Friday evening welcomed the conclusion of the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. While the opening round captures all the attention, NFL drafts are often won and lost on Day 2. Drafting immediate contributors and long-term starters throughout picks 33-100 is of the utmost importance to secure roster progression.
Several franchises made shrewd additions that will directly impact the win column in 2024. Other teams struggled to navigate the challenges presented throughout the evening. We've swiftly identified various winners and losers from Friday's festivities.
WINNERS
Washington Commanders
The Commanders drafted their franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels on Thursday. On Friday, they arguably drafted the best remaining overall player in Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton at 36th overall, The No. 12 overall player in our final TDN100 update.
Newton was nursing a foot injury throughout the process, a situation that led to a draft weekend slide. Many expected the Commanders to draft an offensive tackle to protect Daniels with this pick, but general manager Adam Peters simply couldn't pass on the best player available. The Atlanta Falcons traded up one spot in front of Washington to No. 35 and took another defensive tackle in Ruke Orhorhoro. The Commanders were thrilled when Newton fell in their lap.
Peters entered Friday rich with draft capital and he followed up the Newton selection with Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil and Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott. Sainristil will immediately start at the nickel and Sinnott gives Daniels a big, reliable weapon in the passing game. Offensive linemen Brandon Coleman and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey were shrewd third-round picks as well. Washington plugged holes all evening long.
Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort entered Friday evening with an abundance of selections at his disposal. Ossenfort did an outstanding job maximizing his capital. Instant contributors were drafted throughout the second and third rounds.
One of the most underrated cornerbacks in the draft in Rutgers' Max Melton joined the defensive backfield and later doubled down with Boston College cornerback Elijah Jones. Running back Trey Benson will immediately push James Conner for touches while also serving as the succession plan. Utility offensive lineman Isaiah Adams can contend for a starting spot at tackle or guard. And finally, tight end Tip Reiman is a 270-pound athlete that can play both attached to the line of scrimmage, and in space as a big-bodied pass catcher. The Cardinals got better on Friday.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles doubled down on cornerback by selecting Iowa's Cooper DeJean after drafting Quinyon Mitchell on Thursday. It makes sense after poor defensive play led to the Eagles' downfall throughout the second half of the 2023 campaign. The Eagles finished the season allowing a 31st-ranked 252.7 passing yards per contest.
Aging vets like James Bradberry were a shell of their former selves. General manager Howie Roseman needed to transform the defensive backfield this offseason. Drafting a versatile player like DeJean, who's capable of moving around the formation, will help the 2024 unit take a step forward. In the third round, the Eagles selected Houston Christian small-school edge defender Jalyx Hunt, an athletic pass rusher worth developing.
LOSER
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers traded up six spots to No. 46 overall from 52 to draft Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks. Panthers general manager Dan Morgan didn't part with significant capital, sending Nos. 142 and 155 to the Indianapolis Colts to facilitate the aggressive maneuver, and he later acquired a fifth-round selection in a similar range after moving back in the third round. With the Dallas Cowboys at 56th overall being rumored to target Brooks (or an alternative back), are we positive the Panthers needed to jump so many slots to select Brooks though?
The Panthers leapfrogged the Giants, who perhaps may have targeted Brooks after losing Saquon Barkley to free agency. But the Giants, who were always expected to draft a defensive back, ended up drafting safety Tyler Nubin. Brooks will be a starting-caliber back in a new-look Panthers offense, but we wonder if they got unnecessarily aggressive.
