The NFL Draft is one of the most respected events of the year. However, while Round 1 gets all the glory, Day 2 of the draft can sometimes be just as thrilling. When the draft gets into the second and third rounds, that’s where teams look for value, either a blue-chip player who fell through the cracks or a sleeper.
The first-round picks get all the headlines, but Day 2 is crucial for teams looking to secure their future with franchise-altering additions. What follows is a breakdown of what makes Day 2 so exciting and why it’s so critical to every team’s draft strategy.
Day 2 of the Draft: Rounds, Time, and Order Breakdown
The NFL Draft Day 2 consists of Rounds 2 and 3 and takes place after the pageantry of Day 1, the following day. It’s sometimes dubbed the “workhorse” segment of the draft. It was because that is when teams make picks of those. Especially the one who can give immediate contributions or step out to play for the long haul down the road.
Round 2 sets the stage for the day, then the third round follows, each having 32 picks.
Day 2’s agenda is mixed, but the draft usually starts late in the afternoon. And occasionally continues into the evening, this time more slowly than Round 1’s whirlwind pace. Day 2 selections are also done in the same reverse order as Round 1, based on the previous season’s standings.
The worst team of last season is provided with the first pick in the second round, and Super Bowl winners are entitled to make the last pick. The same applies to the third round to allow the worst teams to change their fortunes fast and level the league.
Unlike the first round, where franchise quarterbacks and high-profile players are the top priority, Day 2 is about value. Teams will take the best player available to fill holes in their roster or set themselves up for future moves with an eye on long-term success. But there’s also a lot of room for trades, which introduces unpredictability and drama into Day 2.
The Impact of Trades on Day 2
Arguably, the most thrilling part of Day 2 is the possibility of trades. On the first day of the draft, the first-round picks are usually finalized. By Day 2, the teams are more inclined to trade up or down to pick players. They are the ones who would have otherwise been drafted in round one.
For example, a franchise like the Chicago Bears, which possesses the first overall choice for 2023, would be able to trade back in round two if already employing the first-round draft selection to address paramount needs.
A franchise like the Kansas City Chiefs, which picked last in round one after winning the Super Bowl. They would trade up for a player who they feel will be able to slot into the team right away.
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Trades are typically motivated by what players are worth and what teams have been doing for what they need. In 2022, for instance, the Detroit Lions traded up in the second round to take wide receiver Jameson Williams.
He was one of the draft’s premier playmakers, with the No. 12 overall selection. It enabled them to get a dynamic offensive playmaker who they hoped would be able to play right away.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah explains Day 2 as “where you really start to see the trades go down. The value of that third- and second-round picks is enormous, and that’s where a lot of teams make their move to come get their guy.”
What Players Typically Go in Rounds 2 and 3
The initial day of the draft tends to be filled with top names and headliners; Day 2 is where teams pick players who will be future stars or solid contributors to their rosters.
Many future Hall of Famers have been selected on Day 2, such as wide receiver Stefon Diggs (146th overall in 2015), linebacker Bobby Wagner (47th overall in 2012), and defensive tackle Aaron Donald (13th overall in 2014).
Players selected on Day 2 could have been drafted past for any number of reasons: maybe they had some injury issues, were up and down at the college level, or had some issues that ran them out of Round 1.
These types of players usually have the chance to be instant starters or contribute an incredible amount of depth to a roster. That is why teams will spend money to grab a guy they feel can play in Round 1.
Among the most recent examples of Day 2 success stories is wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, drafted 112th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2021 and an instant contributor with 1,161 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. Another is third-round pick in 2022, cornerback Tariq Woolen, who was a productive Seattle Seahawks contributor and a Pro Bowl selection in his first year.
Why Day 2 is Important to All NFL Teams
Day 2 of the NFL Draft is an important day for teams that want to bolster their roster with ceiling players without taking a reach on a pick in Round 1. Teams have these rounds available to plug in key pieces that strengthen their starting lineup, add depth, and even touch on long-term needs such as quarterback or offensive line.
For rebuilding teams, Day 2 is the ideal day to stock up on low-cost, young talent that will develop with the team. For others, it’s a chance to pick up a piece of the puzzle that may be the perfect fit. Day 2 is also important for teams that lost their first-round picks for other assets, like the Los Angeles Rams during 2023, who did not possess a first-round pick but had several high-profile picks in the second and third rounds.
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While Day 1 of the NFL Draft steals the spotlight, Day 2 tends to be the day teams get the wiliest and busiest when it comes to selecting picks. Day 2 and Day 3 draft picks become the stars, role players, and franchise pillars they become.
And for fans, it’s an exciting extension of the excitement that started with Round 1, with promises of even greater things to come. Short of it, Day 2 is no second-string segment of the NFL Draft—it’s an opportunity for teams to lock up their futures, and it’s where the real value of the draft can be achieved.
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