2021 NFL Draft Grades: AFC
The NFL Draft has come and gone, and all 32 teams have added some serious talent to their rosters. Some teams had a lot more draft capital to work with than others, but all have added players who they believe will make an impact. In this article, I’ll go through team by team and hand out a grade for how I feel they did in the draft. Of course, it’s impossible to fully know how players will develop or how they will be used by their respective teams, and some of this could look mighty embarrassing in not much time at all. However, here’s my take on draft grades based on the film I’ve watched and everything I’ve read from around the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens: B+
Round 1 Pick #27: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Round 1 Pick #31: DE Odafe Oweh, Penn State
Round 3 Pick #94: OG Ben Cleveland, Georgia
Round 3 Pick #104: CB Brandon Stephens, SMU
Round 4 Pick #131: WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
Round 5 Pick #160: CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State
Round 5 Pick #171: DE Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame
Round 5 Pick #184: FB Ben Mason, Michigan
Rashod Bateman is an exciting wide receiver prospect and he is reportedly returning to full health after struggling through his 2020 season. He caught 60 balls for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, proving his standing as a clear-cut top wideout in this class. Bateman gives Baltimore the true X-receiver they’ve been desperately searching for, but it remains to be seen how much he will impact a team that doesn’t throw the ball all that much. Using that pick on one of the talented offensive linemen available may have been the better plan, especially after the Ravens traded Orlando Brown to the Chiefs. Odafe Oweh is an incredibly exciting athletic specimen whose raw production didn’t match his clear talent off the edge. He will fill an important need for the Ravens after they lost Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. Ben Cleveland will have the opportunity to earn a starting job on the offensive line right away, while Brandon Stephens and Shaun Wade provide secondary depth for one of the most talented groups in football. Tylan Wallace was also a solid pick in the fourth round and will have the opportunity to catch passes in his rookie year. Baltimore took advantage of solid draft equity to add talented players and fill key needs on both sides of the ball.
Buffalo Bills: B
Round 1 Pick #30: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami (Florida)
Round 2 Pick #61: DE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
Round 3 Pick #93: OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa
Round 5 Pick #161: OT Tommy Doyle, Miami (Ohio)
Round 6 Pick #212: S Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh
Round 6 Pick #213: CB Rachad Wildgoose, Wisconsin
Round 7 Pick #236: OG Jack Anderson, Texas Tech
Another draft, another year where Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane uses his first pick of the draft on a high-profile defensive lineman. Gregory Rousseau will give Buffalo some much-needed character off the edge where Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes are losing effectiveness as they get older. The Bills doubled down with Carlos Basham in the second round, a player who had received some first-round buzz, so that represented a nice value despite the repetitive nature of the pick. Rousseau and Basham will keep each other on edge as they both try to earn a starting job on the defensive line. Spencer Brown and Tommy Doyle have great upside as mid-round offensive tackles. Dion Dawkins and Daryl Williams are entrenched as starters for the Bills, but you can never have too much depth at offensive tackle. Damar Hamlin and Rachad Wildgoose are decent depth adds in the secondary, as well. Overall, this draft class is nothing to write home about, but with underwhelming draft capital, the Bills came away with some valuable additions at important positions.
Cincinnati Bengals: C+
Round 1 Pick #5: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Round 2 Pick #46: OT Jackson Carman, Clemson
Round 3 Pick #69: LB Joseph Ossai, Texas
Round 4 Pick #111: DE Cameron Sample, Tulane
Round 4 Pick #122: DT Tyler Shelvin, LSU
Round 4 Pick #139: OT D’Ante Smith, East Carolina
Round 5 Pick #149: K Evan McPherson, Florida
Round 6 Pick #190: C Trey Hill, Georgia
Round 6 Pick #202: RB Chris Evans, Michigan
Round 7 Pick #235: DE Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State
I am among the many around the NFL who believe Ja’Marr Chase stands head and shoulders above the rest of this wide receiver class. His 2019 tape is unbelievably fun to watch and it’s worth noting that Justin Jefferson, who just shattered expectations and broke records in his NFL rookie season, wasn’t even the best receiver on his team at LSU. However, the Bengals will have to see immediate improvements out of their offensive line in order to justify passing on a generational tackle prospect in Penei Sewell. The decision to go with Chase would have made more sense had the Bengals stood pat in the second round and drafted one of the strong tackle prospects still available in Teven Jenkins, Liam Eichenberg, or Walker Little. Instead, they traded down and selected Jackson Carman who’s more of a developmental interior player. Luckily, the Bengals still landed two offensive line prospects with future starting potential in D’Ante Smith and Trey Hill, but they could have done more to bolster their line with the draft capital available. Joseph Ossai had first-round buzz as a pass-rusher and Tyler Shelvin could have been a steal in the fourth round with rare athletic ability for his size. This is a talented draft class, no doubt, but the Bengals’ biggest need resided on the offensive line and they failed to significantly move the needle there despite great capital to do so.
Cleveland Browns: A-
Round 1 Pick #26: CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
Round 2 Pick #52: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Round 3 Pick #91: WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
Round 4 Pick #110: OT James Hudson, Cincinnati
Round 4 Pick #132: DT Tommy Toigai, Ohio State
Round 5 Pick #153: LB Tony Fields II, West Virginia
Round 5 Pick #169: S Richard LeCounte, Georgia
Round 6 Pick #211: RB Demetric Felton, UCLA
I’m a massive fan of what the Browns were able to accomplish in the draft this year. They didn’t have the insane capital like the Jets, Jaguars, or Dolphins, but they did better than just about any other team with what they had. Greg Newsome is a Day 1 starter at cornerback, a position where Cleveland has talented players who have been unable to avoid the injury bug to this point. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an insanely talented linebacker, particularly in coverage, and the Browns are building a fearsome pass defense to be reckoned with. Newsome and JOK join Denzel Ward, John Johnson III, Grant Delpit, Troy Hill, Greedy Williams, and Ronnie Harrison in what is turning into one of the deepest secondaries in the NFL. Cleveland has the pass defense talent to compete with the Chiefs in an effort to make the Super Bowl out of the AFC - very few teams can say the same. Anthony Schwartz is a pure burner at receiver with world-class, track star speed. He won’t make a huge impact in the stat sheet but his ability to take the top off the defense will only further open up the underneath offense for Baker Mayfield and friends. James Hudson and Tommy Toigai add some depth in the trenches on either side, while Richard LeCounte received a ton of pre-draft buzz at safety. Cleveland may have considered adding another pass-rusher behind Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, but that’s about the only thing to complain about here as this is a phenomenal draft class top-to-bottom.
Denver Broncos: B+
Round 1 Pick #9: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Round 2 Pick #35: RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina
Round 3 Pick #98: OG Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Round 3 Pick #105: LB Baron Browning, Ohio State
Round 5 Pick #152: S Caden Sterns, Texas
Round 5 Pick #164: S Jamar Johnson, Indiana
Round 6 Pick #219: WR Seth Williams, Auburn
Round 7 Pick #237: CB Kary Vincent Jr., LSU
Round 7 Pick #239: DE Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State
Round 7 Pick #253: DE Marquiss Spencer, Mississippi State
The Broncos’ biggest need heading into the draft was at quarterback, and as Justin Fields began to slide out of the top 5, Denver fans were giddy about the possibility of the Ohio State quarterback landing with them. Since Peyton Manning, Denver has struggled to find a solution at the position and have been unable to do so. Instead of selecting the high-upside player at the most important position, George Paton used his first draft selection as the new general manager on a high-floor cornerback who will compete for significant playing time right away. Denver has completely remade its cornerback depth chart by adding Patrick Surtain to the free agency additions of Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. Javonte Williams was a superb second-round add as arguably the most talented running back in this class. Quinn Meinerz has shot up draft boards and will compete for a starting spot on the interior of the O-line right away, while Baron Browning could finally be the three-down linebacker Denver has been looking for. Caden Sterns and Jamar Johnson are two high-upside safeties who were picked in the fifth round. Jonathon Cooper out of Ohio State could be one of the steals of the draft in the seventh round, as well. While questions remain as to whether or not Justin Fields would have been the better first-round selection with Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater offering unexciting upside, but this is a talented class overall. If Denver can land Aaron Rodgers, fans will quickly forget about passing on Fields at #9.
Houston Texans: B-
Round 3 Pick #67: QB Davis Mills, Stanford
Round 3 Pick #89: WR Nico Collins, Michigan
Round 5 Pick #147: TE Brevin Jordan, Miami (Florida)
Round 5 Pick #170: LB Garret Wallow, TCU
Round 6 Pick #195: DT Roy Lopez, Arizona
It’s hard to really fault new Texans’ general manager Nick Caseiro for this draft class as Houston had very little draft capital to work with. Previous head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien left the team in quite the unenviable position in terms of draft capital. However, Caseiro did fairly well given the tough spot. Davis Mills came off the board in the midst of a run on quarterbacks that included Kyle Trask and Kellen Mond, but he has some intriguing long-term upside with pro-ready traits. Nico Collins is a very talented wide receiver prospect and he has great contested-catch traits, but it remains to be seen who will be throwing him the ball. Collins does fill an important need at receiver. Brevin Jordan is a strong value in the fifth round as a safety blanket receiver over the middle of the field, while Garret Wallow and Roy Lopez provide some depth in the defensive front seven. The Texans obviously still have a ton of pressing needs, but they were never going to be filled in this draft, and they will move forward with some solid additions here.
Indianapolis Colts: C
Round 1 Pick #21: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Round 2 Pick #54: DE Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt
Round 4 Pick #127: TE Kylen Granson, SMU
Round 5 Pick #165: S Shawn Davis, Florida
Round 6 Pick #218: QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Round 7 Pick #229: WR Mike Strachan, Charleston
Round 7 Pick #248: OT Will Fries, Penn State
This was a head-scratcher by general manager Chris Ballard. Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo are very talented pass-rushers who have tremendous upside on defense - that’s not the issue. The real problem stems from the fact that the Colts’ biggest need was at left tackle following Anthony Costanzo’s retirement, and they failed to address the position until their last pick in the seventh round. It was particularly surprising to see Indianapolis sit back and relax in the midst of a run on offensive tackles in the second round that saw Teven Jenkins, Liam Eichenberg, Walker Little, Sam Cosmi, and Dillon Radunz all fly off the board. Why they didn’t trade up is a bit inexplicable to me. We saw how Carson Wentz struggled in Philadelphia in the midst of a revolving door of offensive linemen, and I expected the Colts to prioritize finding stability at the left tackle spot in this draft. Paye was one of my favorite first-round defensive prospects, so I like that selection quite a bit, but doubling down on Odeyingbo who had an Achilles injury in January was a bit perplexing. This class is lacking in star-caliber talent and for a team like Indianapolis who has one of the better rosters in the AFC, a complete disregard of its biggest need has to push the grade down quite a bit.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B-
Round 1 Pick #1: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Round 1 Pick #25: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Round 2 Pick #33: CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
Round 2 Pick #45: OT Walker Little, Stanford
Round 3 Pick #65: S Andre Cisco, Syracuse
Round 4 Pick #106: DT Jay Tufele, USC
Round 4 Pick #121: LB Jordan Smith, Alabama-Birmingham
Round 5 Pick #145: TE Luke Farrell, Ohio State
Round 6 Pick #209: WR Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech
The Jaguars are ready to usher in a new era of football helmed by Trevor Lawrence, one of the best quarterback prospects the NFL has seen in recent memory. Lawrence is going to bring a ton of media hype and fan excitement for a franchise desperate to find its identity, and that gives Jacksonville an immediately strong grade in this draft. However, its second first-round pick brought some confusion as Travis Etienne was not the expected choice. Etienne has game-breaking open-field ability and strong chemistry with Lawrence from their time together at Clemson, but there were likely more valuable uses for the pick. Head coach Urban Meyer’s indication that Etienne will be a third-down weapon behind James Robinson and Carlos Hyde further mystifies things, but Etienne’s pass-catching will make him a welcome part of this offense. Tyson Campbell was a great selection in the second round and can massively improve the team’s pass defense, as can Andre Cisco. Walker Little could also have been a steal in the second round as he has excellent traits for a bookend tackle in the NFL but has only played in one game since the 2019 season. I would have liked to see the Jaguars use the Etienne pick on another defensive player as they are pretty weak on that side of the ball, but this is a strong draft class overall buoyed by the arrival of a franchise quarterback.
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
Round 2 Pick #58: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
Round 2 Pick #63: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
Round 4 Pick #144: DE Joshua Kaindoh, Florida State
Round 5 Pick #162: TE Noah Grey, Duke
Round 5 Pick #181: WR Cornell Powell, Clemson
Round 6 Pick #226: OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
The Chiefs used a significant amount of their capital to acquire Orlando Brown from the Ravens prior to the draft, filling a massive need on the offensive line. Even without a first-round pick, Kansas City was able to add some impact players here. Nick Bolton is a three-down linebacker the likes of which the team has not had in some time, and he’s going to add some immediate punch in the front seven. Creed Humphrey can be a Day 1 starter at center, a big position of need for Kansas City. Joshua Kaindoh is a former five-star recruit who is a remarkable athlete and can develop into a real difference-maker in the pass rush. Noah Grey will also help give the Chiefs a presence in pass-protection and another weapon as a slot receiver. Kansas City’s ability to run more 12-personnel will improve their ability to keep Patrick Mahomes upright. With minimal draft capital, the Chiefs did quite well here.
Las Vegas Raiders: C
Round 1 Pick #17: OT Alex Leatherwood
Round 2 Pick #43: S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Round 3 Pick #79: DE Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo
Round 3 Pick #80: S Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
Round 4 Pick #143: S Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
Round 5 Pick #167: CB Nate Hobbs, Illinois
Round 7 Pick #230: C Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh
The Raiders continue to be the most comically difficult team to project in the draft, and they took another shocking turn in the first round this year. It’s not to say that Alex Leatherwood isn’t a talented prospect, but virtually no draft boards had him as a first-round talent. The Raiders haven’t exactly instilled confidence in their draft ability either as their previous first-round surprises (Clelin Ferrell and Damon Arnette) haven’t impressed to this point. Las Vegas did need another offensive lineman badly, but whether or not they selected the right one remains to be seen. Landing Trevon Moehrig in the second round easily changes the calculation about this draft class as he was considered a first-round talent by most analysts. New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will be thrilled to work with Moehrig’s uniquely dynamic coverage ability. Fellow safeties Divine Deablo and Tyree Gillespie provide the defense with more versatility and will help Bradley transform this defense’s coverage ability. Malcolm Koonce was also an odd selection as he doesn’t quite fit the Raiders’ 4-3 defense and he was projected as a Day 3 pick by most analysts. Going against the grain isn’t a death sentence for a team’s draft grade, but the Raiders haven’t done anything to offer confidence in their talent evaluation capabilities in recent years and this is another class mostly defined by reaches.
Los Angeles Chargers: A
Round 1 Pick #13: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Round 2 Pick #47: CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
Round 3 Pick #77: WR Josh Palmer, Tennessee
Round 3 Pick #97: TE Tre’ McKitty, Georgia
Round 4 Pick #118: DE Chris Rumph II, Duke
Round 5 Pick #159: OT Brenden Jaimes, Nebraska
Round 6 Pick #185: LB Nick Niemann, Iowa
Round 6 Pick #198: RB Larry Rountree III, Missouri
Round 7 Pick #241: S Mark Webb, Georgia
The Chargers’ biggest need entering the draft was on the offensive line, and Rashawn Slater was the best prospect available. It’s rare to find such a seamless blend between talent, team fit, and team need. Slater can fill in at left tackle or left guard alongside All Pro center Corey Linsley, fellow free agency addition Matt Feiler, and former Pro Bowler Bryan Bulaga. Justin Herbert’s development and success will depend on the ability of the offensive line to keep him upright, and Slater will certainly aid in that effort. In the second round, the Chargers filled their second-biggest need at cornerback with Asante Samuel Jr., an athletic specimen who will be a starter for Los Angeles for a long time. Josh Palmer doesn’t fill as similarly large of a need, but his ability to stretch the field vertically will earn him significant playing time right away. Palmer never passed 500 yards in a season at Tennessee, but he also never played with a quarterback nearly as talented as Herbert. Tre’ McKitty and Larry Rountree III will add needed depth to the offensive skill positions, while Chris Rumph and Nick Niemann shore up the team’s front seven. Beyond two top-notch talents at positions of massive need in the first two rounds, the Chargers put together a well-rounded draft class full of impact players.
Miami Dolphins: B+
Round 1 Pick #6: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Round 1 Pick #18: DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami (Florida)
Round 2 Pick #36: S Jevon Holland, Oregon
Round 2 Pick #42: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
Round 3 Pick #81: TE Hunter Long, Boston College
Round 7 Pick #231: OT Larnel Coleman, Massachusetts
Round 7 Pick #244: RB Gerrid Doaks, Cincinnati
The Dolphins were hanging onto slim hopes that Ja’Marr Chase or Kyle Pitts would be available at #6 overall, but that didn’t come to fruition. Jaylen Waddle will still make a massive impact as an explosive, shifty offensive weapon who already has a strong rapport with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Jaelan Phillips was a home-run pick at #18, and exactly the type of selection a team with an abundance of draft capital should be making. If it weren’t for an injury history full of red flags including a series of concussion that forced him to retire in 2018, Phillips would have been a top-5 selection. He’s a guarantee to be a steal if he can stay on the field. Selecting Jevon Holland in the second round was a bit confusing with Trevon Moehrig, a consensus first-round talent, still on the board, but Holland is a strong prospect in his own right. Liam Eichenberg could be the team’s starting right tackle right away, while Larnel Coleman could develop into a starter on the offensive line as well. Hunter Long led all FBS tight ends with 57 receptions in 2020 and is notable for his unique brain power - he has a degree in computer science. The Dolphins likely added four immediate starters with their first four picks, and that lands them a strong draft grade. Questions will persist as to whether or not they could have better taken advantage of the trade market at the quarterback position, but Miami did quite well here.
New England Patriots: B-
Round 1 Pick #15: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Round 2 Pick #38: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
Round 3 Pick #96: DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma
Round 4 Pick #120: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
Round 5 Pick #177: LB Cameron McGrone, Michigan
Round 6 Pick #188: S Joshuah Bledsoe, Missouri
Round 6 Pick #197: OT William Sherman, Colorado
Round 7 Pick #242: WR Trey Nixon, Central Florida
Rumors ran rampant heading into draft day as to whether or not the Patriots would make an aggressive trade up to secure the talents of a quarterback like Justin Fields or Mac Jones. Instead, they stood pat at #15 and landed the guy they likely wanted anyways in Jones. I’ve made no secret of my lessened confidence in Jones as compared to other analysts, but NFL teams seemed to fall in love with his leadership and accuracy. With the way the market seemed to be unfolding, it’s hard to find fault with New England getting their guy where they did. The one lingering question will be whether or not they should have made the move up for Fields like the Bears did - only time will tell, but Fields certainly has the higher upside as compared to Jones. Christian Barmore was constantly discussed as a first-round prospect and as the best defensive tackle on many big boards, he was a great value in the second round. Ronnie Perkins was also an absolute steal late in the third round. The defensive line wasn’t necessarily New England’s biggest need, especially after landing Matt Judon and Davon Godchaux in free agency, but it’s hard to argue with the value they found in Barmore and Perkins. Rhamondre Stevenson is a throwback at running back who will provide a power element on the ground, but New England failed to address cornerback or wide receiver until late, both positions of significant need. This class may be lacking in high-upside star power, but it was chock full of value picks and should provide some solid depth for New England.
New York Jets: A
Round 1 Pick #2: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Round 1 Pick #14: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
Round 2 Pick #34: WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
Round 4 Pick #107: RB Michael Carter, North Carolina
Round 5 Pick #146: S Jamien Sherwood, Auburn
Round 5 Pick #154: S Michael Carter II, Duke
Round 5 Pick #175: CB Jason Pinnock, Pittsburgh
Round 6 Pick #186: S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
Round 6 Pick #200: CB Brandin Echols, Kentucky
Round 6 Pick #207: DT Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas
The Jets came in with a ton of draft capital and used it to put together one of my favorite classes this year. Zach Wilson’s meteoric rise up teams’ draft boards was the stuff of legends, and his off-platform accuracy and deep-ball velocity should have Jets fans very excited. Alijah Vera-Tucker is one of the safest prospects in this draft and will be locked in as a high-level starter alongside Mekhi Becton on the left side of the offensive line. Building a strong offensive line in front of Wilson will be vital to protecting the franchise’s investment in a way that they never did for Sam Darnold. Elijah Moore was one of my favorite wide receiver prospects and I see it as a great value for New York in the second round. The team invested in Denzel Mims last year with a second-round pick as well as Corey Davis and Keelan Cole as free agents this offseason to pair with Jamison Crowder. However, Moore has phenomenal upside to become the top target for Wilson in the long term. Moore is a stabilizing presence as a slot receiver with shiftiness and speed that should translate right away. Michael Carter has the opportunity to become the lead back for New York in short order with Lamical Perine failing to show much in his rookie season and Tevin Coleman being better suited to a part-time supplementary role at this point in his career. After spending its first four picks on four future starters on offense, New York spent several picks on pieces for their secondary with varying levels of upside. The Jets had a ton to work with and did quite well to redirect the future of the franchise.
Pittsburgh Steelers: C+
Round 1 Pick #24: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
Round 2 Pick #55: TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
Round 3 Pick #87: C Kendrick Green, Illinois
Round 4 Pick #128: OT Dan Moore Jr., Texas A&M
Round 4 Pick #140: LB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M
Round 5 Pick #156: DE Isaiahh Loudermilk, Wisconsin
Round 6 Pick #216: DE Quincy Roche, Miami (Florida)
Round 7 Pick #245: CB Tre Norwood, Oklahoma
Round 7 Pick #254: P Pressley Harvin III, Georgia Tech
I have a hard time getting behind the selection of a running back in the first round, especially for a team without a surplus of draft capital. The Steelers ran for just 84.4 yards per game last season, the fewest in the NFL, so it’s inarguable that their run game needed work. However, the Steelers’ far bigger issue was on the offensive line, especially after losing Alejandro Villanueva in free agency. Waiting to address their offensive line until the third round despite the presence of talented players available was a head-scratching proposition. Najee Harris is incredibly talented and should be the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Pat Freiermuth will help in the short-area passing game and with in-line blocking. However, they weren’t the most impactful options to help Pittsburgh’s offense. Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert has reportedly had his eye set on Kendrick Green as a potential Day 1 starter, while Dan Moore Jr. has solid upside to develop into a future starter. The Steelers earn some points back for landing Quincy Roche in the sixth round as I thought he had the potential to be a Day 2 pick. Roche had 19 sacks in 2019 at Temple and will help as a replacement for Bud Dupree who departed in free agency. Roche may not be the most polished, well-rounded player - his run defense needs some work - but he was a steal in the sixth round with his pass-rushing talent. Taking a punter in the seventh round was odd but ultimately unimportant. The Steelers added some talent, but they could have done more with their early picks.
Tennessee Titans: B+
Round 1 Pick #22: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Round 2 Pick #53: OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State
Round 3 Pick #92: LB Monty Rice, Georgia
Round 3 Pick #100: CB Elijah Molden, Washington
Round 4 Pick #109: WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville
Round 4 Pick #135: DE Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh
Round 6 Pick #205: WR Racey McMath, LSU
Round 6 Pick #215: S Brady Breeze, Oregon
I had debated ranking Caleb Farley as my top cornerback prospect prior to the draft, but his recent back surgeries caused him to slide down teams’ draft boards and off some entirely. If he can stay healthy, GM Jon Robinson will look like a genius for landing one of the steals of the draft - that’s a big if, unfortunately, though. Dillon Radunz is an intriguing developmental offensive tackle, and he could be an immediate starter on the right side. The Titans have had a significant need at that spot ever since losing Jack Conklin last offseason. Monty Rice will add some punch to the front seven, while Elijah Molden had some first-round buzz and will further bolster a position of need for Tennessee. Dez Fitzpatrick and Racey McMath can help replace some of the pass-catching lost from Corey Davis’s free agency departure, but it was somewhat surprising to see Tennessee not address wide receiver sooner. Rashad Weaver is a talented prospect who could have been considered a steal in the fourth round, but post-draft allegations of assault are concerning for his future. The Titans clearly focused on the defensive side of the ball in this draft, and if Farley can stay healthy, he could headline a strong class of players on that side of the ball.
