We all tune in for Round 1, but let’s be real — that’s the easy part. It’s a lot harder to find real value once the green room is empty and the picks start feeling like alphabet soup. But every year, a few teams nail the middle rounds.

They don’t just plug holes — they land guys who they think can actually make a difference on Sundays. This year, a few teams didn’t overthink it. They made picks that just felt right — guys who slid too far, filled real needs, or a little of both.

And it isn’t just front‑office jargon. Since the 2000 draft, 44% of All‑Pro selections were drafted outside Round 1. That line includes everyone from Cooper Kupp (69th overall) to Maxx Crosby (106th) to the walking cheat code that is Amon‑Ra St. Brown (112th). The league’s best talent evaluators consistently feast between picks 32 and 200 while the rest of us are refilling nachos.

Day 2 Headliners

1. Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College → Dallas Cowboys (No. 44)

The Cowboys needed help on the defensive front like Texas needs a breeze in July. Dallas gave up 4.8 yards per carry in 2024, bottom‑five league‑wide, and they finished dead last in EPA per rush allowed.

Enter Ezeiruaku, a bendy blur who posted a 25.8% pass‑rush win rate on true pass sets last fall and clocked a 1.59‑second 10‑yard split — identical to Brian Burns coming out.

Ezeiruaku brings more than just juice off the edge — he gives the Cowboys a pass-rushing specialist with the kind of motor and bend that fits perfectly into what Mike Zimmer is building. Ezeiruaku’s explosiveness, combined with his ability to affect the run, makes him a natural complement to Micah Parsons.

He’ll likely rotate early, but with DeMarcus Lawrence gone and Sam Williams still working back to form, the path to meaningful snaps is wide open. And the best part? He doesn’t need to be the guy right away — but he has the potential to be.

2. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan → Arizona Cardinals (No. 47)

The Cardinals were tied for the second-worst mark in the league in average separation allowed at 3.8 yards, and finished 8th worst in EPA per dropback. Johnson, a top‑10 talent who slid thanks to a knee issue, instantly upgrades that vibe. He surrendered a 57.2 passer rating across three college seasons and has the size (6‑2, 203) to press on the boundary.

Johnson’s slide into the second round was one of the more surprising parts of this year’s draft, but Arizona didn’t blink. Johnson fits what Jonathan Gannon wants to do defensively — big, versatile, physical corners who can match up and let the pass rush do its job.

When you pair him with Garrett Williams, you’re looking at a young duo that could finally give this defense some teeth on the back end. If Johnson stays healthy, it won’t take long for people to wonder why everyone passed on him in the first round.

3. Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi → Washington Commanders (No. 61)

Yes, Washington already fielded the NFL’s No. 3 pass defense by yards allowed (189.5 per game) and tied for the least amount of separation given to receivers (3.8), but they seemed to take a page out of the Eagles' playbook here — drafting ahead of the curve. Instead of waiting for a need to smack them in the face, they added to a strength and grabbed a potential long-term answer at corner.

Amos brings everything Dan Quinn typically looks for: length, physicality, zone awareness, and a willingness to tackle. He’s not being asked to carry the load right away, but the spot opposite Marshon Lattimore could be open for the taking. He’s coming in with a strong 85.6 PFF coverage grade, which only adds more proof that he’s not just a depth pick — he can actually play.

Think of this as the football version of buying an extra phone charger — you don’t need it until you really need it, and then you’re thrilled you spent the ten bucks. Amos will start down the depth chart, but will have every opportunity to work his way up.

4. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri → Chicago Bears (No. 39)

Chicago already has D.J. Moore and second-year stud Rome Odunze, but their non‑Moore receivers ranked bottom-ten in yards after catch per reception. Burden ranked top‑three in YAC among Power 4 wideouts the last two seasons, turning bubble screens into mini‑fire drills. He comes gift‑wrapped for the new offensive-minded head coach, Ben Johnson’s motion‑heavy attack.

A lot of people questioned why the Bears didn’t go offensive line with this pick, but it feels like they forgot how heavily that unit was addressed in free agency and via trade. The Bears quietly overhauled the trenches with veteran additions earlier this offseason — Burden wasn’t a luxury pick; he fills a real role. He adds a layer to the offense they didn’t really have without Keenan Allen, especially in the red zone.

Small nugget: Chicago’s offense ranked 28th in red-zone TD percentage last year. Burden scored nine of his 12 collegiate TDs inside the twenty. That’s a math problem defenses won’t enjoy.

5. Jared Wilson, C, Georgia → New England Patriots (No. 95)

Drake Maye spent most of his rookie season running for his life — New England led the league with a 40.7% pressure rate allowed. Which is why taking Jared Wilson here feels like a move that could quietly change everything. After moving on from longtime captain David Andrews this offseason, the Patriots needed a new anchor in the middle — someone athletic enough to move in space and smart enough to handle protection calls in a system that’s now back under Josh McDaniels.

Wilson might only have one year of starting experience at Georgia, but he looked the part against SEC fronts and brings the kind of physicality and mobility that fits a wide-zone/play-action-heavy scheme. He’s not just a developmental guy — he could be snapping to Maye before Thanksgiving.

Day 3 Treasures

1. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado → Cleveland Browns (No. 144)

No, you didn’t misread that line. Sanders actually slipped all the way to Round 5 — even though his film looked like a guy who should’ve been off the board before the midway point of round 2. So what happened? Some teams weren’t sold on his pocket presence, and there were rumors floating around about off-field stuff during the pre-draft process that might’ve scared people off.

Ignore the drama and look at the situation: Cleveland ranked 32nd in offensive EPA per play in 2024, and their quarterback room has been a revolving door for more than two decades.

In his final season at Colorado, he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 74.0% of his passes — good enough to set multiple school records and earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He also posted an 81.8% adjusted completion rate and a 91.0 passing grade from a clean pocket, both near the top of the national charts. That’s the kind of accuracy that fits perfectly into Kevin Stefanski’s rhythm-based offense.

The Browns' quarterback room is as open as it’s been in years. Deshaun Watson is still under contract, but after re-tearing his Achilles in January, he’s not going to be playing in 2025. Joe Flacco is back at age 40 and might start early in the year, but that’s hardly a long-term solution. That leaves a crowded mix of Kenny Pickett, third-rounder Dillon Gabriel, and now Shedeur Sanders — who, if nothing else, will be extremely motivated to prove teams wrong and push his way up the depth chart. Even if beating out Pickett or Flacco takes time, don’t be surprised if Sanders sets his sights on jumping Gabriel before training camp is over with.

2. Cameron Williams, OT, Texas → Philadelphia Eagles (No. 207)

Stealing a borderline Day‑2 tackle at pick 207 is the most Eagles thing ever. Philly already finished 6th in run‑block win rate and 8th in pass‑block win rate last year (while nearly setting the single-season rushing record), but Lane Johnson turns 35 in May. Williams’ 6‑6, 316‑pound frame glides in space — an 84.0 zone‑block grade backs up the eye test. He finished 2024 with zero sacks allowed over 369 pass sets, which I'm sure set off Howie Roseman's alarms.

Think of him as the Jordan Mailata succession plan on the right side. With Jeff Stoutland University handling the curriculum, the kid’s floor is “swing tackle,” and his ceiling is “next decade of Hurts protection.” 

3. Devin Neal, RB, Kansas → New Orleans Saints (No. 184)

Alvin Kamara is still silky, but the Saints produced just three runs of 20‑plus yards all season in 2024 — 26th most in the league. Neal averaged 3.73 yards after contact and posted a 90.5 rushing grade, thriving on downhill concepts that New Orleans badly needs. He also caught at least 20 balls each of the last three seasons, giving Klint Kubiak the two‑way hammer he's looking for in a back.

Even if he’s merely a change‑up, the value at pick 184 is incredible. Remember when the Saints milked Ingram’s power to keep Kamara fresh? Same recipe, younger ingredients. Factor in Kamara’s looming cap hit ($18.6 million in 2026) and Neal looks like even more of an enticing option.

Draft Lessons

1. Value > Need (Mostly). Washington and Philly drafted from positions of strength, trusting their boards over depth‑chart panic. History says that’s how you get the best bang for your buck past that first day. Six of the last nine Super Bowl champs got at least one starter from Rounds 2‑4 in the title season.

2. Premium Traits Still Slide. Whether it’s injury (Johnson), size (Ezeiruaku), or weird draft‑season narratives (Sanders), Friday and Saturday always cough up first‑round skill sets at bargain‑bin prices.

3. Fit Matters. Every name above lands in a scheme that accentuates their strengths — from Ben Johnson dialing up YAC specials for Burden to the Eagles' well-documented understanding of how to develop offensive linemen. Good coaches don’t ask square pegs to live in round holes.

So, Who’s the Biggest Steal?

If you twisted my arm, I’d bet on Will Johnson. He’s a first-round talent who just happened to slide into Round 2, and I’ve got faith in Garrett Williams holding up his end to make that corner duo work. But Luther Burden is the guy I’ve been high on from the start — he’s the kind of playmaker who’d thrive anywhere. Arizona got a steal, but Chicago might’ve grabbed the most dangerous weapon in this entire group.

The beauty of Days 2 and 3 is we don’t have to wait long to find out — rookies earn snaps faster than ever in today's game. Training camp, preseason, joint practices — that’s where the buzz starts.

One of these guys is going to flash early, and by the time the season hits, we’ll all be asking the same thing: how the hell did he fall that far?

Stats courtesy of NFL Pro.