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Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Johnny Newton highlight the players still available ahead of Round 2
Night one of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books.
But the party is just getting started.
While 32 players had their NFL dreams realized on Thursday night, there are still six round ahead of us in the 2024 NFL Draft. Which means not only are dozens upon dozens of prospects set to see their own dreams come to life, but there are a lot of great players available for teams to consider.
31 players had their NFL dreams realized on Thursday night, but we have six rounds of draft picks remaining. Rounds 2 and 3 are set to begin later tonight, and there are a lot of great players left.
Thursday night began as expected, with three quarterbacks topping the draft. The Chicago Bears made the expected pick of Caleb Williams to open the proceedings, followed by the Washington Commanders selecting Jayden Williams and the New England Patriots calling on Drake Maye.
Another expected pick followed, as the Arizona Cardinals spurred trade offers to stay at No. 4 and draft wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State.
But that is when the draft slowly veered off the path of the expected. The Los Angeles Chargers passed on wide receivers Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze, selecting tackle Joe Alt from Notre Dame. The New York Giants decided to forge ahead with Daniel Jones for at least one more season, adding Nabers to their offensive huddle. After the Tennessee Titans selected massive offensive tackle JC Latham from Alabama, the Atlanta Falcons shocked everyone — including newly-signed quarterback Kirk Cousins — by drafting his potential successor, Michael Penix Jr., at No. 8 overall.
More surprises were in store, such as a run of offensive players to open the draft and six passers — Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix, J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix — coming off the board in the first round. While those six quarterbacks match the number drafted in the first round of the legendary 1983 draft, it took only 12 picks for this year’s class to equal that mark. Back in 1983 the sixth quarterback, Dan Marino, came off the board at No. 27.
Anyway, enough about the players who were drafted already, it is time to turn our attention to players that should have their own NFL dreams come true tonight. Some talented players are still available, including players like Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton and Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean, who were expected to come off the board inside the first round.
Here are the best available players as Day Two of the 2024 NFL Draft begins, according to the SB Nation Top 100. You will see their rank on our Big Board on the left side:
