Day 2 Winners and Losers
Ken Noble
After another strenuous day at the 2021 NFL Draft, it is time to decide who the winners and losers day 2 were. Remember, the Super Bowl is won in free agency and right here during the later rounds of the NFL Draft. 73 young men heard their names called tonight, and realized a lifelong dream. Some of them however ended up in better situations than others. So who did win the day?
Winners:
Minnesota Vikings
Yet again, Minnesota walks away with nothing but smiles on their faces. After winning day one, they continued their hot streak today by adding quality pieces throughout. In total, they added four players in the third round. They began the day by adding Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond to back up Kirk Cousins. He is potentially the heir apparent as well. I actually had Mond in my top 5 quarterbacks this draft, so not a bad bargain in the third.
They followed that up by selecting North Carolina ILB Chaz Surratt. The ex quarterback turned linebacker was another solid addition. He brings speed and coverage skills to the linebacking core in Minnesota. This also allows them to let Barr walk after the season if need be.
They scooped up yet another beast in the trenches in guard Wyatt Davis from Ohio State. Most analysts had him in the top 3 at the position. He is a day one starter, who can move defensive tackles off the ball and make space for Dalvin Cook.
They finished off the day by adding another edge rusher to their stable by picking Patrick Jones out of Pitt. Yet another gritty player who will play well by spelling DJ Wonnum, and maybe even overtaking him.
The Washington Football Team
Washington continues to stay the course and add quality players to a young team. By refusing to force anything, or get too eager, they have quietly built a very talented young roster. They passed on taking a quarterback, and decided to pick offensive tackle Sam Cosmi from Texas with pick number 51. Cosmi is a large man with athleticism to spare. He may be a bit rough, but if coached up he could become one of the more dominant tackles in the league. He is strong enough and quick enough to combat the best rushers.
After adding a center piece of the defense on day one, they continued to add depth when they took Minnesota CB Benjamin St-Juste. The Canadian born corner was thought to be a third round corner at worst by most scouting rooms. Therefore they added more quality without reaching, which is always good.
What may turn out to be one of the steals of day 2 was Washington picking up wide receiver Dyami Brown at 82. The receiver out of North Carolina is electric and a big play waiting to happen. Adding him to an already compelling young receiving core should make Fitzmagic happy and really please whomever takes the role in the future. I applaud Ron Rivera and his staff for staying true to the game plan. Rivera said he wants to build the roster then add the QB unlike how he did it in Carolina.
Miami Dolphins
After adding some big names on day one, all Miami did was add more starters on day 2. With their first pick of day 2, they selected Oregon defensive back Jevon Holland. Many had Holland as the number one safety in the class. If you’ve seen the film there is no denying this kid can flat out play. He should help Miami’s secondary take another step. By placing him next to Brandon Jones, Miami has created a duo we will all be talking about sooner than later.
With their other second round pick they nabbed Notre Dame tackle Liam Eichenberg. He may be a guard in the NFL, but he is definitely an NFL starting lineman who offers positional versatility. By adding Eichenberg the Dolphins have built a very versatile young offensive line that should provide protection for Tua for years to come.
They then added Hunter Long a traditional “Y” tight end out of Boston College. While we realize tight end wasn’t a huge need, he was the best player on the board and will allow Flores to incorporate two tight end sets similar to what we saw out of the Patriots for so long. Hunter was my number two tight end, and they picked him up midway through the third round.
Buffalo Bills
When the Bills lost to Kansas City in the playoffs, they realized an improved pass rush was needed. Well, they did just that today. After adding Rousseau at the end of the first round, they added Carlos “Boogie” Basham at the back end of round two. Pairing these two up alongside Ed Oliver and last years addition AJ Epenesa the Bills suddenly have a young pass rushing core that they were lacking. Basham can play both inside and outside, and was very productive in college. If he can continue that in the NFL, the Bills got an absolute steal with the 61st pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
With their third round pick they added offensive tackle Spencer Brown. Brown is a very intriguing small school standout that may develop into a top tier tackle on the right side for Josh Allen. Standing at 6-8 and weighing 315 pounds, he lacks nothing in the athleticism department and is a beast in the run game.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers front office did everything it could to protect their new quarterback today. After picking up Sam Darnold’s fifth year option, they did the same for DJ Moore. They didn’t stop there either. After drafting all defense in the 2020 NFL Draft, Rhule and company made their first offensive draft pick today. They gave Darnold another receiver in the big bodied Terrace Marshall Jr. from LSU.
The Panthers followed that by addressing two more offensive positions of need. They added BYU tackle Brady Christensen at pick 70. Christensen is an tremendous athlete with major upside at the tackle position.
At pick 83, they added another receiving option when they picked up Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble. By not forcing anything, the Panthers added great players that fit their system and team needs. Climb on the Panthers bandwagon while you still can.
Now we all know that for every winner there is also a loser. Today a few teams stood out in that regard. Who could it be we ask? Is it one of the teams who perennially comes up short on draft day, or did someone surprise us?
Losers:
Cincinnati Bengals
After a good draft in 2020, the Bengals have returned to form. They passed on protecting Burrow on day one, then traded back at the top of round two. They had the opportunity to add a player like Teven Jenkins or Liam Eichenberg, but opted instead for the one time 5 star recruit Jackson Carman out of Clemson. Carman is big and powerful, but he isn’t a day one starting tackle in the NFL. Unless he suits up for the Bengals that is. Will they play him at right tackle or guard? Either way he never lived up to the hype and has some areas he needs to improve upon. Burrow may want to get really good health insurance!
With the 69th pick they added edge rusher Joseph Ossai out of Texas. Ossai has major potential, but I’m not sure he is more suited for defensive end in a 4-3 than he is for OLB in a 3-4. I don’t think it is a good scheme fit. Plus they passed on more high quality o line help like a Wyatt Davis or Kendrick Green.
Dallas Cowboys
What are they doing? Cowboys fans need to hope I am wrong, but I think the Cowboys swung and missed today. Dallas needs help in the secondary, and they tried, but I’m not a fan of Kelvin Joseph, whom they drafted with the 44th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. I actually believe he has huge bust potential. He climbed boards late, and on film I see him get beat and frustrated too much to be so highly touted. Ask Seth Williams out of Auburn what he thinks.
They added another corner out Oregon State, Nahshon Wright who is tall but that’s about it. Along the defensive line they tried to add depth as well, but reached for Osa Odaghizuwa from UCLA. I don’t ever see him being a starter, just merely a rotational player. I question if he will be able to use his long arms against NFL guards who will overpower him.
Golston from Iowa was a decent depth piece, but I see him as more of a run stopper than pas rusher. Is a run defending defensive end worth the 84th pick? I had him slated as a late 4th or 5th round talent. Still no help for a deteriorating offensive line and reaches all the way around on day two makes me say Cowboys lost BIG!
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams didn’t have a day one pick, so they needed to hit with their day two options. Unfortunately, I believe they missed with both. At pick 57 they took Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell. I know Mel Kiper loves him, but if everyone is worried about Devonta Smith being too small then why aren’t they worried about Atwell? He is 5-9 and 155 lbs. He is explosive, but already has dealt with injuries. On top of that, I didn’t see WR as a position of needs for Los Angeles.
With their second day two choice, they added linebacker Ernest Jones out of South Carolina. Jones is only a 2 down backer who struggles in coverage. He ran a 4.74 40 time, and players like Jabril Cox and Baron Browning were still on the board. Hopefully I’m wrong, but I doubt it on this one.
Arizona Cardinals
With only one day 2 selection, I thought Arizona would maybe use it wisely. Nope, instead they added Rondale Moore out of Purdue. Moore is shifty and fast, but stands only 5’7” tall. The only productive receiver in the NFL right now at that height is Cole Beasley. Arizona has positions of need that could have been addressed, but instead chose a questionable weapon in Moore. Not only is he small, he is already known as injury prone. Not a player I would have taken this early, especially when players of better or similar value that filled needs were available. Kingsbury may be writing his own walking papers soon.
Pittsburgh
I have always been quite fond of the Steelers’ brass and scouting department on draft day, but not this year. After forgetting they don’t have an o-line on day one, they again passed it up in round two. They chose Pat Freiermuth the tight end out of Penn State. This is in no way a shot at him as he is a great player, but come on. Who is going to keep Big Ben and newly acquired Najee Harris alive? The Steelers’ offensive line was a strength for so long and now even Steelers’ fans struggle to name their starters. I know because I asked many today!
At least they finally looked o-line in round three when they actually took one of my favorite players in Kendrick Green out of Illinois. He is a powerful blocker with a mean demeanor, but still needs refining and I’m not sure if they will play him at center or guard. I want to see what he can do at center personally. In the end it was too little too late to address the offensive line so Pittsburgh finishes a loser yet again.
