Champions aren’t made in the first round of the NFL Draft. They’re made by gleaning value on Days 2 and 3 and finding the franchise cornerstones other teams missed.
There have been several example of overlooked prospects playing massive roles on Super Bowl teams. The Patriots and Buccaneers combined for seven world titles thanks to the 199th pick of the 2000 draft. The Chiefs became AFC title game mainstays behind an offense whose top two targets were a third-round tight end and a fifth-round wideout. The Eagles won Super Bowl 52 in a game where their top receiver by yardage and top running back both went undrafted (Corey Clement, LeGarrette Blount), and the quarterback who was named MVP was the seventh passer selected in his class (Nick Foles).
History has been kind to teams that do their homework in the late rounds and amassed draft capital to add bargain bin players. 2022 will deliver more of the same. This year’s class is loaded with talented prospects from blue blood programs and rising small schools alike.
Here are the guys I like most who’ll be available starting on Day 2 and possibly even when the 2022 NFL Draft is officially over.
