The 2016 NFL Draft - Rounds Two & Three - What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One thing that I have always loved about the NFL Draft is that every single day of this event, is just as exciting as the first. There's always an incredible story or twist to keep the fans engaged and day two of this year's draft proved that point right once again. It was an evening filled to the brim with surprises and stories and here are some of the best ones from Rounds Two and Three of the NFL Draft.

Day Two of the Draft was all about Defense.
Defense wins championships. It's a phrase that rings true, even this past year and clearly the rest of the league gets that message as well. Because while a few offensive players went here and there during Rounds Two and Three, the majority of players picked were on the defensive side of the ball and it was simply incredible to watch so many linemen, linebackers and cornerbacks disappear off the board in succession. Even the defending champions picked up two defensive players to reload some of their free agency losses and one has to wonder if this trend will continue for the final day of the draft.  

Myles Jack finally found a home in Jacksonville. 
It was a tough first night for Linebacker Myles Jack. Once considered to be a top ten prospect, in fact I saw several Mock Drafts attach his name to the New York Giants at number 10; Myles went into free fall mode, never once hearing his name called in the first round. It cannot be easy for any player to see their draft stock diminish like that but Myles was well aware concerns about his knee came into play but he handled it all with class and grace and finally heard his name called at 36th Overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It may have helped that news broke earlier in the day that his knee wouldn't require microfracture surgery, but in the end all that matters is that the talented Myles Jack finally found himself a home in Jacksonville.

How far will Connor Cook continue to slide?
Speaking of players whose draft stock is falling, Connor Cook continues to find himself waiting for a phone call from an NFL team and well, it has to be a little concerning for him now. After all, there are some seriously QB needy teams out there, yet no one has bothered to call the young man and welcome him to their team with open arms. There have been grave concerns about his character throughout the pre draft process and it's clear those concerns are being exercised by teams that scouted him. It's hard to say exactly how far Connor will continue to fall in the draft but if he doesn't find himself going to a team by the fifth round...there is a chance he could go un-drafted and that would be quite the drop for a QB who was once considered to be a potential first round pick.

What happens to Ryan Fitzpatrick now that the Jets drafted a QB?
The Jets and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick have been playing a game of contract chess all offseason long and well, the Jets may have just reached checkmate at last by drafting Christian Hackenberg last night. Hackenberg may not be ready to go as a day one starter, but his selection speaks volumes to the fact that New York is tired of playing the waiting game with Fitzpatrick. There is still talk that this could somehow open a window for Fitzpatrick to return to the Jets on a one year deal, but I think they're ready to move on and start over rather than overpaying their former starter. The bigger question going forward for the Jets right now...is who will start under center come September and don't be surprised if it turns out to be either Bryce Petty or the relatively unpolished Hackenberg.

The Tennessee Titans are quickly putting together one quality team.
Let's be honest. The Titans are a team that most of the league has forgotten about until the last couple of years. They haven't had a stout defense in ages. Their run game disappeared right after Chris Johnson broke 2,000 yards and their newly minted franchise quarterback missed a couple of games due to injury after taking a beating thanks to a porous offensive line. The good news is however, Tennessee actually recognizes these issues and they are quickly reloading the roster to address them. In the past two days, they've picked up a new Tackle in Jack Conklin to protect Mariota; added a Safety, DE and DT as well to strengthen the defense and to top it off...they snagged Heisman Trophy winning running back Derrick Henry to compliment DeMarco Murray in the run game. These are some impressive moves to say the least and if these young men are coached just right...the Titans and their fans may be in for one incredible season.

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