2021 NFL Draft: Grading all 32 first-round selections
Ohio State. Justin Fields. 11. QB. player. 57. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 NFL Draft Grade: A+
This pick may have saved the Chicago Bears. This franchise appeared to be going nowhere but with one aggressive move up the board, the Bears are suddenly relevant. Giving up their 2022 first-round pick in order to get in this position is tough, but Justin Fields will be worth it.
Fields simply should not have been available in this range and the Bears deserve a ton of credit for realizing that and making the move to get him. Fields is an extremely talented player who displays impressive arm strength and pinpoint accuracy to all levels of the field. He is also a dynamic dual-threat prospect who can make plays with his legs. Make no mistake about it, the Chicago Bears nailed this pick.
LB. 12. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Penn State. Micah Parsons. 123
2021 NFL Draft Grade: C+
The Dallas Cowboys kind of felt stuck. Everybody knew that they wanted a defender, but the two cornerbacks going eight and nine left them in a tough spot. They did a nice job of trading down for a bit of extra value and Micah Parsons is a good football player, but his limited ability in coverage makes him a reach here. Parsons will be good for Dallas but an off-ball linebacker who does not show good instincts in coverage only has so much value in the modern NFL.
13. Northwestern. Rashawn Slater. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. 13
2021 NFL Draft Grade: A
This board fell perfectly for the Los Angeles Chargers as they simply sit back and take one of the best offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Rashawn Slater is an athletic and tenacious offensive tackle prospect who the Chargers hope can protect the blindside of Justin Herbert for many years. The Chargers have significantly improved their offensive line this offseason and Slater is the perfect final piece of the puzzle.
Scouting Report. Alijah Vera-Tucker. 14. player. Pick Analysis. IOL. USC. 30
2021 NFL Draft Grade: B
The New York Jets sensed an opportunity to help their new franchise quarterback and they attacked. Alijah Vera-Tucker is the best interior offensive lineman in this class and sticking him at left guard next to Mekhi Becton gives the Jets a fantastic left side of the offensive line that should be great for many years. That being said, trading aggressively up the board for a guard can be a tough move to get behind. Vera-Tucker is a great player but it is fair to question this move.
Mac Jones. 15. 47. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Alabama. QB. player
2021 NFL Draft Grade: C-
I am just not much of a Mac Jones. He is a smart and accurate passer who will be able to play well within the structure of the New England Patriots offense, but his ceiling is extremely limited. Jones needs a ton of talent around him to be successful at the next level and the Patriots just really do not have that kind of talent on the roster.
They needed a quarterback and Jones is a solid player, but this just feels like a move that will keep the Pats in mediocrity for the foreseeable future. They will continue to be a fringe playoff team and are unlikely to make any sort of deep run with Jones under center. The Patriots missed an opportunity when they allowed the Bears to trade above them and snag Fields.