Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters.
A day after breaking the record for the most offensive players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (23), the focus shifted predictably to defense on Friday. During the second and third rounds, 37 defensive players were picked, several of whom expect to hear their names called on Thursday.
Here are our winners and losers from Day 2.
WINNER
Washington Commanders: General manager Adam Peters continued to have an outstanding first draft with the Commanders. Along with giving first-round pick LSU QB Jayden Daniels another weapon in Kansas TE Ben Sinnott (No. 53), Peters also seriously upgraded Washington’s defensive unit. At No. 36, he chose Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton before selecting Michigan CB Mike Sainristil, who Nick Saban said might be “pound-for-pound” the best player in the draft.
LOSER
Atlanta Falcons: Roughly 24 hours after stunning the NFL world by trading up to select QB Michael Penix Jr. despite having locked up veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $140 million contract, the Falcons made another head-scratching move on Friday. This time, they made a deal to jump ahead in the second-round draft order. While many expected them to pick Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton, who some viewed as a first-round talent, Atlanta went with Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder fills a need, but with some draft pundits projecting him as a third-round pick, choosing him over Newton looks like a reach.
WINNER
Philadelphia Eagles: After their defense finished 31st in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns in 2023, the Eagles needed some massive upgrades to their secondary. In the draft’s first round, the Eagles selected Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, arguably the top-rated cornerback on the board. On Friday, general manager Howie Roseman continued to add to the backend, trading up to draft Iowa CB Cooper DeJean (No. 40), who allowed zero touchdowns over 388 coverage snaps in 2023, per Pro Football Focus.
LOSER
Green Bay Packers: Despite a need for depth at cornerback and the ammunition to trade up and grab one in the second round, the Packers traded down, settling to take the first linebacker of the 2024 draft, Edgerrin Cooper. According to PFF, the Texas A&M product was the only LB to post an 85-plus grade in run defense, pass rush and coverage. General manager Brian Gutekunst did pick safety Javon Bullard (No. 58) later in the round, but moving back to take Cooper instead of potentially landing the likes of Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry or Max Melton seems like a miss.
WINNER
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback Anthony Richardson has a new weapon in explosive wideout Adonai Mitchell. Ranked as high as 23rd overall by some, Mitchell was the 11th receiver taken off the board, offering the Colts outstanding value. Moreover, Indy traded down to get him, gaining two fifth-round picks (No. 142 and No. 155) after swapping second-rounders with the Carolina Panthers.
LOSER
Carolina Panthers: Unsurprisingly, the Panthers have several holes to fill before they can think about crawling out of the league’s basement. However, on Friday, instead of adding an impact player at a premium position with their first pick of the night, they traded up to take the first running back off the board at No. 46, Texas’ Jonathon Brooks. Ranked by many as the top RB in this year’s draft, Brooks has the skill set to potentially play the Christian McCaffrey role for QB Bryce Young. But, for a team coming off a 2-14 record, there were more impactful options on the board to choose from rather than packaging two fifth-round picks to select a running back coming off a “clean” ACL tear.
Want more articles like this? Follow Yardbarker on MSN to see more of our exclusive NFL content.
More must-reads:
Trending slideshow: The biggest quarterback trades in NFL history (Provided by Yardbarker)
News Related
-
Window opens for Zahid to ride off into the sunset – but at Anwar’s cost Sources within Umno have not ruled out strong speculation since last month about a so-called “exit plan” for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a move that could pave the way for his political retirement having survived more ...
See Details:
Window opens for Zahid to ride off into the sunset – but at Anwar's cost
-
Brianna Ghey died after she was found with fatal stab wounds in a park Two teenagers accused of murdering Brianna Ghey showed a “preoccupation” with “violence, torture and death”, a court has heard. The body of Brianna, 16, who was transgender, was discovered by dog walkers in a park in ...
See Details:
Murder-accused teens 'had preoccupation with torture'
-
ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY Guard Corps Commander-in-Cheif Major General Hossein Salami speaks at an anti-Israel protest in Tehran on Saturday. The IRGC trained Hezbollah to use human shields, say the writers. The conflict in Gaza has raised a deeply troubling issue: Reports suggest that Hamas is deliberately using civilians as shields, a ...
See Details:
A plea for Islamic voices against using human shields - opinion
-
Photo for illustration purposes only. – BERNAMA FILE PIX SHAH ALAM – The government needs to strengthen the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, especially with the exemption of visas for Chinese and Indian citizens visiting the country starting Dec 1. Universiti Tun Abdul Razak economic expert Emeritus Professor Dr ...
See Details:
Strengthen MM2H programme, promote multiple entry visa
-
GEG element removed from anti-smoking Bill KUALA LUMPUR: The generational end-game (GEG) element has been removed from the revised Control of Smoking Products for Public Health 2023 Bill tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 28). This is as the Health Ministry tries for the ...
See Details:
GEG element removed from anti-smoking Bill
-
-
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Malaysia Airlines launches year-end sale
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Dr M accuses govt of bribery over allocations
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Malaysia to check if the Netherlands still keen to send flood experts
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Appeals court to rule in Isa’s graft case on Jan 31
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Elephants Trample On Axia With Family Of Three Inside
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Sirul fitted with monitoring device
-
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): National carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd has launched its year-end sale with ticket prices starting from RM79 to domestic destinations and from RM229 to international destinations, for travellers who book flights between Nov 28 and Dec 11 this year. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said all-in one-way Economy Class ...
See Details:
Nigerian airliner lands at wrong airport
OTHER NEWS
THOSE looking for fresh produce may find themselves spoilt for choice at the biggest wet market in Klang, but visitors to the place say the condition of the facilities and ...
Read more »
Olive Grove is the first-ever gated-and-guarded development in Bercham, Ipoh with 24-hour security. IPOH: YTL Land and Development Bhd announced that Phase 1 of Olive Grove is fully sold while ...
Read more »
Screenshots of a video showing a teenager pointing a knife at an elderly e-hailing driver. PETALING JAYA: Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy for holding an elderly e-hailing driver at ...
Read more »
Sprint Highway’s Semantan To KL Slip Road Fully Closed Until Dec 31 If you’re a regular user of the Sprint expressway, you’ll need to do some planning for your trips ...
Read more »
Genshin Impact Version 4.3 Leak Showcases Update to Domains New leaks reveals a quality-of-life update to Domains in Genshin Impact, making it easier for players to repeat and farm resources. ...
Read more »
CG Computers will host the Urban Republic (UR) Warehouse Clearance from 30 November to 3 December at the Atria Shopping Gallery in Petaling Jaya. During the event, visitor can get ...
Read more »
Photo for illustrative purposes only – 123RF KUALA LUMPUR – Hyperinflation has never happened in Malaysia and the government hopes it will never happen, according to the Economy Ministry. It ...
Read more »