What an exciting first round of the NFL Draft last night! Here is my recap of all the action, pick by pick:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Grade: A+
Analysis: We knew this would be the pick the whole process and it’s the correct pick. The Jaguars have their quarterback of the future!
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Grade: A+
Analysis: No surprise here either, as the Jets grab my QB2 in the class. It feels wrong to say it but I believe the Jets finally got the quarterback position correct, and Joe Douglas is building the team around him well. Get excited Jets fans!
3. San Francisco 49ers: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Grade: A-
Analysis: Giving up three first rounders for a raw one-year FCS starter is quite risky and I have Justin Fields ahead of him in my QB rankings, but Kyle Shanahan is an offensive genius and is getting a bright, young QB with all the physical and athletic tools to work with. I have a good feeling about this one.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Grade: B+
Analysis: Kyle Pitts is a generational tight end talent who will be an absolute matchup nightmare. However, Matt Ryan is aging and the rest of the roster (and especially the defense) is not on the caliber of contending for a Super Bowl before his career ends. Thus, I believe the Falcons should have picked Justin Fields, but securing a player as talented as Pitts to give defenses issues for the next decade is very understandable.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Grade: B+
Analysis: Cincinnati’s young franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, coming off an ACL tear, needs to be kept upright, so my opinion of this pick will be determined by which offensive linemen they select on Day Two and how successful they are. I still would have preferred Penei Sewell here, but if the Bengals can get a tackle-guard tandem such as Samuel Cosmi and Wyatt Davis in rounds two and three I can get on board with reuniting Burrow with Chase, my WR1 who can be a superstar at the next level.
6. Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Grade: B-
Analysis: Waddle is a really talented receiver, but he was neither my best player available nor my best receiver available. He may be their much-needed electric WR1, but giving up an extra first rounder to move up from 12 to 6 when they could have given up just a third rounder to move up from 12 to 10 like Philadelphia did to draft my WR2, Devonta Smith, is confusing.
7. Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Grade: A
Analysis: The Lions could have gotten Justin Fields, but the roster is not ready to welcome its quarterback of the future and Jared Goff can certainly make do for a year or two as they build the team first. Sewell was my best player available, and selecting a future high-level left tackle is a terrific move for this first-time general manager and first-time coach duo.
8. Carolina Panthers: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Grade: C
Analysis: I was in favor of picking Justin Fields here. Yes, the Panthers just traded for Sam Darnold, but hear me out. If they picked Fields, that would mean that to acquire the two players, they would have used the 8th overall pick, a second round pick, a fourth round pick, and a sixth round pick. Giving up that draft capital to get TWO shots at a young franchise quarterback is a very appealing move. But even with the QB decision aside, I dislike the pick. Horn was my CB4. He has the upside to prove me wrong, but he is certainly not the best defensive player in this draft, which the Panthers drafted him as.
9. Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
Grade: B-
Analysis: I do not believe either Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater is the long-term answer in Denver, so I frown on passing on Justin Fields, which is why the grade is somewhat low. Outside of that, I have a top ten grade on Surtain, who is my second defensive player after Kwity Paye. In a division with really explosive offenses, adding a cornerback of Surtain’s caliber at great value is a plus, but it does leave Denver’s QB question up in the air.
10. TRADE- Philadelphia Eagles: Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Grade: A-
Analysis: Yet another team that could have selected Fields, but Jalen Hurts is only one year in so passing on Fields is understandable. After making the terrible decision of drafting Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson last year, the Eagles redeem themselves and get it right this time with Devonta Smith, who will instantly be the highly reliable and skilled WR1 Jalen Hurts needs to have a shot at being successful.
11. TRADE- Chicago Bears: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Grade: A+
Analysis: After blatantly missing on quarterbacks several times, Ryan Pace makes a potentially job-saving move. After being the fourth quarterback taken and falling outside of the top 10, Fields will enter the league with an enormous chip on his shoulder and drive to prove people wrong. What a move by the Bears and I hope their fans are rejoicing!
12. TRADE- Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Grade: B+
Analysis: I thought there were a few better and cleaner players left on the board, but the Cowboys desperately needed an infusion of talent defensively and took a gamble that could pay off very well, while picking up a third round pick in the process. Solid pick.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Grade: A+
Analysis: The most important thing once you’ve found your young franchise quarterback is to find him a quality bookend left tackle, and the Chargers did just that. It was also great value, as I have a top ten grade on Slater.
14. TRADE- New York Jets: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
Grade: A
Analysis: I really like this move by the Jets. Building that offensive line to protect Zach Wilson is extremely important, and now they have a massive, powerful, rock-solid left side of the line with Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker, who I project to be a Pro Bowl caliber guard.
15. New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Grade: C+
Analysis: I believe the Patriots should have tried harder to move up for Justin Fields, as it’s hard for me to see the QB5 in this class, Mac Jones, with the several issues he has that I’ve detailed (modest athleticism, modest arm strength, inconsistent ball placement, severely diminished talent gap in the NFL), being the long-term answer for the Patriots. However, he is extremely intelligent which meshes well with Bill Belichick, and I believe he is an upgrade over the incumbent Cam Newton. Not a disastrous pick, but the Patriots would have been better off making a move up the board for Fields in my opinion. Only time will tell.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
Grade: A-
Analysis: Collins is an absolute athletic freak who excels in the run game and offers a lot of value as a pass rusher on third down. This pick will be dependent on how successful Arizona is in developing him and using him, as they have selected these kinds of unique profiles at the second level before with varying success (Deone Bucannon, Haason Reddick, Isaiah Simmons).
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
Grade: C+
Analysis: I liked Leatherwood as a second round pick, but the 17th pick is too rich. That being said, I project him to be a solid starting tackle in the NFL, which is very valuable, so it is not the crazy reach some are making it out to be, although it still is a reach. It is important to note that I had Christian Darrisaw rated almost a full round above him and they could have likely traded back and gotten him later, so overall not a disastrous pick but still certainly a subpar selection.
18. Miami Dolphins: Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
Grade: B+
Analysis: Phillips is an extremely talented edge rusher but I disagree with picking him over Kwity Paye considering the extensive medical concern (especially his four prior concussions) he carries. It’s a risk, but if he stays healthy it’s a real steal.
19. Washington Football Team: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Grade: C+
Analysis: Davis, like Leatherwood, is someone I liked in the second round range but is simply too high in the teens, especially with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah still on the board. He should be a solid starter for Washington though.
20. TRADE- New York Giants: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Grade: B-
Analysis: I absolutely love the business side of the trade, as the Giants netted a first round pick next year to move down from 11 to 20. I do not like the selection though, as Toney is a second round talent and there are multiple wide receivers that are much safer picks than him, such as Rashod Bateman. If they had added another first rounder and still gotten a top ten talent in Kwity Paye at a position of need, this would have been an incredible pick, but Toney carries too much risk. And will they regret giving another team the right to select Justin Fields? I am not convinced at all that Daniel Jones is their quarterback of the future, so they sure could.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
Grade: A+
Analysis: I absolutely love Paye, who was the best player available here as my fifth overall player and first defender on my board. Getting a super explosive, high-effort, high-character edge rusher in the 20s is amazing for Indianapolis.
22. Tennessee Titans: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Grade: A
Analysis: The Titans need better cornerback play, and they will be getting that in Farley. Between his 2020 opt-out and his back issues, Farley is a risk, but the tape shows a cornerback with true Pro Bowl potential.
23. TRADE- Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Grade: A+
Analysis: The Vikings traded back, adding two third round picks, and still got a future quality left tackle who would have been a good pick at 14.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Grade: A+
Analysis: Harris was my best available player, and the Steelers desperately needed a running back. Not only that, but Harris’s physical, bruising running style is a great fit in Pittsburgh. He should be a top five running back in the league for them for years to come.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Grade: A
Analysis: This pick raised eyebrows due to James Robinsons’s great rookie season and the devaluation of running backs, but I love it. Etienne was my second best player available (after Rashod Bateman) with a top 20 grade, so it is great value. He will add a dynamic element to the offense that will greatly help the task of his Clemson teammate in leading this unit.
26. Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
Grade: A-
Analysis: Without any glaring needs, the Browns could take a best player available approach and keep strengthening their team, which they did with the quality addition of Newsome, an athletic and intelligent man coverage cornerback who just needs to prove he can stay healthy for a full season.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Grade: A+
Analysis: Lamar Jackson finally gets the reliable WR1 he’s been missing. Bateman is a big, physical, skilled route runner.
28. New Orleans Saints: Payton Turner, DE, Houston
Grade: F
Analysis: As a pass rusher who lacks juice or explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and is really one-dimensional, Turner received an early fifth round grade from me. The Saints, who did not even need a defensive end, selected him in the first round, making for an enormous reach.
29. Green Bay Packers: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
Grade: B+
Analysis: I have an early second round grade on Stokes and a wide receiver could have been in play here, but cornerback is a huge need for the Packers, whose secondary got burnt by the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship. Stokes was my best CB available, and represents only a slight reach.
30. Buffalo Bills: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
Grade: B
Analysis: I have an early-mid second round grade on each of these next three edge rushers, including Rousseau. Having only played one year of college football and coming off a mediocre pro day performance, Rousseau is a risk, but I think he will be a solid starter for the Bills down the line.
31. Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State
Grade: B-
Analysis: Oweh failed to record a sack in 2020 and I had several higher graded edge rushers available, but the upside he possesses makes this gamble at the end of the first round understandable, as it could pay off for Baltimore, though I maintain that there were better options.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joe Tryon, DE, Washington
Grade: B+
Analysis: Tryon is an early second round prospect for me whose name got called on the first night of the draft, but that is typical this late in the first round. He was my best pass rusher available, and I like the move of letting him develop behind the Bucs’s talented defensive line.
With the first round in the books, there is still lots of talent left for day two tonight! Here are my fifteen best available prospects remaining:
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S, Notre Dame
- Josh Myers, C, Ohio State
- Azeez Ojulari, DE, Georgia
- Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
- Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
- Richie Grant, S, UCF
- Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
- Dwayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
- Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
- Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
- Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
- Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
- Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State
- Joseph Ossai, DE/LB, Texas
- Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
In the coming weeks, we will be breaking down each division’s draft classes team by team with grades and analysis, so make sure to stay tuned to @boldtakescouting on Instagram for that!
