Welcome back to the monotony of the week everyone. Hopefully, my article is a happy place you can go to when you want to kill 10-20 minutes. Today, we are doing the AFC and NFC North, as you can tell.
I won't dawdle too much but I do just want to give everyone a scheduling update. Wednesday's article will be another Post-Draft Breakdown article. However, Wednesday Night the NFL schedule is going to be released. I think I am going to try to plan to get an article out on Thursday to talk about some of the interesting matchups, primetime games, etc. That would mean no Friday article this week and my final Post-Draft Breakdown article would come out next Wednesday (with next Monday being a Monday Minute). I currently don't have an idea for that Friday's article so if you'd like to see something specific, please let me know.
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Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 10
1st Round: 5. Ja'Marr Chase, WR LSU
2nd Round: 46. Jackson Carman, OT/OG Clemson
3rd Round: 69. Joseph Ossai, EDGE Texas
4th Round: 111. Cameron Sample, EDGE Tulane; 122. Tyler Shelvin, NT LSU; 139. D'Ante Smith, OT East Carolina
5th Round: 149. Evan McPherson, K Florida
6th Round: 190. Trey Hill, iOL Georgia; 202. Chris Evans, RB Michigan
7th Round: 235. Wyatt Hubert, EDGE Kansas St
Draft-Day Trades:
CIN traded Pick 38 to NE for Picks 46, 122, and 139.
Draft Summary: The big question going into the draft for Cincinnati was in what order would their 1st and 2nd rounder be going. WR 1st, then OL? Or the opposite. Joe Burrow's opinion seemed to win out when the team opted for his former teammate in Round 1 and waited to select a player in Carman, who is probably a better fit at guard, in Round 2. Cincy actually had a really good draft in my opinion, outside of the Carman selection (Cosmi + Radunz still on the board). Cam Sample is a guy who had an amazing week at the Senior Bowl. Ossai is kind of a tweener on the EDGE but has played for awhile at Texas. Shelvin is one of the most stout run defenders in this class. Plus, Trey Hill could be a starter for them at center or guard in 2021. Chris Evans is also a super sleeper. I don't think he will affect Joe Mixon much but he doesn't have much tread on the tires with his bruising style of play.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: B
Team Needs: OG; Team Wants: ILB, TE, CB
I really like that the Bengals triple dipped at 2 of their biggest need positions. OL and EDGE. The top-end talent wasn't there anymore at these positions and the depth was lacking too. A dude like Cam Sample may not be your 10 sack a year kind of guy, but I really see him following a similar path as Carl Lawson did who just left in free agency. A lot of pressures per snap. The 2021 starting OL is going to need to rely on at least Carman as a rookie, but we could see meaningful snaps from Hill as well.
Most Likely to Succeed: Ja'Marr Chase
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: D'Ante Smith
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Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 9
1st Round: 24. Najee Harris, RB Alabama
2nd Round: 55. Pat Friermuth, TE Penn St
3rd Round: 87. Kendrick Green, iOL Illinois
4th Round: 128. Dan Moore, OT Texas A&M; 140. Buddy Johnson, LB Texas A&M
5th Round: 156. Isaiah Loudermilk, DT Wisconsin
6th Round: 216. Quincy Roche, EDGE Miami
7th Round: 245. Tre Norwood, S Oklahoma; 254. Pressley Harvin III, P Georgia Tech
Draft-Day Trades:
PIT traded a 2022 4th Round Pick to MIA for Pick 156.
Draft Summary: The Steelers' draft would be a D if they didn't pick great team fits in Harris and Friermuth with their first 2 selections. The issue is that they needed OL. Badly. The 4 biggest needs were LT, CB, OG, and C. Kendrick Green is the only player who will fill any of those roles in year 1, in my opinion. Players like Tevin Jenkins, Landon Dickerson, Liam Eichenberg, and Creed Humphrey all went in the 2nd round and all are expected to be immediate contributors. My favorite pick in their entire draft came in the 6th round with Roche filling in as a depth rotational edge behind Alex Highsmith.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: C+
Team Needs: LG, NCB, CB, LT; Team Wants: QB
Who cares about making sure Ben is upright anyways right? Not only that but they cut 2 of their starting corners (nickel and #2 corner) this offseason to get under the salary cap and they didn't address that spot at all. It just really feels like this draft was more to help them long term than give Ben one more decent shot at a Super Bowl.
Most Likely to Succeed: Najee Harris
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Isaiah Loudermilk
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Baltimore Ravens
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 8
1st Round: 27. Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota; 31. Odafe (Jayson) Oweh, EDGE Penn St
2nd Round: None
3rd Round: 94. Ben Cleveland, iOL Georgia; 104. Brandon Stephens, CB SMU
4th Round: 131. Tylan Wallace, WR Oklahoma St
5th Round: 160. Shaun Wade, CB Ohio St; 171. Daelin Hayes, EDGE Notre Dame; 184. Ben Mason, FB Michigan
6th Round: None
7th Round: None
Draft-Day Trades:
BAL traded Pick 136 and 210 to ARI for Picks 160 and a 2022 4th round pick.
Draft Summary: The Ravens just are the best at drafting. They don't always take guys that are super sexy, but they know exactly the type of players that fit their schemes. Oweh is the perfect type of moldable clay for these Baltimore defensive coaches. They normally don't grab EDGE this high but there also aren't a ton of athletic marvels like him. I worry for opposing OTs once he gets some refinement. Bateman should've been gone 10 picks earlier and just falls to them at 27, that is a steal. Ben Cleveland is also the exact type of mountain-like man the Ravens enjoy for their run-first style of offense. Shaun Wade had a poor finish to his career at Ohio St. But he won't feature on the outside in Baltimore and a career revival might happen when he goes back to the nickel.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A-
Team Needs: None; Team Wants: FS, C
The needs were clear after free agency passed. They needed to get some more athletes at the EDGE spot and some new toys for Lamar Jackson. Jayson Oweh was one of the biggest athletic freaks coming off the EDGE but he never put it all together in college. Bateman and Wallace will provide two different types of players that the Ravens don't currently have. RT was addressed after the draft in the signing of Alejandro Villanueva.
Most Likely to Succeed: Ben Cleveland
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Shaun Wade
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Cleveland Browns
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 8
1st Round: 26. Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
2nd Round: 52. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame
3rd Round: 91. Anthony Schwartz, WR Auburn
4th Round: 110. James Hudson, OT Cincinnati; 132. Tommy Togiai, DT Ohio St
5th Round: 153. Tony Fields III, LB West Virginia; 169. Richard LeCounte III, S Georgia
6th Round: 211. Demetric Felton, RB UCLA
7th Round: None
Draft-Day Trades:
CLE traded Picks 59 and 89 to CAR for Picks 52 and 113.
CLE traded Picks 113 and 257 to DET for Pick 153 and a 2022 4th round pick.
Draft Summary: They selected good players on Day 1 and 2 and added some developmental players on Day 3. A really good draft overall highlighted by JOK falling to Day 2 and Cleveland making the move to go up and draft him. Apparently, there was a medical issue that caused the fall but I think the Browns would've seriously considered him at 26 if the top 4 corners were gone. Newsome felt like a total splurge move to me with them having drafted young corners in 2018 and 2019, but take the best player available and be merry. Hudson was a guy that some dratniks really loved because of his potential but that is all he is right now. Perfect situation for him to learn for 2-3 year in Cleveland.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: B+
Team Needs: DT, ILB; Team Wants: EDGE
The Clowney signing and subsequent no EDGEs taken in the draft tell me that they feel very confident in their depth at the position. However, I am not so certain given Jadaveon's injury history. JOK will immediately fill one of those OLB roles and can even act as a 4th safety. Togiai is a nice run-stuffing option, but I don't trust anyone on this interior to give much as a pass rusher.
Most Likely to Succeed: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Anthony Schwartz
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Detroit Lions
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 7
1st Round: 7. Penei Sewell, OT Oregon
2nd Round: 41. Levi Onwuzurike, DT Washington
3rd Round: 72. Alim McNeill, DT NC State; 101. Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB Syracuse
4th Round: 112. Amon-Ra St Brown, WR USC; 113. Derrick Barnes, LB Purdue
5th Round: None
6th Round: None
7th Round: 257. Jemar Jefferson, RB Oregon St
Draft-Day Trades:
DET traded Pick 153 and a 2022 4th round pick to CLE for Picks 113 and 257.
Draft Summary: One of my favorite draft classes. There is absolutely nothing sexy about selecting a lineman with your first 3 picks of a new regime, but it is so damn smart. Especially the ones they got. Penei, Levi, and Alim are all dogs on the field and play with great effort. They only had 6 picks coming in but ended up giving up a future pick to secure Derrick Barnes, who is a jacked-up version of Kyle Van Noy. Also, Amon-Ra... if you read my fantasy article you know how much I love him landing here. They got 5 immediate snap-takers in this draft.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A
Team Needs: LG, ILB; Team Wants: FS, SS, OG, NCB
Penei is going to start out on the right side with Taylor Decker occupying the left. But the OL is looking really good with Frank Ragnow the top paid center in the league. I expect Levi and Alim will fight for snaps in a rotational interior defensive line, as that position wasn't really a need/want in my eyes. Amon-Ra, Ifeatu, and Derrick should all be starters immediately given the lack of depth and talent at their positions.
Most Likely to Succeed: Penei Sewell
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Ifeatu Melifonwu
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Minnesota Vikings
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 11
1st Round: 23. Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech
2nd Round: None
3rd Round: 66. Kellen Mond, QB Texas A&M; 78. Chazz Surratt, LB North Carolina; 86. Wyatt Davis, OG Ohio St; 90. Patrick Jones II, EDGE Pittsburgh
4th Round: 119. Kene Nwangwu, RB Iowa St; 125. Cam Bynum, DB California; 134. Janarius Robinson, EDGE Florida St
5th Round: 157. Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR Iowa; 168. Zach Davidson, TE Central Missouri
6th Round: 199. Jaylen Twyman, DT Pittsburgh
7th Round: None
Draft-Day Trades:
MIN traded Picks 14 and 143 to NYJ for Picks 23, 66, and 86.
Draft Summary: It sounds like the Vikings were good to take Alijah Vera-Tucker or Darrisaw at Pick 14. They moved back 9 spots, picked up two 3rd rounders, and still got Darrisaw. No way they expected that. I am not at all surprised to hear the reports the Vikings would have taken Fields if he was there at 14, as I suggested prior to the draft. I am however surprised they took Kellen Mond with such a premium pick. Cousins still has two years as a starter given the nature of his contract. There are a few picks I really like for Minny and a few I really don't. Surratt and Jones seemed early to me, but Davis and Robinson felt like a really good value and team fit.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: B
Team Needs: FS; Team Wants: WR/TE
The biggest areas they needed to address were in the trenches. I believe they got two Day 1 starting players in Darrisaw and Davis along the OL. The DL with Jones and Robinson will need some grooming, but I think one of them could end up becoming a starter. The depth there was needed regardless. Grabbing Mond as a cheap backup is a good idea to keep the team going if Cousins goes down with an injury at some point.
Most Likely to Succeed: Wyatt Davis
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Chazz Surratt
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Chicago Bears
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 7
1st Round: 11. Justin Fields, QB Chicago
2nd Round: 39. Tevin Jenkins, OT Oklahoma St
3rd Round: None
4th Round: None
5th Round: 151. Larry Borom, OT Missouri
6th Round: 217. Khalil Herbert, RB Virginia Tech; 221. Dazz Newsome, WR North Carolina; 228. Thomas Graham Jr, CB Oregon
7th Round: 250. Khyiris Tonga, DT BYU
Draft-Day Trades:
CHI traded Picks 20 and 164 plus a 1st and 4th rounder in 2022 to NYG for Pick 11.
CHI traded Picks 52, 83, and 204 to CAR for Picks 39 and 151.
CHI traded Pick 208 to SEA for Picks 217 and 250.
Draft Summary: I didn't think there was a way the Bears could walk away from this draft with any of the top 4 QBs. But when Fields slid out of the top 10, they made their move and it was worth a future 1st, 4th, and current 5th. I'll take that if I am the Bears brass, who may not even make it to next year if Fields doesn't dominate. I also love the aggressiveness to go up for Jenkins in the 2nd round. It feels like that was going to be their pick at 20 (at least I had that in my mock). Newsome and Herbert are interesting additions to this offense but I have questions about Newsome's speed and the stable of RBs ahead of Khalil.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A
Team Needs: WRx2, OT, SS; Team Wants: RG
The Bears did a good job addressing both current needs and wants. Fields is definitely for the future but I feel he will play in 2021 a decent amount. Jenkins and Borom might be forced into the starting lineup immediately given the nature of the roster. Newsome was the only attempt at adding to the WR spot but I don't think he is ready to jump right in and take snaps from starters.
Most Likely to Succeed: Tevin Jenkins
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Khalil Herbert
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Green Bay Packers
2021 Draft Capital: Total Picks: 9
1st Round: 29. Eric Stokes, CB Georgia
2nd Round: 62. Josh Meyers, iOL Ohio St
3rd Round: 85. Amari Rodgers, WR Clemson
4th Round: 142. Royce Newman, iOL Ole Miss
5th Round: 173. Teddarrell Slaton, DT Florida; 178. Shemar Jean-Charles, CB Appalachian St
6th Round: 214. Cole Van Lanen, OT Wisconsin; 220. Isaiah McDuffie, LB Boston College
7th Round: 256. Kylin Hill, RB Mississippi St
Draft-Day Trades:
GB traded Picks 92 and 135 to TEN for Pick 85.
Draft Summary: I love the top of this draft for Green Bay. Stokes is exactly the type of CB they needed across from Jaire Alexander. Kevin King did not have the speed to cover these versatile #2 WRs but Stokes does. Meyers is an excellent option at guard or center and that versatility could put the veteran Elgton Jenkins back under center. Amari is the WR that Green Bay has been missing for a few years. Randall Cobb really fell off his final year or so in GB and Amari can fill that role. I know RB isn't necessarily a need with Aaron Jones back, but Hill is a good comp to the Jamaal Williams type of back.
Day 1 and Day 2 Grade: A
Team Needs: ILB; Team Wants: RT, NCB
Their first 3 selections are all going to fill needs. It seems like they are gearing up for one more run at it. Slaton is a 330 lb defensive lineman that will supplement Kenny Clark quite well. His run game abilities are where he really shines which still needed to be improved. McDuffie is the only player I am really not so sure about as far as a fit for the team. He is a bit undersized for a 3-4 ILB at 230 lbs.
Most Likely to Succeed: Amari Rodgers
Most Likely to Ride the Struggle Bus: Isaiah McDuffie
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Which team will have the best draft class in the AFC/NFC North? Let me know in the comments or at @KyleTheCommish on Twitter.
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