent presence at the point of attack. Coleman, meanwhile, could be a superb possessional receiver. To avoid picking too many names, I will narrow it down to McConkey and Jenkins as the best value picks for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Overall, this list is very strong with a few exceptions, such the pairs in 2015 and 2016. I definitely hit on Sam LaPorta last year, because he was one of the best tight ends in the NFL as a rookie. In other years, there were good selections like Brandon Flowers, Mike Wallace, Justin Houston, Derek Wolfe, Larry Warford, Jaylon Smith, Ronald Darby and Deebo Samuel. Here is a breakdown of a top prospects to end up as second-day values at each position in the 2024 NFL Draft. All the selections will be players who are likely going on the second day of the draft. If a player is a possible late first-round pick, I generally don’t include them as an option.

Quarterback

Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina

Rattler has the potential to become a starter who ends up being a good value pick, but even if he doesn’t become a starter, I think he could be a nice backup in the Tyler Huntley mold. Rattler possesses a powerful arm capable of making all the throws and displays some deep-ball accuracy. He has the ability to fire strikes in the short to intermediate part of the field with good ball placement to lead his receivers for more yards. There is no doubt that Rattler can really spin it, as the velocity of his throws can fit the ball into tight windows. In the pocket, Rattler shows the ability to work off his primary read and does not panic when his first read is covered. Rattler’s timing, anticipation, accuracy, and field vision are developed such that he can be an effective pocket passer. He also has some mobility to extend plays with his feet. While Rattler needs to improve his ball security and decision-making to become an NFL starter, the arm talent is there for him to develop into a nice value pick.

Running Backs

Jonathan Brooks, RB, Texas

There is a lot to like about Brooks for the NFL, because he looks like a potential three-down starter who can be the bell cow of a rushing offense. Brooks demonstrates very good running fundamentals, and his natural running instincts are advanced. He possesses phenomenal patience to let holes develop. On top of being willing to wait, Brooks has the vision to see lanes about to come open, and good body lean to run behind his pads. In the open field, Brooks possesses a second gear to break off long runs, and once he decides to go downhill, he has a burst to hit the hole quickly before it closes up. Brooks’ burst is impressive for a big back because he has some serious explosion in the open field.

The 6-foot, 207-pound Brooks tends to run North-South, but he shows some elusiveness to dodge tacklers. With power and body lean, Brooks does run through contact, keeping his legs going and finishing runs well. If Brooks had not torn his ACL late in the 2023 season, he would have been a top-50 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Brooks stays healthy, he could turn into a good pro starter.

Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

Corum (5-8, 213) as he is a natural runner with instincts, feel and vision. He can be a tough downhill runner who really imposes his will on defenses. Corum is a hard-charging runner with a strong build and will go through tackles to pick up yards after contact. Thanks to his excellent contact balance and strength, Corum is hard to get tp the ground because he will charge through tackle attempts to tack on a lot of extra yardage.

Beyond having the power to push through defenders, Corum possesses natural pad level, good knee bend and body lean to run with leverage. While Corum is a dangerous North-South runner, he has elusiveness and can juke defenders in the open field. Corum displays elusive cutting and stop-start quickness to dodge tacklers. In the passing game, Corum has more ability than was shown in a lot of college, but he did not get a lot of work in that regard. His hands and route-running look to be solid, and he has the upside to get better. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Corum could be a second-day pick who turns into a quality starter early in his pro career.

Tight End

NONE

There isn’t see a tight end who I think could be a good value pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. The tight ends taken after Round 1 will all probably end up as backups at best. I don’t see any any tight end prospect who screams of being a good value as an effective three-down starter.

Wide Receivers

Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Coleman was a potential late first-round pick prior to a slow 40 time that will most likely send him to Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Coleman is a potent possessional receiver with good route-running and strong, reliable hands. He will move the chains by doing the dirty work in the short to intermediate part of the field. Coleman is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He uses his well-built frame to break tackles and is very difficult for a lot of defensive backs to get on the ground. His strength to run through their hands makes it difficult for them to get a hold of him. While he isn’t super elusive and is more straight line, Coleman does have the feet to dodge some tacklers in the open field. He is a very good athlete for a big receiver, and that could be seen with him impressing as an emergency punt return for the Seminoles in 2023. There have been a number of good pro receivers who ran slow 40 times before NFL drafts, and I think Coleman will add his list to that name.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

McConkey may not ever become an NFL team’s No. 1 wide receiver, but he could be a very good No. 2 and slot receiver. McConkey is a polished wideout who does everything well. He is a smooth route-runner who doesn’t take extra steps in and out of his breaks. He also has enough quickness through the route and nice shiftiness to generate separation from press coverage. Even against good defensive backs, McConkey can use his route-running and quickness to consistently generate separation.

McConkey has natural hands and is astute to put his hands up late to not tip off defensive backs that the ball is coming. He tracks the pass well and possesses advanced body control to adjust to the ball while making acrobatic catches along the sideline. What really sets McConkey apart is tremendous yards-after-the-catch skills. He is electric with the ball in his hands, dodging defenders and weaving through the secondary. After the catch, McConkey finds a second gear and uses superb vision and instincts to continue to rip off yards despite it looking like he is going to get tackled. When the ball is in his hands, McConkey is a playmaker who can really hurt defenses.

McConkey, however, is not a true No. 1 receiver because he lacks game-breaking speed and is not big. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, he is small and limited to the slot. Along with being undersized, McConkey has some durability concerns. Thus, he is a likely to end up as a second- or third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he could be a playmaker in the NFL if he can stay healthy.

Offensive Linemen

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

Suamataia shows a special skill set for pass protection on the edge in the NFL. He has quick feet as well as the length to shut off the corner from speed rushers. Thanks to his smooth athleticism alongside his speed, Suamataia can play the typewriter with his feet to cut off the edge. In the ground game, Suamataia flashes some special ability. He has some serious strength and power in his upper body that allows him to absolutely bury defenders or drive them backward off the line of scrimmage. With his raw violence, Suamataia can be an impactful blocker who opens holes by driving defenders off the ball.

Late in the 2023 season and at the Senior Bowl, Suamataia showed some inconsistency, and he could use some development. Suamataia needs to improve his lower body strength for starters. On occassion, he will overset, and he can be late to react to some stunts and games. While Suamataia has good feet and length, sometimes his feet go still and he relies on his length too much to reach after rushers. As a result, some second efforts by defensive linemen to break free from Suamataia.

Team sources said they felt Suamataia looked like a potential high first-rounder at the start of the 2023 season, but his play was inconsistent and his tape in the back half of the season was not as good. Suamataia has a shot at going late in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft because he has the physical talent to be a starting left or right tackle, but Suamataia could be more likely to go in the second round. In my opinion, I think Suamataia could develop well with pro coaching and turn into a good starter at left or right tackle.

Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M

The 6-foot-3, 302-pound Robinson was a solid and reliable pass protector at Texas A&M. He has strong hands that rock defenders and often knock them off balance to slow them down. Those strong hands also help him to sustain blocks and prevent second efforts from being effective. In the ground game, Robinson is powerful at the point of attack, possessing strong hands to rock back defenders. With his thick build and upper body, Robinson can drive block and get a push at the point of attack. Robinson is nasty and brings a physical style and demeanor to the field. There are plays where Robinson can be a dominant bull who blasts open running lanes. However with Robinson being a limited athlete, he can lumber in space and is not a guard who is going to move well around the field. Thus, Robinson is limited in running wide zone plays at the next level. While he may go on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft or in the mid-rounds, Robinson has the potential to turn into a quality starter and be a very good value pick.