NFL Draft Recap, Day Two

The Second and Third Rounds of the NFL Draft took place on Friday. Players that get Day one or two draft capital have a head start when it comes to potential fantasy value. Below is a review of all the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends drafted Friday and how their fantasy value might shift.

Quarterbacks:

• Will Levis, taken No. 33 by the Tennessee Titans. After falling out of the First Round, the Titans moved up early on Day 2 to snag Levis. The Titans have Ryan Tannehill on the roster and drafted Malik Willis in the Third Round of the 2022 draft. Still, it seems like this move sets Levis up as the potential future quarterback. He’s still the No. 4 quarterback in the class but there might not be much of a 2023 return. Pre-draft, Levis often went in the First Round. I’d be more comfortable taking him mid-second at this point.
• Hendon Hooker, taken No. 68 by the Detroit Lions. Hooker came into the draft the likely No. 5 quarterback and solidified his position as such by going to the Lions early in Round Three. This is another prospect that isn’t likely to have a large 2023 role. The Lions have Jared Goff, who should be the starter this season. But Hooker provides a solid backup and potential future option. I’d look at him in the late Second Round or Third Round of rookie drafts.

Running Backs:

• Zach Charbonnet, taken No. 52 by the Seattle Seahawks. Charbonnet was the third running back taken, largely as expected, and the only running back taken in the Second Round. The UCLA back came into the draft as a top prospect and a player who might go in the First Round of rookie drafts. This landing spot isn’t ideal. It’s a strong NFL move, giving the Seahawks another good back to pair with Ken Walker III. However, it’s a blow to fantasy value for both players. For rookie drafts, it drops Charbonnet into Second Round territory.
• Kendre Miller, taken No. 71 by the New Orleans Saints. Miller was the fourth back taken in the draft, landing in an interesting spot with the Saints. Alvin Kamara is aging and facing a likely suspension. The team signed free agent Jamaal Williams, but Miller provides an interesting wrinkle. The player and the landing spot are promising, giving Miller a bump in rookie drafts.
• Tyjae Spears, taken No. 81 by the Tennessee Titans. The Titans had an interesting Day 2, taking Levis as a future quarterback and nabbing Spears. The team has been rumored to be taking offers for Derrick Henry, and if that happens then Spears could have some immediate value. But with Henry likely staying, Spears is an interesting prospect that might not return early value. He’s worth drafting based on his NFL Draft Capital, but I’m not eager to take him early.
• Devon Achane, taken No. 84 by the Miami Dolphins. For years we’ve speculated the Dolphins needed to upgrade their running back room, but it hasn’t happened in the draft. This off-season the Dolphins re-signed Jeff Wilson, Jr., Raheem Mostert and Myles Gaskin. Achane adds an interesting backfield wrinkle. I like the player and the landing spot enough that he moves up into late First Round territory in rookie drafts.
• Tank Bigsby, taken No. 88 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bigsby was the final running back taken on Friday, landing with the Jaguars. Travis Etienne is there and showed some three-down ability. The Bigsby pick gives them more of an option as the team had JaMychal Hasty and D’Ernest Johnson on the depth chart behind Etienne. That gives this pick some curious value. He gets Day 2 draft capital but it’s interesting seeing how the Jaguars use Bigsby. At this point, I’d take him in the late second or third round.

Wide Receivers:

• Jonathan Mingo, taken No. 39 by the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers got their quarterback of the future in Bryce Young in Round One. On Friday, the team got him a weapon. The Panthers’ receiving chart is a work in progress. D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen, while rostering Terrace Marshall, Laviska Shenault and Shi Smith. I think Mingo has a great chance to vault into the starting role and grow alongside Young. I’d take him as the fourth receiver in rookie drafts ahead of Flowers.
• Jayden Reed, taken No. 50 by the Green Bay Packers. Day 2 of the NFL Draft was a big one for the Packers taking weapons for Jordan Love. Reed was the lone receiver taken by the Packers, adding to a room that mostly consists of 2022 Draft Picks Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samari Toure. That gives Reed some value, though there are more questions than answers for the Packers’ offense. He’s a late Second Round rookie draft pick.
• Rashee Rice, taken No. 55 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Most figured the Chiefs would take a receiver and Rice became that player in the Second Round. The Chiefs lost Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in free agency, leaving them with some holes to fill. Rice is an interesting prospect, and his landing spot will likely spark interest. But as we saw with Skyy Moore in 2022, it’s smart not to over value players due to their landing spot with the Chiefs. Rice is a Second-Round pick for me.
• Marvin Mims, taken No. 63 by the Denver Broncos. The Broncos traded up to take Mims, the first pick of the Sean Payton era. On paper, receiver isn’t a need for Denver. They have veterans Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler and Marquez Callaway on the roster. But Payton likes Mims and his potential. It’s likely he’s more of a fourth option to start 2023 but with the Broncos uncertain about Jeudy, Hamler and Sutton long-term, Mims could soon find himself in prime position. I’d taken him early to mid-Second Round of a rookie draft.
• Nathaniel Dell, taken No. 69 by the Houston Texans. The Texans are another team in need of weapons. They have Nico Collins, Robert Woods and a returning John Metchie leading the receiver room. Still, Dell doesn’t seem like an ideal fit as a starter. He feels like more of a role player and Special Teams option. I’m fine taking him in the Third Round of rookie drafts.
• Jalen Hyatt, taken No. 73 by the New York Giants. The Giants have a need at receiver and Hyatt could give them another downfield weapon. It’s a strong landing spot for the receiver, who some projected in the First Round. There is plenty of opportunity in New York despite a crowded group that includes Parris Campbell, Sterling Shepherd, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins and Wan’Dale Robinson. I’m comfortable taking Hyatt in the Second Round thanks to the opportunity.
• Cedric Tillman, taken No. 74 by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are working on building up weapons for Deshaun Watson. The team has Amari Cooper and spent a Second-Round draft pick on Jets receiver Elijah Moore. The addition of Tillman provides another weapon. The team still has David Bell and Donovan Peoples-Jones, so it will be interesting to see how the roles shake out and what kind of passing volume the Browns have in the first full season with Watson. Tillman has potential but it might not be an immediate impact. I’d take him in the late Second Round or the Third Round of rookie drafts.
• Josh Downs, taken No. 79 by the Indianapolis Colts. Downs slid a fair amount in the draft but lands in an interesting spot with the Colts. Indianapolis has Michael Pittman as its top option, with last year’s pick Alec Pierce and former Bill Isaiah McKenzie rounding out the depth chart. Downs could land nicely as a slot option. But there are questions about the Colts’ offense with rookie Anthony Richardson, who struggled. With accuracy in college. The potential is there but no guarantee of consistent volume. I like the player and the spot, but I’m not taking him before the middle to late Second Round of rookie drafts.
• Michael Wilson, taken No. 94 by the Arizona Cardinals. Wilson comes near the end of the Third Round for a team that has an unclear depth chart. The Cardinals have looked at moving DeAndre Hopkins, but for now he remains on the roster. The Cardinals also have Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore at receiver, with Zach Ertz and Tre McBride at tight end. Wilson feels more like a depth play for now. I wouldn’t take him before the Third Round of a rookie draft.
• Tre Tucker, taken No. 100 by the Las Vegas Raiders. This was a curious pick. It feels like a reach for the Raiders taking him at the end of the Third Round. We have seen players taken in this range in recent years that haven’t moved the needle for fantasy. With plenty of depth chart competition, I don’t see a clear path to targets. I’m not taking him before the Fourth Round of a rookie draft.

Tight Ends:

• Sam LaPorta, taken No. 34 by the Detroit Lions. The Lions found their replacement for T.J. Hockenson in LaPorta, the Iowa tight end taken as the third pick in the Second Round. He was the second tight end taken and kicked off a huge night for the position. I like the landing spot and the potential with a team that feels like it’s poised to surge toward a playoff run. He slots in as my No. 2 tight end post-draft, slipping ahead of Dalton Kincaid.
• Michael Mayer, taken No. 35 by the Las Vegas Raiders. Mayer was largely viewed as the best receiving prospect at tight end coming into the draft. He was the third tight end drafted but lands in a solid spot with the Raiders, who traded Darren Waller to the Giants this off-season. The Raiders signed Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard this off-season, but I like Mayer’s potential. He moves back to TE1 for me in the class and could be a late First Round consideration in rookie drafts.
• Luke Musgrave, taken No. 42 by the Green Bay Packers. Musgrave provides an upgrade for the Packers, who had Josiah Deguara atop the depth chart coming into the draft. But the Packers doubled up on tight ends, taking Tucker Kraft later in the Third Round. That makes his fantasy value unclear. He’s no higher than TE4 on my board.
• Luke Schoonmaker, taken No. 58 by the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were another team that needed a tight end coming into the draft. They filled that need here with Schoonmaker, but what’s the fantasy impact? That remains unclear. The Cowboys have options, including Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. Schoonmaker is a Third or Fourth Round rookie pick.
• Brenton Strange, taken No. 61 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Strange was the fifth tight end taken in the Second Round, landing with the Jaguars. The team placed the Franchise Tag on Evan Engram but so far hasn’t made a long-term deal. Engram is likely the focus at the position in 2023 but Strange could be the heir apparent. That makes him a speculative add in the Third or Fourth Round of a rookie draft.
• Tucker Kraft, taken No. 78 by the Green Bay Packers. The Packers second tight end pick on Day 2 and third receiving option taken in a row. Kraft has some potential as a receiver but comes 36 picks after Musgrave. The uncertainty hits both their values for me, thought I’d take Musgrave first. Kraft is more of a Third-Round option.
• Darnell Washington, taken No. 93 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington was once viewed as a potential First Round pick, but he slid all the way to the late Third Round. There are rumors of a knee issue. Still, if healthy, the Steelers got a potential steal late in the Third Round. The team already has a top tight end in Pat Freiermuth, along with a solid set of receivers in a lower volume pass offense. Given that, Washington is more of a Third-Round rookie draft pick for me.
• Cameron Latu, taken No. 101 by the San Francisco 49ers. Latu was the last of eight tight ends taken on Day 2. He lands in a solid spot with the 49ers, but it’s another team with an entrenched starter in George Kittle. Kittle has been known to miss games due to injury, which could provide some opportunities for Latu. Still, he’s a late round rookie draft pick.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.