Does not matter how many picks, but how teams use those picks.
After the first round was complete, teams around the league still needed to do more work and make some great picks on day 2 of the NFL Draft. Although some teams succeeded with this, other teams did not.
The Winners
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The Miami Dolphins
When looking at the teams who may have had questionable picks in the first round, the Miami Dolphins was on that list. I nearly put them on the loser’s section for Day 1 but decided not to because if they would have gone offensive line or cornerback at 13, which they desperately need, it would have been a reach. Still, going into day 2, the Dolphins only had 1 selection and need to address the offensive line. At pick 37, the did just that by selecting OG/OT Jonah Savaiinaea. This is the offensive line help Miami desperately needed, and they traded with the Raiders to make it happen. Savaiinaea brings some positional flexibility to the Dolphins, but for now, he can play right away at guard.
The New England Patriots
The Patriots had a massive number of needs going into the NFL Draft, but starting with selecting Will Campbell in the first round was a great start. More work still needed to be done, and the Patriots had 3 selections on day 2 to make it happen. At pick 38, RB TreVeyon Henderson was the selection, pick 69 was WR Kyle Williams, and 95 was C Jared Wilson. Starting with Henderson, Mike Vrabel gets speedy rushing weapon that can now take even more pressure off of 2nd year QB Drake Maye. Kyle Williams is one of the biggest risers in this years’ draft and it seemed every team could be in play for the WR. Then with the last day 2 pick, the Patriots got Jared Wilson, who is arguably the best center in the draft. New England has done everything to put Drake Maye in a scenario to feel comfortable and succeed.
The Losers
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The Detroit Lions
The Lions are known for taking players they like no matter what pick it is, and it is hard to really fault them for doing that. Still, these selections are much earlier than expected and that needs to be viewed as “reaches” for those picks. At 56, the Lions selected Georgia OG Tate Ratledge. This pick actually makes sense for the Lions and there are not many negatives with this selection, but the next one is where the questions are present. At pick 70, the Lions selected Arkansas WR Isaac Teslaa, which was a surprising pick, especially with someone like WR Jaylin Noel still on the board. Again, it is very hard to criticize a team getting the player they want, but compared to other teams’ selections on day 2, the questions around the Lions’ picks are why they are here.
The New Orleans Saints
Speaking of questions around some selections, the New Orleans Saints had an interesting day 2. I’m never going to fault a team, especially one with an offensive head coach, getting the QB they believe in. This is what happened at pick 40 with the selection of Tyler Shough. Personally, this would not have been the selection I would have made, but I am also not an offensive coaching staff built to identify QB talent. Moving on to pick 71, the Saints selected their second Texas Longhorn of the draft, DT Vernon Broughton. This is a good move to improve the defensive line talent, but not really a “needle mover”. I do think safety Jonas Sanker was an amazing pick at 93 and should be a contributor right away. The main reason that the Saints are one of the losers is because these moves raise the floor of this roster, but not the ceiling. Doing this is completely fine for a team that is going through a rebuild, but before we see what these prospects can do on the field, this day 2 group of selections is going to be graded lower.