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.
Ravens Select Clemson CB Nate Wiggins At No. 30
The Ravens have added to their secondary. The team has selected Clemson defensive back Nate Wiggins with the No. 30 pick. Baltimore has thrown numerous mid- to late-round picks at the cornerback position over the years, hitting on the likes of Anthony Averett (fourth round) and Brandon Stephens (third round), but they finally pull out the big guns, making Wiggins their highest-drafted cornerback since Marlon Humphrey went 16th overall in 2017. 
Wiggins became a full-time starter for the Tigers as a sophomore last season. In eleven starts, Wiggins led the team with 14 passes defended and added on a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown. While Pro Football Focus (subscription required) didn’t tout his 2022 season as elite, Wiggins was still credited as a first-team All-ACC selection by some publications, though not by the Conference itself.
That honor would have to wait until 2023, when Wiggins was named by the Conference as a first-team All-ACC cornerback. That status was reflected in Wiggins’ PFF ranking which saw him elevate all the way up to the 25th highest ranked cornerback in the nation. Wiggins once again leads his defense with 11 passes defensed and two interceptions, one of which he returned 46 yards for another touchdown. He also showed off other playmaking abilities in 2023 with a sack and two forced fumbles, both of which occurred on chases that ended on the one-yard line.
Wiggins has prototypical length at the cornerback position with a long, 6-foot-2 frame and arm length and body control that grant him an easy advantage on contested balls. He’s not too thin at 185 pounds, though he played closer to 170 at Clemson, and while he may not have strong initial quickness, he was considered the school’s fastest player and possesses great recovery speed to stay with receivers downfield. He’ll need to get stronger at the next level in order to compete against physical NFL wideouts.
In Baltimore, Wiggins figures to work into the defense sooner rather than later, though it will be interesting to see exactly how. Humphrey and Stephens expect to open the 2024 season as the starters outside. The team liked Ar’Darius Washington in the slot last year before he landed on injured reserve for much of the season.
Without Washington, the team leaned on safety Kyle Hamilton frequently in the slot, though with their former third safety, Geno Stone, now in Cincinnati, they’ll likely feel less free to let Hamilton roam. Though, if Wiggins comes on strong early, the Ravens could move Stephens back to safety, a position he’s played for them before, giving them a new third player at the position. The team also returns Arthur Maulet, who played a significant role in injury replacement last year.
Wiggins should be a priority on the outside. He didn’t display outstanding initial quickness to stay with slot receivers, but his recovery top speed should make him feel at home on the exterior and downfield. Stephens is entering a contract year, so perhaps Wiggins may just need to wait a year to become a full-time starter. Otherwise, he should factor in heavily in three-cornerback formations should the team keep Stephens at safety.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Cowboys Draft OT Tyler Guyton At No. 29
After trading back earlier tonight, the Cowboys have managed to add to their offensive line. The team has selected Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton with the No. 29 pick.
Guyton played all-but exclusively at right tackle with the Sooners, but there were plenty of draft pundits who believed the prospect could eventually develop into an NFL left tackle. While the Oklahoma product wasn’t considered to have the same upside as many of his draft counterparts, he still solidified his first-round draft stock with strong collegiate performances, including a 2023 campaign where he earned an honorable All-Big 12 mention.
Guyton also made a name for himself because of his physical frame. Listed at six-foot-eight and 322 pounds, the massive offensive lineman drew the attention of many NFL front offices during the pre-draft process. While Guyton could have realistically landed anywhere in the first round, he ended up following most projections by being selected towards the end of Day 1.
The rookie will likely be counted on right away to protect Dak Prescott in Dallas. With Tyron Smith out of the picture, the organization hasn’t done a whole lot to address the hole on their offensive line. Terence Steele is entrenched at one of the OT spots, and Guyton should beat out the likes of Chuma Edoga and Matt Waletzko for the other starting spot.
Chiefs Jump To No. 28, Select WR Xavier Worthy
The Chiefs have moved up the draft board. The team has acquired pick No. 28 from the Bills, along with picks No. 133 and No. 248. In exchange, Buffalo will receive No. 32, No. 95, and No. 221.
With their newfound pick, the Chiefs have addressed a recent position of need: wide receiver. The organization has selected Texas wideout Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick. This will pair Patrick Mahomes with a player that just set the Combine 40-yard dash record — at 4.21 seconds.
The Chiefs have given their megastar quarterback two new wide receivers this offseason. Neither Worthy nor Marquise Brown bring much in the way of size to Kansas City’s equation; Brown goes 5-foot-9, 180 pounds while Worthy checked in at 5-11, 165. That could bring some challenges for the Chiefs, who are coming off an uneven — well, as far as Super Bowl-winning seasons go — campaign. The WR position played the central role in Kansas City stumbling through the ’23 slate on offense.
Worthy’s blazing Indianapolis sprint obviously enhanced his prospect profile, but the ex-Longhorns pass catcher is coming off a productive college career. Worthy led last year’s Texas iteration in receptions (75) and receiving yards (1,014). Worthy was not a breakout player in 2023, either, having produced from 2021-23 with the Big 12 program. He totaled 12 touchdowns as a freshman — a 981-yard debut — and added nine TD grabs in 2022.
Consistency certainly would help a Chiefs team that received anything but at the receiver position last year. Placing high hopes on Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney, Kansas City saw neither would-be regular develop into a trustworthy option for Mahomes. The Chiefs’ receiving corps led the NFL in drops, and by season’s end, the team had become more effective with Toney and Moore sidelined. Moore finished the season on IR, while Toney strangely questioned his playoff injury status in a recorded rant before the AFC championship game. The Chiefs made Toney a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LVIII. Although Andy Reid said Toney remains in the picture for the 2024 Chiefs, the ex-Giants first-rounder appears on the verge of wearing out his welcome with a second NFL franchise.
Given the Chiefs’ one-sided rivalry (in the playoffs, that is) against the Bills, it is interesting Buffalo enabled the two-time reigning champions to bolster their threepeat quest with Worthy. The Bills will enter Day 2 with work to do at wide receiver. The Chiefs’ work here, during an offseason that has admittedly seen more trouble emerge (via Rashee Rice‘s hit-and-run arrest, which produced eight felony charges), is largely done — from an acquisition standpoint, at least.
Of course, the team will await word on Rice — its saving grace at wide receiver last season. The 2023 second-rounder remains critical to Kansas City’s 2024 plan, though Brown and Worthy stand to help the cause.
Cardinals Select DL Darius Robinson At No. 27
After adding one of the top offensive players earlier in the night, the Cardinals have now added an intriguing defensive prospect. The team has selected Missouri pass rusher Darius Robinson with the No. 27 pick.
While No. 4 overall choice Marvin Harrison Jr. filled a glaring need for the Cardinals, so does Robinson. Arizona struggled to rush the passer last season, having seen J.J. Watt retire and Zach Allen defect to Denver in free agency. The Cards did not do much on the edge, either, largely rolling with a low-cost crew during a rebuilding campaign. Robinson will give Jonathan Gannon more options outside.
Coming off the Senior Bowl, Robinson scheduled a whopping 20 pre-draft visits. He will join the Cardinals after a versatile career at Mizzou. The SEC program lined Robinson up across its formation, and he profiles as a power rusher as opposed to a player who will win consistently around the edge. With the Cardinals rolling out a 3-4 defensive scheme in Gannon’s first season, that could make the 6-foot-5, 285-pound performer valuable as a down lineman potentially.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah likened Robinson’s profile to Arik Armstead coming out of Columbia; that certainly represents an intriguing comp. The inside/outside talent, who saw more time at defensive tackle in 2022, totaled 8.5 sacks and a Tigers-most 14 tackles for loss last season. With this draft class not as deep at D-tackle compared to D-end, the Cardinals have an interesting prospect to mold. Robinson is going to a team without too much of note in the pass-rushing department.
The Cardinals’ 33 sacks last season ranked 30th in the NFL. Although the team used a second-round pick last year on BJ Ojulari, the cupboard is nearly bare beyond him. Career special-teamer Dennis Gardeck led the Cards with six sacks last season, as converted ILB Zaven Collins worked as a regular OLB starter. Robinson will be tasked with delivering immediate impact, as playing time will be available — perhaps at multiple positions.
In terms of first-round picks, this wraps the Deshaun Watson trade. The Cardinals acquired the third first-rounder from that 2022 blockbuster last year, moving from No. 3 to No. 12 to give the Texans rights to Will Anderson Jr.