Here’s what we would do!
Happy Draft Day! As has become tradition around here, the FTRS team came together to complete our annual two-round mock draft!
Rules
- If there is a trade between two teams that are being run by the same person, it must be approved by a simple majority of the whole group.
- Due to not being able to get everyone together at the exact same time, we are requiring that folks wait at least five minutes before making their selection to give people ample time to discuss trades and such.
- Picks are being drafted as if we have total control over the team; we are not making predictions.
Team Assignments
We changed up how we did team assignments this year. Everyone selected the top 3 teams they wanted to mock. There was no overlap, so everyone got their choices. The remainder of the teams were randomly sorted. All team assignments can be found below:
Andrew Rodrigues: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans
Benjamin Tankersley: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Logan Sandor: Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Kieffer Milligan: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Washington Commanders
Nishant Prasadh: Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers
We kept track of all picks, trades, and a team summary in a Google Sheet, which you can view here.
Round 1
1. Chicago Bears (Logan) | Caleb Williams, QB, USC
It’s pretty obvious at this point that this pick is a lock, but let’s go over it a bit. The Bears and their GM are looking to get a fresh start for an offense that has shown flashes of potential but never became what fans hoped it would be. Caleb Williams is the QB of the future, who has shown at USC that even with a mediocre surrounding cast he can lead teams to victory. Williams may not be the most athletic QB on the board, but he has the most potential and has shown his mettle on the field time and time again. The Bears have been waiting for this pick for a bit and setting up Caleb Williams for success with trades and free agent pick ups this offseason. If you’re a Bears fan, you knew this pick was coming and you have got to be excited about the future now that it’s here.
2. Washington Commanders (Kieffer) | Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
This is my first pick of this mock, and it comes with perhaps my dumbest reasoning, but I’ll stand by it. This pick comes down to 2 QBs: Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye. It comes down to this: UNC lost to Georgia Tech twice. Were those losses entirely his fault? No, not at all. But he’s the most important player on that team and those games were not supposed to be very winnable for the Jackets. Combine that with the late season collapse in 2022 and I’m comfortable saying: DRAKE MAYE IS A FRAUD
3. New England Patriots (Andrew) | Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The post Belichick era begins in New England. They are looking for a fresh start after the mistakes made with Mac Jones and are able to pick up the 2nd rated QB on the board. While not perfect at North Carolina, Maye showed an ability that should translate well to the NFL.
(Ed. Note: Drake Maye is a FRAUD)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Andrew) | Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, (the) Ohio State University
It was an up and down first year in Arizona for Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort. They strike gold and get the top-rated player in the draft. Harrison Jr is a generational talent at wide receiver and will immediately slot in as a starter opposite Michael Wilson, who is coming off a decent rookie season. This is another weapon that has been added to Kyler Murray’s arsenal.
5. TRADE! Minnesota Vikings (Logan) | J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Los Angeles Chargers trade pick 5 and a 2025 third-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for picks 11 and 23 and a 2025 second-round pick.
There’s a fair chance that McCarthy is still on the board later in the first round, but the decline in talent at QB (depending on how you feel about Michael Penix) is too risky for the Vikings not to trade up here. This pick will give the Vikings a talented QB to build around for the future.
6. New York Giants (Ben) | Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants’ leading receiver for the last two years has been Darius Slayton. In each of those seasons, he has failed to eclipse 800 yards. In adding Rome Odunze, the Giants are giving Daniel Jones a legitimate option at receiver. Odunze is big, fast, and will go after the jump balls. To give you an idea of how sold on Odunze I was on this pick, I had him ahead of Marvin Harrison, Jr.
7. Tennessee Titans (Andrew) | Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans are still working to replace Taylor Lewan at the tackle spot. They can do it with the top-rated offensive lineman on the board. Alt should pencil in as the starter at left tackle and give the Titans a solid left side of the offensive line with last season’s top pick, Peter Skoronski.
8. TRADE! Los Angeles Chargers (Nishant) | Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Atlanta Falcons trade picks 8, 74, 109, and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for picks 11 and 37.
The Chargers make a swap with the Vikings to drop down in the first round and acquire more capital, but after Nabers slides down the board a little, they see an opportunity and pounce. It marks the second straight year that the Chargers have taken a wideout in the top 10 (following Quentin Johnston last year), but in this case it makes total sense. Keenan Allen was unexpectedly shipped to Chicago, Gerald Everett voluntarily went over to Chicago, and Mike Williams was released, leaving Justin Herbert with a pretty barren receiving corps. Nabers is a fantastic way to begin addressing that problem, as he gives Herbert a dynamic, field-stretching WR1 who in almost any other year would have been the top wideout in his class.
9. Chicago Bears (Logan) | Brock Bowers, TE, U[sic]GA
This will almost certainly not happen, especially since the Bears just signed Gerald Everett in free agency. In my eyes as a GM, I just think of Brock Bowers as a talented receiver who happens to block sometimes. People are saying Bowers can eclipse Sam LaPorta’s numbers from last year, and if that’s the case then I want to give my new QB that type of receiving option.
10. TRADE! Philadelphia Eagles (Logan) | Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The New York Jets trade pick 10 to the Philadelphia Eagles for picks 22, 50, and 120.
For a team that won 11 games last year the Eagles sure have some gaps to fill. Defense is definitely where the most help is needed, and while CB talent isn’t crazy in this draft there are a few standouts at edge rusher. I think Dallas Turner makes sense for a team that relies heavily on SEC talent to fill their depth chart.
11. TRADE! Atlanta Falcons (Nishant) | Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Minnesota Vikings trade picks 11 and 23 and a 2025 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for pick 5. The Los Angeles Chargers then trade picks 11 and 37 to the Atlanta Falcons for picks 8, 74, 109, and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Edge rusher is by far the biggest priority for the Falcons, who have had an anemic pass rush for pretty much the entire past decade. The Falcons lose out on Dallas Turner but are perfectly happy with their consolation prize (and the extra second-round pick they landed in the process). Verse is a well-rounded player who was maybe the most vital cog in FSU’s ferocious 2023 defense, and he’ll give Atlanta a very capable pass rusher who can also pair with Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata inside to form a formidable run-stopping front. He had no issues adapting to Power 5 football after moving up from FCS Albany, which is a good sign that he’ll adapt quickly to the speed of the game in the NFL.
12. Denver Broncos (Ben) | Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Cornerback might not be the Broncos’ biggest need, but they opt to go for it here. Thus far, Denver has not resigned Fabian Moreau (one of the starting corners from last year), and the Broncos could use another young corner across from Pat Surtain. They do just that here and get the best name in the draft.
13. Las Vegas Raiders (Ben) | Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Nate Hobbs played well for the Raiders last season, but he has traditionally done better in a nickel-back role. Drafting Arnold, the Raiders get another outside corner to pair with Jack Jones.
14. New Orleans Saints (Nishant) | Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Saints have desperate needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and they decide to start on the offensive side. Fuaga is a giant lineman with excellent technique who should be the team’s long-term solution at right tackle, and since run blocking is his forte, he can move inside to play guard as needed.
15. Indianapolis Colts (Kieffer) | Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Colts see the CB board getting thin and decide to take the best remaining corner on the board. Mitchell provides great athleticism to the defense and allows the Colts to put him on an island and be flexible with coverage if needed.
16. Seattle Seahawks (Logan) | Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
This pick is mostly about hyping up the fans, but it does make sense. Penix is already famous in the area and would make for a talented backup who can sit for a year or two while the team figures things out. Seattle won’t be winning any championships this year so why not set up for down the road. Penix is definitely a homer pick for the fans, who has the potential to develop into the franchise QB of the future.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (Andrew) | Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Jaguars allowed Calvin Ridley to walk this season and sign with the Titans, creating a hole in their receiver corps. Thomas is a solid size and speed combination at 6’2” with a sub 4.4 40 yards dash time. Thomas will be a great weapon to allow Trevor Lawrence to stretch the field.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (Kieffer) | Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Bengals need upgrades and long term solutions at the OT position to ensure Joe Burrow’s health. With the Bengals retaining Tee Higgins, OT is the biggest need. Fautanu is an insane value here and the Bengals take advantage of what falls in their lap. Fautanu can also play multiple positions, which adds additional value for the Bengals. IOL is also a need.
19. Los Angeles Rams (Ben) | Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
The most notable loss for the Los Angeles Rams from last season is DT Aaron Donald who retired. This seems like a no-brainer to try and draft his replacement with their first pick in the draft. Murphy is probably a little on the smaller side, but he’s explosive and is quick with his hands which will help him fill the role vacated by Donald.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (Nishant) | Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Pittsburgh has a few needs on the offensive line, and while center is the most pressing one, they can’t pass up a player as talented as Fashanu when he falls to them at 20. He’ll pair with last year’s first-rounder, Broderick Jones, to give the Steelers a formidable pair of tackles in front of the newly acquired Russell Wilson.
21. Miami Dolphins (Nishant) | J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
As the draft turns into a full-on run on offensive tackles, the Dolphins snap up one of the top remaining elite prospects. Latham is a monstrous tackle who can also move inside to play guard, positioning him to fill one of several possible needs on Miami’s line, and he’ll join an offense that already features two Crimson Tide stars in QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Jaylen Waddle.
22. TRADE! New York Jets (Kieffer) | Amarius Mims, OT, U[sic]GA
The Philadelphia Eagles trade picks 22, 50, and 120 to the New York Jets for pick 10.
The Jets trade way back due to the depth of quality RT available in this range. The Jets still get a high upside, powerful OT in Mims who can pave the way for Breece Hall and protect Aaron Rodgers. In addition, the Jets get back into the 2nd round with this trade and stockpile picks for the future.
23. TRADE! Los Angeles Chargers (Nishant) | Graham Barton, OC, Duke
The Minnesota Vikings trade picks 11 and 23 and a 2025 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for pick 5.
The Chargers were eyeing offensive line help from the moment they acquired this pick. Ideally a good tackle prospect would’ve been available here, but they’re plenty happy with Barton, one of the most versatile linemen in the draft. Barton was a three-year starter at left tackle in college, so while he projects as an interior lineman (likely at center) over the long term, he’ll be able to slot in wherever he’s needed. Between Barton and the earlier pick of Malik Nabers, the Chargers walk out of Day 1 with a pair of foundational pieces to give Justin Herbert both a more effective run game and a shiny new weapon in the passing attack.
24. Dallas Cowboys (Kieffer) | Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Cowboys have needs all over the OL with the departure of several stars there over the years. Guyton provides a high upside infusion of youth to the right tackle position where he will get to play next to Zack Martin while he gets his feel for the NFL game.
25. Green Bay Packers (Nishant) | Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Funnily enough, the Packers could have justified taking an offensive lineman here to make it seven OL in the past eight picks. But the value just wasn’t there, so they hit another need by adding a great player in the secondary. DeJean is a rangy playmaker with the athletic ability to play corner in the NFL, but he saw playing time all over the secondary at Iowa, and he could easily end up starting at either corner or safety for the Packers. And maybe most importantly, this continues the Packers’ grand tradition of never, ever spending their first-round pick on anything that will help out their QB.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Ben) | Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon
The Bucs’ offensive line last year was…less than stellar. Specifically, center Robert Hainsey was towards the bottom of the league in PFF ratings for centers. What really sold me on Powers-Johnson in particular is this quote that was on his NFL Draft Profile: “He’s tough, smart and strong. I just don’t overthink it with centers. When you get those elements, you usually have a starter.” – NFC scouting director
27. TRADE! Detroit Lions (Kieffer) | Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
The Arizona Cardinals trade pick 27 to the Detroit Lions for pick 29 and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The Lions take no chances and trade up for a bookend edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. A high effort player, Latu fits well within the team culture Dan Campbell has built in Detroit. Even with the trade up, this pick is excellent value.
28. Buffalo Bills (Andrew) | Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Bills’ receiver room is a bit empty, with Gabe Davis signing with Jacksonville and Stefon Diggs being traded to Houston. Mitchell will be able to slot right in on the outside with his combination of size and speed.
29. TRADE! Arizona Cardinals (Andrew) | Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Detroit Lions trade pick 29 and a 2025 fourth-round selection to the Arizona Cardinals for pick 27.
The Cardinals continue to rebuild on the defensive line by adding an athletic freak at the defensive end position. Robinson ran a sub 4.5 40 at the combine after a very productive season at Penn State.
30. Baltimore Ravens (Ben) | Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
WR Zay Flowers ended up being a great pick for the Ravens last year in the first round. He led the Ravens in receiving. Behind Flowers, though, the Ravens don’t have much at receiver. Flowers is the only receiver currently signed beyond this season. In adding Troy Franklin, the Ravens get a fast, tall receiver with a solid route tree. It will give Lamar Jackson another viable option at receiver.
31. San Francisco 49ers (Logan) | Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
San Francisco has 10 picks in this draft but doesn’t have 10 roster spots available. Despite having needs at corner and on the O-line I expect the 49ers to play conservative and just pick the best available players and see who work out in practice. With the run on O-line before this pick the 49ers will wait since there isn’t a standout on O-line to burn the pick on. With that in mind the 49ers pick the best available corner since top talent is starting to drop off. At this point in the Mock the best corner back is Nate Wiggins. Nate is listed as the 3rd best CB on most draft boards and has the athleticism to become a starter at the position. We will see Nate can prove himself in camp this year.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (Ben) | Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Last season, the Chiefs selected Wanya Morris to come be their new left tackle. Despite winning the Super Bowl, left tackle was easily the biggest hole on the entire roster. Morris made all of four starts last season and finished with a team-high pressure rate of 10.8% and was 80th out of 85 in run blocking per PFF. In Morgan, the Chiefs are getting an athletic tackle who has the potential to grow into that LT spot for the future.
Round 2
33. Carolina Panthers (Kieffer) | Zach Frazier, OC, West Virginia
The Panthers had one of the worst offensive lines in the country in 2023, severely hampering Bryce Young’s development. The Panthers invested heavily in the both Guard spots in free agency, but the current plan for Center is to move veteran Guard Austin Corbett inside. Corbett is not a long term solution at the position, and has missed significant time due to injuries. By picking Frazier, the Panthers go from the worst IOL group in the league to one of the best in one off-season. Bryce Young still needs guys to throw to, but the Panthers pick again soon and the WR board still looks solid at this point.
34. New England Patriots (Andrew) | Ladd McConkey, WR, U[sic]GA
The inability to draft and develop wide receivers by the Patriots has really come back to bite them. They take McConkey to give their new quarterback a solid weapon.
35. Arizona Cardinals (Andrew) | Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon had an incredible defensive line to work with when he was the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia, and he is looking to recreate that level with this pick. Newton was rated as a first-round pick by many, and the Cardinals jump at the chance to add him in the early second round.
36. Washington Commanders (Kieffer) | Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
While I generally subscribe to the idea that teams should support their new QB in the 2nd round, the OL board at this point is picked clean. Also the WR board still has a few interesting guys, and the Commanders will pick again soon. I took the best remaining CB here, as that is another critical need for a team that has a lot of holes to fill in order to be successful.
37. TRADE! Atlanta Falcons (Nishant) | Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
The Los Angeles Chargers trade picks 11 (acquired from Minnesota) and 37 to the Atlanta Falcons for picks 8, 74, 109, and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Beyond Drake London, the Falcons’ wide receiver room was a complete void last year. It wasn’t the main reason that QB Desmond Ridder struggled so much (he did still have Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and the team’s true offensive centerpiece, Jonnu Smith), but it certainly didn’t help matters. Atlanta added a couple veteran wideouts in the offseason but still needs long-term help here, and Worthy is a fantastic fit. He’s a dynamic playmaker who set an NFL Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, and his ability to stretch the field will complement London’s skillset nicely. Worthy’s stock took a hit after his drop-filled 2022 season, but it was revealed last spring that he played a large chunk of 2022 with a broken hand, and he looked perfectly fine last year as he led the playoff-bound Longhorns in receptions and receiving yards.
38. Tennessee Titans (Andrew) | Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
The Titans add a pass rusher to play opposite Harold Landry and to help take some of the pressure off Jeffery Simmons.
39. Carolina Panthers (Kieffer) | Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Panthers need targets for Bryce Young. The addition of Diontae Johnson helped, but more needs to be done. With Coleman, Young gets a versatile WR who can fill in where needed in the future. Johnson only has a year left on his contract and Adam Thielen isn’t a long term solution in the slot. The Panthers also drafted a big WR last year in Mingo, but the first year returns were poor. Coleman provides insurance for all three spots in the future: If(when) Thielen falls off, if Johnson doesn’t sign an extension, and if Mingo doesn’t develop. With these 2 2nd round picks and the free agency additions, The Panthers have done right by Bryce Young, though I would have traded Derrick Brown for more picks to spend on offense.
40. Washington Commanders (Kieffer) | Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Just as I planned, there are still WR available at the Commanders’ 2nd pick in the 2nd round. Roman Wilson provides a versatile WR to pair with Jayden Daniels and should provide a strong complement to Terry McLaurin. This draft creates a strong situation for Washington’s new QB.
41. Green Bay Packers (Nishant) | Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
The Packers are sorely lacking in depth along the offensive line, particularly at tackle. They jump at the chance to grab Suamataia, one of the most athletic linemen in this draft class. Since the Packers plan to move right tackle Zach Tom inside to have him play center, Suamataia will have a clear path to a starting job at Tom’s old spot.
42. TRADE! Dallas Cowboys (Kieffer) | Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Houston Texans trade pick 42 to the Dallas Cowboys for picks 56 and 87.
It’s Bo time! With Dak Prescott’s contract situation looming, the Cowboys need a new QB. The two sides have thus far failed to engage in serious discussions, and this situation seems destined for a separation of the two parties after this year. The Cowboys won’t be bad enough to be at the top of the first round next year. With this trade up, the Cowboys get in front of the Raiders to select Nix, and begin preparing for life after Dak Prescott.
43. Atlanta Falcons (Nishant) | T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Using their original second-rounder, the Falcons fill a major remaining need on defense. Aside from having one the most fun names in the draft, Tampa is a versatile, aggressive cornerback who has good instincts in zone coverage, making him an intriguing fit for zone enthusiasts Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake. He’s talented enough to start right away across from A.J. Terrell, and his presence will free Clark Phillips to play inside at nickel on passing downs. Atlanta already has a very capable starting safety tandem, and if first-round pick Jared Verse can elevate Atlanta’s pass rush to even a serviceable level, the secondary could be in for a fun year.
44. Las Vegas Raiders (Ben) | Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
The Raiders’ rushing attack was pretty bland last season. There are some guys in the room, but I don’t know that it’s super likely that any one of them really breaks out this season to help the Raiders’ rushing attack rebound. Enter Jonathon Brooks. He’s recovering from a torn ACL from November, so there is not a massive rush to get him on the field, but when he’s healthy, Brooks is a quick and wiggly back that can continue to improve.
45. New Orleans Saints (Nishant) | Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
With the Slant King having abdicated his throne (read: Michael Thomas was released after an injury-plagued four-year run), New Orleans needs some help at wide receiver, where depth behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed is virtually nonexistent. Legette has a rare blend of size and speed, and adding him will give Derek Carr a trio of fun weapons in the passing game.
46. Indianapolis Colts (Kieffer) | Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
The Colts double up at CB. The Colts decided to jump at the opportunity to pick Melton, who provides versatility and has a strong history or production at the college level. The Colts other needs were thin on my board here. A trade back may have been prudent, but Melton provides someone who can play either outside or at the Nickel spot. The Colts will now have a strong defensive backfield going forward.
47. New York Giants (Ben) | Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
The Giants allowed 85 sacks last year. That’s the second-most in NFL history (bonus points if you know what team holds the all-time record). LT Andrew Thomas has been somewhat of a ray of sunshine for what is otherwise a black hole along the offensive line. Amegadjie will be a bit of a project but shows off great length and athletic prowess. With the proper tutelage, he will easily be able to secure the RT spot and bring some more stability to the Giants’ OL.
48. Jacksonville Jaguars (Andrew) | Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
There is no such thing as having too many players that can rush the passer. The Jaguars take that to heart and pick the Alabama edge rusher to rotate with Josh Allen and Travon Walker.
49. Cincinnati Bengals (Kieffer) | Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
The Bengals shored up the OL and now turn their attention to the defense. With Fiske, the Bengals improve their interior pass rush, adding another dimension to the defense. The Bengals have a first-rate offense, so getting after opposing QBs in the AFC is now paramount. The Bengals are building a formidable DL brick by brick.
50. TRADE! New York Jets (Kieffer) | Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
The Philadelphia Eagles trade picks 22, 50, and 120 to the New York Jets for pick 10.
I first noticed Corley when profiling WKU HC Tyson Helton as a potential replacement for Geoff Collins. Corley always jumped out to me on film as someone who was way too good for the level of competition at which he was playing. With this pick the Jets keep Aaron Rodgers happy. they added to the OL with their first pick to keep him safe, and add an upgrade at the slot receiver spot with the pick they got for trading back. With Mike Williams, Garrett Wilson, and Corley, the Jets have a great WR room and will be poised to make a lot of noise in the AFC East for the first time in a long time.
51. Pittsburgh Steelers (Nishant) | Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
The Steelers continue to build around Russell Wilson by adding one of the fastest receivers in the draft. Pearsall’s college production wasn’t eye-popping, but he has the skills to be a very capable slot receiver in the NFL. He thus fills a big need for the Steelers, who traded Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason and don’t have much proven talent in the receiver room beyond George Pickens.
52. Los Angeles Rams (Ben) | Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
The Rams finished 23rd in the league in sacks last season, and Aaron Donald accounted for a good chunk of them. Replacing Donald is great, but the Rams need more help with the pass rush, so they take Austin Booker here in the second round. He has a huge wingspan and a diverse set of moves, but he needs to get stronger and really just more experienced. He had just 505 snaps per PFF in college, which is pretty low for someone being drafted this highly.
53. Philadelphia Eagles (Logan) | Kamari Lassiter, CB, U[sic]GA
The Eagles do have some talent on paper at the corner position, but it didn’t show up on the field the way they expected it to in 2023. With that in mind Philly needs a versatile corner who can step in where needed on defense. Lassiter is a perfect option, Lassiter has shown the ability to operate and understand his role in both man and zone defensive schemes. Lassiter is also a highly physical player from the SEC, which the Eagles tend to like on defense.
54. Cleveland Browns (Andrew) | Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
The Browns add a solid defensive line piece to an already talented group of players.
55. Miami Dolphins (Nishant) | Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
After mulling over some defensive line prospects, Miami decides to double-dip to restock the offensive line, which sorely needs the depth. Beebe gives them a seasoned veteran who can be plugged into the rotation immediately. It means not addressing the defense until Day 3, as the Dolphins had to forfeit their third-round selection for tampering violations related to Tom Brady (lol) and Sean Payton (LOL), but keeping Tua Tagovailoa on his feet is never a bad thing to prioritize.
56. TRADE! Houston Texans (Logan) | Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
The Dallas Cowboys trade picks 56 and 87 to the Houston Texans for pick 42.
Khyree has good size and athleticism for the position. Problem is he needs plenty of development as he relies heavily on his speed to make up for his lack of ability to read routes. Houston needs a good CB and Khyree could become a star if Houston is able to help him overcome some of his minor weaknesses.
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Ben) | Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
The Bucs return one of their two starting linebackers from this year in Lavonte David, who is now 33. They need to infuse some youth into the ranks and do just that by taking Payton Wilson here. His speed (4.43 40-yard dash) will assist him well in coverage, but he’s also got the ability to be a force in run defense.
58. Green Bay Packers (Nishant) | Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
One pick after the first off-ball linebacker comes off the board, the Packers make it two in a row. Cooper is a rangy defender who can sweep the field in run support and occasionally join the pass rush; he’ll need time to develop his coverage skills, but he’s plenty capable of contributing right away. Green Bay takes advantage of having an extra second-rounder from the Aaron Rodgers trade to hit three significant needs in the top 60 picks.
59. Houston Texans (Logan) | Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
The 2nd big need for the Texans is at running back, and while they miss out on Jonathon Brooks by trading back, the Texans do get some extra picks and they have a great alternative for the RB position. Jaylen Wright is a fantastic athlete who has shown proficiency in both Gap blocking and Zone blocking schemes. Another good thing about Wright is his ability to pass protect, which is always a plus when you have a young QB you want to keep safe.
60. Buffalo Bills (Andrew) | Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Having released Jordan Poyer and with Micah Hyde contemplating retirement, the Bills jump at the chance to select the top safety on the board this late in the 2nd round.
61. Detroit Lions (Kieffer) | Maason Smith, DT, LSU
The Lions continue to add to their DL with Smith. Smith provides high upside to the interior DL and could be part of a strong DL of the future.
62. Baltimore Ravens (Ben) | Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
The Ravens double-dip at receiver because they just need some guys to be dudes here. Washington will be able to slot (pun fully intended) into the slot receiver role immediately and give Lamar Jackson quick check downs. The Ravens could go a different direction here, but I like the offensive weapons push.
63. San Francisco 49ers (Logan) | Christian Haynes, OG, UConn
Christian Haynes has consistently outperformed expectations from when he started his career as a two star recruit coming out of high school. Christian performed well enough on a struggling UConn offense to earn Third Team All-American honors for the past two years. Christian works hard to constantly improve and is durable, having played in 48 consecutive games. 49ers are looking for someone to prove themselves on the O-line and Christian Haynes seems like an ideal choice.
64. Kansas City Chiefs (Ben) | Andrew Chau, K, Georgia Tech Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
The Chiefs have Chris Jones in one DT spot, and he has totaled 26 sacks over the last two seasons. Beyond him, though, the Chiefs have a few players on one-year deals, but no legitimate long-term options here. With the last pick in the second round, the Chiefs take Michael Hall, Jr. He’s a little undersized but is able to stand up to bigger guys in front of him. He’s got quick feet and hands and gives the Chiefs another option to put next to Jones.