2021 NFL Draft Grades: NFC
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.
Arizona Cardinals: B+
Round 1 Pick #16: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Round 2 Pick #49: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
Round 4 Pick #136: CB Marco Wilson, Florida
Round 6 Pick #210: DE Victor Dimukeje, Duke
Round 6 Pick #223: CB Tay Gowan, Central Florida
Round 7 Pick #247: C Michael Menet, Penn State
The linebacker wasn’t necessarily the biggest need for the Cardinals with Jordan Hicks, Markus Golden, and 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Simmons all on the roster. However, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will have big plans for Zaven Collins as a physically imposing MIKE linebacker. Joseph employs a number of varied defensive fronts and Collins’ versatility will earn him significant playing time right away. Rondale Moore is an interesting evaluation as he hasn’t made a big impact since his freshman season in 2018 - he had 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns that year and has just 64 catches in 7 games since. Moore may be small at just 5’7”, 185 lbs, but he can make a big impact in short order for the Cardinals. DeAndre Hopkins is obviously entrenched as the top wideout, but if Moore can get healthy, he’ll steal catches from Christian Kirk and A.J. Green fairly quickly. Arizona didn’t have a third-round pick because they traded it for center Rodney Hudson earlier in the offseason. They had a big need at center and Hudson is certainly going to be better right away than any of the centers available in the third round. Marco Wilson was inconsistent at Florida State, but he’s a phenomenal athlete and flashed high-level play last year. The Cardinals signed Malcolm Butler this offseason, but their cornerbacks were a huge problem area last year, and I love the high-upside shot on Wilson. Tay Gowan was also a smart pickup as a player who could have gone off the board two rounds earlier. There’s a lot to like here for Arizona.
Atlanta Falcons: A
Round 1 Pick #4: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Round 2 Pick #40: S Richie Grant, Central Florida
Round 3 Pick #68: OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
Round 4 Pick #108: CB Darren Hall, San Diego State
Round 4 Pick #114: C Drew Dalman, Stanford
Round 5 Pick #148: DT Ta’Quon Graham, Texas
Round 5 Pick #182: DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame
Round 5 Pick #183: CB Avery Williams, Boise State
Round 6 Pick #187: WR Frank Darby, Arizona State
The Falcons sat at the precipice of a major crossroads in terms of the direction of the franchise. At #4, Justin Fields and Mac Jones were both still available. Atlanta could take one of the talented young quarterbacks and jumpstart an arguably much-needed rebuild for the franchise. However, new head coach Arthur Smith took the Falcons’ job with a clear win-now mindset, and that shone through in this draft class. Kyle Pitts is an absurd prospect at 6’6”, 240 lbs with game-breaking speed and an incredible catch radius. The fact that he went ahead of Ja’Marr Chase, one of the better receiver prospects in recent memory, without any kind of a fuss from sports media is very telling. Pitts will give Matt Ryan another great weapon alongside Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Richie Grant fills a major need at safety and is likely an immediate starter. He was a ballhawk in college with 10 interceptions, 17 passes defended, and 5 forced fumbles throughout his time at UCF. Jalen Mayfield could also be an immediate starter at offensive guard, although the Falcons will be hoping he can turn into a strong offensive tackle in the future. He wasn’t terribly consistent at Michigan, but he has great developmental traits. Darren Hall is an athletic, competitive corner who will play significant snaps early on this year. Drew Dalman could also be an immediate starter as he competes with Matt Hennessey for the starting center role. Avery Williams will likely be their top return man this season and he will get some reps at corner as well. Ta’Quon Graham lacks elite speed, but he’s a strong body at defensive tackle. Frank Darby is little more than a burner at receiver right now, but he can use that elite speed to turn into an all-around player in the future. A team adding a bunch of immediate starters may mean little more than them having a poor roster, but in this case, Atlanta added a ton of talent and earns a strong draft grade.
Carolina Panthers: B-
Round 1 Pick #8: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Round 2 Pick #59: WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
Round 3 Pick #70: OT Brady Christensen, BYU
Round 3 Pick #83: TE Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame
Round 4 Pick #126: RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Round 5 Pick #158: DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
Round 5 Pick #166: CB Keith Taylor, Washington
Round 6 Pick #193: OG Deonte Brown, Alabama
Round 6 Pick #204: WR Shi Smith, South Carolina
Round 6 Pick #222: LS Thomas Fletcher, Alabama
Round 7 Pick #232: DT Phil Hoskins, Kentucky
I’m conflicted on the pick of Jaycee Horn, as he does fit defensive coordinator Eric Washington’s scheme and will likely earn a starting role right away. He’s a lanky, physical corner who is possibly the best press coverage player in this class. However, Carolina used all seven of their draft picks last year on defensive players and had the opportunity to add a massively high-upside quarterback in Justin Fields. Their choice not to select Fields shows their confidence in Sam Darnold, but there will always be questions - even if Horn develops into an All-Pro corner, he may not end up being the right pick. Injuries kept Terrace Marshall out of the first round, but he is very familiar with offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s scheme and will make a big impact in his first season as a big-bodied, contested-catch complement next to D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson. Brady Christensen will push Greg Little for snaps at left tackle as a rookie, and he was very consistent at BYU. Tommy Tremble could develop into one of Darnold’s favorite targets in short order and could be the long-awaited replacement for Greg Olsen at the tight end. I also loved the selection of Daviyon Nixon in the fifth round - he combines a great motor with impressive foot speed for his size. Chuba Hubbard, Deonte Brown, and Shi Smith are all very nice depth picks on offense. Selecting a long snapper was a bit surprising, but Fletcher was considered the best prospect at the position.
Chicago Bears: A+
Round 1 Pick #11: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Round 2 Pick #39: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
Round 5 Pick #151: OT Larry Borom, Missouri
Round 6 Pick #217: RB Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
Round 6 Pick #221: WR Dazz Newsome, North Carolina
Round 6 Pick #228: CB Thomas Graham Jr., Oregon
Round 7 Pick #250: DT Khyiris Tonga, BYU
Head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace came into this draft knowing their respective seats had grown increasingly hot. Pace, in particular, had work to do in reconciling with his drafting of Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson a few years ago. Justin Fields is their lifeline - if he doesn't pan out, it will be reset time for Chicago. However, I believe Fields is going to make everyone forget about the Bears’ previous mistakes quite quickly. He’s far more pro-ready than most would have you believe and it wasn’t that long ago that he outdueled Trevor Lawrence in the College Football Semi Final as he threw for 6 touchdowns. The Bears gave up a ton to trade up and get him, but Fields falling to #11 was unconscionable a month or two ago and Chicago had to be aggressive. Landing Teven Jenkins in the second round was also phenomenal - he was a first-round talent and could end up being the best offensive lineman from this draft other than Penei Sewell. With the power of those first two picks, the rest of the Bears’ draft doesn’t matter a ton. They didn’t pick again until the fifth round, but Larry Borom could quickly supplant Elijah Wilkinson as the starter at right tackle. Dazz Newsome gives Chicago a nice tackle-breaking, contested-catch presence in the slot while Khalil Herbert gives the team an awesome change-of-pace runner and return man. Overall, this haul is very top-heavy, but the top is powerful and will carry the Bears into their next era as a franchise.
Dallas Cowboys: A
Round 1 Pick #12: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Round 2 Pick #44: CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky
Round 3 Pick #75: DT Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA
Round 3 Pick #84: DE Chauncey Golston, Iowa
Round 3 Pick #99: CB Nahshon Wright, Oregon State
Round 4 Pick #115: LB Jabril Cox, LSU
Round 4 Pick #138: OT Josh Ball, Marshall
Round 5 Pick #179: WR Simi Fehoko, Stanford
Round 6 Pick #192: DT Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky
Round 6 Pick #227: CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
Round 7 Pick #238: OG Matt Farniok, Nebraska
The Cowboys allowed 29.6 points per game last season, the fifth-most in the NFL, and they knew they had to change things up this offseason. Dallas spent their first six draft picks on defensive players, and they got some immediate impact guys. In the first round, the Cowboys traded down a couple of spots and still scooped up Micah Parsons, the guy they would have taken anyways. He’s going to quickly become the leader of Dan Quinn’s defense and he’s going to transform the team’s strength up front. Kelvin Joseph, Osa Odighizuwa, and Chauncey Golston are going to have every opportunity to become a starter early this season on a less-than-stellar defense, and all have phenomenal upside. Nahshon Wright and Jabril Cox are bigger projects, but both have great athletic traits and physical tools. Josh Ball is clearly talented, but his inconsistency and off-field issues caused his slide. Dallas is a great landing spot for him to learn from some elite offensive linemen and hone his craft. Simi Fehoko could also compete for playing time as early as this season. The Cowboys’ offense didn’t need a lot of help, but I believe we’re going to look back at this draft class as a massive turning point for the Dallas defense with the influx of a ton of talent.
Detroit Lions: B+
Round 1 Pick #7: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
Round 2 Pick #41: DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
Round 3 Pick #72: DT Alim McNeill, North Carolina State
Round 3 Pick #101: CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
Round 4 Pick #112: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC
Round 4 Pick #113: LB Derrick Barnes, Purdue
Round 7 Pick #257: RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
New head coach Dan Campbell is looking to instill a culture of physicality and hard-nosed play; he wants his guys to “bite a kneecap off”. What better way to start building that culture than to address the trenches with the team’s first three picks? Penei Sewell was my number one prospect heading into the draft, and it’s frankly absurd that Detroit was able to land him at number seven. A few teams will look back and regret letting him get away. Sewell is a future All-Pro offensive lineman. The Lions did select two defensive tackles even after trading for Michael Brockers, but both were great values. Alim McNeill had some first-round buzz and Levi Onwuzurike has great length to play defensive end in the team’s 3-4 front. Ifeatu Melifonwu is a terrific athlete whose consistency never came together, but he has great developmental traits. Amon-Ra St. Brown could have gone a round earlier and he was clearly the best receiver still on the board. He’s an especially great steal for a team lacking talent at the wide receiver position after losing Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones in free agency. Giving up a future fourth-round pick for Derrick Barnes was a bit odd, and that deflates this draft grade a bit. The Lions won’t be a good team this year and this class does little to change that. However, the team did well to remake its lineup on the trenches on both sides with great value picks and that earns them a strong grade.
Green Bay Packers: A-
Round 1 Pick #29: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
Round 2 Pick #62: C Josh Myers, Ohio State
Round 3 Pick #85: WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson
Round 4 Pick #142: OT Royce Newman, Ole Miss
Round 5 Pick #173: DT Tedarrell Slaton, Florida
Round 5 Pick #178: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State
Round 6 Pick#214: OT Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin
Round 6 Pick #220: LB Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College
Round 7 Pick #256: RB Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
One thing is for sure - the Packers filled some of their biggest needs with this draft class. Kevin King and Josh Jackson have not provided consistent cornerback play across from Jaire Alexander, so drafting Eric Stokes makes a ton of sense. I had Tyson Campbell rated a bit higher, but it makes sense that the team fell in love with Stokes’s speed and athleticism. Josh Myers wasn’t my highest-graded center available - I would have gone with Creed Humphrey or even Quinn Meinerz - but the center was a clear need after the departure of All-Pro Corey Linsley in free agency. I loved the pick of Amari Rodgers in the third round - he was an insanely consistent producer for Clemson and has all of the ball skills and route-running capability you look for out of a slot receiver. Royce Newman is an interesting developmental offensive tackle, but I did expect the Packers to address the position a bit earlier. They did well to double up with Cole Van Lanen at OT as well as Shemar Jean-Charles at CB later on. Tedarrell Slaton was unblockable at times while at Florida, and the Packers needed some defensive line depth. It’s hard to find much to nitpick about this draft class; the question is, will it be enough to convince Aaron Rodgers to stay in Green Bay?
Los Angeles Rams: B
Round 2 Pick #57: WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville
Round 3 Pick #103: LB Ernest Jones, South Carolina
Round 4 Pick #117: DT Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M
Round 4 Pick #130: CB Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas
Round 4 Pick #141: WR Jacob Harris, Central Florida
Round 5 Pick #174: DE Earnest Brown IV, Northwestern
Round 7 Pick #233: FB Jake Funk, Maryland
Round 7 Pick #249: WR Ben Skowronek, Notre Dame
Round 7 Pick #252: LB Chris Garrett, Concordia-St. Paul
With all due respect to Chatarius “Tutu” Atwell, who had 115 catches for 1,897 yards and 18 touchdowns over the last two seasons with Louisville, I don’t quite understand the pick in the second round. The Rams had minimal draft capital to work with this year and they had bigger needs than wide receivers. Matthew Stafford’s deep-ball accuracy will work nicely with Atwell’s top-end speed and ability to get open downfield, but I don’t see him making a huge impact as a rookie for a team in win-now mode. Ernest Jones fills a major need on defense at linebacker and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him win a starting role in training camp. I liked the mid-round selections of Bobby Brown III and Earnest Brown IV, and I’m sure those guys will be thrilled to land in Los Angeles and get to play next to Aaron Donald. Robert Rochell is a solid value and helps fill some of the need at cornerback after Troy Hill left in free agency. Rochell can play in the slot, which is important with Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams entrenched on the outside. While it’s not a part of the draft evaluation, it is worth noting that the Rams didn’t have a first-round pick this year because it went to the Jaguars in exchange for Ramsey (along with other picks). Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and that’s a trade LA makes ten times out of ten.
Minnesota Vikings: A-
Round 1 Pick #23: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Round 3 Pick #66: QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Round 3 Pick #78: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
Round 3 Pick #86: OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
Round 3 Pick #90: DE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh
Round 4 Pick #119: RB Kene Nwangwu, Iowa State
Round 4 Pick #125: CB Camryn Bynum, California
Round 4 Pick #134: DE Janarius Robinson, Florida State
Round 5 Pick #157: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
Round 5 Pick #168: TE Zach Davidson, Central Missouri
Round 6 Pick #199: DT Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh
As the Vikings’ pick at number 14 approached, I wondered which offensive lineman they would prioritize between Christian Darrisaw, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Teven Jenkins. The answer, as would later become clear, was Darrisaw. However, Minnesota was able to pick up two third-round picks from the Jets in exchange for a nine-spot trade down. That trade, while confusing at first, wound up being a miraculous move for Minnesota as they still got their guy in Darrisaw at number 23. He’s an immediate starter at left tackle to replace Riley Reiff and will help further improve a solid run-blocking line in front of Dalvin Cook. I wasn’t expecting the Vikings to take a quarterback in the third round as Kirk Cousins is still under contract for the next two years, but Kellen Mond has the type of physicality and athleticism that will have the Vikings very excited about his future potential. Wyatt Davis could have easily gone 30 picks sooner, and he is another potential starter on the offensive line who can play all three interior positions. Chazz Surratt was a bit of a luxury pick with Anthony Barr and Erick Kendricks already on the team, but he provides some much-needed depth at the linebacker position. Kene Nwangwu was an unnecessary pick in the fourth round while Camryn Bynum’s inconsistency is concerning at cornerback and poor tackling is concerning at safety. However, the Vikings made out like bandits in the first round and that pushes them to an A- grade here.
New Orleans Saints: C+
Round 1 Pick #28: DE Payton Turner, Houston
Round 2 Pick #60: LB Pete Werner, Ohio State
Round 3 Pick #76: CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
Round 4 Pick #133: QB Ian Book, Notre Dame
Round 6 Pick #206: OT Landon Young, Kentucky
Round 7 Pick #255: WR Kawaan Baker, South Alabama
The Saints had some head-scratching moves in this draft. Payton Turner is an intriguing athlete and has a lot of room for growth, but he isn’t nearly as pro-ready as guys like Odafe Oweh and Joe Tryon who were still on the board. I like Paulson Adebo a lot as a prospect, but the Saints traded up to get him when they could have had Elijah Molden or Nahshon Wright at their original spot. It will be interesting to see if that trade-up ends up being justified. Pete Werner is likely an immediate starter at linebacker next to Zack Baun and Demario Davis, especially after the team lost Kwon Alexander and Alex Anzalone in free agency. I’m not a big fan of Ian Book as he’s undersized and often struggles with decision-making, and there were strong prospects available in the fourth round who would have filled real needs. The Saints liked Landon Young enough to trade up for him, while Kawaan Baker is a solid athlete but not much of a receiver. This draft just lacks real substance and isn’t going to move the needle significantly this season.
New York Giants: A2
Round 1 Pick #20: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
Round 2 Pick #50: DE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
Round 3 Pick #71: CB Aaron Robinson, Central Florida
Round 4 Pick #116: LB Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa
Round 6 Pick #196: RB Gary Brightwell, Arizona
Round 6 Pick #201: CB Rodarius Williams, Oklahoma State
I didn’t think the Giants should have gone with a receiver in the first round, but it’s hard to complain about them trading down nine spots, adding additional first, fourth, and fifth-round picks, and landing a human highlight reel in Kadarius Toney. He’s much more of a complete receiver than some may have you believe, and he’s a great complement to free agency acquisition Kenny Golladay. I’ll be interested to see if offensive coordinator Jason Garrett can utilize his new weapons effectively, but there’s every reason to expect a big improvement from Daniel Jones this season. I loved the gamble on Azeez Ojulari in the second round - if it weren’t for questionable medicals, he would have been a first-round pick and he provides another excellent pass-rushing presence for a sneaky good defense. I was surprised to see Aaron Robinson still on the board at number 71, and he could be the team’s starting slot corner in short order. Elerson Smith can also provide some pass-rushing punch while Rodarius Williams, Greedy Williams’s brother, is an aggressive defender who could have gone off the board as early as the fourth round. Taking another running back was a bit odd, but Gary Brightwell is a special teams ace. This was really tremendous work by Dave Gettleman.
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
Round 1 Pick #10: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Round 2 Pick #37: OG Landon Dickerson, Alabama
Round 3 Pick #73: DE Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech
Round 4 Pick #123: CB Zach McPhearson, Texas Tech
Round 5 Pick #150: RB Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
Round 6 Pick #189: DT Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
Round 6 Pick #191: DE Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina
Round 6 Pick #224: S JaCoby Stevens, LSU
Round 7 Pick #234: DE Patrick Johnson, Tulane
The Eagles are going to have one of the lowest preseason win-loss totals in the NFL this fall, but this draft class is nothing to sneeze at. The Eagles got their man in DeVonta Smith, and while it did require a trade-up, his ball skills and route-running ability are going to make him Jalen Hurts’s best friend early on this year. The reigning Heisman winner is going to make a strong case that he should have been the top receiver off the board. It helps that Smith and Hurts have some past experience together at Alabama. I was surprised to see Landon Dickerson still available at number 37; he’s a potential starter at guard this season and Jason Kelce’s long-term replacement at center. The Eagles have a strong defensive line without much depth, so Milton Williams is a solid pick as a versatile lineman. Zach McPhearson will get on the field a ton this season while Kenneth Gainwell is a fun dual-threat back to play behind Miles Sanders. I also loved the pick of Tarron Jackson in the sixth-round with Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett upcoming free agents. JaCoby Stevens also has a top-notch blue blood pedigree and fills a position of some need. Philadelphia isn’t going to be very good this season, but this was a solid class for Howie Roseman.
San Francisco 49ers: B
Round 1 Pick #3: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Round 2 Pick #48: OG Aaron Banks, Notre Dame
Round 3 Pick #88: RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State
Round 3 Pick #102: CB Ambry Thomas, Michigan
Round 5 Pick #155: OT Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan
Round 5 Pick #172: CB Deommodore Lenoir, Oregon
Round 5 Pick #180: S Talanoa Hufanga, USC
Round 6 Pick #194: RB Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
The 49ers had Jimmy Garoppolo fatigue, and it’s really hard to blame them - the quarterback has only suited up for 30 regular-season games in four years with the team (out of a potential 64). Trey Lance is an awesome prospect and if there’s anywhere he’s going to thrive in the NFL it will be with Kyle Shanahan and a cadre of exciting weapons in San Francisco. However, he has to be a superstar to justify the Niners trading away two future first-round picks - that’s a ton of draft capital to give away. The interior of the offensive line may not have been the team’s biggest need, but Aaron Banks is a behemoth at 6’5”, 338 lbs, and should be a future starter at guard. Trey Sermon was a consistent presence for two of the best offenses in the country in Oklahoma and Ohio State, and the Niners will view him as their future starting running back. He’ll be thrilled to land in an offense that knows how to get the most out of that position. However, he’s dealt with injuries in the past and San Francisco sent two fourth-round picks to trade up and get him. Ambry Thomas has prototypical size for the cornerback position, and while he never quite put it all together while at Michigan, he’s a solid player who adds depth at an important position. Jaylon Moore is pretty raw, but he impressed at the Senior Bowl and can line up at tackle or guard. Deommodore Lenoir has already been incredibly impressive in camp and has drawn praise from Deion Sanders. Elijah Mitchell is also an exciting player as a backup ball-carrier and return man with breakaway speed. Some solid players here, but ultimately it’s hard to grade the Niners too highly with how much draft capital they sent away to move up for Lance and Sermon - those two better pan out.
Seattle Seahawks: D
Round 2 Pick #56: WR D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan
Round 4 Pick #137: CB Tre Brown, Oklahoma
Round 6 Pick #208: OT Stone Forsythe, Florida
There’s not a lot to grade here, but it’s worth noting that the Seahawks’ first-round pick this year was sent to the Jets in exchange for Jamal Adams (along with a first last year as well). In the second round, the Seahawks scooped up a shifty, speedy, explosive target in D’Wayne Eskridge, but they will face questions as to whether or not that pick was better used on the offensive line. Eskridge caught 33 balls for 768 yards and 8 touchdowns while at Western Michigan last year. However, he’s already 24 years old and doesn’t have a ton of more room to improve. Seattle lost Quinton Dunbar and Shaquill Griffin over the offseason, so Tre Brown fills a logical need. However, he’s undersized at just 5’10”, 185 lbs and, while he does have a knack for making big plays, his technique could use some work. Stone Forsythe was probably the best pick of this class and he could potentially supplant Duane Brown or Brandon Shell at offensive tackle. However, Russell Wilson voiced his frustrations with the Seattle offensive line this spring and I don’t understand why general manager John Schneider waited until the sixth round to address the team’s biggest weakness.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
Round 1 Pick #32: DE Joe Tryon, Washington
Round 2 Pick #64: QB Kyle Trask, Florida
Round 3 Pick #95: OT Robert Hainsey, Notre Dame
Round 4 Pick #129: WR Jaelon Darden, North Texas
Round 5 Pick #176: LB K.J. Britt, Auburn
Round 7 Pick #251: CB Chris Wilcox, BYU
Round 7 Pick #259: LB Grant Stuard, Houston
Joe Tryon shot up draft boards over the last several months, and the Buccaneers shouldn’t care that he didn’t play at all in 2020. In 2019, he had 12.5 tackles for a loss and 8 sacks in 13 games. Tryon plays with a ton of heart and a great motor, and he matches that mentality with physical ability and power. Tryon can also drop into coverage and defend the run quite well. His lack of experience is a bit of a concern, but the Buccaneers don’t need him to start right away as Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett man down the outside linebacker spots. Tryon’s upside makes him a great selection. The Buccaneers added a quarterback in the second round, a bit of a surprise for a team in clear win-now mode. Trask did throw for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns to 8 interceptions at Florida last year, but he was propped up by an elite skill position crew that included Kyle Pitts, among others. Tampa is a great landing spot for him, but I don’t buy his potential as a long-term starter after he played just three games in his first three collegiate seasons. Robert Hainsey is a solid, versatile offensive line depth piece for a team in need of one. Jaelon Darden is tiny at 5’8”, 174 lbs but plays with so much toughness and is a monster after the catch. K.J. Britt, Chris Wilcox, and Grant Stuard are all solid depth pieces on defense. General manager Jason Licht has drafted exceptionally well in recent years, and my only complaint about this class is reaching for Trask when the team is in win-now mode.
Washington Football Team: A-
Round 1 Pick #19: LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky
Round 2 Pick #51: OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
Round 3 Pick #74: CB Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota
Round 3 Pick #82: WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina
Round 4 Pick #124: TE John Bates, Boise State
Round 5 Pick #163: S Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati
Round 6 Pick #225: LS Camaron Cheeseman, Michigan
Round 7 Pick #240: LB William Bradley-King, Baylor
Round 7 Pick #246: DE Shaka Toney, Penn State
Round 7 Pick #258: WR Dax Milne, BYU
Washington didn’t have to take a defensive player in the first round after allowing the fourth-fewest points per game in the NFL last year, but it’s tough to blame them for strengthening their front seven with a hard-nosed linebacker in Jamin Davis. In his first season as a starter for Kentucky last year, Davis racked up 102 tackles, 4 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions. He’s a phenomenal athlete and a three-down linebacker who can excel in pass coverage, run defense, and the pass rush. Washington opted not to dip into the offensive tackle class in the first round, but Samuel Cosmi was a great value in the second round. He could be a starter as early as this season after Morgan Moses was released. Even after replacing Ronald Darby with William Jackson, cornerback was still a need and Benjamin St-Juste has strong future potential. I loved the selection of Dyami Brown in the third round - he could have been the team’s second-round pick and I wouldn’t have minded one bit. Brown gives Washington another much-needed playmaker, and he has surpassed 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons at North Carolina. John Bates was also a solid pick as another pass-catcher for new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. William Bradley-King and Shaka Toney have strong potential as pass-rushing specialists. The only real problem with this class was the selection of a long-snapper in the sixth round, an odd choice, but Camaron Cheeseman does have one of the coolest names in this class. Washington did quite well.
