NFL Draft: 5 second round selections that can blossom into Pro Bowlers

Round 1 picks get all the glory in the NFL Draft, but the best franchises have the ability to turn Round 2 picks into perennial Pro Bowlers. 

NFL fans spend hours going over the pros and cons of every first round pick in the draft. The smartest front offices spend at least as much time investigating what to do in Round 2. Every year there are perennial Pro Bowlers to be found on Day Two of the NFL Draft.

This year is no different. If your favorite team snags one of the following five prospects then you should be celebrating. Each guy on this list has a minor flaw that kept him out of Round 1, but if they land in the right situation they should develop into legitimate NFL stars.

5. Zack Baun

Baun isn’t a perfect fit for every scheme since he’s slightly undersized to play at outside linebacker in a typical 4-3 alignment. The best case scenario for the former Wisconsin star is to land on a team that plays a base 3-4 alignment.

Even if that doesn’t happen, Baun has the versatility to stand out on passing downs. His bread and butter is his ability to crash down from the edge and get to the quarterback. He may never be a double-digit sack guy in the NFL, but grabbing eight or so sacks per season from your outside linebacker is excellent production.

The added bonus in Baun’s game is that he’s agile enough to cover tight ends as well. His pass coverage technique needs some refinement, but he’s got the natural athleticism to hold up in short to medium coverage. Linebackers that can stay on the field for all three downs are a prized commodity in the modern NFL.

It might take Baun a little while to get going in his rookie season, but he’s got a chance to develop into the best linebacker in this draft class. A savvy team with postseason ambitions should snap him up on Day Two.