With no free agency, every team should help themselves in some way or another with this year's NFL Draft. However, some teams rose above in Round Two and helped themselves more than the rest. Here are the winners at first glance:
1. Buffalo Bills - A team that seemed on the brink of several "upsets" last year, including one nail-biter against the Chiefs, has picked as well as any team can with their first two choices. After grabbing defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to serve as a cornerstone of their defense for the next decade, the Bills grab Texas defensive back Aaron Williams to move all over in coverage. He has strong experience at corner, but his overly aggressive nature will serve him well at safety. Strong against the run, the Bills secondary just got a lot tougher.
2. Cincinnati Bengals - Whether or not you believe that TCU's Andy Dalton can be a successful quarterback, you can't deny the beauty of the chips falling right into the Bengals lap. Handcuffed to a draft plan to salvage their offense after Carson Palmer's threat to retire if not traded, the Bengals have to not only have a quarterback contingency but also finally move on from their diva circus at wide receiver. Round one brought all-world wideout A.J. Green and now Dalton is the heir apparent to Palmer. Time will tell what wounds will heal and what scars remain, but Cincy had to have things fall a very particular way and they did just that on Saturday.
3. Minnesota Vikings - See above when it comes to the Vikes first round choice of Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, but credit the Vikings for doing what it takes to surround him with what he will need at the next level. Holes remain on the offensive line, but Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph gives Ponder another weapon to go alongside a strong running game and wideouts like Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin. He's the top TE available and Minnesota pounced on a good value.
4. Indianapolis Colts - A sieve of an offensive line last year made Peyton Manning look human and the Colts rather beatable. Not anymore. Two rounds, two offensive bookends. This round, the prize is Villanova's Ben Ijalana who could actually become the left tackle instead of first rounder Anthony Costanzo. His size (6-4, 317) and physical strength and quickness will make him a quick study at the NFL level, even for a small school prospect. Some project him at guard, but either way, Manning is standing upright this season.
5. Detroit Lions - After adding Nick Fairley in the first round, the Lions continued to thrive in round two with the offensive additions of playmakers Titus Young at wide receiver and Mikel Leshoure at running back. Even after taking Jahvid Best last season, Leshoure brings the bruiser to go with his agility and makes the Lions offensive backfield a major strength. Young stretches the defense even further and opens up the offense for Matthew Stafford, if he can only stay healthy.
Filed under: