Expert Analysis

4/29/22

5 min read

Best Players Available Heading into Day 2 of the NFL Draft

By Ethan Useloff

Best Players Available Heading into Day 2 of the NFL Draft

Thursday night’s first round was filled to the brim with drama, featuring nine trades and just one quarterback selected. Among those traded were A.J. Brown and Marquise Brown who both moved from the AFC to the NFC.

Following the excitement from Day 1, there are plenty of talented players available at each position. Here is our breakdown of the best players still on the board, beginning with the top overall prospects:

Top 25 Best Players Available

  1. Nakobe Dean
  2. Andrew Booth Jr.
  3. Kyler Gordon
  4. Arnold Ebiketie
  5. Cameron Thomas
  6. Travis Jones
  7. Jaquan Brisker
  8. Roger McCreary
  9. Malik Willis
  10. Perrion Winfrey
  11. Christian Watson
  12. David Ojabo
  13. David Bell
  14. Trey McBride
  15. Breece Hall
  16. Isaiah Spiller
  17. Sam Howell
  18. Troy Andersen
  19. John Metchie III
  20. Luke Fortner
  21. Drake Jackson
  22. George Pickens
  23. Logan Hall
  24. Nicholas Petit-Frère
  25. Bernhard Reimann

Now let’s take a look by position:

Quarterbacks

  1. Malik Willis
  2. Sam Howell
  3. Desmond Ridder
  4. Dustin Crum
  5. Carson Strong

Malik Willis may have teams making calls overnight to move up in the second round. Another intriguing prospect expected to hear his name called on Day 2 is Desmond Ridder, a player we had the opportunity to speak with recently.

Running Backs

  1. Breece Hall
  2. Isaiah Spiller
  3. Kenneth Walker III
  4. Brian Robinson Jr.
  5. Jerome Ford

Breece Hall is our consensus top running back in the class, projected as a three-down player. Not far behind on our board is Isaiah Spiller, another second-day prospect who may hear his name called Friday.

Wide Receivers

  1. Christian Watson
  2. David Bell
  3. John Metchie III
  4. George Pickens
  5. Wan’Dale Robinson

Christian Watson has been turning heads since the combine, posting the second-best relative athletic score in the past 35 years. George Pickens is an interesting prospect heading into the second day of the draft with his recent ACL tear. The Georgia Bulldog only suited up for four games in 2021, but his 6’3 size is something that cannot be taught.

Tight Ends

  1. Trey McBride
  2. Isaiah Likely
  3. Jelani Woods
  4. Jalen Wydermyer
  5. Charlie Kolar

Trey McBride is our top tight end in this year’s draft and very well could be the first selected at the position. He offers lots of upside as a blocker, and he posted over 1100 yards in 2021. Another eye-opening prospect is Jelani Woods, standing at 6’7 and posting the fourth best tight end raw athletic score in the previous 35 years.

Offensive Tackles

  1. Nicholas Petit-Frère
  2. Bernhard Raimann
  3. Luke Goedeke
  4. Daniel Faalele
  5. Darian Kinnard

Bernhard Raimann is a player some believed could go in the first round, but he finds himself as a top option at the position come Day 2. Another intriguing prospect is Daniel Faalele given his physique. Standing at 6’8 and 384 pounds, Faalele has an imposing figure.

Interior-Offensive Line

  1. Luke Fortner
  2. Jamaree Salyer
  3. Ed Ingram
  4. Cam Jurgens
  5. Dylan Parham

With position versatility at guard and center, Luke Fortner should hear his name called within the first few hours of the second day of the draft. Another player who can play multiple positions is Jamaree Salyar, a guard who could fill in as depth at tackle for a team.

Edge Rushers

  1. Arnold Ebiketie
  2. Cameron Thomas
  3. David Ojabo
  4. Drake Jackson
  5. Myjai Sanders

Arnold Ebiketie is a player who could have been a first-round pick, ranked above multiple players at his position who were selected Thursday. Another Day 1 talent is David Ojabo, falling due to a recent Achilles injury. Teams will have their eye on these players as the second day of the draft gets underway.

Defensive Tackles

  1. Travis Jones
  2. Perrion Winfrey
  3. Logan Hall
  4. Neil Farrell Jr.
  5. Matthew Butler

After both Georgia defensive tackles were selected on Thursday, there is still plenty of talent at the position. Atop the board is Travis Jones, a player who is able to generate lots of power at the point of attack. Perrion Winfrey is another top prospect left, and he was ranked the top JUCO player before coming to Oklahoma.

Linebackers

  1. Nakobe Dean
  2. Troy Andersen
  3. Chad Muma
  4. Christian Harris
  5. Leo Chenal

Our top-rated overall prospect still available is Nakobe Dean, a player from the dominant Georgia defense who we talked to a few weeks ago. Teams that want a three-down Will linebacker will be excited to see him sitting on the board on Day 2. Another linebacker who may hear his name called on Friday is Chad Muma, a Butkus Award finalist from Wyoming.

Cornerbacks

  1. Andrew Booth Jr.
  2. Kyler Gordon
  3. Roger McCreary
  4. Jalyn Armour-Davis
  5. Marcus Jones

The second-best player left on our board, Andrew Booth Jr., was the 18th pick in our most recent mock draft. He is our third-highest rated cornerback in the class, and he is an athlete who should continue to develop his skills. Look for Houston’s Marcus Jones to be drafted as a slot cornerback in the NFL given his instincts.

Safeties

  1. Jaquan Brisker
  2. Kerby Joseph
  3. Bryan Cook
  4. Jalen Pitre
  5. Nick Cross

With above the line instincts, Kerby Joseph is a player who will hear his name called at some point during the draft. His change of direction will help him play free safety at the next level. Bryan Cook is a player from Cincinnati’s top-notch secondary who will also be drafted given his ability to play the run.

Tags: 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft

Ethan Useloff

RELATED