Eagles NFL Draft grade for trading up and selecting Iowa DB Cooper DeJean
The Philadelphia Eagles continue to improve their secondary by trading up early into the second round to nab Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall selection.
DeJean projects as an immediate starter in the Philadelphia secondary in whatever role they have imagined for the versatile defensive man. Now paired with fellow rookie Quinyon Mitchell, it will allow DeJean to play mostly inside either as the nickel or at one of the safety spots.
Versatile, quick, and instinctive, DeJean was perhaps the best defensive back in all of college football last year, constantly creating big plays and turnovers in the Iowa secondary. Expect DeJean to make big plays early for the Birds.
2024 NFL draft grade for the Rams selecting Florida State DT Braden Fiske
The Los Angeles Rams double dip in both the defensive line and players from Florida State after snagging edge rusher Jared Verse in the first round and now have landed Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske.
Fiske projects inside as Aaron Donald’s replacement from day one, and while they are obviously not the same player, Fiske should be able to provide some of the pass rush void left behind, along with Kobie Turner and fellow rookie Jared Verse.
An explosive athlete who has a sudden get-off and can blow through top college offensive linemen, Fiske is going to make his impact felt along the defensive line early. While he looms in one of the largest NFL shadows, expect Fiske to produce right away.
Grading the Tennessee Titans 2024 NFL draft selection of Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat
The Tennessee Titans stay put and snag themselves a mammoth of a human to play along the interior of their defensive line in Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat with the 38th overall selection.
Sweat projects as a rotational piece on early downs next to the Titans pro bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. The Titans have had a theme so far of taking big men in this draft and they landed perhaps the biggest in the second round with sweat.
A huge, run stuffing, and progressive rusher who will command attention given his strength and size, Sweat should help Simmons ease up on double teams and be a productive player early on, though the sack numbers won’t show up for this run eater.
NFL Draft grade for the New England Patriots selecting Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk
After a trade down the New England Patriots added a weapon to try and help out their new franchise quarterback with the selection of Washington receiver Ja’Lynn Polk with the 37th overall pick.
Polk projects as an immediate starter in a receiver room that ranks among the worst across the league and he should start outside opposite of their established veteran Kendrick Bourne.
A big and physical receiver that player opposite of Rome Odunze, Polk proved to be almost as unstoppable as his counterpart in the explosive Washington offense. Polk could walk away from his rookie season as the leading receiver for the Patriots.
Breaking: Falcons trade up to select DT Ruke Orhorhoro at No. 35 overall in the 2024 NFL draft
The Atlanta Falcons have traded up to the No. 35 overall selection in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft and selected Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhororo.
Starting with the player, he’s certainly an exciting projects. His ceiling is high but it will rely on him developing as a pass rusher. He offers some positional versatility between being able to moved around to the edge, especially if he develops correctly. He’ll have a good mentor in David Onyemata.
Now, to get the player, the Falcons gave up a lot of value. The Falcons traded away picks No. 43 and 79, the Arizona Cardinals gave up 35 and 189. Moving down 110 spots in the draft with your next selection is a good bit for a project player with another great option in Johnny Newton still on the board.
Another head scratching move for Terry Fontenot in Atlanta.
Grading the 2024 NFL draft selection of Johnny Newton by the Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders stick at the 36th overall selection and landed a serious first round talents with the pick of Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zahn ‘Johnny’ Newton.
Newton projects as a rotational piece on a stacked defensive interior with the likes of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, though could be lined up along the edge to maximize the defensive talent on early downs.
With an electric first step, fierce get-off, and a relentless motor to get to the quarterback, Newton could be an early impact player and wrack up the sacks quickly if used early and often.
NFL Draft grade for the Atlanta Falcons trading up and selecting Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro
The Atlanta Falcons shot up the draft board to try and land a difference maker along their defensive front and landed a big one in Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhohoro with the 35th overall pick.
Orhorhoro projects as a rotational piece along an overhauled Atlanta defensive line that includes the likes of Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata and should bring a ton of pass-rushing talent to their interior.
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With a deep pass rushing tool box and reliable as a run stuffer, Orhororo is a refined player even with a bit of a lacking physical skillset. You can never have too many pass rushers, and Orhorhoro should bring some juice in the middle of the Atlanta defense.
The Chargers move up into the second round of the 2024 NFL draft to help out their diminished receiving room by selecting an electric difference maker in Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
McConkey projects to be an immediate starter as the slot receiver for a Chargers team that saw its two previous starters depart this offseason. With Joshua Palmer and last year’s first-round pick Quentin Johnston set to play along the boundary, McConkey will help bring some electricity to the middle of the field.
With incredible elusiveness, he is electric in and out of his breaks, awesome yards-after-catch ability, and a reliable playmaker in crucial moments, McConkey is going to make an immediate impact in a new-look Chargers offense.
The Bills selected Florida State wideout Keon Coleman with the No. 33 pick
The Buffalo Bills spent last night maneuvering down the boards and allowing receivers to pass them by, but with the first pick of the second day of the draft they finally land their guy in Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Coleman projects as an immediate starter in a Buffalo receiver room that lacks any true perimeter threat and should be immediately trusted to be the jump ball weapon for the Bills offense.
Possessing excellent size, incredible contested-catch skills, underrated yards-after-catch ability, and a solid route tree. Expect Coleman to be one of the top touchdown catchers for a Bills team that is desperate for a difference-maker out wide.
What grade would you give the Broncos for drafting quarterback Bo Nix at No. 12?
The Denver Broncos stayed put at pick No. 12 in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
The Broncos now have their new franchise quarterback (and a new catchphrase), but some fans and pundits have been critical of the pick. There was thought going into the draft that Denver could trade down from pick No. 12 and still select Nix later in the first round.
Broncos coach Sean Payton pushed back on that notion on Thursday night.
‘[W]hen the Chiefs selected Patrick [Mahomes] and you go back and tune into everything, it was said, ‘Well, they could have got him later.’ No, they couldn’t have,” Payton said. The coach knows that firsthand because the New Orleans Saints were going to take Mahomes at No. 11, but Kansas City jumped above them in a trade to get Mahomes at No. 10.
The consensus in 2017 was that the Chiefs could wait for Mahomes, but the consensus was wrong. We’ll never know if Nix would have been available later, but after five quarterbacks went off the board early, there was certainly no guarantee. (The Las Vegas Raiders, who picked right after the Broncos, would have been a top candidate to draft Nix if Denver passed on him.)
So with that context in mind, how would you grade the Broncos selecting Nix? Let us know your take by voting in the poll below!
