Best Available SEC Players Headed into Day Two of the NFL Draft

The SEC once again led the way with 11 selections in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL draft (not counting Texas and Oklahoma), but the talent from the conference does not stop there. As we get ready to head into Day 2 of the NFL Draft on Friday night (2nd and 3rd rounds), here are my best available players from the conference:

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)

I'm pretty surprised McKinstry did not go in the first round, but the corners fell in the draft. The first corner did not go until pick No. 22, and only three went on Thursday. McKinstry is one of the top players overall left on the board, and along with Cooper DeJean of Iowa is one of the top corners left.

In 2023, McKinstry had 32 tackles, 2 TFL, and 7 PBU's. For his career at Alabama he had 93 tackles, 2 INT's, 23 PBU's, 5 TFL, and 2 sacks. I expect McKinstry to go within the first several picks in the 2nd round.

WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia)

There was a run on receivers at the end of the 1st round (four selected in the final ten picks), which did not include McConkey. Many mocked the Georgia receiver to of the teams at the back-end of the 1st, but instead he will be one of the top players taken in the 2nd round.

McConkey is coming off a year in which he battled back and ankle injuries while putting up 30 catches, 478 receiving yards, and 3 total TD's (2 receiving, 1 rushing). In 2022, McConkey had 58 catches, 762 receiving yards, 134 rushing yards, and 9 total TD's (7 receiving, 2 rushing).

With the WR-needy Bills now owning the first pick of the 2nd round, it would not surprise me if McConkey is the first player taken on Day 2. But even if the Bills pick AD Mitchell or another receiver, I fully expect McConkey to be one of the first handful of players taken Friday evening.

LB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M)

Positional value is what hurts Cooper and pushed him down to Day 2, but he had a stellar 2023 season and should make a team very happy in the early portions of the 2nd round. Last year, Cooper had 84 tackles, 8 sacks, and 17 TFL.

For his career in College Station, Cooper had 205 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 30.5 TFL in four seasons. I predict that Cooper will be selected in the first half of the 2nd round.

CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr (Missouri)

Here we have two more corners that many expected to go in the 2nd round, but are very strong prospects. Rakestraw was limited to just 9 games in 2023 as he put up 35 tackles and 4 PBU's. He is one of the better zone-defenders in this draft, and so fit will be important.

However, I expect Rakestraw to be picked in the first half of the 2nd round.

CB Kamari Lassiter (Georgia)

Lassiter is a player that I am kind of confused was not getting more back-end 1st round hype due to the tape that he put forth in 2023. On the year he 37 tackles and 8 PBU's, while holding opposing QB's to just a 48.7 Passer Rating and putting up an 85.4 PFF grade.

The issue with Lassiter is that he had just one college INT, however he was a shutdown corner for the Dawgs in 2023. I also expect Lassiter to go in the first half of the 2nd round.

EDGE Chris Braswell (Alabama)

Braswell took a big step forward in 2023 as he emerged while playing opposite of Dallas Turner for Alabama. On the year, Braswell had 42 tackles, 8 sacks, and 10.5 TFL.

Braswell will be one of the top couple of pass-rushers available heading into Day 2, which could drive up his value. I think Braswell will go in the 2nd round, and a need for pass-rushers could push him into the top 15-20 picks of the 2nd round.

S Javon Bullard (Georgia)

Bullard is a thumper of a safety who also has strong coverage ability. In 2023, Bullard had 56 tackles, 2 INT's, 5 PBU's, and 1 TFL. Over the past two seasons, he put up 102 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 4 INT's, and one Fumble Recovery.

Bullard's big hits get a lot of the attention, but he can also hold his own in coverage as well. There has not been a safety selected yet, and Bullard will be in the discussion for being the first one off the board headed into Day 2.