NFL: Draft Day 2 Recap: QB for the Steelers – Raiders risky

The NFL Draft 2018 turns into the home stretch, the first three rounds are over. As after round 1 there is the Recap with a view to rounds 2 and 3: In it the Oakland Raiders continue to risk with recognizable pattern, the Browns have a strange second round and Derrius Guice crashes mighty. Also: A strong second day for the Giants, an Eagles trade as a side blow and Chicago’s good draft continues. Day 3 will also be live from 6pm and in the original commentary on DAZN and in the ticker here on SPOX.

Not the Patriots, not the Bengals, not even the Giants – it is the Steelers who have secured the most promising quarterback after the top 5. Rudolph is perhaps the best deep-ball register in this draft class, where his timing, touch and ball placement come into their own. He stands in the pocket, gives the routes a chance to unfold and attacks gaps in the defense – partly by walking disciplined through his reads.

Of course Rudolph also has clear weaknesses, otherwise he would not have been available at position 12 in the third round. One of these weaknesses is his arm strength, which could become a problem with the narrow windows in the NFL. He also has problems identifying Blindside-Rusher and sometimes doesn’t want to leave the pocket almost convulsively – so he likes to run into the pass rush. Occasionally you can also see that he doesn’t trust his reads.

But the situation in Pittsburgh is now ideal. Ben Roethlisberger already flirted openly in the past with his resignation until that happens, he is the undisputed starter. So Rudolph can learn behind Big Ben for now and work on his weaknesses. A nice side story: Rudolph is reunited in Pittsburgh with James Washington – the Steelers’ second-round pick. Washington was Rudolph’s number one college depth-threat and should quickly take the role of Martavis Bryant in Pittsburgh’s offense.

At the same time, Steelers fans should be surprised at the draft strategy. Pittsburgh’s Needs were clearly on the defensive side of the ball, three of the previous four picks went offense. The Steelers have no pick in round four and the biggest hole by far on the inside linebacker position has not yet been plugged. The only defensive pick was first-lap Reach Terrell Edmunds, although Pittsburgh had just strengthened on the Strong Safety position with Morgan Burnett in the Free Agency.

Guice, a first-round talent for many draft experts, had already announced himself in the first round; finally three running backs left the board and Guice was still available at the start of the second round.

It was supposed to get a lot worse.

With Nick Chubb (to the Browns), Ronald Jones (Buccaneers) and Kerryon Johnson (Lions) three more running backs went before Guice was finally released by the Washington Redskins with Pick 27 in the second round. In Washington he makes sense in sports, where Guice can give the power-back and contact runner in addition to Chris Thompson. But Derrius Guice’s draft case was not about sports issues.

Rather, during the course of the evening there were more and more reports that Guice had made some teams with his kind sceptical, not only in the draft process. NFL network expert Mike Mayock also reported live during the second round that another investigation is underway, the results of which “could expose the boy and the team taking him”. NFL network insider Ian Rapoport added that teams have called Guice “immature” and “very dependent” on him.

The Raiders’ first free agency under returnee Jon Gruden was already suboptimal to say the least. This now continues seamlessly in the draft: After a clear reach with UCLA tackle Kolton Miller in the first round, this game was repeated in round 3 with Tackle Brandon Parker – for the Oakland even on the first pick of the round was high-traded.

The Raiders rounded it off with the high-risk pick for Arden Key. A player who can be incredibly explosive and accumulated 140 quarterback pressures in college. But he also had marijuana and weight problems, was suspended in high school and college and also has a certain injury history.

However, the pattern is increasingly clear: the Raiders are clearly focusing on athletics in this draft. Especially the two offensive tackles fit into this category, here you can clearly see the fingerprint of the new O-Line-coach Tom Cable. Seahawks fans should remember this fact painfully. Key also fits into this pattern.

Athletics is all well and good and also important, but the Raiders have made clear reaches with at least two of their picks and have not yet addressed the biggest construction sites – linebackers and cornerers.

I have to admit that I didn’t really figure out the Browns’ picks in round two. Austin Corbett is a solid, flexible offensive lineman – but Cleveland has a tackle-need and a player like Connor Williams was still on the board.

Two picks later it was Cleveland’s turn again, this time the Browns chose Nick Chubb. A good running back, but on the one hand Cleveland already has Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde in his backfield and on the other hand it is another deep running back class. The Browns would still have gotten a good running back in round 3 without any problems, especially as Chubb still has to show how pronounced his role in the passing game in the NFL can be.

Giants with strong day 2: Will Hernandez has first-round value and additionally fulfils a need with the Giants – which in combination might have been a reason for New York to submit his pick after ten seconds. A run-blocking monster, is stable in pass protection.

And the value picks went even further: defensive tackle B.J. Hill in round three gives the Giants a dominant interior presence against the run, Edge-Rusher Lorenzo Carter just before was one of the top pass rushers still on the board. You can argue about Barkley with the Second Overall Pick because of the postional value. But rounds two and three were bull’s-eyes for the Giants.

Eagles trade as a side blow: As if it wasn’t bitter enough for cowboys fans that the draft takes place in their stadium with the Eagles as defending champions – Philly also managed a real side blow against his division rival in the middle of the second round.

The Eagles handed Pick 17 in the second round directly in front of the cowboys and snatched with Dallas Goedert the clearly best tight end still available. And that a few hours after it became known that Cowboys tight-end Jason Witten was probably ending his career.

But it didn’t stay that way: Right before he announced the pick, former Eagles kicker David Akers didn’t miss the chance to play against the cowboys on stage in Dallas. A consolation for Dallas: With Connor Williams immediately afterwards and wide receiver Michael Gallup in round three, the cowboys are without a doubt among the teams that took a lot of value on day 2.

Chicago Bears have a strong draft: The Bears are a first candidate for one of the best drafts of the year. After securing the top linebacker in round 1 with Roquan Smith, James Daniels followed at the beginning of round two: An extremely athletic, agile centre with first-round value.

A little later the Bears added Anthony Miller, an explosive wide receiver that can play in slot and outside, runs very aggressive routes and brings qualities after the catch. Miller could have gone even higher on my board, a very good receiver that immediately makes a difference. The Bears-Offense will be unrecognizable in comparison to the previous year.

Ravens-Draft remains very interesting: One can’t say that Baltimore’s draft would be boring. Hayden Hurst in round 1 fulfilled a clear need, but was not a value pick. Lamar Jackson with Pick 32 could turn out to be one of the steals of the first round, he is probably the most exciting quarterback of this class. Following this pattern we continued on day 2.

The Ravens didn’t have a second-round pick, offensive tackle Orlando Brown was the pick in round 3 (83 overall): A huge tackle that slipped after a historically desolate combine – but also has good tape, especially as a pass blocker. Because of the bad athletics, however, a risk. Three picks later Baltimore was up again – and chose a second tight end. Mark Andrews is a clear Receiving TE, two Tight Ends with the first four picks are at least times unusual.

As was the case yesterday, quality is still there in abundance. For example, in the running back position, where players like Nyheim Hines, Kalen Ballage or John Kelly could be this year’s fourth-round steals. Ian Thomas is a tight-end sleeper, Hercules Mata’afa and Josh Sweat are waiting for the edge positions.

And some well-known names are still waiting to be called: for example the German-American Equanimeous St. Brown, or Linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Both should be selected early in the fourth round. The same goes for the Jamarco Jones and Tyrell Crosby O-Liners.

Also interesting is the quarterback position, after only Rudolph left the board on day 2. Mike White of Western Kentucky and Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta in particular are highly interesting project quarterbacks that teams are likely to choose as perspective options soon.

Sadly, however, the draft slide by Maurice Hurst. The anomalies diagnosed with the Combine at the heart of the defensive tackle seem to have completely deterred the teams. His tape is that of a top 10 player in this class, it is increasingly unclear whether he will be drafted at all.