Tag: Day 2

Best WRs and TEs still available for Packers entering Day 2 of 2023 draft

Highlighting the top wide receivers and tight ends still available for the Packers entering Day 2 of the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers passed on taking a wide receiver or tight end in the first round of the 2023 draft, but plenty of pass-catching options will be available to Brian Gutekunst come Day 2, especially with two picks in the second round (No. 42, 45) and one in the third (No. 78).

Five receivers and tight ends came off the board in the first round: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 20), Quentin Johnston (No. 21), Zay Flowers (No. 22), Jordan Addison (No. 23) and Dalton Kincaid (No. 25).

Here’s the best of the rest entering the second round:

TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame: Dual-threat tight end who produced big numbers as the No. 1 option in the passing game for the Fighting Irish. Shouldn’t last long in the second round.

WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee: Big-play speedster with game-changing vertical ability, but also a one-year wonder who played in a funky offense.

TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State: Elite athlete at 6-6 and 253 pounds who possesses both in-line run-blocking experience and high-end pass-catching potential.

WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss: A.J. Brown-sized receiver who can run and block and win after the catch. Elite athlete.

TE Darnell Washington, Georgia: Classic Y tight end in the Marcedes Lewis mold. Tested like an elite athlete.

TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa: Tough-as-nails Hawkeye who catches everything and is a bowling ball after the catch.

TE Tucker Kraft, SDSU: Caught a lot of passes and did a lot of good work inline as a blocker for South Dakota State.

WR Rashee Rice, SMU: Checks the boxes for size, athleticism and production. Can play outside and in the slot, and willing to block.

WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee: Ideal X receiver at 6-3, 213. He was dominant during the 2021 season.

TE Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan: Excellent run blocker with the athletic profile of a player with untapped potential in the passing game.

WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest: Checks the athleticism boxes, and produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia: Explosive receiver who was highly productive in 2021 but slipped in 2022. Checks athleticism boxes.

WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska: One of the fastest players in the draft class. Deep threat with real kick returning value.

TE Brenton Strange, Penn State: Versatile, H-back type with good athleticism and YAC ability at 253 pounds.

WR Michael Wilson, Stanford: Size and talent is all there, but needs to stay healthy. Could be a steal if he avoids injuries at the next level.

Surprise, surprise: Day 2 looks like sweet spot for Packers at wide receiver

Does any team pick WRs on Day 2 better than the Packers? Surprise, surprise, but Rounds 2-3 look like the sweet spot once again in 2023.

Between general managers Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst, the Green Bay Packers have drafted the following wide receivers on Day 2 of the NFL draft: Terrence Murphy (2005), Greg Jennings (2006), James Jones (2007), Jordy Nelson (2008), Randall Cobb (2011), Davante Adams (2014), Ty Montgomery (2016), Amari Rodgers (2021) and Christian Watson (2022). That’s a damn good track record at one position and a specific part of the draft.

Surprise, surprise, but Day 2 once again looks like the sweet spot for the Packers entering the 2023 draft.

Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba could be a real option at No. 15 overall, but he could easily come off the board earlier in the first round, and the Packers

may prioritize an edge rusher or offensive tackle or even a tight end with their first pick. Smith-Njigba appears, from the outside looking in and with an understanding of the team’s preferences at the position, as the only real wide receiver option for the Packers in the first round, given they stay at No. 15 and make a pick.

TCU’s Quentin Johnston ran a frightening slow three-cone, a drill the Packers care greatly about when it comes to receivers. BC’s Zay Flowers and USC’s Jordan Addison are just too small. It’s possible the Packers don’t see any of the three as a Day 1 option.

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While the first round lacks, Day 2 opens a big world of possibilities.

Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, SMU’s Rashee Rice, Ole Miss’s Jonathan Mingo, Wake Forest’s A.T. Perry, Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman, Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson, Nebraska’s Trey Palmer, Virginia’s Donvaytion Wicks and Stanford’s Michael Wilson could all be legitimate options for the Packers, who currently hold the No. 45 and No. 78 pick on Day 2 and could add pick No. 42 or No. 43 in a trade with the New York Jets.

The Packers are entering the 2023 draft with a giant need at receiver, a position where the roster currently carries only five players and three with legitimate NFL experience. Adding a rookie draft pick who can play alongside Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs right away should be a priority, and that’ll almost certainly require the Packers to take at least one during the first three rounds.

Adding Smith-Njigba to the group as a slot dynamo looks like a no-brainer, even if it’s not necessarily a likely outcome for the Packers in the first round. With Day 2 likely to offer several attractive fits, don’t be surprised if the Packers stick to their track record and wait on receiver until the second or third round.

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7 takeaways from Day 2 of Chiefs rookie minicamp

Day 2 of #Chiefs rookie minicamp is in the books. Here is what we’re taking away:

The Kansas City Chiefs continued their rookie minicamp on Sunday. Rookies had more team meetings and another walkthrough on Mother’s Day.

Ahead of practice, four rookie draft picks and one undrafted free agent — Darian Kinnard, Jaylen Watson, Skyy Moore, Isiah Pacheco and Justyn Ross — spoke to the media. They provided reporters with more insight into their time with Kansas City so far.

Below you’ll find seven takeaways from what they had to say:

Chiefs predictions for Day 3 of 2022 NFL draft

Our writers take a crack at predicting how Day 3 might play out for the #Chiefs:

The Kansas City Chiefs will make six selections in the 2022 NFL draft on Day 3. They’ve added a fifth-round pick following the trade back with the New England Patriots on Day 2.

There are a number of ways that things could unfold for Kansas City. Below you’ll find some predictions from a few of our writers on how it could turn out for the Chiefs:

Updated Saints team needs for Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft

Now that wide receiver and offensive tackle have been addressed, here are the Saints’ updated team needs ahead of NFL draft Day 2, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

After landing Ohio State standout wide receiver Chris Olave and the meanest left tackle in the draft in Trevor Penning of Northern Iowa, the New Orleans Saints crossed off two of their biggest needs. Going into Day 2 of the NFL Draft, the team has a few areas on their roster they’re likely to focus. Here are the Saints’ remaining needs heading into the second day of the draft.

What do Saints draft tendencies forecast for Day 2 safety prospects?

What do Saints draft tendencies forecast for Day 2 safety prospects? via @MaddyHudak_94:

By drafting highly graded prospects that addressed needs at wide receiver and left tackle, the New Orleans Saints struck a great balance in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Head coach Dennis Allen likely smartly anticipated the immediate run on receivers; the trade up to No. 11 looks strong in retrospect. And if Ohio State’s Chris Olave was the coveted target, then you make the move to ensure you get him. Allen’s comments on Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning that touted his aggressive nature bolstered the idea that – while still a need-based pick – the prospect had the right traits.

While it didn’t take too much capital, the decision to trade up for Washington’s pick exchanged the Saints’ only third and fourth round picks. That’s slightly harder to swallow when you consider how much this team builds through Rounds 2, 3, and 4 – and how much they trade up to do so. The players they’ve traded up for in those rounds include the following: Paulson Adebo, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Trey Hendrickson, Alvin Kamara, Vonn Bell, David Onyemata, and P.J. Williams. Having only one pick before Round 5 (at No. 49) doesn’t allow for much movement in the second round.

That said, the top two team needs were addressed with great prospects; there’s just as valid an argument for quality over quantity. Accordingly, that same philosophy – barring any magic trick trades – should carry over to their pick tonight at No. 49. And given the team has leaned in to addressing positions of need, the next position to turn to is safety. I’ve certainly done an exhaustive survey of several prospects at the role. I look at draft tendencies that can be highly predictive: a top one being which conferences their picks come from. Let’s see how that trend could play into their potential selections at safety in Round 2.

2022 Draft: Best players remaining for Day 2

There’s still plenty of top talent at WR, EDGE, and LB, all areas of need for the Cowboys heading into Day 2 of the NFL draft. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Now we do it all over again, only with 32 fewer names to choose from on the big board.

The Cowboys added one college prospect to their roster during the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, although many fans are skeptical about whether they really helped their talent level that much.

But with the second and third rounds of picks set to kick off Friday evening from Las Vegas, the Cowboys have two more opportunities to restock the shelves, and then- barring any trades- six additional selections on Saturday.

With lots of difference-makers still available and several areas of need still glaring in Dallas, let’s take a look at some of the best players- from our friends at Draft Wire– who will be hoping to hear their name called on Day 2.

Plenty of receiver and edge rusher talent available to Packers on Day 2

The Packers have needs at wide receiver and edge rusher, two of the deepest positions left in the draft class entering Day 2.

Wide receiver and edge rusher – two need positions for Brian Gutekunst’s roster entering Day 2 of the NFL draft – are well-stocked with attractive options as the Green Bay Packers shift focus to Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday.

Given the depth and talent left, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if two of the team’s three picks on Day 2 come at receiver and edge rusher.

Here are the available players on Dane Brugler’s big board at wide receiver and edge rusher entering the second round:

Wide receivers

No. 45: Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
No. 47: George Pickens, Georgia
No. 59: Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
No. 61: Christian Watson, North Dakota State
No. 71: John Metchie III, Alabama
No. 89: Alec Pierce, Cincinnati
No. 95: David Bell, Purdue
No. 105: Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky
No. 106: Calvin Austin III, Memphis
No. 111: Khalil Shakir, Boise State
No. 118: Danny Gray, SMU
No. 126: Kyle Philips, UCLA
No. 148: Justyn Ross, Clemson
No. 157: Bo Melton, Rutgers

Thoughts: This is a strong group remaining, with strong options for both the second and third rounds. The Packers getting some combination of Pickens, Tolbert, Watson, Pierce, Metchie and Shakir on Day 2 would be excellent.

Edge rushers

No. 28: Arnold Ebekeite, Penn State
No. 37: Logan Hall, Houston
No. 43: David Ojabo, Michigan
No. 48: Boye Mafe, Minnesota
No. 63: Drake Jackson, USC
No. 65: Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
No. 69: Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
No. 78: Dominique Robinson, Miami (Ohio)
No. 82: DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky
No. 83: Josh Paschal, Kentucky
No. 88: Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
No. 91: Sam Williams, Ole Miss
No. 97: Alex Wright, UAB
No. 100: Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati
No. 111: Amare Barno, Virginia Tech

Thoughts: This group is so deep entering Day 2 that the Packers almost have to grab one of them at some point. The top six are all elite athletes with big upside. Enagbare, Paschal and Thomas are physical and disruptive.

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Best available players for Chiefs on Day 2 of 2022 NFL draft

There are still some really good players available for the #Chiefs on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft:

The Kansas City Chiefs have completed Day 1 of the 2022 NFL draft, adding CB Trent McDuffie and EDGE George Karlaftis.

There are still plenty of talented players available for Day 2 of the draft across both sides of the ball and a number of different position groups. The team is set to make three on Day 2 picks at No. 50, No. 62, and No. 103.

Here are the best available players remaining at each position (with the exception of quarterback) for the Chiefs:

14 wide receivers for Packers to target on Day 2 of 2022 NFL draft

The Packers didn’t draft a wide receiver in the first round. Oh well. There is still a lot of talent left at the position. Here are 14 Day 2 options for the Packers.

Surprise, surprise. The Green Bay Packers exited the first round of the 2022 NFL draft without taking a wide receiver. After a run on receivers in the middle of the first round, general manager Brian Gutekunst stayed put and picked Georgia linebacker Quay Walker at No. 22 overall and Georgia defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt at No. 28 overall.

The Packers defense could be terrific in 2022. But what about wide receiver, the team’s biggest need position? Fortunately for the Packers, the draft is seven rounds long, and both the general manager and quarterback are confident the team can find quality options on Day 2.

“There are some really good receivers left in this draft,” Brian Gutekunst said late Thursday night.

While talking with “The Pat McAfee Show,” Aaron Rodgers mentioned the team’s past success in finding receivers in the second and third rounds.

Both are right. There are at least 14 receiver options for the Packers to target in the second and third rounds on Friday. Don’t be surprised if Gutekunst selects one or two of the names from this list.