When it comes to the NFL, many believe drafts are won and lost during the second day. I’m not one of those believers.
Stars have been discovered in the latter rounds of the NFL Draft—Tom Brady, Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe—but a team is defined by its success through the first two rounds of the process.
Exhibit A: the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals have selected 21 players in the first and second rounds from 1999-2008. Of those 21 selections, only Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson reached the Pro Bowl. That should give you an idea on how important the first day is.
Cincinnati bucked its trend on April 25 when the Bengals chose Alabama tackle Andre Smith with the No. 6 pick and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga in the second round. Both players should step right in and contribute in getting the Bengals back to respectability.
While the Oakland Raiders are hogging all the laughable news, Cincinnati is quietly putting together a solid roster.