Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, 16 different players selected in the second round of the draft are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When the second round begins, it’s a highly attractive place for teams to be, because there’s still first-round talent out there, without the inevitable first-round contracts. From Jack Lambert to Howie Long to Brian Dawkins to Thurman Thomas to Brett Favre, it’s safe to say that getting a player in the second round is not a barrier to greatness.
So, a word of encouragement for all you second-rounders in the 2021 NFL draft: Just because the NFL decided you weren’t a first-round talent, doesn’t mean you can’t have a first-round — or even a Hall of Fame — impact at the professional. Here are the second-round picks in 2021 that we think could pop right off once the season begins.