The second day of the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday saw a flurry of trade activity, particularly in the second round, which marked a continuation of one of the major themes of Thursday night's opening round.
But no matter what order the picks are made, the same principals of sound draft strategy apply.
Amid the swirl of deals on Friday, a few teams in particular - including some of those involved in the wheeling and dealing - seemed to be executing sensible, thoughtful plans.
Here's a look at the clubs who impressed in their maneuverings - and, later on, a look at those who left much to be desired:
WINNERS:
Azeez OjulariBrett Davis - USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants:
Who is this version of Dave Gettleman, and where has he been?
The Giants general manager entered the draft having never traded down in his career as a general manger and not only did he trade back in the first round and nabbed a wide receiver and future first on Thursday, but he did it again in the second round on Friday.
The Giants traded back from the 42nd pick to the 50th pick, where they drafted Georgia pass rusher Azeez Ojulari and also picked up a 2022 third rounder from the Miami Dolphins, as part of the deal.
Ojulari, whom some scouts consider a first round talent, addresses the Giants’ need to get someone who can put pressure on the quarterback. He led Georgia with 9.5 sacks last year, and plays with explosive speed and force.
In Round 3, the Giants traded up from 76 to 71 to take UCF’s Aaron Robinson, adding depth to a strong Giants secondary, which already features Logan Ryan and James Bradberry. - John Healy
Jeremiah Owusu-KoramoahGrant Halverson - Getty Images
Cleveland Browns:
The Browns' defense was an obvious area of need coming into this draft, certainly in comparison to their potent offense. Sure enough, they made it 2-for-2 on defensive players with their first two picks, by selecting Notre Dame standout Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah in the second round.
Owusu-Koromoah is an intriguing hybrid player who profiles as something between a safety and a linebacker. Combined with first rounder Greg Newsome II, Owusu-Koromoah should help the Browns bolster their flagging defense, and there's a decent chance he could develop into a superstar player, given his rare athletic talents. Some mock drafts had him going as high as the mid-teens in the first round.
Most importantly, the Browns appear to have a sound process for continuing to build their team into a contender. - Dan Mennella
J.J. Weaver and Kelvin JosephKatie Stratman - USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys:
It is pretty evident what the Cowboys mission is in this draft: defense, defense and more defense.
The Cowboys were one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL last year, and after drafting linebacker Micah Parsons out of Penn State in the first round, Dallas returned to the defensive well on Friday in Rounds 2 and 3.
After missing out on the top cornerbacks in Round 1, the Cowboys were able to snag Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph with the 44th overall pick. Joseph’s may not be as refined as Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain II, but he has a nose for the ball — finishing with the second-most interceptions in the SEC last year — and plenty of athleticism and talent that give him a high ceiling.
The Cowboys added reinforcements to their defensive line in the third round, selecting UCLA defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and Iowa defensive end Chauncey Golston, and added another cornerback with their compensatory pick (99) in Nashon Wright, giving them five defensive players through the first three rounds — addressing an urgent need on the team. - John Healy
Samuel CosmiScott Wachter - USA TODAY Sports
Washington Football Team:
The Washington Football Team continues stock up on talent since the arrival of head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew.
Second rounder Samuel Cosmi and third rounders Benjamin St-Juste and Dyami Brown all look like value picks and potential contributors early on. Cosmi and St-Juste, in particular, seem to fit the Rivera mold of tough, aggressive players, joining first round linebacker Jamin Davis in that vein.
Brown was a popular sleeper pick at wide receiver, with many scouts and analytics types touting his downfield ball skills and knack for playing bigger and faster than his frame would suggest. - Dan Mennella
Elijah MooreChristopher Hanewinckel - USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets:
The Jets had the worst offense in the league last season, by just about any measure. General manager Joe Douglas appears to have rightly committed the Jets to rectifying that in this draft, taking quarterback Zach Wilson and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker in the first round on Thursday.
Douglas continued revamping the offense on Friday with the addition of Ole Miss wideout Elijah Moore. Some mock drafts had Moore going as high as the mid-20s, so Douglas did well to snare the dynamo at No. 34. He reportedly turned down offers to trade out of the spot.
It would have been nice for the Jets to have more than one pick on Day 2, but the Moore selection felt especially meaningful for a team that has lacked playmakers for some time. - Dan Mennella
Carlos Basham Jr.Tim Warner - Getty Images
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills apparently came in looking to beef up their pass rush and shore up their defensive line. So, they took the best available pass rusher in the first round with their first pick, in Greg Rousseau.
Then, they did the same thing in the second round, taking Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham. Both ends were, arguably, good values where the Bills got them, and personally I like the approach of surging resources to weak areas.
The Bills might have the offense they need to go all the way - now they just need the defense to match it. Give them credit for trying. - Dan Mennella
Christian BarmoreTom Pennington - Getty Images
New England Patriots:
Bill Belichick may have strayed from his usual script to take quarterback Mac Jones in the first round on Thursday, but on Friday he got back to the "Patriot Way," beefing up the trenches with a pair of defensive linemen who by most accounts would be considered good values where the Patriots got them.
New England nabbed Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore early in the second round, and later took Oklahoma defensive end Ronnie Perkins in the third. Both players were projected to go well ahead of where they were ultimately taken in many mock drafts. It's hard to find much fault with either pick, as well as the strategy. - Dan Mennella
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LOSERS:
Josh MyersJoseph Maiorana - USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers:
Seriously, what is the deal here? Are they trading Aaron Rodgers?
Regardless, taking Ohio State center Josh Meyers in the second wasn't exactly exciting. Third rounder Amari Rodgers is an intriguing wide receiver prospect, albeit one with a limited skill set in the slot, and as a gadget guy. - Dan Mennella
Javonte WilliamsBob Donnan - USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos:
They seem to be allergic to taking a quarterback who can lead their talented offense. After passing on Justin Fields in Round 1, the Broncos on Day 2, again, passed on a quarterback, curiously taking North Carolina running back Javonte Williams in the second round.
Williams is a talented player, for sure, but taking him here was strange given the signing of Melvin Gordon last offseason, and more importantly, the apparent lack of a viable starting quarterback on the roster.
Davis MillsSoobum Im - USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans:
Cruelly, a team in desperate need of a revamp has relatively little draft capital. Sometimes, the ghosts of front offices past can linger long beyond their time in power.
The Texans took Stanford quarterback Davis Mills in the third round, and, hey, he might turn out to be a good player. But this team is in a bad place right now, for reasons that go far beyond football, and Mills' selection in a draft where the team has a dearth of picks feels hollow. - Dan Mennella
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