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We are getting closer and closer to real football again, which means that it is time to start the player rankings conversations. Today we examine the top five overall (team) run-blocking grades using our new individual player grade system that we developed in recent months. Click here to go to our 2021 NFL Offseason Guide How the Grade System Works The Football Scout 365 process and philosophy are predicated on the connection between advanced metrics and on-field play. The numbers can sometimes tell a different story than the film, and that is where our situational analysis plays a pivotal role in interpreting individual and team performance. Positional Group Grades In recent weeks, we have graded and ranked the top individual players by tier groups. Today's analysis covers the offensive line as a whole. By using the individual player grades, we can get an average grade by position group. The average grade will indicate the teams that possess the highest graded players at each position. Because we believe that certain position groups are only as good as the sum of the whole, we will grade out the top offensive lines by total run blocking grade in this analysis. Then we will have an additional analysis that covers the total team pass-blocking grade. You can view the complete player and team grade process by clicking here. Positional Grades Using a Philosophical Holism Approach Using a philosophical holism (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts) style to grading a position group will help us identify where the strengths and weaknesses reside at each position. Learn More About Holism Via Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy When evaluating position groups during an every play analysis, coaches, players, and those who understand the inner workings of an offensive or defensive position group, it is a consensus in football that one player's lousy technique can adversely affect the position group and team as a whole. Some Average Grade Characteristics To Consider From Years Past Teams with a 6 grade or higher are playoff-caliber teams, while those at 7 or above are considered Super Bowl Contenders. Using the same premise for each position group, we can identify championship-caliber on non-championship caliber position groups. *Subject to change Teams Poised To Dominate On The Ground In 2021 (1st). San Francisco 49ers Run Blocking (Overall Grade 7.17) The 49ers have made it clear in recent years based on how they have approached building their offensive line that running the football will be their top priority. The 49ers retained Trent Williams, who boasts an elite blocking grade according to the Football Scout 365 player grades. Williams is the clear alpha in the 49ers OL room. In addition, the 49ers went out and signed free agent C Alex Mack who has been fantastic as both a run and a pass blocker for the Falcons in recent years. LG Laken Tomlinson and RT Mike McGlinchey are excellent run blockers, with McGlinchey rated as an elite-level run blocker. According to our grades, the 49ers have two highest-graded run blockers bookending their elite level OL heading into 2021. The one weak spot on paper is at RG, where we project the potential for a rookie (Aaron Banks) to start. Having a vet like Mack at C should help the young G get acclimated quickly. The 49er's intentions are clear; they will run the football. They drafted two more RB's and a dynamic QB in Trey Lance, adding a run game dimension to the 49er's QB room. The 49ers ran the 2nd highest rate of 21 personnel (2 backs, 1 TE) in 2020. Their usage of a FB (kyle Juszczyk) and a TE (George Kittle) and their RB by committee approach should remain the norm in 2021 as Kyle Shanahan will look to make life easier on his young rookie QB (assuming Lance is the starter). *(1st). Tampa Bay Buccaneers Run Blocking (Overall Grade 7.17) The Bucs are a year better upfront, and in 2020, they had one of the best rookie offensive linemen in Tristan Wirfs at RT, who received top ten level grades as a rookie. Wirfs grade as a run blocker was well above average and could approach an elite level after only one season based on his current trajectory. The Bucs run game averaged 6.0 yards per rush to Wirfs side in 2020. Both C Ryan Jensen and LT Donovan Smith graded similarly to Wirfs at the above-average level, with Ali Marpet grading out the highest with a near-elite level score of 9. When the Bucs ran to the area of Marpet and Jensen to the left (B Gap), they averaged 4.8 yards per rush attempt in 2020. The Bucs offense will be loaded in 2021, and fans should expect to see their run game take the next step. Look out for this to be a breakout season for RB Ronald Jones. Even with Fournette and Gio Bernard crowding the backfield, and the plethora of WR's to throw the ball to, Jones is a player who has become more of an explosive power back in recent years. His average of 3.7 yards after contact in 2020 ranked 3rd among RB's with at least 50 rush attempts. (2nd). Cleveland Browns Run Blocking (Overall Grade 7.14) A season ago, the Browns ran the football at one of the most efficient levels. According to NextGen Stats, The Browns faced an 8 Man box at the league's 9th highest rate, yet Nick Chubb accumulated the 2nd highest total yards over the expected average with actual yards per attempt of 5.6 (2nd in the NFL). Nick Chubb also ranked 5th in the NFL in explosive play rate, with 15% of his rush attempts going for 15 Yards or more. The 2020 Browns OL remained intact this offseason and one of the key reasons they project to be a legit Super Bowl contender in 2021. The Browns OL consists of 4 players rated as tier one in run blocking grade according to Football Scout 365, with G Wyatt Teller receiving an elite level A+ grade. The lowest graded player in the run game is now 2nd-year player Jedrick Wills Jr who received a developmental grade in 2020. Wills has the upside to ascend higher in 2021. Another data point to consider is that when the Browns ran to the left side where Wills is located, they still averaged more than 6 yards per attempt. This tells us that Wills has time to develop as a player with an elite-level backfield, a back like Nick Chubb, and a coach who draws up plays to protect his players in the run and pass game. The sum of the whole in Cleveland is a true contender in 2021. (3rd). Los Angeles Rams Run Blocking (Overall Grade 6.29) The Rams offense is predicated on the success of its run game. Like the Browns, the Rams are a team that uses the run to set up their play-action pass game. In recent years the usage of outside zone would set up the longer developing downfield pass plays for Jared Goff. Teams have caught on to the McVay approach, so the best way to neutralize those who know what is coming is to bolster your run game with the best possible run blockers. The Rams have a top run-blocking OL heading into 2021, and they also have a less scheme-dependent QB in Matthew Stafford, who will not need to live on the edge of the defense with rollouts and long-developing plays as often as Jared Goff. With Stafford, McVay can incorporate more from the standard drop-back pass game, which adds pressure to defense and increases the OL efficiency in both pass blocking and run blocking. The 2021 Rams OL consist of LT Andrew Whitworth (Tier One B+ Run Grade), RT Rob Havenstein (Tier One B+ Run Grade), with LG David Edwards and RG Austin Corbett, both with grades just a hair below tier one in tier two (Average, B-). The big question mark is Brian Allen, who is the projected center. The departure of Austin Blythe, who signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, leaves the Rams with a void. Brian Allen, who started nine games in 2019, is the most likely candidate, though the fourth-year pro has missed significant amounts of playing time for most of the last two seasons because of a knee injury. Overall, the Rams run game in 2020 was solid. Rookie RB Cam Akers is the fan favorite to take the lead role in the backfield in 2021. Akers is a powerful back who possesses speed and is unafraid to make contact. He is also capable of making you miss in space. The Rams are not in the same stratosphere as the Browns at RB (obvious). But if we assume Akers can reach the potential we expect from him (which is at minimum a Tier One Level 3 RB), the Rams offense can potentially climb closer to the elite level run game we witnessed in Cleveland a season ago. Even if the Rams backs play at an average to above-average rate, the sum of the whole on the OL can at a minimum perform at a playoff level rate. According to NextGen Stats, we should also consider that Cam Akers faced an eight-man box on 37% of his rush attempts in 2020. You cannot load the box like that vs. Matt Stafford. The strategy of loading the box and forcing Jared Goff to beat you is no longer feasible in LA. (4th). New England Patriots Run Blocking (Overall Grade 6.27) The Patriots are building a strong OL once again to bolster its run game and protect whoever is behind center in 2021. If we assume that Cam Newton is the starter, the Patriots will be running the football once again at a high rate. The addition of two high-priced TE's in free agency (Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith) show that the Pats will be 12 personnel heavy in 2021. The Patriots have been an 11 personnel base offense since 2018 at or around 53% of the time while boasting a 2% 12 personnel rate in 2020, 13% in 2019, and 5% in 2018. Again, what does this mean? It means that they are looking to play in a phone booth similar to how you see the Ravens and 49ers handle their business with multiple TE's and FB's in the formation. The OL player run-blocking grades consist of LT Isaiah Wynn, a road grader in the run game boasting a tier-one near-elite level grade in 2020, RG Shaq Mason, and LG Michael Onwenu both grade out as high-level near-elite level run blockers. Trent Brown is the newcomer at RT acquired via free agency. Brown is the lowest graded OL for the Pats, yet he is still an adequate run blocker with a grade of Tier Two C+ and a player who can get better because of surrounding OL talent. Center David Andrews is also a solid run blocker with a C+ grade. The Patriot's backs faced a lot of 8 man boxes, according to NextGen Stats in 2020. Damien Harris led the way facing an eight-man front 39% of the time (3rd highest rate). Harris still managed to pick up a 5 yards per attempt average. (5th). Baltimore Ravens Run Blocking (Overall Grade 6.00) Even when you know what is coming, can you stop it? The Ravens OC Greg Roman caught a lot of criticism for lack of creativity in 2020. The validity of a lack of creativity argument hinges on a few angles with one that I am sure of, the WR's have lacked high-level consistency and have needed to add an actual number one WR to play on the outside since Lamar became the starter in 2018. And then there is the Lamar Jackson argument about a lack of accuracy, and in some instances, the argument is valid, but is it fair considering the style of player that Lamar is? For me, creativity is in the eye of the beholder. The true beauty of the Ravens offense lies within its run game. The combination of the inside, outside running using zone read, inside zone, or gap blocking and the athleticism of Lamar Jackson is where the true creative magic of the Ravens offense resides. The OL for the Ravens battled through injury, and the loss of Marshall Yanda to retirement left a giant hole in the middle of the Ravens OL in 2020. The talent in the Ravens backfield is bolstered by Lamar Jackson, who demands the defense's attention and opens up opportunities for other backs in the read-option game. J.K. Dobbins came on strong late in the season as a rookie averaging 6.0 yards per rush attempt. But it would be Gus Edwards whose presence would dictate a defense's use of an eight-man box in 2020. According to NextGen Stats, Edwards faced an eight-man box on 34% of his rush attempts a season ago. The Ravens OL run grades are relatively equal across the board heading into the 2021 season. LT Ronnie Stanley boasts the highest grade, with LG Bradley Bozeman, C Patrick Merkari, RG Kevin Zeitler, and RT Alejandro Villanueva grading out at a tier two C level average as run blockers. The strength of the run game might once again reside on the left side of the offense from the A gap to the D gap left; the Ravens averaged 7 yards per attempt with the TE's and WR's on the Ravens roster grading out as average to a nearly elite level in run-blocking grades.

We are getting closer and closer to real football again, which means that it is time to start the player rankings conversations. Today we examine the top five overall (team) pass-blocking grades using our new individual player grade system that we developed in recent months. Click here to go to our 2021 NFL Offseason Guide How the Grade System Works The Football Scout 365 process and philosophy are predicated on the connection between advanced metrics and on-field play. The numbers can sometimes tell a different story than the film, and that is where our situational analysis plays a pivotal role in interpreting individual and team performance. Positional Group Grades In recent weeks, we have graded and ranked the top individual players by tier groups. Today's analysis covers the offensive line as a whole. By using the individual player grades, we can get an average grade by position group. The average grade will indicate the teams that possess the highest graded players at each position. Because we believe that certain position groups are only as good as the sum of the whole, we will grade out the top offensive lines by total pass blocking grade in this analysis. You can view the complete player and team grade process by clicking here. What I look for On Film when evaluating The OL. For the most part, you scout all of the offensive line positions similarly with a few variations. Everything begins and ends with how a player moves, observing the prospect's first few steps when in pass pro, their athleticism and ability to get to an area to block in the run game, hand usage, and strength. Pass Blocking Some prospects are raw but athletic and need polish, vs. some who are very technical but lack strength or athleticism. As a pass blocker, how well does the lineman use his hands? Does he stick and move like a boxer with good footwork (punch defender). How does he handle a bull rush or players who use a wide array of hand combos to disengage? Where are his eyes? Is the prospect flat-footed at times or consistently on his toes? Run Blocking Can the prospect get a good push or move a defender? Can he leverage the defender with his size? Does he play with a good bend (bends at the knee, not at the waist)? When moving the defender, does he distribute his power from the legs up? Is the prospect's hand placement in the correct area (inside shoulders, thumbs are pointing up)? Does the player finish, and is he consistent in all of these critical areas? Scheme Fit The scheme fit matters; some guys are more comfortable in a zone-blocking scheme than, say a power, or gap scheme; some are good at both. Some are good with straight-up man blocking one on one; it varies with the run game as a general rule; Gap schemes are more effective if your offensive linemen are not physically as strong as the defensive linemen help deal with stunts and twists. Zone Schemes are great ways to feature a runner with great vision and punish fast-flowing linebackers. What I look For When Evaluating OL Using Data When evaluating an offensive lineman, the data that I look for includes sacks and pressures allowed by the individual player and blown assignment rate. All three of these metrics are negative contributions to the whole of the entire OL. Blown assignments lead to pressure and sacks. The NFL's best OL are those who show up the least on film or instant replays during a broadcast. If you are not being highlighted as an OL, you are likely doing your part to keep pressure off of the QB. The same philosophy can be used to determine what players are strong run blockers. If a player blows an assignment while run blocking whether the play results in a negative play or not, is considered a negative for that individual player and will be counted as a negative vs. the whole group as a part of our sum of the whole position grades. Positional Grades Using a Philosophical Holism Approach Using a philosophical holism (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts) style to grading a position group will help us identify where the strengths and weaknesses reside at each position. Learn More About Holism Via Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Some Average Grade Characteristics To Consider From Years Past Teams with a 6 grade or higher are playoff-caliber teams, while those at 7 or above are considered Super Bowl Contenders. Using the same premise for each position group, we can identify championship-caliber on non-championship caliber position groups. *Subject to change Teams Poised To Lead The NFL In Lowest Number Of Pressures Allowed, and Least Sacks Allowed in 2021. (1st). Cleveland Browns (Overall Grade 8.00) Overview Boasting the NFL preseason's top offensive line on paper, the Browns already carry the NFL's second-ranked team run-blocking grade heading into 2021. In 2020, the Browns offensive line allowed a league-low 88 pressures, and of the 26 total sacks allowed, the OL attributed to only 50% of those total sacks on the grade sheet, with the rest landing at the feet of a missed assignment by a non-OL or Baker Mayfield. Brown's OL Boasts High Grades In All Aspects The Browns boast three of Football Scout 365's highest-graded pass blockers, J.C. Tretter, Joel Bitonio, and Jack Conklin who are all tier one, level two near-elite players. In addition, the Browns have one of the top young OT's in the NFL, Jedrick Wills Jr., who boasts a tier-one level three grade and is a player who could enter near-elite to elite level grades in 2021. Wyatt Teller is another solid pass blocker, he is Cleveland's lowest graded pass blocker according to our metrics, yet he is one of the league's best IOL. Browns OL With Least Blown Assignments In 2020 Other variables to take into consideration, Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin accounted for a total of 27 total-blown assignments while in pass pro in 2020, while the rookie Jedrick Wills Jr. accumulated 16 on his own. Among players with at least 500 pass pro snaps, 5 or fewer blown assignments is high level. (2nd). Arizona Cardinals (Overall Grade 7.80) Overview The Cardinals are a team that has many pieces falling into place, including its offensive line. The Cardinals carry the NFL's 2nd best pass blocking grade as a whole. In 2020, the Cardinals surrendered 29 total sacks. Of those 29 sacks, the OL was accountable for only 10 of those sacks. The Cards OL also ranked 4th in the NFL in pressure allowed with 116 vs. the team total of 166. D.J. Humphries Projects Into The Elite Level Tier One, Others May Follow Him Arizona has one of the NFL's elite-level tackles (D.J. Humphries) according to Football Scout 365 metrics. Humphries is paired with LG Justin Pugh and their newest addition from the Raiders at Center Rodney Hudson, one of the top IOL players in the league. All five starters have a 7 grade or better across the board heading into the 2021 NFL season. The Addition of Rodney Hudson The upgrade at the center position from Mason Cole to Rodney Hudson is night and day. Hudson is a near-elite level center that will provide a seasoned set of eyes that will help the young Kyler Murray identify potential pressure areas. Blown Assignments Caused By Multiple Variables in 2020 The other variable to consider is that the two tackle spots in 2020 accounted for the highest total of blown assignments with both Kelvin Beachum and D.J. Humphries accounting for 36 of the 71 total-blown assignments according to data provided SIS. The Cardinals did a great job masking these issues, and there is another data point to consider, Kyler Murray using his legs to protect his OL. In 2020, the Cardinals allowed 29 total sacks; only ten were attributed to the OL, which is a huge surprise considering the more significant number of blown assignments. Kyler Murray's Time To Throw, Time To Take Off, And How He Was Accountable For The Majority Of His Teams Sacks In 2020 Murray ranked in the middle of the league in 2020 with an average time to throw 2.58 sec and was rated third in the NFL in average time to run, which is a number that calculates a player's ability to keep a pass play alive before taking off. This indicates that on pass plays, the OL and especially the tackles on the edge of the offense had to work longer to sustain their blocks, resulting in a higher rate of missed assignments. Murray, on his own, would account for 14 of the 29 total sacks, which occurred when he would work to keep a play alive rather than finding an open target or getting rid of the football. The remaining five sacks occurred on missed assignments from additional players added in pass pro, TE, FB, RB's, etc. (3rd). Indianapolis Colts (Overall Grade 7.57) Overview The talent on the Colt's OL is on pace to be the best in the NFL. Of the 21 total sacks allowed in 2020, the Colt's OL would account for 12. The Colts OL surrendered the league's 6th lowest total pressures with 125 in 2020. Colts OL Boasting High-Level Individual Player Grades From right to left, it is hard to find a glaring weakness on this Colt's OL. They Added free agent LT Eric Fisher who will pair with star LG Quenton Nelson. The Colts do not have a starter with a grade lower than 7. Weak Link Is Not A "Weak Link" In Indy Whenever you can say that your potential weak link on your offensive line is RG Mark Glowinski who accounted for 20 of Colt's 54 blown assignments in pass pro, well that's a first-world problem. Carson Wentz will be playing behind the best OL he has had since arriving in the NFL and arguably the best OL overall in 2021. (4th). Green Bay Packers (Overall Grade 7.40) Overview The Packers OL in 2020 was arguably the best in pass protection. The OL surrendered a league-best (lowest) 9 of the teams 21 total sacks. The Packers also tied with the Browns in pressures allowed by its OL with 88. Elite LT David Bakhtiari suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice in late December of 2020. Here we are in 2021, and Bakhtiari is still considered an elite-level OT who will bolster the left side of the Packer's offense. The Packers OL also has a rising star at LG in Elgton Jenkins, graded as a tier-one level three player heading into 2021, but can reach near-elite or elite by the season's end. Packers Will Likely Start A Rookie At Center The Packer's weakness upfront is rookie center Josh Myers from Ohio State. Myers graded out as our 5th best IOL in the 2021 NFL Draft, a player with many potential qualities and significant playing experience in the Big Ten appears poised to be a week one starter for the Packers in 2021. The Impact of a Rookie Center So let's discuss the impact of having a rookie center on your OL. This is not to discredit Josh Myers in any way, but he is a rookie, and the impact that this will have on the Packers, especially without Aaron Rodgers, could be detrimental to the sum of the whole. The center position is critical in the NFL because the center is responsible for calling out protections and identifying where pressure might occur. You can mask some of these problems if you have Aaron Rodgers, but without Aaron, the Packer's OL might not live up to expectations in 2021. LT David Bakhtiari ACL Recovery Timeline The sum of the whole will be drastically in peril without David Bakhtiari, especially without Aaron Rodgers. Bakhtiari is only five months into his recovery from an injury that can take upwards of 12 months or longer to recover. In a recent press conference, the Packers head coach Matt Lefleur mentioned that Bakhtiari is ahead of schedule but offered no timetable for a return. Without the star LT early in 2021, the Packers might have to roll with Elgdon Jenkins kicked out at LT while inserting another rookie in Jon Runyon Jr. from Michigan at LG. (5th). Dallas Cowboys (Overall Grade 7.20) Overview "How bout them, Cowboys"? Jerry world let us down in 2020 with a dud of a season, primarily due to the loss of star QB Dak Prescott, but not entirely. The Cowboys had many injuries at key spots, including their OL, which became a patchwork shadow of what it once was. Of the 44 total sacks allowed by the team as a whole, the OL would be accountable for 39 of those. If the Cowboys remain healthy, they have one of the NFL's top five best pass blocking units. The Cowboys will run it back with LT Tyron Smith, a Tier One Level three graded OT; he will be lined up next to LG Connor Williams, a tier two-player with a lot of upside. On the other side, the Cowboys will trot out an elite level player overall in Zach Martin, who boasts a tier-one, level three pass-blocking grade. To the right of Martin, we have RT La'el Collins, who is a wild card at best to return at full health after Missing all of 2020 with a hip issue that resulted in surgery. La'el Collins Health When healthy, Collins would have likely graded out as a tier-one player, and that is where we have him as of today (tier one, level three) until we hear otherwise about his health. Center Position A Major Question The glaring weakness on the OL for the Cowboys outside of the unknown with Collins is at the center position where 2020 rookie Tyler Biadasz would step in for the retired Travis Frederick. His shoes would prove too large to fill for Tyler Biadasz as a rookie. His improvement at the center will be one of the big areas to watch for early in 2021. Biadasz was graded as a tier two, level three developmental player in 2020.

We are getting closer and closer to real football again and that means that it is time to start the player rankings conversations. Today we begin by examining the QB position using our new individual player grade system that we developed in recent months. Go to Player Grade Dashboard (Coming Soon) How the Grade System Works The Football Scout 365 process and philosophy are predicated on the connection between advanced metrics and on-field play. The numbers can sometimes tell a different story than the film and that is where our situational analysis plays a pivotal role in how we interpret individual and team performance. You can view the full player and team grade process by clicking here. Individual Player Grades For Current NFL Players Below you will see a list of color-coded tiers followed by a descending grade scale. The grading scale is a 1-10 model with 10 being elite, and <3 as poor to very poor. The grading scale uses variables based on each player's positional focus and uses particularly advanced metrics such as pressure rate and sacks for pass rushers. Each tier carries an average value based on various data points, including the previous season's data. Our rankings are not an indictment of one's career and are more of a projection-based tier system used to identify current players' potential ceilings or floors. Tier 1 Elite Level, MVP Potential 1 = 10 (A+) Good Level 2, All Pro Level = 9 (A-) Above Average Level 3, Pro Bowl Caliber = 8 (B+) Tier 2 Average Starter Level 1, Starter, Role Player = 7 (B-) Below Average, Can be Boom Or Bust = 6 (C+) Developmental Player = 5 (C-) Tier 3 Poor= 4 (D+) Very Poor = <3 D- Depth or Replacements Needed 2021 Preseason Tier One Level NFL QB Rankings Tier One, Level One, Elite Level, All-Pro, MVP Level Talent TIER 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers? Aaron Rodgers had arguably his best season in 2020. He posted a tier-one elite level grade as QB throwing for 4300 yds, 48 TD's to only 5 INT's. His on-target throw rate was tops in the NFL at 81% among QB's with at least 200 dropbacks. TIER 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs Mahomes continues to wow everyone; in 2020, we found out he just learned to read a defense (scary). He earned an elite level tier one grade while training on the job in 2020. Mahomes threw for 4700+ yards, 38 TD's to only 6 INT. Folks, he is only going to get better. TIER 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Bucs Tampa Tom did Tom Brady things in 2020. He led a team of believers who never sniffed the playoffs in recent years to a Super Bowl title. There is currently a waiting list for those who wish to play in Tampa with Tom before he walks away from the game. I won't mention age because it still does not matter. Tom posted 4600 yards in 2020 while throwing for 40 TD's and 12 INT's. TIER 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans? Deshaun Watson continued to play at an elite level in 2020 on a bad team. He graded out at an elite level earning a high tier one grade. Watson threw for a league-leading 4800 yards while tossing 33 TD's to only 7 INT's. TIER 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Josh Allen, Buffalo BIlls Josh Allen experienced tremendous year-over-year growth. He posted an elite level tier one grade in 2020 while throwing for 4500+ yds, 37 TD's to 10 INT's. He improved his accuracy posting a 69% completion rate (5th) in 2020. Tier One, Level Two, All-Pro Level Talent, High Upside TIER 1 Good =9 (A-) Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks Wilson earned a grade just a hair below the elite level tier one grade in 2020 while posting 4200 yards, 40 TD's and 13 INT's. Wilson began the 2020 season on a scorched earth NFL pace before falling back to earth. Wilson has the potential to crack into the elite conversation in 2021. (Wilson is on the cusp of entering back into the top level of tier one). TIER 1 Good =9 (A-) Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans Ryan Tannehill has been a model of consistency since arriving in Tennessee. He is arguably one of the better decision-makers in the league over the last few seasons; he is also one of the best QB's off of play-action pass, if not the best. According to the data, Tannehill ranked 7th in QBR off of play-action in 2020. He does have Derrick Henry to thank for part of his success. Tier One, Level Three, Above Average Level 3, Pro Bowl Caliber TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys Dak is our number one candidate for comeback player of the year in 2021. He was on pace for 6 million yards in 2020 before the injury happened. in 2020, we projected the Cowboys to be a Super Bowl Caliber team, but without Dak the drop-off was drastic. That alone is proof enough of his value. Before the injury, Dak led the league in yards per dropback (7.7). With his current surrounding cast in place, Dak has a real chance to finish 2021 with an elite level tier one grade. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Matthew Stafford, LA Rams The Rams have themselves a QB with elite-level potential. Stafford graded out as a tier-one above-average player for the lions in 2020. He threw for 4000 yards, 26 TD's and 10 INT's. Sean McVay will undoubtedly find ways to scheme large windows for Stafford to throw. That leads us to believe he has the opportunity to climb into the higher level of tier one QB's in 2021. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings Captain Kirk, Mr. "You like that" falls into the tier one category with an average B+ grade. Some analysts and fans believe Kirk has underachieved, and there is an argument for that. But the numbers have been solid. In 2020, Cousins posted an elite level yard per drop back (7.5), with 4200 yards passing and a 35 TD to 13 INT ratio. Kirk was also 7th in on target throw rate. So why is he not considered level 1 or level 2 elite? It has to do with consistency. He started the strong season throwing just 3 INT's the first 8 weeks before throwing 10 INT's in the second half of 2020. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders Derek Carr is arguably the most underappreciated QB in the NFL. I am guilty of believing he is not the answer for the Raiders, but the data and his onfield play say otherwise. According to our standards, Carr ranks among the top 10 best QB's in the game. He is considered a tier-one, level three above-average player. He threw for 4100 yards, 27 TD's and 9 INT's with a TE as his number one receiver in 2020. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan might not have an offensive line in 2021, but he has one heck of a group of receivers. Ryan threw for 4600 yards, 26 TD's and 11 INT's in 2020. At the very least, Ryan should be able to replicate his 2020 numbers. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns Baker Mayfield, like Derek Carr, is very underappreciated. There is some argument to support the reasoning, but the one factor that is definitive in his grade is that he is a winner and a player who ascended as the year progressed in 2020. He played efficiently behind a strong run game posting 3500+ yards, 26 TD's to only 8 INT's. He was also very effective at throwing on the move. Mayfield should be able to replicate the same level of performance in 2021. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Justin Herbert, LA Chargers Herbert took everyone by surprise in 2020, posting a near rookie record of 4300 yards. He did break the rookie pass TD record with 31, and he threw 10 INT's; 12 of his pass TD's came on explosive 20+ yard or longer plays in 2020 (4th). Herbert will have higher expectations in 2021. TIER 1 Above Average = 8 (B+) Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson has been amazing since arriving in the NFL, and he continues to wow with his ability as a runner, which is one of the reasons he is an above-average passer. Lamar's ability to stress a defense with his legs is currently unrivaled and every bit on par with Michael Vick. He is a highly graded rusher; he is also a top graded thrower posting a tier-one above average grade. Lamar threw for 2700 yards, with 26 TD's to 9 INT's. The Ravens added some fantastic WR's in this year's draft that I believe will help Lamar improve. Lamar ranked 26th in on target passer rate in 2020, right behind Tom Brady.

We are getting closer and closer to real football again and that means that it is time to start the player rankings conversations. Today we examine individual rushing grades using our new individual player grade system that we developed in recent months. Click here to go to our 2021 NFL Offseason Guide How the Grade System Works The Football Scout 365 process and philosophy are predicated on the connection between advanced metrics and on-field play. The numbers can sometimes tell a different story than the film and that is where our situational analysis plays a pivotal role in how we interpret individual and team performance. You can view the full player and team grade process by clicking here. Individual Player Grades For Current NFL Players Below you will see a list of color-coded tiers followed by a descending grade scale. The grading scale is a 1-10 model with 10 being elite, and <3 as poor to very poor. The grading scale uses variables based on each player's positional focus and uses particularly advanced metrics such as pressure rate and sacks for pass rushers. Each tier carries an average value based on various data points, including the previous season's data. Our rankings are not an indictment of one's career and are more of a projection-based tier system used to identify current players' potential ceilings or floors. Tier 1 Elite Level, MVP Potential 1 = 10 (A+) Good Level 2, All Pro Level = 9 (A-) Above Average Level 3, Pro Bowl Caliber = 8 (B+) Tier 2 Average Starter Level 1, Starter, Role Player = 7 (B-) Below Average, Can be Boom Or Bust = 6 (C+) Developmental Player = 5 (C-) Tier 3 Poor= 4 (D+) Very Poor = <3 D- Depth or Replacements Needed 2021 Preseason Tier One Level NFL Individual Player Rushing Grades and Rankings Tier One, Level One, Elite Level, All-Pro, MVP Level Talent TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Derrick Henry , Tennessee Titans Derrick Henry's workout videos are all the craze this offseason which is good reason to believe he is focused on remaining the top pure RB in the NFL in 2021. Henry rushed for 2000+ (1st) yds on 378 attempts (1st), averaging 5.4 yards per tote. Henry played at an MVP level in 2020; he will look to continue that trend in 2021. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Lamar Jackson , Baltimore Ravens Arguably the best player in the NFL with the ball in his hands, Lamar Jackson is one of, if not the most dynamic, football players we have ever seen. My pet peeve is to place your top athlete behind center regardless of throwing ability because of the pressure it adds to a defense (yes, I know that this is more of a college or high school mindset). His running ability opens larger windows in the passing game, and that is why he grades out as Football Scout 365's 2nd best rusher. Already a top 15 passer, Jackson led the NFL in yards per rush att (6.3), forced missed tackles, and ranked number two to Kyler Murray in first down run rate. Jackson rushed for another 1000 yards in 2020, and there is no reason he cannot duplicate that in 2021. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Kyler Murray , Arizona Cardinals Insane to believe that the NFL has evolved into a league where two QB's are in the top three of the NFL's leading rushers. Like Lamar Jackson, Murray had a tremendous sophomore campaign in Arizona where he rushed for 822 yards and 6.2 yards per rush attempt (2nd). He ranked 1st in the NFL in first downs converted with his legs in 2020. Murray possesses more accuracy as a passer than Lamar Jackson, but his durability due to his smaller size is a big concern. He did great avoiding contact in 2020; if he can continue to stay upright, he can ascend into top 5 passer and rusher status moving forward. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Dalvin Cook , Minnesota Vikings The 2nd ranked RB according to the Football Scout 365 grading scale, Dalvin Cook, when healthy, could climb to number one. He possesses great ability both inside and outside of the tackles. He can run behind his pads or make you miss in the open field. Cook averaged 3.3 yards after contact (10th), ranked 10th in forced missed tackle rate, and ranked 7th in 1st down run rate. Cook ranked 2nd in the league in total rush yards and averaged 5 yards per attempt while running behind a below-average offensive line. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Nick Chubb , Cleveland Browns Nick Chubb, like Derrick Henry, is among the few pure RB's in the NFL. Chubb is one of the best inside and outside runners; he can run behind his pads or make defenders miss. His speed is world-class for a RB of his size. A season ago, our expectation was new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski would use the run game to open the play-action pass, which is what he did. Nick Chubb was a big-time factor in Cleveland's ability to execute the intended scheme. Chubb hit the 1000 yard mark in 2020; he did miss a few games in 2020, and if not injured, he paced 253 carries which would have been the 4th highest, and at 5.6 yards per att, he could have amassed 1400 rush yards, on par with our 2020 projection. Regardless, Chubb is part of a dynamic one-two punch in Cleveland and is the key to the success of the Browns offense in 2021. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Saquon Barkley , New York Giants Barkley has been among the top 5 best RB's in the NFL since his final year at Penn State. The 1st recipient of our highest grade for a rookie player with Jerry Jeudy, who graded out as the next surest thing to enter the NFL, Barkley didn't waste time making a name for himself as a dynamic runner and pass catcher. His injury in 2020 has not deflated our belief that he is a top-five RB. If he can play an entire season in 2021, he could enter top 3 status. Those who are concerned about his ACL injury need not worry. His rehab, according to sources, is on schedule for a week one return, but he does not need to rush back into the lineup with Devontae Booker there to back him up; Barkley could take his time early in 2021 to assure a full recovery. Our early look at 2021 projections shows the potential for 1100 yards on the ground, 700 as a receiver with 15 total TD's. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) Christian McCaffrey , Carolina Panthers This man strategically ate a lot of chili bowls along with cool ranch Doritos and Oreos in the offseason before his historic 2019 season. Do not try this at home; you will get fat unless you are working out relentlessly throughout your day. Like Barkley and Kamara, CMC is what the NFL RB has evolved into, a dynamic runner with explosive playmaking ability who can line up all over your formation as a pass-catcher. Like the evolution of the QB position where players are more dynamic with their legs, having a RB like CMC can also add stress to a defense. CMC is in an offense that fits his skillset even more than in 2019. Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady, a Sean Payton disciple, will be creative in his usage with CMC, and before his injury, CMC's usage was on pace for 400 total touches. Early ceiling-based projections for 2021, 250 rush attempts for 1150 yards, and 100 receptions for an additional 900 yards. Tier One, Level Two, All-Pro Level Talent, High Upside TIER 1 Level 2 Good =9 (A-) Ezekiel Elliott , Dallas Cowboys Feed this dude; he is always hungry. Zeke is in the same stylistic RB tier as both Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb. His powerful rushing style is where he makes his hay. Zeke's production dropped off in a significant way a season ago. His 2018 and 2019 production ranked atop the NFL, but in 2020 he watched his total yards, yards per attempt, and yards after contact drop. The COwboys were injury-riddled on the OL, and the loss of Dak Prescott added additional pressure on Zeke to carry the load. Zeke possesses a top 3 RB ceiling in 2021. TIER 1 Level 2 Good =9 (A-) Alvin Kamara , New Orleans Saints Kamara has not rushed for 1000 yards as a rusher. His 932 rush yards in 2020 are his best since entering the league. He averaged 5 yards per attempt while scoring 16 TD's on the ground. His ability as a receiver is where he has proven to be an elite-level RB. But since we are grading based on rushing ability, Kamara proved that he can be a high-level runner a season ago. He ranked 2nd among NFL RB's in first down run rate. We believe that his usage will increase in the run game in 2021 as the offense evolves to life without Drew Brees. Kamara has not eclipsed 200 rush attempts in his career, we believe he will finally clear 200 attempts in 2021. Early projections for Kamara have his rush attempts at a ceiling of 220, with a rush yards ceiling of 1100 yards. That would be a huge jump for a guy who has been an 800 rush yards, 800 receiving yards type of player. If he hits the projected ceiling, he will enter the level one elite rusher tier. TIER 1 Level 2 Good =9 (A-) Aaron Jones , Green Bay Packers One of two critical Aarons in Green Bay, this Aaron signed a deal to remain a Packer while the other is looking to jump ship. Jones is a very good RB while paired with a hall of fame caliber QB in Aaron Rodgers. Jones might see a dip in his rush totals without Rodgers, but that's not due to his ability as a runner. Jones produced the league's 4th highest rush yards total (1100+) at 5.5 yards per attempt (4th). TIER 1 Good =9 (A-) Ronald Jones , Tampa Bay Buccaneers I make jokes about Ronald Jones and his running style. I often say that if he finds an opening, he might avoid it to make contact on purpose. Jones is a deceptively fast player who can turn on the jets once he enters the 2nd and third levels of a defense. His vision improved lt season, and a lot of that had to do with the OL's improvement in the run game. In 14 games, Jones compiled 978 yards rushing and 5.1 yards per attempt. He averaged just under 14 rush att per game in 2020, and had he played the full 16 games; he would have surpassed 1000 rush yards. As mentioned above, Jones is a yards after contact savant; he averaged 3.7 yards after contact in 2020 (3rd). TIER 1 Level 2 Good =9 (A-) Jonathon Taylor , Indianapolis Colts Jonathon Taylor and JK Dobbins were the top rookie RB's entering the 2020 NFL season, according to the Football Scout 365 NFL draft big board. Taylor took a little time to establish himself in an offense "tailor" made for his style. In the first ten weeks of the 2020 season, Taylor averaged 51 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Placed on the covid list in week 11, Taylor returned to finish the remaining five games averaging 130 rush yards and 6.4 yards per rush attempt. Taylor rose from a poor level to an elite level payer late in the season, and that is what you are looking for out of an elite-level talent like Jonathon Taylor. Tier One, Level Three, Above Average Level 3, Pro Bowl Caliber TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) J.K. Dobbins , Baltimore Ravens J.K. all day (Gus Johnson reference). Dobbins was not the full-time player for the Ravens in 2020 that he was while at Ohio State, but he flashed his ability as the season progressed. Before the 2020 NFL draft, we highlighted that Dobbins has a knack of showing up big when the lights shine bright a nd he did the same as a rookie for the Ravens, who were clearly looking for an Ingram replacement. Dobbins rushed for 800 yards and averaged elite level yards per attempt (6.0), leading all NFL RB's in 2020. Dobbins is known as a good stretch zone style RB, and it showed in 2020. His ability to improve his rushing between the tackles will be paramount. J.K. Dobbins average 3.6 yards per rush between tackles in 2020, vs. 7.2 yds per rush outside of the tackles. The Ravens will have a one, two, three punch of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins with Lamar Jackson in 2021. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) Chris Carson , Seattle Seahawks Chris Carson, I remember his fumbles being a massive issue; he has cleaned up the problem with his fumbles. His health is also a big question mark. But when healthy, Carson plays a significant role in the Seahawk's ability to use play-action. Russell Wilson's passer rating (107.0) in games with Chris Carson at RB (45 total games) is 10 points higher (97.4) than games without Carson. Whatever you want to believe about the significance of analytics in sports, the passer rating is a very good indicator of offensive efficiency. Carson being available makes the Seahawk's offense a lot more efficient. In 2020, Carson played in 12 games. He averaged 4.8 yards per run and amassed 680 yards on the ground with five TD's. Carson was on pace to amass 900 rush yards. When healthy, he is a 1000 yard rusher who is solid in pass pro. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) James Robinson , Jacksonville Jaguars Out of left field is where James Robinson entered the 2020 season. Some scouts recognized the talents of Robinson early. I did not get the opportunity to evaluate Robinson until after he was drafted. It became apparent that he possesses high-level vision as a runner and the receiving chops needed in today's NFL. His 4.64 forty might have been the defining factor in his stock falling in the 2020 draft. Robinson proved to be a bell cow for the Jags in 2020, where he picked up 1000 yards on 4.5 yards per attempt. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) Antonio Gibson , Washington FT The three-down back in the NFL has to be a good receiver. Gibson proved he could play that three-down role in 2020. As a rusher, he amassed 795 yards, 4.7 yards per attempt. He has 1000 yards potential as a runner in 2021 in a backfield where he should be the lead man. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) Melvin Gordon , Denver Broncos Melvin Gordon has competition that could easily unseat him as the starter with the Broncos drafting rookie RB Javonte Williams from North Carolina. If Gordon is the starter come September in Denver, he should maintain his current status in tier one, level three of the Football Scout 365 NFL player grades. We might be looking at the last season where Gordon is in this tier as we expect he may regress in the coming years, but he still has enough in the tank to remain at the bottom of the top tier of NFL RB's. Gordon fell just shy of eclipsing the 1000 yard barrier in 2020. He averaged 4.7 yards per rush attempt. If Gordon loses his projected lead back status to Javonte Williams in 2021, we might see Williams in or above this tier post-2021.

We are getting closer and closer to real football again and that means that it is time to start the player rankings conversations. Today we examine individual receiving grades using our new individual player grade system that we developed in recent months. Click here to go to our 2021 NFL Offseason Guide How the Grade System Works The Football Scout 365 process and philosophy are predicated on the connection between advanced metrics and on-field play. The numbers can sometimes tell a different story than the film and that is where our situational analysis plays a pivotal role in how we interpret individual and team performance. You can view the full player and team grade process by clicking here. Individual Player Grades For Current NFL Players Below you will see a list of color-coded tiers followed by a descending grade scale. The grading scale is a 1-10 model with 10 being elite, and <3 as poor to very poor. The grading scale uses variables based on each player's positional focus and uses particularly advanced metrics such as pressure rate and sacks for pass rushers. Each tier carries an average value based on the previous season's data. Tier 1 Elite Level, MVP Potential 1 = 10 (A+) Good Level 2, All Pro Level = 9 (A-) Above Average Level 3, Pro Bowl Caliber = 8 (B+) Tier 2 Average Starter Level 1, Starter, Role Player = 7 (B-) Below Average, Can be Boom Or Bust = 6 (C+) Developmental Player = 5 (C-) Tier 3 Poor= 4 (D+) Very Poor = <3 D- Depth or Replacements Needed 2021 Preseason Tier One Level NFL Individual Player Receiving Grades and Rankings Tier One, Level One, Elite Level, All-Pro, MVP Level Talent TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals Hopkins is a dominant possession receiver, and it was on full display in 2020 with the Cardinals. The clear number one receiver in the Cardinals offense a season ago. Hopkins dropped one pass in 2020 and is the definition of a 50/50 ball style WR who won literally 50% of his contested pass-catching attempts a season ago. The rapport with Kyler Murray will continue to improve, so he will continue to be a consistent force moving forward. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers With Deandre Hopkins considered our top receiver, Adams is our 1B. Adams's route running ability, combined with the rapport he has with Aaron Rodgers, is the perfect recipe for a player who arguably could have won NFL MVP in 2020. Adams, by the numbers, is the top WR in the NFL vs. press-man coverage. Adams played in 14 games in 2020; he picked up 1374 yards as a receiver and scored 18 touchdowns. Had he played a full 16, he was on pace to hit 1570 yards receiving and score 20+ TD's. We do not know how the Aaron Rodgers situation will play out, but the odds are high that Adams will be catching balls in 2021 from a new QB in Green Bay. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills Stefon Diggs took a giant leap from above-average to the elite level in one season after moving from the Vikings to the Bills in 2020. Paired with Josh Allen, who is also an ascending star, Diggs has the potential to remain in the elite tier moving forward. Diggs led the NFL in targets (127) and yards (1535) in 2020. He has the potential once again to lead the NFL in both categories in 2021, especially if NFL teams decide to play man to man as consistently as they did in 2020 (top 5 rate). TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs Tyreek Hill's dominance as a serious threat who can get behind a team's secondary is like no other. Combined with Patrick Mahomes, who has arguably the strongest arm in the NFL, defenses struggle to find ways to contain Hill. He has improved as a route runner since arriving in the NFL, and that is another reason we have him rated higher than many other outlets. Hill snagged 87 balls for 1274 yards in 2020. There is a possibility that without Sammy Watkins now in the fold, his usage will increase in 2021. We believe Hill could have his best year yet in the NFL. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears Allen Robinson will enter the 2021 NFL season with a potential rookie at QB. That rookie is Justin Fields, and we can say with confidence that Fields will be the most accurate QB that Robinson has been paired with since arriving in the league. If we are correct about our projections that Justin Fields is an instant impact player at the next level, Robinson's production has the potential to skyrocket in 2021. Robinson is a player who uses his body well in traffic to make contested catches. Robinson is also an elite chain mover; he accounted for 52% of the Bear's total first downs by WR's in 2020. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons Atlanta has had some excellent WR's the last few seasons, and the one player who is ready to take that top spot in the ATL is Calvin Ridley. In 2020, Ridley took the next step to Elite level. He reeled in 1374 yards and 9 TD's on 143 targets. He ranked atop the NFL in air yards before reception and 15th in average depth of target. Ridley win's with route running and is very good at the intermediate level. He also led the NFL in deep ball receptions in 2020. We expect Ridley to continue his rise; he is considered to be one of the elite graded WR's headed into the 2021 NFL season. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings The Vikings struck gold after losing Stefon Diggs to the Bills. Paired with Kirk Cousins and another high-level WR in Adam Thielen, Jefferson took the NFL by storm, breaking the rookie WR record for receiving yards in a season (Super Bowl Era) with 1400. He passed the likes of Randy Moss and former record holder Anquan Boldin. Jefferson was rarely utilized the first two games of the 2020 season, making his rookie season even more incredible. Jefferson has the chops as a receiver; he proved he could dominate vs. man coverage, an area that many scouts questioned when he entered the NFL. Jefferson might not hit the same numbers in year two, and that is okay, but we fully expect him to remain at or near the top five of NFL receivers for years to come. TIER 1 Level 1 Elite = 10 (A+) WR Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce is the top TE in the NFL, and he is so good that he ranks among the top WR's in the NFL. Kelce Ranked 2nd in the NFL in total yards in 2020 (1416), he scored the 5th most TD's, led the league in total first downs among WR's and ranked 3rd in yards after the catch. (Throws hands in the air screaming rabble, rabble TE among WR's rabble, rabble) Tier One, Level Two, All-Pro Level Talent, High Upside TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans A.J. Brown is a player on the rise in 2021. In 2020, he amassed nearly 1100 yards on 70 receptions. He tied for 10th in the NFL in yards per target with 10.1. Brown is the definition of a yards after the catch savant who averaged 6.1 yards after the catch in 2020, ranking 6th among WR's with at least 50 targets. His ability to be physically dominant against DB's in the NFL in his first two seasons gives us reason to believe he will only continue to ascend. TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons Julio Jones is what A.J. Brown wants to be, and Julio Jones is arguably the most physically imposing WR in the NFL outside of D.K. Metcalf. Jones remains highly regarded even at 32 years old because he continues to show consistency. Jones wants out of Atlanta and may only have a few more high-level years remaining as a WR in the NFL. We expect Jones will remain in this tier in 2021. TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks Climbing up the charts like a BillBoard top 100 hit, Metcalf has all of the potential to enter the elite level in 2021. His 1300 yards receiving ranked 7th in the NFL in 2020. Among WR's with at least 100 targets, Metcalf ranked 2nd to Calvin Ridley in average depth of target (13.7). Metcalf is a physical player with incredible deep-ball ability. The areas where Metcalf needs to improve, route running at the short and intermediate levels and limiting drops; once he improves in both, he will undoubtedly leap into the elite status. TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks Tyler Lockett is an underrated player who wins with route running and speed. The combo of Lockett and Russell Wilson have formed the most efficient duo of passer and catcher in the NFL the last three seasons. In 2020, Wilson had a top-five passer rating when targeting Tyler Lockett. It does help when you have an athletic freak opposite of you at WR in D.K. Metcalf, but there is no doubt who the go-to WR has been in Seattle the last three seasons. TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys Since he arrived in Dallas, Cooper has been a consistent force in the Cowboy's offense. Cooper win's with route running, and even without Dak for most of the 2020 season, Cooper managed to amass 1114 yards and 5 TD's. His 413 yards after the catch ranked 20th in the NFL. With Dak returning in 2021, Cooper is poised to have another great year. TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team McLaurin is possibly the most technically sound young WR in the NFL. A good route runner who can get consistent separation and who boasts 4.3 speed. McLaurin posted 1100 yards in 2020 while working with sub-par QB play. His ceiling is absolutely in the elite tier, and he has an opportunity to prove that with Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fold in 2021. The area where McLaurin will likely see an increase in 2021 will be his average depth of target. His ADOT dropped from 2019 (14.0) to 2020 (9.7). TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR Keenan Allen, LA Chargers One of our pet peeves when grading a receiver is their route-running ability. Keenan is a folk hero for route running and a player that receiver coaches use as a gold standard when teaching the young'ins how to get elite-level separation. Allen was targeted at the 5th highest rate in 2020. He is consistently one of the highest targeted WR's in the league. Allen catches a lot of passes underneath or with a low depth of target. His yards per target ranked 109th in the NFL in 2020 (6.7), but no receiver converted more first downs after the catch than Keenan Allen in 2020. Allen posted the lowest yards per target number since his 2nd year in the league. The Chargers used Allen less as an intermediate and deep route runner in 2020 than other years, so with a new headman and OC at the helm and a young, fearless, strong-armed Justin Herbert, we expect to see these numbers increase during the 2021 NFL season. TIER 1 Level 2 Good = 9 (A-) WR Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders Our 2nd highest-graded TE is also among the best receivers in the NFL. Like Travis Kelce, Waller led his team in targets, receptions, yards, yards after the catch, and TD's. Waller is among the best in the league in almost every statistical category. His 145 targets tied for 6th with Travis Kelce, his 107 receptions are 4th best, and two catches ahead of Kelce. His 1196 yards rank 11th, and his yards after the catch (you guessed it) ranked 4th right behind Travis Kelce in 2020 with 572. Waller still has room to grow as a player and should remain the top target for the Raiders in 2021. Tier One, Level Three, Above Average Level 3, Pro Bowl Caliber TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chris Godwin entered the 2020 season as a player who had elite-level WR written all over him with Tom Brady as his QB. He did not hit the elite level overall but did show why we believe he can reach the elite level of tier one. His route running ability is high-level, and his slot prowess is exactly what Tom Brady needs. Godwin still managed to post 800+ yards on 84 targets while playing in only 12 games. If he can stay healthy in 2021, he will likely be Tom Brady's favorite target. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers When Brady needed to find a target inside the opponent's 10-yard line in 2020, he looked for Mike Evans. In 2020, Evans ranked 2nd only to Davante Adams in targets from or within the opponent's 10 with 14 total targets. Evans would snag 9 of those 14 targets, and all nine were for TD's. Evans managed to crack 1000 yards as a receiver in 2020 while surrounded by Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) WR Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings Slowing with age, Thielen did not get the same kind of separation on a per route basis that he has been accustomed to in years prior. Still, Thielen played extremely well when faced with man-to-man coverage due to his route running ability. Thielen did not crack the 1000 yard barrier in 2020, and his best years might be behind him, but we believe he has enough in the tank to produce a few more top-level seasons. In 2020, among all receivers with at least 100 targets, Thielen posted the 6th best QBR when targeted. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers In 2020, Teddy Bridgewater ranked near the league's bottom in air yards per attempt average (7.1), leaving a lot to be desired from a WR in D.J. Moore to be desired. Moore himself still managed to rank in the top ten of average depth of target among WR's with at least 75 targets. Moore was also a consistent mover of the chains converting a first down on 45% of his targets in 2020. In comes QB Sam Darnold, a player who boasts a strong arm. The potential for Moore to take the next step is in the cards, and a lot will ride on how much Sammy D can improve under OC Joe Brady. D.J. Moore's standing in the top tier is based more on the projectible upside than recent accolades, and he must clean up his issues with drops (7). We believe Moore has the tools to be an elite-level WR. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) WR Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers In 2020, there was a lot of debate about who was the top WR in the Carolina offense between Anderson and D.J. Moore. Anderson made a solid case in 2020, posting 1096 yards, of which 45% of those total yards came after the catch for Anderson. Like D.J. Moore, Anderson had a high number of drops in 2020 (6). With his former Jet teammate Sam Darnold in Carolina, Anderson might have the inside track to more production. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers George Kittle managed to play in 8 games in 2020, and had he remained healthy; he was on pace to amass 1250+ receiving yards. Kittle is a physical player who, unlike Kelce, plays a more traditional inline version of the TE position. In 2019, Kittle cracked 1000 yards; he picked up 53 first downs as a receiver while still only playing 14 regular-season games. Kittles health in 2021 will determine whether or not he should remain within the top tier of receivers moving forward. Still, his overall ability and what we believe he projects to become is why he remains in the top tier of receivers. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) RB Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers The number one rated RB among the top WR's is none other than Christian McCaffrey. CMC was hurt in 2020, but no one can argue against the fact that if CMC remained healthy in 2020, he would have been among the league's best receivers. In 2019, he capped a fantastic season as both a runner and a receiver, where he picked up 1005 yards as a receiver, 4 TD's, and ranked 10th, converting 58 first downs as a receiver. His 8.8 yards after the catch ranked 6th among all receivers in 2019. If he remains healthy in 2021, he will be a part of an offense built around his skill set, even more so than in 2019 under current OC Joe Brady. TIER 1 Level 3 Above Average = 8 (B+) RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints Like CMC, Kamara is a dynamite receiver out of the backfield. Kamara became the leader of the Saints offense in stretches where they were without both WR Michael Thomas and QB Drew Brees. Kamara was great as a runner and extremely efficient as a receiver, where he picked up 756 yards and 5 TD's. His league is leading 8.8 yards after the catch. Kamara also led the NFL in forced missed tackle rate (77%) as a receiver a rate 40% pts higher than the next closest player. His ceiling is the sky, maybe beyond that.

Some of the 2021 NFL Draft highlights include: 8 QB's selected in the first three rounds (NFL Record), with 5 going in round one. 14 OT's were selected in the first three rounds (NFL Record). 16 CB's were drafted in the first three rounds (NFL record). The NFL has been evolving into a more pass-heavy league in recent years, and that curve does not look like it will flatten anytime soon as the NFL. As you can see we highlighted above, there were 8 QB's selected in the first three rounds (NFL record), and 14 OT's were chosen between rounds 1-3 (also an NFL record). The 15 WR's drafted between rounds 1-3 tied for fourth-most since the common draft era began in 1967. In 2020, 80% of teams played at least one quarterback who was originally a first-round pick, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Do not expect that 80% number to decrease in 2021. To combat the heavy offensive overflow of talent that teams are loading up on in recent years, teams are loading up on CB's. A record 16 were taken in the first three rounds, and a total of 37 were selected over the course of the 2021 NFL Draft. In the below chart, you will find an overview of the 2021 NFL Draft. We have listed the total number of players drafted in rounds 1-7, with their average drafted by round, highest pick number, and the average player grade using our proprietary grade player analysis grades. Final 2021 NFL Draft Overview The above chart provides an overview of the 2021 NFL Draft. We have listed the total number of players drafted in rounds 1-7, with their average drafted by round, highest pick number, and the average player grade using our proprietary grade player analysis grades. The highest graded position in 2021 is at the QB position, where they average a high 6.6 grade which would categorize the entire position as a Potential Upside caliber group (2nd tier). QB's carry the highest value with an average drafted round of 2.30, followed by OT at 3.24. The lowest draft value in 2021 is at RB, with an average draft round value of 4.80, followed by the safety position. The interior defensive line position was also valued very low, and we knew that might be the case going into the draft due to the lack of high-end prospects at the position. The CB position had the most players drafted in 2021 with an average round drafted of 3.97 which ranks as the 2nd highest on the defensive side of the football.

The first round provided us with a few surprises, as always. The first seven picks were from the offensive side of the football (NFL Draft record). The draft order changed a few times as teams were moving back after their potential primary targets were off the board, and one team of note moved up, the Chicago Bears, who got a steal at pick #11 with Ohio State QB Justin Fields. In the second and third rounds, we were treated to a run of QB's from picks 64-67 and it began at the end of the 2nd round when the Tampa Bay Bucs selected Florida QB, Kyle Trask. At pick 66 the Vikings chose a potential Kirk cousins replacement in QB Kellen Mond from Texas A&M, and at pick 67 the Texans drafted Stanford QB, Davis Mills. A total of 8 QB's went in the first three rounds (NFL Draft record). There were 42 total combined offensive, and defensive lineman (DL and Edge) selected in the first three rounds proving that teams understand the importance of building from the inside out. Team Grades and Final Analysis ARIZONA CARDINALS FINAL GRADE: B R1 (16): LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa R2 (49): WR Rondale Moore, Purdue R4 (136): CB Marco Wilson, Florida R6 (210): EDGE Victor Dimukeje, Duke R6 (223): CB Tay Gowan, UCF R7 (243): S James Wiggins, Cincinnati R7 (247): C Michal Menet, Penn State Final Analysis The Cardinals first two picks were home runs and fill two areas of need. LB Zaven Collins is a very solid player with elite size. He is a versatile player who they can pair with Isaiah Simmons. Rondale Moore is a perfect fit for this offense. The 23rd ranked player on our board and 4th rated WR provides versatility as a player who can line up all over the field placing a lot of pressure on defenses when paired with Deandre Hopkins. This is how you take care of your QB (Green Bay). The Cardinals went after a few secondary players and an Edge player to help their defense who graded poorly in both pass coverage and pass rush in 2020. The Cardinals snagged the 18th rated edge player and 121st overall from our board on day three (Victor Dimukeje). ATLANTA FALCONS FINAL GRADE: B- R1 (4): TE Kyle Pitts, Florida R2 (40): S Richie Grant, UCF R3 (68): OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan R4 (108): CB Darren Hall, San Diego State R4 (114): C Drew Dalman, Stanford R5 (148): DI Ta'Quon Graham, Texas R5 (182): EDGE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame R5 (183): CB Avery Williams, Boise State R6 (187): WR Frank Darby, Arizona State Final Analysis Everyone thought the Falcons would go with Kyle Pitts if they did not trade back and that's what happened. Arguably the best skill player on the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitts is one of our top Instant Impact Potential Players with an elite grade A+ grade which classifies Pitts as a perfect prospect with elite traits. The Falcons selected Michigan OT Jalen Mayfield on day two. We had Mayfield as the 27th best prospect on our board and the 5th best OT. He provides good upside and is versatile. He can play guard or tackle. He provides great value for an offense that graded D- in both pass blocking and run blocking in 2020. Day three for the Falcons saw them focus on their secondary where they would grab a few CB's (Hall, Williams), and then a WR (Frank Darby). All of the day three picks for the Falcons are developmental players who will need time to grow and that does not bode well for a defense that graded an F in pass coverage, C- in pass rush, and a D vs the run according to the 2020 final situational team analysis grades. BALTIMORE RAVENS FINAL GRADE: B R1 (27): WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota R1 (31): EDGE Odafe Oweh, Penn State R3 (94): G Ben Cleveland, Georgia R3 (104): CB Brandon Stephens, SMU R4 (131): WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State R5 (160): CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State R5 (171): EDGE Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame R5 (184): TE Ben Mason, Michigan Final Analysis So the Ravens finally decided to go after a bigger outside target rather than more Hollywood Brown-style slot players. The Ravens did their star QB a huge favor by drafting Rashod Bateman. Bateman didn't grade as high on our board as others. We had him as the 48th overall player and the 7th best WR in a very deep class. He is considered a 2nd tier Potential Upside player where we have him graded out as boom or bust. He landed in one of the best spots regardless of what you believe about the Raven offense. He will get high usage, assuming he develops quickly and learns the scheme. We graded the Ravens a C- in the passing game in 2020, which is below average. Not all of that can be placed on Lamar as the receivers themselves were graded a C-. The Ravens also drafted a high upside edge player from Penn State (Jason Oweh). Oweh posted a 4.36 forty at his pro day. He is a bit raw, but with time he can develop into a special player. On day two, the Ravens snagged a high upside OT in Ben Cleveland from Georgia, rated 113 overall on our board and the 8th best tackle. He provides them with depth on the OL and will need some time to develop, but overall he has a lot of potential. The Ravens jumped on the opportunity to draft Ohio State DB Shaun Wade whose value dropped after 2020 due to some ups and downs on the field. In 2019, Wade was a solid Nickel corner, but in 2020 he was thrown outside. The Ravens will likely look to use him to cover in the slot. In addition, the Ravens snagged another WR (Oklahoma States Tylan Wallace). Wallace is a big-play threat and one of the more underrated WR's in the draft. BUFFALO BILLS FINAL GRADE: B R1 (30): EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami (FL.) R2 (61): EDGE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest R3 (93): OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa R5 (161): OT Tommy Doyle, Miami (OH) R6 (203): WR Marquez Stevenson, Houston R6 (212): S Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh R6 (213): CB Rachad Wildgoose, Wisconsin R7 (236): OG Jack Anderson, Texas Tech Final Analysis In a draft where high-quality IDL are very few and far between, the Bills might have opted to go after a few guys who can play both on the edge and flip inside when needed. The Bills graded poorly against the run in 2020, so we figured they would prioritize the IDL at some point. They started off by selecting Miami Hurricane EDGE Rusher Greg Rousseau in Round one. Rousseau graded out as a tier two Potential Upside player and the 36th rated player on our board as well as the 5th best Edge player. The Bills drafted another EDGE player, Carlos Boogie Basham, who uses power to win and can also play from the inside out on the defensive line. They also drafted an OT (Spencer Brown), another highly valued player on our board with a ton of potential. Day three saw the Bills drafting developmental players to help their OL, WR's and their secondary. CAROLINA PANTHERS FINAL GRADE: B- R1 (8): CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina R2 (59): WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU R3 (70): OT Brady Christensen, BYU R3 (83): TE Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame R4 (126): RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State R5 (158): DI Daviyon Nixon, Iowa R5 (166): CB Keith Taylor, Washington R6 (193): G Deonte Brown, Alabama R6 (204): WR Shi Smith, South Carolina R6 (222): LS Thomas Fletcher, Alabama R7 (232): DI Phil Hoskins, Kentucky Final Analysis My initial thoughts were that the Panthers could have went QB here, but they didn't go wrong choosing South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn. Horn is the 3rd best CB on our board and is a player who possesses elite-level potential. He is the Son of former NFL WR Joe Horn, so he has the pedigree, and if Caleb Farley had not had some injury concerns, the Panthers might have gone a different direction. Regardless, the Panthers Addressed their secondary that we graded out at the bottom of the league in 2020. On day two, the Panthers go out and add a playmaking WR from LSU in Terrace Marshall. He is a guy who has immediate starting potential from a deep WR class. On Day three, we had Daviyon Nixon listed as the best available to begin the day. The Panthers drafted Nixon, a player with a lot of upside. CHICAGO BEARS FINAL GRADE: C- R1 (11): QB Justin Fields, Ohio State R2 (39): OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State R5 (151): OT Larry Borom, Missouri R6 (217): RB Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech R6 (221): WR Dazz Newsome, North Carolina R6 (228): CB Thomas Graham Jr., Oregon R7 (250): DI Khyiris Tonga, BYU Final Analysis The Bears traded up to get one of our highest-rated players in Justin Fields. Fields had slid down some draft boards late, and when the Broncos passed on him, we believed it was forgone conclusion he would be a Patriot until the Bears swooped in and snagged the best value in the 2020 NFL draft on paper. Fields will likely be the starter on day one and is one of our 12 Instant Impact Players from our 2020 evaluations. The Bears drafted one of the best available players on our board on day two OT Tevin Jenkins. Jenkins has a lot of potential at the next level. Jenkins is considered a high-level run blocker who must work on his pass blocking at the NFL level. The Bears graded out at an average to below-average level in 2020 in run blocking and an F grade in pass pro, so he may need to develop quickly so Justin Fields is not running for his life in 2021. The Bears picked up developmental WR, RB, CB, and IDL on day three. CINCINNATI BENGALS FINAL GRADE: C R1 (5): WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU R2 (46): OT Jackson Carman, Clemson R3 (69): EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas R4 (111): EDGE Cameron Sample, Tulane R4 (122): DI Tyler Shelvin, LSU R4 (139): T D'Ante Smith, East Carolina R5 (149): K Evan McPherson, Florida R6 (190): C Trey Hill, Georgia R6 (202): RB Chris Evans, Michigan R7 (235): EDGE Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State Day One Oh, the Bengals. They opted to draft the excellent Jamarr Chase from LSU, who played with Burrow in 2019, where both players broke records together. Burrow wanted Chase, and that is fine, but the Bengals should also consider keeping their QB upright. We thought they should go with Oregon OT Penei Sewell, one of three players we gave a perfect Instant Impact Prospect grade. The Bengals addressed their OL on Day number two by selecting Clemson OT Jackson Carman. He is our 9th rated tackle from 2020 and a far cry from Sewell, but he does have great upside, I guess. They did pick up a Potential Upside player in Texas Edge player Joseph Ossai. CLEVELAND BROWNS FINAL GRADE: B+ R1 (26): CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern R2 (52): LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame R3 (91): WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn R4 (110): OT James Hudson, Cincinnati R4 (132): DI Tommy Togiai, Ohio State R5 (153): LB Tony Fields II, West Virginia R5 (169): S Richard LeCounte, Georgia R6 (211): RB Demetric Felton, UCLA Final Analysis The presumed 2021 Super Bowl Champion Browns (sarc, maybe). The Browns had a good draft. On Day one, they grabbed one of the top CB's in a deep class in Greg Newsome from Northwestern. And then, on day two, they grabbed our number two rated LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from Notre Dame. The Browns drafted a steal in James Hudson out of Cincinnati on day three. The Browns picked up a lot of high value throughout the draft and entered the draft as one of only a few teams that did not have glaring needs at any one position. DALLAS COWBOYS FINAL GRADE: D R1 (12): LB Micah Parsons, Penn State R2 (44): CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky R3 (75): DI Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA R3 (84): EDGE Chauncey Golston, Iowa R3 (99): CB Nahshon Wright, Oregon State R4 (115): LB Jabril Cox, LSU R4 (138): OT Josh Ball, Marshall R5 (179): WR Simi Fehoko, Stanford R6 (192): DI Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky R6 (227): CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina R7 (238): OG Matt Farniok, Nebraska Final Analysis Jerry Jones might have one of the sneakiest drafts under his belt in 2021, or it might be one of his worst. Cowboy fans are hoping for the latter. On day one, the Cowboys selected one of our top-rated players and also one of the 12 Instant Impact player grade recipients in Penn State LB Micah Parsons. Jerry deserves an A for addressing the defense in round one, but it is day two and three where there are more questions than answers. DENVER BRONCOS FINAL GRADE: C- R1 (9): CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama R2 (35): RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina R3 (98): IOL Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater R3 (105): LB Baron Browning, Ohio State R5 (152): S Caden Sterns, Texas R5 (164): S Jamar Johnson, Indiana R6 (219): WR Seth Williams, Auburn R7 (237): CB Kary Vincent Jr., LSU R7 (239): EDGE Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State R7 (253): EDGE Marquiss Spencer, Mississippi State Final Analysis The Broncos passed on a QB. We assumed maybe they have a deal in the works for Aaron Rodgers? Regardless, you have a young and talented WR core which needs a better player under center, and you passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones. The Broncos did snag a CB that they did not need in Alabama's Patrick Surtain, the top CB on our board and one of the 12 players we graded with Instant Impact Potential. They did get a potential steal by drafting Quinn Meinerz in the third round. The Broncos drafted well, but they missed on a QB in round one. Add that to the list of consistent miscues that have happened while Mr. Elway has been in the front office. DETROIT LIONS FINAL GRADE: A R1 (7): OT Penei Sewell, Oregon R2 (41): DI Levi Onwuzurike, Washington R3 (72): DI Alim McNeill, NC State R3 (101): CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse R4 (112): WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC R4 (113): LB Derrick Barnes, Purdue R7 (257): RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State Final Analysis The Lions look like a competent organization. They did not flinch when facing the opportunity to draft one of our three Instant Impact Potential players with an A+ perfect player grade in Oregon OT Penei Sewell. The Lions continued to build from the inside out, adding two very good IDL Levi Onwuzurike and Alim Mcneill. They waited to address WR on day three. Is this the new normal? GREEN BAY PACKERS FINAL GRADE: C- R1 (29): CB Eric Stokes, Georgia R2 (62): C Josh Myers, Ohio State R3 (85): WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson R4 (142): T Royce Newman, Ole Miss R5 (173): DI Tedarrell Slaton, Florida R5 (178): CB Shemar Jean-Charles, App State R6 (214): T Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin R6 (220): LB Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College R7 (256): RB Kylin Hill, Mississippi State Final Analysis Are the Packers the new Lions? The Packers are on the verge of losing one of the greatest QB's of our time. If they don't trade Aaron Rodgers, he might retire and become a full-time Jeopardy host. The reality is that Green Bay has not drafted an offensive player in the first round since 2012 outside of Jordan Love. 2021 is not any different. The Packers drafted a CB we ranked 6th at his position and a fringe 2nd round projection. So instead of going with an offensive playmaker, they draft a CB with unrealized potential. The Packers did snag Clemson WR Amari Rodgers on day two. Rodgers is a very good player whose dad is a coach (Ravens WR Coach Tee Martin). Rodgers ranked 15th on our big board, so the Packers go with high upside value once again. He does have the opportunity to play right away in the slot. HOUSTON TEXANS FINAL GRADE: B- R3 (67): QB Davis Mills, Stanford R3 (89): WR Nico Collins, Michigan R5 (147): TE Brevin Jordan, Miami (FL.) R5 (170): Garett Wallow, TCU R6 (195): Roy Lopez, Arizona Final Analysis The Texans did their best with what Bob left them. With their first pick in round three, the Texans drafted Stanford QB Davis Mills, who is a high upside project we listed as our 49th overall player and 7th at his position. Mills has all of the tools but needs more time to develop. The Texans snagged another sneakily good prospect in 6-4 215Lb WR Nico Collins. Collins is the 64th rated player overall on our board and the 9th best WR. He will have an opportunity to start in year one. Houston then went out and grabbed the second-best TE on our board, Miami's Brevin Jordan. They drafted three players with 2nd round grades on days two and three. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS FINAL GRADE: D+ R1 (21): EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan R2 (54): EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt R4 (127): TE Kylen Granson, SMU R5 (165): S Shawn Davis, Florida R6 (218): QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas R7 (229): WR Michael Strachan, Indianapolis R7 (248): IOL Will Fries, Penn State Final Analysis The Colts made it a point to go after Edge rushers in the draft. They started with Michigan Edge rusher Kwitty Paye, the 16th rated prospect and top at his position on day one. On day two, the Colts just wanted to be sure and took another edge player, Dayo Odeyingbo, who is the 97th rated payer on our board and 13th at his position. The Colts were below average in pass-rush grade a season ago, so it is not a surprise they went after two edge players who possess freakish athletic ability. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FINAL GRADE: B- R1 (1): QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson R1 (25): RB Travis Etienne, Clemson R2 (33): CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia R2 (45): OT Walker Little, Stanford R3 (65): S Andre Cisco, Syracuse R4 (106): DI Jay Tufele, USC R4 (121): Edge Jordan Smith, UAB R5 (145): TE Luke Farrell, Ohio State R6 (209): WR Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech Final Analysis: Trevor Lawrence was obvious, Travis Etienne not so much. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Urban Meyer said that they would approach each pick by taking the best available option. Going QB and RB in round one have many scratching their heads, considering the Jag's needs are far greater in multiple areas. They already have a very good RB coming off a great rookie year in James Robinson. Regardless, the Jags snagged one of our three players in the draft who earned a perfect grade and another one who received a grade just a hair below that. The Jags addressed more pressing needs on days two and three. They grabbed a CB who needs more development (Tyson Campbell), an OT who also needs more development (Walker Little). Perhaps the best value came in the 3rd and 4th rounds where the Jags drafted S Andre Cisco, and Jay Tufele. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FINAL GRADE: C+ R2 (58): LB Nick Bolton, Missouri R2 (63): C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma R4 (144): Edge Joshua Kaindoh, Florida State R5 (162): TE Noah Gray, Duke R5 (181): WR Cornell Powell, Clemson R6 (226): G Trey Smith, Tennessee Final Analysis Without a round one pick, The Chiefs started off drafting LB Nick Bolton from Mizzou on Day two. Bolton is a very good LB who possesses great instincts and will immediately impact his position group in year one. Bolton was the 4th rated LB on our board. The Chiefs addressed the IOL with their next pick by drafting Oklahoma Sooner Creed Humphrey, who has a 10-year player written all over him in the NFL. The most intriguing pick is WR Cornell Powell from Clemson. Powell is a developmental prospect with Instant Impact Potential down the line if he is provided time to develop. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS FINAL GRADE: C+ R1 (17): T Alex Leatherwood, Alabama R2 (43): S Trevon Moehrig, TCU R3 (79): EDGE Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo R3 (80): S Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech R4 (143): S Tyree Gillespie, Missouri R5 (167): CB Nate Hobbs, Illinois R7 (130): C Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh Final Analysis The Raiders drafted our 4th rated OT and the 17th overall on our board in Alex Leatherwood out of Alabama on day one. They Followed up by drafting safety Trevon Moehrig out of TCU, who many had as their top safety; we had him at number 46 overall and number two at his position. The Raiders graded out an F in pass coverage in 2020 and an F in run blocking. They addressed both needs right away in the 2021 Draft. They would continue to address both problem areas by drafting two more safeties, a CB, and an IOL, on days two and three. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS FINAL GRADE: C+ R1 (13): T Rashawn Slater, Northwestern R2 (47): CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State R3 (77): WR Josh Palmer, Tennessee R3 (97): TE Tre’ McKitty, Georgia R4 (118): EDGE Chris Rumph II, Duke R5 (159): T Brenden Jaimes, Nebraska R6: (185): LB Nick Niemann, Iowa R6 (198): RB Larry Rountree III, Missouri R7 (241): CB Mark Webb, Georgia Final Analysis The Chargers began day one and two by taking two players at high-priority positions of need. They drafted our number three OT Rashawn Slater, who can play guard and tackle when needed in round one. They opened round two by taking CB Asante Samuel Jr., who is our 5th rated CB. On Day three, the Chargers drafted several developmental players, but they continued to address needs. LOS ANGELES RAMS FINAL GRADE: F R2 (57): WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville R3 (103): LB Ernest Jones, South Carolina R4 (117): DI Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M R4 (130): CB Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas R4 (141): WR Jacob Harris, UCF R5 (174): EDGE Earnest Brown IV, Northwestern R7 (233): RB Jake Funk, Maryland Final Analysis The Rams drafted Tutu Atwell with their first pick in the draft, which happened to be on day two. Atwell is a very small 160 lb, thin-bodied WR who possesses elite athleticism. With players such as Terrace Marshall and Dyami Brown still available, the Rams still chose Atwell. The rest of the Rams draft is developmental players. The Rams received the lowest grade out of all NFL teams, according to our grade scale MIAMI DOLPHINS FINAL GRADE: A R1 (6): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama R1 (18): EDGE Jaelen Phillips, Miami (FL.) R2 (36): S Jevon Holland, Oregon R2 (42): OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame R3 (81): TE Hunter Long, Boston College R7 (231): OT Larnel Coleman, Massachusetts R7 (244): RB Gerrid Doaks, Cincinnati Final Analysis The Dolphins continue to look competent. Earning our highest overall grade in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dolphins opened up the draft selecting Jaylen Waddle, one of 12 Instant Impact Players (tier one grade). On Day Two, they drafted a high potential Edge player in Jaelen Phillips, and then they were able to land our top safety from Oregon, Jevon Holland. They then drafted Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg. The Dolphins had two first and two-second-round picks. They drafted the number 7, 24, 37, and 43rd players on our board. MINNESOTA VIKINGS FINAL GRADE: C R1 (23): T Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech R3 (66): QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M R3 (78): LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina R3 (86): G Wyatt Davis, Ohio State R3 (90): EDGE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh R4 (119): RB Kene Nwangwu, Iowa State R4 (125): CB Camryn Bynum, California R4 (134): EDGE Janarius Robinson, Florida State R5 (157) WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa R5 (168): TE Zach Davidson, Zach Davidson R6 (199): EDGE Jaylen Twyman, Pitt Final Analysis The Vikings addressed their OL in round one by drafting Christian Darrisaw, the 2nd rated OT on our board and 11th overall. The Vikings made the right decision considering their need to improve its bottom of the barrel pass-blocking grade from 2020. The Vikings signaled that they might be preparing to move to the future by drafting QB Kellen Mond. Mond is our 8th rated QB in the 2021 NFL Draft and is a developmental player with high-level traits. The Vikings also struggled to apply pressure and defend the run in 2020, so they went hard in the paint, drafting three edge playerss on days two and three combined. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS FINAL GRADE: C R1 (15): QB Mac Jones, Alabama R2 (38): DI Christian Barmore, Alabama R3 (96): EDGE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma R4 (120): RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma R5 (177): LB Cameron McGrone, Michigan R6 (188): CB Joshuah Bledsoe, Missouri R6 (197): OT William Sherman, Colorado R7 (242): WR Tre Nixon, UCF Final Analysis Bill B did not have to trade up to get his potential future QB. Mac Jones would be the guy who fell the furthest among all of the projected QB's in the draft. We originally projected Jones to Pats in a mock months ago, but the smoke of Shanahan pursuing Jones at pick three felt viable. Yet, it was hard to believe Shanahan would pass up the athletic ability of Justin Fields or Trey Lance for a pocket passer in Mac Jones, but weirder things have occurred. The Patriots went with an edge player and IDL on day two and finished out the rest of the draft by adding depth at key positions. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FINAL GRADE: D+ R1 (28): EDGE Payton Turner, Houston R2 (60): LB Pete Werner, Ohio State R3 (76): CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford R4 (133): QB Ian Book, Notre Dame R6 (206): OT Landon Young, Kentucky R7 (255): WR Kawaan Baker, South Alabama Final Analysis Every player they drafted is developmental on our board. Payton Turner might be a big miss on our end. I admit, Turner's film review was severely late on our end, and had we reviewed it earlier, he would have graded out much higher. Outside of Turner, this was a lackluster-looking draft for the Saints, but they did address needs. CB Paulson Adebo had 1st or 2nd round grades in 2020 but opted to return to school. Notre Dame Qb Ian Book is also a player to keep an eye on. NEW YORK GIANTS FINAL GRADE: B- R1 (20): WR Kadarius Toney, Florida R2 (50): EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia R3 (71): CB Aaron Robinson, UCF R4 (116): EDGE Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa R6 (196): RB Gary Brightwell, Arizona R6 (201): CB Rodarius Williams, Oklahoma State Final Analysis The Giants put together a well-rounded draft. They drafted WR Kedarius Toney from Florida, who provides the excellent after-catch ability to an offense that now has many weapons at Daniel Jones's disposal. Toney is the 5th rated WR on our board. The Giants hit the ground running on day two, snagging Edge player Azeez Ojulari out of Georgia. We had him graded out as the 4th rated edge player. The Giants were able to add an offensive playmaker and then address their biggest defensive need early in the draft (pass rush). NEW YORK JETS FINAL GRADE: B- R1 (2): QB Zach Wilson, BYU R1 (14): IOL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC R2 (34): WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss R4 (107): RB Michael Carter, North Carolina R5 (146): S Jamien Sherwood, Auburn R5 (154): CB Michael Carter II, Duke R5 (175): CB Jason Pinnock, Pittsburgh R6 (186): S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State R6 (200): CB Brandin Echols, Kentucky R6 (207): DI Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas Final Analysis The Jets get their next newest QB in Zach Wilson after trading away their last next newest QB Sam Darnold. Wilson was our 3rd rated QB and the 5th rated overall player. He is also among the 12 Instant Impact Players in the draft. Unlike Darnold, Wilson has a staff who wants to provide support by surrounding him with talent. The Jets addressed WR and OL concerns early before addressing the myriad of defensive concerns. The Jets are on the right track. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES FINAL GRADE: B- R1 (10): WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama R2 (37): IOL Landon Dickerson, Alabama R3 (73): DI Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech R4 (123): CB Zech McPhearson, Texas Tech R5 (150): RB Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis R6 (189): DI Marlon Tuipulotu, USC R6 (191): EDGE Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina R6 (224) S JaCoby Stevens, LSU R7 (234): EDGE Patrick Johnson, Tulane Final Analysis The Eagles need a lot to cover the myriad of issues that plague them. They drafted the top WR on our board and one of the 12 Instant Impact players in the draft; they snagged Landon Dickerson to help the IOL on day two, and they addressed Edge, CB, and safety on days two and three. The Eagles still have a tall mountain to climb, but they drafted well in 2021, so that should help. PITTSBURGH STEELERS FINAL GRADE: D+ R1 (24): RB Najee Harris, Alabama R2 (55): TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State R3 (87): C Kendrick Green, Illinois R4 (128): OT Dan Moore Jr., Texas A&M R4 (140): LB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M R5 (156): DI Isaiah Loudermilk, Wisconsin R6 (216): EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami (FL) R7 (245): S Tre Norwood, Oklahoma R7 (254): P Pressley Harvin III, Georgia Tech Final Analysis Steelers fans got their guy Najee Harris, but who will block for him? I suppose when I evaluated Harris I pointed out his ability to escape the first tackler in the backfield. Still, I did not say neglect OL altogether because of that ability. The Steelers needed to draft OL instead of a RB to get a player who provides instant value potentially. The Steelers were our lowest graded run blocking team in the NFL in 2020, and they waited until days two and three to address OL. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS FINAL GRADE: B+ R1 (3): QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State R2 (48): G Aaron Banks, Notre Dame R3 (88): RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State R3 (102): CB Ambry Thomas, Michigan R5 (155): OT Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan R5 (172): CB Deommodore Lenoir, Oregon R5 (180): S Talanoa Hufanga, USC R6 (194): RB Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana Final Analysis To begin, the Trey Lance pick is the one that will define the Shanahan era, which is obvious. Trey Lance lands in the best possible spot for a guy who has highly developable upside. Lance was rated the 20th player on our board and the 5th at the QB position. He just catapulted himself into the realm of potentially being among the one or two best to be drafted because of the situation. We knew that whoever gets drafted by San Fran would have the cushiest of beginnings. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS FINAL GRADE: D R2 (56): WR D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan R4 (137): CB Tre Brown, Oklahoma R6 (208) OT Stone Forsythe, Florida Final Analysis Seattle had very little draft capital to work with, but they addressed a few needs at both CB and on the OL. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FINAL GRADE: C- R1 (32): EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington R2 (64): QB Kyle Trask, Florida R3 (95): IOL Robert Hainsey, Notre Dame R4 (129): WR Jaelon Darden, North Texas R5 (176): LB K.J. Britt, Auburn R7 (251): CB Chris Wilcox, BYU R7 (259) LB Grant Stuard, Houston Final Analysis It is a shame that a team with an actual need at QB did not value Kyle Trask earlier. The Bucs get a developmental QB who has highly developable traits and potential. The Bucs did not have any real needs, so I will not waste a ton of breath here. TENNESSEE TITANS FINAL GRADE: B R1 (22): CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech R2 (53): OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State R3 (92): LB Monty Rice, Georgia R3 (100): SCB Elijah Molden, Washington R4 (109): WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville R4 (135): EDGE Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh R6 (205): WR Racey McMath, LSU R6 (215): S Brady Breeze, Oregon Final Analysis The Titans needed help at all levels of their defense. They addressed that need in the draft by snagging the 2nd best CB on our board with their number one pick. Many had Farley going much earlier in round one, but prior discussion about a previous injury may have hindered his stock late in the game. They were able to get a solid high upside OT at pick 53; they followed up with Georgia LB Monty Rice. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM FINAL GRADE: B R1 (19): LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky R2 (51): OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas R3 (74): CB Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota R3 (82): WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina R4 (124): TE John Bates, Boise State R4 (163): S Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati R6 (225): LS Camaron Cheeseman, Michigan R7 (240): EDGE William Bradley-King, Baylor R7 (246): EDGE Shaka Toney, Penn State R7 (258): WR Dax Milne, BYU Final Analysis The Football Team went out and drafted to their needs and did not disappoint. They would have graded higher had they taken a Nick Bolton or Owuso Koramoah at LB rather than Jamin Davis, but who can argue with the pick. If Davis lives up to the potential, he will be a high-level NFL player in no time. They landed a steal on day two with WR Dyami Brown, our 57th rated player, and the 8th rated WR. Edge player Shaka Toney is also a very good prospect who fell to them on day three.

The first round provided us with a few surprises, as always. The first seven picks were from the offensive side of the football (NFL Draft record). The draft order changed a few times as teams were moving back after their potential primary targets were off the board, and one team of note moved up, the Chicago Bears, who got a steal at pick #11 with Ohio State QB Justin Fields. Full NFL Draft grades will be released early next week. (1) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: QB TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON Football Scout 365 Rank: 1 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A+ The chalk of the draft for months, Urban Meyer has his guy. Meyer made it clear he would go best available, and he didn’t disappoint with two round one picks; he goes with two dynamic Clemson players. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Trevor Lawrence has been the projected consensus number one pick in the 2021 NFL draft since the 2019 season. Lawrence is as close to a sure thing we have seen since Andrew Luck at the QB position. Lawrence possesses the physical gifts and leadership ability needed to excel at a high level in the NFL. (2) NEW YORK JETS: QB ZACH WILSON, BYU Football Scout 365 Rank: 5 Pos Rk: 3 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A Zack Wilson has the arm talent and the skills to be a very exciting player. The Jets should do their best to build around Zack Wilson. They need defenders, but they also should focus on identifying a high upside WR in later rounds. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Wilson has been stellar in 2020 following an injury-riddled 2019 season. He is catching a lot of buzz in 2020 due to his high level of play. But the competition he has faced is not on the level of Lawrence or Justin Fields, which is why I was not as high on him. Times have changed, and after further review of his player skillset and watching his tape, I have warmed up to Wilson's upside and potential. (3) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: QB TREY LANCE, NORTH DAKOTA STATE Football Scout 365 Rank: 20 Pos Rk: 5 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A- According to sources, it came down to Trey Lance or Mac Jones, and they chose the QB with arguably the highest upside at a position of need. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Trey lance is an exceptional athlete who possesses excellent deep-ball accuracy. What Lance doesn't show a lot of on film is his short to intermediate accuracy, and that's an area that he might need time to develop. Lance is not a scheme-dependent player; he can fit in any system and excel more in a play-action-based offense. When compared to other prospects, Lance lacks reps. He played one game in 2020, with 2019 being his only full season as a starter. More repetition in camps and practice at the NFL level might help develop Lance's high ceiling. (4) ATLANTA FALCONS: TE KYLE PITTS, FLORIDA Football Scout 365 Rank: 8 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: B+ The Falcons need a lot, and they chose a TE at 4th overall. They had a shot at getting Penei Sewell or even Justin Fields. Pitts is arguably the surest thing in the draft, so the pick should pay off. The Falcons will need to lean on their scouting department to get the rest of the draft right. OL should be a priority with their next pick. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Pitts is a special player who fits the mold of what NFL GM's and coaches are looking for in today's football. He can move around the formation, play inline, and split out wide. He is very athletic, with great hands. Pitts, a former QB, is an elite athlete with an elite skill set. Whoever drafts him will be getting an elite talent. (5) CINCINNATI BENGALS: WR JA’MARR CHASE, LSU Football Scout 365 Rank: 6 Pos Rk: 2 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: B+ With Penei Sewell available, the Bengals chose WR. The goal should be to protect your greatest asset, but the Chase pick has high end potential in the long run. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Chase broke the SEC single-season receiving record in 2019 and was one of Joe Burrows's go-to WR's. Chase has great hands, is a good route runner, and is good running after the catch. He is also a willing blocker in the run game. The big question is how well he will play outside of the structure he had at LSU under OC Joe Brady and catching passes from Joe Burrow, who had a historic season. Chase is an outstanding player who will undoubtedly find his way at the next level regardless of the system. (6) MIAMI DOLPHINS: WR JAYLEN WADDLE, ALABAMA Football Scout 365 Rank: 7 Pos Rk: 3 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: B+ Waddle is a special player with a dynamic skillset. He could arguably be the top WR in this class. The Dolphins filled a need at WR; now get some protection for Tua. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Waddle is a versatile athlete; he can line up anywhere on the field. He is by far the most difficult player to defend in the 2021 NFL Draft. DB's struggle to get their hands on him at the line of scrimmage, and while in coverage, they often are left behind in his wake. His route running ability and precise cuts allow him to get separation from DB's. Unlike Ruggs (many compare to Ruggs), Waddle is not just a straight-line speed player who relies on downfield throws; he is effective at all levels displaying great hands, and can high point the football with ease. He might be the next Tyreek Hill in the NFL (not a comp, or even a guarantee); Waddle is an undersized player yet possesses top-level NFL WR traits. It would be best if you always had an extra set of eyes on him (help defender). Waddle wins one on one with ease. Waddle could quickly become the top WR in this draft once we look back in hindsight. (7) DETROIT LIONS: OT PENEI SEWELL, OREGON Football Scout 365 Rank: 2 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A+ The Lions hit a home run with Sewell. He provides 10-12 years of all-pro potential at one of the most critical positions. His versatility will help the Lions right away. He can play guard if needed early. The Lions have a lot of needs, but they started the draft off perfect. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Sewell received better grades in 2019 than other highly rated tackle prospects entering the 2020 NFL Draft. The talent is unquestioned, and if it were not for the strong QB class, Sewell would be the top player drafted in 2021. He is versatile, can play IOL if needed. Sewell is a mauler in the run game who can move his defender with ease. He can get to the second level and attach to defenders in space. In pass pro, He plays with a solid base and is fundamentally sound using good hand placement. What concerns me is that he didn't face many versatile edge players in college in the Pac 12. But he is also only 20 years old, meaning that he holds great value in terms of potential years he can play. (8) CAROLINA PANTHERS: CB JAYCEE HORN, SOUTH CAROLINA Football Scout 365 Rank: 21 Pos Rk: 3 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B- Two months ago, this pick made sense, but with Justin Fields and Mac Jones available, the Panthers passed. They could have traded back but chose to fill a need at CB. It’s a good pick, and they grade well for it but might have been better off taking a shot at QB. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report The son of former NFL WR Joe Horn, Jacee has the pedigree and is a late riser on our board. He is a solid cover corner, can play zone and press. He needs to improve his tackling. (9) DENVER BRONCOS: CB PATRICK SURTAIN II, ALABAMA Football Scout 365 Rank: 9 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: B+ Denver didn’t completely fall flat, they made a good choice, but they need a QB. They had the opportunity to go with Fields or Jones, and they passed. John Elway's future continues to be cloudy unless they are working on packaging a deal for Aaron Rodgers. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report The son of a former NFL player, Surtain has the pedigree. He is a long-player who plays with discipline. Surtain excels in man to man but can play zone when needed. He is not a speedy player, but he masks his lack of long speed by playing with great technique. He does an excellent job at challenging receivers at the line of scrimmage—Surtain projects as the top CB prospect in the 2021 NFL draft. (10) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: WR DEVONTA SMITH, ALABAMA Football Scout 365 Rank: 1 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A A home runto fill a need, especially if you think that Hurts is the answer at QB. The Eagles could have picked Mac Jones or Justin Fields, but they must believe in Hurts enough to pass on a QB. Now the Eagles must work to solidify their defense. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Smith is an absolute gamer who rises to the occasion in the big moments. His combination of quick, efficient footwork, great hands, and fluid route running are tailor-made for the NFL. Smith was second fiddle to Waddle before the Waddle injury. Smith proved before the Waddle injury that he could handle the number one role in the Alabama offense. (11) CHICAGO BEARS: QB JUSTIN FIELDS, OHIO STATE Football Scout 365 Rank: 3 Pos Rk: 2 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A+ The Bears traded up for the potential steal of the draft. Justin Fields fell out of the top ten, but it was inevitable that someone would trade up, or he would not make it past the Pats. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Fields displayed some inconsistent play in 2020, but we have to consider that Ohio State had several games canceled, and the Big Ten's stringent Covid-19 protocols being a factor in how a team can practice and how that might play a role. Fields put on a show against Clemson in the CFP Semifinal, showing the elite level accuracy that was consistent in 2019. He is a near-lock for the number two overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. (12) DALLAS COWBOYS: LB MICAH PARSONS, PENN STATE Football Scout 365 Rank: 13 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A+ Micah Parsons is an excellent LB who can be a chess piece on defense. He can man the middle and lead the defense and line up on the edge providing versatility. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report LB's ranked this high need to be unique, and Parsons is a real difference-maker. He possesses modern speed and old-school size that NFL coaches and GM's covet. Parsons's ability to sniff out the run game is tremendous. But his speed is undeniable; he possesses 4.3 or low 4.4 speed at a position that needs to cover the NFL's new age TE's. He needs to improve his pass coverage ability at the next level. (13) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: T RASHAWN SLATER, NORTHWESTERN Football Scout 365 Rank: 12 Pos Rk: 3 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A This pick gets an A+; first, off you fill a need; second, you are working to protect your greatest asset (Justin Herbert). Slater is a versatile player, which is the theme of this draft at the tackle position. He can play guard if needed and should provide an early impact as a rookie. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Slater can play tackle or guard. He is a powerful athlete who wins with fundamentals and good power. He plays with good bend and is consistent with his pad level. He plays with good footwork; his first step allows him to position and leveraging his frame to wall off defenders. His hand placement is consistent and adequate to win at the NFL level. He needs to work on his ability to drive defenders off the football in the run game more consistently, using his power and an excellent base to fire into the defender. (14) NEW YORK JETS: IOL ALIJAH VERA-TUCKER, USC Football Scout 365 Rank: 18 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A The Jet's second pick shows that the front office knows what they are doing on paper. Tucker is a versatile player who played tackle and guard in college. He is once again among players who provide great versatility. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Tucker is our top interior offensive lineman due to his versatility. He played tackle and guard while at USC; he excelled at both. He plays with good athleticism and shows good bend. He has the power to punch defenders back in the passing game, reset and punch again. He knows how to handle a bull-rushing defender and handles space well. As a run blocker, he gets good push and uses his lower body in combination with his punch to strike defenders and move them. He fits any scheme at the NFL level. (15) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: QB MAC JONES, ALABAMA Football Scout 365 Rank: 15 Pos Rk: 4 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A The Pats got their guy or at least one of their favorites. Jones provides instant upside. He might already be at his ceiling, but his game is predicated on being a distributor, which fits well as we already know in New England. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Mac Jones had the highest QBR vs. top 25 opponents among all QB’s with at least 100 pass attempts since 2014. (To qualify, the player must start 75% of his team's games). Mac Jones had a fantastic season in 2020. Jones ascension up NFL draft boards, earning a potential first-round projection from a lot of scouts. Jones is a pure pocket passer with good mobility. He is an anticipatory thrower who identifies the opening in coverage and leads his receivers to that spot. Jones doesn't wow you with his physique, and he won't wow anyone with arm strength, but it is his ability to go through his progressions and find the open man while navigating the pocket that sets him apart. Jones will not wow anyone with off-platform throws or wild adlibbing, but in a prostyle system that involves timing and rhythm passing, he can excel. (16) ARIZONA CARDINALS: LB ZAVEN COLLINS, TULSA Football Scout 365 Rank: 26 Pos Rk: 3 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B- A need has been filled. Collins is another positionless LB. They already have Simmons. The Cardinals need to figure out the best way to use these versatile LB's. Collins is a very good player who was opportunistic in college. He created turnovers and was good in coverage. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Arguably the most dynamic defender in CFB, Collins played several high school positions, including QB and safety. Collins is an intelligent player who uses his size, quickness, and power to make splash plays. He won the Nagurski award in 2020 as the nation's top LB, and he did so by posting big play after big play compiling 4 sacks, forcing two fumbles while picking off 4 passes, and scoring two times on defense. He is what NFL defenses are looking for in a LB. A guy who can rush the passer and pass cover when needed. (17) LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: T ALEX LEATHERWOOD, ALABAMA Football Scout 365 Rank: 17 Pos Rk: 4 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B+ The Raiders get an A, but their need is more self-inflicted. They are rebuilding an OL that was already pretty good. Regardless, they get a guy with a high upside at a position of need. Leatherwood has the versatility to play both guard or tackle. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Leatherwood is another tackle who can move to guard, he is versatile, and that is important in the NFL, where a guy who possesses the ability to play inside and out is a valuable trait. He plays with power and aggression; he can operate as a road grader in the run game. As a pass blocker, he needs work; he is adequate and might be a liability early in his career if playing tackle. He possesses the ability to handle quick edge rushers, but he doesn't play well against those possessing a litany of combo moves. Leatherwood might benefit from a year at guard where he doesn't have to cover as wide an area, but there is no doubt he has the size and enough tools already to become an NFL starter with a season of development? (18) MIAMI DOLPHINS: EDGE JAELEN PHILLIPS, MIAMI (FL.) Football Scout 365 Rank: 24 Pos Rk: 2 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B+ The Dolphin's second pick fills another need. Phillips provides a high end upside. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Phillips is an exciting prospect. He was a five-star recruit who had a lot of ability when he arrived at UCLA; he had a few injuries that sidelined him and forced him to retire from football. Phillips questioned his passion for the game at one point. Phillips un-retired and transferred to Miami to get a fresh start; he had an excellent 2020. Phillips is a physical player at 6-6 260 lbs. He shines when pass rushing and against the run. He is a versatile defender who has that rare blend of speed to power off the edge that is eye-opening. He can play with his hand in the dirt or a two-point. He can rush from the interior when needed, which adds to his versatility. The big questions are, does he love the game? Can he remain healthy, and his experience. He has the tools to be a high-impact NFL starter. (19) WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: LB JAMIN DAVIS, KENTUCKY Football Scout 365 Rank: 140 Pos Rk: 13 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Developmental Pick Grade: C- We are not as high on Davis as others, but he does check a lot of boxes. He is an inside off the ball defender who has good sideline to sideline instincts and will add yet another dimension to the defense. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report None Available (20) NEW YORK GIANTS: WR KADARIUS TONEY, FLORIDA Football Scout 365 Rank: 28 Pos Rk: 5 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: C+ The Giants were candidates to go after WR, but with Slayton, Golladay, and Engram in the fold, the Giants could have filled a more glaring need. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Fast, with track speed, a versatile player who played QB in HS. Toney projects as a slot WR with a limited route tree that needs to be diversified. He can break a game wide open in the blink of an eye and line up all over the formation and in the backfield when needed. (21) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: EDGE KWITY PAYE, MICHIGAN Football Scout 365 Rank: 16 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B+ The Colts snagged best available at one of the most valued positions in football, so it's hard to argue. But they need to solidify their LT spot. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Paye is an explosive athlete who has yet to reach his full potential. He uses a blend of speed, power, and hand usage to defeat blockers. His game is not perfect, but his ceiling is very high. Paye was not a full-time starter at Michigan until 2020. He is a player with a lot of drive and motivation that we believe can fuel him at the next level. (22) TENNESSEE TITANS: CB CALEB FARLEY, VIRGINIA TECH Football Scout 365 Rank: 10 Pos Rk: 2 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A Need filled by a high-level player. Our second-rated CB prospect in 2021, but he does have some injury concerns. Regardless, when healthy, he provides high upside at a key position. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Farley played QB in HS and started his VT career at WR. He is now the 2nd rated CB on our board. At 6-2, 197, he has good physical traits. Farley excels in man coverage, mirrors routes at a high level, and is physical. He needs to improve his zone coverage skills at the next level. (23) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: T CHRISTIAN DARRISAW, VIRGINIA TECH Football Scout 365 Rank: 11 Pos Rk: 2 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A Need filled at a critical position. Darrisaw is a very good player who will fit into the Viking's offensive scheme right away. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Darrisaw consistently improved while at Va Tech. He is known more as an excellent pass blocker who wins with his feet in pass protection. Speed rushers beware; Darrisaw understands how to defend against versatile rushers who like to throw changeups in the middle of pass rush. He improved in this area over the years, proving he can win one on one in space vs. athletic defenders. As a run blocker, he is agile; he can locate a defender and latch on in space. The knock-on Darrisaw can have moments of inconsistency or a half-hearted effort that happens far less in 2020 than previous years, proving his consistent upward arch of improvement. (24) PITTSBURGH STEELERS: RB NAJEE HARRIS, ALABAMA Football Scout 365 Rank: 19 Pos Rk: 1 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: A Steelers fans wanted Najee, but the Steelers need blockers upfront. The pick grades well, but they need to lean on their scouting department to identify who to go after in later rounds to solidify their OL. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Hard to tackle, shifty, yet not a burner. At times, Harris has shown a lack of discipline as a runner, but in the 2020 SEC title game, and CFP, Harris has come on strong displaying a high level of athleticism as both a runner and a pass-catcher. He can run high at times at 6-2, but that's not a major factor. He is a more dynamic receiver than he gets credit for, and that's the differentiating factor in our rankings; he displayed high-level receiver skills in 2020, at times reminding me of a young Lev Bell. (25) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: RB TRAVIS ETIENNE, CLEMSON Football Scout 365 Rank: 22 Pos Rk: 2 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Instant Impact Potential Pick Grade: B+ Urban said best available throughout, and he did not disappoint. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report The ACC's all-time rusher, he could have left Clemson a season ago but decided to return. Etienne plays with great burst and contact balance and is an excellent pass catcher. His skill set is that of the new age NFL RB's (Kamara, CMC, Barkley). Where he needs improvement is as a pass blocker and with fumbles. The positives for Etienne outweigh the negatives. (26) CLEVELAND BROWNS: CB GREG NEWSOME II, NORTHWESTERN Football Scout 365 Rank: 32 Pos Rk: 4 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B- The Browns are in a spot where they don’t have a massive need. We projected LB throughout the last few months but they chose one of the top CB's instead. They will have options at LB in later rounds. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report A versatile defender who can excel in a cover three or press-man defense. He plays with a long frame at 6-1 and has the speed to stay in the receivers' hip pocket. He uses his body well to defend, not allowing receivers to box him out, and shows a knack for tracking the football down the field. He is an NFL-style outside corner. His primary issue is that he gets grabby at times in man to man. He won't be able to get away with that at the NFL level. (27) BALTIMORE RAVENS: WR RASHOD BATEMAN, MINNESOTA Football Scout 365 Rank: 48 Pos Rk: 7 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: A- Home run pick for a team a year late in grabbing a guy already. Bateman provides instant value. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report Bateman is a versatile player; he is a good route runner, has excellent ball skills, and has good size. He is not a player who takes the top off of a defense, but he does have the frame to box out a defender in a tight area, displaying an ability to attack the football at its highest point. His precision as a route runner is where he finds separation. (28) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: EDGE PAYTON TURNER, HOUSTON Football Scout 365 Rank: 116 Pos Rk: 16 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Developmental Pick Grade: C- Not a highly scouted player on our end. According to other scouts, he shined at the Senior Bowl off the radar, and that’s where the people began to fall in love. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report None Available (29) GREEN BAY PACKERS: CB ERIC STOKES, GEORGIA Football Scout 365 Rank: 59 Pos Rk: 6 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Developmental Pick Grade: C- The Packers are in a precarious position because of the Aaron Rodgers situation. So instead of going after another offensive piece to help their hall of fame QB, they go with a corner. Stokes has the ability, he showed off his wheels during his pro day, but the Packers missed an opportunity. They will have a shot in later rounds as this is a very deep WR class. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report None Available (30) BUFFALO BILLS: EDGE GREGORY ROUSSEAU, MIAMI (FL.) Football Scout 365 Rank: 36 Pos Rk: 5 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Potential Upside Pick Grade: B+ The Bills needed a versatile DL, and they grabbed one who possesses high upside. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report A long player who can slide inside when needed. He is not yet fully developed, but his upside is what scouts might be eyeing. He uses quick hands to disengage with blockers and can set the edge and force runs back inside. He does need to work on his strength at the next level. He was a high school WR, which explains his hand usage and his raw ability as an edge defender. His pass-rush ability might be more suited on the inside rather than trying to win the edge. He is an outstanding prospect who has the NFL size and ability to develop into an impactful starter. Another item to keep in mind, he only has one year as a starter, injured in 2018, and sat out 2020. (31) BALTIMORE RAVENS: EDGE JAYSON OWEH, PENN STATE Football Scout 365 Rank: 44 Pos Rk: 8 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Developmental Pick Grade: B Oweh is a late bloomer in the process. He grabbed attention when he ran a 4.36 on his pro day. He is 6-5 250 lbs. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report None Available (32) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: EDGE JOE TRYON, WASHINGTON Football Scout 365 Rank: 41 Pos Rk: 6 Football Scout 365 Player Grade: Developmental Pick Grade: B Tryon grabbed the attention of scouts when he ran a 4.5 40 at his pro day. He has the size and the upside to be an outstanding NFL player. Football Scout 365 Scouting Report None Available

As we move through the pro days and hear the noise of outlandish forty times and verticals through the roof, I have personally gone through and done more research on every position. The Football Scout 365 Big Board Don't forget to check out the full Football Scout 365 NFL Draft Big Board. After Further Review NFL Draft Edition On YouTube You can check out our Football Scout 365 After Further Review NFL Draft Edition on Youtube. We have five shows so far, three covering the QB position where I break down and connect the dots between player skillset and what the player displays on film concerning such buzzwords like arm talent, arm angle, pocket presence etc. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here. What I look for when evaluating a DB. Whether it's a safety or CB, I am looking for similar traits. It starts with the scheme fit and how they translate. Can they adapt to different schemes? Are they more comfortable as a man-to-man defender vs. zone? Are they able to play press-man? Speed and burst matter in the secondary, but speed doesn't matter if a player lacks agility and good technique. Players with quick feet and can react quickly on the fly by flipping their hips are valuable. What do I mean by flipping the hips? Going from your back peddle to a full sprint fast is very important to a DB. The critical part of that transition is flipping your hips to change your body orientation 180 degrees without momentum. It's an awkward body motion that guys at the NFL level make look easy. I also look for willing-run defenders. Can they provide support in the run game? Are they sound in the open field? All of the above can be true for the safety position, but there are some differentiating factors from a CB. You have two safeties in football, free and strong, and sometimes you get a hybrid nickel or LB style safety. The definition of safety has become blurry as they have to be responsible in similar ways at both spots; that's where the hybrid effect comes into play or the undefined role of safety, so to speak, because of how defenses utilize them to defend against pass-heavy spread offenses. So you can understand the difference between a traditional free and strong safety, I'll define it real fast. Free safety is often the deep safety lined up at least 10 yards deep, while the strong safety traditionally lines up on the TE side or the heavy side of an offensive formation. Free safeties are responsible for mostly pass coverage, while a strong safety defends the run while also being accountable for pass coverage. 2021 NFL Draft CB Rankings Okay, so let's dive into the CB rankings; 1) Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II 6-1 203 lbs Instant Impact Player The son of a former NFL player, Surtain has the pedigree. He is a long player who plays with discipline. Surtain excels in man to man but can play zone when needed. He plays with great technique, and does an excellent job at challenging receivers at the line of scrimmage—Surtain projects as the top CB prospect in the 2021 NFL draft. 2) Va Tech CB Caleb Farley 6-2 197 lbs Potential Upside Player Farley played QB in HS and started his VT career at WR. He is now the 2nd rated CB on our board. At 6-2, 197, he has good physical traits. Farley excels in man coverage, mirrors routes at a high level, and is physical. He needs to improve his zone coverage skills at the next level. 3) South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn 6-1 205 lbs Potential Upside Player The son of former NFL WR Joe Horn, Jacee has the pedigree and is a late riser on our board. He is a solid cover corner, can play zone and press. He needs to improve his tackling. 4) Northwestern CB Greg Newsome 6-1 190 lbs Potential Upside Player A versatile defender who can excel in a cover three or press-man defense. He plays with a long frame at 6-1 and has the speed to stay in the receivers' hip pocket. He uses his body well to defend, not allowing receivers to box him out, and shows a knack for tracking the football down the field. He is an NFL-style outside corner. His primary issue is that he gets grabby at times in man to man. He won't be able to get away with that at the NFL level. 5) Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr. Potential Upside Player Samuel excels in man to man even at 5-10, 184 lbs; he is a physical player unafraid to play press-man with much larger receivers. As a smaller corner, he uses his agility and quick hips to adjust on the fly. Samuel will mix it up against the run; he is a willing tackler and does well in space. He can use more reps in zone coverage and some work on his catching ability once in the NFL. He projects as an outside corner and can play nickel which adds to his versatility at the next level. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here.

As we move through the pro days and hear the noise of outlandish forty times and verticals through the roof, I have personally gone through and done more research on every position. The Football Scout 365 Big Board Don't forget to check out the full Football Scout 365 NFL Draft Big Board. After Further Review NFL Draft Edition On YouTube You can check out our Football Scout 365 After Further Review NFL Draft Edition on Youtube. We have five shows so far, three covering the QB position where I break down and connect the dots between player skillset and what the player displays on film in relation to such buzzwords like arm talent, arm angle, pocket presence etc. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here. What I look for when evaluating an IDL. The first thing you want to look for when scouting the IDL position is where they fit scheme-wise? Is he a two-gap 3-4 interior player or a one-gap 4-3 defender? In a 3-4 defensive scheme, my nose tackle will generally lineup over the center's head and is accountable for both A-gaps. I want my nose tackle to take up space in the middle so that my 2nd level guys can make plays without defenders getting to the second level. You also want them to possess the strength to get off of a block and make a play in the run game. My 3-4 ends are also two-gap responsible; I need them to hold down the B and C gap on each side. In a one-gap 4-3 scheme, you have the two IDL; one is usually considered one tech who lines up half shade over the center in the B gap opposite the three-technique player who is in the B gap half shade over the guard. Both are responsible for stopping the run and rushing the passer when needed. Some of the traits I look for, speed, power, and push. The players who have both speed and power are high-level players. How they use their hands to disengage with a blocker is essential. And the last but not least area is awareness and IQ. A guy who is a student of the game, who can recognize pre-snap movements or player positioning and make adjustments to their movement post-snap are the best defenders in the NFL. Once again, Aaron Donald possesses all of these traits. 2021 NFL Draft IDL Rankings Okay, so let's dive into the IDL rankings; 1) Alabama IDL Christian Barmore 6-5 310 lbs Potential Upside Player The 6-5 310 lbs Christian Barmore arrived at Alabama as a developmental player who has come into his own. He can play the 1, 3, or the 4i; Barmore uses his strength more than a toolbox of moves. Though he has improved his technique, he can use more development. 2) Iowa IDL Daviyon Nixon 6-3 305 lbs Potential Upside Player Nixon is an impressive prospect projected to be a three tech in the NFL. He can shoot a gap because of his burst, using a strong lower profile to explode into an opponent's backfield to disrupt. At over 300 Lbs, he has deceptive speed. On film, Nixon shows the ability to track a ball carrier in the backfield and make a play in pursuit. He is not a wide defender; he could use some work as a power rusher; teams might take advantage of him with a downhill run game. He is a guy who has starting potential and needs some development at the NFL level. 3) NC State Alim McNeill 6-2 315 lbs Potential Upside Player He plays with a solid base; he is hard to move. He has a knack for squeezing through gaps disrupting plays. He plays with good hand placement, does a great job of fighting off double teams. 4) Washington IDL Levi Onwuzurike 6-3 290 lbs Potential Upside Player One of the better pass rushers in the 2021 class, he plays with good leverage and athleticism. He plays with good technique and is hard to single block. He can excel in a 4-3 scheme but can also play in an odd front. 5) Ohio State IDL Tommy Togiai 6-2 300 lbs Developmental Big run-stopper, who can play both the 1, and 3 tech. Togiai projects as a nose player but can play 3-4 DE role in the NFL. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here.

As we move through the pro days and hear the noise of outlandish forty times and verticals through the roof, I have personally gone through and done more research on every position. The Football Scout 365 Big Board Don't forget to check out the full Football Scout 365 NFL Draft Big Board. After Further Review NFL Draft Edition On YouTube You can check out our Football Scout 365 After Further Review NFL Draft Edition on Youtube. We have five shows so far, three covering the QB position where I break down and connect the dots between player skillset and what the player displays on film in relation to such buzzwords like arm talent, arm angle, pocket presence etc. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here. What I look for when evaluating a Edge. The Role In a 3-4 (Edge Players) An edge defender in a 3-4 scheme is often in a two-point stance, like a LB. They are to be versatile; needing them to be able to pass rush and pass cover on any given down is a big deal in the NFL. You will also hear terms such as rush LB or sam LB. The rush LB always lines up on the weak side (opposite TE side). Their primary goal is to rush the QB. The Sam LB lines up opposite of the Rush LB. They play on the strong side of defense (TE side). The Sam LB must be strong at the point of attack; the Sam LB focuses on stopping the run while accounting for their area in pass coverage, often against the TE. The Sam LB can be a situational pass rusher, where the coordinator will surprise an offense when sending him after the QB. Other 3-4 edge rusher depictions are ROLB and LOLB. Like the rush LB and the Sam LB, they are more designated to their area and move less with the strength of the offensive formation (where TE lines up doesn't always dictate where they line up). When they are designated to be less dependent on the offensive formation's strength, they have to be versatile enough to be a Sam or a rush style player on any given play. The Role In a 4-3 (Edge Players) The 4-3 edge player is considered a more traditional DE who is responsible for the defense's edge while playing with their hand in the dirt. Some edge rushers can play in either style, while some are scheme dependent and play better with a hand down than in a two-point stance. 4-3 edge players are ordinarily bigger than those in a 3-4 scheme and are more involved as run stoppers and pass rushers and rarely are asked to drop into coverage. Player Traits and SkillSet Some of the traits I look for, speed, power, and push. The players who have both speed and power are high-level players. How they use their hands to disengage with a blocker is essential. And the last but not least area is awareness and IQ. A guy who is a student of the game, who can recognize pre-snap movements or player positioning and make adjustments to their movement post-snap are the best defenders in the NFL. Once again, Aaron Donald possesses all of these traits. 2021 NFL Draft Edge Rankings Okay, so let's dive into the Edge rankings; 1) Michigan Edge Kwity Paye 6-4 277 lbs Potential Upside Player Paye is an explosive athlete who has yet to reach his full potential. He uses a blend of speed, power, and hand usage to defeat blockers. His game is not perfect, but his ceiling is very high. Paye was not a full-time starter at Michigan until 2020. He is a player with a lot of drive and motivation that we believe can fuel him at the next level. 2) Miami Edge Jaelan Phillips 6-5 258 lbs Potential Upside Player Phillips is an exciting prospect. He was a five-star recruit who had a lot of ability when he arrived at UCLA; he had a few injuries that sidelined him and forced him to retire from football. Phillips questioned his passion for the game at one point. Phillips un-retired and transferred to Miami to get a fresh start; he had an excellent 2020. Phillips is a physical player at 6-6 260 lbs. He shines when pass rushing and against the run. He is a versatile defender who has that rare blend of speed to power off the edge that is eye-opening. He can play with his hand in the dirt or a two-point. He can rush from the interior when needed, which adds to his versatility. The big questions are, does he love the game? Can he remain healthy, and his experience. He has the tools to be a high-impact NFL starter. 3) Wake Forest Edge Carlos Basham Jr. 6-3 280 lbs Potential Upside Player A big play waiting to happen, Basham compiled 19.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles from 2018-20. He was also a force in the backfield, collecting 32 TFL's in that same span. Basham plays with power and wants to win by bullying his blocker into the QB's lap. For him to be an elite edge player in the NFL, he has to get stronger to match NFL tackle strength; he cannot try to win with power at all times if he is not stronger. He is not a flashy edge guy with many moves, which is an area where he can improve. He has what it takes to be a starter at the NFL level. He projects as a 4-3 edge player. 4) Georgia Edge Azeez Ojulari 6-3 240 lbs Potential Upside Player Azeez Ojulari is a 3-4 style Edge player who has good wheels and body control. He has a high motor and can use his speed to put tackles in conflict. He is a strong run game defender who can track down the ball carrier with his short-area quickness. Ojulari still must improve in many areas, and his projection across all NFL draft boards is based on upside. His size is a big question mark where he might not win consistently on edge vs. more physically and fleet-footed tackles. 5) Miami Edge Gregory Rousseau 6-5 260 lbs Potential Upside Player A long player who can slide inside when needed. He is not yet fully developed, but his upside is what scouts might be eyeing. He uses quick hands to disengage with blockers and can set the edge and force runs back inside. He does need to work on his strength at the next level. He was a high school WR, which explains his hand usage and his raw ability as an edge defender. His pass-rush ability might be more suited on the inside rather than trying to win the edge. He is an outstanding prospect who has the NFL size and ability to develop into an impactful starter. Another item to keep in mind, he only has one year as a starter, injured in 2018, and sat out 2020. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here.

As we move through the pro days and hear the noise of outlandish forty times and verticals through the roof, I have personally gone through and done more research on every position. The Football Scout 365 Big Board Don't forget to check out the full Football Scout 365 NFL Draft Big Board. After Further Review NFL Draft Edition On YouTube You can check out our Football Scout 365 After Further Review NFL Draft Edition on Youtube. We have five shows so far, three covering the QB position where I break down and connect the dots between player skillset and what the player displays on film in relation to such buzzwords like arm talent, arm angle, pocket presence etc. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here. What I look for when evaluating a LB. When examining the LB position, you have to understand how to ID what LB type a player is. Is he an edge-style player? A Mike Backer (Middle), a Jack, or Will backer (weakside). The definitions will vary by the scheme, but to keep things simple, let's talk about LB traits that matter when scouting. Again scheme matters, are they 4-3 or a 3-4 style player, etc. But today, I want to talk about the inside LB positions. I'll start with the Mike LB. The Mike LB is the alpha, the QB of the defense. He is often lined up in the middle of the defense, but his position might vary because of his versatility. Regardless, the Mike LB has to be an instinctual player who can get downhill versus the run, shed blocks, and drop into coverage when necessary. Size and versatility do matter at the LB position now more than ever; whether it's the Mike, Jack, or the WIll, they must all be versatile to defend against the new age pass-heavy offenses. The Mike LB will be lined up on the strong side (TE, or formation heavy) most of the time. The Will LB or the Jack LB will line up opposite to the weak side. Again this also varies based on personnel. So to shorten this up, you want your LB's to be athletic, good tacklers, physical, able to shed blocks, a player who can dance in traffic, and can cover in space. And lastly, does he read and react well to what the offense is throwing at him? does he over pursue or respond wildly to play fakes? Does he find himself in a good position more than out of position? And can he matchup with a TE, RB, or move into the slot if tasked to do so? 2021 NFL Draft LB Rankings Okay, so let's dive into the LB rankings; 1) Penn State LB Micah Parsons 6-2 245 lbs Instant Impact Player LB's ranked this high need to be unique, and Parsons is a real difference-maker. He possesses modern speed and old-school size that NFL coaches and GM's covet. Parsons's ability to sniff out the run game is tremendous. But his speed is undeniable; he possesses 4.3 or low 4.4 speed at a position that needs to cover the NFL's new age TE's. He needs to improve his pass coverage ability at the next level. 2) Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 6-2 216 lbs Potential Upside Player Koramoah fits the mold of today's new-aged LB. Gone are the days where you have two or three 240+ LB's. Koramoah fits the Patrick Queen or Devin Bush mold. As physical as he is fast, he is good in coverage and a very good open-field tackler. 3) Tulsa LB Zaven Collins 6-4 260 lbs Potential Upside Player Arguably the most dynamic defender in CFB, Collins played several high school positions, including QB and safety. Collins is an intelligent player who uses his size, quickness, and power to make splash plays. He won the Nagurski award in 2020 as the nation's top LB, and he did so by posting big play after big play compiling 4 sacks, forcing two fumbles while picking off 4 passes, and scoring two times on defense. He is what NFL defenses are looking for in a LB. A guy who can rush the passer and pass cover when needed. 4) Mizzou LB Nick Bolton 6-0 232 lbs Potential Upside Player Bolton is a capable pass defender and good run stopper; he is a legit Mike linebacker at the next level, which provides your defense with experience. He does a good job at navigating in traffic, and though he can shed blocks, he needs to improve his ability to disengage once he is at the NFL level. He is an NFL-ready player who could be a day one starter. 5) LSU LB Jabril Cox 6-3 233 lbs Potential Upside Player Cox is once again an excellent example of what NFL scouts and GM's are looking for in the NFL at the LB position. He is good in coverage and has the wheels to defend not only athletic TE's, but he can handle RB's when needed. He can guard a slot player if needed, and he thrives in space, an area where a lot of LB's are not agile enough defenders. He needs to do a better job shedding blocks in the run game. His tape vs. run shows promise, but that's the most significant improvement area you see with Cox. NFL defenses will try to attack his weakness as a run defender, so the improvement here can help allow him to become a legitimate and impactful NFL starter. Go To The NFL Draft Guide To View More Content by Clicking Here.