New England’s draft will be remembered for how young passer Drake Maye develops.
Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo understand how crucial offensive line play is. Instead of drafting promising left tackle prospects like Kingsley Suamataia or Patrick Paul, they opted for a possession receiver with average traits in Ja’Lynn Polk. While Polk certainly belongs in the NFL, Patriot starters Kendrick Bourne and Pop Douglas can do all of the things that Polk can. Caeden Wallace, their third round selection started on the right side for Penn State and was New England’s only tackle selection of the draft.
Compared to a typical Belichick draft, Wolf/Mayo drafted no running backs and only one defensive player. One can only conclude that this “new” regime of Patriots football will center more on passing the ball and less on controlling the clock and executing on special teams and defense based on the personnel in the ’24 class. (2 WRs, 1 TE, 2 OL, 2 QB, 1 CB)
Tennessee QB Joe Milton III is an intriguing prospect, its difficult to imagine he will get the time and attention he needs to develop as a passer with Drake Maye in the building.
If Drake Maye gets the bulk of the starts he will be running for his life behind this offensive line. Jacoby Brissett will at least know how to better handle a collapsing pocket. AFC East rivals Miami and Buffalo each added two defensive linemen and the Jets still boast a difficult front seven for any offensive line to face.
Javon Baker and Jaheim Bell look like later round bright spots if Alex Van Pelt can find a way to work them into the offense. Bell is an athletic move tight end who also has experience taking snaps from the backfield from his time at South Carolina. Baker looks like a real wide receiver. He routinely outclassed Big 12 defensive backs at UCF. Against their biggest opponent, Baker went for 134 yards and 2 TDs in their game against Oklahoma. I believe Javon Baker can legitimately become Wide Receiver 1 for this offense before 2024 ends.
Ignoring defensive needs may come back to bite this team if Mayo starts Drake Maye this season. A young quarterback still learning the game may be forced into early-and-often risky throws due to an aging defense lacking depth giving up scores.
Detroit cast the mold for how to resurrect a long dead franchise by building out the offensive line first. New England will be drafting in the top seven again next year, and hopefully can draft a left tackle who is as talented and healthy as the AFC East demands of him next April.
Non-song of the post. – NVidia CEO Jensen Huang talking about resilience
Merril Hoge answered some questions about Caleb Williams and went against the grain with some of his quotes:
Hoge said Caleb Williams “doesn’t play with a lot of anticipation.” He also mentioned Williams’ “inability to be consistent on the move as a thrower” and the amount of RPO USC runs with Williams in at QB and how that wont translate to the NFL: “a ton of RPO, nobody’s going to RPO themselves to the Super Bowl.”
No one analyst is a crystal ball when predicting which prospects will be great in the NFL. Anyone who follows the draft and watches “tape” (youtube clips) knows how impossible that is. But Hoge might be the next best thing. Merril Hoge was low on Johnny Manziel as a prospect, said he liked CJ Stroud better than Bryce Young, wasn’t impressed with Matt Leinart or Vince Young as passers, and is now saying he thinks Caleb Williams isn’t special and that Chicago should retain Justin Fields instead of drafting Caleb Williams. While the jury is out on Caleb, that’s a pretty impressive resume overall.
Not many serious draft analysts have had much criticism for Caleb Williams. Former Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman stated on his podcast that he ranks Caleb as a college prospect ahead of greats like Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert. Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah have Caleb Williams as their number one overall prospect in their respective rankings. Caleb is an exciting player to watch and looks laser sharp when he’s throwing the ball into tight windows. Merril admitted that he’s watched six total games of Caleb Williams and as of his interview hadn’t watched tape of the other quarterbacks in the draft (Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, etc). Still his track record is hard to ignore and underscores how much groupthink prevails in the NFL Draft journosphere. I know I’m guilty of it as much as anyone.
With Spencer Rattler winning Senior Bowl MVP after a strong showing and J.J. McCarthy game managing his way to a Michigan championship, there’s plenty of intriguing quarterback talent in this draft class for teams to look at. I’m going to go watch more Caleb Williams “tape” to see if I can make up my mind on whether he’s the next “Next Patrick Mahomes” just like Bryce Young was or if he’s actually good.
After failing to secure substantial upgrades at key offensive positions, New England can expect to pick early in the 2024 draft. Buffalo largely keeps their first place roster intact, Miami still boasts Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill on offense and adds Jalen Ramsey in the secondary, and the Jets bring in Aaron Rodgers and draft two starters in the first two rounds with Will McDonald IV and Joe Tippmann.
The Patriots major offseason moves include signing offensive tackle Riley Reiff, wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, and tight end Mike Gesicki. Reiff is listed at the starting right tackle on espn.com’s depth chart. Heavily penalized and inconsistent Trent Brown looks to be the starting left tackle for the 2023 season. Gesicki had his moments with Miami, but is unlikely to be a key contributor with an undersized QB like Mac Jones who may struggle to see the middle of the field.
While Bill Belichick deserves some credit for adding value players throughout his draft haul, at no point did he add even a late round offensive tackle to compete with Trent Brown. Even right tackle is still a question as Reiff hasn’t been a high level blocker in some time. Players like Dalton Wagner and Richard Gouraige, starting SEC left tackles went undrafted and signed with rival AFC teams while New England finished off their draft with two defensive backs after making two of their FIRST three picks defensive backs.
Veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne commented about the pass protection for Mac Jones in early December after a frustrating loss to a vulnerable Bills team that now runs the division ever since Tom Brady left New England.
“We’ve got to get the ball downfield. Mac needs more time. He’s obviously running around. It’s hard to get the ball downfield when you can’t really have time to throw,” Bourne said. “No knock to the line, it’s just what we need to work on. The receivers can’t do nothing if the ball can’t get downfield, if we can’t throw it past five yards, it’s going to be a long game.”
In what may be Bill Belichick’s final season with the team, the Patriots formula of “Run the ball, play defense” may not be enough to compete in what is shaping up to be the toughest AFC East in NFL history.
I have Chicago trading down twice, once with Houston and again with Carolina. Chicago can draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba an old friend to their quarterback if they are serious about giving Justin Fields a chance at being a starting quarterback. The future first round picks netted in their trade down moves can be used to move up in the draft if Fields doesn’t work out and they want Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in 2024.
Houston moves up and acquires Nick Caserio’s latest 5-star quarterback (the only in this draft class) in Bryce Young.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has been hyping Anthony Richardson and I believe he will go early in the draft. Carolina looks like they could be a real football team with a good quarterback, and Richardson might actually play better in the NFL than in Florida with okay pass protection.
Arizona taking Jalen Carter at three is pretty standard stuff, unless they get a trade down offer they like. I believe the Colts will like Levis because Colts head coach Shane Steichen should be able to unlock a more raw prospect like Levis. Stroud had a terrific game against Georgia, but may struggle on a team without strong receiver play, like Indianapolis.
Seattle goes with the big End in Tyree Wilson, they drafted two first rounders out of Texas Tech in the past 7-8 years in Jordyn Brooks and LJ Collier. Jon Schneider is a genius but clearly has his own big board and doesn’t care about perceived value when making draft selections. Seattle has favored the bigger defensive ends so they may genuinely value Tyree Wilson more than draft darling Will Anderson.
Detroit gets a dream pick with Will Anderson, they can take CJ Stroud here if Brad Holmes is high on Stroud.
Obviously the Raiders moved on from Derek Carr and will be watching tape on all the major quarterbacks in this draft class. Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler went on record saying: “it doesn’t mean we’re going to have an immediate answer this year. ” about finding a new quarterback. I believe they would draft one of the “big 4” quarterbacks if one is available at seven. Stroud would have good weapons in Las Vegas with Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow and could reasonably be expected to succeed if Vegas can improve the pass protection in 2023.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has been challenging to figure out as a drafting general manager. His first two seasons, he’s taken two tall, fast receiving weapons in Kyle Pitts and Drake London. The Falcons badly need pass rush and more competition at quarterback, but they have not made those positions a priority in the past, so I wouldn’t expect them to now. Quentin Johnston is an okay enough value selection at eight and fits Fontenot’s pattern of large fast men in the receiving group.
Philadelphia likes to target the trenches early in the draft but are very close to a superbowl and bringing in a top corner to possibly replace James Bradberry could a major priority. Gonzalez has the size to maybe cover Travis Kelce or another similar move tight end.
Tennessee needs a left tackle after cutting Taylor Lewan and can have their pick. Johnson feels the safest and attended the same school as head coach Mike Vrabel (Ohio State). Ran Carthon is a new general manager and may shake things up, but this selection is the easiest, most logical pick for them in this mock draft.
Houston drafts Jordan Addison to add a real receiving threat for Bryce Young. They have so many needs, this pick could be almost any position and it wouldn’t be wrong for them.
The Jets add a versatile lineman in Peter Skoronski. Offensive tackle continues to be a problem for the Jets.
The Patriots will inevitably trade down and draft some linebacker/safety from Northwestern Tech-State that no one has heard of because that’s just what they do. In Fantasy mock draft world, the Patriots draft a future left tackle in Broderick Jones after really struggling at both tackle positions last year. They badly need wide receivers and safety help. And corner help. And a new center.
The Packers get to draft another defensive back in the first round as Adrian Amos is not under contract and Branch is widely regarded as the draft’s premier safety/nickel.
I went a little kooky here, but Washington may choose to let Daron Payne walk and sign Bryan Bresee to replace him. Payne had a great contract year, but an experienced GM like Martin Mayhew knows you can’t pay everyone.
The Steelers typically value front seven players early in the draft. There are no blue chip left tackles available, unless you’re high on Jaelyn Duncan. They have impact defenders Cam Sutton and Terrell Edmunds on expiring contracts. Skinner is a huge safety who could step in right away and cover the growing trend of “big slots” and eventually move into a starting safety role. When the Steelers drafted Terrell Edmunds he was considered a reach, but Tomlin and the Steelers brass seem to value the bigger defensive backs enough to draft them high.
Detroit needs competition all over that defense and would love Joey Porter Jr.
Tampa Bay has cap problems and needs a quarterback. If they don’t trade up I believe they dive back into adding to the secondary. They likely cannot resign starter Jamel Dean, as they are paying $35 million to Tom Brady, among other financial obligations. Witherspoon is a technician and Buccaneers GM Jason Licht has invested early and often in the Tampa secondary.
The Seahawks don’t typically draft corners early and may not like the selection of defensive tackles at this point in the draft. John Michael Schmitz is a terrific center and could start for Seattle for a decade plus. This would be on the less zany picks of Jon Schneider’s first round picks. Their interior offensive line is a wreck and do not have 2022 starting center Austin Blythe under contract for 2023.
The Chargers have cap problems that will lead them to release Keenan Allen in my opinion. Allen has been used primarily in the slot in LA, where Utah TE Dalton Kincaid could line up based on his usage at Utah. Daniel Jeremiah says most teams have Kincaid as TE1 in the draft. The Chargers have had success with Utah players in the past.
Baltimore favors value, and value on defense in the draft. They have three 35+ year olds in the front seven in Calais Campbell, JPP, and Justin Houston. Drafting Myles Murphy in a strong locker room of defenders might be just what he needs to unlock his potential. Myles Murphy has been compared to Travon Walker (first pick overall of 2022 draft) from a physical height, weight, speed perspective.
Minnesota needs corner help as always. Starter Patrick Peterson may be on the move, and they are skinny outside of Peterson at corner. Smith is a fundamentally sound corner, he doesn’t have prototypical, Richard Sherman size at 6’0″, but held up against a rough SEC schedule.
Jacksonville looks uneasy at every offensive line position except left tackle. Jaguars GM Trent Baalke favors overly large defensive linemen from Power five programs but may like Mauch’s versatility if they retain Jawaan Taylor and need help inside or let Taylor walk and want a right tackle.
The Giants made the playoffs with Daniel Jones and scrapwork help at wide receiver. Zay Flowers is a legit wide receiver outside or in the slot. This is a marriage of needs versus value at pick 25. The Giants have a strong relationship with Boston College since former coach Tom Coughlin had coached at BC as well.
I believe Dallas will look very closely at Bijan Robinson here, but Dallas has long made offensive line a major priority in the draft. I believe Dallas will cut Tyron Smith, have Tyler Smith start at left tackle in 2023, and could value O’Cyrus Torrence to replace him at left guard.
Buffalo has had one of the NFL’s top defenses for two or three years, and their top safety play has been a big part of that. Jordan Poyer is not under contract and Micah Hyde is over 30 and played only two games last year due to injury. Sydney Brown is an excellent coverage safety and would start on the Buffalo defense.
Cincinnati doesn’t seem to need good offensive line play to win playoff games. I think Cody Mauch or O’Cyrus Torrence would make sense here if available. I picked Emmanuel Forbes for them so Bengals fans can talk about something other than Eli Apple next offseason. Forbes gave up three touchdowns to pair with six interceptions. PFF claims he was targeted only one time (one catch for six yards) by Bryce Young in their game against Alabama.
New Orleans typically favors offensive linemen and defense in the first round. Like Tampa Bay they have massive cap problems and are very thin at quarterback. Jameis Winston is their only contracted quarterback. Mazi Smith would make sense here, I have Lukas Van Ness just as a value selection. The Saints need help at corner and could go Deonte Banks or Kelee Ringo as well.
Philadelphia takes Luke Wypler in the annual “Will Jason Kelce retire” contest. PFF loves Wypler and correctly pointed out Centers don’t often declare his early. Some have speculated Philadelphia could take Bijan Robinson because of their perceived superbowl window.
The Chiefs may not keep Orlando Brown Jr. and have shown that offensive line is a priority for them. Harrison is experienced with pass heavy offenses coming from Oklahoma and may be Kansas City’s best bet at 30. They could also explore edge rusher and wide receiver here. If Travis Kelce retires, the Chiefs could target tight end as well.
If you don’t like my picks, it’s because I hate you and your favorite team.
Notable players not in this mock: Bijan Robinson, Texas RB – Jeremiah and others claim Robinson is a top five player overall in this draft class. Where he goes is up in the air.
Josh Downs, UNC WR – Downs is a smaller slot receiver who may drop because he lacks the size and versatility of his peers
Kelee Ringo, UGA CB – Ringo looks like a surefire starter to me. His detractors claim he isn’t consistent enough to be a high pick.
Trenton Simpson. Clemson LB – Linebackers are becoming the fullback of the defense. Simpson doesn’t seem to have the coverage chops to be an exciting name in the draft circles.
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State TE – Musgrave looks like a late first round pick to me. I just couldn’t find a place for him in this mock draft.
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame TE – Mayer might be a top 15 pick. Teams 13-16 could justifiably draft him there. A lot of teams that like tight ends already have one, and don’t run 12 formation enough to justify drafting another tight end this early.
Today’s song of the post is “Alchemy” by Above and Beyond
Patriots fans are at the point in the season where we are hoping for Miami to lose so we can make the playoffs, which means it’s time for a 2023 mock draft.
Round One: Broderick Jones, UGA OT – Jones is not as dominant a run blocker as some other prospects in this class, but has allowed zero sacks all season. The Patriots have had less reliable offensive line play than in prior seasons, Jones would make everything easier for this struggling passing offense. The Patriots have had success with former Georgia standouts David Andrews and Isaiah Wynn. Paris Johnson Jr. and Peter Skoronski would be great but will likely be gone before the Patriots draft.
Round Two: Mike Morris, Michigan DE – Morris has the size (6’6″, 292) to play inside or outside, something the Patriots have liked in their defenders. Morris has seven sacks for Michigan in 2022. Coach Belichick has favored Michigan defenders in the past. I would love Andre Carter II here but I don’t believe he will be available.
Round Three: JL Skinner, Boise State S – Skinner is a mammoth safety (6’4″, 220), with 4 interceptions in 2022. Belichick has shown with Kyle Dugger how much he likes big safety/linebacker hybrids.
Round Four: Rashee Rice, SMU WR – Rice has real speed and tons of experience playing on the outside. Rice struggled with drops in 2022 with 9 after having only one in 2021.
Round Four: Zach Charbonnet, UCLA RB – Charbonnet has demonstrated he is a capable receiving back and has a stocky build at 220 lbs. The Patriots do not need running backs at all, but they continue to draft running backs anyway.
Round Six: Steven Gilmore, Marshall CB – Gilmore has allowed 42 percent of passes thrown his way to be complete and has allowed one touchdown and three interceptions on the season. Gilmore has a skinny build at 6′ and 170 lbs, which may cause him to drop in the draft. His older brother Stephon was a star corner for the Patriots in his prime.
Round Six: Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina DT – Clark has great size (6’4″, 340 lbs) and has been a stalwart run defender for Coastal this season.
The Patriots defense has continued to be stellar, even without early draft picks or Jalen Ramsey-caliber trades. The offense and the passing game hasn’t been this anemic since the Clinton administration. Part of the blame goes to unsteady offensive line play, part of the blame goes to the uncreative, conservative play-calling of Matt Patricia(?), and a chunk of the blame has to go the the man under center. We saw in 2021 with the signing of Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith that simply spending a lot of money on offensive skill players isn’t enough fix a damaged offense. It would appear that Bill Belichick needs to find a bona fide, suitable offensive play caller and get the offensive line running better, whether that’s through the draft or free agency. Bourne, Agholor, and Smith should all contribute more meaningfully if the blocking improves and the play calling improves.
Jacksonville – Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan DE – Hutchinson is playing like the best player in the draft. He draws an extra blocker in the pass rush and is great against the run. The Jaguars have a ton of holes. They were bottom five in sacks in 2021. Everyone and their grandmother has Evan Neal as the pick here. I think Jacksonville leaves the best player on the board by doing that.
Detroit – Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon DE – Teammates with 2020 Lions first round pick Penei Sewell, Thibodeaux has devastating pass rush moves. If he has effort issues in run defense, Dan Campbell and company can coach said issues “up.”
Houston – Evan Neal, Alabama OT – Drafting Neal can protect Davis Mills and/or set up the roster to better support their quarterback of the future. Laremy Tunsil played five of a possible seventeen games last season and has a max of two seasons left on his contract. Lovie Smith will surely want Kyle Hamilton as well.
Jets – Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame S – Hamilton’s got absurd range and can move around the field, even as a pass rusher if needs be. He has free safety skills and strong safety size. Not a lot to think about with this pick.
Giants – Charles Cross, Miss. State OL – Cross allowed zero sacks and zero pressures against Alabama. He’s not the same run blocker as Ikem Ekwonu, but is above average in run blocking and pass pro. Brian Daboll will want an offense that can run and pass well.
Carolina – Ikem Ekwonu, NC State OL – The Panthers badly need offensive line help and “Icky” is regarded by some as the top dog in the whole draft. Carolina will be under some pressure to draft a quarterback here. No quarterback will last long behind the current Panthers offensive line.
Giants (From Chicago) – Ahmad Gardner, CincinnatiCB – I expect Gardner will be discussed as one of the best corners in recent memory after a few seasons. Even against Alabama’s vaunted receivers he allowed 14 whole yards. He’s a scheme fit for what Don Martindale’s defense.
Atlanta – Drake London, USC WR – Let’s just say (Falcons General Manager) Terry Fontenot has a thing for tall guys. There is a power vacuum in the NFC South with Tom Brady retiring, London could play a big part in Atlanta getting back into the playoffs. Ryan will begging for an offensive weapon with Pitts drawing double coverage now. The Falcons still badly need pass rush, but the quality here is a little riskier than at the top.
Denver – Derek Stingley Jr., LSU CB – Denver will surely be in the market for a veteran quarterback (Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson). New general managers rarely get two swings at the quarterback position. George Paton is a risk averse guy, something we saw last season when he drafted Patrick Surtain II over Justin Fields, I don’t believe he will want any of these quarterbacks for that reason. New Broncos DC Ejiro Evero comes from LA where they had Jalen Ramsey remove a top receiver from the offense’s game plan. Stingley (if healthy) can have that same impact for Denver.
Jets (From Seattle) – Devin Lloyd, Utah LB – The Jets have bigger needs, but Lloyd is a prototype linebacker who reminds me of Micah Parsons. Lloyd doesn’t have quite the size and may not be as great a pass rusher as Parsons, but his coverage skills and run defense should more than justify this pick. The Jets will be looking to add reinforcements at offensive line with Mekhi Becton looking more like a question mark and the interior struggling as well.
Pittsburgh (Trade with Washington) – Malik Willis, Liberty QB – Pittsburgh can move up with probably only giving up one additional first round pick and get their guy. Mike Tomlin has liked Willis a lot. Unless Washington needs to get their quarterback here, they can move back nine spots and get an extra pick in 2023.
Minnesota – Treylon Burks, Arkansas WR – Adam Thielen is getting older and the Vikings could use help in the receiver department. Kevin O’Connell had plenty of star wide receivers in LA for the quarterback to throw to. New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will value passing production and the skill Burks brings. Adofo-Mensah comes from the Browns analytics friendly front office and should value wide receivers highly.
Cleveland – Garrett Wilson, Ohio State WR – The Browns definitely need help at wide receiver after departing with Odell Beckham. About 40 percent of Wilson’s yards were YAC yards, respectable for a receiver with as much attention on him as Wilson.
Baltimore – Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa OL – Baltimore is one of the steadiest teams in the NFL. They run the ball more than anybody. While Ravens GM Eric DeCosta isn’t known for drafting small school players early, it would make sense to make an exception for Trevor Penning. Penning excels in run blocking and allowed a mere two pressures against Iowa State.
Philadelphia (From Miami) – Zion Johnson, Boston College OL – Zion Johnson is a man’s man. He played well at the senior bowl and is a great run blocker. He took snaps at center which shows versatility that would appeal to the Eagles situation without Brandon Brooks and possibly without Jason Kelce.
Philadelphia (From Indianapolis) – George Karlaftis, Purdue DE – Karlaftis is still somewhat new to Football and has some tackling issues to work out. This man is a behemoth and could possibly even move inside if needed. Karlaftis had seven hurries against Iowa, he should push Derek Barnett to maybe start day one.
Chargers – Trent McDuffie, Washington CB – I would have the chargers take a receiver or even a tight end, but they reload at defensive back early and often. McDuffie is a great value pick here. There will be run-stuffing defensive tackles throughout the draft for LA.
Saints – Matt Corral, Ole Miss QB – Corral tightened up the turnovers in 2021 and showed off his quick release. Plus the Saints don’t mind having a short quarterback. Mickey Loomis could look to draft center Tyler Linderbaum if he’s not thrilled with any of the quarterbacks in this class.
Philadelphia – Martin Emerson, Miss. State CB – Veteran SEC corner with terrific size. While Emerson looked flawed against Alabama, he’s got a higher ceiling than many of his peers and gave up three touchdowns on the season.
Washington (Trade with Pittsburgh) – Jameson Williams, Alabama WR – Jameson Williams is a great asset for Scott Turner’s offense. He bullied corners all season long, if his medical checks out he’d fit well in this offense.
New England – Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson CB – Booth is a strong corner and New England relies on excellent coverage for their defense to operate. Booth was excellent in man coverage in 2021.
Las Vegas – Devonte Wyatt, UGA DT – Wyatt is a strong all around defensive tackle. He’ll improve the Raiders interior pass rush and shoddy run defense.
Arizona – Jermaine Johnson, FSU DE – Chandler Jones looks like he is out the door in Arizona. Johnson is a great player with double digit sacks at Florida State in ’21. He played well at the Senior Bowl.
Dallas – Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma DT – Winfrey came to life in the Senior Bowl. The Cowboys defense doesn’t have a strong interior presence. Winfrey gives them a real inside pass rush option.
Buffalo – David Ojabo, Michigan DE – Buffalo has Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison on free agency. Ojabo would be a huge asset to their DL rotation, if not a starter.
Tennessee – Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina OLB – Tennessee runs a 3-4 so Enagbare would a be a fit. Enagbare had a great senior bowl performance and would give Tennessee the option to move on from either Bud Dupree or Harold Landry.
Tampa Bay – Jalen Pitre, Baylor DB – Tampa has some big decisions to make at QB and wide receiver. They were thin at corner last season. Unless they trade this selection for a big name QB, Pitre would make an aggressive slot corner where they have struggled in 2021.
Green Bay – Roger McCreary, Auburn CB – The Packers like to draft corners early. If Rodgers has a voice in this years’ draft, they could maybe take Trey McBride, as resigning Robert Tonyan will be tough if they want to keep Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.
Miami (From San Francisco) – Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa C – Mike McDaniel’s offense starts on the ground. Linderbaum is not a sexy pick, but he is great in pass protection and run blocks well.
Kansas City – Jordan Davis, Georgia DT – Andy Reid is a line of scrimmage guy, and the Chiefs gave up the second most yards per carry last season. There’s a lot of respect for Davis and most media types don’t think Jordan Davis lasts this long in the draft. Davis may never get double digit sacks but his pass rush skills can only go up. Davis is an elite run defender.
Cincinnati – Kenyon Green, Texas A&M OL – Green is extremely versatile and great as a run blocker. He can start at right tackle if Reiff gets injured again in 2022. Mike Brown has shown a preference for big school prospects, I believe he will want Green or Darian Kinnard over Bernhard Raimann or Max Mitchell. Cincinnati may trade down here if another team wants to get in front of Detroit for a quarterback.
Detroit (From Rams) – Travis Jones, Uconn DT – Jones is an excellent run defender with plus pass rush skills. Detroit looks like they are prioritizing line of scrimmage talent early, Jones would be an excellent value here. Jones has earned praise for his overall fitness and looks to be an upgrade over the current group for Detroit at defensive tackle.
George Paton and the Denver Broncos have one of the most talented rosters in Football. Broncos QB Drew Lock has been most specifically NOT the dude since being drafted. Whether he’s not a fit for Pat Shurmur’s quick pass offense or he’s just not starter material, Denver remains in the market for a franchise quarterback. Denver traded for journeyman Teddy Bridgewater who may be more of a fit for Denver’s offense, but hasn’t flashed big game potential since his rookie season. Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will be familar with Teddy from their time in Minnesota (2016-’17), though Teddy was injured for nearly that entire time Shurmur was with the Vikings.
Denver stayed at pick nine and found Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Alabama’s Mac Jones available, two of the draft’s biggest names at quarterback. They chose to draft Patrick Surtain II, and roll with Lock and Bridgewater. Denver will return stud wide receiver Courtland Sutton who missed 15 games last year, who may elevate the offense even with Lock or Bridgewater.
Did Denver have plans to lure Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay? Are Paton and Elway out of their ***damned minds? If the plan was to draft a passer in 2022, they should have traded down, aggressively so, to get a first rounder next season. Surtain’s a fine value pick, but Denver will just win 6 games next season if they don’t find a way to elevate the passing offense. Trading for Rodgers or Deshaun Watson would be the M. Night Shyamalan twist ending that would keep Elway on staff for another decade, but there is little occurring right now to suggest such a trade will take place. Elway has been heavily criticized on whiffing on QBs in the past like Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch, so while I can appreciate the hesitation to take anyone but a “sure thing” at QB, Elway may not have tons of time left before Mr. Bowlen relieves him of his duties.
It’s still unclear what caused Fields to drop as far as he did. His throwing motion? A couple of bad interviews? The decision to pass on Fields and Jones is even more curious. Denver didn’t even draft a late/mid round quarterback, implying they are confident about their QB room.
The only ending to the story that makes Paton/Elway look smart is getting Aaron Rodgers.
The Aaron Rodgers story feels like a non story that’s dressed up by the Pat McAfees of the world (God bless you Pat McAfee) to fill the hours between the draft and the regular season. Some months ago, Russell Wilson seemed destined to part ways with Seattle after bashing his offensive line and repeatedly saying how many times he’d been sacked as a Seahawk. But apparently that’s all in the past and Wilson and Pete Carroll have kissed and made up. Rodgers reportedly compared Brian Gutekunst to Jerry Krause of the Bulls MJ era. This seems specific enough to be believable, but most people don’t really love their boss. I’ve said much worse than that about my bosses in my past jobs. I appreciate that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst stuck to his guns instead of caving to Rodger’s supposed demands to draft a wide receiver.
*Aaron Rodgers demands trade if Green Bay doesn’t start taking his advice, draft receivers in first round*
Packers Executive: “What do you think Boss? Elijah Moore is available, and he’d be great on this offense!”
Brian Gutekunst: “We’re drafting Eric Stokes.”
Packers Executive: “But what abo-“
Gutekunst: *Throws beer bottle across the room* “WE’RE DRAFTING STOKES!”
Rodgers has since sat out of minicamp, so him sitting out for the season or going to Denver is slightly more likely now. DeShaun Watson has reportedly also expressed interest in being traded to Denver, but he has to prove he can avoid prison first. If Watson wants to get traded anywhere, it should be the Las Vegas Raiders, where prostitution is legal.
In Conclusion:
Drew Lock will probably “put it all together” and have a career year, because that’s what happened with Buffalo’s Swell Guy Josh Allen, and I thought Allen sucked. Jerry Jeudy didn’t quite play up to the level of some of his peers, dropping more passes than expected, and Lock will be getting his best receiver, Courtland Sutton back in ’21. They also drafted Quinn “The Belly” Meinerz (who had a great senior bowl in practice) to compete for their starting center position, where Lloyd Cushenberry has struggled.
Rodgers will probably return to practice with Green Bay at some point, he probably just wants to stay home and get high because he’s a 37 year old millionaire who feels he’s earned it. He’s not publicly demanded a trade like Watson has.
DeShaun Watson will inevitably settle out of court with all of his plaintiffs, the criminal charges will get dropped, and he will get traded to the Eagles or some QB desperate team and as long as he keeps being a star QB, eventually the fans will forget about the lawsuits. Like we did with Tyreek Hill, Ray Lewis, Richie Incognito, etc.
That’s Football.
Song of the Post is Flow State (Spoken word with Elena Brower) – Above and Beyond
New Jets head coach Robert Saleh has BEAUTIFUL eyelashes
With former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and former 49ers passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur, the Jets are the 49ers East. They can be expected to run the same offense and defense that San Francisco has been running.
BYU’s loss to Coastal Carolina showed Zach Wilson’s toughness against an aggressive pass rush. This is an environment New York will be facing often in 2021, with well coached AFC East pass rushers and a bottom half pass protecting unit. Against Coastal Carolina, Wilson had less time to find receivers operated like (in my opinion) like Steve McNair quickly finding open receivers and keeping his team in the game.
Saleh’s mastery in getting the most out of an average defense and the same offensive scheme that helped Aaron Rodgers have an MVP season in 2020 sets up New York with plenty of optimism for the future. Mobile QBs have given Saleh’s defenses fits in the past. Newcomer Jarrad Davis should be great as a spy in key matchups against Buffalo’s Josh Allen or New England’s Cam Newton. The Jets already have a great run defense with Quinnen Williams and Folorunso Fatukasi, Saleh’s challenge will be finding high level starters in the secondary.
Jimmy Garoppolo was serviceable, sometimes GREAT (when healthy) in this scheme. BYU passer Zach Wilson is expected to have stronger overall fundamentals and great Manziel-esque playmaking ability that Jimmy hasn’t displayed at a high level recently. The ceiling for the Jets offense is already much higher with the marriage of Zach Wilson’s “toolbox” and the run heavy, play action centric nature of LaFleur’s playcalling.
The Jets’ offensive line is less complete than the 49ers, with starters with Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera Tucker and question marks every where else. As of 6/8/2021, the Jets had met with Morgan Moses, but no agreement between the two parties had been reached. Moses has been a top run blocker in Washington and a solid pass protector, a huge get for NY if they signed him. While Douglas has taken steps to improve this group, the line looks like it’s a season or two away from being an above average group. Wilson was at his best at BYU with great pass protection, and his development will likely hinge on his line’s ability to protect him.
Corey Davis, Denzel Mims, and now Elijah Moore give the Jets an actually very promising, young receiving group (Jamison Crowder is currently holding out).
UDFA tight end Kenny Yeboah (teammates with early pick Elijah Moore) blew up on Alabama’s defense for 181 yards and two scores. Yeboah has experience blocking but needs to grow in this area to make the roster where running will be so crucial.
The Jets corners specifically are pretty bad. They might get gashed this season if the cornerback talent overall does not improve. They spent five late (5th and 6th) round picks on safeties and cornerbacks. This is a team that should sign Richard Sherman.
The Jets front seven (or six in nickel) looks competitive after signing Carl Lawson and returning Quinnen Williams. This would be C.J. Mosley’s first fully healthy season since 2018 if he stays healthy this year.
The Jets don’t look like a 12-5 team right now, but the pieces are being assembled for future seasons. Wilson doesn’t need to be perfect right away for this team to take a big leap from 2-14, he just needs to protect the ball and stay healthy. The Jets can win eight or nine game in 2021. Their schedule in 2020 was tough as nails, and they have Houston, Jacksonville, and Cincinnati this season. Miami, who 2-0’d New York last season (and stomped on San Francisco 43-17) did so with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Chan Gailey at OC. Both of whom are no longer with the team. I feel with the Jets already strong run defense and play calling switching from A C T U A L Gregg Williams to Robert Saleh, New York will be able to handle Tua’s Dolphins and many other mid-level teams as Coach Saleh and young Zach Wilson progress in their respective roles.
I really wanted to write more, my posts are always really short. I don’t have more words without covering whole, other topics or just adding fluff. I have too much fluff as it is. Don’t skip on the song, Arkasia’s a good one.
It’s been a wild 12 months in NFL Land. Many stories have flown under the radar because of all of Covid, Deshaun Watson, Tompa Bay, etc. I want to touch on some of the more recent developments that I believe will become real storylines once the 2021 season starts.
Philadelphia Eagles signed Wake Forest passer Jamie Newman as an undrafted free agent. Newman was an early draft favorite entering the 2020 college football season before curiously opting out of the 2020 season after transferring to Georgia. The Eagles will want to see what they have in Jalen Hurts in ’21 season, but would be foolish not to give Newman some snaps in the preseason to see what he looks in some kind of competitive environment. Newman earned praise for his huge arm and mobility at Wake Forest.
Vikings draft Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond in 3rd round, may supplant veteran starter Kirk Cousins if Cousins experiences another rough stretch. The Vikings owe Kirk a substantial amount of money so cutting or trading him seems out of the question for two more season, but that’s what I thought about Carson Wentz and Philadelphia. The Vikings attempted to trade up, possibly for Justin Fields.
Carolina Panthers signed Northwestern standout linebacker Paddy Fisher. Fisher’s best performances came in his earlier years (2017, 2018). Fisher has ideal size (6’4″, 240) and was a 4 year starter at Northwestern. The undrafted free agent joins a young, aggressive panthers defense.
Balitimore signed undrafted free agent Kenji Bahar, 5 year quarterback out of FCS Monmouth University. Briefly watching some of his plays, Bahar has a big arm and can send the ball far with seemingly little effort. Bahar was clearly underrecruited at Monmouth. Ravens do a great job of sniffing out underrated talent every year. It’s not likely Bahar will see the field barring a Lamar Jackson injury, he may be worth a watch if he gets on the field in preseason. Bahar didn’t have the most complex defenses in the FCS, but showed solid fundamentals and a strong arm and if he can develop anywhere, would develop in Baltimore. Bahar has athleticism, but did most of his damage through the air.
Lovie Smith has returned to the NFL, as the defensive coordinator for the Texans. Lovie went 81-63 as the Bears head coach, including a super bowl berth with literal Human GarbageRex Grossman. The Bears haven’t had a good coach since. Unless you want to include Matt “8-8” Nagy. If nothing else, Smith will maximize the remaining talent on the stripped Texans defense.
Unless something changes, New Orleans is plowing ahead with Jameis Winston as their presumptive starter for 2021. I believed Jameis would stop in town for New Orleans on his way to a new destination like Chicago or Jacksonville. The Saints were comfortable drafting other positions early in the draft and moving forward with Jameis and Hill. With Brees’ retirement, Winston is the next man up. New Orleans drafted Notre Dame Senior Ian Book in the fourth round, who will have an opportunity to show off his moves to Sean Payton and the Saints brass. Book had a solid if unspectacular career in South Bend, maybe New Orleans’ Jarrett Stidham. This will be the first time since 2005 that the Saints will open the regular season without Drew Brees as their starting QB.
The Eagles offensive line, once among the most dominant in the league has been an injured mess for the past two seasons. Philadelphia has had multiple holes in their roster, choosing to draft DeVonta Smith over RaShawn Slater in round one. Overall they drafted one interior offensive lineman (Landon Dickerson, Alabama C) and signed two UDFAs, Harry Crider (Indiana C), and Kayode Awosika (Buffalo OT) to compete for a role if they are injury plagued yet again. New head coach Nick Sirianni had an elite group of blockers as the offensive coordinator at Indianapolis and will likely need the same in Philadelphia to execute any kind of game plan.
Notable free agents include: OT Morgan Moses, CB Richard Sherman, FS Earl Thomas, DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, OT Mitchell Schwartz, C Austin Reiter, OLB Justin Houston.
Adam Gase is somehow not an NFL head coach, nor an Alabama offensive coordinatorSTOLEN IMAGE ALERT: Liberty QB Malik Willis has caught the eye of some high level talent evaluators, including Jordan Reid who described Willis as having “arm arrogance.” Under Willis, Liberty went 10-1, their only loss a 14-15 game against NC State.Aaron Donald looks like he is part of an advanced humanoid species that will kill and eat the current batch of genetically fat, lazy and generally inferior human beings.Iowa State’s Matt Campbell reportedly turned down a gigantasaurus contract to be the Detroit Lions head coach.Gardner Minshew has a nice headband, but no one cares. 😦
I was expecting that quarterbacks with more college pass attempts would be better overall QBs, but that doesn’t seem to be the case at least looking at these numbers here. The good/bad QBs are all over the map. Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo are at the higher end of the list but Carson Wentz and Tom Brady are at the lower end of the list. The data’s certainly not complete, I didn’t include many backup or third strings QBs.I was expecting that quarterbacks with more college pass attempts would be better overall QBs, but that doesn’t seem to be the case at least looking at these numbers here. The good/bad QBs are all over the map. Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo are at the higher end of the list but Carson Wentz and Tom Brady are at the lower end of the list. The data’s certainly not complete, I didn’t include many backup or third string QBs.
It does concern me a little bit that Trey Lance has the lowest passes of everyone on the list. I feel the NFL needs to take this as a caution that he needs to go the Buccaneers or Falcons. Where he can sit for two seasons and get a real NFL education. Patrick Mahomes threw almost five times as many passes as Lance did in College and he sat for a year (Minus one late season start). Rodgers threw twice as many passes as Lance and sat for three years. Both of these men are very smart, hard working people, and had a ton more experience than Lance did. Throwing him onto ‘Bad Team X’ like New York or Detroit is setting even the smart, most resilient quarterback up for failure.It does concern me a little bit that Trey Lance has the lowest passes of everyone on the list. I feel the NFL needs to take this as a caution that he needs to go the Buccaneers or Falcons. Where he can sit for two seasons and get a real NFL education. Patrick Mahomes threw almost five times as many passes as Lance did in College and he sat for a year (Minus one late season start). Rodgers threw twice as many passes as Lance and sat for three years. Both of these men are very smart, hard working people, and had a ton more experience than Lance did. Throwing him onto ‘Bad Team X’ like New York or Detroit is setting even the smart, most resilient quarterback up for failure.
I find it interesting that although I would label Alex Smith’s a career a success mostly on number of starts, a quarterback with his performance early on would not likely be given a chance for as long as he was. Dwayne Haskins was cut less than two seasons into his NFL career. Josh Rosen was traded after only one season. NFL franchises are more like day traders and less like ‘buy and hold’ investors in that way it feels to me, at least with quarterbacks. This may explain the aggressive nature in which players fight for fully guaranteed money and other benefits in their contract.
Washington Football Team Tight End Logan Thomas ranks in the top half on this list for passes thrown in college, suggesting Washington should probably move him to Quarterback as it is unlikely he’s very bad compared to other NFL backups with that experience. Eagles tight end Tyree Jackson seems to be a similar story. His completion percentage at Buffalo was less than ideal, but I felt he showed enough that he warrants at minimum a practice squad spot or a 3rd string spot on a proper NFL team assuming he gets reasonable coaching and receiver talent. Being tall and fast may have given them a roster spot when shorter quarterbacks may have been free agents looking for work, of course it could have also pigeonholed them from being granted a long enough leash to fulfill their potential, a leash often longer for early draft picks or free agent trades like Sam Darnold or Jimmy Garoppolo. I have no answers their, only questions.
College Career pass attempts for notable NFL QBs:
Kyler Murray – 519
Mitchell Trubisky – 572
Alex Smith – 587
Dwayne Haskins – 590
Carson Wentz – 612
Cam Newton – 628* (336 from JUCO)
Tom Brady – 638
Ryan Fitzpatrick – 641
Josh Allen – 649
Aaron Rodgers – 665
Tua Tagovailoa – 684
Julian Edelman – 706
Ryan Tannehill – 774
Jacoby Brissett – 839
Sam Darnold – 846
Jameis Winston – 851
Tyrod Taylor – 865
Blake Bortles – 891
Joe Flacco – 942
Joe Burrow – 945
Tyree Jackson – 955
Matthew Stafford – 987
Jalen Hurts – 1047
Lamar Jackson – 1086
Kirk Cousins – 1128
Teddy Bridgewater – 1142
Gardner Minshew – 1168
Dak Prescott – 1169
Robert Griffin III – 1192
DeShaun Watson – 1207
Logan Thomas – 1248
Daniel Jones – 1275
Justin Herbert – 1293
Ben Roethlisberger – 1304
Andy Dalton – 1317
Matt Ryan – 1347
Patrick Mahomes – 1349
Russell Wilson – 1489
Baker Mayfield – 1497
Drew Lock – 1553
Jared Goff – 1568
Derek Carr – 1630
Jimmy Garoppolo – 1668
Case Keenum – 2229
Former QBs
Jamarcus Russell – 797
Andrew Luck – 1064
Philip Rivers – 1087
Eli Manning – 1363
Peyton Manning – 1381
Drew Brees – 1678
WISHFUL THINKING MOCK
Jacksonville – Trevor Lawrence
NY Jets – Justin Fields. Fields was QB2 for a year plus until the hype machine started backing Zach Wilson’s performances against North Alabama and other like powerhouses. Zach struggled with injury and doesn’t react well to pressure. Fields is at least a gamer and his worst performance came against a sneaky NFL talent ridden Northwestern defense. His bonkers performance against Clemson is the best single game performance from a College QB since the Cam Newton Era. Wilson would be speared and eaten alive by a barely functioning organization like the Jets, Fields brings the leadership, competitiveness and his “Hero Ball” play would be a STRENGTH not a weakness in this east coast hellhole.
San Francisco – Zach Wilson – Forget all of those negative things I just typed about Wilson, that was smokescreen nonsense. In all seriousness Wilson CAN be great, but he clearly requires more support than the Jets could give him. The 49ers can give him an easier job to do. He had top notch pass protection at BYU in 2020, and he’ll have that in San Francisco. He would be out with injury by week four in New York.
Atlanta (For Now) – Rashawn Slater, Northwestern – The pick here is ‘supposed’ to be Kyle Pitts. Fontenot is used to New Orleans, an overall class organization. New Orleans has had a strong group up front for several years. Slater’s a technician, he’s CRAZY strong, and he could play any position up front. He’s the best pass protector in the draft, and the Falcons are still a pass first offense.
Cincinnati – Penei Sewell, Oregon – Pitts would make sense here, as would Jamarr Chase. Mike Brown is an old school decision maker, and Cincinnati in its’ heyday was strong on the line of scrimmage. This is the OL draft, and I expect NFL teams to get them while they’re hot. Also the Bengals are unsteady overall on the OL. Sewell would maybe be asked to start at Guard, where he would be maybe the best guard in Football immediately.
Miami – Kyle Pitts, Florida – This would be a wet dream for Miami. They would be happy with Jamarr Chase or Devonta Smith.
Detroit – Ja’Marr Chase, LSU – The Lions just need to draft for value. They might swing on a quarterback, I would expect Brad Holmes to see what Goff looks like in Detroit and just building a team before immediately drafting a QB.
Carolina – DeVonta Smith, Alabama WR – I’m not so sold on Darnold that the Panthers WOULDN’T draft a QB here. I think Lance needs a mentor (not Darnold) and Mac Jones is strongly a personal preference draft pick. Stacking up at wide receiver would be a strong ‘pro-analytics’ move that the Panthers are supposedly more bought in on with a new owner.
Denver – Mac Jones, Alabama QB – The rumors are that the NFL scouting community is higher on Mac Jones than the media types are. I understand that Mac is white, but he’s not a tall, cannon-armed QB like Brock Osweiler or Paxton Lynch. In order to NOT sabotage Trey Lance’s career, Denver would need to sign a veteran/mentor QB like Alex Smith or Teddy Bridgewater AND need the patience to sit Lance for bare minimum one season. The Broncos roster is honestly respectable outside of QB.
Dallas – Caleb Farley, LSU CB – Dallas’ defense clearly needs any help they can get. Top secondary play is key when you’re passing as much as Dallas will be.
NY Giants – Alijah Vera Tucker, USC OL – Tucker would likely be asked to move inside. I think Jaylen Waddle or Patrick Surtain II would make a lot of sense here. Tucker is a versatile lineman who Gettleman would like.
Philadelphia – Jaylen Waddle, Alabama WR – The Eagles are telling themselves they just need a couple of wide receivers to be competitive, and it is a need for them. Waddle might be WR1 in next years’ draft.
LA Chargers – Patrick Surtain II, Alabama CB – The Chargers have long maintained a presence in the secondary. I would expect the best remaining offensive tackle here or the top corner available. Surtain is big game tested and Staley was used to Jalen Ramsey being available with the Rams.
Minnesota – Jaycee Horn, South Carolina CB – Mike Zimmer wants a strong defense, Horn might be the best technician at corner.
New England – Trey Lance, Trey doesn’t fall past here, if he falls to here. Lance’s footwork and throwing mechanics are clean and an old school guy like Bill Belichick will appreciate that. Bill can start Cam as long as he wants until he feels Trey is ready.
Arizona – Rondale Moore, Purdue WR – Moore can lineup in a variety of roles. He lacks ideal height but he was usually the best player on the field while at Purdue and is as strong as an ox.
Las Vegas – Christian Darrisaw, Va Tech OL – Gruden clearly wants to make a statement up front. Darrisaw has some smaller technical flaws, but that’s what coaches get paid to do.
Miami – Micah Parsons, Penn State LB – Parsons can do whatever Flores would ask him to do at a high level.
Washington – Teven Jenkins, OK STATE OL – Jenkins plays with incredible strength and toughness and plays well especially as a run blocker. Ron Rivera has shown a preference for a power run game in the past.
Chicago – Eric Stokes, UGA CB – The Bears need corner help. Stokes allowed 53% completion percentage over his career in the SEC.
Indianapolis – Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame OT – Another Notre Dame bruiser, The Colts need a new left tackle. The Colts has success with Notre Dame lineman Quenton Nelson.
Tennessee – Kwity Paye, Michigan DL – Paye can play at three technique or as an End. The Titans defense was laughably bad in 2020. Paye is the latest Michigan front seven stud.
NY Jets – Asante Samuel Jr, FSU CB – Samuel’s been nothing short of a shutdown corner at Florida State. The Jets badly need O-line help, but that will not likely be a great value pick here.
Pittsburgh – Kellen Mond, Texas A&M QB – This is Ben’s last season, and Pittsburgh may not even want him for 2021. Mond is a rockstar, showed out at the Senior Bowl, Chris Simms who’s been right when others have been wrong really likes Kellen Mond. Mond has started a grip of games in the SEC and keeps the turnovers low. All a great fit for what the Rooneys like in a QB.
Jacksonville – Greg Newsome II, Northwestern CB – Newsome doesn’t have all the ideal measurables of a typical round one corner, but he played a big role in shutting down Ohio State’s passing game. Something Urban surely took note of.
Cleveland – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame linebacker – The Browns don’t have a gaping hole at crucial starting positions like most other teams. JOK is a defensive playmaker and the Browns will find a way to put him on the field.
Baltimore – Terrace Marshall, LSU WR – The Ravens don’t typically draft receivers in the first round. If they want to win playoff games, they’ll need ace in the hole pass game weapons.
New Orleans – Trevon Moehrig, TCU S – The Saints have done a great job here in recent seasons. One of the rare good safety prospects in the draft, they will likely look for receivers in the middle rounds.
Green Bay – Rashod Bateman, Minnesota WR- Green Bay can’t just not draft receivers. Bateman has average height, but that’s not slowed him down in the BIG 10.
Buffalo – Gregory Rousseau, Miami DE – Buffalo wants a better pass rush with their crazy high scoring offense now. Rousseau will come into a great room to learn and grow in.
Kansas City – Brady Christensen, BYU OT – Brady looked really good in 2020, and Reid has had a soft spot for BYU players in the past. Even against the big dogs like USC and UTAH in 2019 Christensen held his own.
Tampa Bay – Milton Williams, LA TECH DT – While not as BIG as Suh, Williams moves incredibly well and could eventually reload at DT when Tampa is ready.
Gridiron Seasonal 
