2021 NFL Draft Order: Round 2 | Picks 49-64
Day 2 began with a slew of talented players still on the board. Where do they get scooped up?
49. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
I, for one, was surprised that the Cardinals preferred Zaven Collins in Round 1. I like Collins and think he can be a good player. However, Arizona will have to use him correctly. They’ll also have to upgrade the cornerback position at some point as well to alleviate some pressure off of the front seven.
Just inside the top 50, Kelvin Joseph may just solve that problem. He was once in the first-round conversation with his athletic traits, and he can develop into a versatile playmaker.
50. Miami Dolphins: Quinn Meinerz, C, Wisconsin-Whitewater
It’s been repeated time and time again that the Dolphins love Quinn Meinerz. They got a chance to coach him at the Senior Bowl and watched him dominate the opposition all week. He’s a stellar athlete, a stellar competitor, and a great fit for what Miami needs. If he’s here at the 50th pick, he makes a lot of sense. With Meinerz, Miami’s offensive line gets a needed boost.
51. Washington Football Team: Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
Washington is one of the teams that’s been tied to Davis Mills all offseason. Two of the other primary contenders for Mills were the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots. They both picked quarterbacks in Round 1, thus clearing the way for Mills to potentially become a member of the Washington Football Team.
Mills needs definite refinement. Nevertheless, he has the pocket athleticism and the arm talent to mold, and he’ll be entering an excellent situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick above him.
52. Chicago Bears: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
It appears as though Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are making a ferocious bid to save their jobs. Drafting Justin Fields gets them halfway there, but now they need to strengthen the offense around him. They can add more weapons, but the offensive line is also in a state of disarray. Liam Eichenberg isn’t flashy or versatile. However, he’s steady, and he can hold down a tackle spot for the next ten years with little issue.
53. Tennessee Titans: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Spencer Brown tested as the most athletic offensive tackle ever. At 6-foot-8, 311 pounds, he logged a 4.94 40-yard dash, a 1.69 10-yard split, a 31.5-inch vertical, a 117-inch broad jump, and a 6.96 three-cone. He also put up 29 bench reps. Brown needs to work on his refinement and leverage management, but someone will bet on his athletic upside on Day 2.
54. Indianapolis Colts: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
The Colts got their edge rusher in Round 1 in Kwity Paye at a place he wasn’t expected to be available. That’s already a win. Now, the Colts can turn the focus to the offensive side of the ball.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of my personal favorite receivers in this class. He’s explosive and ultra-competitive, and he provides excellent utility at every phase of the catch. Before the catch, he’s a crafty, precise route runner. At the catch, he’s strong and authoritative. And after the catch, he’s a slippery runner.
55. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
I understand if Steelers fans have reservations about not taking an offensive lineman in the first two rounds. Believe me, I do too. However, as much as the Steelers like Alex Highsmith, I think you at least need to keep an open mind if a player like Joseph Ossai falls this far.
Ossai is an elite athlete with an incredibly uncommon mix of length, urgency, and pace off the line. Ossai, in a rotation with T.J. Watt and a developing Highsmith, makes Pittsburgh’s pass rush a force to be reckoned with.
56. Seattle Seahawks: D’Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina
As is customary with Seattle Seahawks tradition, the franchise’s first pick must be a reach that defies the wildest of expectations. Joking aside, D’Ante Smith is an intriguing prospect, and some factors might drive his price up on Day 2. He’s a good athlete, and he has a massive 85-inch wingspan. On top of that, Smith had an excellent showing at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. As we’ve seen in the past with players like L.J. Collier, the Seahawks value that highly.
57. Los Angeles Rams: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
The drop stops here for Azeez Ojulari. The Georgia edge rusher was once billed as a potential top-16 pick. However, after being diagnosed with a degenerative leg injury at the NFL Combine, it’s difficult to pinpoint where he’ll be given a chance. The Rams, who need more help along the edge, might take the gamble here. Ojulari is an electric pass rusher with the burst and proportional length to be consistently disruptive if he can stay healthy.
58. Kansas City Chiefs (from Baltimore Ravens): Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Andy Reid loves his speed. And with a burgeoning need at wide receiver outside of Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, it stands to reason that receiver could be an option here. North Carolina’s Dyami Brown has a skill set that might draw the allure of Reid. He’s a well-sized receiver whose downfield explosiveness and sizable release package allow him to get separation and generate big plays.
59. Cleveland Browns: Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
Having released Sheldon Richardson, the Browns could use an influx of talent on the defensive line. In this Day 2 2021 NFL Mock Draft, the Browns benefit from the general hesitance surrounding the interior defensive line class. Levi Onwuzurike is an exceptional fit here. He’s around 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, with great length and burst. He can complement Cleveland’s high-upside EDGE duo and provide utility in run defense with his anchoring ability.
60. New Orleans Saints: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Jabril Cox showed out at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and he also tested extremely well at his pro day. Thus, I don’t think there’s a chance Cox makes it out of Round 2. This might ultimately be his floor, as the Saints don’t have the linebacker depth to warrant passing up a top talent like Cox. He can be a high-level coverage linebacker out of the gate. Additionally, his athleticism, for his size, gives him nice versatility.
61. Buffalo Bills: Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Buffalo did what most of us expected them to do in Round 1. The specific player choice wasn’t quite what I expected, but they bolstered the edge nonetheless. Cornerback is another position on defense that deserves some consideration, and for a team that’s trying to compete now, I don’t think there’s a better option than Elijah Molden.
Molden isn’t the best physical specimen, but he’s one of the most instinctive, intelligent defenders in the draft. He can start and produce right away in the slot.
62. Green Bay Packers: Milton Williams, DL, Louisiana Tech
As we saw from the Packers’ selection of Eric Stokes, Green Bay loves athleticism. They also love passing on wide receivers. In this Day 2 2021 NFL Mock Draft, this pick fulfills both of those requirements.
Merely factoring tape in, this is too high for Milton Williams. Nevertheless, at 6-foot-3, 284 pounds, with a 4.67 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical, a 6.96 three-cone, and 34 bench reps, Williams is an astronomical athlete. He’s also a perfect fit for the three-technique defensive end role in Green Bay’s defense.
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
With two second-round picks in rapid succession, the Chiefs have some flexibility regarding how they want to approach Round 2. In this Day 2 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Kansas City addresses offense first, then moves over to the defensive side of the ball. They don’t have many pressing needs, but more talent could be added on the edge.
Here at the end of Round 2, Ronnie Perkins is a great get. He’s a bit undersized, and he’s not an elite athlete, but he’s still explosive, relentless, and powerful within his frame.
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M
Every pick is essentially a bonus for the Buccaneers, who already have the roster they need to get back to the Super Bowl. Thus, the Buccaneers are in a position where they can use early capital on a quarterback. It was between Kellen Mond and Kyle Trask here, but Mond’s physical traits were the deal-breaker. Mond has the physical upside to be a starter, but he needs a lot of mentorship to get to that point.