2021 NFL Draft – Winners and Losers
WINNERS
Detroit Lions
The Lions decided to improve the trenches on both sides of the ball. It was a priority for them early during the 2021 NFL Draft. That is how championships are won. First rounder from Oregon Penei Sewell is an athletic OT with great feet and outstanding strength. He will fill a void for them on the right side of the OL. They drafted DT Levi Onwuzurike (Washington) in the second round. He is a good athlete with excelptional quickness off the snap. They got NC State DT Alim McNeill in the third round. He is a very good run stopper who is strong and can disengage from blocks quickly. They selected Syracuse CB Ifeatu Melifonwu at the end of the third round. He is a long, athletic corner who played well in 2020. Fourth rounder WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (USC) was my favorite day three pick in the entire draft. He should become the favorite target for Jared Goff fairly quickly.
New England Patriots
They drafted their QB of the future from Alabama Mac Jones in the first round. He just fell into their laps. He fits that offensive scheme perfectly. He is accurate and makes good decisions. Second rounder Christian Barmore (Alabama) is a versatile, athletic, quick DT who should be a steal. Oklahoma DE Ronnie Perkins is a disruptive pass rusher in the third round. RB Rhamondre Stevenson is another Oklahoma player drafted in the fourth round who will remind folks of LeGarrette Blount.
LOSERS
Indianapolis Colts
I am not a big fan of Michigan DE Kwity Paye in the first round. He is an athletic edge defender, but he is a very average pass rusher. Boom or bust type of prospect. DE Dayo Odeyingbo (Vanderbilt) was another reach in the second round and he is coming off a serious injury. They also failed to address the LT position in the draft with Anthony Castonzo retiring.
Oakland Raiders
I like the selections of safety Trevon Moehrig from TCU in the second round and C Jimmy Morrissey in the seventh round. However, I am not on board with the rest of the picks. They took three safeties. They reached for a lot of guys. I still can’t get over the fact that OL Alex Leatherwood (Alabama) was chosen with the 17th overall pick in the first round. They could have gotten him on day two. He fits best as an OG because he struggles against quicker DL in pass pro.
