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.
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.
1 (2): Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Zach Wilson replaces Sam Darnold as the New York Jets’ QB of the future. He’s got all the arm talent in the world and is an athletic playmaker who gives some Patrick Mahomes vibes with his ability to make throws regardless of the platform his feet are on. We’ll see how he handles the spotlight going from Provo to New York City.
1 (14): Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
I didn’t like the price the Jets paid to move up for Vera-Tucker, but if it helps them sleep better at night…Regardless of the price that was paid, Alijah Vera-Tucker is a good player who is going to slide in immediately at left guard next to Mekhi Becton. Already, Zach Wilson’s life should be a lot easier than Darnold’s was in terms of protection.
2 (34): Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
Many thought Moore was almost a consensus WR4 in this class with his strong hands, ability to play the slot, and vertical speed. The Jets got a steal here and pair him up with Corey Davis, Denzel Mims, and Jamison Crowder.
4 (107): Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina
I thought Carter was one of the top steals of the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has tremendous burst and with his one-cut abilities, he should be a great fit for this Jets offense. Get him running to that left side behind Becton and Vera-Tucker.
5 (146): Jamien Sherwood, DB, Auburn
Sherwood gives the Jets a guy who will contribute right away on special teams. Though he’s not a twitchy athlete he can play a box safety/dime linebacker role and read/react.
5 (154): Michael Carter II, DB, Duke
The second Michael Carter of this draft for the Jets gives them a nickel defensive back option and one with big-time speed and quickness. What Carter lacks in size, he makes up for with scrappiness, ball production, and special teams value.
5 (175): Jason Pinnock, CB, Pittsburgh
With 24 pass breakups over the past three seasons to go along with six interceptions, Pinnock has tremendous size and athleticism to go along with his production at Pitt. At this juncture of the draft, the Jets were clearly looking to take some shots on upside in the defensive backfield and they got three guys who could wind up playing vastly different roles for their secondary.
6 (186): Hamsah Nasirildeen, S/LB, Florida State
Although injury issues pushed him down the 2021 NFL Draft board, Hamsah Nasirildeen is a steal here for the Jets if he can get on the field.
This guy can play wherever you ask him to, and I’m sure the Jets and Robert Saleh envision him playing a Jaquiski Tartt type role for their defense as an optimistic projection.
6 (200): Brandin Echols, CB, Kentucky
Echols is raw but there was something in the water at Kentucky this year. Jamin Davis and Kelvin Joseph also killed their pro days, but Echols’ was some kind of sight to behold. He ran a 4.35 with a 42.5-inch vertical jump and a 6.84 in the three-cone drill. At 5-foot-10 and under 180 pounds, Echols will likely be a slot player for the Jets but he could get some work outside as well.
6 (207): Jonathan Marshall, DT, Arkansas
Any 310-pound players who can run 4.81 in the 40-yard dash with 36 bench press reps are worth taking a shot on late in the draft.
Jonathan Marshall was a captain for Arkansas and even though he’ll be 24 as a rookie, he has upside as an interior rusher at the next level.
1 (3): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
The 49ers kept it somewhat a mystery, but in the end, they went with pretty much everyone’s gut feeling after they made the blockbuster trade to move up. Trey Lance is going to be the most fascinating athlete to play in Kyle Shanahan’s offense since Robert Griffin III ran it with his father Mike in Washington years ago.
2 (48): Aaron Banks, OL, Notre Dame
This team needed help on the interior line, and Aaron Banks will help provide it. He was an All-American in 2020 and is absolutely massive. You typically see teams like San Francisco target lighter linemen, but Banks is a mauler at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds.
3 (88): Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State
San Francisco traded up to get Trey Sermon to fill their hole at running back. Sermon is an ideal type of player to pair up with Trey Lance with his combination of power and burst at the line of scrimmage. He can pass protect and be a solid outlet as a receiver.
3 (102): Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
Ambry Thomas will help the 49ers replenish some of their depth in the secondary after free agency, and I think he gives them a future top nickel corner. This is a great value beyond the top 100 picks.
5 (155): Jaylon Moore, OL, Western Michigan
You always love to see offenses based in a zone-blocking scheme take shots on talented linemen late, and that’s what the 49ers did here with Jaylon Moore. A converted tight end and defensive lineman, Moore progressed well and showed nicely as a pass protector. He is nice depth and upside and will get to learn from an all-timer in Trent Williams.
5 (172): Deommodore Lenoir, DB, Oregon
I liked Lenoir as one of the better tackling cornerbacks in this draft. He was more productive early on at Oregon but he’s been dependable as far as health goes and he will contribute right away on special teams. This is a good risk/reward proposition.
5 (180): Talanoa Hufanga, S, USC
If Hufanga learns how to play a little faster, he’s going to be a steal. He tested well at USC’s pro day but he didn’t show the same type of range at USC as you expect from someone who picked off four passes this past season. With four forced fumbles in the last two years as well as 13 tackles for loss, I think this guy will find his way in the NFL one way or another.
6 (194): Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana
Averaging over six yards per carry in four years at Louisiana, Mitchell showed impressive speed at his pro day with a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash. That kind of speed along with his 41 career touchdowns make him a really exciting late-round option with big upside for the 49ers, who are going to run the rock quite a bit with Trey Lance.
1 (4): Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
This was a no-brainer pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for the Atlanta Falcons. Pitts was the top non-quarterback on the board. The only bummer is — how long will he be on the same roster as Julio Jones? This pick is way more fun if the Falcons can keep the entirety of their offensive core intact.
There is no pass thrown Pitts’ way he won’t be favored to come down with.
2 (40): Richie Grant, S, UCF
Although he’s going to be 24 in his rookie season, the Falcons got arguably the best safety in this draft class here. Grant gets his hands on the football, and doesn’t make many mistakes out there. He committed just one penalty in over 2,300 snaps according to ESPN’s Jesse Palmer.
3 (68): Jalen Mayfield, OL, Michigan
Although raw as heck, Mayfield has shown some first-round type stuff on tape while at Michigan. There’s development needed here, but Mayfield in round three is a far better value at right tackle (or even guard) than many in a deep offensive line class.
4 (108): Darren Hall, CB, San Diego State
New Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees is going to require press-man abilities from day one and Darren Hall is a young player who can provide exactly that.
He is a good athlete at corner with below-average size and some nice production, including 31 pass breakups and six interceptions over his last three seasons.
4 (114): Drew Dalman, C, Stanford
In the days leading up to the Draft, rumors began emerging that NFL teams coveted Dalman. The Falcons managed to get him in the fourth round with a selection they acquired from the Denver Broncos trading back in the second. Dalman will be competing with 2020 third-rounder Matt Hennessey.
5 (148): Ta’Quon Graham, DL, Texas
Team captain at Texas with long 35-inch arms, tremendous upper-body strength, and quickness off the ball. He needs to be more consistent as a pass rusher but there’s upside here, no question.
5 (182): Adetokunbo Ogundeji, EDGE, Notre Dame
Ogundeji is a big body off the edge who could play standing up or as a down lineman. He has strong hands and long limbs. I really like his upside as a three-down defender in the NFL.
5 (183): Avery Williams, CB, Boise State
They don’t get much better than Avery Williams on special teams. Although he’s a small defensive back, he was productive for the Broncos, taking back 9 total returns (five punt returns, three kick returns, and a blocked punt) for touchdowns. He had five kick blocks in his years at Boise State and is an absolute star in that phase of the game.
6 (187): Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State
You’ve got to look back at Darby’s tape in 2019 to be excited for this pick. He’s a great deep threat on the outside with an average of nearly 20 yards per reception when he was playing in tandem with Brandon Aiyuk.
Team captain who will bring a great presence to the Falcons’ locker room.
1 (5): Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
The Bengals reunite Chase with his former college QB. AJ Green left in free agency and the Bengals wanted to fortify their offensive weaponry with one of the most aggressive players at the catch point that you will see.
2 (46): Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
Continuing to invest in their quarterback, the Bengals get a guy in Carman who might have to kick inside to guard as a rookie. He’s been protecting Trevor Lawrence’s blindside at Clemson.
3 (69): Joseph Ossai, LB, Texas
An off-ball linebacker who can also rush the passer pretty well, Ossai is a versatile weapon for the Bengals’ defense and gives them another weapon on the defensive front seven to go along with some big investments there (DJ Reader, Trey Hendrickson).
4 (111): Cameron Sample, DL, Tulane
Cameron Sample is as tough as you will find off the edge or playing on the defensive line, but where does he play? The Bengals can use him as a base defensive end and kick him inside on passing downs.
4 (122): Tyler Shelvin, DL, LSU
Shelvin is a mammoth on the defensive interior and a guy who is undoubtedly going to find a role behind DJ Reader on the depth chart. He can be a valuable run defender in the NFL.
4 (139): D’Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina
The Bengals took a shot on Smith, who many thought could sneak into day two of the draft with his tremendous length and movement skills. I really like this dart throw on day three as a guy who could potentially develop into a starter by year two.
5 (149): Evan McPherson, K, Florida
The Bengals get the best kicker in the 2021 NFL Draft. Say what you will about this as “NFL Draft best practices” but McPherson can be an impact player. Having a good kicker can tip the scales in a lot of games throughout the course of the year.
6 (190): Trey Hill, C, Georgia
The Bengals got another wide body here on day three of the Draft to add to their interior line depth. Hill has experience at both guard and center.
6 (202): Chris Evans, RB, Michigan
Although this is not the Captain America Chris Evans, he’s an impressive athletic specimen nonetheless. He has three-down potential and should be a factor on special teams.
7 (235): Wyatt Hubert, EDGE, Kansas State
Hubert put some really good stuff on tape at the week of Senior Bowl practices and became one of everyone’s favorite late-round mock draft picks. He doesn’t have ideal traits or length to come off the edge as a starter, but he has upside as a sub-package rusher.
1 (6): Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Though Waddle is much smaller than you typically see drafted in the top-10 picks, he’s the most explosive player in this draft when he’s healthy. His best at Alabama was Tyreek Hill-like.
1 (18): Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
If he’d gone another year at Miami doing what he did in 2020, Phillips might have been a top-10 pick in the 2022 Draft. He’s got big-time upside and the Dolphins will waste no time using him off the edge. He’s got a well-rounded game.
2 (36): Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
After picking off 9 passes in his first two seasons at Oregon with 19 pass breakups, Holland opted out of the 2020 campaign. He was still one of the most highly coveted safeties who also has the ability to play nickel at the next level.
2 (42): Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
The Dolphins went after Eichenberg in the second round after there were some rumblings he could be off in the top 32 picks. There’s no question that Eichenberg can plug and play at the next level. Along with last year’s top picks Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt, Eichenberg should thrive in Miami.
3 (81): Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
Long was a breakout player in 2020 at Boston College catching 57 passes. He’s got strong hands and can give a nice contrast stylistically to Mike Gesicki for the Dolphins.
7 (231): Larnel Coleman, OL, Massachusetts
Coleman is a very strong athlete with a tremendous wingspan and starts at both left and right tackle.
7 (244): Gerrid Doaks, RB, Cincinnati
At nearly 230 pounds, Doaks is a big running back who means business in pass protection. He had only 331 carries at Cincinnati, so he comes to the Dolphins pretty fresh.
1 (7): Penei Sewel, OT, Oregon
There was no draft room around the league more excited than the Detroit Lions when they drafted Penei Sewell. Projected as a top-5 2021 NFL Draft pick for most of the year, the Lions have to feel good about getting Sewell at pick 7 overall. He should be a plug-and-play starter at right tackle as Taylor Decker’s bookend.
2 (41): Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington
The Lions want to bite off kneecaps, and this guy is going to help them do it. Onwuzurike is lightning quick on the defensive interior and he plays with attitude and energy.
3 (72): Alim McNeill, DL, North Carolina State
McNeill is another explosive interior lineman for the Detroit Lions with excellent get-off and great upper-body strength. He is quite a bit wider than Onwuzurike, but he offers Detroit plenty of upside on the interior line. As his technique develops, he could be a steal.
3 (101): Ifeatu Melifonwu, DB, Syracuse
After what we saw from Melifonwu at the Senior Bowl, it’s hard to believe his hype cooled off enough to go in the third round. He has rare size, speed, and explosiveness at the cornerback position. I love his potential with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn playing a lot of man coverage.
4 (112): Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
St. Brown is just a tremendous value on the early portion of day three. In a receiver class this deep, you are bound to find players who are drafted a round later than they otherwise should be. I like him in the slot with his strength, quickness, and ability to get off press.
4 (113): Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue
Derrick Barnes is another kneecap guy for the Lions’ defense. He’s fast, explosive, strong, and can make plays as an off-ball linebacker or pass rusher. One term that you often hear thrown around with guys like Barnes is “motor” and he’s going to the perfect city for that.
7 (257): Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State
Anthony Lynn comes from the 90s Denver Broncos and Mike Shanahan school of one-cut running. Will Jermar Jefferson thrive under his coaching? I would bank on it. I loved this pick in the 7th round.
1 (8): Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The Panthers selected all defense in the 2020 NFL Draft and picked up where they left off with Jaycee Horn, making him the top defensive player off the board in 2021. Horn’s combination of size, athleticism, ball skills, aggressiveness, and confidence makes him arguably the ideal cornerback prospect. He has an extremely high floor.
2 (59): Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
Terrace Marshall’s body type is reminiscent of former NFL receiver Brandon Marshall. Terrace runs a little better but can give you similar production in terms of a big body at all levels of the field with after-the-catch ability and a red zone weapon. I love that he’s reuniting in Carolina with Joe Brady, one of his coaches at LSU in 2019.
3 (70): Brady Christensen, OT, BYU
The Panthers need to do what they can to help protect their investment in Sam Darnold. Brady Christensen was an All-American in 2020 blocking for Zach Wilson at BYU, and while he will be older for a rookie (25 in September), he should be a plug-and-play starter at left tackle.
3 (83): Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame
Tommy Tremble, in addition to being a pretty exciting receiver prospect at the tight end position, has some highlight-reel blocks. I like this fit in Carolina where he could be TE1 immediately.
4 (126): Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Chuba Hubbard was one of the most productive players in the Big 12 over the past few years and a number of his best ones, Matt Rhule was able to see firsthand as the head coach at Baylor. Rhule told Hubbard on their draft call that his wife told him he needed to draft Chuba. Rule obliged and got himself a home-run hitter to pair with Christian McCaffrey.
5 (158): Daviyon Nixon, DL, Iowa
Whatever pushed Daviyon Nixon down the board remains a mystery. He had a huge season for Iowa this past year and looks like an absolute stud who can play all over the interior defensive line. He’s a big-time steal if he stays healthy.
5 (166): Keith Taylor, CB, Washington
The Panthers continued to add depth to their secondary with Keith Taylor who has tremendous length and agility. He had no interceptions at Washington, which comes up on tape as an issue in terms of his overall ball skills, but the potential is there for him to be a starter at some point down the line.
6 (193): Deonte Brown, OL, Alabama
The massive Deonte Brown did not give up a sack while he was at Alabama. How do you get past this guy? He’s not going to win any Combine awards but Brown is a powerful player who was vastly under-drafted, in my opinion.
6 (204): Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
Smith is quick as heck and will give defenses fits with his effort on a play-by-play basis. He’s small, but he could be an explosive weapon out of the slot even as a rookie in Carolina.
6 (222): Thomas Fletcher, LS, Alabama
Long snappers are people too. This guy’s draft call might be the best you’ll ever hear.
7 (232): Phil Hoskins, DT, Kentucky
The Panthers take a shot on the big body and long limbs of Hoskins late in the draft. He might need the practice squad initially but there’s potential here.
1 (9): Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The Broncos surprised just about everyone with this pick. Most thought they would take a quarterback or trade down after their free agency was focused on cornerbacks, but they get one of the surest things in this year’s class in Surtain. He’s been playing like a pro since he was a true freshman for the Crimson Tide.
2 (35): Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
Maybe the most physical running back in this class, Javonte Williams will pair with Melvin Gordon to give the Denver Broncos a 1-2 punch at running back that can wear defenses down. Williams can play all three downs and he’s one of the best in this class at breaking tackles.
3 (98): Quinn Meinerz, OL, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Meinerz became a legend among the NFL Draft community when videos of him working out in the wilderness, knocking down trees, curling water jugs, and heaving logs over his shoulder surfaced. He had a huge week at the Senior Bowl after Wisconsin-Whitewater’s season was canceled, and he showed no signs of being out of shape. Quite the opposite, in fact, Meinerz tested better than nearly every other center prospect in the last 20 years.
3 (105): Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
An athletic freak, Browning is sort of a discounted version of what Micah Parsons is. Considering Parsons’ off-field, Browning is a tremendous alternative. This guy is explosive off the edge and he showed great improvement in coverage last season for Ohio State. In Vic Fangio’s defense, he could be a star.
5 (152): Caden Sterns, S, Texas
Sterns was a big-time high school recruit who had a tremendous freshman season for the Longhorns, then his play kind of dropped off after that. He has big-time athletic traits and the Broncos will count on him for special teams immediately.
5 (164): Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
Leading up to the draft, some expected Jamar Johnson to be picked as high as the third round. He certainly had the production for it in the 2020 season at Indiana with four interceptions. In less than 450 career snaps, Johnson had 44 passes thrown into his coverage with seven interceptions total and no touchdowns allowed. He could be an heir apparent to Kareem Jackson.
6 (219): Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
Seth Williams looked like he was bound for the top 100 picks after his 2019 season but drops plagued him in 2020. It didn’t help that he had some of the worst QB play in the country, though. The Broncos love his special teams ability, size, speed, and traits overall. He will get good coaching in Denver.
7 (237): Kary Vincent, CB, LSU
Kary Vincent was one member of the vaunted 2019 LSU squad. He has tremendous ball skills and reactive quickness both as a pass defender and run/screen defender. With his size, he could be a nickel option for the Broncos.
7 (239): Jonathon Cooper, OLB, Ohio State
A high-character player at Ohio State, Jonathon Cooper suffered an unfortunate injury in 2019 when he would have finally had a shot at legitimate playing time after being buried by Nick Bosa and Chase Young. He’ll get a shot to compete for Denver’s rotation with his former teammates Baron Browning and Dre’Mont Jones.
7 (253): Marquiss Spencer, DL, Mississippi State
A plus athlete, Marquiss Spencer probably will have to develop this year on the practice squad in Denver but he has the traits to be a solid pass-rusher in the NFL from the interior defensive line.
1 (10): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The 2020 Heisman winner reunites with his former Alabama teammate Jalen Hurts, who will once again be throwing him passes as he once did.
Smith’s lack of size is likely all that prevented him from being the first receiver off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s the total package here and should be an instant impact player.
2 (37): Landon Dickerson, OL, Alabama
Dickerson also rejoins his former Alabama battery mate and could play any of the three interior line spots. The Eagles need him to stay healthy but when he’s on, he’s very good.
3 (73): Milton Williams, DL, Louisiana Tech
At nearly 285 pounds, perhaps no player in this draft class — pound for pound — put on a better show than Milton Williams.
He ran a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical jump, a 6.96 in the three-cone drill, and a 121-inch broad jump. All of his testing numbers had him in the 99th percentile for defensive tackles.
4 (123): Zech McPhearson, CB, Texas Tech
This guy has intriguing position flexibility in the NFL as a nickel/outside corner and he showed off his ball skills this past year with four interceptions. He spent three years at Penn State before transferring to Texas Tech where he really showed what he can do as an all-around player (104 tackles in two seasons).
5 (150): Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis
At this juncture of the draft, Kenneth Gainwell was an absolute steal. Gainwell has some of the best pass-catching abilities of any back in this class, and he gives the Eagles a guy who can legitimately motion out into the slot and run some routes there.
6 (189): Marlon Tuipulotu, DL, USC
Although he’s not flashy as a pass rusher, Tuipulotu should be a strong NFL run defender. It’s surprising that he lasted to this point of the draft even considering his ceiling as a pass rusher.
6 (191): Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina
Jackson has pretty average or even below average traits off the edge, but he was extremely productive in his years with Coastal Carolina as a pass rusher. You could have him play an outside/inside role in the NFL with his strong punch.
6 (224): JaCoby Stevens, S, LSU
Stevens is going to give the Eagles a playmaker on special teams right away, and he also could be a hybrid player defensively for them at some point. He had a huge year in 2019 for the Tigers (who didn’t) with 92 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, and nine passes broken up.
7 (234): Patrick Johnson, EDGE, Tulane
Another highly productive pass rusher at the college level, Johnson might be a better pick than Tarron Jackson a round earlier. He had 24.5 sacks and six forced fumbles over the last three seasons at Tulane.
1 (11): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
It’s hard to quantify how important this selection is for the Chicago Bears. The Bears had no shot at QBs in this draft at 20. The people in charge of the Bears had little shot of keeping their jobs with Andy Dalton as the Plan A.
Justin Fields could change everything for everyone in this organization. The only thing that gives pause — did the rest of the league overthink Fields (as in Mahomes, Watson 2017) or were they onto something? Why did so many teams needing a QB pass on him?
Either way, Fields brings excitement and star power to a Big Ten city that will embrace him with open arms.
2 (39): Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
After getting Justin Fields, the Bears somehow found a way to move up and get Teven Jenkins as well. Even though their future assets took a huge blow, getting Fields and Jenkins out of this draft is about as good as any top two picks any team made, maybe better.
We had Jenkins going in the top 20 of just about every mock draft for the past couple of months. He’s a road grader in the running game. Medical could be why he slipped, but the Bears got a real talent here.
5 (151): Larry Borom, OL, Missouri
An experienced player at Missouri, Borom will give the Bears some depth and developmental starter potential at a variety of spots on the line.
This is not a sexy pick, by any means, but the Bears got some nice depth here.
6 (217): Khalil Herbert, RB, Virginia Tech
It was very surprising to see Herbert still sitting on the board in the sixth round. After the second round picks, it seemed like the value on this year’s running backs was just not there for teams but the Bears got a steal in Herbert. He was the ACC leader in all-purpose yards this past year as a running back and kick returner.
6 (221): Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
Newsome had a bad pro day workout but he has good tape and should be able to carve out a role in the NFL in the slot and as a punt returner.
6 (228): Thomas Graham, Jr., CB, Oregon
It’s hard to imagine into the 200s Thomas Graham was still sitting on the board. This guy started all of his firs three seasons at Oregon and racked up 40 pass breakups, 8 interceptions, and 182 tackles including 10.5 for loss.
I really liked the Bears’ pickup of Kindle Vildor late last year, but this guy is better.
7 (250): Khyiris Tonga, DL, BYU
Tonga is a fun player to watch with his combination of strength and quickness. He gets his hands on the ball as well as any defensive lineman in this draft with 12 batted passes in his time at BYU as well as a blocked kick and two forced fumbles.
1 (12): Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Dallas Cowboys do not seem to be concerned about Micah Parsons the person, despite a ton of issues in his past even dating before his days with Penn State. Only time will tell if the Cowboys made a wise investment here, but Parsons has star potential as an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher.
2 (44): Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
A former LSU transfer, Kelvin Joseph really put himself on the map at Kentucky with four interceptions this past season. He only had 15 games played in college, but the upside and athletic talent are undeniable. He should be penciled in as a starter opposite Trevon Diggs.
3 (75): Osa Odighizuwa, DL, UCLA
With long 34-inch arms and tremendous quickness off the snap, the tools are all there for Odighizuwa to be a stud interior pass rusher in the NFL. He needs to be more consistent putting all of his traits and tools together with actual pass rushing skill.
3 (84): Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa
It’s slightly shocking that Golston was the first guy from Iowa picked in this draft, but the Cowboys obviously liked his outside/inside versatility in Dan Quinn’s defense. Golston was consistently productive for the Hawkeyes and had a good showing at the school’s pro day athletically. A team captain at Iowa, Golston should be good for Dallas’ locker room.
3 (99): Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State
At 6-foot-4, Wright has rare size for a defensive back and will need to use that to his advantage as his play speed is not ideal for the cornerback spot. With that said, Dan Quinn’s influence is all over this selection given his development of a variety of huge defensive backs (Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman among them) while he was in Seattle.
4 (115): Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
One of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL, Jabril Cox really had no business falling to this point in the draft. He is tremendous in the passing game, but scouts worry about his ability to hold up against the run. He should be a starter sooner rather than later and is a steal for the Cowboys here.
4 (138): Josh Ball, OT, Marshall
Another player with pretty substantial off-field concerns, Ball is a talented prospect with big-time size and length who could wind up starting if he stays out of trouble at the next level.
5 (179): Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
A 6-foot-3, 226-pound receiver with blazing speed and tremendous agility averaging nearly one touchdown per six catches over the last two seasons? Add on Fehoko’s special teams ability, and the Cowboys may have themselves a nice mid-round find here.
6 (192): Quinton Bohanna, DL, Kentucky
Bohanna was a team captain for a strong Kentucky defense and offers run stuffing ability with his massive 6-foot-4, 327-pound frame.
6 (227): Israel Mukuamu, DB, South Carolina
There was a time when Mukuamu was being talked about among the better prospects in the country. He saw time at both cornerback and free safety at South Carolina and picked off seven passes in 31 games. Like Wright, Mukuamu is a rare 6-foot-4 defensive back prospect.
7 (238): Matt Farniok, OL, Nebraska
Shoutout to my alma mater Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD, where the entire Farniok family has been tremendous. He was a two-time team captain for Nebraska and saw time at center, right guard, and right tackle.
1 (13): Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
Some teams had Slater rated as the top offensive tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft, and while the Chargers got him 13th overall, it feels like they may have lucked into a steal here.
Slater is as athletic as you will find at the tackle position and he’ll be tasked with blocking the blindside of one of the NFL’s bright young stars in Justin Herbert.
2 (47): Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
The Chargers got a big-time steal out of Florida State a couple of years back in Derwin James. Now, another Seminole defensive back lands with the Bolts way later than he should with Asante Samuel Jr. coming to play in Brandon Staley’s defense.
He is a perfect fit for Staley’s scheme whether he gets his initial shot inside or outside.
3 (77): Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee
This pick was a bit of a surprise to everyone watching the draft. Palmer lacks the size or twitch of a top-100 NFL Draft pick but he has strong hands and borderline running back size.
3 (97): Tre’ McKitty, TE, Georgia
After losing Hunter Henry in free agency, the Chargers signed veteran Jared Cook who figures to lead the way in 2021 at the position. Tre’ McKitty was an intriguing pickup for them as an heir apparent, however, and offers TE2 upside right away as a blocker.
4 (118): Chris Rumph, EDGE, Duke
Rumph was a tremendous pass rusher for Duke the past couple of seasons and I expect nothing less from him at the next level.
Brandon Staley has proven he can maximize EDGE talent and Rumph is an intriguing fit here because of that.
5 (159): Brendan Jaimes, OT, Nebraska
Continuing to fortify the offensive line, I think the Chargers got Jaimes at least a round later than he should have gone in this draft class.
He’s rock solid on tape and has the look of a future starter at tackle, perhaps taking over if/when the Chargers move on from Bryan Bulaga.
6 (185): Nick Niemann, LB, Iowa
Niemann turned a lot of heads at the Iowa pro day and although his tape doesn’t exactly scream “coverage linebacker”, the upside is there. I think he will make an impact on special teams early on and could be a starter on the inside by 2022.
6 (198): Larry Rountree III, RB, Missouri
Rountree has a nice explosive gear to him despite being one of the thicker backs in this draft class. I like his upside as a rotational back for the Chargers and a player who could exceed his draft status rather quickly.
7 (241): Mark Webb, S, Georgia
A converted wide receiver, Webb is a work in progress but he has intriguing traits and upside.
1 (15): Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
The Patriots seemed like one of the likeliest teams in the 2021 NFL Draft to trade up for a quarterback, but they didn’t have to. The Bill Belichick-Nick Saban connection wins again here as Mac Jones comes to the Patriots, who just spent about a billion dollars in free agency to reload their roster.
One of the big “knocks” on Jones at Alabama was the fact that he had such a strong supporting cast. Now he has the best coach in NFL history and some weapons in Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, and Nelson Agholor to get the ball to.
2 (38): Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
The Patriots saw an opportunity early in the second round and jumped at it. They doubled up on Crimson Tide players by moving up for Christian Barmore, who surprisingly fell out of the first round.
Barmore is a long, athletic, physical presence on the defensive line who is still coming into his own. He joins a Patriots defensive front that added some huge pieces in 2021.
3 (96): Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
The tape shows Ronnie Perkins to be a powerful dude off the edge with starting potential at the next level, but multiple suspensions likely pushed his draft grade from the second to the third round.
Still, New England has a history of those types of players thriving in their system. Perkins was probably a worthwhile risk for them here.
4 (120): Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma
After doubling up in the first- and second-round on Alabama players, the Patriots go back-to-back Sooners in the third- and fourth-round.
Rhamondre Stevenson is a no-nonsense back who looks for bodies to run through, but uses surprisingly nimble footwork as well to avoid being tackled cleanly. like Perkins, Stevenson was suspended in 2019.
5 (177): Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
The sample on Cameron McGrone is so small that he fell to the fifth round, but in a deep linebacker class, he could prove to be one of the best values. His play speed is tremendous and he attacks with reckless abandon. He needs to refine his game and injuries are an issue here, but I like this fit for him.
6 (188): Joshuah Bledsoe, S, Missouri
Bledsoe showed impressive ball skills at Missouri with 19 passes broken up in the last three seasons, including 17 in the last two years (along with 7.0 tackles for loss the past two seasons).
6 (197): Will Sherman, OT, Colorado
Sherman started 27 games at Colorado with 15 coming at left tackle and 12 at right tackle. His experience at both spots and potential projection to guard give him a shot to stick immediately.
7 (242): Trey Nixon, WR, UCF
Nixon struggled some with drops but he’s got intriguing athletic traits and 13 of his 109 college catches went for touchdowns.
1 (16): Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
Not many 260-pound players can move around at the linebacker position quite like Zaven Collins. The Cardinals were ecstatic to get this guy and understandably so.
After last year’s top pick of Isaiah Simmons, the Cardinals bring in Collins to be yet another versatile threat at linebacker who can play off the edge, in coverage, or against the run. He also proved to be one of the most clutch defensive players in college football the past couple of seasons.
2 (49): Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Despite not being the biggest player on the field, Moore is one of the strongest and most explosive players in this draft class, pound-for-pound.
I don’t know what this pick means for the future of some other former high draft selections at receiver, but Moore is going to play immediately and be an offense creator for a loaded Cardinals wide receiver position group.
4 (136): Marco Wilson, DB, Florida
An early starter at Florida, Wilson is an elite athlete among elite athletes with speed and explosiveness.
He could project as a nickel at the next level but he will undoubtedly have an impact on special teams.
6 (210): Victor Dimukeje, EDGE, Duke
Dimukeje is a rocked up edge player who is going to have to diversify his pass rush approach to stick in the NFL, but he’s got the power off the edge to be valuable in a rotation.
6 (223): Tay Gowan, DB, UCF
Many NFL Draft pundits loved Tay Gowan in the pre-draft process and for solid reason. He showed tremendous ball production in a limited sample size at the college level.
7 (243): James Wiggins, S, Cincinnati
How in the world did James Wiggins fall to this point of the draft? He was an All-American this past season who showed tremendous traits at his pro day. Injuries are the only answer for his fall here but the Cardinals could have yet another steal on their hands.
7 (247): Michael Menet, C, Penn State
Although he will be 24 as a rookie, Menet is another player whose tape far exceeds his draft position here. The Cardinals got a guy who looks like a future NFL starter at the position in round seven. He will have the chance to learn behind Rodney Hudson and factor into the interior line rotation for Arizona.
1 (17): Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
The Raiders perhaps feared another team moving up to get Leatherwood, or perhaps they just didn’t want to wait until their second-round pick to get him. It’s hard to argue Leatherwood’s first-round merit based on his resumé at Alabama, which included productive time starting at both left tackle and right guard.
For the Raiders, Leatherwood is likely to be the day one starting right tackle.
2 (43): Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
Based on how it seemed things would go prior to the draft, Trevon Moehrig looks like one of the top steals of the draft, especially by comparison to the Raiders’ picking Alex Leatherwood in the first round.
Moehrig was the Thorpe Award winner this past year as the nation’s top defensive back and while he’s not a traditional safety and more of a nickel/dime type, he has range to play on the back end and make plays on the ball consistently.
3 (79): Malcolm Koonce, EDGE, Buffalo
The Raiders saw a top-80 player in Malcolm Koonce while others saw a late day three pick. We’ll see how this works out, but there’s no question that Las Vegas needed to boost their pass rush.
The powerful Koonce had 18 sacks in four seasons at Buffalo.
3 (80): Divine Deablo, S/LB, Virginia Tech
A safety/linebacker hybrid type of player, Deablo has impressive athleticism and talent. The Raiders are perhaps hoping that Deablo, in Gus Bradley’s defensive scheme, can play the Kam Chancellor or Derwin James role.
4 (143): Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri
With three out of their last four picks coming at the safety position, many were wondering what the Raiders were doing at this point. The Raiders got an up-close look at Gillespie at the Missouri pro day, so they obviously like this kid and his traits. Over the last two seasons, he had 96 tackles and 11 passes broken up.
5 (167): Nate Hobbs, CB, Illinois
Another twitchy athlete and team captain (the Raiders prioritized captainship in this class), Hobbs is physical and loves to hit. His old-school type of play was undoubtedly endearing to Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock.
7 (230): Jimmy Morrissey, C, Pittsburgh
Another team captain and developmental interior prospect for the Raiders, Morrissey was a solid dart throw late in the draft.
1 (19): Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
One of the more freakishly athletic linebacker prospects you’ll ever see, Jamin Davis has huge upside playing for Ron Rivera behind arguably the best defensive line in the NFL. He will be free to make plays and use his athletic talent and range.
2 (51): Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Washington Football Team cleared up a major need at left tackle with this pick and they are rumored to possibly also be going after veteran Charles Leno Jr. That move might allow Cosmi to move inside and give this team an impressive starting five on the offensive line to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick.
3 (74): Benjamin St. Juste, CB, Minnesota
NFL teams got the chance at a lot of cornerback prospects with tremendous length and St. Juste is a fascinating upside play on day two. He had 13 passes broken up in his last 18 games for the Gophers.
3 (82): Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Washington continues to assemble one of the most fun groups of offensive skill players in the league. They already have a star in Terry McLaurin, they added his former college teammate Curtis Samuel in free agency, and Antonio Gibson was one of the more productive rookies in the NFL in 2020.
Dyami Brown offers explosive ability out of the slot and had 20 touchdown receptions in his last 106 catches.
4 (124): John Bates, TE, Boise State
Logan Thomas has developed into one of the better receiving tight ends in the NFL and John Bates gives Washington a strong in-line blocker to complement him.
5 (163): Darrick Forrest, DB, Cincinnati
This draft class featured a lot of safety prospects with big-time athletic ability worthy of development, and Forrest is no different. His size and traits give him intriguing matchup potential at the next level.
6 (225): Camaron Cheeseman, LS, Michigan
If you need a long snapper bad, you need a long snapper bad I guess. Cheeseman has one of the best names in the draft and obviously long snappers play key roles on special teams both snapping and in coverage.
7 (240): William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor
Physical pass rusher who has a good shot to factor into an NFL rotation, even if it’s not in Washington. He was a good pick this late in the process.
7 (246): Shaka Toney, EDGE, Penn State
How was this guy still on the board? If even just as a sub-package rusher, Toney is going to have a future in the NFL with his quickness off the ball.
7 (258): Dax Milne, WR, BYU
I love this pickup as well, even though Washington stole an opportunity for Milne to join the Jets at the next level with his former college QB Zach Wilson. Milne was one of the best players in the country last year at coming down with contested catches and he has the look of a stud X receiver if he can keep that up.
1 (20): Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Dave Gettleman broke his age-old rule of not trading down and actually ended up getting one of the more intriguing offensive weapons in the draft in Florida’s Kadarius Toney.
Toney gives the Giants yet another big-time athlete to go along with their plethora of skill players who are in the top-10 percentile athletically. He has after-the-catch ability and will be an offense creator in the NFL.
2 (50): Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
Injuries pushed arguably the best pass rusher in the draft to the second round where the Giants snatched him up.
Ojulari was dominant for stretches this past season and if his knee holds up, this is the steal of the draft.
3 (71): Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
The Giants moved up five spots in the third round to take the versatile Robinson, who can start immediately for them as the nickel cornerback with Adoreé Jackson coming in through free agency and James Bradberry locking down his side.
4 (116): Elerson Smith, EDGE, Northern Iowa
Another very good pick by Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge, Elerson Smith looks like he will be a factor in the NFL sooner rather than later. The Northern Iowa program also produced a tremendous athlete and prospect in Spencer Brown for this class, and Smith in many ways is his defensive twin with length, speed, and a physical style of play.
6 (196): Gary Brightwell, RB, Arizona
What an interesting pick. There is very little to evaluate with Brightwell who had a very below-average workout, and barely any substantial college production to speak of. He had five fumbles this past season alone. We’ll see how this one works out.
6 (201): Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
Williams played a lot of football the past four years at Oklahoma State and broke up 33 passes. He set an Oklahoma State school record with 48 straight starts, showing desirable durability and availability.
1 (21): Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
With needs at tackle and off the edge defensively, the Colts saw better value in Kwity Paye than the available tackles on the board.
With a relatively weak class of both edge guys and defensive linemen in general, Paye was perhaps undervalued. He has tremendous quickness off the edge and plays with natural power. He should be an impact starter immediately for the Colts.
2 (54): Dayo Odeyingbo, EDGE, Vanderbilt
Considering there were some health concerns with Odeyingbo, it’s somewhat surprising the Colts prioritized him here. With that being said, if he can stay healthy, they effectively solved their edge position for the foreseeable future and got two guys that can live in the offensive backfield whether they are 8-sack guys or 12-sack guys.
4 (127): Kylen Granson, TE, SMU
An intriguing pass-catching option at the tight end position, Granson caught 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons at SMU. He doesn’t have ideal size for the tight end position but he compares favorably to Trey Burton.
5 (165): Shawn Davis, S, Florida
Davis is a very intriguing athlete at the safety/nickel position who had five interceptions over the past two seasons. The Colts are taking a shot on his upside here and understandably so.
6 (218): Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas
One of the best QBs in Texas history, Ehlinger has a shot to stick in the NFL for a long time as a high-end backup and spot-starter.
7 (229): Mike Strachan, WR, Charleston
With his size, speed, and ball-tracking ability, Strachan could be a seventh-round steal for the Colts.
7 (248): Will Fries, G, Penn State
Fries has played every position but center on the offensive line for Penn State, but he could probably do that as well. He should be valuable depth on the interior at the next level.
1 (22): Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The Titans took a risk on Jeffery Simmons coming off of a knee injury in the first round in 2019. They took a character risk in Isaiah Wilson in 2020, who is already off the team. You’d think they would have played it safe in 2021 but they did not, taking Caleb Farley. Farley could have been the CB1 of this class were it not for problems with his back.
We’ll see how this risk pays off, but Farley is undeniably an elite talent who is only going to get better the more he can stay on the field.
2 (53): Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
To answer the right tackle question, the Titans selected Dillon Radunz, Trey Lance’s left tackle at North Dakota State. He is an athletic, physical player who fits their offensive philosophy well.
3 (92): Monty Rice, LB, Georgia
Monty Rice is a high-motor playmaker at the linebacker position who attacks the line of scrimmage and sets the tone defensively.
3 (100): Elijah Molden, DB, Washington
This pick is a wild value for the Titans. I thought Molden compared favorably to Tyrann Mathieu as a nickel/safety hybrid type. He was always around the football on tape and should be an instant contributor to their defense.
4 (109): Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, Louisville
Fitzpatrick is a big-bodied big-play threat who averaged over 18 yards per catch at Louisville in 2019 and over 19 yards per catch in 2020. He is a solid all-around receiver prospect with his size and athletic profile.
4 (135): Rashad Weaver, EDGE, Pittsburgh
It was discovered after this selection that Weaver was charged with assaulting a woman. An outstanding edge player, that could derail his NFL future completely.
6 (205): Racey McMath, WR, LSU
The best special teamer in the draft. Mike Vrabel saw firsthand the kind of player Matthew Slater is with the Patriots, at least for a year, and he’s seen what he can do from afar for much longer. Perhaps he feels McMath will be a similar weapon.
6 (215): Brady Breeze, S, Oregon
Part of a very talented Oregon secondary, Breeze offers immediate special teams upside and could develop into a starting safety down the line.
1 (23): Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
The Vikings traded down to recoup some day two selections that were lost in the Yannick Ngakoue trade, and still managed to get a left tackle that fits their offensive philosophy perfectly. Darrisaw is a tremendous athlete who can make blocks out in space, something he’ll be tasked with plenty in Minnesota.
3 (66): Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M
Stylistically quite the opposite of Kirk Cousins, Mond is an athletic option with a huge arm who could push for the starting job by 2022.
3 (78): Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
A converted quarterback who loaded up the stat sheet at North Carolina, the sky is the limit for Surratt as a blitzer, in coverage, and against the run. He has shown excellent playmaking instincts in his short time as a linebacker.
3 (86): Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State
Once considered possibly the best interior offensive lineman in this class, Wyatt Davis is a steal for the Vikings here in the third round. He was a two-time first-team All-American at the right guard position for Ohio State and both he and Christian Darrisaw should be immediate starters for the Vikings if healthy.
3 (90): Patrick Jones, EDGE, Pittsburgh
Jones is not a twitchy athlete off the edge but he was extremely productive for Pitt, racking up 34.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and nine passes defensed in three seasons. This pick filled a significant need for the Vikings as well, so it will be interesting to see how quickly Jones makes an impact.
4 (119): Kene Nwangwu, RB, Iowa State
An upside play early on day three, Nwangwu could be better in the pros than he was at Iowa State. He has an impressive combination of size, strength, and speed.
4 (125): Camryn Bynum, DB, California
The Vikings announced this pick as a safety, so perhaps Bynum will be their answer to losing Anthony Harris in free agency. He had 35 pass breakups and six interceptions in his four years at Cal.
4 (134): Janarius Robinson, EDGE, Florida State
Built with tremendous length and burst off the edge, Robinson has intriguing upside if he can develop a full arsenal of pass rush moves. He led Florida State in tackles for loss each of the past two seasons.
5 (157): Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa
The quarterback play at Iowa drove Smith-Marsette’s value down, but he’s a speedy playmaker the Vikings can also use as a return specialist. This is a tremendous value pick in a deep class of receivers.
5 (168): Zach Davidson, TE, Central Missouri
One of the most fascinating players in the draft, the small school tight end was a touchdown machine and Central Missouri’s full-time punter. He showed out athletically at his pro day as well, so he will be a fun story to follow.
6 (199): Jalen Twyman, DL, Pittsburgh
Athletically, Twyman just doesn’t have what you look for in an NFL defensive lineman. Still, the fit in Minnesota is intriguing especially paired up with his former Pitt teammate Patrick Jones.
1 (24): Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Najee Harris is one of the most impressive receiving backs I have evaluated in the last 10 years. He evolved his game at Alabama to the point that he could legitimately line up at outside or slot receiver and hold his own as a route runner.
In addition to being a three-down threat, Harris is a tremendous ball-carrier with vision, tackle-breaking ability and excellent burst.
2 (55): Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
Although Freiermuth is a strong tight end prospect, the Steelers passed on some good offensive line talent to take him here.
With that being said, Freiermuth gives them an athletic receiving option at the position and he should be a good pass catcher at tight end for a long time.
3 (87): Kendrick Green, OL, Illinois
Kendrick Green was one of the more freakish athletes of his draft class at his size and position group, grading in the 99th percentile in speed and explosiveness drills. He has guard/center versatility where the Steelers need help immediately.
4 (128): Dan Moore Jr., OT, Texas A&M
Mostly a starter in college at left tackle, the Steelers could thrust Moore into duty sooner rather than later. He has the length and movement skills to hold up against NFL competition with nearly 40 college starts under his belt as well.
4 (140): Buddy Johnson, LB, Texas A&M
The Steelers lost Bud Dupree in free agency, and obviously it hurt them to not have a player with some version of that name on their roster. Buddy Johnson was wildly productive behind the line of scrimmage for Texas A&M with 24.5 career tackles for loss. He makes plays all over the field.
5 (156): Isaiahh Loudermilk, EDGE, Wisconsin
Loudermilk was a curious pick (in a trade up) for the Steelers with no standout athletic traits and very modest production. Clearly, this was a guy they prioritized, so it will be intriguing to find out why they loved him so much.
6 (216): Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
Roche was undoubtedly one of the best value picks of the entire 2021 NFL Draft. His pass rush productivity and toughness off the edge should earn him a roster spot in Pittsburgh and a spot in their EDGE rotation.
7 (245): Tre Norwood, CB, Oklahoma
After picking off five passes this past year, Norwood certainly made himself draftable. He didn’t test well athletically, however, and will face an uphill battle to make this Steelers roster.
7 (254): Pressley Harvin, P, Georgia Tech
Give this guy a Google. He’s one of the most unique punters you’ll ever see. He’s built like a defensive lineman and he can really launch it.
1 (26): Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
Greg Newsome should have been in the discussion among the best cornerback prospects in this draft. Ultimately, he remained one of the best-kept secrets which was to the Cleveland Browns’ benefit.
It’s hard to imagine a better value this late in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2 (52): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
I thought there was a legitimate chance Owusu-Koramoah would go inside the top-20 picks in this draft, but ultimately, perhaps teams were scared off by his size for an off-ball linebacker. A smart defensive coordinator will find a way to make this guy a household name for his coverage instincts and versatility.
3 (91): Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn
Schwartz has elite long speed and gives the Browns’ offense yet another weapon in the vertical passing game. Odell Beckham Jr. will be back from injury this season and Schwartz is a guy who can open things up for everyone with his ability to blow the top off of a defense.
4 (110): James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati
A converted defensive lineman, Hudson will have the necessary time to continue developing behind the tremendous starting five in Cleveland.
4 (132): Tommy Togiai, DL, Ohio State
Tommy Togiai was a very nice value here in the fourth round for the Browns, getting a second-straight in-state prospect who boasts plenty of power and intriguing traits at his position.
5 (153): Tony Fields II, LB, West Virginia
Another undersized off-ball linebacker, Fields will give the Browns depth at the position and depth on special teams. He was productive at both Arizona and West Virginia, and led the Mountaineers in tackles this past season.
5 (169): Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
LeCounte was going to be under-drafted no matter where he ended up going on day three. While there are some athletic limitations here, I think this guy proved on tape that he’s a starting NFL safety.
6 (211): Demetric Felton, RB/WR, UCLA
Felton will be a fascinating fit to watch in Cleveland. He’s shown he can do some things at both running back and receiver. He didn’t test overly well but he plays fast and can be an asset as a returner on special teams.
1 (27): Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The Baltimore Ravens do not have the most potent passing attack in the NFL, but they certainly have one of the more efficient ones with 62 touchdown passes from Lamar Jackson over the last two seasons. One thing they have desperately needed is a true X receiver and Rashod Bateman gives them that. He will be a difference-maker early.
1 (31): Odafe Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
Formerly known as “Jayson” Oweh, Odafe Oweh is the quintessential example of potential over production. With that being said, having zero sacks in 2020 did not diminish Oweh’s impact as a rusher and analytics will show that he was pressuring the quarterback at an incredibly high rate.
With his rare athletic traits, he has a shot to be a star in the pros despite modest statistical production at Penn State.
3 (94): Ben Cleveland, OL, Georgia
Baltimore lost a lot more than just a right guard when Marshal Yanda retired. Ben Cleveland has the chops to be a longtime starter in that same mold as a four-year starter for one of the best offensive lines in college football.
3 (104): Brandon Stephens, CB, SMU
With safety size and 23 pass breakups over the last two seasons, it will be fascinating to see what the Ravens’ plans for Brandon Stephens are. He was somewhat of a surprise third-round pick for this team.
4 (131): Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
As a vertical threat, few have been better in the past few years at the college level than Tylan Wallace. His knee health likely pushed him to this point in the draft, but there is no question he will compete for starting duties sooner rather than later if he can stay on the field.
5 (160): Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
I love Shaun Wade’s potential as a nickel or safety in the NFL, but his tape in 2020 proved that outside cornerback is not his spot. The Ravens have a need at safety, so it wouldn’t shock me to see him land there.
5 (171): Daelin Hayes, EDGE, Notre Dame
A powerful edge prospect, Hayes can give the Ravens a stand-up linebacker in their scheme or he could put his hand in the dirt and rush from the inside on passing downs.
5 (184): Ben Mason, FB, Michigan
Dane Brugler of The Athletic has compared Mason to Patrick Ricard, so it’s fitting that he would land with the Ravens in the fifth round.
1 (28): Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston
After losing Trey Hendrickson in free agency, the Saints didn’t have much choice cap-wise other than to wait until the 2021 NFL Draft to find his replacement. Despite reported attempts to trade up, the Saints wound up with a guy who many thought would be a day two pick, and not necessarily one off the top of the board in round two.
Payton Turner has excellent length and ability to dip around the edge. How quickly can he seize a role in New Orleans’ base defense? They will need him sooner rather than later.
2 (60): Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
The Saints’ defense took a noticeable step forward last year when Kwon Alexander entered the fray. Pete Werner will take his place as a speedy, twitched-up linebacker prospect who has great range at the position.
3 (76): Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
New Orleans traded up in the third round to get Adebo, a big, long outside cornerback prospect with impressive ball production at Stanford.
In two seasons at the position, he had a whopping 38 passes broken up and eight interceptions. The upside here is massive if Adebo can translate that to the next level.
4 (133): Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame
NFL teams falling in love with Ian Book was somewhat curious, but to Book’s credit, he looks no worse than a top-tier backup and that is valuable in today’s NFL. The guy has grit, and he can make plays with his arm or legs.
6 (206): Landon Young, OL, Kentucky
A longtime starter for the Wildcats at left tackle, Young provides depth to the back end of that unit and developmental potential.
7 (255): Kawaan Baker, WR, South Alabama
An upside play at receiver with size and speed, Baker had eight touchdown catches this past season for South Alabama despite struggling with drops.
1 (29): Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
Another year goes by with the Packers skipping wide receiver in the first round.
With that said, Eric Stokes is a fine selection given the Packers’ needs at cornerback and he has outstanding traits with size and speed. He also showed his ball production skills this past year with four interceptions.
2 (62): Josh Myers, C, Ohio State
After losing Corey Linsley in free agency (Chargers) the Packers find a day one starter in Josh Myers here in round two. Myers is a strong player who understands his role as the center, making calls and showing leadership as one of the team’ captains.
3 (85): Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
Finally, a receiver.
The Packers get a pretty solid value here in Rodgers, who could start as the team’s slot as soon as, well, today.
He was the leading receiver for Clemson this past season and has really intriguing upside with his combination of bulk, toughness and aggressiveness at the catch point, and return ability.
4 (142): Royce Newman, OL, Ole Miss
When a class of players is as deep as this one on the offensive line, you’re bound to be getting some good value into day three.
Royce Newman is representative of that with starting right tackle potential. In fact, he has the versatility to play at guard or tackle and, at the very least, will give the Packers some options.
5 (173): Tedarrell Slaton, DL, Florida
A bit of a project on the interior defensive line, Slaton has tremendous upper-body strength and is a former top-ranked offensive line recruit who showed improvement this past season.
5 (178): Shamar Jean-Charles, CB, Appalachian State
A team captain and All-American for Appalachian State, Jean-Charles paced the FBS with 17 passes broken up. I think he can play in a zone heavy scheme on the outside, but his NFL future may be as a nickel.
6 (214): Cole Van Lanen, OL, Wisconsin
A local product at the tackle position who projects in the NFL as a guard. Van Lanen was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2020.
6 (220): Isaiah McDuffie, LB, Boston College
McDuffie was a great value in the sixth round for the Packers and is a guy who is going to be loved by every coach on the staff for his intense style of play. He’ll contribute right away on special teams but there is definitely a future starting inside linebacker here if all goes well.
7 (256): Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State
Despite the unceremonious way his time at Mississippi State ended, Kylin Hill is a talented three-down type of back. Teams were probably salivating at the chance to sign him as an undrafted player before the Packers scooped him up.
1 (30): Gregory Rousseau, DL, Miami
After being projected as a top-10 2021 NFL Draft pick almost all offseason a year ago, the Buffalo Bills get the talented Gregory Rousseau at the bottom of the first round.
Rousseau had a wildly productive 2019 season at Miami but not everyone was sure where his fit was in the NFL. He has potential to be a base-down edge who can kick inside on passing downs.
2 (61): Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest
Basham Jr. is one tough customer off the edge who just found ways to produce. He finished the last three seasons at Wake Forest with 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks.
The Bills have a deep and talented group of edge players and Basham could be a future starter for them.
3 (93): Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Spencer Brown has starting right tackle potential and showed just how hard he’s been working with the FCS 2020 season moved to Spring 2021 when he showed up at the Senior Bowl stone-walling guys. He then ran a 4.92 in the 40-yard dash at 6-foot-8, over 300 pounds. With his athleticism and physicality, I think he eventually ends up as a longtime starting tackle for some team.
5 (161): Tommy Doyle, OT, Miami (OH)
At 6-foot-8, 320 pounds, Doyle is yet another impressive and massive athlete for the Bills. Buffalo emphasized the trenches with their top four picks and if you let these four guys off the bus first, teams are going to be intimidated. Doyle has an impressive combination of athleticism and length.
6 (203): Marquez Stephenson, WR, Houston
Stephenson is a speedy receiver who offers a big-time threat in the return game with three kickoff return touchdowns in the last two seasons.
6 (212): Damar Hamlin, S, Pittsburgh
Hamlin has ideal special teams upside in the immediate with the type of aggressive play to eventually be a factor in the rotation at safety. He had 27 pass breakups and six interceptions for Pitt.
6 (213): Rachad Wildgoose, CB, Wisconsin
With 14 pass breakups in his first two seasons at Wisconsin, Wildgoose showed intriguing ball skills before only playing two games this past season. The Bills will hope to extract the best out of him as a developmental cornerback prospect who lacks elite traits.
7 (236): Jack Anderson, OL, Texas Tech
Anderson started at right guard for Texas Tech and was a team captain. He has short arms but he can make blocks in space.
2 (58): Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
The Chiefs didn’t have a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it didn’t end up mattering. They wound up getting two guys with some borderline first-round value starting with Nick Bolton.
Anthony Hitchens’ days are likely numbered with this pick as Bolton offers three-down upside and a really strong option to pair up with last year’s second-round pick Willie Gay Jr. Those two guys bring speed, speed, speed to the table.
2 (63): Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
For a long stretch of time, Humphrey was thought to be the top interior lineman in this entire class. The Chiefs getting him at 63 overall is nothing short of highway robbery. Humphrey is a plug-and-play type of center and he’s looked like a pro for a couple of years now with the Sooners.
4 (144): Joshua Kaindoh, EDGE, Florida State
Injuries absolutely crushed Kaindoh’s possibility to produce at Florida State, but the traits are there with this guy to come off the edge and be a threat as a pass rusher.
5 (162): Noah Gray, TE, Duke
Gray projected as a better pro than college player anyway, but he landed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
This pick will look like a steal sooner rather than later.
5 (181): Cornell Powell, WR, Clemson
Powell led Clemson with 16.6 yards per catch this past season and he has intriguing upside with his physical style of play.
6 (226): Trey Smith, OL, Tennessee
One of the steals of the draft, the Chiefs could have a day one starting left guard on their hands if it weren’t for their newfound depth on the offensive line. Smith has some health concerns but his tape is that of a top-100 pick.
1 (32): Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington
The rich get richer. The Buccaneers truly came into the 2021 NFL Draft with zero roster needs after bringing back the entire team that won it all last season. When you’re not in need, it’s never a bad idea to invest in positions of high value in general, and that’s what they did with Joe Tryon.
Although he opted out of 2020, he’s got EDGE1 caliber traits and should be a factor in the rotation with Shaquill Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul immediately.
2 (64): Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
Trask doesn’t blow anyone away with his arm talent or athleticism, but he has shown incredible grit throughout his football career. He wasn’t his team’s starter in high school but managed to still get a shot at Florida and wound up as one of the most productive single-season passers in SEC history this past season.
3 (95): Robert Hainsey, OL, Notre Dame
As a possible inside or outside player at the next level, I really like Robert Hainsey’s potential. Although there’s no guarantee of this happening, I could see him being Tampa Bay’s eventual starting right tackle with Tristan Wirfs moving to the left side.
If not, he projects well to the inside as well and offers depth.
4 (129): Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas
In just nine games this past season, Jaelon Darden had 19 touchdown receptions and averaged 16.1 yards per catch. He was a big-time playmaker and despite his small frame, he brings explosive playmaking ability to the next level. This is a very fun pick for a loaded offense.
5 (176): KJ Britt, LB, Auburn
A thick inside linebacker prospect, Britt is more of a two-down run-stopping type than his new peers in the Tampa Bay linebacker corps, who excel on all three downs.
7 (251): Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU
At 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Wilcox has an impressive frame for the cornerback position and athleticism to match. The big issue with him? Zero interceptions in 41 games at BYU. He didn’t get a ton of balls thrown his way but that is still notable and perhaps a leading reason he fell to the seventh round despite his traits.
7 (259): Grant Stuard, LB, Houston
In the seventh round you want guys whose game can translate to special teams in the NFL, and Stuard is one of those types.
2 (56): D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
Eskridge really made a name for himself this past season and then put his skill on display at the 2021 Senior Bowl practices ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He gives Seattle another weapon offensively with tremendous speed and ability to win vertically, but he needs to improve his all-around route running. Eskridge is undersized but he plays physical for his size.
4 (137): Tre Brown, DB, Oklahoma
With 35 career pass breakups, you know Tre Brown is going to be able to play coverage at the next level. He’s coming off of a great season for the Sooners and had an awesome pro day ay workout, running a 4.40 with a 38-inch vertical jump.
In time, I think he could develop into a tremendous slot corner.
6 (208): Stone Forsythe, OL, Florida
Some teams really liked Stone Forsythe out of Florida, and it was surprising to see him fall to the sixth round.
He’s a massive tackle prospect at 6-foot-8, and he excelled in pass protection at Florida. With a couple of starts at right tackle and a lot of them on the left side, he offers immediate swing tackle upside for Seattle.
2 (57): Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
From their Malibu draft headquarters, the Los Angeles Rams brought in another small but explosive playmaker with their top draft choice. Atwell follows Cooper Kupp (2017) and Van Jefferson (2020) as day two draft selections at wide receiver for this Rams team which also brought in DeSean Jackson as a free agent in 2021.
3 (103): Ernest Jones, LB, South Carolina
An instinctive linebacker, to say the least, Jones led South Carolina in tackles each of the last two seasons. Jones has outstanding length and explosiveness for the linebacker positions, but will he hold up in coverage?
4 (117): Bobby Brown, DL, Texas A&M
Although the 2021 NFL Draft defensive line class was not renowned by any means, the Rams may have a steal in Texas A&M defensive tackle Bobby Brown. At 6-foot-4, 321 pounds, Brown has freakish length (35-inch arms) and athletic traits. I think he could end up being one of the top steals of this class after breaking out in 2020 with 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
4 (130): Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas
Rochell has been touted as one of the best small-school prospects in America the past couple of years after picking off 10 passes (including 9 between 2018-19) in his first three collegiate seasons.
Rochell has all of the physical tools to be a starting outside corner in the NFL and if he takes to NFL coaching, he will be yet another steal for this Rams team.
4 (141): Jacob Harris, WR, UCF
Although he’s 24 and is certainly somewhat of a project, Jacob Harris is a freak of nature athletically (are you catching that theme with the Rams’ draft?). He’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, runs a 4.40, and posted a 41-inch vertical jump.
In addition to his traits, Harris had eight touchdown catches this past year at UCF. Maybe Harris could be an answer to losing Gerald Everett in free agency with his WR/TE tweener projection.
5 (174): Earnest Brown, EDGE, Northwestern
Brown is a physical defensive end prospect who, unlike some of his peers in this class, lacks elite measurable traits. The Rams will hope he can develop into a rotational defensive end who can set that edge.
7 (233): Jake Funk, RB, Maryland
Funk is going to give the Rams a high-effort special teams player with intriguing traits and potential at the running back position.
7 (249): Ben Skowronek, WR, Notre Dame
Skowronek spent a few years at Northwestern before transferring to Notre Dame and he had success at both spots, leading Northwestern in receiving in 2017 and leading the Irish in touchdown catches in 2020. He’s a big-bodied receiver who can block and play special teams.
7 (252): Chris Garrett, DL, Concordia-St. Paul
An All-American in the small-school ranks, Garrett racked up a whopping 48.5 tackles for loss, 36.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, and 9 passes broken up as he absolutely lived in the backfield. We’ll see if that production can translate to the NFL level.
3 (67): Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
The Houston Texans continue to send signals that they will ultimately be moving on from Deshaun Watson with their top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Despite not having a selection in the first two rounds, the Texans used their first pick in this draft on a guy who had 11 college starts. They are really banking on his potential here and while you can never actually over-invest at quarterback, Houston seems to be reaching quite a bit here.
3 (89): Nico Collins, WR, Michigan
Although Nico Collins’ game is very fun and he consistently popped off the tape when I was watching Donovan Peoples-Jones a couple of years ago, the Texans’ decision to trade up for him and give up three picks to do so is curious. Collins is a big-bodied receiver who can win contested-catch situations with regularity.
5 (147): Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami
This was a tremendous value for Houston, really their first great value of the 2021 NFL Draft in total.
Brevin Jordan didn’t test as well as many had hoped but his tape is very good especially in the passing game. David Culley wants to get tight ends involved in the passing game and we know this based on his work with the Ravens as their passing game coordinator. Jordan could benefit greatly from that early on.
5 (170): Garret Wallow, LB, TCU
The Texans will hope that Wallow can follow a similar career trajectory to that of someone like Matt Milano. Wallow is an undersized linebacker who split time as a linebacker and safety at TCU and was highly productive. He should, at the very least, be a core special teams player early on.
6 (195): Roy Lopez, DL, Arizona
Although he’s not the complete package in terms of size and length, Roy Lopez packs a big-time punch. He’s got a wrestling background and it comes across in his game. He missed significant time in 2019 due to injury but bounced back in 2020.