#5 Buffalo Bills
Picks: WR Keon Coleman, S Cole Bishop, DT DeWayne Carter
Analysis: Buffalo did not have a Day 1 pick and with many holes to fill, they were among Day 2’s best and addressed a few major needs. With the Bills dealing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing Gabe Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bills were pressed into drafting a wide receiver but also were in the midst of a major wide receiver run on the board. Florida State’s Keon Coleman fit the bill for Buffalo with his physical tools and ability to go after the ball.
With Buffalo resetting at safety with Jordan Poyer moving on to Miami and free agent Micah Hyde pending retirement or a return to Green Bay, Cole Bishop may be in the starting line up Week 1 along with Taylor Rapp for the Bills.
Expect Carter to complement Daquan Hardy and Ed Oliver in an effective rotation on the interior of the Bills defensive line.
#4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Picks: EDGE Chris Braswell, S Tykee Smith, WR Jalen McMillan
Analysis: Tampa Bay was a winner on Day 1 landing offensive lineman Graham Barton and that momentum continued into Day 2.
Braswell will be a minor development project for the Buccaneers. Despite Braswell’s limited starting experience at Alabama, his physical tools as a pass rusher will be an immediate impact but he will need to bulk up to last in the NFL.
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Smith looks like an ideal nickelback in the NFL. Smith got on the radar for many scouts with his performances for Georgia’s 2022 College Football Playoff run where Smith had one sack for a loss of nine yards with two pass breakups in the College Football Playoff National Championship against TCU. What Smith lacks in height and length, he makes up with his decision making, speed, his ability to make open field tackles, and nose for a football.
Many analysts, including yours truly, felt wide receiver Jalen McMillan was the best slot receiver in the nation heading into the 2023 season. Due to injuries, McMillan’s stock fell but how McMillan played in the big moments for Washington last season was a major factor on their College Football Playoff run. With McMillan able to be mentored by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, this only bodes well for the Buccaneers.
#3 Pittsburgh Steelers
Picks: C Zach Frazier, WR Roman Wilson, LB Payton Wilson
Analysis: The Steelers continued their fortification of the offensive line after drafting Troy Fautanu in Day 1 they opened up Day 2 drafting West Virginia center Zach Frazier. Frazier was graded by PFF an 84.6 since 2021 which is third amongst all centers nationally during that time period.
After trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to Carolina they filled the void by drafting Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson in Round 3. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah assessed Wilson as a receiver who can run every route on the route tree. Wilson finished second amongst Big Ten wide receivers with 12 receiving touchdowns.
The Steelers closed their Day 2 drafting by picking up North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson. Wilson, who was a former five-star linebacker prospect out of high school, has been ravaged by injuries during his collegiate career. Despite his ACL injuries, ran the fastest 40 time amongst all linebackers at the NFL Combine at 4.43 after capping his collegiate career as an Unanimous All-American, Butkus, Bednarik, and ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Wilson should be able to develop behind Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts.
#2 Arizona Cardinals
Picks: CB Max Melton, RB Trey Benson, T Isaiah Adams, TE Tip Reiman, CB Elijah Jones
Arizona had a great Day 1 drafting wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and EDGE Darius Robinson, they had five Day 2 picks and really took advantage of their bounty.
The Cardinals needed to build up their secondary and spent two picks on corners with Rutgers Max Melton and Boston College corner Elijah Jones.
Melton projects to be a Week 1 starter for Arizona and with his excellent speed, long arms, and proclivity to get turnovers – Arizona did not have a corner last season who had more than one interception.
Drafting Benson, who was a consensus Top 3 running back in this class, to complement starter James Conner should be a major boon for the Cardinals offense. Conner is not known for his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, something that is a strength for Benson.
Offensive tackle Isaiah Adams provides depth for the offensive line, who could start in the interior of the offensive line with his ability to get set in engaging the defender and his hand-to-hand combat in the trenches.
#1 Washington Commanders
Picks: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, CB Mike Sainristil, TE Ben Sinnott, G Brandon Coleman, WR Luke McCaffrey
Analysis: Washington, along with Arizona, had five total picks on Day 2 and continued to set the pace for the NFL Draft.
After getting their quarterback in Jayden Daniels on Day 1, the Commanders seemingly found great value with each of their five picks.
The Commanders first pick of Day 2 may have been a minor head scratcher, not to the degree that of the Falcons selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on Day 1, but selecting defensive tackle Johnny Newton, who I felt was the top defensive tackle in this draft over Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy, is a bit of one considering they already have Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne ahead of them. The rotation will be interesting with three high end interior defensive lineman.
Mike Sainristil may have been the Draft’s best slot corner. His explosive play making ability defending the slot, Sainristil had six interceptions and two touchdowns for Michigan last season.
The Commanders addressed their need at tight end with Sinnott, who possesses great hands that drops very few passes and is a solid blocking tight end.
The real first reach was potentially wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, who started his collegiate career as a quarterback at Nebraska, finished amongst the nation’s leaders with 12 touchdown receptions.
McCaffrey should complement fellow Commander receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson well with them moving to the boundary and McCaffrey operating from the slot.
