Who was the best value pick in round two of the 2021 NFL Draft?

There were some interesting picks in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Here’s who could prove to be the best value of them all. 

The NFL Draft is always full of surprises and nothing ever seems to go according to how the script. For months prior to the draft, the NFL analysts give their insight on the players they believe should be taken, but there are always a few surprises that go much earlier than expected.

Thanks to some of these players rising and becoming first-round picks, there are several former first-round prospects who get pushed back to the second round. Obviously, we won’t be able to get a clear depiction of winners and losers from the 2021 NFL Draft until a few years down the road, but after devoting much of January through April to watching game film, I’ve got a good idea of the players who might become the best value picks.

For this piece, I want to concentrate specifically on round two. While most of the blue-chip players are found in the first round, round two can produce star talent. We saw this in recent years with players like A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf – both ironically coming from the same school.

While some second-round picks in the NFL Draft this year left me scratching my head, others sent me into a fit of jealously due to the extraordinary value their respective teams received.

Who was the best value pick of the second round

Though all of my true first-round grades were gone prior to the second round of the draft, several players that I had 1-2 grades slipped down into the 30s and 40s. I was very high on several names like Landon Dickerson, Creed Humphry, Elijah Moore, and Trevon Moehrig. However, the player I believed presented the best value in the second round this year was former Notre Dame linebacker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (or J.O.K.) was a phenomenal player in college. As a linebacker in college, his ability to accelerate and track down the ball carrier was top-notch and he could come downhill and pack a puch. However, I was most impressed by his coverage ability on film.

Though listed as a linebacker, J.O.K. moved like a cornerback at times. Despite being 6’1 1/2” and 221 pounds, his hip fluidity was tremendous and he had an innate ability to hip and mirror wide receivers and tight ends.

After getting a quality cornerback prospect in the first round in Northwestern’s Greg Newsome, the Cleveland Browns stole Owusu-Koramoah with the 52nd overall pick in round two. This is a great fit for both parties.

The Browns are a team that has clearly been on the rise, and some would argue that they might have the most talented roster in the NFL on paper. Thanks to an impressive defensive front headlined by Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Myles Garrett, J.O.K. should have some quick and easy paths to the ball this year, and I fully expect him to capitalize.

There are some concerns about Owusu-Koramoah’s healthy (which could have been why he slipped in the draft this year, but if he can stay on the field, he could easily prove to be the best value pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.