NFL Draft Round 2 Prospects Who Will Provide First-Round Value

As is always the case in the NFL draft, there are plenty of intriguing prospects remaining on the board in the aftermath of the first round. It can be argued that there is more value to be had in the second round than in the first, so teams will have plenty of opportunities to better themselves even more.

Big-name players like Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Manti Te'o escaped the first round, and while all of them have the potential to be great NFL players, there are other guys out there who can make a more immediate and lasting impact. There are starters to be had in the second round and that will be apparent over the course of the 2013 season.

Here are three prospects who managed to slip through the cracks, but will ultimately provide first-round value as second-round selections.

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

No running backs were taken in the first round, and while that shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise due to the increased importance of passing in the NFL today, it is a rare occurrence. There are definitely teams out there in need of a running back, though, so a few should come off the board in the second. The best among them is Alabama back Eddie Lacy, who has all the skills necessary to produce at the next level.

Alabama seems to churn out high-quality running backs on a yearly basis and Lacy is the latest to join that group. Lacy broke out in a major way last season, which was his first full year as a starter. Lacy rushed for over 1,300 yards and scored 19 total touchdowns for the Crimson Tide en route to a national championship. A big reason for that was his 5'10" and 220-lb. frame, which allowed him to bowl over defenders and run past them as well.

Some of the teams that are potentially looking for a running back in the second round are the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Green Bay Packers. Lacy could start for any of them from day one and he would almost certainly put up solid numbers. Teams may not invest as highly in running backs these days, but they are still an integral part of NFL offenses.

Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford

Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert was the only tight end to be selected in the first round on Thursday night, and while there is little doubt that he is the best prospect in this year's class at his position, Zach Ertz of Stanford isn't too far behind. He figures to be taken at some point in the second round, and although there doesn't appear to be many teams actively seeking tight ends in this draft, he can be a luxury pick that someone won't be able to pass up.

Ertz didn't break out until the 2012 season as he was buried on the depth chart in previous years. Coby Fleener made the jump to the NFL last year, though, so Ertz got his time to shine. Despite the fact that quarterback Andrew Luck was no longer in the fold, Ertz put up monster numbers. He grabbed 69 passes for 898 yards and six touchdowns on the season. That included 11 catches for 106 yards and a score as Stanford gave Oregon its only loss.

Ertz is a dual-threat tight end as he can run effective routes and catch passes while also being an effective blocker. A few teams are running potent two-tight-end offenses in the NFL right now, so Ertz should be a very attractive option. There are probably at least 10 teams who would love to have him in the second round, so he won't last too long and he'll make whichever team picks him very happy.

Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

Three safeties were taken in the first round of the NFL draft as Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid and Matt Elam flew off the board, but Florida International safety Jonathan Cyprien was passed over. Cyprien is easily the best safety remaining, though, and there are quite a few teams who can stand to fortify their last line of defense. Cyprien didn't exactly play against a high level of competition in college, but his resume speaks for itself.

Cyprien started 45 games during his four years at FIU, including every contest in each of his final three seasons. Cyprien truly stepped up as a senior as he racked up 93 tackles and four interceptions. Cyprien is rare in that he is equally adept at laying the big hit and helping in run coverage as he is playing center field and making plays on the ball. That type of versatility is something that NFL teams covet, especially with so many complicated offenses in use.

Teams need their safeties to cover wide receivers and tight ends, and they need them to play in the box. Cyprien can do all of that, so he won't have to wait long to hear his name called in the first round. The Cincinnati Bengals seem like an ideal fit if they pass up Lacy as they desperately need some help at safety. Regardless of where Cyprien ends up, though, he should be a very productive player.

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