2021 NFL Draft: Recap and analysis of every pick for all 32 teams
The 2021 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and although every draft has its own twists and turns, this has got to be one of the wildest draft weekends we have seen in quite some time.
Between the draft itself and rumors about Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, and so much else going on in the league, this was an absolute blast to cover and watch unfold.
We’re here to analyze every selection for every team around the league, starting with the team that opened the draft with a no-brainer.
Scouting Report. AFC South. player. 52. Pick Analysis. . Jacksonville Jaguars. 1
1 (1): Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The Jacksonville Jaguars will rightly expect Lawrence to be a guy who completely turns the franchise around. He’s got a little bit of Peyton Manning to him, at least from the outside looking in, but he’s a better all-around athlete than Manning.
As pro-readiness goes, they don’t get much better than Lawrence.
1 (25): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Not everyone is on-brand for running backs in round one, but the Jaguars saw a unique opportunity to pair up Lawrence with a guy he already has chemistry with in Travis Etienne. While James Robinson was solid as a rookie, Etienne gives you home run speed and a playmaker in the passing game.
2 (33): Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
As raw as he is, Tyson Campbell gives the Jaguars another young cornerback with size and length who can play press-man. You go out and get CJ Henderson in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, sign Shaquill Griffin in free agency, now draft Campbell? The Jaguars have something cooking in the secondary, at least talent-wise.
2 (45): Walker Little, OT, Stanford
For the price they paid, this was probably the weirdest risk the Jaguars took in their entire draft class. Walker Little hasn’t played since the Stanford 2019 season opener. Now he’ll be tasked with being Trevor Lawrence’s blindside blocker. He doesn’t have to be pressed into work, but how much more time off can this guy afford?
3 (65): Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
The Jaguars needed help at the safety position, and Cisco is a guy who made a ton of plays (13 interceptions in 22 starts) on the ball. He’s going to be counted on to play in a young, talented secondary very early on.
4 (106): Jay Tufele, DL, USC
Although the potential to be a consistent pass rusher is there, Jay Tufele’s greatest asset to the Jacksonville Jaguars early on will be on run defense. He’s powerful and stout at the point of attack. I think the Jaguars got him at least one round later than he should have been drafted.
4 (121): Jordan Smith, EDGE, UAB
Smith was impressive at the 2021 Senior Bowl which came as no surprise given the way he played in his time with UAB. He was dismissed by Florida once upon a time because of his involvement in a credit card scandal, but he appears to have cleaned things up off the field and brings intriguing size and quickness off the edge for the Jaguars.
5 (145): Luke Farrell, TE, Ohio State
Finally, the Urban Meyer/Ohio State connection comes into play. Farrell is a blocking tight end who will have to prove himself in that regard early on to stick on this roster beyond his rookie deal.
6 (209): Jalen Camp, WR, Georgia Tech
Jalen Camp is an athletic and physical freak at 6-foot-2, 226 pounds who runs a 4.45, threw up 29 bench press reps at 225 pounds, and had a 39.5-inch vertical jump. Coming from Georgia Tech, you know this kid’s going to be able to block.