Trades:
NYJ trades Picks 23, 66, and 86 to MIN for Pick 14.
NYJ trades Pick 143 to LV for Picks 162 and 200.
NYJ trades Picks 162 and 226 to KC for Picks 175 and 207.
Draft Summary: I look at the Jets draft picks and sigh because they actually drafted good players. The Jets have been so bad because they have struggled in the draft on QBs and other positions. I really like Zach Wilson and how he maneuvers a pocket. He has work to do to make the step from BYU to the NFL though. Alijah Vera-Tucker was one of the safest picks in the draft and an immediate starting left guard. Elijah Moore was my favorite WR outside of the top 3 guys. His toughness at the slot position is fun to watch. Michael Carter is the PERFECT back for the Shanahan style offense. I am going to reach on him in fantasy. I don't know much about the late-round guys, but Echols was often seen as the better college CB between him and Kelvin Joseph at Kentucky. Also, Hamsah is a hybrid LB/S and should be a fun piece for Saleh to move around. The reason this isn't an A+ draft is that they traded 2 key 3rd round picks to MIN to grab AVT. I like him, but he is a guard. You can get those later and have plenty of needs on the team still. I'd prefer as many swings at the bat as possible.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A-
Team Needs: RT, RG, EDGE, CB, NCB; Team Wants: OLB, C, CB
I mean they really couldn't pick a player and it not scratch off a position above. The key here though is that I feel like they got, at a minimum, 4 new Day 1 starters at QB, RB, WR, and LG. If any of the defensive players selected on Day 3 can surprise and not only make the roster but play well, the Jets will be looking real pretty. The biggest omission on this team is still the CB room. Bless Austin is their best guy and he was torched last season. 5th and 6th round corners normally are not going to get you anywhere for very long. I'm also surprised they didn't select another young EDGE.
Most Likely to Succeed: Alijah Vera-Tucker
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Michael Carter II (Duke)
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Miami Dolphins
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 71st Round: 6. Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama; 18. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE Miami
2nd Round: 36. Jevon Holland, S Oregon; 42. Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame
3rd Round: 82. Hunter Long, TE Boston College
4th Round: None
5th Round: None
6th Round: None
7th Round: 231. Larnell Coleman, OT Massachusetts; 244. Gerrid Doaks, RB Cincinnati
Trades:
MIA traded Picks 50 and a 2022 3rd round pick to NYG for Pick 42.
MIA traded Pick 156 to PIT for a 2022 4th round pick.
Draft Summary: Miami went into the offseason with the 3rd pick. Traded back with SF for 2 future 1sts and then moved back up with PHI so they could land one of the big 4 pass catchers. I'm not sure if I believe that Waddle was their #1 guy, but I do believe he was their #1 WR. Chase didn't fit the offense with Tua and he is too similar to Devante Parker. Waddle opens up the defense and is a dynamic slot. Phillips is my favorite draft pick of the bunch. We haven't had a scary EDGE presence since Cam Wake started to decline. Phillips has the bend, run support, power, and brains to be everything Wake was for us and more. 2nd year in a row that a team has sniped a RB out from the pick in front of us. Last year with Dobbins at 56 and this year at 36 with Javonte. It sounds like Holland will be the new Minkah Fitzpatrick playing FS, NCB, and anywhere else. The Eichenberg pick is safe but also worrisome. He doesn't fit our OL mold of huge and athletic, but he is very technically sound. Hunter Long makes me curious about our plans for Mike Geisicki going into a contract season.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A-
Team Needs: RB; Team Wants: C, OLB, S
The Jaylen/Jaelan combo solved, in my opinion, our 2 biggest team needs. Our WR is actually a little too deep now and we are going to have cut players that will likely be picked up on other teams, like Jakeem Grant or Allen Hurns. The Liam Eichenberg selection offers our OL a lot of versatility. Robert Hunt can play either RG/RT. Kindley at either LG/RG. Eichenberg at LG/RT. Plus we have Jesse Davis and DJ Fluker as swing guards/tackles behind them. A lot of versatility in case of injury. RB remains the big position of need, however I'm not sure we will ever reach for a RB at this point. Gaskin may actually be the best RB in the division.
Most Likely to Succeed: Jevon Holland
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Jaylen Waddle
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New England Patriots
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 81st Round: 15. Mac Jones, QB Alabama
2nd Round: 38. Christian Barmore, DT Alabama
3rd Round: 96. Ronnie Perkins, EDGE Oklahoma
4th Round: 120. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB Oklahoma
5th Round: 177. Cameron McGrone, LB Michigan
6th Round: 188. Joshua Bledsoe, S Missouri; 197. William Sherman, OT Colorado
7th Round: 242. Tre Nixon, WR UCF
Trades:
NE trades Pick 46 to CIN for Pick 38 and 122 and 139.
Draft Summary: All the Patriots fans I knew were clamoring for Justin Fields. I tried to tell them, but they just wouldn't listen. Mac Jones is about the farthest thing from Justin Fields but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Cam Newton isn't a franchise QB for Bill Belichick. Mac Jones is his last chance at returning to glory. He is very similar to Brady in his slow lower half but his high intelligence. I am very curious to see how their training camp and preseason looks because those 2 QBs won't run the same offense. Barmore is a real nice pickup. He needs to work on consistency but Bill is very similar to Saban, so that shouldn't be a probelm. Perkins, Stevenson, McGrone, and Bledsoe were all picks I really liked, but I struggle to see them on the field in year 1. This is still a very good Pats roster besides its QB question marks.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: B-
Team Needs: WRx2; Team Wants: ILB
They didn't address the WR need which I think is going to be doubly important when Mac Jones takes over. I can see him having the same issues that Tua had with pulling the trigger in the tighter windows. Agholor, Henry, and Jonnu are their best pass-catching options, which is not a bad trio, but I am confident they won't be as open as Waddle and Smith were at Bama. RB wasn't a true need but I like Stevenson to take over the short-yardage situations from Sony Michel, who just can't stay healthy.
Most Likely to Succeed: Christian Barmore
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Mac Jones
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Buffalo Bills
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 81st Round: 30. Gregory Rousseau, EDGE Miami
2nd Round: 61. Carlos Basham, EDGE Wake Forest
3rd Round: 93. Spencer Brown, OT Northern Iowa
4th Round: None
5th Round: 161. Tommy Doyle, OT Miami Ohio
6th Round: 203. Marquez Stevenson, WR Houston; 212. Damar Hamlin, S Pittsburgh; 213. Rachad Wildgoose, CB Wisconsin
7th Round: 236. Jack Anderson, OG Texas Tech
Trades:
BUF traded Pick 174 to HOU for Picks 203 and 212.
Draft Summary: Teams often look to the best team in the conference and ask "how do we beat them?" Buffalo found that Tampa had their way with the Chiefs because of their pass rush and their OL kept Brady clean. 5 of Buffalo's 8 picks were in the trenches. Starting on the defensive side, Rousseau and Basham were two of my favorites in the class and both in my top 50. Rousseau is very raw but has a lot of production. Basham had a ton of production over a long career. But neither are incredibly athletic. Oppositely, Spencer Brown is another raw player not playing in 2020, but he was graded as the most athletic player in the class.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: B
Team Needs: NCB; Team Wants: CB
The only thing I wish they did differently was select a corner earlier than they did. Their #2 CB spot is a weakness, but it seems the Bills are just ok with not getting another elite-level talent there. It has been vacant for 3 years now. EDGE was addressed in the 2nd round last year but the production didn't show up. They double-dipped early so they could start to see some results. As good as their secondary is, they can't hold up forever against these elite mobile QBs. Stevenson is a player that should fill the kick return role for them.
Most Likely to Succeed: Carlos Basham
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Spencer Brown
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Dallas Cowboys
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 111st Round: 12. Micah Parsons, LB Penn St
2nd Round: 44. Kelvin Joseph, CB Kentucky
3rd Round: 75. Osa Odighizuwa, EDGE UCLA; 84. Chauncey Gholston, EDGE Iowa; 99. Nashon Wright, CB Oregon St
4th Round: 115. Jabril Cox, LB LSU; 138. Josh Ball, OT Marshall
5th Round: 179. Simi Fehoko, WR Stanford
6th Round: 192. Quinton Bohanna, DL Kentucky; 227. Israel Mukuamu, CB South Carolina
7th Round: 238. Matt Farnoik, OG Nebraska
Trades:
DAL traded Pick 10 to PHI for Picks 12 and 84.
Draft Summary: The Cowboys were kind of all over the place with this draft. Going away from the consensus (which is not always a bad thing) oftentimes to select a guy they believed in. Micah Parsons was a top 10 talent and it sounded like they were happy to take him at 10. I like the mini-move back and picking up a 3rd round pick while still getting their guy. I didn't view their LB room as a weak position though. It sounds like Leighton Vander Esch's days in Dallas are less than 365. Later in the draft, they went back to the LB spot with Jabril Cox, who I also liked a lot. He is the exact opposite of Parsons though. A pure coverage guy that isn't big enough to stop the run traditionally. I don't see how both could be on the field at the same time. Kelvin was one of the best CBs available in the 2nd and will likely be thrust into a starting spot. The 3rd round is where a lot of people have their issues. All of these players were much further down consensus big boards. Nashon Wright was in the 200s on some sites, for example. Top 100 selections are premium picks and if all of these 3rd round guys flop, the talent level on defense will still be near the bottom of the league.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: C
Team Needs: OT; Team Wants: TE, Backup QB, EDGE, SS, FS
The only position that I feel comfortable crossing off was the starting CB job across from Diggs. But even that I am a bit wary of. Kelvin Joseph had a wide range of opinion on him but he fits the typical large CB prototype which pushed him up into the 2nd round. His production and traits though are a question. The defense was reinforced with their first 6 picks going in that direction, but I fail to see many of these players seeing significant snaps in 2021.
Most Likely to Succeed: Micah Parsons
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Nashon Wright
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New York Giants
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 61st Round: 20. Kadarius Toney, WR Florida
2nd Round: 50. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE Georgia
3rd Round: 71. Aaron Robinson, CB UCF
4th Round: 116. Elerson Smith, EDGE Northern Iowa
5th Round: None
6th Round: 196. Gary Brightwell, RB Arizona; 201. Rodarius Williams, CB Oklahoma St
7th Round: None
Trades:
NYG traded Pick 11 to CHI for Picks 20, 164, and a 1st and 4th round pick in 2022.
NYG traded Pick 42 to MIA for Picks 50 and a 2022 3rd round pick.
NYG traded Pick 76 and 164 to DEN for Pick 71.
Draft Summary: The Giants only had 6 draft picks and they picked some solid players with them. But we also need to strongly pay attention to the 3 trades above. They picked up a 1st, 3rd, and 4th rounder in next years draft. They also saved considerable money on this years cap by trading back twice in the top 50. For a GM that never trades back, Gettleman was a man possessed on draft weekend. Kadarius Toney was not the direction I would have gone at Pick 20 however. He was a 2nd round prospect to me and the Giants WR room has too many bodies with Golladay, Slayton, Shephard, Engram, and now Toney. Daniel Jones has no more excuses. I do love the next 3 picks though. Ojulari fell because of medical concerns but is one of the bendiest rushers in the draft. Robinson and Smith both had great Senior Bowl performances and both should be starters by next year.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A
Team Needs: LB; Team Wants: iOLx2, RT, DT, EDGE
The Giants passed up OL entirely which feels like a big risk. Their depth is very thin and the talent along the OL has been poor, even though they made investments in the past. I like how they are giving Daniel Jones weapons, but he has struggled in the pocket and is very fumble prone. Getting two top 100 EDGE talents should help the pass rush that had been totally reliant on interior pressure from Leonard Williams. The CB room has been overhauled with Adoree Jackson and now Robinson this offseason so I expect some improvement by the defense. The LB position is still weak though.
Most Likely to Succeed: Azeez Ojulari
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Kadarius Toney
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Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 81st Round: 10. Devonta Smith, WR Alabama
2nd Round: 37. Landon Dickerson, iOL Alabama
3rd Round: 73. Milton Williams, DT Lousiana Tech
4th Round: 123. Zech McPherson, CB Texas Tech
5th Round: 150. Kenneth Gainwell, RB Memphis
6th Round: 189. Marlon Tuipulotu, DT USC; 224. JaCoby Stevens, LB LSU
7th Round: 234. Patrick Johnson, LB Tulane
Trades:
PHI traded Picks 12 and 84 to DAL for Pick 10.
PHI traded Pick 70 to CAR for Picks 73 and 191.
PHI traded Picks 225 and 240 to WFT for a 2022 5th round pick.
Draft Summary: I really like what the Eagles were able to do in this draft. They selected good players. Howie didn't force need positions and he certainly wasn't afraid to go and get one of his guys when he was there. Eagles fans everywhere complained that trading from 6 to 12 would push them out of the top 4 pass-catcher conversation. And it would have... but they moved up to 10, and ahead of the Giants, to snipe Devonta Smith. He isn't the prototype which is why he wasn't selected at 5 or 6, but at 10 I love him. Especially reuniting with Hurts. Dickerson is going to be such a stud at the next level if he can stay healthy, which is not a given with him. But I like this move a lot because of all the injuries they have had up front and this will be Kelce's last year in Philly. Milton Williams is just a solid overall player. But Gainwell in the 5th round is a total steal. His shiftiness may remind some Eagles fans of the Sproles days.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A
Team Needs: WR, LBx2; Team Wants: CB, G, QB, EDGE
I don't always like it when teams select players out of need because they could be reaching. I don't always like it when teams select players at a non-need position. But I love it when they get players at need positions with great value and I feel like they did that with Smith and Dickerson. The rest of the draft was very much set up to select good players regardless of need. With the team likely entering a rebuild (3 1st rounders next year), that is the correct way to go about it.
Most Likely to Succeed: Landon Dickerson
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: JaCoby Stevens
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Washington Football Team
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 101st Round: 19. Jamin Davis, LB Kentucky
2nd Round: 51. Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas
3rd Round: 74. Benjamin St-Juste, CB Minnesota; 82. Dyami Brown, WR North Carolina
4th Round: 124. John Bates, TE Boise St
5th Round: 163. Derrick Forrest, S Cincinnati
6th Round: 225. Camaron Cheeseman, LS Michigan
7th Round: 240. William Bradley-King, EDGE Baylor; 244. Shaka Toney, EDGE Penn St; 246. Dax Milne, WR BYU
Trades:
WFT traded a 2022 5th round pick to PHI for Picks 225 and 240.
Draft Summary: You know how 3 strikes in a row in bowling is called a turkey? What is 4 straight home runs in a draft called? This might be my favorite draft and it is fitting it was saved for last. Jamin Davis plays with his hair on fire and is the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year already. He is going to rack up tackles immediately and should excel in pass coverage. Cosmi is a player I loved but may not be starting right away. He is a little bit raw but has the prototype build. He will learn this year and get his chance in 2022. Washington added William Jackson and Curtis Samuel in FA. Adding St-Juste and Dyami is just overkill at this point and I love it. Dyami is going to be a very fun toy for Fitzy (he isn't the 6-3 guy he is used to though) and St-Juste is the 6-3 guy. If he can learn how to stay with his WRs at the next level, he is going to be a major disruptor. Shaka Toney in the 7th round is a nice flier. He has outproduced his fellow EDGE guys in Yetur Gross-Matos and Jayson Oweh at Penn St. Last thing, they drafted a guy named Cheeseman. If that doesn't scream 'best draft ever', I don't know what does.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A
Team Needs: None; Team Wants: EDGE, iOL
Washington supplemented this awesome draft class by picking up Bobby McCain at FS and Charles Leno at LT. Both are going to be immediate starters. Adding Leno specifically will bring some nice depth to the OT room (after they cut Morgan Moses) with Cosmi learning the position still. WR and CB were not needs for this team but their roster is in such a good place that they could afford to splurge at these positions as they hope to make another run at the division title.
Most Likely to Succeed: Jamin Davis
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Derrick Forrest
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Which team will have the best draft class in the AFC/NFC East? Let me know in the comments or at @KyleTheCommish on Twitter.
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