2024 NFL Draft grades for Day 2: Washington get Jayden Daniels help, Cowboys fail to go "all in"

The 2024 NFL Draft continued with the second and third rounds on Day 2 on April 27, and it provided a fascinating spectacle.

All teams, barring a certain NFC North team, were active on the day. Franchises that didn't draft in the first round had a chance to make the whole exercise a success by picking well today. Organizations that did draft in the first round had the opportunity to add some pieces around some of their picks.

At the end of the day, when the dust settled, we took a look at how the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft shaped out. Here are all the grades.

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2024 NFL Draft Day 2 Grades for Rounds 2 and 3

#1 - Arizona Cardinals

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 11 (43) Max Melton CB Rutgers
Round 3 · Pick 2 (66) Trey Benson RB Florida State
Round 3 · Pick 7 (71) Isaiah Adams G Illinois
Round 3 · Pick 18 (82) Tip Reiman TE Illinois
Round 3 · Pick 27 (90) Elijah Jones CB Boston College

Grade: A+

Multiple picks allowed the Arizona Cardinals to address pretty much every need that they had. They added depth on both offense and defense and in every facet of play. It was a great performance all around.

#2 - Atlanta Falcons

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 3 (35) Ruke Orhorhoro DT Clemson
Round 3 · Pick 10 (74) Bralen Trice OLB Washington

Grade: D

The Falcons needed a defensive tackle and a pass rusher but they also needed a corner and they saw others pick up some good ones. Ultimately, the failure to do so came down to their decision to draft a quarterback in the first round.

#3 - Baltimore Ravens

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 30 (62) Roger Rosengarten OT Washington
Round 3 · Pick 30 (93) Adisa Isaac EDGE Penn State

Grade: D

Having lost players at guard and tackle, they needed more than one offensive tackle in the second and third rounds after they drafted a corner on the first day. An edge rusher, even though a need, could have been saved for later.

#4 - Buffalo Bills

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 1 (33) Keon Coleman WR Florida State
Round 2 · Pick 28 (60) Cole Bishop SAF Utah
Round 3 · Pick 32 (95) DeWayne Carter DT Duke

Grade: B-

The Bills finally became active in this year's draft and got a wide receiver after letting some pass in the first round.

They drafted well on defense with a safety and a defensive tackle but one suspects adding defensive linemen and another wide receiver would have been paramount.

#5 - Carolina Panthers

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 14 (46) Jonathon Brooks RB Texas
Round 3 · Pick 8 (72) Trevin Wallace LB Kentucky

Grade: B+

Getting a running back and a linebacker addresses two positions of need but a cornerback and tight end might have been a better use of their resources.

#6 - Chicago Bears

Picks

Round 3 · Pick 11 (75) Kiran Amegadjie OT Yale

Grade: C

The Chicago Bears have done a great job with the first round and getting an offensive tackle to help a rookie quarterback is not a bad idea. But the focus on offense at the expense of the defense and the failure to get some trades done to get more picks cause Ryan Poles' grade to slide.

#7 - Cincinnati Bengals

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 17 (49) Kris Jenkins DT Michigan
Round 3 · Pick 16 (80) Jermaine Burton WR Alabama
Round 3 · Pick 34 (97) McKinnley Jackson DT Texas A&M

Grade: B

The Bengals did well to address their defensive and offensive needs but instead of taking two defensive tackles, they could have focused on getting a cornerback or an edge rusher.

#8 - Cleveland Browns

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 22 (54) Michael Hall Jr. DT Ohio State
Round 3 · Pick 21 (85) Zak Zinter G Michigan

Grade: A

They drafted a defensive tackle and a guard, both positions of need. In the circumstances, after not picking in the first round, they did well. A minor nitpick might remain on whether they should have gone with a linebacker first.

#9 - Dallas Cowboys

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 24 (56) Marshawn Kneeland EDGE Western Michigan
Round 3 · Pick 9 (73) Cooper Beebe G Kansas State
Round 3 · Pick 24 (87) Marist Liufau LB Notre Dame

Grade: D

The Cowboys needed to replace a center, defensive tackle, running back, linebacker, and receiver in the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft due to free agency losses in the offseason.

They could only partially address those needs. They needed to be much more aggressive to get more draft picks and fill up those holes on their roster.

#10 - Denver Broncos

Picks

Round 3 · Pick 12 (76) Jonah Elliss EDGE Utah

Grade: C-

Getting an edge rusher is not a bad outcome for the Broncos in the 2024 NFL Draft. But after drafting Bo Nix, they could have given him some weapons or protection to begin with.

#11 - Detroit Lions

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 29 (61) Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB Missouri

Grade: C-

Picking another cornerback on the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft after doing so on the first day seems a bit redundant. A safety in the later rounds would have been more appropriate and a pass-rusher should have been picked earlier.

#12 - Green Bay Packers

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 13 (45) Edgerrin Cooper LB Texas A&M
Round 2 · Pick 26 (58) Javon Bullard SAF Georgia
Round 3 · Pick 25 (88) MarShawn Lloyd RB USC
Round 3 · Pick 28 (91) Ty'Ron Hopper LB Missouri

Grade: B

The Packers drafted sensibly for all positions of need except a cornerback. That ought to have been a more pressing concern than a running back after they brought back A.J. Dillon.

#13 - Houston Texans

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 10 (42) Kamari Lassiter CB Georgia
Round 2 · Pick 27 (59) Blake Fisher OT Notre Dame
Round 3 · Pick 14 (78) Calen Bullock SAF USC

Grade: A+

The Texans came alive in the 2024 NFL Draft for the first time during the second day and they did well. They addressed every position of need and the team that definitively won last year's draft does not look to be doing too shabbily this time either.

#14 - Indianapolis Colts

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 20 (52) Adonai Mitchell WR Texas
Round 3 · Pick 15 (79) Matt Goncalves OT Pittsburgh

Grade: B+

Adonai Mitchell fell all the way into the laps of the Indianapolis Colts and they strengthened the offensive line as well. But some consideration should have been put into adding depth to the defensive secondary.

#15 - Jacksonville Jaguars

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 16 (48) Maason Smith DT LSU
Round 3 · Pick 33 (96) Jarrian Jones CB Florida State

Grade: A+

The Jacksonville Jaguars' premier needs entering into the second day of the draft were a defensive lineman and a cornerback. They got both.

#16 - Kansas City Chiefs

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 31 (63) Kingsley Suamataia OT BYU

Grade: B-

With only one pick, the Chiefs addressed a position of need but a little aggressive maneuvering to get some more picks to draft someone on the defensive side of the ball would have made the day better.

#17 - Las Vegas Raiders

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 12 (44) Jackson Powers-Johnson C Oregon
Round 3 · Pick 13 (77) Delmar Glaze OT Maryland

Grade: D

The Raiders needed a quarterback and a cornerback and took neither. They did address some needs on the offensive line but that may not prove enough for the upcoming season.

#18 - Los Angeles Chargers

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 2 (34) Ladd McConkey WR Georgia
Round 3 · Pick 5 (69) Junior Colson LB Michigan

Grade: A-

The Chargers did well to give Justin Herbert an offensive weapon after adding protection for him and the running game in the first round. But a running back like Blake Corum, who played under their new head coach in college, might have been a better investment at this stage than another linebacker.

#19 - Los Angeles Rams

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 7 (39) Braden Fiske DT Florida State
Round 3 · Pick 19 (83) Blake Corum RB Michigan
Round 3 · Pick 36 (99) Kamren Kinchens SAF Miami

Grade: A-

The Rams addressed positions of need with a defensive lineman and a safety but a running back might not have been as much of a necessity right now, with Kyren Williams already there, as an offensive lineman.

#20 - Miami Dolphins

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 23 (55) Patrick Paul OT Houston

Grade: B

A little more aggression to get some more picks and addressing their need for a tight end or defensive lineman would have been better but Patrick Paul, as a player, is not a bad pick and fills a required position.

#21 - Minnesota Vikings

Picks

NONE

Grade: D-

No picks mean the lowest possible grade from us.

#22 - New England Patriots

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 5 (37) Ja'Lynn Polk WR Washington
Round 3 · Pick 4 (68) Caedan Wallace OT Penn State

Grade: A

Rebuilding the offense should have been the Patriots' priority in the 2024 NFL Draft and they did that by drafting a quarterback in the first round and giving him protection and weapons with the next selections.

The only question is should they have drafted Ja'Lynn Polk or Adonai Mitchell at that position?

#23 - New Orleans Saints

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 9 (41) Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Alabama

Grade: C

The corner out of Alabama they picked is a solid selection but they needed wide receivers, defensive linemen, and linebackers. Aggressive plays to get some more picks would have been welcome news for their fans.

#24 - New York Giants

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 15 (47) Tyler Nubin SAF Minnesota
Round 3 · Pick 6 (70) Andru Phillips CB Kentucky

Grade: A-

Some good selections here but one cannot help but notice that they have not drafted a running back yet to replace Saquon Barkley. Devin Singletary alone might not be sufficient.

#25 - New York Jets

Picks

Round 3 · Pick 1 (65) Malachi Corley WR Western Kentucky

Grade: A-

The Jets had one pick on the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft and they traded upwards to get a great value player in Malachi Corley.

He could be the elusive missing piece for Aaron Rodgers. A little more aggressiveness to get some more picks could have been somewhat of a better strategy, though.

#26 - Philadelphia Eagles

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 8 (40) Cooper DeJean CB Iowa
Round 3 · Pick 31 (94) Jalyx Hunt EDGE Houston Christian

Grade: B+

The Eagles continued rebuilding their secondary and their defense on the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft. But one wonders if some focus on the offensive needs, instead of drafting another cornerback, might have been better at this stage.

#27 - Pittsburgh Steelers

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 19 (51) Zach Frazier C West Virginia
Round 3 · Pick 20 (84) Roman Wilson WR Michigan
Round 3 · Pick 35 (98) Payton Wilson LB N.C. State

Grade: A

Some solid picks here that address positions of need. The only concern is whether they should have gone for a cornerback as well before a linebacker.

#28 - San Francisco 49ers

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 32 (64) Renardo Green CB Florida State
Round 3 · Pick 23 (86) Dominick Puni G Kansas

Grade: A

After picking a wide receiver, they addressed positions of immediate need. A bit more aggressive posture in trading to get some more picks to draft another linebacker might have been a better strategy but that's just nitpicking.

#29 - Seattle Seahawks

Picks

Round 3 · Pick 17 (81) Christian Haynes G Connecticut

Grade: C

While their solitary pick on the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft was good, they needed some selections for the day to be classified as a success. Linebacker and tight ends remain positions to consider still.

#30 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 25 (57) Chris Braswell EDGE Alabama
Round 3 · Pick 26 (89) Tykee Smith SAF Georgia
Round 3 · Pick 29 (92) Jalen McMillan WR Washington

Grade: B+

Some good picks add depth to the roster but a linebacker might have been better value than a wide receiver at this stage.

#31 - Tennessee Titans

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 6 (38) T'Vondre Sweat DT Texas

Grade: C+

After an offensive lineman in the first round, a defensive lineman addresses another position of need. But a wide receiver and a linebacker are draft requirements still and they should have tried to work some trade to get more selections.

#32 - Washington Commanders

Picks

Round 2 · Pick 4 (36) Jer'Zhan Newton DT Illinois
Round 2 · Pick 18 (50) Mike Sainristil CB Michigan
Round 2 · Pick 21 (53) Ben Sinnott TE Kansas State
Round 3 · Pick 3 (67) Brandon Coleman G TCU
Round 3 · Pick 37 (100) Luke McCaffrey WR Rice

Grade: A+

The Commanders had multiple picks today and addressed their needs on defense, added a tight end and a wide receiver to complement Jayden Daniels, and also got him a new guard.

In drafts, the higher the number of picks, the better the chance of a good grade, and Washington did well here.