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Day two of a deep draft is in the books and just about every team seems to have added starting quality talent to their rosters. It's hard to categorize winners and losers having not seen any of them on an NFL field but waiting two to three years to properly form an opinion is no fun! On to the winners and losers of day two!
Winners:
Pick 48: DT Timmy Jernigan
Pick 79: FS Terrance Brooks
The Ravens continue to invest in the defensive side of the ball with their first three picks. Jernigan was thought by many to be a first round talent, it's possible a failed drug test at the combine knocked him into round two where the Ravens happily selected him. He'll learn from some mammoth men along that defensive line in Haloti Ngata and Terrance Cody.
Brooks gives them a free safety that will compliment last year's first round pick SS Matt Elam. Brooks is a rangy safety capable of patrolling centerfield with surprising physicality given his size. He'll fit right in.
Pick 33: G Xavier Su'a-Filo
Pick 65: C.J. Fiedorowicz
Pick 83: Louis Nix III
The Texans continue to impress with this class. Su'a-Filo might be the best guard in the class and can compete for a starting job day one. Fiedorowicz is a big, blocking tight end capable of stretching the filed when asked. Trading up into the third and taking Nix give the Ravens the potential defensive front including Nix, J.J. Watt, and Jadeveon Clowney. Scary.
Pick 59: OL Jake Mewhort
Pick 90: WR Donte Moncrief
Not having a first round pick didn't stop the Colts from coming away with two solid players on day two. Mewhort is a versatile linemen capable of playing anywhere along the line and protecting Andrew Luck is as important as anything in Indy. Moncrief was a guy I was secretly hoping the 49ers would take. The big bodied, speedy wideout give the Colts a big receiving target to compliment Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Da'rick Rogers.
Pick 39: WR Marqise Lee
Pick 61: WR Allen Robinson
Pick 93: OG Brandon Lindor
Yeah, I had to double check that too. The Jags on the ‘winners' list. The front office clearly wanted to put Blake Bortles in the best position to succeed by drafting two receivers who some had first round grades on. Lindor will be given a shot to earn a starting spot and has the size and strength to make it interesting. If Jacksonville keeps this up we may have to start taking them seriously.
Pick 36: QB Derek Carr
Pick 81: OG Gabe Jackson
The Raiders are sure trying to shed a reputation of drafting terribly and they're doing a nice job so far. Not having to trade any assets to land Carr in the second worked out quite well. Jackson is an absolute beast on the line and will immediately help their run game.
San Francisco 49ers
Pick 57: RB Carlos Hyde
Pick 70: C Marcus Martin
Pick 77: LB Chris Borland
Pick 100: OL Brandon Thomas
GM Trent Baalke "Draft Ninja" was busy on Friday making five total trades including the one for Stevie Johnson. The initial selection of Hyde was somewhat surprising considering the current depth at RB. But when you consider that this is likely Frank Gore's last year in SF, the doubt surrounding Kendall Hunter as a #1 RB, Marcus Lattimore's knees, and LaMichael James' lack of involvement this pick actually makes a ton of sense. The big-bodied Hyde gives the 49ers some long term insurance AND you have to love the value that late in the second round.
Adding, arguably, the Draft's top center early in the third was logical and again provided tremendous value. Martin will compete with Daniel Kilgore for the starting center spot from day one. Martin also has extensive experience at guard increasing his value to the 49ers.
The Borland pick was a bit confusing to me. I get that the kid is "a football player" but ILBs in this league need length and athleticism two things I think Borland lacks. That doesn't mean he won't have a successful career in the NFL as a spot-starter and special teamer. But using a third rounder for that kind of role doesn't make sense. So, it's a good thing Trent Baalke knows a lot more about football than I ever will.
The last pick of the third round was rather predictable. It's a typical 49er pick. Thomas was flying up draft boards before tearing his ACL a few weeks ago. Some had him as a potential first round pick and best guard in the class. Thomas played LT at Clemson but figures to move inside in the NFL. With Mike Iupati's likely to command top dollar next offeason this pick made a ton of sense.
Pick 41: DB Lamarcus Joyner
Pick 75: RB Tre Mason
The Rams have had the best draft to this point. They've added impact players at multiple key positions. Playing the NFC West you need physicality at every position. On Thursday, they added the two big ones in OT Greg Robinson and DT Aaron Donald the both of whom personify physicality. Yesterday, they added Joyner and Mason who again pack quite the punch despite their small stature. Joyner gives the Rams an immediate replacement for Cortland Finnegan in slot. Mason will give the Rams an interesting 1-2 punch.
Losers
Pick 62: Jimmy Garoppolo
Sure the Pats need to consider life AB (After Brady) but they could have filled some more immediate needs in the secondary or backfield. They passed on some solid defensive backs, linemen, and running backs to groom Jimmy Garoppolo.
Pick 34: DE Demarcus Lawrence
I really like Lawrence and think he could fit nicely with the Cowboys who did need a pass rusher. But they had to give up a third rounder to do so and therefor only made one pick on Friday. The roster needs quality depth at several positions and giving up picks isn't going to help that. But hey maybe Jerry Jones thinks those six seventh round picks later today will pan out...
Pick 45: WR Paul Richardson
Pick 64: OT Justin Britt
It's tough to put Seattle on a ‘losers' list because they just seem to draft well from top to bottom of the draft. These picks are the only picks for the Seahawks thus far and they don't appear to have drafted an immediate impact type player. Richardson has a ton of potential but I'm not sure his thin frame will hold up well in the most physical division in the league. Britt probably could have been selected at least one round later but he was clearly high on their board and that's all that matters.
Day three begins today at 9 a.m. PST and the 49ers have seven picks. It should be fun.