Round 1 of the NFL draft earns the bulk of fan and media attention, but the moves that general managers and coaches make on Day 2 can be just as integral to teams’ fortunes.
On Friday, offensive linemen and cornerbacks were in high demand, and there was even a mini-run on quarterbacks, with three signal-callers being taken in the span of four picks. With the first three rounds complete, a few teams and players stood out as clear beneficiaries of the evening’s action, while several others were left in questionable spots.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft:
WINNERS
New England Patriots: Bill Belichick’s recent record on Day 2 has been spotty at best, but this is the kind of haul the coach needed to accelerate his team’s return to form. Keeping the Nick Saban pipeline running after taking Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the No. 15 overall pick, the Patriots used their second-round selection on another Crimson Tide product in defensive tackle Christian Barmore, a first-round talent and perhaps the best player available entering Friday. New England further bolstered its pass rush by adding Oklahoma’s Ronnie Perkins toward the end of the third round.
Both players require more polish and consistency in their approach, but Belichick seems like just the person to help them realize their potential. The moves represented a significant step in the defense’s reloading.
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