Ideal Day 2 NFL Draft target for every AFC team

With the NFL Draft looming April 25-27 in Detroit, teams are fine-tuning their draft boards. Stars, of course, are found in every round. (See QB Brock Purdy, a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers and "Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 draft.)

On Day 2, the second and third rounds of the draft will be held. Based on team needs and more, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the ideal Day 2 pick for every team in the AFC. 

Who among these players will become stars?

AFC East 

BUFFALO BILLS | Utah safety Cole Bishop | Despite having signed safety Mike Edwards to a one-year deal this offseason, Buffalo could add a long-term option at the position. Bishop would bring valuable versatility to the defense. In 11 games last season, the 6-foot-2, 206-pounder had 60 tackles (6.5 for loss), three sacks, four pass breakups and two interceptions.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall | Although Miami is pursuing free-agent WR Odell Beckham Jr., it would be better off adding a No. 3 wideout through the draft, and Pearsall could prove to be the perfect complementary piece to its explosive receiving corps. Pearsall, who has worked out with Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason, led Florida in receiving during each of the past two seasons, totaling 1,626 yards in that span.

NEW YORK JETS | South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler | Considering the Jets have built a roster ready to contend now, coupled with the fact quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 40, spending a mid-round pick on a developmental QB would be wise. Once touted as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick, Rattler made significant strides following his transfer from Oklahoma, throwing for 6,212 yards and 37 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia | Assuming New England drafts a quarterback with its third overall selection, de facto GM Eliot Wolf should use the majority of his remaining picks on players who will help his new signal-caller. Suamataia, cousin of Lions All-Pro RT Penei Sewell and a projected second-round pick, allowed just two sacks and 13 pressures in 2023, his first season as a full-time starter at left tackle. — Colum Dell

AFC West 

DENVER BRONCOS | Ohio State tight end Cade Stover | The Broncos need more dependable pass-catchers after they finished 24th in the league in passing yards (191.9 YPG) last season. In 12 games in 2023, Stover had 41 receptions for 576 yards and five TD catches. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares him to Cowboys Pro Bowl TE Jake Ferguson.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Central Florida wide receiver Javon Baker | The Chiefs need WR depth, but they could target an O-lineman with their first-rounder (No. 32 overall) to provide more protection for QB Patrick Mahomes. Baker — whom Kansas City recently met with, per CBS Sports — was second in the FBS in yards per reception (21.9) in 2023.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler | Rattler would be a solid contingency plan for the Raiders if they don't take a QB with their first-round pick (No. 13 overall), as he posted the FBS’ 11th-best completion percentage (68.9 percent) in 12 games in 2023. 

“Rattler has the best [throwing] mechanics in the [draft] class,” a coach told The Atheltic’s Dane Brugler.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Michigan running back Blake Corum | The Chargers signed former Ravens RB Gus Edwards to a two-year, $6.5M deal in free agency, but targeting a back who thrived under new HC Jim Harbaugh at Michigan would make sense. Corum rushed for the most TDs (58) in program history in four seasons at Michigan. — Clark Dalton

AFC North 

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Michigan running back Blake Corum | The Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry in free agency, but it’s only a two-year deal and he’ll turn 31 this season. General manager Eric DeCosta said there’s a “strong chance” Baltimore drafts a running back at some point, and that could be Corum, who rushed for 3,737 yards and 58 touchdowns during his Michigan career.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders | If Georgia tight end Brock Bowers falls to the Bengals at pick No. 18, he's a no-brainer after putting a one-year Band-Aid on the position with veteran Mike Gesicki. That seems unlikely, however, and Sanders would still be a great consolation prize after posting 99 catches for 1,295 yards and seven touchdown catches from 2022-23.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper | The Browns don’t own a first-round pick, making their Day 2 selections even more important. Cleveland lost linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. (Dolphins) and Sione Takitaki (Patriots) in free agency and must continue searching for the future of the position even after signing Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush. Cooper could be exactly that following a dominant 2023 season in which he posted 84 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | West Virginia center Zach Frazier | Pittsburgh's biggest need is arguably center, so it would be a dream scenario to land the future starter in the second round. It may be risky to pass on the position in the first round, but some experts believe the draft stocks of Frazier and Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson are dropping, potentially setting Pittsburgh up for a successful Day 2. — Aaron Becker

AFC South 

HOUSTON TEXANS | Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter | Jacksonville and Tennessee have improved their offenses, and the Colts figure to be much more dynamic with a healthy Anthony Richardson at QB, making cornerback arguably Houston’s biggest position of need. Considered a fringe-Round 1 talent, Lassiter — who has excellent route recognition and great speed to the ball — could fall if there’s a run on offensive tackles or receivers.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy | The Texans (Stefon Diggs), Jaguars (Gabriel Davis) and Titans (Calvin Ridley) added key pieces to their WR corps this offseason, and the Colts would be foolish not to do the same. To give Richardson the best chance to succeed, they must  give him a weapon like Worthy, who has excellent ball-tracking skills. Combined with his 4.21 40-yard time (the fastest recorded at the combine), he could be a home-run threat.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Western Michigan edge-rusher Marshawn Kneeland | The AFC South could have the best group of young, ascending franchise quarterbacks, and it would behoove the Jaguars to load up on pass-rushers to make their lives miserable. Kneeland has the versatility to play standing up or with his hand on the ground, and he has the strength to push lineman around and collapse the pocket.

TENNESSEE TITANS | Missouri edge-rusher Darius Robinson | There’s a glaring hole in Tennessee’s pass rush after losing Denico Autry to the Texans in free agency, which is why the team must be aggressive about filling it through the draft. Robinson is strong and physical at the point of attack, he’s great at creating separation from blockers and fits the mold of the prototypical power rusher. — Michael Gallagher