Are you ready for the NFL Draft?

2021 NFL Draft: First Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 28, 2021

1.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence, 6’6”, 220lbs, QB, Clemson, Jr.

04/25/21 - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

04/12/21 - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

03/18/21 - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

03/13/21 - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

02/17/21 - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

02/07/21 - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Urban Meyer has a track record of rebuilding programs, but to this point, it’s been at the collegiate level.  So why would the 1-15 Jaguars be the franchise that lures Meyer away from a seven-figure contract sitting next to Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart on a college football studio analyst on Fox?  Meyer clearly has nothing left to prove and his legacy is intact.  He’s won three National Championships, seven conference championships, three Coach of the Year Awards, while also coaching a No. 1 overall pick (Alex Smith, 2005) and a Heisman Trophy winner (Tim Tebow, 2007).  Having the chance to work with a potential generational talent in Trevor Lawrence might just do it.  Add in WR’s DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault and RB James Robinson and Meyer and new GM Trent Baalke have some tools to work with on the offensive side of the ball.  Lawrence has the size and arm talent you look for in a QB, does a tremendous job processing defenses and going through progressions and has above-average athleticism to make plays with his legs.  Throw in his leadership skills off the field and this selection is a no-brainer.  Lawrence came to Clemson, SC with a ton of hype around him and when he took the starting QB spot away from Kelly Bryant his freshman season, there was no looking back for the Tigers, a team that went to the CFP three years in a row, including two championship appearances and one National Title.  Lawrence is a 66.7% passer and threw for 10,098 yards in three seasons, with a staggering 90-17 TD to Int. ratio.  Lawrence has the arm strength to make every throw in the NFL route tree.  It’s impressive to watch him throw down the field from the near hash to the wide side of the field on a line.  He also has the touch to fit the ball into tight windows.  His corner routes are perfect in that he gets the pass over the LB and in front of the Safety, dropping the ball in the bucket where only his man can make a play on the ball.  He’s equally accurate with his slants, putting the ball out in front of his WR so he doesn’t have to break stride.  And then there’ the out routes, where Lawrence throws with anticipation before his man is out of his break.  Simply put, he’s tremendously accurate to all three levels of the field.  But let’s not forget the pocket presence.  Lawrence shows tremendous footwork to avoid pressure in the pocket while keeping his eyes down the field and can make plays off script and outside the pocket.  He also reminds me of Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert in that he’s a tall QB with deceptive speed because of his long strides.  Believe it or not, Lawrence rushed for 943 yards in his three seasons at Clemson with 18 TD, making him a threat in the ground game.  Lawrence is also a winner, leaving Clemson with a 34-2 record.  He also took on a leadership role off the field with the Look, Lawrence doesn’t come without flaws.  He will lock onto his primary weapon at times and doesn’t always see underneath coverage baiting him into making a throw.  However, he can continue to develop his ability to work through progressions at the next level.  It’s clear Lawrence is a franchise QB and should put Jacksonville back on the map in the AFC South.

2.  New York Jets – Zach Wilson, 6’3”, 210lbs, QB, BYU, Jr.

04/25/21 - Zach Wilson, QB BYU

04/12/21 - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

03/18/21 - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

03/13/21 - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

02/17/21 - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

02/07/21 - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

The biggest domino left to fall this offseason finally happened when Joe Douglas and the Jets traded Sam Darnold to Carolina for three picks.  New York now has seven picks in the first two rounds over the next two seasons and Darnold gets the fresh start he so desperately needed.  This is the career-defining moment for Douglas, who now gets his QB under center as Wilson has emerged as the No.2 QB in this draft behind Trevor Lawrence.  Wilson turned some heads as a true freshman in 2018 as a playmaking gunslinger.  However, it was his performance against Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl that solidified his status as a QB to watch.  Wilson finished the season 18-18 for 317 yards and 4 TD with 0 Int., earning MVP honors in a 49-18 win over the Broncos.  As a sophomore, expectations were high for Wilson, who led the Cougars to wins over Tennessee and USC.  However, he battled a shoulder injury and finished the season throwing picks in five of his final six games.  With durability a legitimate concern coming into 2020, many weren’t sure if the Wilson of old would return, but he quickly silenced any doubters.  Wilson finished the season completing 73.5% of his passes for 3,692 yards and 33 TD to just 3 Int., while also compiling 254 yards and 10 TD on the ground.  He threw at least one TD in all 12 games in 2020, with multiple TD passes coming in every game with the exception to their lone loss of the season, as Coastal Carolina held Wilson to just 1 TD pass in the Chanticleers’ 22-17 win over the Cougars.  Wilson is a dynamic passer with tremendous arm strength to push the ball 60+ yards down the field.  He’s very accurate outside the numbers and to the wide side of the field.  His accuracy allows him to put the ball down the field over CB’s who often were in phase where only his man could make a play on the ball.  A perfectly thrown ball always beats blanket coverage and Wilson was proof of that time and time again.  Wilson is also dynamic when the play breaks down.  He can manipulate the pocket by making subtle moves to avoid defenders while keeping his eyes down the field.  Wilson will also beat you on the move, making throws like a shortstop in baseball.  Many QB’s will be very deliberate when they square to a target on the move, with the shoulders and hips squaring to the target.  If you watch Wilson, it’s all one explosive movement, with the shoulders and hips acting in unison, resulting in a very quick delivery on the move that allows him to get the ball out of his hands in a hurry.  There is no quit in this kid and his leadership in crunch time is apparent, which means you also cannot rule him out of any game.  There is no better example of this than the aforementioned game against Coastal Carolina.  Needing to score a TD to win with just 55 seconds to play and the ball at his own 18-yard line, Wilson orchestrated a 7-play, 81-yard drive that included four consecutive 1st downs and culminated in a 17-yard pass to Dax Milne down to the 1-yard line.  His calm under pressure really came through in a two-minute drill run to perfection, even if he did fall one yard short.  Wilson’s gunslinger mentality could get hm into trouble because it appears he truly believes he can complete any throw on the field.  He also takes some unnecessary hits, which can be cause for concern considering the past shoulder issues.  Douglas and Robert Saleh have to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes the previous regime made.  Darnold’s best wideout has been Jamison Crowder, who is probably best suited as a No. 3 receiver working out of the slot.  Corey Davis was brought in to team with Crowder and second-year pro Denzel Mims, who had a promising rookie season.  Expect New York to continue to build around Wilson while also converting the defense to fit Saleh’s 4-3 scheme.  Trading away the No. 3 pick from 2017 is a huge gamble, but Wilson has the skills to be worth the risk.

3.  San Francisco 49ers (from Miami via Houston ) – Mac Jones, 6’3”, 214lbs, QB, Alabama, Jr.

04/25/21 - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

04/12/21 - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

03/18/21 (No. 12) - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
03/13/21 (No. 12) - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
02/17/21 (No. 12) - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
02/07/21 (No. 12) - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

The biggest domino of draft season may have been the Niners going all-in to land their future QB by trading up from No 12 to secure the 3rd overall pick from Miami.  Jimmy Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco has been a rocky one and he’s now on the hot seat as the starter.  Jimmy G is still under contract through the 2022 season, so the Niners won’t necessarily need to replace him next season but adding another QB to the roster will be expected and John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have gone on the record saying Garoppolo will be in a 49er uniform in 2021.  The question is really who the Niners are targeting at No. 3.  Rumor has it Lynch made the trade after watching Zach Wilson at his pro day.  Now, in all likelihood Wilson will be off the board, but San Francisco would be excited to land either Wilson or this mystery QB they covet.  Many feel it’s Mac Jones.  Why?  Well, Shanahan had a lot of success with Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Jones’ ceiling may very well be Matt Ryan.  He also has a photographic memory and his game is on preparation, decision making and pinpoint accuracy.  However, there’s another school of thought that says Shanahan sees that the game is evolving and having a QB who can make plays off platform seems to be the direction the league is going.  Shanahan is a smart guy and you know he can evolve with the game.  Trey Lance has all of the tools to elevate Shanahan’s offense and propel it into the future of the game.  Plus, having Garoppolo on the roster means San Fran won’t have to thrust a 20-year-old with just 17 collegiate starts under his belt into the starting role right away.  I think that there are people in the building intrigued by the athlete that Lance is, but Jones is the perfect fit for Shanahan’s offense, he’s more play action to Lance’s bootleg.  But many feel like trading up to No. 3 was way too high to target Jones, so why on Earth would anyone think this pick is for him and not Lance or Justin Fields?  San Francisco attended the second pro days of both Lance and Fields, likely ensuring they’ve done everything they can to evaluate the three remaining QB’s to ensure they’ve got the guy they want.  In the end, Jones just seems like the perfect fit in Shanahan’s offense.  He won’t need to tweak much to fit Jones’ skill set.  Jones was considered an afterthought at the QB position, a stopgap between Tua and Bryce Young.  All he did was come in, complete 77.4% of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 TD to just 4 Int., good enough to finish 3rd in the Heisman voting while also leading the Crimson Tide to a national title.  Jones completed over 70% of his passes in 11 of the 13 games played, posted five 400-yard games and threw for at least 4 TD on eight occasions.  Now Jones may not be the physical specimen some of the other QB’s are in this draft, but his athleticism is underrated.  In fact, Jones ran 40 times of 4.68 and 4.72 at his first pro day, meaning he has better speed than people give him credit for.  That said the other QB’s at the top of this draft class are better athletes than he is, but it’s his preparation that allows him to read what’s in front of him and throw with anticipation and tremendous ball placement to consistently make plays and will be his calling card at the next level.  Jones gets the ball out in a hurry before the receiver is out of his break and throws his WR open by leading him away from the defender.  He doesn’t rush his throws, allowing the play to develop in front of him, and isn’t afraid to just take what the defense gives him.  Jones is a tremendous play action passer, showing tremendous rhythm and timing after quickly getting his head around to locate the open man.  His pocket presence allows him to manipulate the pocket to avoid the rush, sidestepping pressure and stepping up to find an open man.  One of the big question marks is whether Jones has the arm talent to make all of the necessary throws at the next level.  At his pro day, Jones did his best to answer those questions by showing off his ability to push the ball down the field.  The other big concern is the fact that Jones played with a lineup of five-star recruits, including the Doak Walker Award, Biletnikoff Award, Outland Trophy, oh and the Heisman Trophy winners.  Plus, Steve Sarkisian’s offensive scheme was so advanced, he was playing chess while opposing defenses were playing checkers.  Jones’ O-line kept him clean, his ground game was dominant and his receivers had speed for days that outmatches SEC secondaries.  Can Jones produce anywhere close to what he did in college at the next level or was he simply the product of the Bama machine?  And for as much as we talk about Lance’s lack of experience, Jones actually has started just 13 games, which is four games less than Lance.  But Jones is 22 years of age and has had four years under the tutelage of arguably the greatest college coach of all time in Nick Saban.  There will be considerable pressure on Jones to succeed in San Francisco whenever he does take over from Garoppolo because Shanahan and Lynch passed on Lance and Justin Fields, but he’s used to being the afterthought and proved doubters wrong once, so let’s not count him out a second time. 

4.  Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Pitts, 6'6", 240lbs, TE, Florida, Jr.

04/25/21 - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

04/12/21 - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

03/18/21 - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

03/13/21 - Justin Fields QB, Ohio State

02/17/21 - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

02/07/21 - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Atlanta is just four years removed from their appearance in Super Bowl LI, but after a 4-12 season, Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff are out and Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot are in as HC and GM, respectively.  Bringing in a bright offensive mind like Smith has many in the media speculating that he’ll want to bring in his own guy under center.  Arthur Blank had been non-committal when it came to the future of both Matt Ryan and Julio Jones to start the offseason.  The question will be whether Smith thinks Ryan, who will be 36 years of age at the start of the season, still has enough left in the tank to perform at a high level for the next four to five years.  The argument for Ryan is the fact that he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down, having finished each of the last three seasons in the top five in passing yards and has missed just three games since 2008.  You may point to his QBR of 93.3 in 2020, which was good for 20th in the league, but he was just two years removed from having the league’s 4th-highest QBR of 108.1 in 2018.  Ryan’s contract was restructured this offseason and the move made it more costly to the Falcons if they were to trade him after the season.  That, coupled with the fact that Atlanta has announced it is open to trading the pick makes me believe Smith may not be sold on Justin Fields or Trey Lance to lead his team.  Many think Smith will have an eye to the future, taking advantage of a top-five selection to land one of the draft’s top QB’s like Justin Fields or Trey Lance.  And just because Smith is an offensive-minded head coach doesn’t mean he has to pull the trigger to land “his” QB in the draft right away, especially when he has a QB who just four years ago was the league MVP.  The losing ways really haven’t been Ryan’s fault either, rather it’s been a defense that has finished no higher than 20th in total defense in four of the last five seasons and has been in the bottom third in the league in sacks since 2018.  Adding a versatile playmaker on defense like Micah Parsons or a lockdown corner like Patrick Surtain II shouldn’t be ruled out, but not at No. 4.  If the Falcons want to go defense in Round One, they trade down with a team looking for a QB.  If Atlanta stays at No. 4, they could easily be looking to make history with this pick.  Atlanta returns their top four WR targets Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, Russell Gage and Olamide Zaccheaus, while TE Hayden Hurst finished fourth on the team in receiving.  However, for as productive as Hurst was a season ago, he’s not the type of playmaker Travis Kelce has been for KC.  In a WR corps with Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson, it was Kelce who was Patrick Mahomes’ most reliable and dynamic weapon in 2020.  Kelce was especially key in the postseason, where he racked up 31 receptions for 360 yards and 3 TD in just three games of action.  When Mahomes needed a big play on offense, he went to Kelce.  Kyle Pitts can be the same type of weapon for Matt Ryan.  Pitts is so unique as a prospect because at 6’6” and 240 pounds, he ran a 4.46 40, not quite as fast as Vernon Davis’ 4.38 40 in 2006, but when you take into account the fact that Pitts is three inches taller than Davis, it’s still quite impressive.  Pitts certainly would not be the first TE take in the top 10, but he could be the first TE ever taken in the top five as Davis and Kellen Winslow, Jr. currently hold the record for the highest draft position for a TE at No. 6 overall.  While it’s hard to imagine a TE going in the top five, Pitts is not your typical TE prospect.  How often do you see a TE not only win the Mackey Award for the top TE, but also be named a Biletnikoff Award finalist for the nation’s top WR?  Few players present the type of mismatch against a defense that we see with Pitts.  Most TE prospects are too fast for LB’s and too big for DB’s, but what happens when they’re also too big for LB’s and too fast for DB’s?  Pitts also has an insane catch radius with a nearly seven-foot wingspan, which is longer than any WR and TE in the last 20 years.  All you need to do is throw the ball up and let Pitts elevate and use that length to extend over any DB to haul in the pass.  Pitts also shows the ability to adjust to the ball in the air and showcases strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air.  Even though he missed time due to a concussion, Pitts still hauled in 43 passes for 770 yards and TD in just 8 games.  In a receiving corps that included the likes of Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes, Pitts was clearly Kyle Trask’s favorite target.  Pitts finished with at least 5 receptions in six of his eight games and tallied multiple TD’s in three games, including a 4-TD game to kick off the year against Mississippi.  Pitts’ presence will inevitably put serious stress on defenses already having to deal with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley on the outside.  Pitts also showed he can be a good teammate and be unselfish as a blocker on the outside to spring his teammates for big gains and showed improvement as an inline blocker both in the running game and in pass protection.  If Smith and Fontenot want to make a statement, Pitts is the pick.

5.  Cincinnati Bengals –Penei Sewell, 6’6”, 331lbs, OT, Oregon, Jr.

04/25/21 - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU

04/12/21 - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU

03/18/21 - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

03/13/21 - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

02/17/21 - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

02/07/21 - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Zac Taylor entered the 2020 season optimistic that the Bengals would improve upon their 2-14 record from the prior season, especially considering reigning Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow was coming home to Ohio.  Burrow was 2-7-1 in 10 starts for Cincy and while he did complete over 64% of his passes for 2,868 yards and 13 TD to just 5 Int., he also led the league in sacks (32) and hits (72) during that time.  In Week 11 against Washington, Burrow dropped back to pass deep in his own zone with Chase Young and Montez Sweat coming off the corners in a hurry, he tried to deliver a pass down the sideline when a third D-lineman Jonathan Allen came up the middle and hit the QB low.  Burrow tore his left ACL and MCL and sustained other structural damage, ending what was a promising rookie season to that point.  Taking care of the team’s franchise QB should be Taylor’s primary objective this offseason, so addressing a line that gave up 51 sacks last season should be the primary objective this offseason.  Second-year OT Jonah Williams has shown promise, but a right knee injury cut his season short last year.  Bobby Hart and Hakeem Adeniji, who filled in for Williams following the injury, combined to give up 8 sacks on 1,105 snaps, meaning an upgrade will be needed at the other OT spot.  Then there’s the interior of the line, as Michael Jordan, Billy Price and Quinton Spain combined to rack up 9 penalties and 5 sacks given up.  Riley Reiff was brought in because of his versatility to play multiple positions.  You can expect Reiff to occupy the RT position, but could slide over to LT in the event Williams goes down and could also kick inside to OG if an upgrade is needed there.  However, the 32-year-old signed just a one-year deal, so you can imagine he’s not the long-term solution.  Penei Sewell has been penciled in as the pick here for quite some time.  But Burrow has been asking to be reunited with Ja’Marr Chase, especially given the departures of both AJ Green and John Ross.  Imagine teaming Chase with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins on the outside.  It doesn’t solve the issues up front, but Cincy gets their No. 1 WR and can still land a lineman in Round 2.  One other reason why I’m thinking Chase could be the pick here is the fact that Cincy already traded for TE Thaddeus Moss, who was Burrow’s teammate at LSU.  Why not continue to surround him with familiar faces in the passing game, then land the top OT on the board at the top of Round 2.  And the connection he developed with Burrow with the Tigers was undeniable.  Having a chance to recreate it in the NFL may be good to pass up.  I just think priority No. 1 should be the health of their franchise QB.  Sewell solidified himself as a top OT prospect after not allowing a single sack on 936 pass blocking snaps in 2019 and just one over 1,376 career snaps in his two seasons with the Ducks.  He offers physicality and a body type reminiscent of former No. 5 overall selection and Pro Bowl OG Brandon Scherff, himself a collegiate OT, so I could even see Sewell sliding inside to OG.  There is a need at RG, so you could conceivably bring in Sewell to start at RG next to Reiff and then slide over to RT.  Many in the Draft Twitter community find reps of Sewell tripping or losing his balance and use that for the narrative that Sewell has poor footwork and therefore is not an elite prospect.  However, they miss all the reps where Sewell fires out of his stance quickly, sets up in a hurry with proper knee bend while up on the balls of his feet, sliding quickly and effortlessly with good footwork and an ability to change directions to pick up secondary moves.  If anything, you can argue Sewell was dominant in spite of inconsistent footwork, which furthers his draft stock because the footwork can be cleaned up at the next level.  Sewell is also very physical at the point of attack, showing tremendous power in his hands to jolt the man in front of him and shows the grip strength needed to sustain his blocks.  He can be a road grader in the ground game and can redirect speed rushers in pass protection.  Sewell won the 2019 Outland Trophy as a 19-year-old with just 20 games under his belt, which means he is just scratching the surface on his potential.

6.  Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia) – Ja’Marr Chase, 6’0”, 208lbs, WR, LSU, Jr.

04/25/21 - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

04/12/21 - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

03/18/21 (No. 3)- DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
03/13/21 (No. 3) - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
02/17/21 (No. 3) - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
02/07/21 (No. 3) - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Miami was much better than expected under second-year HC Brian Flores finishing the year just out of playoffs with a 10-6 record and now have two picks in Round One thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade to Houston in August 2019.  Tua Tagovailoa was just okay last year and though he finished with a 6-3 record and completed 64.3% of his passes in his nine starts, Tua managed just 11 TD to 5 Int. while averaging just 181.4 passing yards per game.  There have already been grumblings about whether Tua can be the face of the franchise.  This pick will be used to give Tua some help, whether it’s up front or on the outside.  Penei Sewell would round out the offensive line, while Ja’Marr Chase, Kyle Pitts, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle would give Tua a go-to wideout on the outside.  Austin Jackson ranked among the lowest among OT’s according to Pro Football Focus, but last year’s 18th overall pick still offered some promise.  Adding Sewell would allow Jackson to move to the right side to give Miami a pair of bookends protecting Tua.  However, adding a top playmaker at WR might be the better play.  DeVante Parker was the team’s top target last season, but he's not a No. 1 wideout, and frankly neither are Preston Williams or the newly signed Will Fuller.  Miami could be looking to reunite Tua with one of his Bama teammates in Smith or Waddle, but if the Bengals don’t take Chase at No. 5, he has to be the pick here.  Adding Chase to a WR corps that already has Fuller, Parker, Williams and Lynn Bowden, Jr. gives Tua plenty of weapons in 2021.  All the hype surrounding DeVonta Smith’s Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2020 is well deserved but for as remarkable a season as Smith had in 2020, many forget that just one year prior, Chase put up staggering numbers of his own, catching 84 passes from Burrow for 1,780 yards, an average of 21.2 yards per reception, and 20 TD.  Chase ran a 4.38 40 at his Pro Day and when you combine that with the 41-inch vertical leap and a broad jump over 11 feet, the elite explosiveness you see on tape holds up.  Unlike other WR’s in this draft where you may have to run plays to help spring a receiver all you need to do is line Chase up on the outside and you can rest easy knowing he can beat the man he’s lined up against.  Chase doesn’t have tremendous size, but he plays much bigger than his frame would suggest.  He’s physical in his route running and does a really good job bullying DB’s to generate late separation.  He’s not known for the route running we’ve seen from Justin Jefferson, but he is so good working off the line of scrimmage, using an array of releases and hand work to fight through press coverage.  Once he gets his release, he uses his body positioning to allow him to be the only one to make a play on the ball.  He does a tremendous job coming back to the ball and will fight through contact to pluck the ball out of the air.  Once the ball is in his hands, Chase has a knack for feeling the positioning of the defense and turning away to avoid the defender so he can get up the field.  Chase is also dynamic in the open field because he’s so difficult to bring down when he has the ball in his hands.  Chase would give Tua his No. 1 go-to target on the outside and would solidify the WR group for the Dolphins.

7.  Detroit Lions – Jaylen Waddle, 5’10”, 182lbs, WR, Alabama, Jr.

04/25/21 - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

04/12/21 - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

03/18/21 - Ja'Marr Chase, 6'0", 208lbs, WR, LSU, Jr.

03/13/21 - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU

02/17/21 - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

02/07/21 - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
It didn’t take long for the new regime in Detroit to make a splash this offseason by moving on from Matthew Stafford by trading him to the Rams for Jared Goff and a number of draft picks.  Now the Lions can use this pick to go in any of a number of directions.  While Detroit finished with the 20th-ranked offense, it had the league’s worst defense and was 30th against the pass giving up 319.8 yards per game.  To make matters worse, Romeo Okwara and Everson Griffen, who finished with 13.5 of the team’s 24 sacks, are free agents and may not be back.  There isn’t a sure thing at Edge Rusher this year like Chase Young from a season ago, but Gregory Rousseau and Kwity Paye will each garner consideration here.  Pro Football Focus indicated that none of the five LB’s that saw significant snaps received a grade over 65.0.  So, Micah Parsons will get a long look here as well.  If Detroit decides to turn to the offensive side of the ball, they just might look to secure another weapon for their newly acquired QB, especially considering Kenny Golladay is now in New York with the Giants and Marvin Jones signed with Jacksonville.  The fact that Danny Amendola and Mohamed Sanu are still free agents furthered the need to address the position, as it that left Quintez Cephus as the only WR on the roster with at least 15 receptions in 2020.  The Lions did sign Breshaud Perriman and Tyrell Williams, but neither can stretch defenses in the way Jaylen Waddle has.  Having a reliable downfield weapon will be critical to Goff’s success and Waddle will definitely be a No. 1 WR at the next level.  However, Dan Campbell and Brad Hopkins also understand that keeping Goff upright will be the key to the franchise’s success and having the opportunity to land the cornerstone of their OL would be huge.  When Dan Campbell talked about Halapoulivaati Vaitai moving inside to OG for the upcoming season, that pointed to there being a void at RT.  Tyrell Crosby will get the first crack at the starting spot, but he feels more like a swing tackle.    Penei Sewell has been putting in work this offseason at RT, which is where he’d likely line up for Detroit opposite Taylor Decker if he’s on the board.  If he’s gone, then Rashawn Slater would garner consideration as well.  However, I think the WR position must be addressed multiple times in this draft and the chance to get a dynamic playmaker on the outside who has drawn comparisons to Tyreek Hill based on his size, suddenness and all out speed has to win out here.  Don’t overthink things.  Waddle was “the 4th WR” in 2019 in a WR room that included Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith.  However, he seemed to be the most explosive of the group.  As a junior in 2020, Waddle hauled in 26 passes for 591 yards, averaging 21.1 yards per catch and 4 TD, two of those going for 80 yards or longer.  He even showed the determination to return from an ankle injury sustained on the opening kickoff against Tennessee in October in time for the National Title Game.  Waddle will also be a factor in the return game, especially with Jamal Agnew and Amendola no longer in the picture.  Waddle, who has returned two punts and one kick for TD in his first two seasons with the Tide, is so sudden in the open field, making cuts up the field without losing any speed.  He can be a difference maker and will give Goff a legit vertical threat.

8.  Carolina Panthers – Christian Darrisaw, 6’5”, 314lbs, OT, Virginia Tech, Jr.

04/25/21 - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

04/12/21 - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

03/18/21 - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

03/13/21 - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

02/17/21 - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

02/07/21 - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
I expect the Panthers to be a team that trades down with a QB-needy team, secure additional draft capital in the process.  Look, wherever he’s been, Matt Rhule has been known for quickly turning teams around and after a 5-11 record in his first season with Carolina, expectations are high for him to take a big jump with the Panthers in 2021, which is why the additional draft capital will help.  It wasn’t a secret that the Panthers wanted to secure their franchise QB this offseason.  Teddy Bridgewater was brought into run OC Joe Brady’s offense after signing a three-year $63 million deal last offseason.  While he may have had career highs in completion percentage (69.1%) and passing yards (3,733), Bridgewater doesn’t appear to be more than a serviceable QB.  All signs pointed to Rhule targeting Mac Jones considering he was gushing about the Bama QB after coaching him during the Senior Bowl.  However, Carolina landed their franchise QB just a few weeks before the draft by sending three picks to the Jets for Sam Darnold, who now is reunited with Robby Anderson, who along with DJ Moore racked up 1,000 receiving yards apiece this past season.  Add Christian McCaffrey to the picture and Darnold already has more weapons than he had in New York and his addition allowed the Panthers to trade Bridgewater to the Broncos a day before the draft.  This move allows the Panthers to address another key need.  Getting tougher up front was the focus of Carolina’s early picks last year, lining up Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos in the first two rounds of the draft.  I expect Rhule to do the same this year.  Taylor Moton was brought back under the franchise tag to man the RT position, signed Pat Elflein to take over at OG as well as Cam Erving, who can line up all along the line.  However, with Russell Okung gone and Greg Little not the best option to protect Darnold’s blind side, so an easy way to ease concerns would be to draft Darrisaw, who may be the best pure pass protector in this draft.  Darrisaw started every game but one (during his freshman season) in three seasons with the Hokies.  During that time, he’s displayed tremendous agility as a pass protector.  He’s balanced, is a natural knee bender and is very smooth with his kick slide.  As a junior, Darrisaw gave up just six pressures and did not give up a sack, so the proof is in the video.  Darrisaw could add some power and strength to generate more movement at the point of attack in the run game, but his athleticism is on display when he’s asked to get out and pull in front of the RB or when he climbs to the second level.  Rhule clearly has a game plan and solidifying the trenches through the last two drafts will go a long way and Darrisaw feels like he’s the missing link up front.

9.  Denver Broncos –Micah Parsons, 6’3”, 246lbs, LB, Penn State, Jr.

04/25/21 - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

04/12/21 - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

03/18/21 - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

03/13/21 - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

02/17/21 - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

02/07/21 - Caleb Farley. CB, Virginia Tech
Denver’s first pick will come down to whether new GM George Paton is willing to give Drew Lock one more year to prove he can be a franchise QB.  If the answer is no, the Broncos may decide to target Justin Fields here, even after trading for Teddy Bridgewater, although that moves makes taking Fields seem a bit more unlikely.  What happens if Penei Sewell is still on the board at No. 9?  Ja’Wuan James signed a four-year $51 million contract in 2019, but he missed all but three games in his first year, then opted out due to Covid-19 in 2020.  James is now entering the third year of his deal and is expected to return as the starting RT, but he can’t be counted on.  Plus, he can be released next spring and Denver can save $21 million over two years.  It may be tempting, but I think the Broncos can take advantage of a deep draft class and will opt for an OT on Day 2.  I think Vic Fangio may want to use this pick to address his defense which finished 25th in the league a season ago.  Denver entered the offseason with question marks in the secondary, but the Broncos kept safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson and turned to free agency to address the CB position by signing Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller to team with Bryce Callahan.  Von Miller is coming off a peroneal tendon tear in his ankle that put him on IR before the season began, but Denver opted to exercise his option in 2021 to bring the 32-year-old back.  Fangio is expecting Miller to return to form and be the menace he always has been, teaming up with Bradley Chubb to put constant pressure on the QB.  Josey Jewell had a solid season in 2020, while Alexander Johnson led the team with over 120 tackles.  Throw in the fact that former 5th Round pick Justin Strnad has potential and it may seem clear why Denver did not choose to upgrade the LB position in free agency.  However, Johnson and Jewell are free agents at the end of the season and Strnad has yet to play an NFL game due to injury.  Micah Parsons is the premier LB in this year’s draft and it’s his versatility that will allow him to play wherever Fangio needs him, whether it’s inside with either Jewell or AJ Johnson or filling in for Miller on the outside.  Fangio will have to decide if adding Parsons is worth the risk from a culture standpoint as he was mentioned in a hazing incident while at Penn State and was involved in a fight with a teammate the resulted in a knife being pulled.  His maturity and character have been called into question so Fangio and Paton have to be sure they’re convinced he’s learned from the incidents and matured.  Parsons came to Penn State as an edge rusher and really had to get used to playing the LB position.  In 2018, Parsons was a Freshman All-American after leading the team in tackles with 83 even though he only started one of Penn State’s 13 games.  Parsons again led the team in tackles as a sophomore with 109, 14 going for loss, along with 5 sacks, 5 pass breakups and tied for 4th in the FBS with 4 forced fumbles.  He was a 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-Big 10 selection and the conference’s LB of the Year.  Big things were expected of Parsons in 2020 until the pandemic hit and he ultimately opted to sit out the season and prepare for the draft.  There is no question Parsons is an elite athlete.  Just look at the staggering 4.39 40 at 6’3” and 246 pounds and you’ll understand why NFL teams are excited about him.  Parsons has tremendous range because of that speed and arrives in such a hurry that he can over pursue or lose gap integrity.  He wants to take on blocks with reckless abandon rather than offer up technique.  He’ll have to learn that being patient as a LB isn’t a bad thing.  Don’t always turn and run when you can stay square and scrape over the top.  The lateral agility is impressive as Parsons will bounce from gap to gap in search of the ball and can change directions on a dime.  He’s also tremendously effective as a wrap-up tackler in the hole and in the open field.  Maybe his biggest strength is as a pass rusher.  Teams will inevitably look to turn Parsons loose on 3rd downs in getting after the QB because he has a tremendous burst, bends well off the edge and can flatten out in a hurry to get to the QB and shoots gaps downhill in a hurry to get to the QB up the middle.  Parsons is still learning in coverage, but he has shown he can drop and has the athleticism to handle man coverage.  Does he get lost in coverage?  Sure, he does.  But you see the level of production and the flashes of star potential at a position where he’s still learning.  It reminds me of Devin White, who came to LSU as a RB before moving to the LB position and learned on the fly for much of his time with the Tigers.  White still became the No. 5 overall pick and is now one of the best young LB’s in the league.  I think Parsons can do the same for the Broncos.

10.  Dallas Cowboys –Patrick Surtain II, 6'2", 202lbs, CB, Alabama, Jr.

04/25/21 - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

04/12/21 - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

03/18/21 - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

03/13/21 - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

02/17/21 - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

02/07/21 - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Any chance at a successful season went out the window the moment Dak Prescott went down with a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle Week 5 against the Giants.  However, Prescott was signed to his long-term deal, so the Cowboys can focus on either the OL or secondary with this pick.  If you look at the O-line on paper it looks like the Cowboys are all set with four of the five starters (minus Connor Williams) signed through at least the 2023 season.  However, with injuries shortening the season for Tyron Smith, La’el Collins and Zack Martin, Dallas could use an insurance policy and Rashawn Slater’s five-position versatility fits the bill.  Slater could line up wherever is needed on the line during his rookie season then take over as Smith’s eventual replacement.  Tyron Smith has been a mainstay at LT for the Cowboys, but he saw his streak of seven consecutive Pro Bowls end this past season after a neck injury requiring surgery cut down his season after just two games.  2020 was the fifth consecutive season that Smith has missed at least four games due to injury.  When Smith went down, the OL was just not the same.  When healthy, Smith is one of the top OT’s in the league, but how much longer can his body hold up?  If the OL returns to health in 2021, the Cowboys will inevitably turn to the defensive side of the ball, where they struggled last season.  The LB position needs an infusion of life as Jaylon Smith has underperformed since signing his big deal while Leighton Vander Esch can’t seem to stay healthy.  Jamin Davis is the hot name rising up draft boards, especially after he put up freakish numbers at this pro day, so don’t rule out Jerry Jones going with the hype.  I still believe the CB position has become the bigger need now that Chidobe Awuzie left in free agency.  Trevon Diggs was taken with the 51st pick in last year’s draft and finished with 3 Int. and 15 pass breakups, leading the team in both categories.  Reuniting Diggs with Surtain II, his former running mate at Bama, would give the Cowboys a chance to shore up the back end of their defense.  Surtain II is certainly following in his father’s footsteps.  Patrick Surtain was an 11-year vet with the Dolphins and Chiefs, a three-time Pro Bowler and a 1st Team All-Pro selection in 2002.  In a six-year span from 2000-2005, the elder Surtain picked off at least 3 passes and racked up double-digit pass breakups.  You know that dad passed the football IQ down to his son as his instincts are off the charts.  He shows great awareness and an understanding of route concepts.  He’ll sit on a route to try and bait a QB into making the throw.  Surtain II uses his size to his advantage as a physical press corner, getting his hands on the WR to jam and reroute.  Surtain’s strength was on display at his Pro Day, repping out 225 pounds 18 times and he has nice straight-line speed for his size having posted a 4.46 40.  The strength is evident throughout the route and the speed allows him to stay in the receiver’s hip pocket off the line.  Surtain II has the length and ball skills to make plays at the catch point.  While Surtain II didn’t see a ton of action his way, he still came away with 4 Int. and 24 pass breakups.  Surtain II does get himself into trouble when he gets a bit overconfident at times and his lack of short-area quickness exposes him in off coverage as he tends to give up way too many yards in off coverage, often arriving a step too late to make a play.  He can be a physical tackler when coming downhill and isn’t afraid to mix it up behind the line of scrimmage, finishing his career with 6 TFL.  Surtain II and Diggs would give Dallas a pair of physical press corners who like to lock down their side of the field.

11.  New York Giants - Jaylen Waddle, 5’10”, 182lbs, WR, Alabama, Jr.

04/25/21 - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

04/12/21 - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

03/18/21 - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

03/13/21 - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

02/17/21 - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

02/07/21 - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Joe Judge was just one win away from winning the NFC East in his first season in New York.  You could tell that Judge and Dave Gettleman were strategic in free agency.  Even though Darius Slayton and Evan Engram finished first and third in receiving yards, Daniel Jones’ biggest targets combined to rack up 16 drops (Engram 11, Slayton 5).  Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate were the other two top receiving targets and while they were much more reliable (1 drop each), neither is over six feet tall and neither is known for stretching defenses.  So, what do the G-men do?  They go out and get a No. 1 in the 6’4” Kenny Golladay and are taking a chance on John Ross, the Combine record holder with a blistering 4.22 40.  Engram needed help at the TE position, so in comes veteran Kyle Rudolph, who can be more of an inline TE, which will allow Engram to split out more often.  Saquon Barkley needed a true backup with Wayne Gallman, Dion Lewis and Alfred Morris all entering free agency and they found it in Devontae Booker.  Defensively, they locked up Leonard Williams up front, brought in Ryan Anderson and Ifeadi Odenigbo to take over as edge rushers and signed former 1st Round corner Adoree’ Jackson to team with James Bradberry, Jabril Peppers and Logan Ryan, giving New York one of the top secondaries in the league.  There are two spots the Giants have yet to address, which will be the top two needs here at No. 11.  The first is up front, where Williams and Dexter Lawrence could use some help.  Kwity Paye is scheme versatile and would be a nice fit along the front.  The other is at LB and there’s a chance Micah Parsons is available here.  I know there’s concern about his character as Parsons’ name appeared in a hazing lawsuit last season filed by a former Penn State player against Penn State and HC James Franklin.  Parsons was never charged or named as a defendant in the suit, but it’s still a red flag regarding his character that teams will have to flush out.  The Giants will have someone close to the Nittany Lion program in the coaches room as DL coach Sean Spencer was a coach at PSU through 2019.  Parsons would make a ton of sense next to the steady Blake Martinez.  This may be a bit early for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but if the G-men trade down, they’d probably be in the right range for the versatile playmaker.  There’s one final position of need and that’s along the offensive line.  If Judge wants to take the next step, he needs to get help up front for Daniel Jones.  The jury is still out on the former No.6 overall pick in the 2019 Draft.  While he improved his completion percentage to 62.5%, his TD to Int. ratio (11 TD, 10 Int.) left little to be desired, racked up double digit fumbles for the second consecutive year and averaged just 10.5 yards per completion.  A lot of Jones’ shortcomings were due to his O-line, which struggled to keep him upright.  Yes, New York took Andrew Thomas with the 4th overall pick a season ago, but the line needs serious help, especially with Kevin Zeitler out of the picture.  Will Hernandez, Shane Lemieux and the newly signed Zach Fulton will battle it out at OG while developmental OT Matt Peart is preparing to start on the right side.  Then there’s Nick Gates, a converted OT, manning the center position, and 32-year-old Nate Solder who opted out of 2020 due to Covid-19 and is still under contract for two more years.  Simply put, there’s a ton of uncertainty, meaning Alijah Vera-Tucker should be in play here.  However, I do believe this pick will   ultimately come down to the best player available and in this situation it would actually be Smith, who brings a dynamic New York hasn’t had at WR.  Smith dominated the competition in 2020, finishing with 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 TD, a performance that allowed him to sweep the end-of-year awards, including winning the AP Player of the Year and Biletnikoff Award while also becoming the first WR to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991.  2020 was the culmination of an impressive four years at Bama, which started with Smith being on the receiving end of Tua’s championship-winning TD against Georgia as true freshmen.  As a junior in 2019, Smith was the so-called No. 3 wideout in a WR room with Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark while averaging 18.5 yards per catch and 14 TD.  Smith’s body type and playmaking ability remind me so much of Marvin Harrison.  He does a great job varying his release off the line to keep the defender guessing.  He’s such a smooth route runner, can sink his hips to fire quickly out of his breaks to create separation and will angle his route in a such a way that the QB can easily fit the ball to him and he can make a play after the catch.  Smith plays bigger than his size outside the numbers, showing an ability to adjust to the football in the air and can highpoint the football over defenders.  He can find voids in any zone, is fearless over the middle, fights through contact and will extend to pluck the ball out of the air on in-breaking routes without breaking stride.  And if you get Smith in the open field, he’s about as dynamic as they come with the ability to elude defenders with sudden cuts and quick change of direction.  If that’s not enough, Smith is also a willing blocker on the outside to spring his teammates in both the passing and running game.  Many are worried about Smith’s weight as he weighed in at 166 pounds, much less than the 175 pounds Alabama posted.  His lack of ideal size could allow him to be tossed around by bigger corners, though he’s already shown he can take over a game in spite of his slight frame, so his weight really should be a non-issue.  Smith would give Tua a familiar face in the WR room and would add Miami some much-needed explosiveness to their passing game.

12.  Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami via San Francisco) –Jaycee Horn, 6’1”, 205lbs, CB, South Carolina, Jr.

04/25/21 - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

04/12/21 - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

03/18/21 (No. 6) - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
03/13/21 (No. 6) - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
02/17/21 (N0. 6) - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
02/07/21 (No. 6) - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
The Eagles had an abysmal 2020 season finishing with a 4-11-1 record and the team has plenty of holes in their roster, too many to be addressed at No. 6.  I think that Philly has decided to see what they have in Jalen Hurts as the starting QB and made the move to trade back to get additional picks to improve the roster.  Nick Sirianni and company understand this rebuild will be a process, so landing an additional 1st Round pick in 2022 is quite a start.  There’s no secret the WR position is the biggest need, especially since Travis Fulgham, a practice squad call-up, led the team in receiving last season.  However, trading back to No. 12 means they are likely out of the running for any of the top three wideouts or Kyle Pitts and No. 12 is too big of a reach for the second tier of wideouts led by Rashod Bateman and Terrace Marshall, Jr.  With WR off the table, I expect Philly to turn to the defensive side of the ball as there are plenty of areas that need to be addressed.  Simply put, Philly’s LB play has left a lot to be desired and a significant upgrade is a must this offseason.  I feel like we called for this last year, but the Eagles decided to roll with what they had, but now has to be the time Philly moves on from quintessential overachiever Nate Gerry.  Micah Parsons seems like a logical pick if he’s available, but I’ll give you two other LB’s to keep an eye on:  Jamin Davis is the hot name right now rising up draft boards following his impressive performance at his pro day and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who went to high school in the area.  But the Eagles haven’t selected a LB in Round One since UCLA’s Jerry Robinson was taken with the 21st overall pick in 1979, so why would Howie Roseman change things up now?  Then there’s the pass rush, which must be addressed this offseason.  Eagle fans have been starving for a dominant pass rusher reminiscent of Reggie White and Clyde Simmons in the 80’s and 90’s or the dynamic duo of Jevon Kearse and Hugh Douglas in the 2000’s.  Sure, the trio of Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat racked up a combined 19.5 sacks a season ago, but that’s certainly not elite and now.  Graham is 32 years of age while Barnett and Sweat are in the final year of their deals, so adding a pass rusher early in the draft is essential and Kwity Paye has emerged as the draft’s top edge rusher.  I just see this pick being used on a corner, even though Philly hasn’t used a 1st Round pick on a CB since Lito Sheppard in 2002.  Now is the time as Avonte Maddox is not an outside corner.  Move him inside and draft the top corner on the board to team with Darius Slay on the outside.  Caleb Farley could be an option because of his insane athleticism. But the injury history, including the recent back surgery, may cause him to slide in the draft.  That opens the door for Horn, who could emerge as the top CB in this draft class.  Horn, the son of former NFL vet Joe Horn, is equally adept in both man and zone coverage, though best in press man coverage, and has tremendous ball skills that he showcased against some of the top WR’s in the country.  Horn does a good job staying square off the snap and not going for the WR’s fake. He likes to get his hands on the WR early and has pretty fluid hips that allow him to turn and run with the WR.  In off coverage, Horn does a good job maintaining depth on double moves, flipping his hips to put himself in bail technique, maintaining inside leverage which allows him to read the QB and attack the ball when it’s in the air.  Horn is also aggressive and physical at the catch point.  He does a good job high pointing the football with the WR and will attack the receiver’s hands while in the air to make a play on the football.  His aggressiveness does get him into trouble at times as Horn is known for being quite grabby, which will get him flagged at the next level.  Horn does a good job fighting through blocks, isn’t afraid to mix it up in the box against the run and is a physical wrap-up tackler.  Put on the tape of the Auburn game and you’ll see Horn locking up Seth Williams on the outside.  His ball skills were on display with 2 Int. and 4 PBU’s during that contest in what may have been his best game as a Gamecock.  I expect to see similar performances out of Horn at the next level.

13.  Los Angeles Chargers -  Rashawn Slater, 6’4”, 314lbs, OL, Northwestern

04/25/21 - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG/OT, USC

04/12/21 - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

03/18/21 - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

03/13/21 - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

02/17/21 - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

02/07/21 - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
One thing is clear in Los Angeles:  Justin Herbert is the Chargers’ franchise QB.  Herbert finished his rookie season throwing for 4,336 yards on 66.6% passing with 31 TD to just 10 Int.  His yardage total was second all-time among rookies and just 37 yards behind Andrew Luck at the top; his completion percentage was second only to Dak Prescott’s 67.8%; his Int. total tied him with Russell Wilson for the fourth fewest; and his 31 TD’s were the most of any rookie QB in history.  The next step for the Bolts will be helping him up front and with weapons around him.  Of course, that all could change if unrestricted free agent Melvin Ingram isn’t re-signed.  That would put Micah Parsons, Gregory Rousseau and Azeez Ojulari in consideration here.  New HC Brandon Staley is a defensive-minded coach, so looking to upgrade his defense first will be awfully enticing.  Casey Hayward was let go and Chris Harris, Jr. is only under contract through this season, so Staley could easily be looking for a corner who reminds him of Jalen Ramsey, who he coached in LA with the Rams last season.  Jaycee Horn would be ideal if he were to fall and Caleb Farley would be tempting as well if the concerns about his back check out.  Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have been a nice one-two punch and while Jalen Guyton was a nice surprise in 2020, adding a vertical threat is a must, so you have to expect Staley to also consider Jaylen Waddle if he’s still on the board at 13.  Up front, Trai Turner was released, while Dan Feeney, Forrest Lamp and Sam Tevi are all gone.  However, free agency wasn’t too bad for the Bolts, signing 2020 1st Team All-Pro center Corey Linsley along with the versatile Matt Feiler, who can play both OT and OG positions.  Bryan Bulaga played some at LT, but he belongs at his natural position on the right side, while Trey Pipkins is a project upon whom you simply can’t rely right now.  Plus, there’s a hole at the LG position.  I think this pick will ultimately come down to whether the Chargers want Christian Darrisaw or Alijah Vera-Tucker if Rashawn Slater isn't available.  However, I think Carolina trades down with a QB-needy team which will ultimately allow Slater to fall and he makes a ton of sense because of his five-position versatility.  Slater may be the most polished OL prospect in this year’s draft and the Giants can plug him anywhere along the line.  Slater may have sat out 2020, but he made a name for himself after coming out on top in the matchup against Chase Young as a junior the year before.  Slater also impressed at his pro day, actually measuring in an inch taller than expected and ran in the 4.8’s while also repping out 225 pounds 33 times.  Slater fires quickly out of his stance with consistent knee bend that allows him to play with a low pad level, which allows him to get leverage on defenders up front.  He’s an easy mover on the outside who understands angles, which allows him to easily square up his man and is very effective with his hands, firing them inside to the chest plate of the defender to offer a powerful punch before sustaining his block and riding his man away from the pocket.  Slater isn’t the most powerful run blocker and won’t generate a ton of movement but allow him to get out in space and he does a great job attacking defenders at the second level, getting under the pad level and driving his man down the field.  Slater will play with a mean streak and looks to finish his blocks whenever he can. 

14.  Minnesota Vikings – Alijah Vera-Tucker, 6’4”, 315lbs, OG/OT, USC, Jr.

04/25/21 - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

04/12/21 - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

03/18/21 - Alaijah Vera-Tucker, OT/OG, USC

03/13/21 - Alaijah Vera-Tucker, OT/OG, USC

02/17/21 - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

02/07/21 - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
Minnesota had a top-five rushing attack and a passing game that finished just outside the top 10, so at first glance, you would think this pick would shift to the other side of the ball.  I mean, with a defense that ranked 27th in the league in total defense, that makes perfect sense, right?  Sure, losing Michael Pierce, Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr either due to Covid opt-out or injury didn’t help, but things really took a turn for the worse when Danielle Hunter had to sit out the 2020 season due to a neck injury.  Minnesota tried to beef up its pass rush by adding Yannick Ngakoue, but after 5.0 sacks in six games, he was traded to Baltimore.  His sack total still ended up leading the Vikings at season’s end.  DJ Wonnum looks to be a promising rookie and Stephen Weatherly was brought in to push for playing time, but neither should be seen as staters opposite Hunter, Kwity Paye and Jaelan Phillips would each bring some versatility up front with their ability to rush the passer both off the edge and from within and would pair nicely with Hunter.  Then you hear from Pro Football Focus that Minnesota’s OL gave up 172 of the 214 pressures allowed a number that was 11th highest in the league, and you think maybe it should be considered.  Minnesota has already used two 2nd Round picks on Brian O’Neill (2018) and Ezra Cleveland (2020) and a 1st Rounder on Garrett Bradbury (2019).  Would they really turn around and invest another early draft pick on a lineman?  Well, Riley Reiff was let go and adding Mason Cole and re-signing Dakota Dozier won’t move the needle.  I don’t know that Ezra Cleveland is the answer at LT and there's a chance the Vikings will have their choice between Alaijah Vera-Tucker and Christian Darrisaw.  I think the versatility of AVT will win out as he has the chops to handle both the OT and OG positions.  Vera-Tucker was voted USC’s OL of the Year in 2019 lining up at LG on a line that included last year’s 18th overall selection Austin Jackson at LT.  A year later, AVT kicked outside to LT and earned 1st Team All-Pac 12 honors while proving he enough foot speed to play OT.  There has never been a question about Vera-Tucker’s power.  You see the heavy hands as he consistently strikes the DL inside and jolts the man off the ball.  Then once he gets his hands on the defender, he’s not letting go.  You combine that grip strength with his lower body strength and he can generate a lot of movement, often driving his man down the line and sustaining his block until the whistle.  AVT’s performance at his pro day only confirmed what we saw on the field as he repped out 225 pounds 36 times in the bench press.  So, what about the foot speed in pass protection?  Vera-Tucker is quick out of his stance, bends well at the knee which allows him to slide with the defender.  I was impressed by the change of direction ability as he can adjust on the fly to secondary moves.  However, his lack of ideal lateral quickness and arm length were exposed against explosive speed rushers like Kayvon Thibodaux.  In the Pac-12 title game, Thibodeaux repeatedly beat Vera-Tucker off the ball and was able to get into his body to create a soft edge to get to Kedon Slovis in a hurry.  While you don’t necessarily need insanely long arms to play OT at the next level, AVT’s 32 1/8-inch arms may be a bit too short to line up on the outside, meaning he’s likely to be considered inside at OG, which is really where he played his best football for the Trojans.

15.  New England Patriots – Justin Fields, 6’3”, 227lbs, QB, Ohio State, Jr.

04/25/21 - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

04/12/21 - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

03/18/21 - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

03/13/21 - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

02/17/21 - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

02/07/21 - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Life after Tom Brady wasn’t very kind to Bill Belichick in 2020.  The Pats finished third in the AFC East and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.  Cam Newton is back after a disappointing season last year, but this feels like a one-year rental.  Why, well I think the Patriots were uncharacteristically active in the first two days of free agency to address as many needs as possible so they have some flexibility to move up to get their guy at QB.  WR was an area of need and Belichick targeted Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.  They added additional weapons with the signings of the top two TE’s in free agency in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.  They also traded for Trent Brown to get their guy at RT.  Defensively, the Pats address their front seven by bringing in LB Matt Judon, DE Henry Anderson and DT Davon Godchaux; and they signed Jalen Mills to add depth to the secondary.  New England trading up to get a QB would not fit the Bill Belichick mold, but their behavior so far this offseason has been out of character, so why not? I think they’re making the moves to make a run into the top 10 to nab Justin Fields, who seems to be the guy whose stock has taken the biggest hit in a bizarre turn of events.  Fields was a top recruit out of high school and after transferring from Georgia to Ohio State prior to the 2019 season, Fields instantly became the Buckeyes starting QB and he did not disappoint.  Fields finished third in the Heisman voting after a stellar sophomore season that saw him throw for 3,273 yards on 67.2% passing with 41 TD and just 3 Int. on the year.  His accuracy was absolutely on point to all three levels of the field and was tremendous with his anticipation to throw his WR’s open.  Fields went five games before his first Int. of the season against Michigan State and did not throw another pick until he threw two against Clemson in the CFP Semifinal.  Fields then led the charge that ultimately got the Big 10 back on the field during the pandemic.  As a junior, Fields led the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season beat Northwestern in the Big 10 title game and avenged the loss to Clemson in a CFP Semifinal rematch before losing to Alabama in the Title Game.  Fields improved his efficiency with a 70.2% completion percentage while throwing for 2,100 yards with 22 TD and 6 Int. in eight total games.  While everyone has talked about the arm strength displayed by the other top QB’s, Fields has just as strong of an arm, not only repeatedly fitting passes into tight windows with the ball arriving in a hurry, but also delivering the ball down the field with ease.  Fields proved to be very efficient in going through progressions, is patient in the pocket to allow routes to develop and delivers the ball with anticipation, leading his receivers away from defenders and showing the touch to put the ball where only his man can make a play on the football.  Fields is also tremendously athletic, showing he can throw with velocity while on the run, offering up good mechanic with an ability to get his shoulders square to the target before delivering a strike.  Fields is tremendously strong in the pocket, often shrugging off multiple defenders in the pocket before making a play down the field.  He shows that power when he decides to take off and run, running through arm tackles and finishing the play with physicality.  But let’s also not forget the 4.44 40 he ran at his Pro Day, proving Fields can be a burner in the open field.  Against Clemson, Fields was able to demonstrate his toughness as he was scrambling to pick up a first down.  Fields took a huge hit to the ribs from LB James Skalski, who was ejected for targeting, but Fields made it back on the field to lead his team to victory over the Tigers.  Now, Fields doesn’t come without concerns.  Maybe the biggest concern is the fact that Fields’ level of production clearly dipped against ranked opponents.  In his two seasons as OSU’s starting QB, Fields faced 10 ranked opponents and completed 61.2% of his passes during that time period for 2,475 yards with 23 TD and all 9 of his career Int. while completing 75.5% of his passes for 2,898 yards and 40 TD against the rest of his opponents.  Things were especially troubling in 2020 as Fields caught fire to start the year against unranked opponents and finished those four games with 1,107 yards on 83.1% passing and 13 TD.  However, against the four ranked opponent (Indiana, Northwestern, Clemson and Alabama), Fields managed to complete just 58.5% of his passes for 993 yards and 9 TD to 6 Int. and that’s even after his 384-yard performance in the CFP Semifinal, a game that saw him throw 6 TD passes and 1 Int. on the night.  Simply put, Fields has dominated lesser opponents, but struggled against top competition with the exception of his revenge game against Clemson this past season.  In those games, Fields struggled to see the entire field, especially while under pressure, and seemed his passes were often pre-determined, throwing even into tight coverage, missing open receivers along the way.  Everyone is infatuated with Fields’ physical gifts, which are undeniable, but he struggled against top competition, which has to change if he intends to elevate the status of a franchise.  I think there’s a chance if Fields isn’t taken by the Niners at No. 3, he could be the QB that falls and the Patriots would have a chance to land their QB of the future and I’d expect Belichick and Josh McDaniels would be confident they can bring Fields in and coach him up.

16.  Arizona Cardinals – Caleb Farley, 6’2”, 207lbs, CB, Virginia Tech, Jr.

04/25/21 - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

04/12/21 - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

03/18/21 - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

03/13/21 - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

02/17/21 - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

02/07/21 - Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia
The Cardinals were strong out of the gate, posting a 6-3 record through nine games and were sitting atop the NFC West, but sputtered down the stretch winning just two more to finish the season 8-8.  Offensively, Kyler Murray to Deandre Hopkins is already exciting after just one year, but the Cards still need to find a No. 2 wideout.  Kadarius Toney solidified his place in the 1st Round after his showing at the Senior Bowl; nobody could cover him and the separation he was generating with his routes was insane.  Then there’s the OLB position.  Chandler Jones is under contract through next season, but the team lost Haason Reddick, who picked the right time to have a career year, finishing 2020 with 12.5 sacks and adding another 16 QB hits.  Markus Golden was brought back to lessen the blow and Devon Kennard is still on the roster.  That said, Azeez Ojulari may be the most explosive pass rusher in this year’s draft, so he’ll have to get a look here.  The biggest need of the offseason was at CB.  Patrick Peterson, who spent all 10 seasons in the league with Arizona, not only tested the free agent market for the first time, but eventually signed a deal with Minnesota.  Now Arizona has to replace the three-time 1st Team All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler.  Now we know Byron Murphy is a keeper inside and Robert Alford is back after tearing a pectoral muscle before the start of last season and the team signed Malcolm Butler to be a veteran presence.  However, with Alford and Butler on one-year deals, Arizona must find a long-term answer at CB.  Many have Farley as their No. 1 corner heading into the pre-draft process, but a medical procedure on his back has many worrying about his health.  Jess Root of USA Today reported that Farley herniated a disc at L5 and had an S1 disc bulge as a result of a deadlifting, meaning Farley had to have a microdiscectomy, a procedure that is concerning because back injuries can linger.  Add to that the fact that he missed two games in 2019 due to back spasms and had a non-contact ACL tear in 2017 and the medical red flags begin to mount.  We’ve seen injuries play a big part in draft stock.  Jaylon Smith, once thought of as a sure-fire top 10 pick, tore his ACL and MCL in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State had surgery on January 8 and wound up coming off the board at No. 34; Myles Jack was another potential prospect expected to come off the board in the first 10 picks, but a torn meniscus in practice prior to the 2015 season not only led to a surgery to repair the tendon, but there was also concern he may need microfracture surgery all the way up to the draft, which caused his draft stock to slide to No. 36.  But then there’s Jeffery Simmons, whose story leaves some room for optimism.  Simmons was expected to be selected in the top half of Round One in 2019, but an ACL injury in December 2018 would keep him from most of if not all of the 2019 season.  However, when Tennessee was on the clock with the 19th overall pick, Simmons was the pick.  So, while it’s not likely Farley will be a top 10 pick, landing with Arizona at No. 16 isn’t out of the question.  It will come down to what the team doctors say and if Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury are satisfied with the results, I think Farley is the pick here.  Farley opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic to focus on the draft, so you’ll have to watch film from 2018 and 2019 and you’ll quickly see that the hype is real.  In two seasons with the Hokies, Farley finished with 6 Int. and 19 PBU, demonstrating off-the-charts ball skills.  Farley likes to play up on the line and stays square while he looks to jam and re-route the WR.  When he’s not looking to jam his man, he stays low in his back pedal, offers fluid hips to quickly turn and run and has the vertical speed (he did run a 4.29 40 before his surgery) to stay in the receiver’s hip pocket.  Farley’s change of direction skills are also impressive, showing no wasted movement as he plants and drives on the football.  He’s comfortable in phase, using his reach to make a play on the football; he’ll drive on the football when it’s thrown in front of him, showing he can get a hand in without making contact to early; and if he can’t get his head around to locate the football, Farley will attack the hands at the catch point to make a play.  Farley also has tremendous make-up speed, so if you think your receiver has him beat, think again.  Farley isn’t afraid to come down in the box and play the run and he’s intelligent with his ability to blitz the QB off the edge.  Farley’s ability would make the loss of Peterson a bit easier to swallow….as long as he can stay on the field.

17.  Las Vegas Raiders –Trevon Moehrig, 6’2”, 202lbs, S, TCU, Jr.

04/25/21 - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

04/12/21 - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG/OT, USC   

03/18/21 - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

03/13/21 - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

02/17/21 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ILB, Notre Dame

02/07/21 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ILB, Notre Dame
There are questions surrounding Derek Carr and whether he’ll return to the Silver and Black in 2021, but the Raiders still boasted a top ten offense.  The defense was another matter, as the Raiders struggled to stop anyone on the ground, put forth a dismal pass rush and was lacking playmakers at LB.  This pick essentially will come down to one of three players.  The Raiders struggled to get after the passer and managed just 24 sacks.  Maxx Crosby set the pace with 7.0 sacks, but former 4th overall pick Clelin Ferrell managed to bring down the QB only twice.  Mike Mayock looks at prospects with a lot of production at big name schools early, so don’t rule out Kwity Paye, Gregory Rousseau or Azeez Ojulari here.  There’s also a huge need at DT, where Maurice Hurst was released by the team, meaning Solomon Thomas and Quinton Jefferson are left to team with Johnathan Hankins along the interior of the D-line.  The Raiders need a dominant three-technique and down the stretch, few DT’s looked the part quite like Christian Barmore.  I just don’t see Mayock pulling the trigger on a boom-or-bust prospect like Barmore, who hasn’t even taken 800 snaps in his career.  Vegas also traded away 60% of its offensive line, so you can imagine the O-line will be a point of emphasis in the draft.  Teven Jenkins would give the Raiders a physical RT to pair with Kolton Miller.  However, an even bigger area of focus could be along the interior of the line, where Vegas sent Gabe Jackson and Rodney Hudson packing.  Alijah Vera-Tucker has the ability to take over at RT should Brandon Parker not pan out or he could slide inside to OG to fill the void left by the Jackson trade.  In any event, AVT has to be on Mayock’s radar as he was one of the GM’s at USC’s Pro Day.  Vegas invested in the LB position last season with the additions of Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton and while the former did a decent job in coverage, Littleton struggled mightily in 2020.  Enter Gus Bradley and his Cover 3 defense, where Littleton may have a chance to redeem himself.  I could still see Vegas pursue Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with this pick if Mayock and Co. aren’t satisfied at LB.  JOK is a sideline-to-sideline player who makes plays behind the line of scrimmage against the run, can get after the passer and is one of the more athletic LB’s in coverage.  However, the biggest need is at the safety position next to Johnathan Abram.  Even though Vegas signed Karl Joseph for a second stint with the franchise, the Raiders need a playmaker on the back end of his defense and Trevon Moehrig would be a Week One starter who should make an immediate impact.  Moehrig is versatile, showing an ability to play over the top against the pass as well as in the box against the run.  The Jim Thorpe Award winner racked up 6 Int. and 20 pass breakups while also racking up over 100 tackles in the past two seasons for the Horned Frogs.  Moehrig handles his matchups even against much bigger TE’s by playing physical at the catch point.  Moehrig doesn’t shy away from contact either, coming downhill to wrap up ball carriers in the open field.  However, he will get a bit overzealous and will take the improper angle to the ball.  Against Iowa State, Moehrig took a poor angle on 3rd and 3 got blocked and Breece Hall shot the gap behind him, scoring on a 32-yard run to put the Cyclones up 37-28 with just 2:54 to play in a game that saw ISU beat the Horned Frogs 37-34.  That said, you can’t argue with the production, the instincts and the range.  

18.  Miami Dolphins –Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, 6’1”, 221lbs, LB, Notre Dame

04/25/21 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

04/12/21 - Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami, Fla.

03/18/21 - Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami, Fla.  

03/13/21 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

02/17/21 - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

02/07/21 - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
If Miami passes on Penei Sewell at No. 3, selecting Christian Darrisaw here if he’s on the board would allow Austin Jackson to move to the right side and give Tua Tagovailoa a set of bookend OT’s in front of him.    If the Fins decide to go in a different direction, the backfield also needs an infusion of talent this offseason as the duo of Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed is nothing to write home about.  The Dolphin coaching staff got an up-close look at the talent while coaching the American team at the Senior Bowl. One player in particular had to catch their eye for his work on the field in Najee Harris.  The release of Kyle Van Noy and the trade of Shaq Lawson will leave Andrew Van Ginkel as the only edge rusher currently on the roster with a sack.  Adding another edge rusher is a big need but with the injury concerns surrounding Jaelan Phillips, the questions with Kwity Paye in a 34 defense and No. 18 may be a bit of a reach to land a situational pass rusher like Azeez Ojulari.  Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah just seems like the right pick here with Van Noy’s release and even with the Fins trade for Benardrick McKinney to team with Jerome Baker on the inside, JOK would offer versatility to play all over the field.  Adding JOK to this defense would give Brian Flores a chess piece he can move all over the field.  Owusu-Koramoah may not fit the mold of the traditional LB and some might say he’s grossly undersized, but the mold he does fit is the new-age LB as JOK has sideline-to-sideline range, can bend the edge as a pass rusher, fills holes downhill against the run and drops into coverage against RB’s and TE’s.  However, what makes Owusu-Koramoah so special is the fact that he can line up in the slot and out wide and cover WR’s, showing fluid hips, excellent change of direction and an ability to stay in phase against the receiver.  The reigning Butkus Award winner filled up the stat sheet for the Irish, racking up 142 tackles, 24.5 behind the line of scrimmage, and 7.0 sacks.  He also proved to have a nose for the football, breaking up 7 passes, forcing 5 fumbles and recovering another 4, including one that he took back to the house.

​
19.  Washington Football Team –Zaven Collins, 6’4”, 260lbs, LB, Tulsa, Jr.

04/25/21 - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

04/12/21 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

03/18/21 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

03/13/21 - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

02/17/21 - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

02/07/21 - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
The Washington Football Team may have been THE feelgood story of 2020 with new HC Ron Rivera beating cancer and Alex Smith making an improbable return to the field following his gruesome leg injury two years ago that nearly cost him his life.  And to top it off, the WFT made it to the playoffs by winning the NFC East.  There are still plenty that needs to be addressed this offseason, primarily on the offensive side of the ball.  Former 1st Round pick Dwayne Haskins was let go and while Smith was a revelation, the team decided to move on.  Washington will be on the market for a QB this offseason, but the question will be whether they intend to trade up to land one of the draft’s top prospects.  If decide to stick it out at No. 19, I think there’s a chance this pick might come down to either an OT or a WR.  Washington will use this offseason to find whoever is under center another weapon in the passing game.  The LT position seemed to be a position of need after starter Geron Christian went down to injury, but Cornelius Lucas stepped in and performed well.  Last year’ 4th Round pick Saadiq Charles dislocated his kneecap and finished the season on Injured Reserve, but he shows promise as well.  Christian Darrisaw would be tempting if he were to fall because he has a unique blend of size, strength and quickness.  Keep an eye on Trent Williams as he could end up back in Washington.  Terry McLaurin has quietly become one of the league’s top young wideouts, recording his first 1,000-yard season in 2020.  Then there’s Logan Thomas, a converted QB out of Virginia Tech, who has become one of the more exciting TE’s.  The rest of the receiver group was held together with scotch tape and bubble gum.  Kelvin Harmon, who had a promising rookie season, went down to a torn ACL, undrafted free agent Emanuel Hall showed promise but tore his Achilles tendon and last year’s 4th Round pick Antonio Gandy-Golden battled a hamstring injury.  That left Cam Sims, Steven Sims, Jr. and Isaiah Wright to fill in.  The trio combined to haul in 86 passes for 939 yards and 2 TD, all numbers that failed to equal the totals McLaurin put up.  The Football Team needs a WR to team with McLaurin and Rashod Bateman makes a lot of sense.  However, I think if Washington decides to go the “best player available” route, this may actually be either Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah or Jamin Davis.  Cole Holcomb looks like a keeper and has the skill set to man either the SAM or the MIKE, but Jon Bostic is in the final year of his deal while Ryan Anderson and Kevin Pierre Louis both left in free agency.  In drafting JOK, Ron Rivera gets his Shaq Thompson in Washington.  If he’s off the board, WFT opts for another playmaker at the LB position.  Zaven Collins is one of the most versatile defenders in this year’s draft – he has the speed to cover the field sideline to sideline despite being 260 pounds, he’s a tremendous blitzer showing the hand usage and flexibility to bend in a hurry to the QB and is dynamic in coverage, as evidenced by the 4 Int. in 2020 including the 96-yard walk-off pick six to beat Tulane in OT.  Collins is quick to read and react to the run play and looks to get downhill in a hurry.  He can scrape over the top of blocks and takes good angles to the football.  Collins is a cerebral and an intelligent player with good instincts and he trusts his eyes to take him to the football.  Collins can be a tremendous blitzer, shooting gaps to pressure the QB and can be very disruptive in the backfield.  And in coverage, Collins does a good job getting depth and will use the QB’s eyes as a guide to make plays against the pass.  Now Collins did struggle with missed tackles throughout his career, totaling 37 over the last three years according to Pro Football Focus.  He also is inconsistent at times taking on blocks as there are times when he’ll let the lineman get his hands into his body, making it difficult for him to disengage.  However, his skillset allows him to be effective at either MLB or WILL and would give Washington a versatile three-down LB who can make plays all over the field.  What’s even more interesting is the fact that Collins is now weighing in at 271 pounds.  Washington has Chase Young and Montez Sweat at DE, but with Anderson and Ryan Kerrigan gone, could Collins be adding weight to further his versatility by playing with his hand in the dirt on 3rd downs?  Just another dynamic to add to Collins’ game.  I think he’s exactly what Washington needs to elevate their defense.

20.  Chicago Bears – Trey Lance, 6’4”, 228lbs, QB, North Dakota State, RS Soph.

04/25/21 - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

04/12/21 - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

03/18/21 - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

03/13/21 - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

02/17/21 - Rashod Bateman, 6’2”, 210lbs, WR, Minnesota, Jr.

02/07/21 - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Chicago got off to a hot start this past season winning five of their first six games before losing six straight.  While the Bears did win three of their final four games, an 8-8 record was not enough for a playoff berth.  Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy have been given another year to right the ship and get back into contention. You have to expect this offseason will bring about significant change.  The Bears finally moved on from Mitchell Trubisky, who just did not work out in Chicago.  However, the duo of Andy Dalton and Nick Foles really won’t get Bears fans out of their seats either.  It’s been widely reported that Pace has been doing everything he can to pry Russell Wilson away from the Seahawks, which means he’s committed to addressing the long-term future of the position.  Let’s face it, Dalton and Foles are bridge QB’s.  Chicago could try to trade with Atlanta or Detroit to get into the top 10 to land Lance, but there’s also a chance he could tumble out of the first ten picks, meaning the Bears could wait until the timing is right on draft day to move up to get their franchise QB.  Pace and Nagy have one last chance to make a statement and getting Lance would be a major one.  Now if the Bears don’t go QB, let’s take a brief look at where else they could go.  Charles Leno, Jr. has been a mainstay at LT having started all 16 games in each of the last five seasons.  However, the seven-year vet is in the final year of his contract and could be a cap casualty.  Even If Leno, Jr. stays in 2020, the Bears need to find a replacement for Bobby Massie at RT.  Teven Jenkins and Christian Darrisaw would make a ton of sense should they still be on the board here.  Since it’s too big of a reach to take Samuel Cosmi, Jalen Mayfield or Liam Eichenberg here, we move on again to the WR position, where Chicago surprised many by using the franchise tag on Allen Robinson.  While their No. 1 WR is back, there is a glaring hole at the No. 2 wideout as Darnell Mooney is best suited in the slot, while Anthony Miller has yet to live up to expectations.  Rashod Bateman or Terrace Marshall, Jr. would complement Robinson nicely on the outside and each has the ability to take over as the team’s No. 1 receiver should Robinson leave.  Both positions are areas of need, but there is still major uncertainty under center and if I’m Pace and Nagy, I wouldn’t want to roll the dice with only Dalton and Foles in the QB room.  Getting Lance or Justin Fields MUST be a priority and Chicago has to find a way to move up to get either of him.  Trey Lance, who is the most inexperienced QB of the bunch, may have one of the highest ceilings because of his athleticism and arm talent.  Lance burst onto the national scene in his redshirt freshman season at North Dakota State in 2019, throwing for 2,786 yards while completing 66.9% of his passes, throwing 28 TD without a single interception and rushing for 1,100 yards.  New England may actually be the perfect landing spot for Lance, as he could sit behind Newton for a year or two before being handed the reins.  Trey Lance was recruited by Power Five schools to be a WR or a DB and not QB.  However, wanting a chance to play under center, Lance committed to FCS power North Dakota State in December 2017.  After redshirting in 2018, Lance took over for Easton Stick, a 5th Round pick of the Chargers in the 2019 Draft.  Bison fans knew they had something special as Lance went on to lead NDSU to an FCS Championship in 2019 while earning the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS as well as the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman at the FCS level.  Lance threw for 2,786 yards on 66.9% passing and racked up 28 TD without a single Int.  In fact, his 287 attempts in a season without an Int. set an NCAA record.  It’s clear teams are looking for the next Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray or Josh Allen, QB’s with tremendous athleticism to match spectacular arm talent.  There’s a lot on tape to suggest Lance could fit the same mold.  Lance has rare arm talent with the ability to make throws down the field with tremendous velocity with a simple flick of the wrist.  He can drive the ball outside the numbers as well as to the wide side of the field on a line and will put the ball on his man so he doesn’t have to break stride.  The arm strength also allows him to squeeze passes into tight windows.  The ball placement he throws with allows him to throw his WR’s open.  Lance can be accurate to all three levels of the field, putting the ball where only his WR can make a play on the ball, though he does miss at times going deep.  He does go through progressions, though he still needs to work with consistency there as he will lock onto WR’s at times.  Lance has good footwork as a passer, which is evident with his ability to manipulate the pocket to buy time.  What elevates his draft stock is Lance’s ability to make plays with his feet.  He has the foot speed to roll out and avoid pressure while keeping his eyes down the field, does a good job resetting his feet to remain under control and deliver a strike to the WR.  Lance also has the speed and power as a runner in the open field.  He does not go down on first contact, is able to escape pressure by fighting through would-be tacklers and shows the speed to run away from defenders.  Lance does struggle at times with ball placement as he will put the ball a bit behind his target, allowing the defender to make a play on the ball.  He also needs to work on delivering the ball with touch up the seam.  In his lone game of 2020 against Central Arkansas, Lance threw his lone Int. after 307 attempts when he had a WR down the seam and put the ball on a line, allowing the safety to undercut the route for the pick.  Had he put air under the ball and hit the WR in stride, the result would have been a TD.  Lance also struggled to pick up easy pre-snap reads, especially blitzes and didn’t always see the field.  While these are legitimate concerns, it feels like it’s more of a product of his youth and inexperience at the collegiate level than anything else.  Lance can come in and learn from Dalton and Foles before taking over.  Pace and Nagy know they have one last opportunity to right the ship in Chicago and Lance could be the guy to help them do just that.

21.  Indianapolis Colts –Teven Jenkins, 6’5”, 320lbs, OT, Oklahoma State
04/25/21 - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

04/12/21 - Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami, Fla.

03/18/21 - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

03/13/21 - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

02/17/21 - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

02/07/21 - Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami, Fla.
Philip Rivers’ retirement meant Indy needed to find their QB of the future and they found it in Carson Wentz, who is reunited with Frank Reich, meaning the focus of this pick will be squarely on the trenches.  For the first time in a decade, Anthony Castonzo will not be manning the LT position in Indy.  Castonzo was the 22nd overall pick of the Colts in 2011 and has played in 144 games during that span.  A reliable O-line has been a staple for years and now that its captain has called it quits, he’s turning over the reins to youngsters like Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith and Ryan Kelly.  The Colts finished the season with 40 sacks, good for 12th in the league.  Justin Houston and Denico Autry combined for 15.5 sacks, but Autry is now in Tennessee and Houston is still on the free agent market.  Indy could use an infusion of youth at edge rusher, so don’t rule out Gregory Rousseau or Azeez Ojulari here.  I just think the DE will be a focus on Day 2, so getting Castonzo’s replacement should be the top priority.  Jenkins obviously has the versatility to play both OT positions and many are expecting him to play RT at the next level, but keep in mind, he began the 2020 season at LT before an injury forced him back to the right side.  I think this can actually be a pretty fluid transition back to LT.  There may not have been a more devastating finisher in the run game than Jenkins, who repeatedly drove his man into the ground with authority.  If you happened to catch the game against Texas this past season, you would have seen Jenkins take Joseph Ossai on an outside zone play and work him down the line before driving him five yards down the field, then planting him along the sideline at the whistle.  He plays with good leverage and consistently fires his hands inside, delivering quite a punch at the point of attack.  From there, Jenkins uses that leverage to his advantage with an impressive leg drive to clear a path for the ball carrier.  Jenkins was also extremely effective on combo blocks, often blocking down on the DT before kicking out the DE to open a hole for the RB.  As a pass protector, Jenkins is a knee bender will sit down in his kick slide and is surprisingly nimble for a player known for his physicality in the run game.  While his change of direction needs work, Jenkins has only given up 2 sacks in his career, according to Pro Football Focus, and those came in 2018.  Jenkins is a Week One starter.   

22.  Tennessee Titans – Terrace Marshall, Jr. 6’1”, 200lbs, WR, LSU, Jr.

04/25/21 - Terrace Marshall, Jr., WR, LSU

04/12/21 - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

03/18/21 - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

03/13/21 - Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami, Fla.

02/17/21 - Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami, Fla.

02/07/21 - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
One year after Tennessee made a run to the AFC Championship, the Titans finished 2020 with an 11-5 record and an AFC South crown, but they failed to get past the first round of the playoffs.  If the Titans want to become a serious contender in the playoffs, they have to aggressively pursue edge rushers to strengthen a dismal pass rush that managed just 19 sacks this past season.  I think they did that in free agency by signing Bud Dupree and Denico Autry.  The move allows Tennessee to address the OT, WR or CB positions. Tennessee has had a major need at RT since Jack Conklin left for Cleveland in free agency.  Teven Jenkins makes a lot of sense if he’s still on the board.  The Titans also gutted the secondary when they moved on from three starters, saying goodbye to safety Kenny Vaccaro and corners Adoree’ Jackson and Malcolm Butler this offseason.  The need at corner was tempered a bit when veterans Janoris Jenkins and Kevin Johnson were brought in, meaning the more pressing need may be at the WR position, where Tennessee has to replace Corey Davis and Adam Humphries.  Josh Reynolds was signed to give the Titans a big target, but the Titans shouldn’t be done there.  Marshall was the third option for Joe Burrow behind Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, yet he hauled in 46 passes for 671 yards and 13 TD.  As a junior, with Jefferson in the NFL and Chase opting out, Marshall was the top guy and he fully took advantage of it; in just seven games, Marshall tallied 731 yards on 48 receptions with another 10 TD.  Marshall has the blend of size, speed and athleticism to match up either on the outside or in the slot.  He’s a tremendous route runner at all three levels, is smooth out of his breaks and can stack DB’s when running vertical routes.  Marshall, Jr. uses his size to his advantage, high pointing the football by extending over DB’s to haul in 50-50 balls and uses his frame to his advantage to snag contested catches, often adjusting at the last moment to create separation.  

23.  New York Jets (from Seattle) – Greg Newsome II, 6’1”, 190lbs, CB, Northwestern, Jr.

04/25/21 - Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

04/12/21 - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

03/18/21 - Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami, Fla.

03/13/21 - Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami, Fla.

02/17/21 - Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

02/07/21 - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The Jets secured a second 1st Round pick in this draft in the trade that sent Jamal Adams to the Seahawks.  There’s no secret that Joe Douglas will be looking to add weapons to surround their new QB Zach Wilson.  Jamison Crowder is a reliable weapon in the slot, Denzel Mims had a promising rookie season and Corey Davis was a nice addition in free agency, but the Jets could look to add another weapon in the passing game, so don’t rule out Terrace Marshall, Jr., Kadarius Toney or Rashod Bateman here.  38-year-old Frank Gore has yet to make a decision on his future, but he’s a UFA and it’s entirely possible he retires after 16 years and 16,000 rushing yards in the league.  Gore managed just 653 yards on the ground in 2020 while the rest of the RB room didn’t fare much better with Ty Johnson, Lamical Perine and Josh Adams combined for 643 yards.  The Jets have a chance to grab their featured back in Round One, then focus on other needs for the remainder of the draft, so Najee Harris makes a ton of sense.  However, maybe the Jets’ weakest position right now is at corner, where Blessaun Austin and Bryce Hall were the starters in 2020 and while both are decent players, neither played exceptionally well, teaming to compile just 99 tackles, 1 Int. and 7 PBU.  Then there’s their backups, a bunch of UDFA’s led by Lamar Jackson Javelin Guidry and Kyron Brown.  That’s simply not going to get it done.  Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich will want to secure a lockdown corner on the outside and Greg Newsome II fits the bill.  Newsome is one of the more underrated prospects in this year’s draft who’s finally generating the draft buzz he deserves.  He has good size, fluid hips to change directions and drive on the ball in a hurry and showcases tremendous ball skills, with 21 passes defended in three years at Northwestern.  He trusts his eyes, takes good angles to the ball and times his jumps well to make a play on the football.  Newsome is exceptional on the outside, often pinning the WR to the sideline and closing the distance while looking and leaning as the ball is in the air, taking away any separation by the WR.  He’s also physical on the edge in run support and will bring down the ball carrier in space.  Newsome solidified his status as one of the top CB’s in this draft at his pro day after running a 4.38 40 and posting a 40-inch vertical leap.  Newsome can get handsy and will impede the progress of the WR from time to time, but the pure cover skills are absolutely there.

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Najee Harris, 6’2”, 230lbs, RB, Alabama

04/25/21 - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

04/12/21 - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

03/18/21 - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

03/13/21 - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

02/17/21 - Alaijah Vera-Tucker, OG/OT, USC 

02/07/21 - Alaijah Vera-Tucker, OG/OT, USC
The Steelers have a lot of questions to answer this offseason.  The first is the future of Ben Roethlisberger, who is 38 years of age and entering the final year of his contract.  Big Ben will likely be back for a final year, but who will be blocking for him?  LT Alejandro Villanueva is a free agent while LG Matt Feiler signed with the Chargers and OC Maurkice Pouncey has retired.  Will Alijah Vera-Tucker or Teven Jenkins be available here?  Bud Dupree signed with Tennessee and it’s expected that JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner are not expected back either.  Pittsburgh has to decide which direction to go with this pick.  Azeez Ojulari would make sense to team with Alex Highsmith to replace Bud Dupree opposite TJ Watt if he’s available.  James Conner had a breakout 2018 season, rushing for 973 yards and 12 TD.  However, he’s missed 9 games over the last two seasons and has averaged just 593 yards during that span.  Conner is now a free agent and I’d expect Conner to look for a change of scenery.  Najee Harris could be the what’s needed to fix the league’s worst rushing attack from a season ago if he’s still on the board.  Harris is arguably the most complete RB in this year’s draft, displaying tremendous power and contact balance between the tackles, speed and athleticism on the perimeter to run by and jump over defenders (sorry Nick McCloud), displays soft hands in the passing game and has a clear understanding of his role in pass protection. Two years ago, another former Crimson Tide RB by the name of Josh Jacobs came off the board in Round One to the Raiders and he’s become a star.  Harris has the potential to make a similar impact.  Harris got his chance to be the feature back beginning in 2019 and went on to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, scored 39 TD and hauled in 70 passes in his final two seasons with the Tide.  However, it was the 2020 season that elevated Harris as the clear-cut top RB in this year’s draft class, rushing for 1,466 yards with 26 TD and posting 43 catches for 425 yards and 4 TD, numbers good enough for a 5th place finish in the Heisman voting to go along with winning the Doak Walker Award.  Harris has always been known for his ability to run through contact along with his physicality between the tackles, but his lateral agility allows him to make quick cuts to find cutback lanes and is slippery enough in the open field to make defenders miss.  Harris also proved to have soft hands with the ability to adjust to the ball in the passing game.  Maybe the best example of his receiving skills came when the lights were brightest.  In the 2021 CFP Championship Game against Ohio State, Bama had the ball at the Buckeye 26-yard line with 9:06 to play in the 2nd quarter, Mac Jones is back to pass with a free rusher in his face, he floats a pass up to Harris who is running a wheel route.  Harris reaches behind with his right hand and secures the football with his left, then with his momentum heading toward the sideline is able to maintain his balance, put his foot in the ground and cut back inside an overpursuing Tuf Borland at the 11, then gets to the three and leaps over Josh Proctor, who hit him at the goal line.  The hands, the balance, the footwork, the cutback ability and the ability to finish in the end zone.  And as far as the pass protection goes, Harris will come across the formation to pick up blitzing LB’s and isn’t afraid to stick his nose into the A gap to help buy his QB more time.  Harris will give the Steelers a back they can count on to not only be a versatile weapon but can also be the bell cow they can rely on to get the tough yards to grind out a victory.  

25.  Jacksonville Jaguars (from LA Rams) – Kwity Paye, 6’4”, 272lbs, DE, Michigan

04/25/21 - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

04/12/21 - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

03/18/21 - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

03/13/21 - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

02/17/21 - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

02/07/21 - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Urban Meyer’s first draft comes with two 1st Round picks thanks to the Jalen Ramsey trade and there’s some flexibility with this pick after landing Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 overall.  The Jags finished 2020 with 44 sacks given up and it’s possible they could move on from LT Cam Robinson, who gave up five sacks and is now a free agent.  Dillon Radunz will be in play here, but does Jacksonville really want a rookie LT protecting the blind side of their rookie QB?  Meyer has to start improving the league’s 31st overall defense from a season ago.    The Jags needed a CB to play opposite CJ Henderson, so Meyer landed Shaquill Griffin.  Rayshawn Jenkins was added to a safety group that includes Jarrod Wilson and Andrew Wingard, but Meyer could still opt for a playmaker on the back end of the defense if Trevon Moehrig is on the board.  Jacksonville’s defensive front was porous against the run and it struggled to put pressure on the QB, finishing next to last in sacks with just 18.  Taven Bryan has failed to live up to expectations, meaning Christian Barmore would be an instant upgrade, though The Athletic’s Bob McGinn reported several teams are worried about his “resistance to coaching and structure at Alabama.”  However, Meyer knows building a winner requires being dominant up front, so he’ll need to get help for Josh Allen at DE and the best edge rusher in this draft is arguably Kwity Paye, who despite just registering 2 sacks in 4 games this year, racked up 25 pressures and, according to the charting provided by Sports Info Solutions, generated a pressure rate of 23%.  Paye is very quick off the ball as he’s looking to time the snap count.  But what sets him apart is the fact that he can pressure the QB both with speed and with power.  Paye has the flexibility to bend around the edge in a hurry, often dipping that inside shoulder to gain leverage on the OT as he turns the corner.  Once he gets the edge, Paye quickly flattens out and offers a burst to close on the QB.  Paye wowed scouts at his pro day, putting up a hand-timed 4.52 40, which is exceptionally fast for a player his size.  He’s also very heavy-handed, using his hands to strike and get his man off balance.  From there, you’ll see a variety of moves, whether it’s a slap and rip or a swim as he works to get into the backfield.  Paye can generate a lot of power by generating speed to power and has developed a pretty effective push-pull to throw the OT out of the way.  Paye’s 36 reps I the bench press only confirms the strength we see on film.  What made Paye so versatile was his ability to line up all over the line, whether it’s all the way outside as a wide-nine technique to inside at NT.  As an inside rusher, Paye uses his hands and quickness to beat the interior linemen and will also use his speed to loop around the edge on stunts.  Paye does a solid job setting the edge against the run and can also chase down RB’s from the backside.

26.  Cleveland Browns – Jamin Davis, 6’4”, 234lbs, LB, Kentucky, Jr.

04/25/21 - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

04/12/21 - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

03/18/21 - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

03/13/21 - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

02/17/21 - Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami, Fla.

02/07/21 - Carlos Basham, Jr., DE, Wake Forest
2020 was quite the season for the Cleveland Browns.  First, the Browns finish the season with 11 wins, the first double-digit win total since 2007.  Then they earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2002.  Then Kevin Stefanski did what 11 head coaches before him couldn’t accomplish – winning a playoff game.   The Wild Card win over the Steelers was the franchise’s first since Bill Belichick led the Browns to a win over his future team the Patriots back in 1994.  The Browns offense featured one of the fiercest running games in the league, Baker Mayfield has made strides with the passing game and the O-line gave up the eighth fewest sacks in the league.  Defensively, Cleveland had its moments.  It held Patrick Mahomes to just 196 passing yards in the Divisional Playoff game, Myles Garrett had another All-Pro season after tallying another double-digit sack season and Denzel Ward finished third in the league in passes defensed.  However, Cleveland must upgrade the front seven to not only put more pressure on the QB, but also shut down the run.  Olivier Vernon ruptured his Achilles tendon Week 17 against the Steelers and likely won’t be available for the start of the 2021 season, but he’s also a free agent and I wouldn’t count on him being back.  Adrian Clayborn is also gone.  Myles Garrett needs a running mate, so Jaelan Phillips or Gregory Rousseau would be no-brainers if they were to fall.  The Browns also has a need at LB as MLB BJ Goodson is a free agent, while the team can stand an upgrade over Sione Takitaki.  Jamin Davis has established himself as one of the top LB’s in this year’s draft after emerging during his junior season that saw a real uptick in production, racking up 102 tackles and 3 Int. in just 10 games of action.  Davis may be the top cover LB in this draft often matching up with WR’s in the slot, RB’s taking off up the seam and TE’s firing off the line.  He does a good job jamming the outside shoulder whenever possible to force the receiver to the inside and has the hips to turn and run with the receivers, showing off that 4.41 40 speed that his displayed at his pro day.  If you saw the film against Tennessee, Davis was able to get depth and flash into the throwing lane to pick off Jarrett Guarantano, extending to his right as the ball was thrown inside.  From there, Davis used his speed to take off for an 85-yard pick six.  And imagine this, a 6’4”, 234-pound LB with a 42-inch vertical leaping into a throwing lane.  But that’s not all Davis can do.  His versatility was on display in the Gator Bowl this year against NC State.  On one play he gets to the QB coming downhill for a sack on one play, then gets lateral to the perimeter to drop the RB in space for no gain on the next.  Davis does a tremendous job maintaining gap integrity, taking away cutback lanes for the RB and is effective at slipping underneath blocks to make a play on the ball carrier.  His lateral quickness allows him to scrape over the top of blocks, will stack and shed blocks with ease and does a good job in backside pursuit.  Oh, and Davis has good timing as a blitzer and will come down in a hurry with bad intentions as a physical tackler.  Simply put, Davis plays with a motor that never quits and is tremendously active playing sideline to sideline.  

27.  Baltimore Ravens –Rashod Bateman, 6’2”, 210lbs, WR, Minnesota, Jr.

04/25/21 - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

04/12/21 - Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

03/18/21 - Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

03/13/21 - Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

02/17/21 - Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

02/07/21 - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Baltimore finished with the league’s top rushing attack racking up 191.8 yards per game, but the passing game really sputtered, finishing at the bottom of the league rankings.  The passing attack was so starved for weapons that Dez Bryant, who hadn’t played since 2017, was signed off the street.  Marquise Brown was the leading receiver, but Miles Boykin did not emerge as the team was expecting, while Devin Duvernay showed promise and should have his role expanded in 2021.  With a lack of overall production at the position, the Ravens targeted Sammy Watkins to fill the No. 2 WR role.  However, Lamar Jackson desperately needs weapons.  Rashod Bateman would fit well.  The pass rush was inconsistent at best and it was lacking star power.  Baltimore landed Yannick Ngakoue, but his performance in 2020 was underwhelming.  Matt Judon led the team in sacks with just 6.0, the lowest total for a Raven sack leader since Elvis Dumervil’s 6.0 sacks in 2015.  Ngakoue and Judon left in free agency, meaning Tyus Bowser and Pernell McPhee will be counted on to lead the charge off the edge.  McPhee registered just 3.0 sacks in each of the last two seasons in his second stint in Baltimore while nearly half of Bowser only tallied more than 3.0 sacks once (5.0 in 2019) in his four-year career.  That just doesn’t strike fear in opponents, so adding a pass rusher should be a top need and Azeez Ojulari would give the Ravens a speed rusher.  The Ravens now have two picks in Round One after trading Orlando Brown, Jr., so there’s a chance Baltimore addresses both positions.  I just think the passing game needs to be revived and Jackson can only do so much without the necessary weapons.  Enter Rashod Bateman, the Big 10 WR of the Year in 2019 after hauling n 60 passes for 1,289 yards, averaging 20.3 yards per catch, and 11 TD as a sophomore with the Golden Gophers.  Bateman is known for his ability to win at the line of scrimmage, crisp route running to gain separation and is tremendous fighting through contact to attack the football in the air.  His release is often on display on slants, where he shows quick acceleration and lateral agility to avoid and run away from defenders.  His ability to run the slant so well also allows Bateman to excel with double moves.  And if you’re wondering about his top end speed, well Bateman put those questions to rest, running a sub-4.4 40 at the EXOS Combine.

28.  New Orleans Saints – Kadarius Toney, 6’0”, 193lbs, WR, Florida

04/25/21 - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

04/12/21 - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

03/18/21 - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

03/13/21 - Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

02/17/21 - Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

02/07/21 - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
The Saints yet again made a run to the Playoffs after a 12-4 record but came up short against Tampa in the Divisional round.  The first priority is determining who will be under center in 2021 now that Drew Brees announced his retirement after a Hall of Fame career that spanned 20 years.  It’s never easy replacing the league’s all-time leading passer who is also second in passing TD’s and completion percentage.  However, Jameis Winston is given the first crack at doing so and he’s going to need help in the passing game especially with Emmanuel Sanders leaving in free agency.  The Saints could look for an eventual replacement for one of the better safeties of his era in Malcolm Jenkins and land TCU’s Trevon Moehrig or they could target a LB like Nic Bolton or Zaven Collins to replace Alex Anzalone and Kwon Alexander.   I think the play here is to secure a wideout to complement Michael Thomas.  Toney’s development from a gadget player when he arrived at Florida to a bona fide WR as a senior has been tremendous.  He has the speed to stretch defenses vertically, but also has the sudden agility to be a weapon over the middle.  Toney solidified his place as a 1st Round pick after his showing at the Senior Bowl; nobody could cover him and the separation he was generating with his routes was insane.  Through his first three seasons with the Gators, Toney hauled in just 50 passes for 606 yards and 2 TD.  The focus wasn’t solely on the WR position as he also racked up 47 carries during that span.  However, as a senior Toney was no longer a gimmick, but rather became a go-to target for Kyle Trask and posted 70 catches to just 19 carries, while also tallying 984 receiving yards and 10 TD.  His explosiveness was on full display at his pro day, running a 4.41 40 to go along with an impressive broad jump of 11’4”, a mark that would have placed him third in last year’s draft class behind only Donovan Peoples Jones and Jalen Reagor.  Toney lined up outside and in the slot, stretched defenses vertically and worked the field underneath, but maybe most impressive was his ability to turn nothing into something.  There were quite a few plays where it looked like Toney was bottled up, only for him to make the first man miss, reverse field and find a way to get positive yards.  I think Toney needs to go to the right situation to allow him to continue to focus on the nuances of the WR position, but the growth we saw from 2019 to 2020 was substantial, so there’s already a lot to work with.

29.  Green Bay Packers – Elijah Moore, 5’9”, 184lbs, WR, Mississippi, Jr.

04/25/21 - Elijah Moore, WR, Mississippi

04/12/21 - Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

03/18/21 - Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

03/13/21 - Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington

02/17/21 - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

02/07/21 - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Aaron Rodgers had another MVP-type season for the Packers, carrying them to within a game of the Super Bowl before Tom Brady and the Bucs took them down.  There’s no question that Rodgers’ future with the franchise is in question after drafting Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick a season ago.  This is a team that traditionally drafts defense early.  In fact, Love was the first offensive player the Pack selected with their 1st Round pick since taking OT Derrick Sherrod with the 32nd overall pick in 2011, so the pick shouldn’t be taken lightly.  However, the 37-year-old Rodgers is still under contract for two more seasons and he does need help on the offensive side of the ball, so this pick this year might be telling.  If the team opts to nab a DL like Christian Barmore or Levi Onwuzurike to give Kenny Clark help, a LB like Jamin Davis or Nick Bolton to give them a much-needed playmaker or a CB like Asante Samuel, Jr. or Eric Stokes to team with Jaire Alexander, it will make you wonder more and more about what the future holds for the future Hall of Famer.  What’s interesting is this new regime in Green Bay led by Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur seems to be bucking the franchise trend over the last 15+ years.  I think the team needs to find a replacement for All-Pro center Corey Linsley, who left to man the pivot in LA with the Chargers.  You can’t underestimate Linsley’s value in front of Rodgers as he helped anchor a line that helped Green Bay finish in the top five in both rushing and passing.  Elgton Jenkins has experience at center, having played the position at Mississippi State, but he may actually be more useful for the Packers at OG, meaning Creed Humphrey would be a natural fit inside at the pivot.  The last time the organization took a skill position player on offense prior to Love was Rodgers in 2005.  So, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see the team take its first WR in Round One since Javon Walker in 2002.  Davante Adams is a superstar at the WR position, again putting up stellar numbers with 114 receptions for 1,374 yards and 18 TD.  The duo of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard, though they had their moments, combined for 66 receptions, 1,141 yards and 9 TD, and they finished behind TE Robert Tonyan and Aaron Jones in receptions behind Adams.  Frankly, Rodgers hasn’t had a legitimate weapon in the slot since Randall Cobb and Moore would be a perfect fit.  Moore was one of the best WR’s in the nation in 2020, hauling in 86 passes for 1,193 yards and 8 TD in just 8 games.  In fact, Moore had double-digit receptions in all but one game, eclipsed 100 yards in 6 of the 8 games played and was able to even hit the 200-yard mark 3 times.  He also stepped up against top SEC opponents Alabama and Florida, hauling in 21 passes for 370 yards, averaging 17.3 yards per reception against the Tide and the Gators.  The Biletnikoff Award finalist is very sudden off the line, is fearless going over the middle, has soft hands and is a threat to go the distance on every play.  Moore’s route running is precise, allowing him to generate separation from his man, but also posted a 4.35 40, which is proof he’s plenty fast to also be a vertical threat.  Moore has the ability to finally take pressure off Adams.

30.  Buffalo Bills – Travis Etienne, 5’10”, 205lbs, RB, Clemson

04/25/21 - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

04/12/21 - Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

03/18/21 - Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

03/13/21 - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

02/17/21 - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

02/07/21 - Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
Buffalo made significant strides in 2020 becoming an AFC power behind a stout defense and one of the best young QB’s in Josh Allen.  I think Sean McDermott will have some options here at No. 30.  Matt Milano’s 4-year, $44-million deal to run it back with the Bills allows them to shift their focus to the offensive side of the ball.  Dion Dawkins was the lone lock for a starting spot going into free agency, but Buffalo is bringing back RT Daryl Williams, which addresses another key need.  The loss of John Brown opposite Stefon Diggs will be felt, so I thought this pick could be Kadarius Toney, but the addition of Emmanuel Sanders means this pick will be focuses elsewhere.  The Bills could use a corner to pair with Tre’Davious White, a versatile RB to team with Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and Matt Breida and an edge rusher to eventually take over for Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison, who are 33 and 34 years of age, respectively.  Greg Newsome II would be the likely pick if he’s still on the board.  Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, a 3rd Round pick in last year’s draft, led the ground game that finished 20th in the league last season.  Buffalo added Matt Breida to the roster this offseason, but this is a pass-first offense with Allen at the helm and nether Moss nor Breida will be much of a weapon in the passing game. That’s why I could see the Bills targeting a weapon like Travis Etienne who can be more of a sure thing both in the passing game and in the running game, taking a page out of KC’s handbook where they had a crowded backfield and still drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire No. 32 overall.  The fact is there is a need for a versatile RB who can be a threat on the ground and in the passing game and Etienne and his nearly 5,000 rushing yards and 100 career receptions make him the perfect target.  Etienne came to Clemson as a speed back who went down on first contact way too easily.  However, he put in a tremendous amount of work in the weight room and by his junior season, the strength work paid off as Etienne ran with much more power.  He was able to bounce off tackle attempts that used to bring him down.  It was that type of contact balance that allowed him to be more effective between the tackles.  What is concerning is Etienne was stifled by dominant defenses, managing to put up just 28 yards in a losing effort against Notre Dame and just 32 yards in a CFP semifinal loss to Ohio State.  Etienne does not have the footwork to be able to create on his own.  If you give him a crease or let him make plays in space, that’s where he’s most effective, which is why he can’t go to just any offense, but rather a team that will play to his strengths.  Etienne is quite explosive when he does get in space, having scored at least one TD in 10 of Clemson’s 12 games in 2020.  In fact, Etienne racked up at least three receptions in nine games last season, meaning he can add a new dimension to Buffalo’s passing attack.  

31.  Baltimore Ravens (from Kansas City) – Azeez Ojulari, 6’3”, 240lbs, OLB, Georgia, Jr.

04/25/21 - Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

04/12/21 (Kansas City Chiefs) - Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

03/18/21 (Kansas City Chiefs) - Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

03/13/21 (Kansas City Chiefs) - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

02/17/21 (Kansas City Chiefs) - Carlos Basham, Jr., DE, Wake Forest
02/07/21 (Kansas City Chiefs) - Joseph Ossai, DE, Texas
Orlando Brown, Jr. got a taste of the LT position while filling in when Ronnie Stanley went down to injury and now wants to man the left side somewhere permanently.  Baltimore gave Brown his wish when he was traded to the Chiefs in exchange for three picks in this year’s draft, including this pick in Round One, along with a 5th Rounder in 2022.  Will Baltimore use this pick on Brown’s replacement?  Or will we see the Ravens pull the trigger on an edge rusher like Azeez Ojulari to fill the void left by the departures of Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue.  Well, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported on April 23r, just a few hours after the deal was done, that the team would sign free agent Alejandro Villanueva to take over the RT position.  While this may not actually become official until after the draft, it pretty much seals the deal that Ojulari is the pick if he’s on the board.  Ojulari is twitchy, shows tremendous change of direction and has the flexibility to turn the corner in a hurry.  Once Ojulari gets the edge, he flattens out and has explosive closing speed to get to the QB in a hurry.  If you saw his 3.0-sack performance against Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl, you know what I’m talking about.  Ojulari finished 2020 with 9.5 sacks, including at least one in three of his last four games.  He’s not only able to bend off the edge, but also shows good hands to slap the OT’s hands down, then rip through on his way to the QB.  When Ojulari arrives at the QB, he’s not only looking to bring him down, but is also looking to make an impact play by also going for the ball, which separates him from most edge rushers.  His athleticism also allows him to maintain inside leverage against the run and take away cutback lanes while spilling the RB to the outside.  Ojulari wasn’t expected to drop in coverage all that often, so he’ll need to continue to develop there.  

32.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jaelan Phillips, 6’5”, 266lbs, DE, Miami, Fla., Jr.

04/25/21 - Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami, Fla.

04/12/21 - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson 

03/18/21 - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

03/13/21 - Carlos Basham, Jr., DE, Wake Forest

02/17/21 - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

02/07/21 - Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State
Tom Brady captained the Tampa ship back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and their first Super Bowl berth since Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.  Bruce Arians’ squad boasted a top three offense and a top ten defense and entered the offseason with a number of questions to answer in free agency.  However, Tampa was able to bring back all 22 starters from last season, which is remarkable, but I imagine is the “Tom Brady Effect”.  The move really allows this to be a luxury pick of sorts.  I could see this pick used on an OT like Liam Eichenberg, Samuel Cosmi or Dillon Radunz as an insurance policy for Donovan Smith, on a center like Creed Humphrey in case Ryan Jensen doesn’t answer the call.  I could also see this pick being used on a DE.  While Ndamukong Suh is back but was only signed to a one-year deal, while William Gholston is only under contract through the 2021 season.  I actually think this pick will be used on a pass rusher to team with Shaquill Barrett and Jason Pierre Paul.  Azeez Ojulari could be the pick here, but there’s also a chance that injury concerns surrounding Jaelan Phillips will cause him to fall and if he is available here, I think he’s the pick for Tampa.  Phillips arrived in Westwood as the top-rated recruit in 2017 but battled concussions and a wrist injury while at UCLA and considered retirement from the game.  A change of scenery was needed and after transferring to The U, Phillips managed to stay healthy and solidified his status as a top edge rusher.  Phillips showed the needed burst and flexibility to get the edge in a hurry as a speed rusher.  Phillips furthered the explosiveness dialogue at his pro day, running a blazing 4.56 40 while also posting a 36-inch vertical leap.  Phillips’ hand work was exceptional, slapping the OT’s hands aside off the snap as he works to turn the corner in a hurry, showing tremendous bend to get under the OT’s pad level.  However, once he has you thinking outside, then Phillips takes an inside move with a quick arm over to rush the passer.  Phillips was used often on stunts and was equally disruptive, gaining a head of steam as he loops around, showing active hands to get into the body of the OG, driving them back before disengaging and getting to the QB.  Phillips can also convert speed to power, driving the OT back into the QB.  Philips totaled 15.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks in his only season with the Hurricanes, so there’s no question he can get after the QB.  I do think he needs to ensure he maintains leverage against the run.  If you watched the UNC game, the Tar Heel duo of Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, who combined for over 500 yards on the ground, repeatedly got to the corner because Phillips was overly aggressive and kept trying to shoot inside.  Phillips is a complete pass rusher with his ability to win with speed, power and from within, but his play against the run has to improve.  Phillips has questionable medicals and one full year of incredible production, so you have a talent worthy of a top-15 pick, but the red flags can easily cause his stock to fall and the Bucs could be the beneficiary at the end of Round One.