Day 2 at the NFL Draft

NEW YORK -- Just arrived back at Radio City Music Hall for the second day of the NFL Draft, and let's just say there's a little more room to spread out today. The NFL says nearly 750 members of the media showed up to cover Day 1, but looking around this room now I think we'd struggle to get near 75. Maybe everybody's sleeping in. Or maybe people don't actually come and cover Day 2, and I'm in the wrong place. Hey, we're learning.

Regardless, there are a couple of things worth mentioning here in the moments before the third round begins. The Jets need somebody for Mark Sanchez to throw to. The Lions need people who can stop the other team from scoring and get Matt Stafford and Brandon Pettigrew on the field. And a number of folks seem to have the wrong idea about the way I feel about the Patriots. So let's look ahead and clear a couple of things up with four Day 2 Questions.

1. Can the Jets give their fans a big second day to go with their big first day?

The news that the Jets tried to trade back into the first round to take Percy Harvin indicates that they're aware of a lingering weakness at wide receiver. A person with knowledge of their plans told me this morning that the Jets are very interested in talking with the Arizona Cardinals about Anquan Boldin, assuming that Arizona is now focused on getting 2010 draft picks in exchange for him. (You know, now that all the good 2009 picks are gone.) The best available receivers left in this draft are guys like Penn State's Derrick Williams, North Carolina's Brandon Tate and Oklahoma's Joaquin Iglesias, none of whom would stand out much against the Jets' current WR crop. At minicamp a couple of weeks ago, the Jets were talking up David Clowney, the speedy 2007 Packers fifth-rounder who never could get a look from Eric Mangini. Of course, they were also saying they liked the quarterbacks they had, and how'd that work out?

2. Have the Lions already agreed to terms with their third-round pick?

No, the Lions are on the clock, but this isn't like yesterday, when they'd already signed Stafford before taking him No. 1 overall. Lions fans this day to be about defense, with needs remaining at linebacker and on the defensive line. Look for guys like Lawrence Sidbury (DE, Richmond), Jasper Brinkley (LB, South Carolina) and Michael Johnson (DE, Georgia Tech). And don't be surprised if they go offensive line sometime today either, maybe right away with somebody like South Carolina's Jamon Meredith.

3. Are there any USC linebackers yet to be drafted?

Yes, actually. Sanchez was talking up Kaluka Maiava the other night in an interview at the EA Sports party, and Maiava is likely to be picked sometime today, joining USC linebackers Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Rey Maualuga, who were taken yesterday, in the pros. And Kevin Ellison is another Trojan linebacker who could get picked.

4. Do I hate the Patriots?

No, commenters. I do not. I actually liked what New England did yesterday, amassing middle-round picks in a draft that wasn't overloaded with first-round stars. I think Bill Belichick is the best there is, period, and I agree that his track record backs that up. What I don't love are the decisions made by the Belichick spin-offs in Kansas City and Denver handled the first day. In particular, new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels has looked to be waaaay over his head since landing that job. He might turn out to be smarter than everybody else, but until you've proven that (see: Belichick), it doesn't do you a lot of good to act like it.