Welcome to my comprehensive analysis of the 2024 NFL Draft’s Day 2, where more dreams were made for 60-plus bright-eyed rookies, and the chessboard of professional football continues its injection of fresh, ambitious young talent.
In this featured piece recapping Rounds 2 and 3 of Night 2, I will delve into the immediate impact of the newly minted rookies and how their arrival alters the dynamics for veteran players within their teams.
From soaring stocks of rookies poised to make a significant mark in their debut seasons to veterans who might find their positions threatened or bolstered by these young additions, we’ll explore who emerged as the winners and losers of this pivotal day in the NFL calendar.
Join me as we break down the changing landscapes of NFL squads and assess the potential shifts in strategy and performance prompted by this year’s Round 2 and 3 draft selections.
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
- Dynasty Startup Draft Primers
- Dynasty Draft Kit
- Thor’s Top 500 Rookie Rankings & Comps
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2024 NFL Draft Day 2 Winners
Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC)
The Patriots could have drafted Ladd McConkey with the 34th overall pick, but they opted to trade the pick to the Chargers. This will forever tie McConkey’s NFL career to Ja’Lynn Polk‘s. Praying my Patriots didn’t blow this pick.
Because the Ladd McConkey landing spot with the Chargers is pretty tough to beat. He’s on a very weak WR depth chart, so we could easily project McConkey to lead the team in targets with his route-running prowess. Even in a run-heavy offense, I’d expect McConkey to be uber-efficient as he was at the college level. He finished 8th in the nation in yards per route run (3.26) in 2023.
The former Georgia Bulldog is attached to Justin Herbert throughout his career, and we could easily see the Chargers QB lean on McConkey in a Keenan Allen way. Double-digit targets as far as the eyes can see.
The low projected passing volume will be the main argument against McConkey, but if he’s the clear No. 1 target, I don’t think it will be an issue.
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
The rumor was that Texas’ Jonathon Brooks (or any RB) wouldn’t be drafted inside the top 50 picks in this year’s draft. That turned out not to be the case, with Brooks being selected 46th overall by the Carolina Panthers.
Coming off the torn ACL injury, the reports have all been positive for Brooks regarding his availability for training camp. But as Carolina looks to play the long game, what should we realistically expect from Brooks in Year 1?
After all, the Panthers have two capable backs-Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders-under contract until at least the end of this season. Hubbard will be a free agent, while Sanders can be cut for a minimal dead cap hit.
To me, it would make logical sense for Brooks to take on a pseudo-redshirt season as he comes back from the ACL injury. The Panthers can ride out Hubbard and Sanders and then unleash Brooks in 2025-or at least for the start of the season, with Brooks getting ramped up as the weeks progress.
Given the Panthers ‘ current RB depth chart, I think the market might have been too bullish on Brooks from the get-go. Even though Carolina has made upgrades across the OL, we have yet to see this offense in functioning action.
However, given his top-50 draft capital, it’s impossible not to label Brooks a winner, despite coming off a torn ACL. Even if it takes some time, I can only imagine Brooks’ dynasty value increasing as we inch closer to 2025.
Trey Benson (RB – ARI)
Even though Brooks went as the No. 1 RB, he wasn’t the only RB to land in a great spot. Trey Benson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals at the top of Round 3 (66th overall).
I love the spot for him on an ascending Cardinals offense with James Conner entering the last year of his contract.
I fully expect Conner to still be the “bell cow” in 2024 if he is able to maintain his health. Obviously, that’s not a given. But in the meantime, Benson has the size/speed profile to flash his explosiveness while working in tandem with Conner.
And if/when Conner goes down, it will be the Benson show in the desert.
It’s possible that this will not happen until 2025, but given Conner’s durability concerns, I do think we will see plenty of Benson in Year 1.
Given how Day 2 went regarding RBs (only 4 RBs were drafted), I think that Benson and Brooks have solidified their position atop the RB rookie class (Day 3 rookie RB to Dallas withstanding).
And when I think about who I want to rank higher with draft capital and landing spots decided, I still think I prefer Benson ever so slightly.
To start, I don’t think either opens the year as the “starter” on their offense. Conner’s been a stud for the Cardinals when healthy. And it doesn’t make sense to me for the Panthers to overload Brooks coming off an injury. I could be wrong (especially in the latter), but that’s where my mind is at.
When it comes to who can flash the most in limited touches, it’s Benson. Given his explosiveness versus Conner, he’s going to have moments where he looks great in open space. The Cardinals offense upgraded its OL both in free agency (Evan Brown, Jonah Williams) and the NFL Draft (Isaiah Adams). And the offense should be better in general with a healthy mobile Kyler Murray under center.
Carolina has also upgraded its OL, but the offense is still a wait-and-see with all the new pieces. And given Brooks’s ACL injury, will he actually be as explosive as his previous self? Even if guys come back to football less than a year after the injury, it’s usually not until the next season that they regain all their explosiveness.
So, if both rookie RBs are biding their time, I’d expect Benson to flash more.
All in all, I’d expect both Brooks and Benson to get opportunities as bellcows in their respective offenses at some point in 2024. But given their current circumstances, I’d bet Benson can do more with Arizona than Brooks with Carolina in Year 1.
Therefore, even when both guys are teed up to be their respective clear-cut RB1s in 2025 and beyond, I’d bet Benson is the higher-valued back by the consensus. So, he will remain my RB1 of this rookie class.
However, I must disclose that Brooks moved up from RB3 to RB2 in my rookie rankings after his draft selection.
Keon Coleman (WR – BUF) (WR – BUF)
The Bills desperately needed to add another WR to their receiving corps after losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason. They drafted Keon Coleman with the first pick of Day 22 (33rd overall) – the closest thing you can get to Round 1 draft capital.
He’s attached to a great QB on a depth chart that he can easily ascend on.
Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins round out the remaining Bills WR depth chart.
It’s not hard to see Coleman carving out a large target share in Year 1. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he’s got the size that not many other Bills WRs can offer, other than Hollins (projected 2024 cardio king).
In his post-Day 2 press conference, GM Brandon Beane mentioned that Bills QB Josh Allen liked Coleman’s ability to adjust to the ball.
Coleman’s high-end success will be tied to whether Buffalo decides to deploy him as a big slot receiver.
Shakir led the Bills in WR slot snaps in 2023 (77%), followed by Dalton Kincaid (66%) after Joe Brady took over as the OC (post-Week 11). Note that Shakir (as the primary slot receiver) led the Bills in receiving yards over this span.
With Shakir still on the roster and Samuel potentially also viewed as a slot WR by Brady, we could see some potential hiccups with Coleman if he is tasked with winning consistently on the outside. A potential issue here due to his lack of separation skills.
In Samuel’s last year with Joe Brady in Carolina, he played 72% of his snaps from the slot.
Ben Sinnott (TE – WAS)
It’s hard to beat the landing spot that Ben Sinnott got with the Commanders, a team that was desperately looking for additional playmakers.
Pre-draft, the top three playmakers for the Commanders were Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Zach Ertz (cringe).
Dyami Brown and Jamison Crowder are penciled in to see a ton of WR snaps, which likely isn’t ideal. Ertz is not a long-term option at tight end.
Given the overwhelming evidence of more than 1 of these Washington decision-makers drafting a tight end with Day 2 capital, I expected the Commanders to draft a tight end in this year’s draft.
And Sinnott fits what Adam Peters (formerly of the 49ers) would want at tight end. Great after the catch, super productive at the college level, above average athleticism, and experience as a fullback.
He’s Sam LaPorta, George Kittle, and Kyle Juszczyk all wrapped up into a fun package. The best part is that he has a path to targets in the Commanders’ offense.
Now, it remains to be seen how effective Jayden Daniels will be in Year 1. But it’s clear that Sinnott has firmly stamped his TE2 ticket in this class after hovering in that area pre-draft.
I liked him a lot as a tight-end prospect, so I don’t need to be convinced any further with this great situation he finds himself in.
It’s better than Brock Bowers‘s situation with the Raiders, as I wrote about in my 2024 NFL Draft Round 1 Winners & Losers (Fantasy Football).
Luke McCaffrey (WR – WAS)
Christian McCaffrey‘s brother was the final pick in Round 3 by the Washington Commanders. They were in need of a slot WR, and the younger LMC can fill that void in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Luke McCaffrey has not been playing WR for very long, but as possesses elite athletic bloodlines that have helped me make the switch.
Usually, I don’t chase the draft capital of WRs that go well ahead of consensus, but McCaffrey’s Day 2 draft capital needs to put fantasy managers on notice.
I wasn’t high enough on him in my pre-draft rankings, as I essentially ranked him as my last WR who I would theoretically draft with some semblance of confidence.
In Luke McCaffrey’s final season at Rice, he commanded a 30% target share (5th) and ranked 9th in total unique routes run.
He’s another weapon for Jayden Daniels in a new-look Commanders offense.
Jermaine Burton (WR – CIN)
Jermaine Burton was rumored to fall in the draft due to off-the-field issues. So, it’s a massive win for his NFL outlook for him to earn Round 3 draft capital (80th) overall by the Bengals.
The writing is on the wall that Tee Higgins is not in the Bengals’ long-term plans. Whether he gets moved this year or next offseason, Burton’s stock will be on the rise this time in 2025.
Better to get ahead of it now rather than later.
Because the guy can straight-up ball when his head is on straight. Here’s what I wrote about him pre-draft:
“Took forever to “break out” until his senior year at 22 years old with a 30% dominator rating as a member of the Crimson Tide. He transferred from the University of Georgia over his first two seasons to Alabama his final two collegiate seasons. Although he did post a very serviceable 19% dominator rating his first year at Bama (essentially a breakout), with 677 yards and 7 TDs.
And Burton also produced decently during his time in Georgia despite facing a myriad of tough competition. 16% dominator rating in 2020 as a true freshman (19 years old) while competing for targets with George Pickens. During his second season as a Bulldog, Burton was second on the team in receiving yards behind only Brock Bowers – despite competing for targets with the aforementioned tight end, Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell (future second-round NFL selections).
He was also used exclusively downfield during his final year, with a 20.2 aDOT (3rd-highest in the FBS) in 2023. And zero drops. Burton finished 12th overall in yards per route run. Burton possesses and explosive skillset with 4.45 wheels and jumps in the 82nd percentile-plus.
He’s a big play waiting to happen but likely won’t command a hyper-intense target share at the next level. He’s got two games on his college resume with double-digit targets. He also has some off-field issue concerns that could hurt his draft capital in the real-life NFL.”
He’s an awesome fit as the future Robin to Ja’Marr Chase‘s Batman in Cincy’s WR room.
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB)
The Buccaneers didn’t lose Mike Evans in free agency after he re-signed for another two years, but they were likely to add more WRs in the draft, given that Chris Godwin is in the last year of his deal. Russell Gage was released, and Trey Palmer didn’t do enough as a rookie to lock in his status as WR3 in the 2024 Buccaneers offense.
Jalen McMillan can step in as the WR3 as soon as this season, and WR2 is within his reach come 2025.
I highlighted the former Huskies slot WR as a dynasty sleeper in my pre-draft rookie WRs article.
Here’s what I had to say:
“McMillan broke out in his second season at Washington at 20 years old. He compiled a 19% dominator rating, which set the stage for what was coming for him in 2022 when he had his best college season – 1,098 receiving yards and nine TDs. Those numbers were good for a 25% dominator rating despite competing for targets with future NFL WRs Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. He led the Huskies in targets and catches in 2022.
Alas, he could not sustain that success into this past season as the No. 3 option in Washington’s pass attack, given his injury and lack of usage downfield (9.6 average depth of target) in a vertical passing attack.
It won’t get easier to command targets at the next level. The fact McMillan showed he’s capable of rising to the occasion of elite target competition bodes well for him should he end up on a weaker NFL WR depth chart.
All in all, he’s a strong route runner with an early enough breakout age. McMillan has played over 89% of the snaps from the slot over the last two seasons.
Odds are that one of McMillan or Polk will perform well above expectation at the next level, given how they likely hurt each other’s statistics the past two seasons with Washington’s spread offense.”
DeMario Douglas (WR – NE)
The Patriots drafted a new WR weapon for rookie QB Drake Maye with the 37th overall pick after trading down with the Los Angeles Chargers (upgrading a 5th to a 4th in this year’s draft as a result).
Ja’Lynn Polk is best described as a jack of all trades and master of none. The “Toyota Corolla” among the rookie WR class.
At 6’1? and 203 lbs, Polk is a good size and has the ideal build for a versatile receiver capable of playing both on the outside and in the slot, although the latter is probably where he would find the most success.
In Eliot Wolf’s post-Day 2 presser, the Pats de facto GM reflected on the Polk selection, claiming, ” He does everything, well-rounded, ball-winner, and provides yards after the catch.”
He was hesitant to label him an “X” WR-given the Patriots’ specific WR needs-but suggested he’s confident that Polk can play the X, Y, Z, etc. He also praised his blocking.
In his time at Washington, Polk demonstrated significant growth, culminating in a senior year after suffering an injury as a sophomore. He recorded impressive stats with 69 receptions for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns, boasting an average of 16.8 yards per catch. He also started the 2023 season on absolute fire, scoring eight TDs in the first 10 weeks of the season alongside a teammate and fellow 2024 draft-eligible WR, Rome Odunze.
Polk’s blend of speed, agility, and size makes him a compelling prospect. His quickness off the line is complemented by his strong hands and body control, enabling him to make challenging catches in traffic. He’s extremely well-rounded and tough.
Reminded me of Mohamed Sanu and Tyler Boyd. Other NFL Draft evaluators like Dane Burgler have compared Polk to Joshua Palmer (the quintessential just-a-guy comparison). High-end comps are Polk compared to Chris Godwin (by Connor Rodgers), who should be fully taking over a fully featured slot role with the Patriots. But given all the slot WRs already on the Pats, I think Polk is going to be asked to play outside as well (especially in two TE sets).
I was initially down on the Patriots’ selection of Polk, but I think that getting a solid high-floor WR after all the second-round busts they’ve taken isn’t the worst thing. They had a lot of intel on the selection of Polk, given that the Patriots’ current WR coach, Tyler Hughes, spent the 2023 season as the Washington Huskies’ quality control coach on offense.
It’s also very possible that Polk would have been on the cusp of an eruption season in 2024 college football had he not declared early. Or if Rome Odunze had declared for the NFL last season, Polk could have been the featured guy in Washington’s offense and would have bonkers numbers to show for it.
The biggest concern with a guy like Polk – aside from having a rookie QB – is that he never commanded a high target share, especially when Jalen McMillan was healthy. But going to the Patriots – arguably one of the least impressive WR rooms – gives him a chance to stand out above the rest.
But in conclusion, Polk’s landing with the Patriots at No. 37 overall doesn’t move the needle for me up or down too drastically in my rookie rankings. There were better spots he could have gone and spots that could have been much worse.
I will also say that Polk’s overall lackluster profile suggests that DeMario Douglas could easily be the Patriots’ No. 1 WR and target leader in 2024.
He will be my highest-ranked Pats WR heading into the year and is the low-key winner based on how Polk projects to the NFL.
Zamir White (RB – LV)
Day 2 came, and the Raiders invested zero draft picks in RBs. This is a win for Zamir White, especially with Las Vegas bolstering their IOL with Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson. In Round 3, they drafted OT Delmar Glaze.
2024 NFL Draft Day 2 Losers
Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)
Many wondered whether the Rams would invest in an RB in this year’s draft. Based on Sean McVay’s drafting track record, I felt there was a strong chance they would. Insert Michigan’s Blake Corum in Round 3 (83rd overall).
I don’t think this denounces Williams as the RB1 in LA, but it gives McVay another option in case Williams suffers another injury. He’s gotten hurt both years he has played in the NFL. Last year, the Rams went right back to him, with nobody else worth much on the depth chart.
Corum changes that equation substantially. He is a do-it-all RB, similar to Williams, even if neither are super explosive athletes.
I’d be strongly fading Williams as a top 2204 redraft pick, given the Corum addition, while hyper-targeting the former Wolverine as a premier late-round RB target. Any volume that Corum takes on in the Rams’ backfield will hurt Williams’ fantasy value.
Also, thanks to Sean McVay for drafting Corum, which ensured my +4000 Rams to draft Blake Corum ticket was cashed. Bang. Bang.
MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB)
I felt that MarShawn Lloyd would be one of the most landing spot-dependent rookie RBs in this class.
I wrote this about him pre-draft:
“In his final and last season at USC, he posted a 15% dominator rating with nine TDs and 816 rushing yards.
Lloyd was one of the biggest risers during the 2024 Senior Bowl, which shouldn’t go unnoticed. All-Star game performances influence draft capital, which can make or break some of these later-selected RBs.
However, this could end up being a potential pitfall, given Lloyd’s yards per play at 2.4 is very poor compared to the rest of the class.
At 5-foot-9 and 220 pounds, Lloyd looks like a carbon copy of another former Senior Bowl RB riser – Dameon Pierce. And like Pierce, he comes with red flags of a poor overall dominator rating as a player who could never become the true featured RB in a college backfield.
Despite his strengths as a tackle-breaker (like Pierce), it might not be enough to truly vault him into consistent fantasy production if he can’t stand out against other RBs. Again – like Pierce – Lloyd never surpassed 150 touches in any season, with only three games of 20+ touches. Also dealt with injuries consistently, which contributed to smaller workloads.”
On an RB depth chart that features the newly signed Josh Jacobs, A.J. Dillon, and Emanuel Wilson, Lloyd is facing a major uphill battle to make an impact. The Round 3 draft capital is great, but this landing spot is abysmal.
Adonai Mitchell (WR – IND)
Once viewed as a lock for the first round, AD Mitchell fell to the 53rd overall pick. The Colts drafted him as a logical upgrade from 2022’s second-round pick, Alec Pierce.
As an explosive vertical threat, Mitchell’s game could translate well to Anthony Richardson‘s big arm.
But in an offense heralded by a mobile quarterback, Mitchell is facing an uphill battle for targets. Michael Pittman Jr. (another winner with Mitchell as the WR Indy drafted) is the target alpha. And last year’s second-round pick, Josh Downs, projects for No. 2 in the target pecking order.
Mitchell screams like the 3rd-target at best, with his opportunities coming in the form of downfield and high-value pass attempts.
It’s great in best ball for splash weeks. But relying on Mitchell to bring in any consistency is a fool’s errand.
Still, I think savvy dynasty managers should be wise to Mitchell’s big-game potential. If he falls too far in rookie drafts, scoop him up. And the minute he blows up with a 2-TD/150-yard game, you put him straight on the trade block.
Mitchell’s poor analytical profiles remind me of Kadarius Toney‘s coming out. But what saved Toney and his dynasty value for such a long time? One insane game versus the Cowboys. I could see Mitchell’s career playing out in a similar way, especially in an offense with a young QB.
Once viewers get a glimpse of Mitchell’s upside, they’ll be hooked. Take advantage.
Malachi Corley (WR – NYJ)
Thor’s comp for new Jets WR Malachi Corley? Amari Rodgers. Rodgers was drafted by the Packers in 2021. The OC was Nathaniel Hackett. Corley’s new OC with the Jets is Nathaniel Hackett.
As a prospect who is more RB than actually WR in his play style, I am not thrilled about his pairing. Hackett has shown zero creativity and progression in adapting to his unique offensive personnel, making me very concerned Corley is nothing more than a gadget YAC player in the Jets offense.
Even with top-end Round 3 daft capital, I’ll let someone else take a swing on Corley.
Roman Wilson (WR – PIT)
It’s always smart to pay attention to the WRs that the Steelers draft on Day 2. Their track record of hits in the middle rounds is one of the best in the NFL.
And I think Roman Wilson will be a nice addition, albeit more in real life than fantasy.
Keep in mind that Wilson’s best year came this past season.
His standout senior year saw him amass 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, resulting in a 37% dominator rating in 2023, the sixth-highest single-season dominator rating in the class.
But it comes with concerns, including his late breakout age at 22 years old and the fact that he could only muster one legitimate year of production.
Also, his lack of overall counting stats was due to the run-heavy offense he played as Michigan’s deep threat. According to Sports Info Solutions, 53% of his routes ran were downfield.
Given that the Steelers project to be extremely run-heavy after the hiring of OC Arthur Smith – in addition to the draft selections of OL Zach Frazier and OL Troy Fautanu – I’m finding it hard to be excited about Wilson for fantasy purposes.
Fading a Steelers mid-round WR selection is always a risky proposition, but I’m not finding many ways where not drafting Wilson buries in me in 2024.
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