NFL Draft: 2021 Draft Review

[Big Poppa Puck]

I find it interesting to go back and look at these and with some downtime between now and the start of FA, thought there's no better time to do this. We've already done 1999-2020 in the past so onto to 2021, which believe it or not was already 4 years ago and now has players either extended, playing out the 5th year option (1st rounders only), entering free agency or already moved on from.



So here goes the Vikings for 2021, the last draft of 15(!) drafts Rick Spileman was involved in, and last for Mike Zimmer as well. And after I go through this you'll see why. More quantity over quality, one stud and a disaster of a 3rd round. So here we go:

(won't assign grades to 5-7th rounds as they are dart throws.)

1(23) LT Christian Darrisaw, Va Tech - traded down from 14 and still got the LT they needed. One of the best in league at his position. Only negative would be he's missed games in every season due to injury. But still an A+ pick.

3(60) QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M - this was a pick I didn't mind at the time as a developmental QB, but turned out to be a disaster. Zimmer buried him ever chance he got and later admitted he walked out of the draft room when Spielman made the pick. New regime cut him in year two, claimed by the Browns and has been offseason fodder since. F

3(76) LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina - This was a head scratching pick at the time reaching for a converted QB in RD3, and basically redshirted year one and was cut in year two by the new staff. Has been a solid Special Teamer for the Jets since then. F for the Vikings, C- for career.

3(86) OL Wyatt Davis, Ohio St. - Was thought of a 1st round talent and steal here, but now we see why he fell. Think the guy just doesn't care enough it seemed. Was cut by the new regime in year two, like Mond and Surratt, and also like Mond has bounced around Practice Squads and camps since. F

3(90) EDGE Pat Jones, Pitt - The "best" of the four 3rd round busts. This is a guy who is always a star in camp, but was 'just a guy' when it mattered. Had a solid season this year in a contract year with 7 sacks, but likely walks in FA given the teams depth at Edge rusher and the fact some team will overpay him based on this year. C

4(119) RB Kene Nwangwu, Iowa St. - bit of a reach here, as he was always drafted just to return kicks, and he's one of the best at that, but he's not much of a RB. Vikings deemed he wasn't worth the roster spot this year and released him. Was picked up by the Jets and had a KRTD for them. D+

4(125) S Cam Bynum, Cal - Best pick other than Darrisaw. Very solid starting Safety, who gained fame this past season for his turnover celebrations. We'll see if he's back next year as he is a FA, and may get overpaid in free agency. Not sure if the analytic driven FO is willing to pay a Safety big dollars or not, but I think they want him back for the right price. A

4(134) EDGE Janarius Robinson, Florida St. - I loved this pick as a FSU fan but just didn't work out. Spent his rookie year on IR, signed off the practice squad by the Eagles in year two, and is now currently hanging on as a bottom of the roster player for the lowly Raiders. F

5(157) WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa - This was one of those guys who was a pre-season darling who's speed always flashed, but the new staff decided to make him a surprise cut at the end of camp in 2022 and he's been a depth WR/RS journeyman for the Bears, Chiefs, Panthers and now Giants since.

5(168) TE Zach Davidson, Central Missouri St. - This was one of them "who?" picks. Spent a year on the PS, cut in 2022 and has been on the BIlls PS ever since.

6(199) DT Jaylen Twyman, Pitt - RICK SPIELMAN SPECIAL ALERT! (Spielman loved picking multiple players from the same school in the same draft.) This guy missed his rookie season after being shot and then was released in 2022.


I'm not sure how to grade this draft? Like normally Darrisaw and Bynum would get you an A. But how do you go 0-4 in the 3rd round? And also there were 11 picks and only 2 real contributors? Can maybe stretch it to 3 if you wanna count Jones.

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[I Hart Conor Garland]

The Packers very realistically may head into the 2025 season with nobody left from the 2021 draft.

 

[EpochLink]

2021 Raiders:

Alex Leatherwood = absolute penile leakage, the drafting during they Mayock and Gruden era was the drizzling shits mostly all the time.

Trevon Moehrig = solid pick, solid player.

Malcolm Koonce = solid player but he gets the injury bug often.

Devine Diablo = serviceable defensive back.

Tyree Gillespie = WHO THE f***

Nate Hobbs = solid defensive back.

Jim Morrisey = WHO THE f***

 

[WeThreeKings]

The Packers very realistically may head into the 2025 season with nobody left from the 2021 draft.

Gute's drafts are either bangers or total trash.

 

[LT]

Thin year for Houston.

3 (67): Davis Mills, QB - looks like a decent enough career back-up. Sounds like he's a great guy on the sideline and in the locker room. Texans have made a point to keep him around. B+

3 (89): Nico Collins, WR - Needs no explanation. A+++

Then two 5ths, Brevin Jordan at tight end was good enough to warrant a high grade. Getting anything out of these low picks is positive.

Roy Lopez, 6th rounder, became a DT starter, but not a particularly great one.

Overall, Collins makes this draft a huge success for Houston, especially given what we had available.

-----

Huge draft for Detroit. Amon-Ra, Sewell, and a couple other starter caliber players.

 

[StreetHawk]

2021 Raiders:

Alex Leatherwood = absolute penile leakage, the drafting during they Mayock and Gruden era was the drizzling shits mostly all the time.

Trevon Moehrig = solid pick, solid player.

Malcolm Koonce = solid player but he gets the injury bug often.

Devine Diablo = serviceable defensive back.

Tyree Gillespie = WHO THE f***

Nate Hobbs = solid defensive back.

Jim Morrisey = WHO THE f***

Insane that Gruden went Leatherwood over Darrisaw. Darrisaw draft report was that he was a more proficient pass blocker which in a passing league you’d want. But he opted for the road grater OL instead.

This past draft I was a little worried about Fuaga as he had a similar write up but he has shown the ability to play OT in the nfl.

 

[Halladay]

The Eagles got 3 starters from it, DeVonta, Dickerson, and Milton Williams. Gainwell has been a productive player as well. They rest either arent in the team or just play special teams. Excellent draft though.

 

[Romang67]

Not sure anyone will beat the unmitigated disaster that was the Bears draft in 2021.

Yes, sure, other teams probably also sit there with 0 players left on the team from that draft after 4 years, but did those teams also spend the following year's 1st rounder and 4th rounder, and that year's 3rd rounder on trading up in rounds 1 and 2?

 

[EpochLink]

Insane that Gruden went Leatherwood over Darrisaw. Darrisaw draft report was that he was a more proficient pass blocker which in a passing league you’d want. But he opted for the road grater OL instead.

Jon Gruden was obsessed with his ‘Gruden Grinders’ mentality that it blinded his shit for most of the time. Leatherwood was drafted so high because of his time in Alabama. It’s too bad the talent around Alabama made him look good.

On the pros, absolutely ratchet. I don’t think penile leakage would be the word for it, more like stank cheese.

 

[StreetHawk]

A mauler is a trait or description I want for an IOL. For an OT, want someone who can pass protect.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

A mauler is a trait or description I want for an IOL. For an OT, want someone who can pass protect.

Correct. Ideal OG? I'm thinking the late but great Larry Allen.

At OT, especially the blindside, I want long, athletic and with exceptional footwork.

 

[StreetHawk]

Correct. Ideal OG? I'm thinking the late but great Larry Allen.

At OT, especially the blindside, I want long, athletic and with exceptional footwork.

For this past draft the way scouts were writing about Fuaga I thought he might be moved into OG vs left at OT as that was how they were describing him, as a Mauler. But, he’s shown he’s a capable OT.
Everyone would love a Tent Williams but those guys are rare who can pass pro and be mean and nasty too.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

For this past draft the way scouts were writing about Fuaga I thought he might be moved into OG vs left at OT as that was how they were describing him, as a Mauler. But, he’s shown he’s a capable OT.
Everyone would love a Tent Williams but those guys are rare who can pass pro and be mean and nasty too.

Yeah Tent Williams is dominant tbh