After an explosive first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, an outstanding amount of talent has fallen into day two for NFL teams to be pleased with. Some were graded as solid first-round picks, while others were viewed to sneak into the back of round one.
Here are the top five prospects who are still available heading into rounds two and three of the 2024 NFL Draft.
1. Johnny Newton, IDL, Illinois
The rumored fall of Illinois’ star defensive lineman Johnny Newton turned out to be as true as Caleb Williams being the first overall pick. Newton was limited in this pre-draft process due to an injury and did not complete any athletic testing. Regardless, his tape is great and he is one of the best defenders in the draft. His work against the run and as a pass rusher should not keep him on the board much longer as we enter day two of the 2024 NFL Draft.
2. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The best press-man cornerback in the draft somehow falls out of round one. There are teams at the top of Round 2 that should be rubbing their hands together like Birdman with the chance to improve their secondary with a CB1-caliber prospect. Kool-Aid McKinstry is battle-tested and proven in the SEC, locking down some of the best receivers in the nation. It is hard to keep passing on a lockdown, well-coached defender, so I expect to hear McKinstry’s name early on night two.
3. Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Ladd McConkey is one of the best route-runners in the draft. He aced the entire draft process with an outstanding performance at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine with his athletic testing. McConkey is a slot/movement Z receiver who can be a chain-mover for an NFL offense.
4. Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson being available should make OL-needy teams happy. He had a strong outing at the Senior Bowl and showcased his positional versatility to play center and guard. He is going to bring toughness, strength, and heavy-handed punches in the pass and run game. Powers-Johnson is a high-football-IQ prospect who brings plenty of positives to an offensive line.
5. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Keon Coleman being available for WR-needy teams seems like a positive thing. He is arguably the most physical receiver in the draft, especially at the catch point. With his spatial awareness and return experience, Coleman offers a strong run-after-catch profile for an NFL offense. He can move and align inside, outside, and in bunch sets. Coleman presents a nice possession/RAC wide receiver ceiling as a prospect. It looks like he could fall into an ideal situation tonight.
