Day 2 NFL Draft Grades: Why the Second Round Usually Decides Who Wins the Super Bowl

Draft experts love to talk about the "can't-miss" superstars on Thursday night, but if you actually want to know why a team is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy three years from now, look at Friday. Day 2 is where the real work happens. It’s where general managers find the starters who don't cost $30 million a year. Honestly, looking back at the 2025 class, the day 2 nfl draft grades tell a much more interesting story than the first round ever could.

The gap between a late first-rounder and a mid-second-rounder is often just a medical red flag or a slightly slower 40-yard dash. That’s it. Teams that embrace that risk—like Arizona or Chicago—often end up with "blue-chip" talent at a fraction of the cost.

The Absolute Steals of the Second Round

You’ve gotta feel for Will Johnson. The Michigan cornerback was a consensus top-15 talent for most of the 2024 season. Then the medical reports started circulating. A knee issue here, a lingering twitch there, and suddenly he's sitting there at pick No. 47. The Arizona Cardinals didn't blink. They grabbed a guy who can shadow WR1s from day one. If that knee holds up, Jonathan Gannon just landed a Pro Bowler in the middle of the second round. That’s an easy "A" grade if I've ever seen one.

Then there’s Luther Burden III. Chicago is basically building an All-Star team for Caleb Williams at this point. After taking Colston Loveland in the first, they snagged Burden at No. 39. He’s basically a Deebo Samuel clone—low center of gravity, impossible to tackle in the open field, and just a pure playmaker. Putting him in a room with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze is almost unfair. The Bears are winning the "value" game by a mile.

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• Arizona Cardinals (Pick 47): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan. (Grade: A+)
• Chicago Bears (Pick 39): Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri. (Grade: A)
• Dallas Cowboys (Pick 44): Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College. (Grade: A-)

Ezeiruaku is another one people slept on. He doesn't have the massive frame of a Myles Garrett, but his pass-rush win rate (over 25% on true pass sets) was elite. Dallas needed juice on the edge, and they got a guy who lives in the backfield.

Why Some Teams Reached (And Why It Might Not Matter)

We have to talk about the Cleveland Browns. They were busy. They took Carson Schwesinger at 33 and Quinshon Judkins at 36. Look, I get it. Schwesinger is a tackling machine and a leader. But was he a top-40 player? Most boards had him in the 60s. And taking a running back that high in 2025? It’s bold. Judkins is a north-south punisher, but when you pass on guys like TreVeyon Henderson (who went to New England at 38), people are going to second-guess you.

But hey, Kevin Stefanski has a type. He wants "system" players who don't make mistakes. If Schwesinger is the "green dot" linebacker for the next eight years, nobody is going to care that they "reached" by 20 spots.

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The Quarterback Wildcards

Day 2 is also where the "maybe" quarterbacks go to live.

1. New Orleans Saints: Took Tyler Shough (Pick 40). He’s got seven years of college experience. He’s older than some vets in that locker room.
2. Cleveland Browns: Added Dillon Gabriel (Pick 94) in the third.
3. Seattle Seahawks: Nabbed Jalen Milroe (Pick 102).

The Milroe pick is the most fascinating one. He fell because of accuracy concerns, but his rushing floor is massive. If he sits behind Sam Darnold for a year and learns the nuances of a pro-style progression, he could be the biggest steal of the entire weekend. Or he could be out of the league in three years. That’s the Day 2 gamble.

The Edge Rusher Run of 2025

Late in the second and early in the third, it felt like every team suddenly realized they couldn't pressure the quarterback. Nic Scourton went to Carolina at 51. Princely Umanmielen joined him at 77. The Panthers basically rebuilt their entire defensive front in about three hours.

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Baltimore did the same with Mike Green at 59. Now, Green has some serious off-field questions—two sexual assault allegations that weren't charged but definitely scared teams off. On the field? He’s a first-round talent. Eric DeCosta is betting on the Ravens’ culture to keep him on the right path. If it works, the Ravens just got a 10-sack guy for a discount.

Final Thoughts on the Big Winners

If you’re looking for a dark horse for the best overall haul, look at the New England Patriots. They are clearly trying to protect Drake Maye. After Will Campbell in the first, they got TreVeyon Henderson (Pick 38) and Kyle Williams (Pick 69). They’re surrounding their young QB with a power run game and a savvy route runner. It’s not flashy, but it’s how you build a winner.

Actionable Insights for Fans

• Watch the UDFA Tracker: With guys like Shedeur Sanders falling out of Day 2, the undrafted free agent market is going to be a goldmine this year.
• Don't overreact to "Reaches": Players like Schwesinger often provide more immediate value than "high-upside" guys who can't play special teams.
• Keep an eye on the Safe Safeties: Nick Emmanwori (Seattle, Pick 35) and Xavier Watts (Atlanta, Pick 96) are the types of players who start for 10 years without ever making a Pro Bowl, but they make the defense work.

The reality of day 2 nfl draft grades is that they are temporary. We won't really know who "won" until 2027. But based on the process, the value, and the fit? The Bears, Cardinals, and Patriots are the ones feeling best about their Friday night.

What to do next:
Go back and watch the 2023 tape of Will Johnson versus Ohio State. If you see the guy who completely erased top-tier receivers, you’ll understand why the Cardinals are ecstatic. Then, check your team's depth chart—Day 2 picks are expected to be "plug-and-play" starters by training camp.