Winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft

Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft took place on Friday. Some teams got steals with their second and third-round picks ahead of the weekend and appear to be on pace to improve significantly in 2021. Others made some questionable moves. Here’s a pair of winners and losers from Friday night’s action.

Day 2 Winners

New York Jets

New York has acquired some important building blocks on offense. The Jets secure their quarterback of the future in Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick on Day 1 and shored up the offensive line with USC Alijah Vera-Tucker with the No. 14 pick. New York kicked off Day 2 by improving its receiving corps with Elijah Moore from Ole Miss. Moore is one of the most versatile pass-catchers in the draft and should pair nicely with Jamison Crowder and Corey Davis. Wilson has protection and the most promising receiving corps the Jets have had in a while.

Cleveland Browns

Browns fans are having a great time at the draft, and their team didn’t do too bad on day two. Cleveland addressed both sides of the ball by adding a hybrid safety/linebacker in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on defense and the speedy Anthony Swartz on offense. Getting one of the most versatile athletes in the draft and the fastest man available in one day is something worth applauding.

Kyle Trask

Trask has landed the NFL’s cushiest backup gig. He’ll get to sit behind the GOAT — Tom Brady — in his twilight years on the heels of a world championship. There’s no guarantee that he’ll be handed the keys to the offense, but the most productive passer in the FBS from last year could inherit a pass-oriented offense that comes with multiple All-Pro caliber receivers and a great offensive line. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quality running backs and a defense that can help secure great field position. What more could a rookie quarterback ask for?

Sam Darnold

Just gonna leave you with this:

Day 2 Losers

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh got arguably the best running back in the draft class on Day 1 but felt like getting a backup tight end in the second round. Pat Freiermuth is no slouch, but bringing him aboard when Eric Ebron, Diontae Davis, Chase Claypool, and JuJu Smith-Schuster are on the roster doesn’t make a ton of sense. Freiermuth isn’t excessively dynamic as a pass catcher, and shoring up the offensive line should be a priority for a team that’s hoping to protect the declining Ben Roethlisberger.

Miami Dolphins

One of Miami’s biggest needs is pass protection, but the Dolphins went with a run-blocking tackle with their second second-round pick before picking up a backup tight end in Hunter long. Miami’s running back room is still cluttered, and Tua Tagovaloa’s development as a passer is what will take the Dolphin to the next level. Maybe Miami’s young linemen will take a big step forward in 2021.

Houston Texans

Due to serious roster mismanagement, the Texans did not have a pick until the third round. They then used it on Stanford quarterback Davis Mills. While Mills was one of the more intriguing prospects on the board heading into the second day, but the pick only raises more issues around what will happen with Deshaun Watson. Maybe this all works out, but there’s little reason for Texans fans to be particularly jazzed right now.