10 best value picks from Day 2 of the NFL Draft
Rounds two and three of the 2019 NFL Draft are officially in the books, and a number of highly talented prospects were taken off the board after dropping out of the first round.
Here are the 10 best value picks from Day 2 of the draft:
Jawaan Taylor, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars
No. 35 overall (2nd round)
Taylor's draft-day slide ended early in round two, but Jacksonville still added tremendous value with the selection. The former Florida Gator, who was a first-round pick on a number of evaluators' boards, will immediately start at right tackle to provide protection for Nick Foles and aggressive run blocking for Leonard Fournette.
Greedy Williams, CB, Cleveland Browns
No. 46 overall (2nd round)
Once thought of as a first-round lock, Williams shockingly lasted 14 picks into the second day. The ball-hawking defender offers tremendous value opposite Denzel Ward, and was the No. 2 cornerback on our prospect rankings. Playing with a chip on his shoulder, we'd be surprised if "Greedy" doesn't develop into a Pro Bowl defender.
A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans
No. 51 overall (2nd round)
Brown wasn't the only receiver to slide in this draft, but he could easily end up making teams look silly for passing him up. A complete skill set gives the former Ole Miss standout the ability to make plays at all levels of the field, lining up either on the boundary or in the slot. He could be the playmaker that finally allows the Tennessee offense to take the next step.
Nasir Adderley, S, Los Angeles Chargers
No. 60 overall (2nd round)
Adderley was getting first-round buzz for a reason. With range to cover sideline-to-sideline and physicality to make him a downhill presence in the running game, he's got everything teams are looking for in a safety to play the deep middle. The Chargers scooping up this kind of talent near the end of the second round, and then pairing him with stud 2018 first-round safety Derwin James, is borderline unfair.
Juan Thornhill, S, Kansas City Chiefs
No. 63 overall (2nd round)
For a team that featured the 31st-ranked pass defense in 2018, the Chiefs drafted an absolute steal with the penultimate pick of the second round. Thornhill is an athletic safety who thrives in coverage and possesses excellent ball skills. The former Virginia defender received some first-round buzz earlier this year, so Kansas City's pick was among the most valuable on Day 2.
D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
No. 64 overall (2nd round)
Metcalf's slide was one of the 2019 draft's top stories, but Seattle closed the second round with one of the best selections of the night. Though his game is raw, the athletic wideout's ceiling is the highest in his class and will be an incredibly tough matchup for even premier NFL cornerbacks. Metcalf simply should not have been the ninth receiver chosen.
Jachai Polite, DE, New York Jets
No. 68 overall (3rd round)
After a disastrous combine, both in terms of athletic testing and team interviews, Polite was bound to tumble. So it wasn't exactly surprising that he was available to the Jets early in the third round, but this is still incredible value. Undoubtedly a first-round talent on tape, Polite is one of the best pass-rushers in this draft. Pairing him with No. 3 overall pick Quinnen Williams will give opposing offenses nightmares.
Chase Winovich, DE, New England Patriots
No. 77 overall (3rd round)
NFL teams tend to prefer edge defenders with elite athletic traits, and for good reason. But that also results in productive players who win in different ways, like Winovich, falling further than they should. The Michigan product is relentless and already has an advanced approach in the pass-rush game. Don't be surprised if he's the latest in a long line of mid-round steals for the Patriots.
David Long, CB, Los Angeles Rams
No. 79 overall (3rd round)
One of the few knocks on Long heading into the draft was his size. In terms of pure cover ability, there are few better in this class. Look for Long to vastly outplay his draft status, which saw him become the ninth cornerback selected. He joins Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Nickell Robey-Coleman to round out a strong group of corners for the Rams.
Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills
No. 96 overall (3rd round)
Knox is an intriguing prospect ripe with athleticism and receiving potential, so the fact that he was the eighth tight end off the board was a shocking development. The Bills wrapped up an impressive second day by filling a major offensive weakness and adding a big-play weapon for Josh Allen.