2024 NFL Draft: Day 2 and 3 Alternatives for Teams That Miss on Top Prospects
Most teams in the league would love to add Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in this year's draft. Unfortunately, there's only one.
Harrison is the No. 1 prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest big board, and he likely will hear his name called within the top few picks once the draft kicks off on April 25. That means the rest of the teams on the lookout for a No. 1 wide receiver might not have the opportunity to get their guy in the first round.
Fortunately, teams find starting talent in the later rounds of the draft every year. If you miss out on one of the draft's stars early, there's still the possibility of bringing in someone with a similar skill set that just might need extra development.
Those are the prospects we'll be focusing on here.
Based on play style, skills and potential, teams should be targeting these prospects if they miss out on one of the top players early in the draft. Consider them later-round alternatives if the player is unavailable or the front office decides to go another direction in the first round.
OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
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First-Round Counterpart: Amarius Mims, Georgia
Amarius Mims is locked in as an early-round pick, but it still takes a lot of projection to figure out what he'll be in the NFL. He made only seven starts due to biding his time at Georgia and suffering an ankle injury that required surgery and kept him out of the lineup from Weeks 4-10.
Mims is an incredible athlete with physical gifts that few possess. He is an imposing presence at 6'8" and 340 pounds and 36⅛" arms. His size and athleticism are tools that can't be taught.
However, he needs to brush up on the things that can be taught. His technique will be a work in progress, and he could be forced to sit and learn like Broderick Jones did last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers when he made only one start in the first seven weeks.
Kiran Amegadjie does not have the same ceiling as Mims. He does not have outlandish size for an NFL tackle, but he does still look the part at 6'5" and 323 pounds with 36⅛" arms.
However, he needs a lot more polish. B/R scout Brandon Thorn likes some of what he's seen, but acknowledges the Ivy Leaguer has a long way to go.
"Overall, Amegadjie is a proportionately built, long and easy mover on film," Thorn wrote. "He has an NFL-starter look, but he shows mere glimmers of physical dominance due to his unrefined footwork, leverage and finishing skills."
Whichever teams draft Mims and Amegadjie will both have to exercise some patience. In the latter's case, the issues will probably make him a Day 3 pick. He's still a good bet on size and functional athleticism, though.
Potential Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders
EDGE Jonah Elliss, Utah
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First-Round Counterpart: EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
There's some intrigue as to who might be the first defensive player off the board in this year's draft. Our scouts rank Florida State edge-rusher Jared Verse (ninth) just ahead of Alabama edge-rusher Dallas Turner (12th) with Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (10th) and Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold (11th) sandwiched in there.
Teams that miss out on Turner should be taking a look at Utah edge-rusher Jonah Elliss in the second round instead.
Elliss is a little bit smaller then his Crimson Tide counterpart. While Turner is 6'3" and 247 pounds with 34⅜" arms, Elliss doesn't boast the same length at 6'2" and 248 pounds and 33" arms.
B/R scout Matt Holder praised Elliss' repertoire of pass-rushing moves, noting that he "has shown a handful of pass-rush moves he can win with around the edge like a rip move and hand swipe to go along with a nice inside spin move as a counter."
Elliss used that pass-rushing arsenal to notch 12 sacks in 10 games in his final season with the Utes. However, there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about his injury history. He missed two games in 2022 and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery this year.
Another concern for Ellis—that he has in common with Turner—is that he's a little light and doesn't hold up well against the run at this point. However, for teams that run odd fronts and needs a stand-up 'backer to get after the passer, Elliss is a great backup plan for Turner.
Potential Fits: Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins
WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
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First-Round Counterpart: Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
There's a clear drop-off in this receiver class after the top three prospects, all of whom are potentially No. 1 options for their respective teams. After that, there's Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas is a good prospect in his own right. The difference is that Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers will probably be No. 1 options on their team right away and will have All-Pro potential down the line.
Teams that miss out on Harrison, Odunze, Nabers and Thomas could turn their attention to Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin on Day 2.
At 6'3" and 183 pounds, Franklin doesn't have prototypical size for an outside receiver, which brings down his ceiling a bit. Thomas can run through contact that will bring Franklin down or disrupt his route. However, Klassen praised Franklin's route-running chops in his scouting report.
"He is a quick-footed and detailed route-runner," Klassen wrote. "Franklin is constantly throwing different releases at defensive backs, making it difficult to get a read on him over the course of the game, even on repeated routes."
There's a clear trade-off here. Franklin doesn't have the same physicality as Thomas, but he'll be available later in the draft. Any team that needs a deep threat and misses out on Thomas should be interested.
Potential Fits: Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs
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EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
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First-Round Counterpart: EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
Jared Verse is the No. 1 edge-rusher on the latest B/R big board and the top overall defender. His well-roundedness is what pushed him into that spot.
Verse isn't just a pass-rushing specialist. He has the power, strength and technique to set the edge against the run and be on the field in any situation. Rushing the passer is where defensive ends make their money, and his first-round peers can do that as well, but his work in the run game sets him apart.
However, a lot of teams will never get a shot at drafting Verse. For teams looking to beef up their run defense in the later rounds, Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland is the guy to watch.
Coming in at 6'3" and 267 pounds, Kneeland brings a classic defensive end build to the table. While B/R scout Matt Holder dinged Kneeland for his lack of quick-twitch explosiveness, he praised his strong bull rush and that he "can set the edge versus offensive tackles against the run and has the strength to hold ground against combo blocks/double-teams from tackles and tight ends."
Whereas Verse eventually will be expected to rack up double-digit sacks in a season, Kneeland isn't likely to ever do so. However, Kneeland can be a rotational player who can defend the run at high level.
Potential Fits: Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos
CB Max Melton, Rutgers
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First-Round Counterpart: Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Quinyon Mitchell leads a cluster of cornerbacks who are expected to go in the first round. Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Cooper DeJean round out the rest of that group.
After that, there is an intriguing group of cornerback prospects who should hear their name called on Day 2 or even Day 3 with a diverse range of sizes and skills. Rutgers' Max Melton finds himself in that group.
Mitchell has earned the right to be a first-round pick based on his production, versatility and top-end speed to stick with any receiver. However, Giddings also noted that Mitchell is at his best when he's able to drive on the ball in zone coverage and read the quarterback.
Melton has some of that to his game as well, as Giddings wrote in his scouting report.
"Melton looks to be at his best when he's in off coverage and zone, where he is able to see the routes develop in front of him and can see the ball thrown," Giddings observed.
Mitchell impressed at the combine with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, 38" vertical and 10'0" broad jump. Melton was a comparable athlete with a 4.39-second 40, 40.5" vertical and 11'4" broad jump.
Melton's arms are longer than 32" even though he stands only 5'11". His athleticism and length should give him the ability to play inside and out, which would make him a reasonable later-round alternative to Mitchell.
Potential Fits: Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions
IOL Dominick Puni, Kansas
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First-Round Counterpart: IOL Graham Barton, Duke
This is a strong class of interior offensive linemen. The B/R Scouting Department's latest big board features six interior offensive linemen in the top 32.
Considering how well some guards did on the free-agent market this offseason, teams could load up at that position early in the draft, too. Graham Barton should certainly be among them. The B/R Scouting Department labeled the Duke lineman as the "most versatile" interior offensive lineman in this year's draft class.
Positional versatility is huge for the position. Offensive lines are routinely shuffled around based on injury and fit. Barton's ability to play tackle in pinch while having the movement skills to be a potentially elite guard could help him get selected earlier than some expect.
Teams that miss the boat should take Kansas blocker Dominick Puni in the middle rounds as a backup plan.
Puni has a nearly identical build as Barton at 6'5" and 313 pounds. He doesn't boast the same movement skills, but B/R scout Brandon Thorn has high praise for the power and mobility that Puni brings to the table.
"Puni is a well-versed, skilled and powerful run-blocker with the mobility and frame to arrive low on contact with square power to create immediate displacement on angle-drive, down and double-team blocks," Thorn wrote.
Like Barton, he has extensive college experience as a tackle, but he has a build that will most likely force him to play on the inside. He even played a little center at the Senior Bowl.
Potential Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins
DL Maason Smith, LSU
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First-Round Counterpart: DL Darius Robinson, Missouri
Darius Robinson is a fringe first-rounder based on mock drafts. Grinding the Mocks has him with an expected draft position of 33.8 based on data from mock drafts across the internet.
The B/R Scouting Department has Robinson ranked as the fourth interior defensive lineman in the class as well as the most versatile on its latest big board.
Schematic fit is bound to play an important role in where Robinson winds up. B/R scout Matt Holder believes the he can play defensive end right away in even or odd fronts. At 6'5" and 285 pounds, he has a somewhat unique build.
Teams interested in a 3-4 defensive end who has some pass-rushing potential to work with might also want to consider LSU's Maason Smith later in the draft.
Smith is a former 5-star prospect whose career at LSU was held back by injuries. He missed all but one game of the season in 2022 due to a torn ACL. When he came back in 2023, he missed the first game due to a suspension and ended up with only 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
In general, Smith just didn't live up to the hype at LSU. But he showed the tantalizing flashes that could have made him a hyped prospect at 6'5" and 306 pounds.
"Smith has a good blend of size, strength and short-area quickness to blossom into a good defensive tackle in the NFL," Holder wrote in Smith's scouting report. "He shows traits of being a well-rounded player, popping up on tape against the run as a pass-rusher. Consistency is just a bit of an issue right now, which could be tied to inexperience."
Robinson will be a swing on size and a somewhat unique skill set. Smith could offer a similar reward at a cheaper price on draft weekend.
Potential Fits: San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens
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