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With the NFL Draft looming April 25-27 in Detroit, teams are fine-tuning their draft boards. Stars, of course, are found in every round. (See QB Brock Purdy, a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers and “Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 draft.)
On Day 2, the second and third rounds of the draft will be held. Based on team needs and more, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the ideal Day 2 pick for every team in the NFC.
Who among these players will become stars?
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen | A 6-foot-2, 245-pound running back with (unofficial) 4.40 speed could spell trouble for defenses, especially in the red zone. After losing Tony Pollard in free agency to the Titans, Dallas can’t leave the draft without a running back, and a 20-year-old sledgehammer like Allen could be the team’s best third-round option.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Oregon CB Khyree Jackson | With the loss of safety Xavier McKinney to the Packers in free agency and CB Adoree Jackson unsigned, the Giants need help in the secondary. After struggling for two seasons with Alabama, Jackson earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors with Oregon last season, leading the team with three interceptions and seven passes defended.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Penn State DE Adisa Isaac | The Eagles gave former Jet Bryce Huff a $51M contract to rush the passer in 2024, but he played just 42% of defensive snaps in 2023. Isaac had a career-best 37 tackles and 7.5 sacks for Penn State last season, and if his Senior Bowl performance is any indication, the 6-foot-4, 254-pound defensive end would see plenty of action alongside Huff and second-year linebacker Nolan Smith.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Houston OT Patrick Paul | What’s the point of (presumably) drafting a quarterback second overall without improving an offensive line that allowed 65 sacks of Sam Howell in 2023? Re-signing veteran left tackle Cornelius Lucas to a one-year, $2.8M deal won’t do it, but drafting a 6-foot-7, 332-pound tackle to play alongside left guard and older brother Chris Paul would be a step in the right direction. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Michigan RB Blake Corum | The Cardinals must add playmakers around quarterback Kyler Murray, who probably will get a wide receiver with the team’s No. 4 overall pick (Marvin Harrison Jr.?). Arizona could probably get good value in the second round by adding a potential impact running back in Corum, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher at Michigan.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr. | The retirement of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald means the Rams need depth in the middle of their line. Hall — or any player taken in this class — should not be expected to immediately fill Donald’s shoes, but Hall can at least be a potentially disruptive pass-rusher in the middle.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter | The 49ers spent free agency rebuilding the depth along their defensive line. Now they must add depth in their secondary, and Lassiter could be an ideal fit as a nickel corner. He’d be a strong value pick at the end of the second round.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | North Carolina State LB Payton Wilson | The Seahawks must wait until the third round to make their second selection in 2024, but Wilson could be an intriguing option either as a third-round steal or by Seattle trading up. The Seahawks need more help on defense — especially at linebacker — and Wilson (4.3 40-yard-dash time) was a highly productive player in college. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | North Carolina WR Devontez Walker | In addition to WRs D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, the Bears must surround whichever QB they select No. 1 overall with as many weapons as possible. Walker would be an excellent Day 2 fit. The 6-foot-2, 193-pound wideout had 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdown catches in just eight games for the Tar Heels last season and was one of only six players to run a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash and post a 40-plus-inch vertical leap at the combine.
DETROIT LIONS | Western Michigan edge Marshawn Kneeland | With veterans Marcus Davenport and James Houston atop the list of options at the edge opposite star Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions could use an influx of youth at the position. Kneeland (6-foot-3 and 267 pounds) has tremendous versatility and could fill several roles for Detroit.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia | For the first time since being named general manager in 2018, GM Brian Gutekunst passed on taking an offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft, but it’s unlikely he’ll do so again in 2024. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Suamataia could be a future cornerstone of the O-line. Splitting time at left and right tackle over 22 games at BYU, he allowed only two sacks.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Florida State DL Braden Fiske | The Vikings don’t own a Day 2 pick, but they could acquire one or more in a trade down from either the No. 11 or No. 23 pick in the first round. If that is the case, Minnesota could bolster the defensive line with someone like Fiske, who had 19.5 sacks and 191 tackles (36 for loss) over five seasons at Western Michigan and Florida State. — Mike Santa Barbara
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter | The Falcons would benefit from improving their depth at cornerback behind starter A.J. Terrell. Lassiter was outstanding last season at Georgia, allowing only 15 receptions on 39 targets for 136 yards with five pass breakups, per Pro Football Focus.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | South Carolina WR Xavier Legette | At 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, Legette has a similar build to three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler compared his film to that of Seahawks wideout D.K. Metcalf. The South Carolina product would be another strong addition to Carolina’s wide receiver room after the Panthers acquired former Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Florida State DT Braden Fiske | Playing with an edge that will serve him well in the pros, Fiske held his own in the ACC at Florida State after beginning his college career at Western Michigan. Fiske had the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.78 seconds) among defensive tackles at the combine. That speed is something the Saints could use as they attempt to generate more pressure on QBs in 2024.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Florida State RB Trey Benson | Benson is an explosive runner who also has the size (6-foot, 223 pounds) to withstand defensive pressure in pass protection. The Bucs have been the NFL’s worst rushing team for two straight seasons, but Benson could put the team on a different course. — Eric Smithling
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