NFL Draft 2013 Round 2: Blueprint for Teams with Multiple Picks

The congregation at Radio City Music Hall is always the most fervent during Thursday night’s first round, but the road to a Super Bowl continues being paved through the remainder of the weekend—especially Friday’s second round. 

Though not as hyped as their first-round brethren, it’s arguable that second-rounders are just as valuable. Their contracts have negligible dents in a team’s salary cap and are for shorter lengths, meaning the misses are less deadly and the gems all the more valuable. 

There’s a reason that successful teams like the New England Patriots covet second-round draft choices. Bill Belichick saw the market inequality long before the remaining 31 teams did and has done a fantastic job of capturing multiple second-rounders in the past.

The Patriots were again in action on Thursday night looking to make their presence known in the second round. They will have two second-round choices for what seems like the billionth year in a row, only furthering the unfounded belief that the entire Patriots organization takes Thursdays off.

Alongside New England, there was a trio of other coaches and general managers doing their best Belichick impersonation. The San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals all have multiple Round 2 picks, having acquired them prior to or on Thursday night. 

With that in mind, here is a complete blueprint of what teams with multiple second-round picks should do on Friday. 

Selections are courtesy of NFL.com. 

San Francisco 49ers (Nos. 34 and 61)

Equipped with a king's ransom of picks prior to the draft, the 49ers did what many expected and traded up to nab their top target. Acquiring the No. 18 in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco gave up the No. 31 and No. 74 picks, according to ESPN's Mike Sando:

With Florida defensive tackle prospect Sharrif Floyd sliding deep down the draft and the 49ers having a need for depth along the defensive line, most assumed he was the target. And like many of the preconceived notions heading into Thursday night, the 49ers flipped the Floyd storyline on its head. 

Jim Harbaugh instead went with LSU safety Eric Reid, a guy some had pegged going to San Francisco at No. 31. The loss of Dashon Goldson created a long-term need at the safety position, which Reid may be able to fill starting Week 1. Though the team signed Craig Dahl to be a stopgap while it figured out its safety spot—and he still will likely be a contributor in 2013—it's apparent that Reid's combination of size, hard-hitting ability and aggressiveness made him too attractive for 49ers brass to pass up.

While getting Reid was important, there was a secondary factor in the 49ers making that particular trade: They didn't have to give up either of their second-round picks. Though San Francisco isn't a team with many needs, it could fill the raisin-sized ones the team does have—especially with the No. 34 pick.

Early second-rounders are among the most valuable picks in the entire draft. Not only do contract lengths and guarantees plummet, but the talent pool is virtually unchanged. The first five to seven picks in the second round are essentially first-round freebies, which has been exemplified over time by how highly Belichick covets them.

With guys like Alabama defensive tackle Jesse Williams, SMU defensive end Margus Hunt and California wide receiver Keenan Allen still on the board, the 49ers look like they’ll be making a first-round-level splash early on Friday. 

Buffalo Bills (Nos. 41 and 46)

Whether you agree with their decision or not, the Bills landed who they think will be their quarterback of the future in EJ Manuel at No. 16. The Florida State product was largely expected to be the fourth signal-caller taken this year behind Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib, but was taken by Buffalo in a move that stunned many at Radio City Music Hall.

Buffalo was able to take Manuel at No. 16 because it moved back in a trade with the St. Louis Rams. In a complex trade that saw the Rams select West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin, the Bills acquired the No. 46 overall pick along with the rights to swap picks in the third round, per NFL.com's Albert Breer:

Manuel spent two years as a full-time starter in Tallahassee, amassing 3,392 yards and 23 touchdowns against 10 touchdowns last season en route to an Orange Bowl victory. Standing 6'5" and weighing 237 pounds, Manuel is a sturdy signal-caller with a rocket for an arm and some underrated mobility in the pocket. 

With the former Seminole in place, Buffalo has to do what every team drafting a quarterback does: surround him with talent. Luckily they already have running back C.J. Spiller in place, who many think will emerge as the top back in the league in 2013. A speedster who absolutely dominated while sharing carries with Fred Jackson last season, Spiller has all the makings of a 1,500-yard rusher.

The remainder of the offense is what will need some work. Star guard Andy Levitre departed for the Titans in the offseason, leaving a gaping hole that's begging to be filled by a draftee. There are plenty of second-round guards who should be lingering with either selection, and guard historically produces late-round talent.

On the other hand, the Bills are completely without talent at receiver other than Stevie Johnson. Many had pegged them as possible Austin bait prior to the draft, noting his playmaking skills would provide a massive upgrade.

Without Austin in tow, Buffalo’s second-round strategy will be to wait and hope. Allen is a perfect fit for what the Bills need alongside Johnson at receiver, and Baylor’s Terrance Williams and Tennessee’s Justin Hunter are other attractive options. 

Second-round receivers are historically hit-or-miss commodities, but it’s a chance the Bills will have to take to surround Manuel with top-flight talent. 

Cincinnati Bengals (Nos. 37 and 53)

Historically, criticism about luxury picks only subsides for Super Bowl contenders. Teams like the 49ers and Ravens can take advantage of too-good-to-be-true value because their needs are usually negligible, and who are we to criticize conference champion types. 

Taking former Notre Dame star Tyler Eifert wasn't necessarily a luxury pick—incumbent Jermaine Gresham is about league-average at the position—tight end wasn't anywhere near the top of need positions for the Bengals, either. Their needs at linebacker, running back and safety were far more glaring, leaving many to question Cincinnati's thought process in pushing the two tight end initiative.

Luckily, the Bengals get a complete pass for grabbing Eifert for one reason: They have two second-round picks. With No. 37, a pick nabbed from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade that just keeps on giving, the Bengals can easily draft the next member of their secondary or linebacking corps with a coveted early second-rounder. 

The most obvious name on the board is Manti Te’o. A Heisman runner-up in 2012, Te’o’s draft process became better known for his off-the-field drama than his accomplishments on the field. Though talk of that subsided, and real concerns about Te’o’s speed are likely the reason he went unselected in the first round, he represents a huge value if the Bengals can get him at No. 37. 

Elsewhere, it’s imperative to the Bengals offense they land a running back of the future on Friday. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was a solid stopgap solution in 2012 and would serve similarly if Cincinnati kept him in that role next season, yet the glass ceiling on this team has a ton to do with its lack of explosion.

Outside of A.J. Green, the Bengals offense is mostly fangless downfield. Adding Eifert is one way to stretch the defense in the seams, and he should give Cincy one of the best duos of pass-catchers in the league at tight end. But without a running back who can bust open a long touchdown, opposing defenses can continue to key on Green while worrying little abut Green-Ellis outside of obvious run downs. 

New England Patriots (Nos. 52 and 59)

With their need for a downfield playmaker to go alongside offseason signee Danny Amendola, the draft board seemingly played right into New England’s hands. Tennessee’s Cordarrelle Patterson, though raw, has the type of straight-line speed and athleticism that could make him a star with Tom Brady throwing the ball.

And with other potential need-fillers also falling to No. 29, it looked like New England would stand pat with its first-round pick this season. That, of course, was until the Minnesota Vikings came calling.

Seeing the value of Patterson on the board and their need for a receiver, the Vikings unloaded a Godfather offer at Belichick’s feet. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Minnesota sent picks in the second, third, fourth and seventh rounds for the Patriots’ No. 29 overall pick:

Knowing the Patriots, it likely took them all of about 0.2 seconds to pull the trigger. Now equipped with their yearly feast of potential future stars, the lingering question for New England is the same as it is every year: What comes next?

The trio of receivers mentioned in the Bills’ section should all be considered, though Allen almost certainly won’t be available. Hunter and Williams are more likely to be on the board at No. 52, though anything can happen in 20-plus picks—as we saw Thursday night.

Even if all three of those players are off the board, receiver is a necessity for Belichick on Friday. Both of Tom Brady’s starting targets have departed from last season’s squad. Wes Welker has been replaced by Danny Amendola, and although Brandon Lloyd disappointed, defenses still had to account for him down the field. 

There is no downfield threat on the current 2013 Patriots roster. And with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez quickly piling up injuries in their young career, going without a deep threat isn’t an option for New England next season.

Whether it’s drafting a youngster or finding an unforeseen trade on the open market, the Patriots’ draft needs to start with a receiver. 

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