NFL Draft 2024 recap: Relive Rounds 2 and 3, including top picks and storylines (2024)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The biggest night of the 2024 NFL Draft is already in the rearview mirror. But there was plenty still to do, starting on Friday night with the second and third rounds in Detroit.

68 more players were selected on Friday night between Rounds 2 and 3.

It was the first time this draft that the Browns got involved. They were one of only three teams who didn’t pick in the first round, and they had picks 54 and 85 tonight, using them on players from both sides of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

Relive Day 2 of the draft as it happened with the biggest news and notes from around the league. We also had plenty of information on who the Browns drafted.

The latest updates were at the top of this post.

To follow along with pick-by-pick results, follow this link here.

11:24 p.m.: Commanders select Luke McCaffrey to end the night

Washington wrapped up Day 2 of the NFL draft by selecting Rice WR Luke McCaffrey with the 100th pick. McCaffrey was a converted quarterback, and he is a very quick athlete with NFL bloodlines.

That will wrap up our Day 2 live blog. Thanks for following along with us and stay with cleveland.com for more coverage from the 2024 NFL Draft.

11:14 p.m.: Bengals, Steelers go back-to-back again

The Bengals and Steelers had back-to-back picks late in the third round. Cincinnati was up first at 97th overall and added another defensive tackle in Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson.

Pittsburgh was up next, and the Steelers took a very talented linebacker in North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson. He might be the most talented linebacker in this entire draft. But injury issues and his age caused him to fall all the way to 98.

11:03 p.m.: Baltimore adds another pass rusher

The Ravens added another intriguing piece to their defense by drafting edge rusher Adisa Isaac from Penn State at pick No. 93. Isaac could have gone as early as the top of the second round.

He has good length and speed off the edge, and he is coming off a 7.5-sack season for the Nittany Lions.

10:55 p.m.: Remembering Zinter’s emotional finale for Michigan

One of the questions about Zinter was when he was going to be available after he broke his tibia and fibula in the season finale vs. Ohio State last year. But if you want to get an idea of what he meant for the Wolverines, watch the video below about him being carted off and how the Wolverines responded to beat OSU.

10:37 p.m.: What did the Browns do at pick 85?

The Browns made their second pick of this year’s draft, using the 85th pick on Michigan guard Zak Zinter. He’s got a lot of experience with 42 career starts and was a team captain last season for the Wolverines.

However, he is coming off a broken tibia and fibula that he suffered in last season’s win vs. Ohio State.

10:29 p.m.: Rams grab Blake Corum

Blake Corum is going to Los Angeles. But it’s not for his coach at Michigan and Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers.

Instead, the workhorse of Michigan’s running game will play for Sean McVay and the Rams as they selected Corum with the 83rd pick.

The Steelers, who had the 84th pick just ahead of the Browns, took another Michigan player in Roman Wilson.

10:19 p.m.: The Bengals add a receiver

With questions about the future of Tee Higgins in Cincinnati, the Bengals added a speedy receiver in Alabama’s Jermaine Burton with the 80th pick. He had solid production in college, and his specialty is his downfield speed and explosiveness.

He also has tremendous hands with just four credited drops over four seasons. Burton adds more receiver depth for Joe Burrow, regardless of what happens with Higgins in the future.

10:06 p.m.: Chicago goes to the Ivy League

The Ivy League is on the board in the 2024 NFL Draft as the Bears selected Yale tackle Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th pick.

He didn’t allow a sack in his last two seasons for Yale and he has a very projectable frame. He needs time before he can start, but Amegadjie is a great future investment in the offensive line for top pick Caleb Williams.

The Broncos drafted Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss 76th overall, meaning the Browns are eight picks away from going back on the clock at No. 85.

9:59 p.m.: Dallas lands Cooper Beebe

Another one of my favorite players came off the board to the Dallas Cowboys as they made Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe with the 73rd pick.

Beebe has plenty of power and movement skills. But one thing that really stands out about his film is that he is incredibly intelligent. He reacted extremely well to twists and stunts, picking them up very well. That kind of read-and-react blocking will serve him well in the NFL.

9:48 p.m.: Jim Harbaugh takes his first former Wolverine

It felt like a given for a while, but Jim Harbaugh finally has his first Michigan player in this draft. The former head coach of the Wolverines, now with the Chargers, is bringing linebacker Junior Colson with him with the 69th pick.

He is the third Michigan player to be taken tonight, following DT Kris Jenkins and CB Mike Sainristil.

9:33 p.m.: Jets select Malachi Corley to open the third round

The Jets opened the third round of the draft with a weapon for Aaron Rodgers as they selected Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley with the 65th pick.

Corley has drawn some Deebo Samuel comparisons because of his frame (215 pounds) and his ability after the catch.

Arizona used the 66th pick to select Florida State running back Trey Benson.

Also, check out my thoughts on the Browns selecting Michael Hall Jr. here.

9:19 p.m.: Baltimore adds an offensive lineman

All three of the Browns’ AFC North rivals have now drafted an offensive lineman to combat what the Browns have on their defensive front. The Ravens used the 62nd pick to select Washington tackle Roger Rosengarten.

The Bengals drafted T Amarius Mims on Thursday, and the Steelers have picked two offensive linemen so far.

Kansas City traded up one spot to 63rd to select another offensive lineman in BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia.

9:09 p.m.: Catching up after the Browns’ first pick

While I’ve been busy with a YouTube short about new Browns DT Michael Hall Jr., several other notable names have come off the board. the Dolphins took Houston DT Patrick Paul with the 55th pick, Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell went 57th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Texans selected Notre Dame T Blake Fisher at 59.

In the meantime, check out what Ohio State reporter Nathan Baird wrote about what Hall brings to the Browns.

8:46 p.m.: Browns keep and use the 54th pick

The Browns did not trade the 54th pick, and in fact used it to select Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr.

Hall, a Streetsboro alum, has been an effective pass rusher for the past two seasons at Ohio State with six sacks and 10 TFLs. But injuries have hampered him at times.

The pick also got the stamp of approval from fellow former Buckeye Denzel Ward.

"Great addition in Mike Hall for the @Browns! You can’t go wrong with Buckeyes!” Ward posted.

8:40 p.m.: Browns are finally on the clock

The Browns are the only team that has not yet made a pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But for the first time, they are on the clock at pick No. 54.

Indianapolis took the last remaining player on our Consensus Big Board with a first-round ranking in Texas WR AD Mitchell at pick No. 52. Washington selected Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott at 53rd.

8:32 p.m.: More offensive linemen for the Steelers

Pittsburgh added yet another talented offensive lineman by selecting West Virginia center Zach Frazier with the 51st pick.

Frazier is a true center who was in the same tier as Jackson Powers-Johnson. He now joins Troy Fautanu as part of a duo that should help shore up the interior of Pittsburgh’s offensive line.

Only the Colts and Commanders remain before the Browns are scheduled to go on the clock for the first time.

8:24 p.m.: DTs go back-to-back

After the hot start on offense in the draft, defenders have stepped into the spotlight. The Jaguars took LSU DT Maason Smith at pick No. 48.

One pick later, the Bengals bolstered their defensive interior with strong NFL bloodlines in Michigan DT Kris Jenkins. The son of a two-time All-Pro, Jenkins is one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in this entire draft. To get an idea of how strong Jenkins is, watch this workout clip.

Washington drafted one of Jenkins’ teammates, CB Mike Sainristil, with the 50th pick.

8:21 p.m.: More defense off the board

Defense continues to fly off the board as we draft closer to the Browns’ first selection at pick 54. The Giants went to the Big Ten to take Minnesota S Tyler Nubin at pick 47.

Nubin is the first safety off the board. Only six picks remain before the Browns take their turn. But the Bengals and Steelers will go on the clock before them. The Bengals need defensive tackles and the Steelers need depth at receiver.

8:11 p.m.: On to pick 46, which is on the move

The Raiders and Packers were quick to the podium with their selections at picks 44 and 45, respectively. Las Vegas added arguably the best interior offensive lineman in the draft by taking Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Seconds later, the Packers took the draft’s best linebacker in Texas A&M Edgerrin Cooper at pick No. 45.

But we also have another pick trade as the Colts dealt the 46th pick to the Panthers, who traded up into the first round late last night to draft South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. Carolina used the pick on Texas RB Jonathon Brooks, who is the first running back to be taken in this draft.

8:06 p.m.: Arizona drafts Rutgers’ Max Melton

The run on cornerbacks is in full swing as the Cardinals continued that momentum with the selection of Rutgers’ Max Melton at pick 43. He is the highest-drafted Rutgers player since 2010, when the 49ers drafted tackle Anthony Davis.

With the Raiders on the clock at pick No. 44, that means only 10 picks remain before the Browns can get their first pick. It’s notable because Andrew Berry spoke at his pre-draft press conference about how he and the Browns really lock in on what they could do within 10 picks of their selection.

With the exception of Melton, here are Daniel Jeremiah’s best remaining players.

7:57 p.m.: Saints trade up to get Kool-Aid

The trade ups keep on coming as the Saints moved into the 41st spot and picked Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. It’s already the fifth trade of the night and McKinstry is the second Alabama corner to get drafted with Terrion Arnold going 24th to the Lions on Thursday night.

After McKinstry went off the board, Houston used its first pick to bolster its secondary by selecting Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter.

7:46 p.m.: Rams trade up with Panthers

The Rams got aggressive to get the 39th pick in a trade with the Panthers. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Rams are sending a fifth this year and a 2025 second-round pick to move up from 52 to 39.

They used the pick to select Florida State DT Braden Fiske, who had a big week at the Senior Bowl and played well for the Seminoles after transferring from Western Michigan prior to the 2023 season.

Right after the Rams traded up, so did the Eagles as they moved into the Commanders spot at 40. ESPN’s Field Yates reported the details of the trade, which has the Commanders now set to pick twice before the Browns go on the clock at pick 54. They used that pick to take the last player from the top 20 left on our Composite Big Board in Iowa CB Cooper DeJean.

The Eagles had Brandon Graham announce the pick, and he took a shot at the rival Cowboys, who will have a chance to clap back later in this round.

7:43 p.m.: Titans take T’Vondre Sweat

Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat was one of the players who had been sliding of late with questions about his weight and a DWI he had in early April. He felt like a player who would have gone on Day 3.

However, the Titans, who took JC Latham with the seventh pick on Thursday, took the chance on the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with the 38th pick. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport spoke more about the Titans looking into the questions surrounding Sweat’s character.

As we wait for the Browns to go on the clock for the first time in this draft, Mary Kay Cabot wrote about what she thinks the Browns should do.

7:33 p.m.: Washington ends Jer’Zhan Newton’s slide

Once thought of as a first-round pick, Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton slid all the way to the second round.

But the Washington Commanders ended Newton’s wait by selecting him with the 36th pick. Newton was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season with 7.5 sacks and 8.5 TFLs in 2023.

New England was up at 37 and the Patriots took the third receiver of the night in Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk.

7:27 p.m.: Falcons move up and grab a defensive tackle

Our second trade of the night has led to our second defensive tackle being taken. However, that defensive tackle is not Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton.

The Falcons moved up to the 35th pick in a trade with the Cardinals and selected Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro. He played 55 games for the Tigers and had an impressive showing at the NFL combine.

7:21 p.m.: Chargers trade up for Ladd McConkey

The run on receivers may be starting right away on Day 2 as the Chargers traded up to the 34th pick with the Patriots and took one of my favorite players from this class in Georgia’s Ladd McConkey.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported details on the trade as the Patriots turn a fifth-round pick in this draft into a fourth to slide down three spots.

7:16 p.m.: Keon Coleman goes to Buffalo

The Bills wasted no time getting a young receiver on Day 2 by selecting Florida State’s Keon Coleman with the 33rd pick. Coleman was at one point considered a top-10 pick, but he has been sliding through the draft process due in part to a slow 40 time at the NFL combine (4.61).

7:09 p.m.: Michigan football honored at the start of Day 2

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell opened the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft by honoring the Michigan Wolverines, who won the national championship this season.

As expected from Thursday night, fans showed up in full force once again in Detroit.

The Buffalo Bills are now on the clock with the first pick of Day 2.

6:41 p.m.: Jayden Daniels gets a special message after being drafted

The Commanders made LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels the second pick in the draft on Thursday night. The NFL posted a special video message Daniels got from his mother after being drafted by the Commanders.

6:25 p.m: Just how many good receivers are left?

One of the positions the Browns could target in this draft, particularly early, is wide receiver. This has been considered an extremely deep receiver class.

But just how many are still available?

NFL Network posted this graphic of all the top receivers still available according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.

6 p.m.: Listen to our Orange and Brown Talk podcast

We’re just about an hour away from the start of Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Browns didn’t have a pick last night, but there was a lot worth discussing from the first round.

Listen to Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Ashley Bastock give their biggest takeaways from Thursday and what they think the Browns should do tonight on the latest episode of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast. You can either click the link here to listen or you can also use the widget below.

5:47 p.m.: Bills not likely to get Deebo Samuel

The 49ers made a slight surprise in taking Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall 31st overall. That sparked rumors that Deebo Samuel could be on the move.

However, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported earlier today that the Bills and Patriots are “highly unlikely” to trade for Samuel. The Bills will have the first pick tonight and are in desperate need for a receiver after trading away Stefon Diggs. New England could use a talented receiver to pair with rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

5:30 p.m.: Who are the best players still available?

32 players already went on the first night of the draft. But there are a lot of great prospects still available heading into Friday night.

Check out the best remaining players on Tim Bielik’s Composite Big Board.

Also, see how each team did on Thursday night with our first-round draft grades.

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