2021 Post-NFL Draft Grades NFC North/West & AFC West/East

The 2021 NFL draft certainly brought us a few surprises. I don't think anybody expected Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to fall as far as he did (although it was due to heart health concerns) and I certainly don't think anybody expected Alex Leatherwood to go off the board in round 1. Some argue NFL draft grades won't matter this close to the draft, however the need and landscape at the time of the draft is a factor when determining who had a good draft. Of course, it will be interesting to look back on in three years. Below are reviews of the NFL divisions NFC North and West, along with the AFC East and West.

NFC North

Packers

Day 1: Eric Stokes, CB Georgia (29)

Day 2: Josh Meyers, C Ohio State (R2:62); Amari Rodgers, WR Clemson (R3:85)

Day 3: Royce Newman, T Ole Miss (R4:142); Tedarrell Slaton, DL Florida (R5:173); Shemar Jean-Charles, CB App-State (R5:178); Cole Van Lanen, T Wisconsin (R6:214); Isaiah McDuffie, LB Boston College (R6:220); Kylin Hill, RB Miss State (R7:256)

Draft Grade: B-

Analysis: Aaron Rodgers was still the talk of the Packers drafts after reports of a fractured relationship between the front office and Rodgers. Stokes was a bit of a reach for the first round, but he appears to be an eventual starter with a potential Linsley replacement in round 2 with Josh Myers. This was an effective day 3 class with lots of upside and (finally) some talented skill positions.

Bears

Day 1: Justin Fields, QB Ohio State (11)

Day 2: Teven Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State (R2:39)

Day 3: Larry Borom, OT Missouri (R5:151); Khalil Herbert, RB VT (R6:217); Dazz Newsome, WR North Carolina (R6:221); Thomas Graham, CB Oregon (R6:228); Khyiris Tonga, DL BYU (R7:250)

Draft Grade: A-

Analysis: A day full of trades, you could tell Ryan Pace is fighting for his job with a trade up for Fields in the first round and trade up for Teven Jenkins in the second round. A day after on Monday morning there was also news the Bears have released Charles Leno Jr. It appears Jenkins is the man at LT. I also like Thomas Graham and Khalil Herbert from day 3.

Lions

Day 1: Penei Sewell, OT Oregon (7)

Day 2: Levi Onwuzurike, DL Wasington (R2:41); Alim McNeill, DL NC State (R3:72); Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB Syracuse (R3:101)

Day 3: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR USC (R4:112); Derrick Barns, LB Purdue (R4:113); Jermar Jefferson, RB Oregon State (R7:257)

Draft Grade: B+

Analysis: Although it was a surprise Detroit didn’t go skill position here, its hard to pass up arguably the best tackle in the class with Penei Sewell at 7. Onwuzurike out of Washington is great value in round 2 and each day 3 pick has great upside.

Vikings

Day 1: Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech (23)

Day 2: Kellen Mond, QB Texas A&M (R3:66); Chazz Surratt, LB North Carolina (R3:78); Wyatt Davis, OG Ohio State (R3:86); Patrick Jones, EDGE Pittsburgh (R3:90)

Day 3: Kene Nwangwu, RB Iowa State (R4:119); Camryn Bynum, CB Cal (R4:125); Janarius Robinson, EDGE Florida State (R4:134); Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR Iowa (R5:157); Zach Davidson, TE Zach Davidson (R5:168); Jaylen Twyman, EDGE Pitt (R6:199)

Draft Grade: B

Analysis: I think Day 1 was a homerun as the Vikings were able to trade back and still get the guy the wanted earlier in the draft. Kellen Mond is an interesting pick in round 2 but Wyatt Davis and Cam Bynum are great picks in round 3 and 4 respectively.

AFC West:

Chiefs:

Day 1: Trade

Day 2: Nick Bolton, LB Missouri (R2:58); Creed Humphrey, C Oklahoma (R2:63)

Day 3: Joshua Kaindoh, EDGE Florida State (R4:144); Noah Gray, TE Duke (R5:162); Cornell Powell, WR Clemson (R5:181); Trey Smith, G Tennessee (R6:226)

Draft Grade: A-

Analysis: We can effectively consider Orlando Brown the first-round pick as the Chiefs traded it to acquire him just prior to the draft. This is a home run pick along with high upside linemen in Creed Humphrey in round 2 and Trey Smith in round 6. We see Mahomes in trouble for a year and KC revamps the OL in quick order.

Raiders:

Day 1: Alex Leatherwood, OT Alabama (17)

Day 2: Trevon Moehrig, S TCU (R2:43); Malcolm Koonce, EDGE Buffalo (R3:79); Divine Deablo, S VT (R3:80)

Day 3: Tyree Gillespie, S Missouri (R4:143); Nate Hobbs, CB Illinois (R5:167); Jimmy Morrissey, C Pittsburgh (R7:230)

Draft Grade: B

Analysis: Leatherwood may have been a reach but Moehrig was a great pick in round 2 so we can consider both a net positive. Deablo in round 3 is also great value

Chargers:

Day 1: Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern

Day 2: Asante Samuel Jr, CB Florida State (R2:47); Josh Palmer, WR Tennessee (R3:77); Tre McKitty, TE Georgia (R3:97)

Day 3: Chris Rumph II, EDGE Duke (R4:118); Brenden Jaimes, OT Nebraska (R5:159); Nick Niemann, LB Iowa (R6:185); Larry Rountree III, RB Missouri (R6:198); Mark Webb, CB Georgia (R7:241)

Draft Grade: A-

Analysis: Rashawn Slater is a long-term plan to protect the franchise QB and although I wasn’t as high on Samuel as others, round 2 is good value. Josh Palmer has high upside and it was a productive day 3.

Broncos:

Day 1: Patrick Surtain II, CB Alabama (9)

Day 2: Javonte Williams, RB North Carolina (R2:35); Quinn Meinerz, IOL Wisconsin-Whitewater (R3:98); Baron Browning, LB Ohio State (R3:105)

Day 3: Caden Sterns, S Texas (R5:152); Jamar Johnson, S Indiana (R5:164); Seth Williams, WR Auburn (R6:219); Kary Vincent Jr, CB LSU (R7:237); Jonathon Cooper, EDGE Ohio State (R7:239); Marquiss Spencer, EDGE Mississippi State (R7:253)

Draft Grade: A

Analysis: Patrick Surtain was the most pro ready corner of the draft and Javonte Williams is a future star. This class is all about the day 3 picks though as one of the safety combo of Sterns and Johnson is bound to be a future starter, arguably the fastest player in the draft in Seth Williams, and a future starter on the OL in Quinn Meinerz.

AFC East:

Bills

Day 1: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE Miami (30)

Day 2: Carlos Basham, EDGE Wake Forest (R2:61); Spencer Brown, OT UNI (R3:93)

Day 3: Tommy Doyle, OT Miami (OH) (R5:161); Marquez Stevenson, WR Houston (R6:203); Damar Hamlin, S Pittsburgh (R6:212); Rachad Wildgoose, CB Wisconsin (R6:213); Jack Anderson, OG Texas Tech (R7:236)

Draft Grade: C+

Analysis: This draft grabbed a few potential prospects but if Basham and Rousseau both pan out it will be a successful draft. Rousseau is a tough sell to me at pick 30 with someone like Azeez Ojulari still on the board.

Dolphins

Day 1: Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama (6); Jaelen Philips, EDGE Miami (18)

Day 2: Jevon Holland, S Oregon (R2:36); Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame (R2:42); Hunter Long, TE Boston College (R3:81)

Day 3: Larnel Coleman, OT Massachusetts (R7:231); Gerrid Doaks, RB Cincinnati (R7:244)

Draft Grade: A

Analysis: Days 1 and 2 were both homeruns as they surround Tua with some talent at WR and OL with Eichenberg being a future starter at OT. Jaelen Philips was my EDGE1 and Jevon Holland is one of “my guys” of this class.

Jets

Day 1: Zach Wilson, QB BYU (2); Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL USC (14)

Day 2: Elijah Moore, WR Ole Miss (R2:34)

Day 3: Michael Carter, RB North Carolina (R4:107); Jamien Sherwood, S Auburn (R5:146); Michael Carter II, CB Duke (R5:154); Jason Pinnock, CB Pittsburgh (R5:175); Hamsah Nasirildeen, S Florida State (R6:186); Brandin Echols, CB Kentucky (R6:200); Jonathan Marshall, DT Arkansas (R7:207)

Draft grade: A

Analysis: Zach Wilson is the future of the QB position for the jets and AVT is a plug and play lineman next to bookend Mekhi Becton. Elijah Moore and Michael Carter are great pieces around Zach Wilson to ease the rookie year.

Patriots

Day 1: Mac Jones, QB Alabama (15)

Day 2: Christian Barmore, DT Alabama (R2:38); Ronnie Perkins, EDGE Oklahoma (R3:96)

Day 3: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB Oklahoma (R4:120); Cameron McGrone, LB Michigan (R5:177); Joshuah Bledsoe, S Missouri (R6:188); Will Sherman, OT Colorado (R6:197); Tre Nixon, WR UCF

(R7:242)

Draft Grade: C+

Analysis: Mac Jones was a pick they needed to make in round 1 but I am not confident he can offer first round results. Barmore was arguably the best IDL in the class and Perkins offers good upside for a round 3 pick.

NFC West:

Cardinals

Day 1: Zaven Collins, LB Tulsa (16)

Day 2: Rondale Moore, WR Purdue (R2:49)

Day 3: Marco Wilson, CB Florida (R4:136); Victor Dimukeje EDGE Duke (R6:210); Tay Gowan, CB UCF (R6:223); James Wiggins, S Cincinnati (R7:243); Michal Menet, C Penn State (R7:247)

Draft Grade: B

Analysis: Zaven Collins was a great first-round pick and Rondale Moore does show some upside in that offense but day 3 picks left a lot to be desired.

Seahawks

Day 1: None

Day 2: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR Western Michigan (R2:56)

Day 3: Tre Brown, CB Oklahoma (R4:137); Stone Forsythe, OT Florida (R6:208)

Draft Grade: C

Analysis: It is tough to come away with the best grade here without a pick until day 2 but given what they had, the Seahawks did well. Eskridge has a ton of upside there just isn’t a lot of volume here worthy of a top grade.

Rams

Day 1: None

Day 2: Tutu Atwell, WR Louisville (R2:57); Ernest Jones, LB South Carolina (R3:103)

Day 3: Bobby Brown III, DT Texas A&M (R4:117); Robert Rochell, CB Central Arkansas (R4:130); Jacob Harris, WR UCF (R4:141); Earnest Brown IV, EDGE Northwestern (R5:174); Jake Funk, RB Maryland (R7:233); Ben Skowronek, WR Notre Dame (R7:249); Chris Garrett, EDGE Concordia St Paul (R7:252)

Draft Grade: C-

Analysis: With no day 1 picks and Tutu Atwell being the second-round pick, it came across as disappointing for the Rams. Atwell has plenty of talent and speed, but his frame is rather concerning. Lots of day 3 potential for a successful draft

- Image via CBS Sports.com

49ers

Day 1: Trey Lance, QB NDSU (3)

Day 2: Aaron Banks, OG Notre Dame (R2:48); Trey Sermon, RB Ohio State (R3:88); Ambry Thomas, CB Michigan (R3:102)

Day 3: Jaylon Moore, OT Western Michigan (R5:155); Deommodore Lenoir, CB Oregon (R5:172); Talanoa Hufanga, S USC (R5:180); Elijah Mitchell, RB ULL (R6:194)

Draft Grade: B+

Analysis: Lance with the first pick leads the 49ers in a new position post-Garoppolo. Trey Sermon and Lenoir appear to be great value picks and Notre Dame continues to spit out OL talent in Aaron Banks.