There's no way the second and third days of the NFL draft could live up to the thrills and chills of the first round, but lots of consequential events transpire right down to the last pick (just ask the 49ers). We will continue to adjust as we get new information, but it's okay to have knee-jerk reactions to the draft. In fact, we have to act on them in our rookie drafts. So, who looks like the biggest winners and losers in the immediate wake of the 2024 NFL Draft washing over us?
Winners
Drew Lock (QB-NYG)
I was remiss not to include Lock in the late-night delirium of writing the first-round reaction piece. The Giants don't want Daniel Jones (aptly called Janiel Dones by Malik Nabers) to be exposed to injuries that could kick in his $23 million injury guarantee for 2025, so they can release him before his $12 million roster bonus kicks in on the fifth day of the 2025 league year. Lock should at worst get a chance to start while the Giants want to protect their pocketbook a la the Raiders decision to bench Derek Carr at the end of 2022. Since Jones is rehabbing from a torn ACL, Lock could also start to open the season. With the addition of Nabers, Lock could have some success and make the Giants very patient with Jones' injury rehabilitation. Lock has the chance to earn at least a salary jump to bridge starter for 2025 and, in a best-case scenario, could get a second contract from the Giants and incumbent status going into next season. The Giants passing on a quarterback in a draft with six going in the first 12 picks opens a door for Lock.
Keon Coleman (WR-BUF)
The Bills must not have been *that* sold on Coleman - they exposed him to get poached from them twice - but he does fit as a Gabe Davis replacement. Coleman can go up and get aspirational out-of-structure passes from Josh Allen, and he should have a large role right away. “Whoever Buffalo takes at wide receiver” was going to be a winner in this draft, no matter who it was.
Ladd McConkey (WR-LAC)
The Chargers only gave up a 27-pick bump early in the third round to secure McConkey's services with the second pick of the second day, but they did trade up for him. He has a chance to make a connection with Justin Herbert and quickly become the team leader in targets, catches, and receiving yards. This was a plum spot that puts McConkey into consideration as high as #6 in 1QB leagues.
Ja'Lynn Polk (WR-NE), Javon Baker (WR-NE)
The Patriots were in contention with the Chargers for the neediest team at wide receiver in the league. They smartly double dipped and got a pair of receivers who could start outside for them sooner than later, with a glut of slot receivers atop the depth chart for now. The Patriots paid a lot more for Polk than they did Baker, but Baker would be my preference in rookie drafts.
Rico Dowdle (RB-DAL), Ezekiel Elliott (RB-FA), Royce Freeman (RB-DAL)
The Cowboys had two third-round picks and could have taken the third or fourth running back off the board with either of them, but they didn't. They didn't trade back into the fourth ahead of or during the running back run at the end of the round. They didn't even take a back in the seventh round. Dowdle is the incumbent starter, Elliott is the rumored reunion, and Freeman is the only other back on the roster who has looked competent in the NFL so far. The team could make a splashier move than Elliott after Carolina sniped Jonathon Brooks following Jerry Jones gushing about him on Thursday. But for now, these are the names that are in line to divide up the running game in a good offense.
Edgerrin Cooper (LB-GB), Junior Colson (LB-LAC), Trevin Wallace (LB-CAR)
A little IDP love here as this trio of second-day picks at off-ball linebackers landed in ideal situations. Cooper should be the day-one starter next to Quay Walker, Colson could become the green dot linebacker right away for his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, and Wallace gets a year to learn behind Shaq Thompson in Carolina. They lead a lackluster class of IDPs in rookie drafts.
Trey Benson (RB-ARI), MarShawn Lloyd (RB-GB)
Both these backs went in the third round and have a chance to start in 2025. James Conner will be a free agent next year. Would the Cardinals sign him to a third deal going into his age-30 season? Lloyd is ready-made for Matt Lafleur's zone running game. Will Josh Jacobs play well enough to earn a roster bonus worth close to $6 million next year? If not, Lloyd could be ready to take over if he can cure his college fumbles.
Dylan Laube (RB-LV), Kimani Vidal (RB-LAC), Audric Estime (RB-DEN), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB-NYG)
Isiah Pacheco reminded us that third-day draft capital is no reason to disregard a running back when they have a path to playing time and value. All four of these backs were favorites of trustworthy draft analysts, and none have an established starter ahead of them to block their path to fantasy relevance. Laube could overtake Ameer Abdullah as the passing-down back for Vegas and be ready for more if Zamir White wears down under the heavy workload they plan on giving him. Vidal is more dynamic than Gus Edwards and healthier than J.K. Dobbins. Estime manifests the hard-charging style the Broncos also want out of Javonte Edwards and Samaje Perine, but with fresher legs. Tracy reminds some of David Johnson. He should get plenty of opportunity to force his way into a committee with Devin Singletary, who has always had trouble convincing his team to make him the lead back despite always producing. Any of these four backs could be No. 1 on their depth chart going into 2025.
Anthony Richardson (QB-IND)
Some had the Colts taking Xavier Worthy in the first, which would have been an even bigger win for Richardson, but his college teammate Adonai Mitchell is a win nonetheless. Chris Ballard's defense of Mitchell sets the tone for a relationship that will hopefully make Mitchell a dynamic vertical option that will frustrate defenses that are also thinking about Jonathan Taylor and Richardson's threat as a runner.
Spencer Rattler (QB-NO), Jordan Travis (QB-NYJ)
Would it be surprising to see either of these rookies get a chance to start in 2025, just like 2023 third-day pick Aidan O'Connell? Rattler, in particular, is interesting because he was once ticketed to be one of the top quarterbacks in this draft and still showed some of the reasons why on his recent tape at South Carolina.
Ben Sinnott (TE-WAS)
Sinnott was a favorite of many to emerge as the No. 2 tight end in this class, and he did just that when Washington took him as the third pick in an epic second-round trio taken by new GM Adam Peters (Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton and Michigan CB Mike Sainristil being the others). Sinnott will get to learn from Zach Ertz, which was good for Trey McBride and Dallas Goedert, and he'll have a chance to create a special rapport with fellow rookie Jayden Daniels.
Jermaine Burton (WR-CIN)
Burton falling in the draft despite putting strong performances at two different big-time college programs on tape was a given. What wasn't predictable was how far he'd fall and which team would take the chance on his reportedly risky off-field personality. He only fell to the mid-third and ended up being paired up with Joe Burrow on a team that will likely have an opening at WR2 in 2025. This should make you more likely to take a chance on him in the second round of your rookie draft.
Justin Fields (QB-PIT)
The Steelers took two offensive linemen with their first two picks and will have a vastly improved offensive line if they are ready to start day one. With their third pick, the Steelers drafted a top-end slot receiver who many had them taking in the second round. Russell Wilson could be the quarterback to benefit from these additions, but Fields is the one who could have the biggest value leap, so he's the one worth trading for at this buy-low moment. Could all this investment in the offensive line lead to Fields getting a big contract from the team next year?
James Cook (RB-BUF)
Ray Davis is one of the best stories in the draft, and he'll stick in the NFL. But he's no threat to James Cook's spot as the lead back in this offense. There was some chance that the Bills would go running back on the second day with the intention of making this a true committee backfield, but that didn't happen.
Losers
Kyren Williams (RB-LAR)
Williams is sure to drop in redraft leagues from the early second-round area he occupied before the draft. The only question is how far? Corum should be as good as Williams between the tackles, and he has a nose for the end zone that could put a dent in Williams' weekly and season-long ceiling. Many had Corum landing in Los Angeles but with his old coach, Jim Harbaugh. While this backfield isn't as wide-open as the Chargers, it's a more established and better offense, so this isn't a big letdown for Corum's dynasty value.
Chuba Hubbard (RB-CAR), Miles Sanders (RB-CAR), Jonathon Brooks (RB-CAR)
We all knew the Panthers liked Brooks, but it seemed like the Cowboys liked him more. Brooks should take over this backfield next year, although there's no urgency to rush him back from the ACL, so there's no guarantee he'll take it over this year. Still, Hubbard's value for 2024 takes a hit with a more crowded and talented depth chart than what he was looking at a week ago. Sanders probably won't get much chance to redeem himself after he bombed last year and might find some dynasty waiver wires. Brooks' dynasty outlook takes a hit simply because the Panthers don't look like an offense or team on the rise right now.
James Conner (RB-ARI)
The Cardinals taking a back to improve the depth chart behind Conner, perhaps even giving the team an option to start next year when Conner hits free agency? Well, that was expected. Arizona adding a back good enough to force his way into a committee, maybe even preemptively to preserve Conner for the whole season? Trey Benson was the No. 1 back on many draft analyst boards, so his presence is a bummer for Conner's 2024 value, even if it helps him be available for fantasy teams at the end of the season.
Josh Jacobs (RB-GB)
Jacobs is basically on a year-to-year option deal, so the Packers looking to upgrade their bench from AJ Dillon and Emanuel Wilson makes sense. Unfortunately for Jacobs, the Packers took MarShawn Lloyd, whose patience and explosiveness contrast with Jacobs and fit in Matt LaFleur's running game. This increases the chances of Jacobs' usage being more like Aaron Jones.
Israel Abanikanda (RB-NYJ)
The Jets went to the well at running back twice on the third day in a bad development for Abanikanda, who was in line to be the clear backup to Breece Hall this season. Braelon Allen has the tools of a starter, and Isaiah Davis is a speed/size sleeper from South Dakota State.
Courtland Sutton (WR-DEN)
While the trade possibilities of Tee Higgins and Brandon Aiyuk got more headlines, Sutton entered draft weekend as a player who also wished for greener pastures after a trade. The Broncos did at least draft a quarterback in the first round, but they also took one of his favorite college receivers in a trade up at the top of the fourth round. Don't be surprised if Sutton is on the block again around the now one-week-later trade deadline.
