Here’s what we liked (and hated) on Days 2 and 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft
Takeaways big and small (and fast)
I unapologetically love the NFL Draft. I know it’s too long, and the pre-draft buildup is always exhausting. I can’t help but enjoy the spectacle, though: The suspense before each pick is announced, the overly excited (or overly unhappy) fans when the announcement comes in, the emotional phone calls to the players who are seeing their dreams come true, all the celebrations, and the hope that fills every fanbase with each new draft class.
Now it’s over, and the offseason is truly here. And soon, we’ll be forced to get much more creative with our newsletter topics. Not quite yet, however. First, we still have more draft reactions to bring to you. On Friday, we shared our thoughts about what happened in the first round. Here are our other takeaways from the rest of the draft. — SH
We liked ...
The Broncos course corrected and had a very good draft
I, like RVB, didn’t like seeing Denver stand pat at No. 9 and not draft a quarterback — Patrick Surtain II is a solid addition to a good defense, but there was more value to be wrung out of that pick, especially with Justin Fields on the board and Teddy Bridgewater/Drew Lock atop John Elway’s depth chart. But new general manager George Paton hit a string of triple-20s with his Day 2 and 3 dart throws, adding genuine talent capable of making the Broncos a playoff team in 2021.
I’ve made my man crush on Wisconsin-Whitewater wrecking ball Quinn Meinerz abundantly clear, but snagging him late in the third round is a great way to beef up the interior of the Denver offensive line. Javonte Williams runs like he’s angry at the world and is the perfect complement to Melvin Gordon in the backfield — like Philip Lindsay, if Lindsay were a pissed-off meteor capable of catching passes. Baron Browning was a guy I thought the Patriots would target in the third round, so adding him to the linebacking corps in the fourth was yet another win for Paton. Jamar Johnson is a safety capable of playing alongside Justin Simmons, then taking over for him down the line.
Four sixth/seventh-round picks could add depth, but even if each is a miss this is a good class. Paton killed it in the middle rounds. That’s exactly where contenders are built. — CD
More Lamar Jackson
One of the most frustrating things about the Ravens last year was that, for me, I feel like I didn’t get to see enough of Lamar Jackson making magic. They persistently made the offense one that leaned heavily on the run. Part of that was by necessity. That won’t be the case this season after drafting Rashod Bateman, giving Lamar a bona fide WR1. They also added versatile receiver Tylan Wallace on Day 3.
I know they’ll still run the ball plenty — and they should! But now with Bateman, Wallace, Marquise Brown, and tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens offense just got a lot more interesting. The AFC North battles between the Ravens and the Browns are going to be epic (sorry, the Steelers by recommitting to Ben Roethlisberger played their way out of the top tier). — RVB
The Browns are here to stay
For so many years, the Browns were defined by failure. Each new draft cycle was a chance to change their fortune, and Cleveland awaited every pick with the nervous anticipation of a fanbase who desperately wanted something to cheer for but had been burned too many times.
So it was fitting that this draft was held in Cleveland, just a few months after the Browns finally broke through and won a playoff game. That gave them their lowest first-round pick since 1995, which allowed the boisterous Dawg Pound to enjoy the festivities without having to convince themselves that this draft class would be the key to saving the franchise.
The Browns don’t need saving anymore, but they went ahead and got better anyway with one of the highest-graded draft hauls this year:
(Even more impressive? GM Andrew Berry did that right after his wife gave birth to their third child.)
After the smart pickup of cornerback Greg Newsome II in the first round, the Browns landed one of the biggest steals of the draft when linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah — a Day 1 talent who could’ve easily been their first pick — fell to them in the second round. Then they added even more defensive talent on Day 3 with DT Tommy Togiai and LB Tony Fields II. All of those guys could be contributors on a defense that needed a few reinforcements this offseason.
Speedy receiver Anthony Schwartz is another interesting Day 2 selection. He didn’t put up huge numbers at Auburn (1,433 receiving yards, 6 TDs), but let’s see what he can with Baker Mayfield — and what Kevin Stefanski can do with a skill player that fast. — SH
The Vikings, despite Kirk Cousins, might be a threat
Minnesota got off to a hot start by trading down in the first round, replenishing its war chest, and *still* getting a top OL prospect in left tackle Christian Darrisaw. This set the stage for NINE picks between Rounds 3 and 5, and GM Rick Spielman used that shotgun blast to pick up some very interesting players.
Kellen Mond won’t have to do anything in 2021, but could eventually take over for Kirk Cousins (I doubt this, but there are worse ways to spend a third-round pick). Patrick Jones II had 24 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks over his last 24 games at Pitt and now gets to develop under Mike Zimmer’s system, which has typically turned early front seven picks into impact players. Chazz Surratt could be an immediate starter at linebacker, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette is the answer to the theoretical question “what if Chad Beebe was good?”
The Vikings aren’t a contender as long as Kirk Cousins remains a side of ranch brought to life by a lesser god. They can definitely mess up a few team’s title hopes with this lineup, however. — CD
Finding good value in big men
Day 2 had its share of offensive linemen who were drafted lower than they could have been. But I don’t think any of the following teams are complaining, especially considering their OL needs:
Landon Dickerson was a surefire first-round pick until he tore his ACL again, but the Eagles are hoping his injury misfortune (and their own injury misfortune) is behind him. Dickerson can play guard for now and eventually take over at center for Jason Kelce.
The Bears showed new quarterback Justin Fields that he’s already a big priority when they traded up for Teven Jenkins. The right tackle can bring an immediate boost to Chicago’s OL, and no one would’ve batted an eye if the team had drafted him in the first round.
Without looking it up, who started at left tackle for the Washington Football Team last season? Yeah, I don’t know either. Even though Washington ignored a major need in the first round, it still ended up with a potential starting left tackle in the second round with Samuel Cosmi.
The Chiefs needed a center to complete their revamped offensive line, and they got one with Creed Humphrey. Unsurprisingly, Patrick Mahomes was happy about it:
The Vikings listened to my earlier advice and drafted guard Wyatt Davis, though he was on the board longer than I initially thought. So not only did the Vikings trade down in the first round and still get the tackle (Christian Darrisaw) they wanted all along, but they stumbled on another OL starter in Round 3.
That’s not even a complete list of the beefy Day 2 steals! And other teams found good OL value on Day 3, including the Chargers (OT Brenden Jaimes), Seahawks (OT Stone Forsythe — STONE FORSYTHE), Raiders (C Jimmy Morrissey) and the Chiefs again (guard Trey Smith). — SH
The Packers’ continued trolling of Aaron Rodgers
The most recent reports surrounding the Aaron Rodgers drama suggest that Rodgers wants GM Brian Gutekunst fired. Whether that’s true or not, I find it hilarious that, just a day before that report came out, Gutekunst made his most trolly draft decision yet.
He finally selected a talented wide receiver — on Day 2 even! — who could, in theory, help Rodgers out. His name? Amari Rodgers. Since Aaron Rodgers wants nothing to do with anyone who shares his last name, that pretty much guarantees he’ll refuse to speak to the rookie wide receiver, even if the Packers’ longtime quarterback is still playing in Green Bay next season.
That’s a cold-blooded move I can approve of, Gutekunst. — SH
We did NOT like ...
The Jets, and it hurts me dearly to write this, didn’t implode like a dying star
New York had a competent draft — perhaps even a strong one capable of laying the foundation for success under new head coach Robert Saleh. Day 1 was a solid “B-” outing. Zach Wilson was an obvious selection. Alijah Vera-Tucker is capable of rebuilding the offensive line that ensured Sam Darnold knew nothing but the haunting internal screams of desperation every time he stepped behind center the last three years, even if trading up for an interior lineman cost his team a pair of valuable third-round picks.
The Jets’ mid-round choices could be what separates them from 2021’s truly dismal teams and into the comparatively verdant fields of the merely “bad.” Elijah Moore can be a difference maker from the slot — think of how the Jets have used Jamison Crowder the past two years, now think of how it would look with a blue chip wideout and competent offensive line. Michael Carter the running back will add depth to a razor thin tailback corps (depending on how much you believe in Lamical Perine) and Michael Carter the defensive back will add depth at slot corner. Hamsah Narisildeen is a dynamic athlete who can follow Fred Warner’s lead and go from college DB to NFL linebacker — though that will hinge on his ability to come back from a 2019 ACL surgery.
There are a lot of question marks here, but if even a third of these guys reach their potential, they’ll develop into starters for a talent-needy team. New York needs all the help it can get, and this crop of high-upside prospects could spark a turnaround. Or, it could turn out Adam Gase salted the ground on his way out and anything more than seven wins is a pipe dream.
50/50. — CD
How dare Bill Belichick be human
I don’t think it’s controversial to say that Bill Belichick is not a very likable figure, and he certainly didn’t help his Q score when he drafted former child model/current Tucker Carlson viewer McCorkle Jones in the first round.
But argh, I hate that I love this:
Yes, that’s Belichick talking to and smiling (?) with his dog, Nike, in the Patriots’ war room. Nike was the breakout star of last year’s virtual draft, and Belichick’s interactions with his very good dog were … sweet and relatable.
Bringing Nike back this year showed a playful side of Belichick that we haven’t seen since, well, last year when he gave us a scouting report on his dog. It doesn’t make up the Jones pick; the friendship with Trump; his part in unleashing the unkillable version of Tom Brady into the NFL; and the years of surliness. His love for his dog does humanize him, though, just a little. — SH
The Falcons say f*** running
Atlanta trusted its RB1 role last season to Todd Gurley. This was a mistake. The Falcons rectified this slightly this offseason by signing former Carolina backup Mike Davis, but a gaping hole remained in their depth chart. Fortunately, they had nine picks to address that issue in this year’s draft and could have had their choice of any non-Najee Harris/Travis Etienne runner starting on Day 2. Instead, they drafted zero tailbacks.
It’s your time to shine, Mike. Enjoy your lofty, default fantasy draft status. — CD
What are the Rams doing?
It’s a question I’ve spent waaaaaay too much of my adult life pondering, to the detriment of my own mental health, and after some time away from caring about it, here I am again.
They avoided offensive linemen entirely. And I know with Day 2 and 3 picks, it’s not like they’re going to get a plug-and-play guy, but they could have really used the depth and development at those positions. Their left tackle is 39 years old. Thirty-nine!
What they mostly spent those picks on were athletically gifted project players. Tutu Atwell (second round, 57th pick) is fast as hell, but he’s also 149 pounds. So another Tavon Austin, but at least they didn’t use a first-round pick on him. Still, he feels like a return man at best. Robert Rochell, the cornerback from Central Arkansas they took in the fourth round fits that bill too, but they can afford to let him develop in the rotation. Jacob Harris (fourth round) is another wide receiver who’s athletic, but not much else? Maybe some of the players they took will round out the depth chart, but it’s hard to see anyone in this bunch turning into a key starter, which is what they really need to find given how many draft picks they’ve traded away. — RVB