Mel Kiper Jr. Hails Eagles and Questions 49ers, Patriots After 2024 NFL Draft Day 2

Day 2 of the NFL draft is in the books and with it comes analysis and grades from leading experts in the industry.

The first day of the draft began with an expected move from the Chicago Bears, who drafted Caleb Williams with the first pick. Much of the top five went as expected with Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye following Williams, but there were some surprising moves elsewhere in the first round.

The Atlanta Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick despite signing Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason. In total, the first round saw six quarterbacks off the board.

Wide receivers were also a hot commodity in the first round, with seven going early.

Day 2 saw a bit more drama with a handful of trades. Some teams addressed their immediate needs while other teams fortified their already strong units. Day 3 will likely see teams continue to fill gaps in their rosters and plan for the future.

As Day 2 concluded, ESPN's draft expert Mel Kiper revealed his biggest winners and losers from the second and third rounds.

Kiper pegged the Philadelphia Eagles as one of his biggest winners, crediting them for addressing their biggest needs. The Eagles picked cornerback Cooper DeJean with the No. 40 pick before taking outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt with the No. 94 pick.

"Credit GM Howie Roseman for identifying his roster's biggest need and doubling down," Kiper wrote. "Roseman landed Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1, then DeJean after a trade up on Day 2. They are my top two corners in this class. I had DeJean at No. 14 overall, and Roseman landed him at No. 40. That's an incredible haul for Philadelphia, which has two aging starters on the outside in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. DeJean could play in the slot or as a center-fielder too."

Kiper also gave a nod to the Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens for their work in the second and third rounds.

While Kiper commended those teams as his biggest winners, he questioned the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers after Day 2.

The Patriots picked wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk with the No. 37 pick and took offensive tackle Caedan Wallace at No. 68. Kiper's main concern was with Polk, as he believes New England could have found a much better receiver.

"Here are the available wide receivers I had ranked above Polk when the Patriots selected him: Adonai Mitchell, Malachi Corley, Roman Wilson, Troy Franklin and Polk's college teammate, Jalen McMillan," Kiper wrote. "I thought Polk was more likely to go near the end of Round 2."

He also mentioned that Wallace wasn't the best move for the Patriots, saying that they could have found a better option at right tackle.

The San Francisco 49ers had just one pick on Day 2, selecting cornerback Renardo Green at No. 64. Kiper said that he pegged Green as a later pick, which is why he considered the 49ers one of his biggest losers.

"This was the biggest reach of Round 2, by far," Kiper said. "I graded Green as more of a fourth- or fifth-round pick. He is No. 143 on my Big Board and is my No. 21 corner."

Kiper also listed the Arizona Cardinals as one of his biggest losers. The Cardinals got a star in the first round in Marvin Harrison Jr. before selecting offensive guard Isaiah Adams at No. 71 and tight end Tip Reiman at No. 82. Kiper considered both picks reaches over some of the other talent available.