First Round Grades: NFL Draft 2021
Analyst-Ken Noble
1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence A
We all knew who was going number one, but after watching some teams struggle to make easy decisions we applaud the Jags for at least not over thinking their way out of picking Lawrence. He is, as we all know, “Can’t Miss” and should be a good starter from Day 1 in the NFL.
2. New York Jets- Zach Wilson A
Once again we all knew where the Jets were headed with this pick, but I personally hate young Quarterbacks going to teams with no foundation. I pray, for Wilson’s sake, they surround him with a lot of help on day 2!
3. San Francisco 49ers- Trey Lance B
The first question of the night was answered when Roger Goodell announced the Niners had chosen Trey Lance from NDSU. Many thought they would take Mac Jones, but I believe the bigger question is why not Fields. If you are looking for the mobile athlete at the helm is Lance better than Fields? As a die hard supporter of Kyle Shanahan I believe he can mold any quarter back he has so I’m not too worried but I would have loved to see Fields under his tutelage.
4. Atlanta Falcons- Kyle Pitts A
Atlanta did exactly what they needed to do! The only other option in my mind was trade back, but seeing how they didn’t I like where they went here. Pitts is the best weapon in this draft and will make the next few years really nice for Matt Ryan. Who ever eventually takes over for Ryan doesn’t know it yet, but they liked this pick a lot too. Maybe they take a developmental player later in the draft, but they landed the number 2 player on my board at fourth overall so…
5. Cincinnati Bengals- Ja’Marr Chase C-
Ja’Marr Chase is a stud, let’s get that out of the way quickly. The Bengals desperately needed offensive line help, their franchise quarterback is recovering from major surgery. The Bengals are also strong at wide receiver, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are excellent young receivers. Not to mention Auden Tate. Joe Burrow would be much better having an extra two seconds of time to find Boyd and Higgins then having an extra dangerous weapon. A major fail with Sewell on the board!
6. Miami Dolphins- Jaylen Waddle B+
Waddle is a scary good athlete, and may be the biggest game breaker in this class. However, it’s hard for me to believe Miami traded back up to six thinking Waddle was their guy. I think they assumed they would still get either Chase or Pitts. That being said Waddle is a nice consolation prize, but Miami jumped the gun on the trade docking their score a bit.
7. Detroit Lions- Penei Sewell A+
I’m not happy about it but for all the wrong reasons. Sewell was the number one player on our big board and getting him at seven is a steal. I just have a since of doom any time a player I like goes to Detroit. I wanted to see Parsons here and start creating a defense to help win games, but Sewell is the elite talent and Detroit can now give Goff some serious protection. Now he needs someone to throw too! Once again a team who didn’t overthink it, and took the best player. Congrats Lions fans!
8. Carolina Panthers- Jaycee Horn B-
Horn has potential but he wasn’t our highest graded defender nor corner. Carolina has been said not to value the cornerback position as much in their defense. Well last night proved that was a lie! I still don’t get why they let Bradberry walk. If they would have kept him and added a guy like Micah Parsons here that team would be stout on defense. Time will tell, but I liked two other defenders ahead of Horn here. I always talk about scheme so lets see how Rhule uses Horn’s talents.
9. Denver Broncos- Patrick Surtain B
Okay Okay, you are probably tired of me mentioning Parsons, but come on man. Parsons roaming the middle for Denver would have been beast mode. Surtain is my favorite corner this year, but I don’t see corner as a position of need as much as middle linebacker. I’m not always saying draft need, but when the two players carry the same value and one fits in like a puzzle piece why not take him? Surtain will be a good corner in Denver, but how much will he see the field this year?
10. Philadelphia Eagles- Devonta Smith A
The Eagles traded back up to ten with division rival Dallas and landed the best pure route runner and receiver in the draft, filling a huge need after passing on Justin Jefferson last year. Questions about his size are the only reason he was still here at 10. I have no concerns about his size, he plays like Marvin Harrison did avoiding big hits and almost contorting around them to not absorb the brunt of the damage. I question if he is truly thrilled to be an Eagle though. Smith almost looked sad when he got the news.
11. Chicago Bears- Justin Fields A-
We are split here at DraftDive on Justin Fields. Jonah is a fan, me not so much. I would have loved him in San Francisco, but I question how Nagy will help him. Nonetheless, he does have talent but I believe he still needs coaching and Nagy isn’t the right guy I don’t think. I’m left wondering more who will be coaching Fields next year. If Chicago fires Nagy and replaces him with someone who can help Fields excel then this pick is pure fire.
12. Dallas Cowboys- Micah Parsons C+
Finally someone grabs in my opinion the best defensive player in this draft. Parsons is a beast but where will Dallas play him? They have talent at linebacker already and I worry they play him outside rather than let him be the true game changer he is. This is one team I would have loved to see take a top corner. I also believe Slater was a better option for the Cowboys. Please Dallas play Parsons at middle linebacker!
13. Los Angeles Chargers- Rashawn Slater A+
Pure gold. That’s what the Chargers got with Slater at 13. I promise they didn’t expect him to be there at 13, but adding a cornerstone tackle to protect Herbert is the exact perfect pick the Bengals should have made. Mark my words now, Herbert will continue to have a better career than Joe Burrow. The Chargers are doing right by Herbert and get a big gold star along with there A+.
14. New York Jets- Alijah Vera-Tucker B+
Vera-Tucker was a top 4 offensive lineman on most boards, so I don’t hate it but is he going to be better than Darrisaw who went at 23, the Jets original pick? Was moving up worth the price? Time will tell, but we will see what New York has planned soon. Will Vera-Tucker play guard or tackle? Either way it looks like Joe Douglas is at least trying to save Zach Wilson form the same fate as Joe Burrow. This pick is a win for Zach Wilson and Jets Fans.
15.New England Patriots- Mac Jones A-
Love him or hate him Mac Jones fits the Patriots system very well. Who knows we may be looking back on this class in a few years and saying the best quarterback of the bunch was the last one taken. The Patriots just keep having players they like fall to them. Not having to move up and still getting the guy you want is always a win. Now lets see what Belicheck and McDaniels can do with this young man.
16.Arizona Cardinals- Zaven Collins C
We have said Collins was a Cardinals type player for a while now. He is a Swiss army knife like so many other players the Cards have coveted over the last few years. I believe 16 was too high for Colllins, but I pray he proves me wrong. I’m not rooting against him, but if I was picking for Arizona he wouldn’t have been my guy. Farley should have been wearing Cardinal red. And even if they are after a pass rusher, I had a few ahead of Collins so this is a reach.
17.Las Vegas Raiders- Alex Leatherwood D+
Raiders doing Raiders things. Are we even surprised? The Raiders say they knew taking Leatherwood was controversial and honestly at this point it isn’t. We expected them to take the wrong guy, so they did just that. Leatherwood is a big man with power, but far from the 17th best player in the draft, this is the reach of the night for sure. At least he has a friend in the same group in Clelin Ferrell, who was another huge reach for Mayock and Gruden who didn’t pan out. Will Gruden get to coach all ten years of his contract is my only question now?
18.Miami Dolphins- Jaelan Phillips B
One Dolphins fan at my draft party begged for the teams ahead of Miami to draft Phillips over and over again, as he didn’t want anything to do with him. I’m not going to say he was wrong or right, but is Phillips the best end in this class? I don’t think so. He has physical gifts, but he also already has a history of injuries and concussions. Too many question marks and red flags for me to take him at 18.
19.The Washington Football Team- Jamin Davis B
This one is a clouded one for me. I love the Football Team addressing linebacker and adding more defense to an already solid core. Linebacker is definitely an area of need, but I didn’t have Davis that high on my board. He is an athletic player who sees ball, gets ball, but he didn’t always produce. In a few games he was almost ghostly and I don’t like that in a first rounder. I had a second round grade on him, so this is a bit of a reach but a position of need.
20.New York Giants- Kadarius Toney C-
Well Gettleman did it. He traded back, but why did he trade back to take a WR? Wide receiver is already a position of strength for New York. How much of the field will Toney even see? Did they just draft a returner at 20? All good questions. The Giants should have addressed edge, or offensive line here. Heck we even had a few other receivers rated higher. At least they added picks with the trade back so there’s that…
21.Indianapolis Colts- Kwity Paye A-
Lets start by letting everyone know I’m a big Colts fan. Entering the night, Paye was not one of the three players I wanted Indy to draft. If they didn’t get one of the three I wanted them to trade back. The catch is I didn’t assume Paye would be available at 21. Many had him as the top Edge Rusher, as did I, so good job by Ballard. Now can the coaching staff get the most out of his talents? I had my eyes on Edge in round two for Indy, so now I hope they address the tackle spot later in the draft. Brady Christensen anyone?
22.Tennessee Titans- Caleb Farley A+
Absolute stud Cornerback who should have gone earlier. Farley was the best player available and he fit a need for the Titans Defense. I have zero concerns about this pick and actually found myself clapping from my couch. On a night that made me ask many questions, this was not one of those moments. This feels Jeffery Simmons all over again.
23.Minnesota Vikings- Christian Darrisaw A++
Just like the Chargers, the Vikings needed an offensive tackle and had a talented one drop into their lap. The Vikings were actually able to gain three draft picks this year and take a guy that I would have been happy to see them take at 14. They didn’t get the second round pick they were after, but they do have five 3rd round picks, don’t be surprised if they trade into the second tomorrow.
24.Pittsburgh Steelers- Najee Harris D+
The first running back taken shouldn’t have been taken. Not yet anyway. Pittsburgh’s offensive line is in shambles. Harris better start training to run for his life instead of touchdowns if they don’t address the offensive line soon. I know Steelers fans don’t want to hear it, but you should have addressed the line first.
25.Jacksonville Jaguars- Travis Etienne D
Seriously did Trevor Lawrence just want his safety net back? Did Jacksonville forget that James Robinson just had a 1,400 yard season and he was undrafted? Didn’t like this pick at all. Jacksonville had better options at 25 then to add another running back. Boooovalll!!
26.Cleveland Browns- Greg Newsome B+
I like Cleveland going corner and adding to the defense. Newsome wasn’t my best corner available, but he must have been in the Cleveland war room. So I don’t love it or hate it but it is solid. Scheme is important and I’m rooting for him to do well for the Browns.
27.Baltimore Ravens- Rashod Bateman A
Bateman is an incredibly talented receiver who should have gone ahead of Toney. Baltimore didn’t reach and got what could be Lamar Jackson’s number one receiver. The question is, will they ever throw him the ball? The Ravens need to address the offensive line, but if they have the time to actually throw the ball this was a home run pick.
28.New Orleans Saints- Payton Turner B-
New Orleans stayed put and waited for the board to come to them. Many may not know who Turner is, but he is a good athlete and pass rusher. No I didn’t have a first round grade on him, but at this point most of the edge rushers are very close in grades. I don’t hate it and I am actually a big fan of Turner. Though I wouldn’t have taken him, when they could have added a much needed receiver.
29.Green Bay Packers- Eric Stokes C-
I am one of Stokes biggest supporters, so to see him go round one is a personal victory. It’s kinda like my “I told you so!” However, what the hell is Green Bay doing? Did they legit just give Aaron Rodgers the middle finger? Brett Favre is probably sitting at home in his Wranglers with a smirk right now. Green Bay dropped the ball again and made damn well good and sure Rodgers doesn’t want to play for them anymore. Sorry Stokes, you deserve some praise, you are a great player. If they picked someone else we’d have given them an F. If it wasn’t about Rodgers here I’d give this pick a B+.
30.Buffalo Bills- Gregory Rousseau A+
Love it, Love it, Love it! Buffalo needed to add pass rush and they did just that. Rousseau has a very high ceiling and I had him rated as the number two defensive end in the class. To get him at 30 is a home run. Can’t wait to see McDermott with his new toy.
31.Baltimore Ravens- Jayson Oweh C
Not a fan of Oweh here. Baltimore had better options available. I would have liked to see them pick up Teven Jenkins to replace Orlando Brown, or even Azeez Ojulari over Oweh. I’m never going to draft a guy based off his athleticism only in the first round. A first round pick needs to be able to produce. Oweh needs major refinement and to learn how to get to the quarterback. That’s a day two pick at best for me. At least he went to Baltimore where the staff will give him the best chance to succeed and grow.
32.Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Joe Tryon B
Tamp Bay has earned the right not to be questioned for at least one season. That being said, they addressed one of the positions we thought they should. JPP is a free agent next year and a young edge rusher opposite Barrett is a nice addition. Tryon had flashes at Washington and it’s obvious he caught the eye of the Bucs’ personnel department. Solid but not flashy!
