Top Five Drafts in 2021
Judging how draft classes will end up is very difficult immediately after the event. This exercise is an educated guess based on the pre-draft perception of prospects, team needs and fits. A number of teams had impressive drafts last weekend, so narrowing it down to just five was very difficult.
5. Tennessee Titans
Round 1, Pick 22: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Round 2, Pick 53: Dillon Radunz, T, North Dakota State
Round 3, Pick 100: Elijah Molden, CB/Slot, Washington
Round 4, Pick 109: Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, Louisville
Round 4, Pick 135: Rashad Weaver, DE, Pittsburgh
Round 6, Pick 205: Racey McMath, WR, LSU
Round 6, Pick 215: Brady Breeze, S, Oregon
Tennessee took a risk on Farley at pick 22 could turn out to be a massive hit or disappointment depending on how the corner’s back holds up. After missing on Isaiah Wilson last year, the Titans made up for it with the second-round selection of Radunz, who can start opposite Taylor Lewan. Despite being undersized, Molden is one of the best pure football players in the draft thanks to his instincts. He will help the defense immediately. Fitzpatrick is a capable route-runner with the speed to stretch the field, making him a perfect fit to replace Corey Davis. The addition of Weaver makes sense for a team that has struggled to get off the field on third down. The former Pitt Panther can rush from an outside alignment or reduce inside and give guards issues with his length.
4. Carolina Panthers
Round 1, Pick 8: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Round 2, Pick 59: Terrace Marshall, Jr., WR, LSU
Round 3, Pick 70: Brady Christensen, T, BYU
Round 3, Pick 83: Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame
Round 4, Pick 126: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Round 5, Pick 158: Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa
Round 5, Pick 166: Keith Taylor, CB, Washington
Round 6, Pick 193: Deonte Brown, G, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 204: Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
Round 6, Pick 222: Thomas Fletcher, LS, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 232: Phil Hoskins, DT, Kentucky
In their first year of working together, head coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer hit the draft out of the park. Horn has the potential to be a shutdown press cornerback at the next level in a division filled with star wideouts. They gambled on Marshall’s injury concerns in the late second round, given his tremendous size and speed. If he hits, Marshall can be very productive in coordinator Joe Brady’s offense. Christensen is a solid line prospect who should at least be able to back up multiple spots. Continuing to build a physical football team, Rhule and Fitterer selected Tremble. The Notre Dame tight end is a physical blocker with intriguing athleticism. On Day 3, Carolina continued adding players with starter upside such as Nixon, Brown and Smith. Taylor fits the press coverage identity that they seem to prefer, given the selection of Horn. The Panthers will get criticized for this draft if their belief in Sam Darnold does not pay off and Justin Fields turns into a star for the Bears.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1, Pick 24: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 55: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
Round 3, Pick 87: Kendrick Green, G, Illinois
Round 4, Pick 128: Dan Moore Jr., T, Texas A&M
Round 4, Pick 140: Buddy Johnson, LB, Texas A&M
Round 5, Pick 156: Isaiahh Loudermilk, DT, Wisconsin
Round 6, Pick 216: Quincy Roche, OLB, Miami
Round 7, Pick 245: Tre Norwood, DB, Oklahoma
Round 7, Pick 254: Pressley Harvin III, P, Georgia Tech
The Steelers are bringing their aging core back for one last Super Bowl run with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In that quest, they needed to draft immediate impact players that would help them in 2021 and address immediate areas of need. This, they did, selecting Harris who will be their lead back immediately and boost the Steelers’ running and passing attack, giving them a weapon out of the backfield that is similar to what the team had with Le’Veon Bell. The falling Freiermuth was scooped up by the team in the second round. A solid run blocker, the local Penn State product should also contribute heavily as a receiver. Green is a physical and athletic interior offensive lineman with guard/center flexibility. He should start at some point in 2021 alongside Moore, who is a sound tackle prospect that fills a need in Pittsburgh. The other Aggie, Johnson, should at least offer valuable depth at inside linebacker. Miami pass rusher Roche is technically sound with the ability to apply pressure on quarterbacks off the bench.
2. Chicago Bears
Round 1, Pick 11: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Round 2, Pick 39: Teven Jenkins, T, Oklahoma State
Round 5, Pick 151: Larry Borom, OL, Missouri
Round 6, Pick 217: Khalil Herbert, RB, Virginia Tech
Round 6, Pick 221: Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
Round 6, Pick 228: Thomas Graham Jr., DB, Oregon
Round 7, Pick 250: Khyiris Tonga, DL, BYU
The Bears' draft was defined by their first two picks, which were part of trading up. Stopping the Fields slide by making a deal with the Giants could give Chicago a true franchise quarterback for the first time in decades. Fields is a dynamic passer with mobility and a big arm and he should fit well into head coach Matt Nagy’s offense. Filling another area of need with Jenkins, Chicago traded up for a safe right-tackle prospect. Jenkins is not only one of the meanest players in the draft, finishing blocks consistently, but also has strong technique in pass protection. He should be a solid starter at a premium position. On Day 3, general manager Ryan Pace mainly got depth. Herbert stands out, however. The former Virginia Tech back is a fast runner with great vision. He has the talent to challenge David Montgomery for carries.
Honorable Mentions: Chiefs, Giants, Browns
1. Detroit Lions
Round 1, Pick 7: Penei Sewell, T, Oregon
Round 2, Pick 41: Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
Round 3, Pick 72: Alim McNeill, DT, North Carolina State
Round 3, Pick 101: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Round 4, Pick 112: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
Round 4, Pick 113: Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue
Round 7, Pick 257: Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State
Another first-year general manager with a top-five draft! Brad Holmes established a physical identity for the Lions with his first draft. Having Penei Sewell fall into their lap was definitely helpful. The Oregon product has outstanding physical traits that should make him a premier left tackle in the league. Both Day-2 defensive tackles can get after the quarterback from the interior, something this Lions team severely lacked in 2020. Onwuzurike has the quick get-off and violence to get into the face of NFC North passers. One of the steals was Melifonwu, who is a special athlete with press-coverage ability. The Lions should have two exciting young starting corners in Melifonwu and Jeff Okudah, last year's No. 1 pick. Fourth-round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown has been compared to Golden Tate and is yet another physical football player. The Lions still have needs, but the new regime’s first draft should leave fans very optimistic about the future of the team.
