Teams focus on defense in Round 2 of NFL draft, but the Steelers go WR, QB on Day 2
Defense was the priority in the second round of the NFL draft.
It was not for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Day 2.
Twenty-two of the 32 picks were defensive players, and the Philadelphia Eagles acquired 2024 Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from Minnesota on Friday night.
After losing Makai Lemon to the Eagles on Thursday night, the hometown Steelers got their wide receiver, taking Alabama’s Germie Bernard 47th. They then took Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round at No. 76 overall.
Thousands of fans, many wearing yellow-and-black and waving Terrible Towels, watched various former players announce the selections. They booed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when he walked on stage.
Bernard was a two-year starter at Alabama and had 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler described him as “well-rounded, pro-ready skill set, with the frame, ball skills and smoother athleticism to be a dependable target. He projects as a starting Z receiver and as an NFL team’s second or third option.”
Allar, a three-year starter at Penn State, once looked like a future first-round pick but fell after a disastrous season in Happy Valley that saw James Franklin fired midseason and Allar suffer a season-ending ankle injury six games into the season.
He completed 67% of his passes for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a junior, leading the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Per Brugler: “Allar is a sturdy, strong-armed passer with promising intangibles, but underdeveloped timing disrupts his ability to execute at a high level. He has NFL starting-caliber physical tools, although a lack of natural passing rhythm creates uncertainty about his developmental ceiling.”
The Steelers finally went defense at No. 85, taking Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette. The Athletic projects him to provide “immediate deptha nd bea player who pushes the starters.”
Pittsburgh traded up from No. 99 to 96 with Seattle to take Iowa guard Gennings Dunker.
Eight teams made their first selections of the draft after sitting out Round 1, with the 49ers kicking off the second day by taking Mississippi wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling. San Francisco traded down twice to end up with the 33rd pick.
The Bills, who traded back three times, ended up with an edge rusher, choosing Clemson's T.J. Parker at No. 35.
Two players who came to Pittsburgh but didn’t hear their names called Thursday went back-to-back at 36 and 37 on Friday. Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was selected by Houston and Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood went next to the New York Giants.
The Bengals strengthened their defense with their first pick of the draft, taking Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell at No. 41. Atlanta’s first pick was Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 48th pick. Green Bay also chose a cornerback with its first pick, taking South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse 52nd.
The Colts got Georgia linebacker CJ Allen at No. 53 after trading their first-rounder in a deal for Sauce Gardner last season.
Jacksonville’s first pick was Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.
The Broncos had to wait until the third round to make their first pick after trading No. 62 to Buffalo. Denver previously sent Miami its first rounder in a trade for wideout Jaylen Waddle.
The Super Bowl champion Seahawks closed out the second round by adding Texas Christian safety Bud Clark at No. 64.
No quarterbacks went in Round 2 but Arizona opened the third round by selecting Miami’s Carson Beck.
