2024 NFL Draft daring predictions for Day 2: Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk get dealt, Eagles commerce up, extra

Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft is within the books. It was a record-setting evening, with 23 offensive gamers coming off the board, together with six quarterbacks within the high half of the primary spherical. However there are nonetheless two extra days of the draft remaining, and greater than 200 gamers nonetheless to be chosen. 

Friday evening will carry us Rounds 2 and three, and there may be loads of intrigue about what’s going to occur. That is why we’re right here with our daring predictions for Day 2. Take pleasure in.

Early huge receiver run

Whereas there could have been a pair shocking(-ish) huge receivers chosen on the finish of the primary spherical in Florida’s Ricky Pearsall and South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, there are nonetheless a ton of wideouts on the board to be chosen early and sometimes on Day 2. We should always anticipate AD Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, and Keon Coleman to come back off the board early, whereas every of Troy Franklin, Roman Wilson, Malachi Corley, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jermaine Burton, Jalen McMillan, Malik Washington, Devontez Walker, Brenden Rice, Javon Baker, and Johnny Wilson may go sooner or later as effectively. Receiver is arguably the deepest place within the draft, and we’ll see that all through Friday evening.

Just one quarterback off the board

There have been an unimaginable SIX quarterbacks chosen on Day 1, with every of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix going throughout the high 12 picks. That leaves fairly slim pickings remaining on the quarterback place. Within the CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, we’ve solely two quarterbacks pegged as Day 2 picks: South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler and Tulane’s Michael Pratt. However with so many groups going QB early, there simply aren’t as many searching for one on Friday evening. The guess right here is that Rattler comes off the board within the third spherical, whereas Pratt has to attend for Day 3 to listen to his title known as.

No operating again in Spherical 2

In a little bit of a change of tempo, the operating again market in free company this offseason was fairly sturdy. Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, and extra obtained fairly decent-sized offers. At the very least a part of that needed to do with the truth that this isn’t thought of a very sturdy operating again draft class, and that the participant who would have been the consensus high prospect on the place (Texas’ Jonathon Brooks) is coming off a torn ACL. So regardless of some heavy hypothesis that we may see a running-back run towards the again half of Spherical 2, we’re guessing it would not come till Spherical 3. 

So many defensive backs

Go check out our Day 2 mock draft. You will notice 11 cornerbacks and 6 safeties in there. That is 17 of the 68 picks scheduled for Friday evening — or 25% of all accessible picks. And clearly, it is totally potential we see extra. However we’ve every of Max Melton, T.J. Tampa, Tyler Nubin, Kool-Support McKinstry, Cooper DeJean, Jaden Hicks, Kris Abrams-Draine, Mike Sainristil, Kamren Kinchens, Cole Bishop, Renardo Inexperienced, D.J. James, Javon Bullard, Caelen Carson, Andru Phillips, Ennis Rakestraw, and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson all listening to their names known as on Friday night.

Many anticipated Philly to maneuver up the board in Spherical 1, presumably to land a quarterback. However Quinyon Mitchell fell into their laps, so the Eagles did not have to do this. Armed with picks No. 50 and 53, Howie Roseman can leap up the board to land both Lane Johnson’s eventual successor at proper deal with, or a linebacker to assist what’s now the staff’s weakest place group after they crammed their want at nook. 

Regardless of all of the rumors surrounding Aiyuk, it really appears extra possible that it is Samuel who will get traded. If Aiyuk had been to go, he most likely would have value a first-round choose. Attributable to Deebo’s contract, age, enjoying model, and damage historical past, he can most likely be acquired for much less. And with the Niners deciding on Ricky Pearsall (Aiyuk’s former school teammate) on Thursday, it looks as if the writing is on the wall for one among them to be moved. In the meantime, the Bengals have been adamant that they will not commerce Higgins, and with one of the crucial receiver-needy groups (the Panthers) leaping into Spherical 1 and few apparent suits remaining, the guess right here is that he performs the 2024 season on the franchise tag earlier than hitting the open market a 12 months from now.