2024 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: Day 2

Los Angeles Rams:

Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

Kam Kinchens, S, Miami

The Rams had an impressive second-day haul that filled needs and added high-upside players. In the second round, the team landed an interior rusher to hunt quarterbacks in Fiske. Given Aaron Donald’s retirment, the Rams was a big hole in their defense, and Fiske is very dangerous in the pass rush with excellent speed and a non-stop motor. While Fiske needs to get better against the run, he will be a valuable rusher to go next to his college teammate Jared Verse – who the Rams took in Round 1.

The Rams then nailed two picks in the third round with Corum and Kinchens. Corum could easily become their three-down starting running back if it weren’t for the presence of Kyren Williams. With Williams, Corum should help form an excellent tandem that offers the Rams with two talented runners. Kinchens is a dynamic ball-hawking safety who was a big-time playmaker for the Hurricanes over the past two seasons. He also is a hard hitter and a great kid with team-leadership potential. All three players were steals and could have gone much higher. The Rams had a fantastic second day of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Indianapolis Colts:

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh

Over the last six years, the Colts have been the best drafting team in the NFL, and they came through with another strong showing on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Colts needed more wide receiver talent to help young franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson, and they were able to land a first-round talent in Mitchell at pick No. 52. Mitchell slid because of some teams being concerned about his makeup and how he manages his diabetes, but there was no doubt that Mitchell is talented with size, speed, route-running and upside. If Indianapolis can work with Mitchell, he could become a stud No. 2 receiver to go with Michael Pittman Jr.

Entering the 2023 season, Goncalves was a consensus second-rounder who was viewed as having starting potential for the NFL. He lost most of the year to injury, but on tape, Goncalves was a beast as a run blocker who showed serious power and nastiness at the line of scrimmage. He also was a capable, reliable pass protector. With the Colts, Goncalves could compete at guard and serve as a backup swing tackle. Before too long, he could be blasting open holes for Jonathan Taylor and prove to be a third-round steal for Indianapolis.

Cincinnati Bengals:

Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama

McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M

The Bengals took a high-upside boom-potential pick on the opening night of the draft, and what they did on the second night was phenomenal. Cincinnati added potentially three starters with superb values at each spot on Day 2.

In the second round, Cincinnati landed one of the steals of the draft with Jenkins. He was one of the best run defenders in college football over the past couple of seasons, and he showed real upside as a pass rusher during his final season with the Wolverines. Jenkins’ combination speed, strength and athleticism leaves him with a lot of ability, plus he an NFL pedigree from his father and uncle. I think Jenkins could end up being one of the best value picks in this draft class. He will be an immediate replacement for D.J. Reader and could turn into a highly impactful starter.

Burton could be the long-term replacement for Tee Higgins. Thanks to his excellent speed and burst out of his breaks, he is a phenomenal separator from coverage. Burton has dangerous route-running ability, so he should be able to eat up No. 2 and 3 cornerbacks while Ja’Marr Chase draws the No. 1s. Burton slid in the draft over character concerns, but if he can straighten himself out, he could be a huge steal for Cincinnati.

Jackson was a nice selection late in the third round. While he is limited in the pass rush, he could be a good run stuffer and a rotational nose tackle for the Bengals. Jackson should be a quality rotational player and might develop into being a potential starter next to Jenkins.

Cincinnati had a superb second day of the 2024 NFL Draft. The team’s haul from Day 2 could pay big dividends for many years to come.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Chris Braswell, OLB, Alabama

Tyeke Smith, S, Georgia

Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington

The Buccaneers had an excellent Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, landing three players who could help them quickly, but also provide long-term starting potential. Braswell was a superb selection in the second round given that he was a fringe first-round pick for some teams. Braswell is a fast edge rusher with natural power and plays with serious physicality. He could be a sleeper steal who turns into a good starting edge rusher for Tampa Bay.

Smith was through a lot of battles at Georgia against top competition, yet he was steady presence in coverage. Before too long, he could challenge to be a starting safety for Tampa Bay. Later in the third round, Tampa Bay added a potential starting wide receiver in Jalen McMillan. McMillan was a playmaker with the Huskies in 2022 and would have had a huge season last year if he hadn’t missed some time with an injury. McMillan came back late in 2023 and picked up where he left off. Owing to his good size and speed, McMillan can start out as a No. 3 or rotational backup, but in a year or two, he could be a starter to replace Chris Godwin. McMillan was a nice selection at pick No. 92, which was the choice the Buccaneers received in the Carlton Davis trade.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Maason Smith, DT, LSU

Jarrion Jones, CB, Florida State

The Jaguars hired a former LSU defensive coach, which appeared to have a big influence on their draft decisions. Taking Smith in the second round was not a shocker, as I had him mocked to the Jaguars at pick No. 48 in my final mock draft. While Smith flashed early in his college career, he suffered an ACL injury and never seemed to regain his speed and agility. Smith is a large, lumbering defensive tackle who could struggle to get off blocks at the pro level. The Jaguars also passed on two defensive tackles who were much better in college and have big upside in Kris Jenkins and Michael Hall Jr. Both of them were fringe first-rounders with some teams, but Smith was not held in that regard around the league.

Jones was a reach as well in the third round. Other teams had Jones buried on Day 3 of their draft boards. Taking him in Round 3, when there were other solid cornerbacks available, was a surprise. The Jaguars were a winner on the opening night of the draft thanks to trading down and still landing their desired target, but the second night was a let-down after their strong start.

San Francisco 49ers:

Renardo Green, CB, Florida State

Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas

For the second straight year, I think the 49ers did not draft well on Day 2. Last year, they selected a kicker and backup tight end, and this year, they made two reaches. There were other teams that had Green graded well into Day 3 and a projection of being a NFL backup. However, the 49ers felt differently and took him with the 64th-overall pick. San Francisco could have done a very short trade up in order to land Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw, a fringe first-round prospect. Instead, the 49ers ended up taking a flyer on Green.

Similarly, Kansas’ Dominick Puni had grades in the fourth round with other teams. Perhaps he can develop into a competitor at right tackle. However, the 49ers could use more of a high-upside tackle to develop behind the aging Trent Williams. Puni does not project to have left-tackle potential for the NFL. Thus, the 49ers made two reaches on Day 2 when they could have had better value with other prospects.