2021 PLAYBOOK NFL DRAFT COMPLETE RECAP

And now come the grades.

The 2021 NFL Draft is offi cially in the books. A total of 259 players were selected to join the NFL’s 32 NFL teams. For the 15th straight year the SEC had the most draft picks in a single draft with a record 65 selections this year. The SEC had 63 selections in 2020, and 64 in 2019.

With that, we present our full draft recap with analysis on each team’s selections. In addition you will fi nd excerpts and grades for each team from four sources: NFL.COM (Chad Reutter), PlaybookSports.Com, Pro Football Focus, and USA TODAY (Nate Davis), as well as a composite grade of all four. Note: Mel Kiper of ESPN was dropped for excessive placating after issuing three A’s, twenty-six B’s and three C’s, with none lower than a C+. And for a fast-facts report on the 2021 draft, be sure to see our overview on Page 35.

For more information how each team’s draft will impact the 2021 NFL season, be sure to order your copy of the 2021 PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL PREVIEW GUIDE MAGAZINE. It will be available at Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million bookstores and select newsstands beginning Tuesday, July 6. Or to get a print or digital copy up to two weeks in advance at PlaybookSports.com, click here or call 1.800.PLAYBOOK for instant service. Enjoy our NFL Draft Recap and analysis.

AFC East/North AFC South/West NFC East/North NFC South/West 3 11 HOUSTON Texans 19 27 ATLANTA Falcons 4 MIAMI Dolphins 12 INDIANAPOLIS Colts 20 28 CAROLINA Panthers 5 NEW ENGLAND Patriots 13 JACKSONVILLE Jaguars 21 PHILADELPHIA Eagles 29 NEW ORLEANS Saints 6 14 TENNESSEE Titans 22 WASHINGTON Team 30 TAMPA BAY Buccaneers 7 BALTIMORE Ravens 15 DENVER Broncos 23 CHICAGO Bears 31 ARIZONA Cardinals 8 CINCINNATI Bengals 16 KANSAS CITY Chiefs 24 DETROIT Lions 32 LOS ANGELES Rams 9 CLEVELAND Browns 17 LAS VEGAS Raiders 25 GREEN BAY Packers 33 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers 10 PITTSBURGH Steelers 18 LOS ANGELES Chargers 26 MINNESOTA Vikings 34 SEATTLE Seahawks

2 AFC EAST BUFFALO BILLS

Round 1 (30): Round 2 (29): DE DE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest Miami Florida Round 3 (29): OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa Round 5 (17): OT Tommy Doyle, Miami Ohio Round 6 (19): WR Marques Stevenson, Houston Round 6 (28): S Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh Round 6 (29): CB , Wisconsin Round 7 (08): OG Jack Anderson, Texas Tech COURTESY OF MIAMICOURTESY FLORIDA

1ST ROUND ast year the Bills traded away their fi rst, fi fth and sixth-round picks as well as a 2021 fourth- L round pick in exchange for wide receiver and a 2020 seventh-round pick. What appeared to be a steep price turned into a savvy deal after Diggs led the league in receiving yards (1,846). The primary focus in 2021’s draft turned to the defensive side of the ball and started with Miami Edge Rusher Rousseau, a physical hulk who played only one full season of college ball after opting out last year, and had a 15.5 sack season in 2019. There is a reason, though, that he was passed over by 29 teams. Let’s see where he is in three years. Either a phenom or a bust would be no surprise. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ellow Edge Rusher “Boogie” Basham Jr. is a monstrous pass rusher who had fi rst-round F potential with the ability to blow by opposing pass-blockers. If he ups his level of consistency he may surpass Rousseau … Stevenson has speed to burn and will be out to fi ll John Brown’s (released) shoes … A pair of offensive tackles were summoned to fortify the wall in front of QB , with Brown likely to step in right away. However, they will be stepping up in class after performing in the Mid-American and Missouri Valley Conferences, and will likely need time to develop. By doubling up on both defensive and offensive tackles early in the draft, the Bills failed to land a much-needed tight end. Steal Of The Draft: CARLOS BASHAM JR.

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B- … NFL.com: A- … PFF: B … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B

3 AFC EAST MIAMI DOLPHINS

Round 1 (06): Round 1 (18): WR JAYLEN WADDLE DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami Florida Alabama Round 2 (04): S Jevon Holland, Oregon Round 2 (10): OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame Round 3 (17): TE Hunter Long, Boston College Round 7 (03): OT Larnel Coleman, UMass Round 7 (16): RB Gerrid Doaks, Cincinnati COURTESY OF ALABAMA COURTESY

1ST ROUND addle was a no-brainer and may prove to be the best receiver in this year’s draft class. His W reunion with Tua Tagovailoa was one of four reunifi cations between former college offensive teammates. He averaged an impressive 19.2 yards per target (compared to Devonta Smith’s 10.8), as well as an insane 21.1 yards per catch, and is a true four-down player who averaged 19.3 yards per punt return. And while you’re at it, you can toss in the stat of the year: The average length across all of Waddle’s 17 career touchdowns as a member of the Crimson Tide was a whopping 43.6 yards, or basically half the length of a football fi eld. 247 Sports said he is “a stick of dynamite with the ball in his hands with absurd straight-line speed and dynamism.” Phillips was forced to retire after beginning his career at UCLA but transferred to the U where he was unstoppable last season. If he stays healthy, Phillips could be special. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ichenberg fi gures to replace recently departed Eric Flowers, although other OL who were E higher-rated (Jackson Carman, Dillon Radunz) were available … Long was an under-the-radar pick and, along with fellow TE Mike Geisicki, fi gures to give Tagovailoa another reliable target with blocking ability … Holland fi lls the hole left by recently released team captain Bobby McCain and should have an instant impact … The bottom line is the Dolphins left the draft with as many as four or fi ve starting-caliber players. Steal Of The Draft: JAELAN PHILLIPS

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A- … NFL.com: A … PFF: B+ … USA TODAY: B … Composite: A-

4 AFC EAST NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Round 1 (15): Round 2 (06): QB MAC JONES DT Christian Barmore, Alabama Alabama Round 3 (32): DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma Round 4 (15): RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma Round 5 (33): LB Cameron McGrone, Round 6 (04): S Joshuah Bledsoe, Missouri Round 6 (13): OT William Sherman, Colorado Round 7 (14): WR Tre Nixon, UCF COURTESY OF ALABAMA COURTESY

1ST ROUND s we called out in this report last year, the Patriots were just one of two teams that had not A drafted a single Pro Bowler in the last fi ve years. The feeling here is that changes with this draft. After loading up on offense in free agency and then having Jones show up at No. 15, it couldn’t have played out any better for Bill Belichick who will look to rebuild in 2021 after suffering his fi rst losing season since he took over the Pats in 2000. Jones led the nation last season in overall PFF grade (95.8) and was the most accurate college quarterback in terms of adjusted completion rate (84.2%) PFF has seen. We’d like to call it the steal of the fi rst-round but we can’t, given that Jones fell right into their lap. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT fter loading up on offense in free agency and then having Jones fall into their lap at No. 15, A the Pats went heavy on defense. It started when they traded up to land Barmore as the well- documented Tuscaloosa pipeline secured the fi rst defensive lineman early in the second-round, and it didn’t stop there when Perkins was reeled in at the end of the third-round. Both players should make an immediate impact … Meanwhile, Michigan LB McGrone was a two-year starter who has the speed and athletic ability to cover backs out of the backfi eld. He has the tools of an every down starter and was a solid special teams player. Steal Of The Draft: RONNIE PERKINS

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: A- … PFF: A+ … USA TODAY: A- … Composite: A

5 AFC EAST NEW YORK JETS

Round 1 (02): Round 1 (14): QB OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC BYU Round 2 (02): WR , Ole Miss Round 4 (02): RB Michael Carter, North Carolina Round 5 (02): S , Auburn Round 5 (10): S Michael Carter, II, Duke Round 5 (31): CB , Pittsburgh Round 6 (02): S , Florida State Rouond 6 (16): CB Brandin Echols, Kentucky Rouond 6 (23):

COURTESY OF BYU COURTESY DT Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas 1ST ROUND o one saw this coming a year ago: Wilson being tabbed the second pick in the 2021 NFL N Draft. After a breakout year in 2020 in which his 33/3 TD/INT ratio led the nation (albeit against suspect opposition), the Jets sent Sam Darnold packing to land their favorite Mormon. USA Today’s Nate Davis says that Wilson has awe-inspiring arm talent that gives him the ability to make just about any throw from just about any area of the fi eld, whether or not his feet are set. The same traits of one Patrick Mahomes, if you will. While they paid a heavy price to make it happen, it was a move that was needed with new head coach Robert Saleh replacing Adam Gase. Just as important, New York scored with another fi rst-round pick when they landed Vera-Tucker, an excellent tackle at USC. He’ll pair with last year’s fi rst-round choice in LT to form the kind of wall that Wilson should relish. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT he winning didn’t stop after opening night in the draft when the Jets took WR Moore, who T should help to revamp New York’s receiving corps. Many pundits had him tabbed to go in the fi rst-round. PFF notes that his toughness showed after the catch, with 31 broken tackles on 153 receptions since 2019 … And don’t fall asleep on RB Carter, part of UNC’s one-two tandem with Javonte Williams. Carter started games all four years and led the team in rushing the last three years. Steal Of The Draft: ELIJAH MOORE

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: B … PFF: A … USA TODAY: A … Composite: A-

6 AFC NORTH BALTIMORE RAVENS

Round 1 (27): Round 1 (31): WR RASHOD BATEMAN DE Odafe Oweh, Penn State Minnesota Round 3 (30): OG Ben Cleveland, Georgia Round 3 (40): CB Brandon Stephens, SMU Round 4 (26): WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State Round 5 (16): CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State Round 5 (27): DE Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame Round 5 (40): FB Ben Mason, Michigan COURTESY OF MINNESOTA OF COURTESY

1ST ROUND ith two major scores in the fi rst-round, Baltimore continued to do what it does best: Scout W players to put themselves into the best position to clean up in the NFL Draft … WR Bateman is adept at beating press coverage, running precise routes and creating separation. He is going to help the Ravens immediately … PFF called Oweh, who didn’t play football until his junior year in high school, one of the freakiest athletes you will ever see on a football fi eld. He stands at 6-foot- 5 and weighs 257 pounds and posted a 40-inch vertical, 134-inch broad jump, and a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. The Ravens crushed it with these two selections in the fi rst-round. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT FF says OG Cleveland is a monster of a human being who mauled everyone in his path in P . Once he brushes up on the technical aspects of the game, he will become a Pro Bowl lineman … The Ravens capped it off when safety Ar’Darius Washington was signed as an undrafted free agent immediately following the draft. He was ranked as the No. 57 overall prospect on PFF’s Draft Board. At 5-foot-8, 178 pounds, Washington is undersized for a safety, but that has yet to stop him from wreaking havoc in the secondary. He was PFF’s second-highest- graded safety in 2019 (91.7), comparing him to Super Bowl champion Tyrann Mathieu in PFF’s 2021 NFL Draft guide. Steal Of The Draft: RASHOD BATEMAN

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B+ … NFL.com: A … PFF: B+ … USA TODAY: C+ … Composite: B+

7 AFC NORTH CINCINNATI BENGALS

Round 1 (05): Round 2 (14): WR JA’MARR CHASE OT Jackson Carman, Clemson LSU Round 3 (05): DE Joseph Ossai, Texas Round 4 (06): DE Cameron Sample, Tulane Round 4 (17): DT Tyler Shelvin, LSU Round 4 (34): OT D’Ante Smith, East Carolina Round 5 (05): PK Evan McPherson, Florida Round 6 (06): C Trey Hill, Georgia Round 6 (18): RB Chris Evans, Michigan Round 7 (07):

COURTESY OF LSU COURTESY DE Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State 1ST ROUND ringing former LSU WR Chase in to reunite with QB Joe Burrow should play huge dividends B for the Bengals. In the process, they fi lled one of two vacancies that badly needed to be addressed – a quality wide receiver and an offensive lineman to help keep Burrow upright. Some say Cincinnati may have gotten a bit too cute when they passed Oregon OT Penei Sewell in favor of Chase. However, Burrow has terrifi c chemistry with Chase and they are now loaded at wide receiver. And it’s important to remember that Chase’s strength and quickness had made him the top receiver on most scouts’ boards since the two Tigers destroyed defenses on their way to a national championship. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT fter passing on Sewell with the fi fth pick in the draft, and then trading back in the second- A round, the Bengals quickly sourced Clemson OT Carman, who will now be asked to play guard. Carman has an impressive combination of size and athleticism, and was playing his best football toward the end of the 2020 season … After recording a league-low 17 sacks in 2020, the Bengals addressed the situation when they tabbed talented DEs Ossai and Sample in the third- and-fourth rounds of the draft … OT Smith was a sleeper pick, and DT Shelvin is a mountain of a man who could be a two-down starter … PK McPherson nailed 56-of-60 fi eld goals and was 149-for-150 on PATs. Steal Of The Draft: CAMERON SAMPLE

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B+ … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: B … USA TODAY: B+ … Composite: B+

8 AFC NORTH CLEVELAND BROWNS

Round 1 (26): Round 2 (20): CB GREG NEWSOME II LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame Northwestern Round 3 (27): WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn Round 4 (05): OT James Hudson, Cincinnati Round 4 (27): DT Tommy Togiai, Ohio State Round 5 (09): LB Tony Fields II, West Virginia Round 5 (25): S Richard LeCounte, Georgia Round 6 (27): WR Demetric Felton, UCLA COURTESY OF NORTHWESTERN COURTESY

1ST ROUND f there is a cloud higher than 9 then Cleveland Browns fans are on it. The accolades kept coming I following another masterful draft under GM Andrew Berry. It started when Berry slayed it during free agency with no team acquiring as much talent as the Browns prior to the draft. It then continued with the selection of DB Newsome II in the fi rst round with what PFF called incredible value at one of the most crucial positions on the fi eld. He allowed just 93 yards and fi ve fi rst downs on 223 coverage snaps for the Wildcats last year. With the addition of Newsome to a secondary that already boasts Greedy Williams, John Johnson II, Troy Hill, Grant Delpit and Denzel Ward, Cleveland may challenge Denver for the league’s best coverage unit this year. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ith the selection of Notre Dame LB Owusu-Kormoah with the 52nd pick in the second- W round, potentially THE steal of the draft, PFF went on to gush that the Browns could not stop winning … With blazing sub 4.3 speed, Schwartz is a burner the likes of Mike Wallace, the speed merchant who tormented the league early on with the Steelers … They continued to commit highway robbery by getting Ohio State DT Togiai, a Day 2 pick … In fact, the early part of the Browns draft was so impressive it allowed them to take fl yers on players later, like talented RB Felton … In the end, the Cleveland draft was what A+ grades are all about. Steal Of The Draft: JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A+ … NFL.com: A … PFF: A+ … USA TODAY: A- … Composite: A

9 AFC NORTH PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Round 1 (24): Round 2 (23): RB NAJEE HARRIS TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State Alabama Round 3 (23): G Kendrick Green, Illinois Round 4 (23): OT Dan Moore Jr., Texas A&M Round 4 (35): ILB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M Round 5 (12): DT Isaiahh Loudermilk, Wisconsin Round 6 (32): LB Quincy Roche, Miami Florida Round 7 (17): CB Tre Norwood, Oklahoma Round 7 (26):

COURTESY OF ALABAMA COURTESY P Pressley Harvin III, Georgia Tech 1ST ROUND he Steelers draft started on a good note when Alabama star RB Harris was plucked with T the 24th overall selection. Unfortunately, things proceeded to go all downhill from there. The Harris pick was not a surprise to anyone. However, the contention is that running backs are deemed not worthy of fi rst-round status these days – especially to a team with an offensive line tattered with needs. (Pittsburgh was ranked No. 32 in run blocking by Football Outsiders last season). Nonetheless, while Harris is not much of a breakaway threat, he should prove valuable catching passes out of the backfi eld, which fi ts QB Ben Roethlisberger’s M.O. to a tee these days. PFF reported that Harris has dropped just two of 75 catchable passes since 2019. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT E Freiermuth was ranked as the second-best player at his position in this draft. The problem T is, other the Kyle Pitts, tight end talent was way down this year … To their credit, getting OG Green in the third-round was a score for Pittsburgh. A three-year starter, Green became the fi rst Illinois offensive starter to earn fi rst-team All-Big Ten honors since 2011. Our Lads Scouting Service says that his use of hands to stab, punch, and control his opponent is unsurpassed for interior linemen in this draft … Another good value selection was Miami LB Roche who will have an opportunity to carve out his niche with the Steelers. Steal Of The Draft: KENDRICK GREEN

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C … NFL.com: A … PFF: C … USA TODAY: C … Composite: C+

10 AFC SOUTH HOUSTON TEXANS

Round 3 (03): Round 3 (25): QB DAVIS MILLS WR Nico Collins, Michigan Stanford Round 5 (03): TE Brevin Jordan, Miami Florida Round 5 (26): LB Garret Wallow, TCU Round 6 (11): DT Roy Lopez, Arizona COURTESY OF STANFORD COURTESY

1ST ROUND or the second year in a row, Houston was without a fi rst-round selection while having just fi ve F picks the entire draft, mirroring last year’s position. Which begs the question: who on earth is steering the Texans ship? It appears to be sinking faster than the stomachs of third-graders who must deliver their fi rst oral book report. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT he Athletic nailed it when they said that the Texans repeatedly violated the Number One T rule of drafting: Don’t be overconfi dent in your ability to identify talent. Houston gave up three picks, including a 2022 fourth, to move up 20 spots for WR Collins, a player who never had more than 38 catches in a season at Michigan. The Texans then gave up three more picks to get up to No. 170 when they took TCU LB Wallow … PFF called out the fact that Houston took a look toward the future at the quarterback position with their fi rst selection in the 2021 NFL Draft in QB Mills, a former fi ve-star recruit with an NFL-caliber arm who got the ball out quickly while at Stanford with one of the fastest average times to throw in college football. However, he doesn’t bring much mobility or experience … In the end, the Texans started the draft with eight picks and ended up selecting fi ve players. In reality, the Texans should have been working hard to accumulate picks – both in this year’s draft and in future years – given what bad shape the roster is in. Instead, Houston did the opposite. Steal Of The Draft: NONE (For the second year in a row)

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: D … NFL.com: C- … PFF: C- … USA TODAY: D- … Composite: D+

11 AFC SOUTH INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Round 1 (21): Round 2 (22): DE KWITY PAYE DE Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt Michigan Round 4 (22): TE Kylen Granson, SMU Round 5 (21): S Shawn Davis, Florida Round 6 (34): QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas Round 7 (01): WR Mike Strachan, Charleston (WV) Round 7 (20): OT Will Fries, Penn State COURTESY OF MICHIGANCOURTESY

1ST ROUND ndianapolis landed a potential coup with DE Paye provided he is open to coaching. It was I generally agreed that he would go at least 10 positions higher in the draft but there was obvious concern over this reckless style of play. Paye has a high motor and is great against the run and developing as a pass-rusher. He’ll be a solid addition should he adapt to the constraints he’ll be taught at this level. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT nother player who fi ts the Colts’ athletic profi le for defenders to a tee is DE Odeyingbo, A who PFF calls an extremely twitchy athlete and has prototypical size. A three-year starter, and brother of Bengals DE Dare Odeyingbo, he could have been a late fi rst-round sleeper if not for an injury while training … QB Ehlinger is a four-year starter who did a good job at limiting turnovers with Texas. Many question his arm strength and pocket presence, but his toughness and leadership abilities can override those negatives … The biggest question mark was the Colts reaching for Vandy DE Odeyinbo, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in January and likely won’t play a snap this season … The other concern is they came out of the draft without a potential starting offensive tackle to replace retired Anthony Castanzo, the single biggest need on the team. That’s scary considering new QB Carson Wentz was sacked a league-high 50 times in just 12 games last season. Steal Of The Draft: KWITY PAYE

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: C+ … USA TODAY: C … Composite: C+

12 AFC SOUTH JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Round 1 (01): Round 1 (25): QB TREVOR LAWRENCE RB Travis Etienne, Clemson Clemson Round 2 (01): CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia Round 2 (13): OT Walker Little, Stanford Round 3 (01): S Andre Cisco, Syracuse Round 4 (01): DT Jay Tufele, USC Round 4 (16): DE Jordan Smith, UAB Round 5 (01): TE Luke Farrell, Ohio State Round 6 (25):

COURTESY OF CLEMSON COURTESY WR Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech 1ST ROUND t’s never bad when you call out the names of a pair of mega star-skill players from Clemson in I the fi rst-round of the draft: Generational QB Lawrence and RB Etienne. Coach Urban Meyer’s speed-kills offensive plan is seen in Etienne even though the Jaguars’ best playmaker is second- year back James Robinson. Nonetheless, the pre-requisite to land Lawrence was going 1-15, which for all intents and purposes will likely be in the rear-view mirror this season. For those who insist a running back should never be taken in the fi rst-round of today’s NFL Draft, remind yourself that when you watch this Batman and Robin act perform together this season. Remember, Lawrence was 34-2 as a starter at Clemson and fi nished his prep career with a 52-2 record, including a 41- game winning streak (his only two losses came in the playoffs). BALANCE OF THE DRAFT yracuse S Cisco just may end up being the top sleeper for the Jaguars in this draft. Said to be S the most underrated safety in college football, he exploded onto the national stage, amassing 60 tackles, 7 interceptions, 9 pass defl ections, and a forced fumble in 13 games and 11 starts in his freshman season in 2018 – and only got better … OT Little began his career at Stanford winning the Pac 12’s Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year Award. After an impressive sophomore year, he injured a knee in August 2019 and hasn’t been on the game fi eld since. He opted out of the 2020 season. He is one of the biggest mysteries in this draft class. Steal Of The Draft: ANDRE CISCO

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: A- … PFF: B+ … USA TODAY: A+ … Composite: A

13 AFC SOUTH TENNESSEE TITANS

Round 1 (22): Round 2 (21): CB CALEB FARLEY OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State Virginia Tech Round 3 (28): LB Monty Rice, Georgia Round 3 (36): CB , Washington Round 4 (04): WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville Round 4 (30): DE Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh Round 6 (21): WR Racey McMath, LSU Round 6 (31): S Brady Breeze, Oregon COURTESY OF VIRGINACOURTESY TECH

1ST ROUND he biggest value pick for the Titans came in the fi rst-round when CB Farley fell to them at T No. 22. He was available only because he has back injury and knee issues. If he had a clean bill of health, he would have gone in the fi rst 10 picks (read: Dallas). At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, he runs a sub 4.3 second 40-yard dash. Safe to say Farley is a roll of the dice, but one that could come up big should he be able to overcome the injury bug. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT he truth of the matter is the success of this draft for the Titans will revolve around stopping T a revolving door at right tackle by getting OT Radunz in Round 2, a year after losing All-Pro Jack Conklin in free agency and then whiffi ng with a fi rst-round choice on now former Titan Isaiah Wilson. He was Tennessee’s last swing at an offensive tackle and turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. As a 2020 fi rst-round pick, Wilson played just three snaps on offense – all kneel-downs – before he ran himself out of town. FYI: Miami picked him up for a cup of coffee before promptly showing him the door … In addition, CB Molden at the end of the third round was another steal, giving them an ideal nickel corner. And DE Weaver is also a sneaky sleeper pick as an edge rusher. Steal Of The Draft: CALEB FARLEY

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C+ … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: A … USA TODAY: B+ … Composite: B

14 AFC WEST DENVER BRONCOS

Round 1 (09): Round 2 (03): CB PATRICK SURTAIN II RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina Alabama Round 3 (34): OG Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater Round 3 (41): LB Baron Browning, Ohio State Round 5 (08): S Caden Sterns, Texas Round 5 (20): S Jamar Johnson, Indiana Round 6 (35): WR Seth Williams, Auburn Round 7 (09): CB Kary Vincent Jr., LSU Round 7 (11): DE Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State Round 7 (25):

COURTESY OF ALABAMA COURTESY DE Marquiss Spencer, Mississippi State 1ST ROUND fter scoring Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy with the No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft, it was interesting A that the Broncos could have selected Ohio State QB Justin Fields, but opted instead for defense when they selected Alabama CB Surtain II. It certainly opens the conversation for second- guessing, especially with QBs Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater struggling in 2021. Surtain is a strong press corner, and his ability to play the ball in the air is special. The Broncos invested in cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency, but that didn’t prevent them from making this pick. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT FF feels the Broncos selected the No. 1 running back on the board with Williams in the second- P round. The negative is that they traded up to land him. He is a tackle-breaking machine, plowing through 76 would-be attempts last season at North Carolina … Perhaps the surprise of the draft for Denver this season is G Meinerz from Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, who could very easily become the team’s starting center this season … But they weren’t done there when they claimed S Johnson from Indiana, who PFF says might be one of the best picks of the entire draft. He fi ts like a glove in Vic Fangio’s defense and was a clear second-round pick in their eyes. His coverage ability displayed at Indiana was special. Johnson played all over the fi eld and thrived in every role during a Hoosiers career that featured seven interceptions and six forced incompletions. Steal Of The Draft: JAMAR JOHNSON

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: A- … USA TODAY: A … Composite: A-

15 AFC WEST KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Round 2 (26): Round 2 (31): LB NICK BOLTON C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma Missouri Round 4 (39): DE Joshua Kaindoh, Florida State Round 5 (18): TE Noah Gray, Duke Round 5 (37): WR Cornell Powell, Clemson Round 6 (42): OG Trey Smith, Tennessee COURTESY OF MISSOURICOURTESY

1ST ROUND fter watching their Super Bowl hopes go up in fl ames last season when the offensive line A collapsed, Andy Reid knew his top priority in the offseason was to rebuild the fortress. It all started when Kansas City acquired LT Orlando Brown Jr. for this year’s fi rst-round pick from Baltimore, leaving them only six picks in this year’s draft, and sans a No. 1. But to their credit, the Chiefs did all right for themselves. Suddenly, the sieve on the offensive line has turned into a barricade, which is reason to rejoice for Chiefs’ fans. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT issouri LB Bolton was a productive college player and should have an immediate role on M the Chiefs’ defense … C Humphrey can start opening week. He can also step in at either guard spot, giving Kansas City a tremendous player in terms of versatility and contingency on the offensive line, the area that effectively cost them the Super Bowl … The biggest head-scratcher was Tennessee G Smith falling to the 6th round. His medical history played a big role with Smith falling this far, as he battled blood clots in his lungs throughout his tenure at Tennessee. This is a home run from an on-the-fi eld perspective, though. Smith is a former fi ve-star recruit with legitimate physical tools to work with … Clemson wide receiver Powell was a worthy fl ier in the fi fth round. Steal Of The Draft: TREY SMITH

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B- … NFL.com: A- … PFF: B+ … USA TODAY: A- … Composite: B+

16 AFC WEST LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Round 1 (17): Round 2 (11): OT ALEX LEATHERWOOD S Trevon Moehrig, Tcu Alabama Round 3 (15): LB Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo Round 3 (16): S Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech Round 4 (38): S Tyree Gillespie, Missouri Round 5 (23): CB Nate Hobbs, Illinois Round 7 (02): C Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh COURTESY OF ALABAMA COURTESY

1ST ROUND t seems Mike Mayock is the Rod Serling of NFL GMs. His decisions and moves appear to be I right from the Twilight Zone, each head-scratching and unexpected. They had a glaring need to revamp their offensive line but you’d be hard pressed to fi nd anyone in the league who had OT Leatherwood ranked ahead of Christian Darrisaw. For what it’s worth, he was the No. 9-ranked tackle on PFF’s Big Board, largely because he had major issues in pass protection. To which we say draft central at the Raiders offi ce was likely a madhouse, where the operative word was “where am I to go now that’ I’ve gone too far?” Just like Serling would like it. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ere it not for the Raiders’ need on the offensive line, S Moehrig would have been the W logical choice in the fi rst-round but with Mayock calling the shots, he wasn’t. Somehow, despite being the heavy favorite to become the fi rst safety off the board, he was available the 11th pick in Round-Two after Las Vegas made one of the costlier trade-ups on the draft to acquire him, thus saving face for Mayock … The Raiders took all kinds of swings in the secondary on Day 3, with Missouri S Gillespie the best of what was left … The bottom line is the Raiders desperately need some of the secondary picks to stick a landing. Steal Of The Draft: TREVON MOEHRIG

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C- … NFL.com: B … PFF: C … USA TODAY: D … Composite: C-

17 AFC WEST LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Round 1 (13): Round 2 (15): OT RASHAWN SLATER CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State Northwestern Round 3 (13): WR Josh Palmer, Tennessee Round 3 (33): TE Tre’ McKitty, Georgia Round 4 (13): LB Chris Rumph II, Duke Round 5 (15): OT Brenden Jaimes, Nebraska Round 6 (01): LB Nick Niemann, Iowa Round 6 (14): RB Larry Rountree III, Missouri Round 7 (13):

COURTESY OF NORTHWESTERN COURTESY S Mark Webb, Georgia 1ST ROUND t was no secret that the Chargers need a left tackle entering this draft. Fortunately, they were I able to stay put and take Northwestern’s Slater at 13. That paved the way for other chips to fall their way. As Football Outsiders puts it, drafts work out differently for every team. Some teams need to approach the board aggressively to ensure their biggest needs are addressed. Others, such as the Chargers, have the luxury of having the board fall so perfectly that their most glaring holes get addressed by players dropping right into their lap. The Chargers entered the weekend with one goal: fi nd a left tackle to protect Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert, who was pressured on 28.7% of his drop-backs last season. And they got their guy in Slater. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT n the second round, the Chargers were able to grab playmaking CB Samuel Jr., who should I be a perfect fi t for Brandon Staley’s zone-heavy scheme. In fact, it’s PFF’s contention that this is going to go down as one of the best picks of the 2021 NFL Draft. Especially for a team that desperately was in need of cornerback help. He’s a fi t for an off-zone system that takes advantage of his inside-outside versatility and won’t require him to play press-man coverage. It’s a perfect marriage for new head coach Brandon Staley in his unique defense … In addition, pass rusher Rumph II could blossom under Staley. Steal Of The Draft: ASANTE SAMUEL JR.

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A- … NFL.com: A … PFF: A+ … USA TODAY: A- … Composite: A

18 NFC EAST DALLAS COWBOYS

Round 1 (12): Round 2 (12): CB , Kentucky LB Penn State Round 3 (11): DT , UCLA Round 3 (20): DE , Iowa Round 3 (35): CB , Oregon State Round 4 (10): LB , LSU Round 4 (33): OT , Marshall Round 5 (35): WR , Stanford Round 6 (08): DT , Kentucky Round 6 (43): CB , South Carolina Round 7 (10):

COURTESY OF PENNCOURTESY STATE G , Nebraska 1ST ROUND ast year Dallas was one of the biggest winners of the fi rst round when teams drafting ahead L of them kept dropping players of need into their lap. In fact, PFF went so far as to say, “The Cowboys are ripping the doorknob off this draft. Every pick they’ve made was much higher on the PFF Draft Board.” Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case in this year’s draft. They were forced, instead, to do a lot of gambling. Granted, landing mega-skilled PSU LB Parsons with the 12th overall selection was extremely fortuitous. But the issue is Dallas was badly in need of a cornerback before Carolina started a run on CB’s, forcing the Cowboys to trade down and reassess their position. Linebacker wasn’t an obvious need, especially with and Leighton Vander- Esch already there. Still, Parsons is arguably the best linebacker prospect in years and will provide versatility to the Dallas defense. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT he Cowboys eventually fi lled the gap at cornerback when Kentucky CB Joseph was tabbed with T the 12th pick in Round Two. The problem is there were issues with his consistency … PFF noted that no interior defensive lineman was more dominant at the Senior Bowl than Odighizuwa. He was the highest-graded player at the position both during the week of practice and in the game itself, winning with power and quickness. He should start immediately … And LB Cox was selected on Day 3 after being graded as a second-round prospect. Steal Of The Draft: OSA ODIGHIZUWA

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C+ … NFL.com: A … PFF: B … USA TODAY: B- … Composite: B

19 NFC EAST NEW YORK GIANTS

Round 1 (20): Round 2 (18): WR LB , Georgia Florida Round 3 (07): CB Aaron Robinson, UCF Round 4 (11): LB Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa Round 6 (12): RB , Arizona Round 6 (17): CB , Oklahoma State COURTESY OF FLORIDA COURTESY

1ST ROUND hanks to a slow start in 2020, last year’s fi rst round pick guard Andrew Thomas from Georgia T graded out lower than the Giants expected, although he fi nished strong. This year, though, Big Blue applied a new strategy by GM Dave Gettleman when they traded down from 11 to 20 with division rival Philadelphia, but were able to pick up a 5th this year along with a 1st and a 4th next year … The eventual selection of Florida WR Toney was met with rave reviews. The question begs, though, will OC Jason Garrett fi nd a way to unlock him for QB Daniel Jones? Coupled with free agent acquisition WRs and John Ross, look for the passing lanes to open like a toll-free thruway in New York this season. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT fter Gettleman moved back eight spots in the second-round and picked up a 2022 third- A rounder, all his moves were smart enough to earn Gettleman the label of “Trader Dave”. We love what The Athletic said about all the juxtaposing, that he was like a kid who refused for years to eat guacamole, eventually tried it and then realized it was fantastic … A pair of promising Edge rushers were acquired in the second-and-fourth rounds in Ojulari (a potential fi rst-rounder) and Smith. They should have a chance to contribute immediately … The only thing lacking was a failure to address needs to the offensive line. But when you have only six picks to work with, you play the cards you were dealt. Steal Of The Draft: AZEEZ OJULARI

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: A… PFF: B+ … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B+

20 NFC EAST PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Round 1 (10): Round 2 (05): WR DEVONTA SMITH C Landon Dickerson, Alabama Alabama Round 3 (09): DT Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech Round 4 (18): CB Zech McPhearson, Texas Tech Round 5 (06): RB Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis Round 6 (05): DT Marlon Tuipulotu, USC Round 6 (07): DE Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina Round 6 (40): S JaCoby Stevens, LSU Round 7 (06):

COURTESY OF ALABAMA COURTESY OLB Patrick Johnson, Tulane 1ST ROUND hiladelphia needed elite players at many different positions. As a result, they traded from 6 P to 12 to 10 to land Heisman Trophy winning WR Smith, a possible target at No. 6. But trading down in the third round for an extra sixth was foolish, and cost the Eagles a much-needed move to secure a cornerback. Meanwhile, the silver lining for the Eagles is that last year’s fi rst-round pick, WR Jalen Reagor, should be 100% healthy this season after missing much of the 2020 season with injuries. Reagor gained only 396 passing yards and one TD pass, the bulk of which came from Game Eight out. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT f it weren’t for injuries, C Dickerson would have been a high fi rst-round pick and one of the I best offensive linemen in this draft. But multiple ACL injuries caused his stock to come with a signifi cant medical red fl ag. In fact, four of his fi ve college seasons ended in injuries. Taking that gamble in the second round is smarter than doing so in the fi rst. The Eagles can look for him to replace Jason Kelce long-term and maybe fi nd a starting spot at guard in the meantime … PFF insists the Eagles got incredible value for OLB Johnson, a player ranked 92nd on its’ Big Board. He is a nice technical player who, when on his game, is a very good … In addition, Memphis RB Gainwell is another who has a chance to immediately carve out a role. Steal Of The Draft: PATRICK JOHNSON

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C- … NFL.com: A … PFF: B- … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B-

21 NFC EAST WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Round 1 (19): Round 2 (19): LB JAMIN DAVIS OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas Kentucky Round 3 (10): CB Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota Round 3 (18): WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina Round 4 (19): TE John Bates, Boise State Round 5 (19): S Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati Round 6 (41): LS Camaron Cheeseman, Michigan Round 7 (12): DE William Bradley-King, Baylor Round 7 (18): DE Shaka Toney, Penn State Round 7 (30):

COURTESY OF KENTUCKY COURTESY WR Dax Milne, BYU 1ST ROUND fter scoring a coup with the selection of Chase Young, the best non-quarterback prospect PFF A had ever evaluated, Washington learned that despite having many other needs besides that of another pass rusher, generational players should not be passed over. There were none to be found this year, though, with The Football Team having the No. 19 pick of the draft. Despite the lack of attraction, three-down LB Davis made a lot of sense at 19. He should be a perfect fi t for their zone-heavy scheme, and he has elite athletic traits. He is also well versed in coverage. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT exas OT Cosmi was a durable and athletic tackle in college and has experience playing on both T the right and left sides … WR Brown has the upside to be one of the best wide receivers from this class … CB St-Juste brings a brings a rare combination of length and change-of-direction ability. At 6-foot-3 with over an 80-inch wingspan, not many big cornerbacks can cover ground like him … Cincinnati S Forrest is fast and explosive as his 39-inch vertical and 132-inch broad jump confi rms … In the end, The Football Team took 10 players overall, many of whom should be able to contribute right away. All in all, a solid draft for this still nickname-less squad. Yes, they still need a long-term quarterback, but fi rst things fi rst. Ron Rivera is building the team his way. Washington’s fi rst three picks are three of the rarest physical specimens at their respective positions in this draft class. Steal Of The Draft: DYAMI BROWN

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: A- … USA TODAY: C- … Composite: B

22 NFC NORTH CHICAGO BEARS

Round 1 (11): Round 2 (07): QB JUSTIN FIELDS OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State Ohio State Round 5 (07): OT Larry Borom, Missouri Round 6 (33): RB Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech Round 6 (37): WR Dazz Newsome, North Carolina Round 6 (44): CB Thomas Graham Jr., Oregon Round 7 (22): DT Khyiris Tonga, BYU COURTESY OF OHIO STATE COURTESY

1ST ROUND he Bears were without a fi rst-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after trading it away in the T package they sent to the Raiders in exchange for Khalil Mack in 2018. They were more than prepared when armed with one in the 2021 draft when they traded up to No. 11 to secure the services of Ohio State QB Fields. His ceiling is as high as any quarterback in the draft and he’s a real threat in the run game. In the process, Football Outsiders contends they may have walked away with the steal of the draft this year. It was a move that can change the trajectory of the franchise, one that was headed south at a rapid rate. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT he Bears added some protection for Fields as well, trading up again to select Oklahoma State T OT Jenkins at 39. He was seen as an immediate starter at right tackle, although plans are to switch him to the left side … It didn’t stop there, though, as the amount of depth Chicago was able to add from the fi fth-round and beyond was impressive. North Carolina WR Newsome and Oregon CB Graham Jr. are expected to contribute early on, while BYU DT Tonga is a physical specimen who creates matchup diffi culties for any offensive lineman … It was all about quality over quantity in this year’s draft for the Bears. With it, Chicago fans are back in the game – and GM Ryan Pace likely saved his job in the process. Steal Of The Draft: JUSTIN FIELDS

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: A … PFF: A+ … USA TODAY: A … Composite: A

23 NFC NORTH DETROIT LIONS

Round 1 (07): Round 2 (09): OT PENEI SEWELL DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington Oregon Round 3 (08): DT Alim McNeill, NC State Round 3 (37): CB , Syracuse Round 4 (07): WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC Round 4 (08): LB Derrick Barnes, Purdue Round 7 (29): RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State COURTESY OF OREGON COURTESY

1ST ROUND fter a free agency experience largely defi ned by one-year deals with mid-level players, Lions A fans headed into the draft wondering how the new regime would look to shape this roster. The fi rst three picks told the story, with Detroit adding 938 pounds of nasty to the trenches. It began with the no-brainer selection of Sewell, an absolute mauler who won’t turn 21 until the second month of his rookie season. This kind of prospect falling into the Lions’ lap at No. 7 was a gift. He is a hyper-athletic tackle who gobbles up pass rushers and moves in the open fi eld like no one at his size should. He could be an anchor tackle for Detroit for the next dozen years. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ew head coach Dan Campbell put his stamp on the draft when he selected Washington DT N Onwuzrike with the ninth pick in the second-round. NFL.com said he is a 3-tech disrupter. “I like to f - - - people up and f - - - up an offensive scheme,” Onwuzrike told a titillated Motor City media … The Lions continued to build along the line of scrimmage with defensive tackle McNeill in the third round … Cornerback Melifonwu has unreal physical attributes and had excellent ball production at Syracuse … And wide receiver St. Brown could get an opportunity to be a reliable slot receiver right away … PFF says that the Lions are building from the inside out when it comes to the new regime’s fi rst draft, and that’s a good thing. Steal Of The Draft: PENEI SEWELL

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: A … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: A- … USA TODAY: A- … Composite: A-

24 NFC NORTH GREEN BAY PACKERS

Round 1 (29): Round 2 (30): CB ERIC STOKES C Josh Myers, Ohio State Georgia Round 3 (21): WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson Round 4 (37): OG Royce Newman, Ole Miss Round 5 (29): DT Tedarrell Slaton, Florida Round 5 (34): CB Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State Round 6 (30): OT Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin Round 6 (36): LB Isaiah McDuffi e, Boston College Round 7 (28):

COURTESY OF GEORGIA COURTESY RB Kylin Hill, Mississippi State 1ST ROUND ere we go again. Another draft and another soap opera yarn being spun in Green Bay by H GM Brian Gutekunst, who once again has widened the gap between Hall Of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers front offi ce. To recap, last year Rodgers signed a monster four-year extension that has him under contract until 2023. Then, after trading UP to select QB Jordan Love, Rodgers’ heir apparent, they failed to address a critical need at wide receiver. In fact, they spent six of their fi rst seven picks on offensive players with nary a wide out in the group. This year, in another class laden with quality receivers, they opted for Georgia CB Stokes, viewed as a third-round talent by PFF. That means nine of the past 10 fi rst round picks by the Packers have been on defense. In doing so, they fi lled a need rather than opting for the best player available. Just imagine where they would be under Rodgers’ guidance with a smart front offi ce. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT reen Bay played the need card once again to start the second-round when they chose Ohio G State center Myers. He fi gures to replace All-Pro C Corey Linsley who departed as a free agent … The Packers fi nally took a receiver for Rodgers when they moved up in the third-round to select Clemson’s Rodgers, an excellent fi t in the slot in the mold of Deebo Samuel or Randall Cobb. Rodgers-to-Rodgers. At least it’s a start. Steal Of The Draft: AMARI RODGERS

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: D+ … NFL.com: A … PFF: C- … USA TODAY: C+ … Composite: C

25 NFC NORTH MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Round 1 (23): Round 3 (02): OT CHRISTIAN DARRISAW QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M Virginia Tech Round 3 (14): LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina Round 3 (22): OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State Round 3 (26): DE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh Round 4 (14): RB Kene Nwangwu, Iowa State Round 4 (20): CB Camryn Bynum, California Round 4 (29): DE Janarius Robinson, Florida State Round 5 (13): WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa Round 5 (24): TE Zach Davidson, Central Missouri Round 6 (15):

COURTESY OF VIRGINIACOURTESY TECH DT Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh 1ST ROUND espite head coach Mike Zimmer calling the Vikings defense “the worst he’s ever fi elded”, D Minnesota used the majority of this year’s draft allotment on offensive players. It started when GM Rick Spielman moved down to No. 23 in a trade with the New York Jets while picking up a pair of third-round choices in the process. With it, the third-best offensive lineman in the draft fell into their possession when Darrisaw went unclaimed through the fi rst 22 players picked. He fi lled a glaring need in the process while pulling off one of the more masterful moves in this year’s draft. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ith the fi rst of those freshly acquired third-rounders, Spielman nabbed a developmental W quarterback with some intriguing tools in Mond. If he’s a backup, that’s good value. If he surprises and looks like a starter, it offers a huge upside, given how inexpensive he’ll be … And then with the second third-rounder acquired from New York, Minnesota landed a potential starter at guard in Davis. He would’ve come off the board far earlier if not for an injury-riddled fi nal season at Ohio State … Two more interesting picks for Minnesota were Surratt, a talented, athletic quarterback-turned-linebacker who’s still learning his new position but possesses three- down tools; and Nwangwu, an explosive athlete who should have plenty of tread on the tires after receiving a limited workload in a talented Iowa State backfi eld … Through it all, the Vikings fi nished the draft having made 11 selections, including fi ve in the top 100. Steal Of The Draft: CHRISTIAN DARRISAW

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B- … NFL.com: A … PFF: B+ … USA TODAY: C … Composite: B

26 NFC SOUTH ATLANTA FALCONS

Round 1 (04): Round 2 (08): TE KYLE PITTS S Richie Grant, UCF FLORIDA Round 3 (04): OT Jalen Mayfi eld, Michigan Round 4 (03): CB Darren Hall, San Diego State Round 4 (09): C Drew Dalman, Stanford Round 5 (04): DT Ta’Quon Graham, Texas Round 5 (38): DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame Round 5 (39): CB Avery Williams, Boise State Round 6 (03):

COURTESY OF FLORIDA COURTESY WR Frank Darby, Arizona State 1ST ROUND hen Atlanta opted stay at No. 4 and not trade out of the slot, it became a forgone conclusion W that TE Pitts was about to become a Falcon. He also became the highest-drafted tight end in the common draft era and not one critic raised an eyebrow. PFF contends the Falcons took the best non-quarterback in the draft with Pitts, who is going to be faster than any linebacker or safety and bigger than any cornerback. He enters the NFL as already one of the biggest matchup nightmares for a defense. As a 6-6, 245-pounder with vise-grip hands and 4.4 speed, the 20-year- old fi gures to help the Falcons improve on last year’s 1-8 record in one-score games. Under new head coach Arthur Smith and QB Matt Ryan, and now with Pitts, the chances look like a virtual lock. Pitts looks like a blend of Darren Waller and Travis Kelce and should be scary in this offense. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT M Terry Fontenot did a good job maneuvering in the second round, moving down fi ve spots G and picking up a fourth-round pick before taking pro-ready safety Grant. The question is whether USC’s Trevon Moehrig was a better investment … Michigan OT Mayfi eld was considered to be a fi rst-round talent until his poor showing at the Senior Bowl and his Pro Day … In addition, Atlanta had nine overall picks and wisely spent four on the lines of scrimmage. Their draft made tons of sense, and they could be one of the NFL’s most improved teams in 2021. Steal Of The Draft: KYLE PITTS

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B+ … NFL.com: A+ … PFF: B … USA TODAY: B+ … Composite: B+

27 NFC SOUTH CAROLINA PANTHERS

Round 1 (08): Round 2 (27): CB WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU South Carolina Round 3 (06): OT Brady Christensen, BYU Round 3 (19): TE Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame Round 4 (21): RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State Round 5 (14): DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa Round 5 (22): CB Keith Taylor, Washington Round 6 (09): OG Deonte Brown, Alabama Round 6 (20): WR Shi Smith, South Carolina Round 6 (38): LS Thomas Fletcher, Alabama Round 7 (04):

COURTESY OF SOUTH CAROLINA OF SOUTH COURTESY DT Phil Hoskins, Kentucky 1ST ROUND outh Carolina CB Horn was the fi rst defensive back selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is the S son of former NFL receiver Joe Horn, and is a truly an elite coverage cornerback. So why didn’t Matt Rhule opt for Ohio State QB Justin Fields instead of Horn? “The hit rate on fi rst-round quarterbacks isn’t real, real high, and to have a chance to get Horn and have Sam Darnold, we just kind of felt like, ‘Hey this is two-for-one’.” That says a lot considering 2021 is Darnold’s fi nal cheap rookie contract season (he’ll be eligible to earn $18.8 M next year). If the Panthers had taken Fields at No. 8, he’d be due to earn about $5.275 million per year through 2024. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT SU WR Marshall slid in the draft because of medical concerns, but on the fi eld, he is a fi rst- L round talent and one of the few “big receivers” in this draft. Since the start of 2019, he has generated a perfect NFL passer rating of 158.3 when targeted. The LSU product has the potential to develop into a true No. 1 X receiver at the next level … PFF says Tremble is a throwback player who wills his opponents into submission with physicality and tenacity. He’s not a receiver – more fullback than tight end – but he’s a player you want on your roster. The Panthers now have a tone-setter on their offense … Nixon stands out as one of the better values of the fi fth round. Steal Of The Draft: TERRACE MARSHALL

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B … NFL.com: A … PFF: B- … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B

28 NFC SOUTH NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Round 1 (28): Round 2 (28): DE PAYTON TURNER LB Pete Werner, Ohio State Houston Round 3 (12): CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford Round 4 (28): QB Ian Book, Notre Dame Round 6 (22): OT Landon Young, Kentucky Round 7 (27): WR Kawaan Baker, South Alabama COURTESY OF HOUSTON COURTESY

1ST ROUND he skies over the Superdome look to be painted gray these days with the retirement of Mr. T Saint, QB Drew Brees. NFL.com claims the Saints march to the beat of their own draft drum. New Orleans’ fi rst-round selection was a surprise – not just in terms of the player, but also the position targeted. The roster’s two biggest needs were cornerback and wide receiver, and the available prospect pool offered assorted options at each spot. New Orleans went back to the 2018 playbook, opting instead for a developmental edge who is eerily similar to fi rst-round bust Marcus Davenport. Nonetheless, Houston DE Turner got the call opening night from the Saints’ war room. He’s a risky bet that could pay off big, but there were other directions they should have taken here. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT ew Orleans fi nally tended to the overwhelming need of a cornerback in the third round, N trading up for Adebo. He’s a scheme fi t with signifi cant man-coverage experience, but the Saints will need the 2020 opt-out to get back in the groove of things quickly. The loss of Janoris Jenkins and the uncertain future of Marshon Lattimore made it necessary to address the cornerback position … QB Book is the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history, but his selection in the fourth round was completely unexpected. With intangibles that far outstrip his tangibles, Book was widely projected to be a near-the-end of the draft selection … Most disturbing of all: New Orleans traded up twice and ended up with six selections. Not good. Steal Of The Draft: NONE

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C- … NFL.com: B- … PFF: C … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B-

29 NFC SOUTH TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Round 1 (32): Round 2 (32): LB JOE TRYON QB Kyle Trask, Florida Washington Round 3 (31): OG Robert Hainsey, Notre Dame Round 4 (24): WR Jaelon Darden, North Texas Round 5 (32): LB K.J. Britt, Auburn Round 7 (23): CB Chirs Wilcox, BYU Round 7 (31): LB Grant Stuard, Houston COURTESY OF WASHINGTON COURTESY

1ST ROUND egardless of who the Super Bowl champs selected with the fi nal pick in the fi rst-round, the R odds were slim he would be an everyday player this season. After all, it’s hard to crack the starting lineup of a defending champion that returns all 22 starters the following season. Hence, the pre-drafts needs checklist was an exercise in semantics. With DE Jason Pierre-Paul 32 years old and in the fi nal year of his contract, the selection of edge rusher Tryon made sense. He boasts ideal size but he is still a work in progress. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT orth Texas WR Darden is a home run threat over the top and a nightmare to cover. According N to PFF, the dynamic slot weapon fi nished the 2020 season as the fourth-highest-graded wide receiver in the country. He broke an FBS-high 23 tackles while averaging 7.7 yards after the catch per reception last season … QB Trask is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in this draft because of how little experience he has. Trask didn’t even start in high school, as he backed up D’Eriq King and attempted just 161 passes at that level. In fact, he has just two seasons of starting quarterback play since the age of 14. He fi ts Bruce Arians’ “no risk it, no biscuit” philosophy but, rest assured, he’ll be holding the clipboard until TB12 decides it’s time to engage 24/7 with Gisele … The rest of Day 3 was devoted to rebuilding their special teams units with athleticism, speed and competitiveness. Steal Of The Draft: JAELON DARDEN

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: B … NFL.com: A- … PFF: B- … USA TODAY: B+ … Composite: B

30 NFC WEST ARIZONA CARDINALS

Round 1 (16): Round 2 (17): OLB ZAVEN COLLINS WR Rondale Moore, Purdue Tulsa Round 4 (31): CB Marco Wilson, Florida Round 6 (26): DE Victor Dimukeje, Duke Round 6 (39): CB Tay Gowan, UCF Round 7 (15): S James Wiggins, Cincinnati Round 7 (19): C Michael Menet, Penn State COURTESY OF TULSA COURTESY

1ST ROUND ast year’s top fi rst-round pick by the Cardinals, LB Isaiah Simmons, was a huge letdown. He L was touted as being everything you could want in a modern linebacker. Many feel Tulsa LB Collins could be the same, but we’re not one of them. The Bronco Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik winner as the best linebacker in college football last season, Collins has all the physical attributes to succeed. He made an impact all over the fi eld with 54 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, with four sacks in eight games. Should Simmons play up to his potential, the tandem could lead the Cardinals to a division crown. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT n his fi rst year on the Purdue campus in 2018, which ended up being his only fully healthy year, I WR Moore put up one of the three most valuable seasons by a non-quarterback true freshman in the PFF College era. He broke 37 tackles after the catch, shattering the single-season Power Five record for a wide out. Moore has ridiculous explosiveness and strength that showed up after the catch – and at his pro day, where he recorded a 4.29 40, and a 42.5-inch vertical jump. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury now doesn’t have to force-feed star WR DeAndre Hopkins underneath targets as he did in 2020. They now have a dynamic weapon alongside in Moore … UCF cornerback Gowan has the size and movement skills to go from a 6th round pick to a starter. Steal Of The Draft: RONDALE MOORE

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C+ … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: B- … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B-

31 NFC WEST LOS ANGELES RAMS

Round 2 (25): Round 3 (39): WR TUTU ATWELL LB Ernest Jones, South Carolina Louisville Round 4 (12): DT Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M Round 4 (25): CB Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas Round 4 (36): WR Jacob Harris, UCF Round 5 (30): DE Earnest Brown IV, Northwestern Round 7 (05): RB Jake Funk, Maryland Round 7 (21): WR Ben Skowronek, Notre Dame Round 7 (24):

COURTESY OF LOUISVILLE COURTESY LB Chris Garret, Concordia University, St. Paul 1ST ROUND or the second consecutive year, the Rams were left without a fi rst-round selection in the F 2021 NFL Draft after trading their pick to Detroit, along with QB Jared Goff, for QB Matthew Stafford. Because of that, they didn’t pick until 57th overall. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT nce again, like in 2020, a quiet fi rst two days of the draft turned into a busy Day 3 as the Rams O had multiple (7) selections in both Rounds 4 thru 7. It started with Louisville WE Atwell, an electric water bug who at 5’ 9” has a diffi cult time tipping the scales at 150 pounds. According to Pro Football Reference, in the last 20 years, there are only two players (Jojo Natson and Brandon Banks) who weighed 155 pounds or less that caught a pass in an NFL game. In fact, with only Carolina WR Terrace Marshall the only receiver among the fi rst 10 in this year’s draft that measured 6 feet tall, NFL.com went so far to call it a case of The Incredible Shrinking – Wide Receiver! The problem is Atwell fi gures to be last in line for playing time behind Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Vance Jefferson and DeSean Jackson. With a total of three WRs in this year’s draft, it looks as if the Rams are loading the holster with as many bullets as they can fi nd for the arrival of Matthew Stafford. Perhaps it would have been better had Sean McVay splurged from their Malibu “Rams House” and ponied up for even one offensive lineman. Steal Of The Draft: ERNEST JONES

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C … NFL.com: A … PFF: C+ … USA TODAY: B … Composite: C+

32 NFC WEST SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Round 1 (03): Round 2 (16): QB TREY LANCE OG Aaron Banks, Notre Dame North Dakota State Round 3 (24): RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State Round 3 (38): CB , Michigan Round 5 (11): OG Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan Round 5 (28): CB Deommodore Lenoir, Oregon Round 5 (36): S Talanoa Hufanga, USC Round 6 (10): RB Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana COURTESY OF NORTH DAKOTA STATE DAKOTA OF NORTH COURTESY

1ST ROUND he most surprising announcement in the fi rst round of this year’s draft was the 49ers’ decision T to make Lance their quarterback of the near future. Despite the fact that Lance was 17-0 in his career as a starter with 30 TD passes and 0 Interceptions, it was a surprise to many, including us. Through it all, he attempted only 318 passes in college football, the fewest by a fi rst-round quarterback in 40 years, and it all came against FCS opposition. Nevertheless, the Niners had two options at quarterback going into the offseason. One was to upgrade at the backup spot behind Jimmy Garoppolo. The other was to take a big swing. They opted for the latter with Lance. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT nlike last year when San Francisco was left without a pick on Day 2, the Niners trumped that U with three selections this year. Notre Dame G Banks was thought to be the best offensive lineman on the Irish roster last season … Michigan CB Thomas appears to have been a reach in the third-round. He opted out last season and could be behind the 8-ball to start his NFL career … One of the best value moves for the Niners was the selection of USC safety Hufanga who has a nose for always being around the ball … San Francisco also addressed its offensive line with Western Michigan OG Moore, and RB Sermon should be a nice scheme fi t in the backfi eld. Steal Of The Draft: TREY SERMON

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C+ … NFL.com: B+ … PFF: B … USA TODAY: B … Composite: B

33 NFC WEST SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Round 2 (24): Round 4 (32): WR D’WAYNE ESKRIDGE CB Tre Brown, Oklahoma Western Michigan Round 6 (24): OT Stone Forsythe, Florida COURTESY OF WESTERN MICHIGANCOURTESY

1ST ROUND S o how do you grade a draft that only has three selections? One player at a time should do it. BALANCE OF THE DRAFT nlike last year when the Seahawks started out Day 2 with another somewhat unconventional U pick, they hit a major home run in the second-round when they landed Western Michigan ankle-breaking WR Eskridge. Possessing Tyreek Hill-like speed, he’ll line up alongside Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf to form an imposing trio of wide receivers that could be as good as any in the league … Florida LT Forsythe is enormous, even by NFL offensive tackle standards. At 6-foot-9 he towers over everyone, and the two-year starter for the Gators can play either on the left or right. The Seahawks landed Forsythe three full rounds later than many thought he’d be off the board … CBS Sports insists few people on the planet were more physical than CB Brown (4.32 speed). He’s undersized, and will likely have to move inside because he’s only 5-foot-9, but many had him as an early fourth-round pick. Brown brings that dog mentality and plays bigger than his size suggests. He showed it routinely at Oklahoma and then again at the Senior Bowl. Despite that smaller stature, Brown put the clamps on his opposition and racked up big-time ball production over the last couple of years. So while the Seahawks once again handcuffed themselves with only three selections in this year’s draft, it’s safe to say they made the best of an imposing situation. Steal Of The Draft: STONE FORSYTHE

DRAFT GRADES: Playbook: C … NFL.com: B … PFF: C … USA TODAY: C- … Composite: C

34 2021 NFL PLAYBOOK DRAFT FAST FACTS

• Alabama and Ohio State each had 10 players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. Georgia and Notre Dame followed with 9 players. The Crimson Tide had 7 players chosen in the fi rst-round. The SEC featured a total of 21 players selected during the fi nal two rounds of the draft (6,7). In addition, the SEC had a total of 65 players drafted, up from 62 in 2019 (Stats courtesy of WAGERTALK 2021 Draft Recap). • A quarterback was selected fi rst overall for the fourth straight year (the longest skein is fi ve from 2001-2005). And speaking of QBs, Trey Lance became the sixth quarterback from a non-FBS school to be drafted in the fi rst round since 1979, joining Carson Wentz (2016), Joe Flacco (2008), Steve McNair 1995), Ken O’Brien (1983) and Phil Simms (1979). • Trevor Lawrence was the third quarterback drafted in the fi rst round from Clemson, joining Deshaun Watson (2017) and Steve Fuller (1979) • When Alabama QB Mac Jones was selected by New England with the 15th pick, he marked the 10th consecutive quarterback to win the Davey O’Brien Award and become selected in the fi rst round of the draft. • QB Zach Wilson is the highest drafted player from BYU, topping QB Jim McMahon (5) in 1982 and DE Ezekiel Ansah (5) in 2013. • Justin Fields joined Dwayne Haskins (2019) and Art Schlichter (1982) as the only Ohio State quarterbacks to be chosen in the fi rst round since 1967. • 2021 was the fourth NFL Draft with three quarterbacks selected in the top-six picks since 1967. The others were in 2020, 1999, and 1971. • The Pac-12 leads the Power 5 fi rst-round quarterbacks since 200 with 13, followed by the SEC with 11, the Big 12 with 10, the ACC with 8 and the Big Ten with 2. • Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne and Alabama QB Mac Jones and RB Najee Harris became the fi fth and sixth college with quarterback and running back duos both selected in the fi rst round of the same NFL Draft wins 2000. • Alabama WR’s Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith became the sixth pair of wide receiver teammates to each be drafted together in the fi rst round of the same draft since 1967. Alabama also became the fi rst school to accomplish the feat in consecutive years. They also become the fi rst school in the common draft era to have a quarterback, running back and two wide receivers selected in the fi rst round of the same NFL Draft. • Ja’Marr Chase became the highest rated (5) wide receiver in LSU history, besting Odell Beckham Jr (12) in 2014. • Since 2006, 14 of the past 16 NFL Drafts have seen at least one offensive lineman selected with a top-10 pick when Oregon OT Penei Sewell was selected No. 7 by the Detroit Lions. FYI: The Lions called both the Bengals and the Dolphins with offers to trade-up to get Sewell but were rebuffed on both calls. • Since 1967, with USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker going to the Jets with the 14th pick, the Trojans have had 24 offensive linemen selected in the fi rst round, more than any other school. Ohio State has the next most with 13. • Alabama’s eight defensive backs selected in the fi rst round since 2010 ties Ohio State for the most of any school during that span.

In closing, we highly recommend you view the PFF Player Grades for each player in the 2021 NFL draft. PFF assigns a grade for every play to each player during a football game. Each grade is reviewed at least once, and usually multiple times, using every camera angle available, including all-22 coaches’ tape.

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