NFL Draft 2011, Second Round: Pick Updates And Player Information

With the 62nd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins have picked Daniel Thomas, a running back from Kansas State. Thomas has great size for a running back, and takes contact well, but lacks top-line speed and prefers to run through defenders rather than run around them.

The Dolphins now have a running back to plug in behind first round pick Mike Pouncey, while the Redskins have done well for themselves by trading down three times in this draft and amassing 13 picks.

The second round of the 2011 NFL draft is underway. Day two of the draft will feature the second round with seven minutes between each pick and the third round with five minutes between each pick. Make sure you check out our recap of the first round draft picks, the updated NFL draft orderr and our second round mock draft. SB Nation’s NFL draft hub and Mocking The Draft will have all NFL draft updates.

With the 56th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots picked Shane Vereen, a running back from California. Vereen lacks great size, but makes up for it with exceptional agility in the open field and speed to break long plays.

The Patriots previously chose offensive tackle Nate Solder in the first round and Ras-I Dowling, a cornerback from Virginia, with the first pick of the second round.

The Eagles have now shored up the offensive line with first round pick G Danny Watkins and the defense with Jarrett in the second round.

For more on the Eagles draft, check out Bleeding Green Nation.

With the 53rd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Stephen Paea, a defensive tackle from Oregon State. Paea has a small frame, but makes up for it with excellent strength, and should bolster an aging Bears line.

The Bears traded up with the Washington Redskins to add to a draft haul that already included Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi.

With the 52nd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Marvin Austin, a defensive tackle from North Carolina. Austin was a bit of an enigma and spent the entire 2010 season on the sidelines after a run-in with an agent led to the NCAA declaring him ineligible. On the field, there’s no denying his talent and many thought he was a late-first round prospect because of it.

At 6-foot-1, 309 pounds, Austin is another big body in the middle for the Giants. But his athleticism is outstanding for his, as evidenced by his sub-5.0 second 40. Despite sitting the whole year out, he answered the question marks about how it would affect his game at the East-West Shrine Game, performing well against some of the nation’s best talent.

Bowers has knee injuries that has scared some teams off. According to some reports, multiple teams took Bowers off their board because of the knee problems.

If healthy, though, Bowers is a candidate to be the steal of the draft. He has undeniable talent and great production so this is a pick to keep your eye on.

With the 44rd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions picked Titus Young, a wide receiver from Boise State. Young is quick, and as good a prospect at the slot receiver position as this draft class offered; he should give Matthew Stafford a playmaker and a deep threat.

Young joins first round pick Nick Fairley in Detroit. The Lions have been solidifying their defense under Jim Schwartz, but picking both Fairley and Young shows that Detroit is looking to add talent to a roster that had lacked it for so long.

With the 41st pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins picked Jarvis Jenkins, a defensive tackle from Clemson. Jenkins made his bones as a standout at the Senior Bowl, but it’s still somewhat of a shock to see him going before Clemson teammate Da’Quan Bowers.

The Redskins choosing Jenkins after taking Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan in the first round certainly provides depth behind Albert Haynesworth, who may not be long for the team.

With the 40th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Bruce Carter, a linebacker from North Carolina. While many thought Brooks Reed may be the pick here, Jerry Jones and company went with a different linebacker, choosing Carter, a speedster with some health concerns. Carter tore his ACL in 2010, dropping him into the second round because of his concerns.

The Cowboys took Tyron Smith, a beastly offensive tackle from USC, with their first round pick, but changed it up and went with defense in the second round. At 6-foot-2, 240, Carter turned in a blazing 40-time and was a solid contributor on special teams, blocking eight kicks during his time at North Carolina.

With the 39th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans selected LB Akeem Ayers out of UCLA. The Titans found their quarterback in round one with QB Jake Locker so they can focus on defense with Ayers.

Ayers’ knock was that he was a little slow but he made a good point in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft that you aren’t running 40-yard dashes in games. He can play on the inside or outside so he offers the Titans some flexibility.

With the 38th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals picked Ryan Williams, a running back from Arizona.

Williams is a workhorse in a smaller back’s body: he has the skills to make moves in the open field, but does not shy away from contact. Consistent struggles with injury at Virginia Tech and Williams’ relative youth — he was a redshirt sophomore in the 2010 season &mdash might work against him.

With the 37th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Jabaal Sheard , a defensive end from Pittsburgh. The Browns have went with two defensive linemen so far, selecting space-eating tackle Phil Taylor in the first round and Sheard, a rush end, in the second. Sheard has the size -- 6-foot-3, 264 pounds -- and athleticism to be a disruptive force and should immediately bolster the line alongside Taylor.

The Browns are in the midst of a transition on the defensive side of the ball and it’s clear where the emphasis lies. With any scheme-change comes the need to draft to fit the need and the Browns are addressing that in the 2011 NFL Draft

The Patriots picked OT Nate Solder in round one and, with Dowling in round two, have yet to address pass rusher, which many thought was their biggest need.

Check out Pats Pulpit for more on the Patriots draft plans.