Colts Send No. 46 To Panthers
The Panthers are the latest team to trade up in the second round. Carolina has acquired pick No. 46 from the Colts, sending Nos. 52, 142 and 155 to Indianapolis. 
With their second pick in the draft, the Panthers have added Texas running back Jonathon Brooks. As a result, he is the first tailback to come off the board as part of a class not lauded for its star power in the backfield. Still, Brooks will be able to contribute right away in Carolina.
Needing to wait his turn to take over starting duties, Brooks saw only 51 carries in his first two seasons with the Longhorns. In 2023, however, he ascended to the RB1 spot and delivered in a notable fashion. In 11 contests, he posted 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Brooks added 286 yards on 25 receptions.
An ACL tear ended the season prematurely, though, something which hurt his draft stock. Still, it comes as little surprise that Brooks has been the first running back selected. Connections were frequently made — including earlier today — to the RB-needy Cowboys, but he has come off the board well before Dallas’ next selection. Given Carolina’s decision to trade up for him, Brooks will likely be counted on as a rookie.
The 6-0, 216-pounder intends to be healthy in time for training camp, and in that case he would be able to compete for snaps early in his career. The Panthers did not receive the desired return on investment after signing Miles Sanders in free agency last year, and Chuba Hubbard finished the 2023 campaign atop the depth chart. As both of those backs look to improve on their showings from a poor offensive year, Brooks will give Carolina a new, intriguing two-way option in the backfield.
Saints Obtain No. 41 From Packers, Select CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
The second-round pick the Packers acquired in last year’s Aaron Rodgers trade is now the Saints’ property. Green Bay dealt No. 41 to New Orleans, which will add Nos. 45, 168, and 190 for moving down a bit in Round 2.
No. 45 is the pick the Saints obtained from the Broncos in the swap for Sean Payton‘s rights. A year later, the Packers (barring another trade) will use it to bolster their roster.
[RELATED: Saints Expecting To Retain Marshon Lattimore]
With the pick, the Saints are adding Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. This will bring two Crimson Tide corners off the board, with the Lions using their first selection on Terrion Arnold on Thursday night.
McKinstry loomed as a first-round-caliber player going into his final Alabama season after logging 16 passes defensed as a sophomore, but Arnold ended up being viewed as the higher-level prospect following Nick Saban‘s final season.
The fall out of the first round for McKinstry seems to center around the lack of any elite qualities. Still, while there doesn’t see to be any much that McKinstry is elite at, there’s also not much that he does poorly (besides fielding punts). McKinstry does everything well with a high football IQ.
McKinstry will fit well into a talented rotation at cornerback in New Orleans. With Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo set to return as the team’s starters at the position, McKinstry will get to learn and develop under one of the league’s better veterans and a young corner who established himself as a Day 2 pick three years ago. The Saints’ depth at the position isn’t great after Lattimore and Adebo, so trading up to add McKinstry makes sense in the midst of a run of second-round cornerbacks.
Eagles Acquire No. 40 From Commanders
Trades continue to flood the top of the second round. The Eagles have moved up to No. 40, swapping places with the Commanders. Philadelphia will send 53 and 161 to Washington while picking up No. 78. 
Adding further to their investments in the secondary, the Eagles are selecting Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean. The team went cornerback on Thursday night by drafting cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, and they have followed that up with another highly regarded contributor in the defensive backfield. DeJean is one of a few defenders who surprisingly did not hear their names called on Day 1.
Questions have been raised about his best position at the NFL level, having spent time both on the perimeter and in the slot. DeJean may see time at safety in the pros, but in any spot he will be counted on to provide starting-caliber play early on in his career. Over the past two seasons, he played a central role in Iowa’s defense while also demonstrating his special teams prowess.
DeJean raked up five interceptions in 2022, and he posted another two last season before a broken fibula ended his junior campaign. In spite of that missed time, the 6-1, 203-pounder was named a unanimous All-American after cementing his status as a versatile defender and a dynamic return man (11.5 yard average, one touchdown on punt returns).
The Eagles entered the offseason with plenty of questions at the CB spot with veterans Darius Slay and James Bradberry still in line to hold down starting positions. The addition of Mitchell will give the team another option on the outside, whereas DeJean could see time at nickel or safety. Philadelphia reunited with C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, but DeJean will serve as depth behind him with the potential to become much more over time.
Panthers Deal No. 39 To Rams
The Panthers acquired No. 39 from the Giants in the Brian Burns trade; they are sending that pick to the Rams. Los Angeles will use the pick to select another Florida State defensive lineman in Braden Fiske. Through this pick, the Panthers will add a Rams second-rounder in 2025. Los Angeles will also send Carolina Nos. 52 and 155. 
Apart from Burns’ Florida State affiliation in this deal, the Seminoles continue to be involved in Los Angeles’ draft plan. Fiske is set to rejoin Florida State pass rusher Jared Verse, who the Rams selected at No. 19 overall last night.
Much like Verse, Fiske was a transfer addition to the Seminoles’ ACC championship team. Fiske arrived in Tallahassee after five years at Western Michigan, where he had 27.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He gave the Seminoles impressive one-year production with nine tackles for loss and six sacks en route to second-team All-ACC honors.
Fiske will join Verse in the Rams’ efforts to replace the defensive production lost with the retirement of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. He’ll have to work his way into the rotation with Kobie Turner and Bobby Brown III, but Fiske figures to see the field early as a rookie.
The Panthers move back 13 picks but add the mid-fifth-round selection as a result. While it would’ve been nice to have two fifth-round picks in a row, Los Angeles still retains the 154th pick, giving Carolina the pick it acquired in the multi-pick trade that brought Kevin Dotson from Pittsburgh.
Falcons Acquire No. 35 From Cardinals
After a stunning start (per Kirk Cousins, at least) to Round 1, the Falcons are moving up the board to open Round 2. They are acquiring No. 35 from the Cardinals. Atlanta will pick up Nos. 35 and 186, while Arizona will add Nos. 43 and 79. The Falcons used the pick on Clemson de
Born Oghenerukevwe Orhorhoro, Ruke spent five years at Clemson, but he didn’t start for the Tigers until his redshirt sophomore year in 2021. Orhorhoro was a consistently disruptive presence, logging eight tackles for loss in each of his three seasons as a starter while piling up 11.5 sacks over that same period.
Atlanta continues to confuse most following the draft with their selections. After yesterday’s debacle with Michael Penix Jr., they once again trade up in order to address a position that most wouldn’t see as an immediate need on their roster.
With David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett signed for the next two years, Orhorhoro will likely be coming off the bench as an interior rotation in 2024. It was also a little shocking to see Orhorhoro, who could’ve been available later in the second round, get traded up for before some higher ranking defensive tackles in the draft.
With the two new picks from Atlanta, the Cardinals now hold five Day 2 picks. They’ll have the 43rd overall pick in the second round as well as the 66th, 71st, 79th, and 90th picks, all in the third round later tonight.
Patriots Deal No. 34 Pick To Chargers
The Chargers are moving up three spots, using the Patriots’ No. 34 position to do so. New England will slide down three places, picking up Nos. 37 and 110 from Los Angeles. The Bolts will add No. 137. 
This swap of fourth-rounders will lead to the Chargers selecting Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey. The Bolts passed on a glaring need to add Joe Alt in Round 1; they will begin addressing the receiver position tonight. This move represents a continuation of the run on receivers stemming from the end of the first round Thursday night.
McConkey spent his full college career with the Bulldogs, and he played a role in the team’s back-to-back national titles. The shifty slot man showed notable improvement from 2021 to ’22. In the latter campaign, he posted 762 yards and seven touchdowns on 58 receptions.
That was followed by an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, with McConkey being limited to just nine contests. However, he averaged a career-best 15.9 receptions while remaining a key figure in Georgia’s passing offense. At the Combine, the 6-0, 186-pounder ran an impressive 40-yard dash time (4.39 seconds). That cemented his status as one of the top options in a loaded receiver class.
Finding playing time should not be challenging for McConkey. Los Angeles released Mike Williams before trading away Keenan Allen this offseason. As a result, the WR spot has been seen as a major need in spite of the decision to select Quentin Johnston in the first round of last year’s draft. Johnston had an underwhelming rookie campaign, but he should be in line for a notable role in 2024. The same will likely be true of McConkey.
Panthers To Pick Up CB Jaycee Horn’s Fifth-Year Option
Injuries have marred Jaycee Horn‘s NFL career, and coaching instability has led to five HCs stopping through during the cornerback’s Charlotte run. This staff is still high on the 2021 top-10 pick.
Despite the health issues that have plagued Horn, he is set to see more guaranteed money. The Panthers are picking up Horn’s fifth-year option, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Horn will be tied to the lowest rung on the option ladder; for corners, that number checks in at $12.47MM.
Horn’s option number comes in more than $8MM south of Patrick Surtain‘s. The Broncos chose Surtain one pick later in 2021 and have seen him soar to two Pro Bowls. The Panthers will benefit from Horn being tied to a lower 2025 guarantee, but they have yet to see him justify the Scott Fitterer-Matt Rhule investment. Current GM Dan Morgan did not rejoin the Panthers until after Horn was selected, making it interesting he will pull the trigger on the option for an injury-plagued talent.
Missing 29 games over his three-year Charlotte run, Horn has shown promise when available. Had Horn logged enough defensive snaps to qualify as a regular last season, Pro Football Focus would have ranked him sixth overall among corners. He ranked as a top-30 player by that measurement in 2022, a 13-game campaign. Horn missed 14 games as a rookie due to a broken foot and was shut down for 10 last year because of a hamstring injury.
The Panthers dealt away Donte Jackson from their CB cadre and signed ex-Bills starter Dane Jackson. Horn, however, remains that crew’s centerpiece performer. DC Ejiro Evero will count on Horn staying healthy this year, and Friday’s commitment reflects the Panthers believe the 6-foot-1 cover man is not a sunk cost. This gives the team two more seasons to evaluate Horn, who intercepted three passes in 2022. Horn also secures another eight-figure guarantee despite his bad luck on the health front thus far as a pro.
Eagles Extend WR A.J. Brown
The Eagles have DeVonta Smith on the books through a lucrative extension, but the same is now true of fellow wideout A.J. Brown. The latter has agreed to a three-year, $96MM extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The team has since announced the move. 
This deal – which Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested earlier Thursday night would become public – carries the highest AAV in league history amongst wideouts ($32MM). Rapoport adds Brown will collect $84MM in total guarantees, which is also a new watermark at the position. The three-time Pro Bowler is now under contract through the 2029 campaign.
Philadelphia became the first team in NFL history to extend a first-round wideout in his first year of eligibility during the fifth-year option era when they inked Smith to a three-year, $75MM pact. That contract comes in addition to his 2025 option year, and eyebrows were raised when he landed an AAV matching that of Brown. The latter had been attached to the four-year, $100MM pact he signed upon arrival from the Titans during the first round of the draft two years ago.
The $25MM annual average value of that agreement placed Brown in a tie for fourth amongst receivers as of the Smith agreement being worked out. As the position’s market continues to point upward (as demonstrated by yesterday’s decision by the Lions to extend Amon-Ra St. Brown), Brown will once again benefit. The 26-year-old has proven to be a vital member of the Eagles’ offense, posting 2,952 yards and 18 touchdowns in two Philadelphia seasons.
Considering his production, Brown’s scheduled 2024 cap hit of $12.38MM represents a bargain. It will be interesting to see if that figure changes as a a result of this new deal, but in any event future cap numbers could be reduced. Heading into Thursday, the Ole Miss product was due to count $26.5MM and $41.5MM in 2025 and ’26, respectively. Flattening out those hits will likely be a by-product of today’s move.
In any case, this agreement marks the latest of several massive investments made by the Eagles on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. Along with Smith, Brown joins left tackle Jordan Mailata and left tackle Landon Dickerson in landing monster new contracts recently. He will be counted on to continue producing top-tier production in the passing game, and the ongoing presence of many of Philadelphia’s foundational offensive contributors makes it likely that will be the case.
Panthers Acquire No. 32, Select WR Xavier Legette
The Bills are trading down once again. Buffalo is sending picks No. 32 and No. 200 to the Panthers for No. 33 and No. 141. The Panthers have traded up one pick to select South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. Although Carolina famously traded what became the No. 1 overall pick to Chicago in last year’s Bryce Young swap, the rebuilding team ended up making a pick tonight after all.
This comes after some pre-draft connections between Carolina and the regional product. Legette, who had risen up draft boards this offseason, will join a Panthers team retooling on offense yet again.
While new HC Dave Canales attempted to downplay the team’s interest in Legette, the South Carolina alum said he met with the Charlotte-based NFL team four or five times during the draft run-up. Legette will follow trade pickup Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, who still roster Adam Thielen and 2023 second-rounder Jonathan Mingo.
Legette blazed to a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, doing so at 221 pounds, and notched a 40-inch vertical jump. He is coming off a career that included four unremarkable seasons and a fifth-year breakthrough. Legette only delivered one remotely productive season in five years with the Gamecocks — a 1,255-yard 2023 that came after four sub-200-yard campaigns — but late during the pre-draft process, the big-bodied target was being viewed as a first-rounder. Although they moved up just one spot, the Panthers became the team to make that prediction accurate.
Last year, the Panthers entered the season with a shaky skill-position corps. The team did not do enough to surround Young with a quality cast, with the group becoming dependent on a 33-year-old Thielen. Two seasons remain on Thielen’s three-year, $25MM deal; the longtime Viking is due a $6.5MM salary guarantee this year. What could be Thielen’s Panthers finale could include a mentorship experience, with Legette joining Mingo as recent SEC standouts who will attempt to provide Young at least auxiliary options around the team’s two veteran targets.
The Bills exited Day 1 of the draft having made two moves down the board, sliding out of No. 28 and then No. 32. The four-time reigning AFC East champions will enter Day 2 with a gaping hole at wide receiver. It should be expected the AFC power will take steps to address that area Friday night.
49ers Select WR Ricky Pearsall At No. 31
With Brandon Aiyuk trade speculation swirling, the 49ers have certainly raised some eyebrows with their selection at No. 31. With the second-to-last pick of the first round, the 49ers haves selected wide receiver Florida WR Ricky Pearsall.
[RELATED: 49ers Discussing First-Round Trade Involving Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel]
Following a breakout campaign at Arizona State in 2021, Pearsall transferred to Florida in 2022. After putting up similar numbers during his first season with the Gators, the wideout took a major step forward in 2023. Pearsall finished this past season with 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns, putting him firmly on the NFL map.
Pearsall was one of the more rapid risers in recent weeks. The Florida product saw his stock rise from probable Day 2 pick to surefire Day 2 pick to late first-round selection. With five WRs already being selected this evening, the 49ers didn’t want to press their luck and ended up opting for the wide receiver a bit higher than projections suggested.
With Aiyuk seeking a lucrative extension, the 49ers have continually stated that they wanted to retain the former first-round pick. However, reports from yesterday suggested that the front office was discussing the wide receiver (along with teammate Deebo Samuel) in trades.
While Aiyuk remains on San Francisco’s roster at the moment, the Pearsall pick will only add fuel to the fire. With the first round having passed, a window for the 49ers to unload Aiyuk or Samuel closed. It will be interesting to see if the team would accept Day 2 compensation for one of its standout wide receivers. With the Bengals not expected to trade Tee Higgins — his request notwithstanding — attention could be focused on Aiyuk. Then again, the 49ers have relied on their WR duo to help Brock Purdy. This Pearsall move could potentially be a bridge to the Samuel-Aiyuk duo separating in 2025.
The 49ers could extend Aiyuk and push their cap predicament to 2025, so Pearsall might not immediately step into a major role. Still, the rookie should be the clear-cut WR3 if both Deebo and Aiyuk stick around, with Jauan Jennings and Ronnie Bell representing the team’s other options at the position.