Our offense is going back to 2019, our defense is night and day better than 2019, it's going to be a fun year of hearing, "how do you stop the Chiefs" and "pick your poison" every week... [Reply]
The thing about it is, the team can get better, but if the QB regresses then the team regresses. It's very rare to see a young QB to take a step back and have the team be more successful from their draft picks. If Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield take a step back, then they won't reach the records they did this year. I wouldn't bet on Baker for anything, just like Phillip Rivers without the fantasy points and records to back it up. [Reply]
Cleveland did some good shit and on paper they are pretty complete, I agree. But their QB will always be the worst on the field in any contender-vs-contender matchup, whether it's us, Buffalo, Tampa, Green Bay, etc. And not just marginally, either. Mayfield's a pretty steep drop off after the likes of Mahomes, Rodgers etc. [Reply]
It’s Cleveland and it’s going to come down to whether Baker can take the next step. OBJ will be back and Baker wasn’t playing so hot when he was on the field. That defense though. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
If Denver adds Rodgers, they're right there with KC.
They will have to give away the draft farm or trade 2-3 quality players on their defense to get this done... Also, Do you think Rodgers wants to compete with Mahomes the next 4 years, he has a no-trade clause? [Reply]
Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief:
They will have to give away the draft farm or trade 2-3 quality players on their defense to get this done... Also, Do you think Rodgers wants to compete with Mahomes the next 4 years, he has a no-trade clause?
Whatever they give up, if they add Rodgers they're right there. He's arguably 1 or 2 with Mahomes right now. [Reply]
Eagles, Browns, Lions, Bears: Dane Brugler ranks his favorite 2021 NFL Draft classes from 1 to 32
This is my spin on grading the NFL Draft hauls for each team. Instead of handing out letter grades, I power-ranked the 32 clubs based on my favorite draft classes, from best to worst.
Originally Posted by : 1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Favorite pick: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Call it luck or call it smart process, the Chargers could have been pressured to trade up for the quarterback last year or the left tackle this year. But they stayed put both years and landed Justin Herbert and Slater. Regardless, job well done by Tom Telesco and his staff.
Day 3 pick who could surprise: Brenden Jaimes, OT, Nebraska
I loved what the Chargers did on Day 3, especially with Rumph and Niemann. But the value of Jaimes (pronounced HYME-iss) outside the top-150 picks was outstanding. Nebraska has a vast history of producing offensive lineman, but none started more consecutive games than Jaimes, who should at-worst be a rock-solid swing tackle. With Slater and Jaimes, the Chargers remade the tackle depth chart in one draft.
9. Miami Dolphins
11. Denver Broncos
Favorite pick: Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
A year ago at this time, the cornerback position was a glaring question mark on the Broncos’ roster, but general manager George Paton quickly turned a weakness into a strength. With his technique, athleticism and instincts, Surtain is ready to compete vs. NFL receivers from day one.
Day 3 pick who could surprise: Jamar Johnson, FS, Indiana
The second of two safeties drafted in the fifth round, Johnson will make business decisions as a tackler, and that is an obvious concern. But his ability in coverage could earn him snaps in the nickel as a rookie.
13. Baltimore Ravens
21. Buffalo Bills
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Favorite pick: Creed Humphrey, OG/C, Oklahoma
The Chiefs focused on remaking the offensive line depth chart this offseason and that continued on draft weekend with Humphrey. Kansas City added established interior starters in free agency like Joe Thuney and Austin Blythe, and Humphrey gives them more competition and a long-term starter.
Day 3 pick who could surprise: Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee
Smith carried first-round grades from scouts last summer, but up-and-down senior tape and his medical background caused his freefall on draft weekend. Nonetheless, he has a unique blend of size, power and movement skills and if he becomes a starter, that shouldn’t surprise anyone.
30. Las Vegas Raiders
Favorite pick: Trevon Moehrig, FS, TCU
Leading into the draft, Moehrig seemed to be an ideal fit for what the Raiders covet at a position of need. But would they have to draft him at No. 17 to get him? Instead, they traded up to land him and his rangy ball skills at pick No. 43.
Day 3 pick who could surprise: Tyree Gillespie, DS, Missouri
They also traded up for Gillespie in the fourth. With safety such a problem area, I don’t blame Las Vegas for using multiple resources to address the issue. I wish Gillespie made more plays on the football, but his play speed and toughness are what you want at the position.
1 (9)
CB Pat Surtain II
Alabama
2 (35)
RB Javonte Williams
North Carolina
3 (98)
OG Quinn Meinerz
Wisconsin-Whitewater
3 (105)
LB Baron Browning
Ohio State
5 (152)
S Caden Sterns
Texas
5 (164)
S Jamar Johnson
Indiana
6 (219)
WR Seth Williams
Auburn
7 (237)
CB Kary Vincent Jr.
LSU
7 (239)
Edge Jonathon Cooper
Ohio State
7 (253)
Edge Marquiss Spencer
Mississippi State
What a roller coaster of a weekend for Broncos fans. Thursday night started out with rumors that they were landing Aaron Rodgers and ended with them passing on Fields. They are probably the most difficult team to evaluate right now, given that we don’t know how the rest of the offseason is going to play out.
If the Broncos think they have a realistic shot of acquiring Rodgers, this draft looks great. Patrick Surtain II was one of the cleanest prospects in the draft. Yes, the Broncos are deep at corner for 2021, but Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan are scheduled to be free agents after the season. Surtain has huge upside in Vic Fangio’s scheme. On the other hand, if the Broncos don’t think they have a realistic shot at Rodgers, then passing on Fields is a huge head-scratcher. Denver would have been a great spot for him, given the talent the Broncos have at their skill positions and the fact that Fangio pretty much always produces a competent defense. Teddy Bridgewater is a fine option as a competent starter or backup, but Fields would have been an upside swing worth taking.
As for the rest of their draft, I’m generally not in favor of trading up for running backs, but Javonte Williams is so fun to watch and could be an immediate starter. Denver deserves credit for drafting for volume with 10 overall picks. With Rodgers, they would be an immediate Super Bowl contender. The rest of the roster is underrated. Without Rodgers, they’ll be left to revisit the quarterback situation next offseason and could have regrets about passing on Fields.
Grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs
2 (58)
LB Nick Bolton
Missouri
2 (63)
OC Creed Humphrey
Oklahoma
4 (144)
Edge Joshua Kaindoh
Florida State
5 (162)
TE Noah Gray
Duke
5 (181)
WR Cornell Powell
Clemson
6 (226)
OG Trey Smith
Tennessee
Their big draft move was trading for offensive tackle Orlando Brown. But Andy Reid and Brett Veach continued to reshape the offensive line with talented center Creed Humphrey in the second round. It’s fair to question whether using a pick on an off-ball linebacker in the second round made sense, given their limited resources, but Nick Bolton was a productive college player and should have an immediate role on the Chiefs’ defense. Clemson wide receiver Cornell Powell was a worthy flier in the fifth round.
The Chiefs didn’t have a first-round pick and selected just six players overall. Yet they very well might have come away with at least two immediate starters. That’s pretty good.
Grade: B
Las Vegas Raiders
1 (17)
OT Alex Leatherwood
Alabama
2 (43)
S Trevon Moehrig
TCU
3 (79)
Edge Malcolm Koonce
Buffalo
3 (80)
S/LB Divine Deablo
Virginia Tech
4 (143)
S Tyree Gillespie
Missouri
5 (167)
CB Nate Hobbs
Illinois
7 (230)
OC Jimmy Morrissey
Pittsburgh
Their decision to draft Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood at No. 17 was a surprise. There’s nothing wrong with avoiding groupthink, but this is becoming an annual tradition for the Raiders, and it hasn’t exactly worked out in recent years. It might have made sense to trade back even if they ran the risk of losing out on Leatherwood. There would have been other right tackles available.
I like Trevon Moehrig a lot, but it’s worth nothing that the Raiders had to execute one of the costlier trade-ups in the draft to get him. Hybrid safety/linebacker Divine Deablo was a fun third-round pick, but new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will have to show he knows how to deploy him. Overall, this doesn’t look like a bad haul, but the Raiders desperately need some of these secondary picks to hit.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Chargers
1 (13)
OT Rashawn Slater
Northwestern
2 (47)
CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Florida State
3 (77)
WR Josh Palmer
Tennessee
3 (97)
TE Tre' McKitty
Georgia
4 (118)
Edge Chris Rumph II
Duke
5 (159)
OT Brenden Jaimes
Nebraska
6 (185)
LB Nick Niemann
Iowa
6 (198)
RB Larry Rountree III
Missouri
7 (241)
S Mark Webb
Georgia
Anyone who’s participated in a fantasy draft knows that special feeling you get when a player you love surprisingly falls in your lap. The NFL version of that is what happened with GM Tom Telesco in the first and second rounds.
It was no secret that the Chargers needed a left tackle entering draft weekend. They were able to stay put and take Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater at 13. Then in the second round, they were able to grab playmaking corner Asante Samuel Jr., who should be a perfect fit for Brandon Staley’s zone-heavy scheme.
This is a talented roster without a lot of holes. If Justin Herbert makes a second-year leap, look out. The Chargers could become a trendy Super Bowl pick by the time September rolls around.
This is a talented roster without a lot of holes. If Justin Herbert makes a second-year leap, look out. The Chargers could become a trendy Super Bowl pick by the time September rolls around.
