This is just mock draft 1 and we're a long way from the actual draft so I'm open to criticism, position suggestions, player evaluation disagreements, etc. Let me know what you think (third round explanations deleted due to word count restraints).

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson. Lawrence is in the discussion for best QB prospect of all time and will be the pick.
   
2. New York Jets - QB Justin Fields, Ohio State. I'm working under the assumption that Deshaun Watson will not be traded. After a deep dive into analytics and spending way too much time breaking down game tape, I personally would go with Fields over Wilson. But, they have virtually the same grade and I would not be shocked by either player being picked.
   
3. Denver Broncos (from Miami via Houston) - QB Zach Wilson, BYU. With Zach Wilson still on the board at pick 3, John Elway, George Paton and the Broncos go all in to get their franchise QB. If your division rival is lining up Patrick Mahomes under center, you need to do better than Drew Lock to compete. The Broncos have a franchise left tackle to anchor their line, and a very talented young group of weapons. They've build a roster friendly to a franchise QB, so the timing is right to make this move for Denver. As the Rams have proven, you don't need first round picks to build a roster that competes for championships.
   
4. Atlanta Falcons - OT Penei Sewell, Oregon. I 'm not sure this move will be popular with Falcons fans, but here goes. With the Broncos trading up and taking the last of the top QBs in this class off the board, the Falcons suddenly have a difficult decision to make. Do you take a raw, inexperienced QB like Trey Lance, or do you take best player available? Here I have the Falcons going best player available because Matt Ryan is still a top QB, and due to his contract situation he's going to be on the roster for at least two more years. That gives them a bigger window to add more talent to the roster before selecting Ryan's replacement. And it would probably be prudent for the Falcons to build a roster then get a QB, rather than get a QB and build the roster after, when the QB prospect in question is a project. Unfortunately, there are no pass rushing prospects who really fit here, although Dean Pees' defense should help to mask that deficiency some and there are good value prospects who should be available on day 2. A.J. Terrell had a promising rookie season, but beyond him they need both depth and talent at CB so one of the top CB prospects is an option here. However, for Arthur Smith's new offense getting a prospect like Sewell is too good of an option. With his contract being easy to move on from, I'm projecting the Falcons cut James Carpenter and select Sewell to move to guard to start his career. This gives them a lot of talent on the offensive line and a lot of flexibility in the future. Should Matthews begin to decline, they can move on and slide Sewell out to left. If McGary doesn't get better in his third year, Sewell could be a long term replacement there. And the main factor that led me to making this pick is that Arthur Smith didn't take the Atlanta job to rebuild. He's got a really good QB in Matt Ryan and Sewell at guard gives the Falcons the best chance at closing out the Ryan era on a high note.
   
5. Cincinnati Bengals - OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern. Thanks to the Broncos trading up for Wilson, the Bengals are guaranteed at least one of the top offensive line prospects in the class being on the board, and although Sewell is gone at 4 Slater is still an excellent prize at 5. As tempting as it may be to reunite Burrow and Chase, the Bengals have to protect their franchise QB. Ideally, Jonah Williams is healthy, but after two years he's had a tough time staying on the field so a guy like Slater who can play any position on the line is perfect here.
   
6. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Devonta Smith, Alabama. While I do think it would be smart for the Eagles to draft a CB here, I think Nick Sirianni's odds of surviving in Philly will go way down if he can't fix Wentz. I also think Roseman knows his job is tied to the success of Wentz, given the contract he gave to Wentz. Because of that I've decided to go with a WR here. If I'm being honest, I'm not entirely sure that Smith is the best WR prospect in this class. It's really close between the top 3. However, I think the areas in which Smith excels make him the best fit for Sirianni's offense.
   
7. Detroit Lions - WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU. While QB was expected to be a target, thanks to the acquisition of Jared Goff the Lions do not need to draft a QB here. In fact, I think it's pretty unlikely that the Lions pick a QB here. Jared Goff has had success in the NFL and he's helped lead his team to a Super Bowl, he may not be a top QB but he's a capable starter. Given the influx of draft capital, the Lions cap situation, and the fact that Goff's contract is virtually unmovable for the next two years they are likely going to use this window to build the roster back up. While I think a CB could be a good fit here, they did just draft Okudah last year who should be given a chance to grow in a new defense, especially since the transition from college to the NFL takes longer at that position. Micah Parsons is tempting here too, as linebacker is a need for the Lions. But given the cap situation and the fact that Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Danny Amendola are all set to be free agents, I've decided to give the Lions a WR. Not only does this give the Lions a cheap, young, and talented option at WR (allowing them to move on from some of those would-be free agents), he's also arguably the top prospect left on the board.
   
8. Carolina Panthers - CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama. There are a lot of options the Panthers could go with here. I debated between Micah Parsons and Surtain here because while I think the Panthers defense should improve next year, they're still missing consistent ILB play as well as a true #1 CB. Ultimately I chose Surtain over Parsons based on positional value given similar position on my board. I also chose Surtain over Farley because I think he's a better fit in Phil Snow's defense. He's physical and sticky in coverage, and I think he would be a great complement at cornerback to go with safety Chinn. I think OL could be considered here, but I'm not sure reaching for OL when there is better value at other positions of need makes sense. Trey Lance could be an option here, but I (perhaps incorrectly) think Fitterer and Rhule will pass on a QB if they can get a top defensive prospect. This would effectively buy another year for them to build up the roster if they choose to go with a QB in the first round of 2022.
   
9. Miami Dolphins (from Denver) - LB Micah Parsons, Penn State. Thanks to a number of trades, real and mocked, the Dolphins have a lot of draft capital and they can use some of that to get weapons for Tua Tagovailoa. But here, they take the best player still on the board. Brian Flores loves to blitz, and Parsons is one of the best blitzing linebacker prospects in years. Jaylen Waddle would be a good pick here too, but the fit is too perfect for me to pass here.
   
10. Dallas Cowboys - CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech. The Cowboys offense will not be a problem with Prescott back in the lineup. The defense needs a lot of work though, so as tempting as Kyle Pitts may be the Cowboys will almost certainly go defense here. The Cowboys have some cornerbacks set to be free agents but they are not worth re-signing. Farley is the best cornerback on the board and is a great value here for Dallas. The Cowboys could look at a couple other positions on defense, but they won't find the value they'd be getting in Caleb Farley.
    
11. Chicago Bears (from New York Giants) - QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State. With the 49ers pick looming, the Bears pull the trigger to move up and get their QB. The Bears have Nick Foles under contract for two more years but he can be cut after next season. Given that situation, the Bears can afford to sit Lance for at least a year and let him develop. He's got all of the tools to be a great QB, but due to the fact that he only played one year at the FCS level, he falls to 11.
    
12. San Francisco 49ers - CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina. Injuries decimated a roster that is talented enough to compete for championships when healthy, so the 49ers can afford to focus on needs. Horn might be seen as a reach here by some, but the drop-off at cornerback is huge and the 49ers need to address the position in the offseason with so many impending free agents. Regardless, Horn is an excellent prospect and be a good pick for first time DC Ryans.
    
13. Los Angeles Chargers - OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC. Justin Herbert emerged as one of the most promising young QBs in the game despite poor offensive line play. The Chargers need to improve the line, so they can't justify reaching for a tackle because of positional value. They just need to take the best lineman on the board, and that's Vera-Tucker. There's some discussion as to whether he can make it as a tackle at the next level, but most have him projected as a guard. Wherever he plays, he should be an upgrade for the Chargers.
    
14. Minnesota Vikings - EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan. The Vikings would love to improve their interior offensive line, but there's better value on day 2, so the Vikings go with a pass rusher here. The Vikings had one of the best defenses in 2019, and a big part of that was the pass rush. Last year however, the pass rush was ineffective and the defense fell apart. Getting Danielle Hunter back and pairing him with Paye while rotating D.J. Wonnum and Jalyn Holmes in could restore the Vikings pass rush and help get them back to the postseason.
    
15. New England Patriots - LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame. Although he played in a different scheme at Notre Dame than Bill Belichick uses, Owusu-Koramoah is one of the most versatile defenders in the class. He has shown the ability to rush the passer, drop back in coverage, and his elite sideline to sideline speed for the position that makes him an ideal linebacker against modern offenses. The Patriots need to get younger and faster on defense. As much as I want to add a weapon like Waddle or Pitts to the Patriots, I'm just not convinced that Belichick will actually do that in the first round.
    
16. Arizona Cardinals - EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami (FL). With Haason Reddick and Markus Golden both set to hit free agency, and Chandler Jones coming off of an injury, heading into his age 31 season, and on the final year of his contract, the Cardinals pass rush is inevitably going to look different in the next couple of years. With a prospect as good as Phillips on the board, drafting him to replace Jones and re-signing Reddick will give the Cardinals a formidable pass rush for the foreseeable future. If the Cardinals want to continue to close the gap with the Rams and Seahawks, they can't let their pass rush decline.
    
17. Las Vegas Raiders - WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama. Every year a couple players drop farther than they should. This year, one of those players is Jaylen Waddle. The Raiders need to improve their defense, and there are some tempting players on the board for the Raiders to take, such as Gregory Rousseau. But the Raiders outside threats could have been better this year, and Jon Gruden will jump at the opportunity to put Waddle with Waller and Ruggs. Waddle is up there with the best weapons in this class, so this is a great value for the Raiders at 17.
    
18. Miami Dolphins - WR Kadarius Toney, Florida. Having already landed one of the best defensive players, Miami now turns its attention to surrounding Tagovailoa with the talent to thrive. The Dolphins got good production from DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki, but could upgrade the rest of their receiving corps. Toney is electric and gives the Dolphins a playmaker over the middle of the field, which is exactly what Miami could use to help Tagovailoa grow.
    
19. Washington Football Team - TE Kyle Pitts, Florida. Washington didn't get their QB in this draft, but they get incredible value at 19 in Pitts. Besides Terry McLaurin, Washington doesn't really have a true playmaker at receiver so Pitts would immediately upgrade the offense. Given how good Washington's defense is, if they can't get a QB by trading up their main goal should be to improve their weapons and Pitts would be the ideal scenario.
    
20. New York Giants (from Chicago) - EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami (FL). The Giants biggest need is probably their wide receiver room, but with the top prospect on the board being a pass rusher, the Giants go with one of the highest upside defensive prospects in the class in Rousseau. The Giants don't have a lot of talent on the edge, so they fill a need here.
    
21. Indianapolis Colts - OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech. The Colts have boasted one of the best offensive lines in the NFL in recent years, and with Anthony Castonzo retiring, the Colts will want to keep their line in top shape by drafting his replacement. His length, athleticism, and intelligence make him the preferred tackle target for the Colts here.
    
22. Tennessee Titans - EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas. The Titans are a very good team, and most improvements that could be made would be to improve depth. But the one area the Titans desperately need to improve if they want to legitimately compete for championships is their pass rush and defensive line. Ossai is the most explosive pass rush prospect left on the board who can fit with their defensive scheme.
    
23. San Francisco 49ers (from New York Jets via Seattle) – QB Mac Jones, Alabama. The 49ers move up to get the guy they believe can be their next franchise QB. In this scenario, the 49ers were targeting Trey Lance at 12, but because of the Chicago trade, they opted instead to take Horn, who is higher on the draft board and can help their secondary which will be losing some pieces to free agency. When Mac Jones gets past Washington at 19, they believe they can move up into the mid-20s for a reasonable value and get their QB. The best value in terms of trading draft capital is at 23, and they have to make this move to get ahead of Pittsburgh who could potentially take Jones to replace Ben Roethlisberger. The 49ers are now without a pick until the 5th round, but it's worth it to secure their QB of the future.
    
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan. The Steelers cap space isn't great right now, although Roethlisberger restructuring his contract will help. In any case, the Steelers are going to have to move on from some players, and one that makes sense is Alejandro Villanueva. He's played well, but he's going to be 33 next year, and rather than paying a veteran LT salary with tight cap space, it makes sense to draft his replacement. Mayfield is very technically sound and is nasty, two things that have defined Pittsburgh offensive line play over the years. There may be concern about him playing right tackle at Michigan, but as Jedrick Wills proved for the Browns, a move to left tackle is possible for a top prospect. Running back is also a possibility here, but there's better value in later rounds.
    
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams) - S Trevon Moehrig, TCU. The Jaguars weren't accidentally the number one pick. They were terrible on both offense and defense, and with so much early draft capital they don't have to reach on players in the name of protecting Lawrence at all costs. The Jaguars have some nice weapons on offense, and there will be good offensive line prospects on the board in the second round. They need to improve their secondary badly, and Moehrig is an immediate impact player with good versatility, and would be an instant upgrade over Josh Jones, who should not return to the team in 2021. Moehrig is arguably the highest graded prospect left on the board, he has a high floor, he's ready to play right away, and he fills a need.
    
26. Cleveland Browns - LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa. The Browns have a lot of holes on defense, and linebacker in particular is an area that they need to address. Despite being massive for a linebacker, Collins is quick and athletic and can play in coverage. He also has good pass rushing ability, which is an area that Cleveland needs to improve opposite of Myles Garrett. His versatility makes him valuable in multiple packages which should help him get on the field early, something that Cleveland should value at the end of the first round given that their competitive window is open.
    
27. Baltimore Ravens - EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia. The Ravens need to give Lamar Jackson better weapons on the outside, but with such a good, deep running attack, the Ravens can afford to wait until the second round. The Ravens have several pass rushers set to become free agents, and they won't be able to bring all of them back. In any case, the Ravens could use an upgrade at the position anyway. Although Ojulari played in 4 man fronts, his size, speed, and athleticism make him a natural fit as an edge rusher in a 3 man front defense. His energy is also a great fit for the Ravens defense.
    
28. New Orleans Saints - EDGE Jayson Oweh, Penn State. The Saints have the worst cap situation in the NFL and because of that they're going to lose some key free agents. One guy that they almost certainly will not be able to retain is breakout DE Trey Hendrickson, who registered 13.5 sacks in 2020 and should be in line for a nice raise on the free agent market. Oweh has tremendous upside due to his freakish athleticism, explosiveness, and length. He's a bit raw, and will need some time to develop, but with Cameron Jordan on the opposite side of the line Oweh is the type of player the Saints can afford to target.
    
29. Green Bay Packers - WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville. Aaron Rodgers covers the deficiencies of the wide receiver room well, but the Packers do need to improve their weapons. Adams and Tonyan are good pieces, but St. Brown, Lazard, and Valdez-Scantling can't be the secondary options at wide receiver. Adding an electric slot receiver in Atwell makes sense given the profile of the rest of the receivers on the roster.
    
30. Buffalo Bills - EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington. The Bills have a very complete roster, but they could definitely improve their pass rush. Getting to the quarterback, namely Patrick Mahomes, will be the Bills best chance of getting over the hump and into the Super Bowl. Tryon is a nice scheme fit, and should be able to see the field instantly, something a contender like Buffalo will be looking for here. I was tempted to mock a running back here, as there's great talent left on the board, but I think the Bills are more likely to ride with their 3rd round picks from 2019 and 2020, Singletary and Moss.
    
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington. The Buccaneers have a loaded offense, so the focus should be on the defense, specifically the defensive line. With Gholston having only one more year on his contract, and Suh set to be a free agent, a high upside 3-tech like Onwuzurike makes a lot of sense here. Not to mention, a team that is good enough to make the super bowl can afford to draft BPA, and Onwuzurike is among the best players still on the board here.
    
32. Kansas City Chiefs - OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama. Kansas City needs to start getting younger on the offensive line. Both Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz are under contract for 2021, but after that they're free agents. Leatherwood has shown the versatility to slide in anywhere on the line, and could be a day one starter for the Chiefs wherever they need him. This pick could also be used on another weapon or a defensive player, but the value here is too good for Leatherwood.
    

Round 2

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - DL Dayvion Nixon, Iowa. One of the hallmarks of Urban Meyer's Florida and Ohio State teams were deep, talented defensive lines. The Jaguars have a few nice pieces in Josh Allen and Doug Costin, but overall the unit needs to improve. Nixon is one of only a few interior defensive line prospects who offers high upside impact, and getting him here at the start of the second round is good value.
   
2. New York Jets - CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern. The Jets have problems with their cornerbacks. Their best cornerback is set to be a free agent, but even if he returns he's only a slot corner. Bryce Hall has shown a lot of promise, but there's not much on the roster behind him. Newsome is a smart, instinctive corner who will fit into Saleh's scheme nicely, and should be ready to compete for a starting role early.
   
3. Atlanta Falcons - RB Najee Harris, Alabama. While it may be unlikely that there are no running backs in the first round (hasn't happened since 2014), I think this draft is so talented that it could happen. As I said earlier, I think the Arthur Smith will try to make win now moves and having a power running game is an important part of Arthur Smith's offensive philosophy. Najee Harris is the top running back on the board and the top prospect left on the board, so everything from fit to value is excellent here for Atlanta.
   
4. Miami Dolphins (from Houston) - RB Travis Etienne, Clemson. Another running back off the board, this time it's the electric back from Clemson. Having already added Toney, now the Miami offense gets arguably the top receiving back in the class. This move makes the offense one of the fastest in the league, and the combination of Etienne and Gaskin gives the Dolphins one of the best young running back rooms in the league.
   
5. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Eric Stokes, Georgia. I nearly went with a CB in round 1 for the Eagles, but it was too hard to pass up on a receiver. The Eagles have a nice CB1 in Slay, but he's getting older and the rest of the CB group needs to be upgraded. Stokes has the ideal size, speed, and length that teams are looking for on the outside and has the experience to challenge for a starting spot early.
   
6. Cincinnati Bengals - EDGE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh. The Bengals already added a top offensive lineman for Burrow, but they have to address the defense early on. Even if the Bengals re-sign Lawson, they need to have more talent on the defensive line to get pressure on opposing QBs. Jones is a good scheme fit and his versatility makes him an attractive option here in the 2nd round.
   
7. Carolina Panthers - LB Nick Bolton, Missouri. The Panthers add another impact playmaker for Phil Snow's defense, a guy who could fill the void that they were unable to fill after Keuchly's retirement. There are several options here, but Bolton at 39 is incredible value and the Panthers jump all over a guy with first round upside.
   
8. Miami Dolphins (from Denver) - C Landon Dickerson, Alabama. Ted Karras is set to be a free agent, but Miami can upgrade the center position here and get the best prospect at the position in the draft. Dickerson has positional versatility and is well respected for his leadership so this is a great value and culture pick for Miami.
   
9. Detroit Lions - CB Aaron Robinson, UCF. Robinson has the ideal size and length that NFL teams look for, and he's got a lot of experience both inside and outside. The production from the Lions CB room was abysmal in 2020, so more talent needs to be added, even if Jeff Okudah makes the expected year two leap.
   
10. New York Giants - WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC. Dave Gettleman is a meat and potatoes guy, and he got his high upside defensive lineman in the first round. But he's going to have to start giving Daniel Jones weapons if they really believe he's the future. Obviously getting Saquon Barkley back will help, but the wide receiver room is aging, and Amon-Ra St. Brown is an outside receiver with WR1 potential who can inject youth and talent into that position group for the Giants.
    
11. New York Jets (from San Francisco) - OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State. The fact that the Jets have a weak offensive line is no secret. Mekhi Becton was a home run draft pick at left tackle last season, but the Jets need to continue adding offensive line talent to avoid their next franchise QB getting killed. Despite another All-American season, Davis' 2020 tape is not as good as his 2019 tape, so he falls to the mid-2nd here. While there are some concerns, he's the best interior offensive line prospect left on the board and he does have upside.
    
12. Dallas Cowboys - DT Christian Barmore, Alabama. The Cowboys defense needs to improve, especially in the run game. Neville Gallimore showed promise, but adding Barmore gives the defensive line a lot more depth and talent. Barmore has the experience to step in right away and produce, something that will be important for the Cowboys who should be looking to win a down NFC East with a healthy Prescott.
    
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Minnesota) - TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State. Friermuth is an excellent pass catching TE, but he's also one of the better blocking tight ends in this class. This versatility addresses two needs for Jaguars on offense. There's a lot of upside in the Jaguars WR room, so adding a playmaker at TE makes sense, especially because their top tight ends are getting older.
    
14. New England Patriots - WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU. The Patriots need to address the wide receiver position, and after passing on a WR in the first round they land a falling Marshall with the 46th pick, so the Patriots end up with a great value in the 2nd round.
    
15. Los Angeles Chargers - OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State. The Chargers line was so bad, and the value at 47 is so good, that I'm going to mock the Chargers double dipping at offensive line with their first two picks. Sam Tevi's contract is up, and he was not good enough to re-sign. The Chargers have to upgrade this spot, and getting a guy like Jenkins here is an easy decision.
    
16. Las Vegas Raiders - DT Marlon Tuipulotu, USC. The Raiders need to upgrade the defensive line, especially on the interior where Maliek Collins and Johnathan Hankins were not high impact players. Tuipulotu has great strength and technique, and has three years of starting experience so he should be ready to start right away for the Raiders.
    
17. Arizona Cardinals - CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State. Arguably the biggest need for Arizona is cornerback, but with the way the board fell in the first the value was better for other positions of need. Here in the 2nd, they get one of the stickiest corners in the draft. He's a bit undersized, but he's great in man coverage and will be a good scheme fit for Vance Joseph's defense.
    
18. Miami Dolphins - EDGE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma. The Dolphins pick for the fifth time in this mock already, and have addressed a lot of needs so far. One area where they could get better is pass rush depth. While Perkins doesn't jump out as an ideal fit in Flores' defensive scheme, he's got the size, strength, and athleticism should allow him to transition to a standup edge rusher, or rotate in on pass rush situations with his hand on the dirt. He's got all the tools to create pressure in the NFL, and would give Flores a weapon that would allow him to get creative with his defensive play calls.
    
19. Washington Football Team - OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas. Washington has an aging line, so getting some youth in the building would be a good strategy. Cornelius Lucas played well enough to have a chance to win the starting LT job in 2021, but he'll be 30 and in a contract year and Morgan Moses will have two years left on his contract. Financially it would make sense to get a long term solution at tackle early in the draft. Cosmi's strengths are a good fit for Scott Turner's blocking schemes.
    
20. New York Giants (from Chicago) - CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia. Using this additional pick acquired from Chicago, the Giants address three of their biggest needs in the first two rounds by taking Campbell to go with Rousseau and St. Brown. There are definitely issues on Campbell's tape, but his assignment's in Graham's defense should minimize those weaknesses while maximizing his strength in man coverage. Campbell has elite size, length, and athleticism, so he has tremendous upside.
    
21. Tennessee Titans - WR Rondale Moore, Purdue. The Titans have a very good offense, but are likely going to move on from Corey Davis after the emergence of A.J. Brown. Adding arguably the most electric playmaker in the draft, Rondale Moore, would help keep the Titans offense among the most potent in the NFL.
    
22. New York Jets (from Indianapolis) - RB Javonte Williams, UNC. The Jets need to add some weapons, and with Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims on the roster, and better free agent options such as Allen Robinson, Corey Davis, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Kenny Golladay potentially hitting the market, the Jets can add the best weapon on the board, Javonte Williams. He's excellent in the passing game and should fit nicely with the new running scheme.
    
23. Kansas City Chiefs (from Pittsburgh) - WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota. With one of the top WR prospects still on the board, and a number of teams ahead of them who could look for a WR, the Chiefs pull the trigger and move up. The Steelers, who have a lot of players headed to free agency, are happy to move down and get more draft picks to try to rebuild the roster with cheaper contracts. Bateman is a good route runner with excellent high point skills, so he's a perfect fit in the offense to replace Watkins.
    
24. Seattle Seahawks - OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State. The Seahawks need to make a move on the offensive line at some point, and Radunz is a good prospect here. Cedric Ogbuehi is a free agent, but they could upgrade at RT anyway, and Duane Brown is 35 and only has one year left on his contract. The Seahawks could possibly look at a pass rusher or cornerback here, but the best value on the board is at tackle.
    
25. Los Angeles Rams - LB Baron Browning, Ohio State. There are rumblings that some teams view Browning as a potential first round talent. The athleticism is off the charts, and he's got the speed, explosiveness, length, and motor that NFL teams covet. The upside is undeniable and he's lauded for his character and leadership. Combine that with his experience and versatility, and he's the kind of guy who can come in right away and upgrade the Rams inside linebacker spot, one of the few positions that needs a major upgrade for a team that's going all in to win a Super Bowl.
    
26. Baltimore Ravens - WR Nico Collins, Michigan. The Ravens need to give Lamar Jackson better weapons on the outside, and Nico Collins has elite size and vertical ball skills, something the Ravens are missing at wide receiver. A lot of the best remaining day 2 caliber receivers are better suited for a slot role, so the Ravens pull the trigger on one of the best outside guys left on the board.
    
27. Cleveland Browns - EDGE Jordan Smith, UAB. The Browns desperately need to get some pass rushing help opposite of Myles Garrett. There are some red flags with Smith, but the size and athleticism of Smith make him too good to pass up here. With Collins and Smith, the Browns defense gets a lot bigger, faster, and more talented.
    
28. New Orleans Saints - LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina. All of the Saints moves are going to be made with the salary cap in mind. One of the obvious cost saving moves is to cut Kwon Alexander. The Saints would save more than $13 million without taking on any dead money. Surratt is an excellent player who provides the Saints good value here.
    
29. Buffalo Bills - DT Jay Tufele, USC. The Bills will want to add a cornerback at some point, but with the way the board has fallen Tufele is too good of a value here to pass up on. The Bills need to get better interior defensive line play, and Tufele fits nicely into Frazier's defensive scheme, so this is a good fit as well.
    
30. Green Bay Packers - CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse. The Packers could address a number of positions here, but Kevin King played poorly and is set to become a free agent anyway. Melifonwu has elite size, and has been climbing draft boards. He may be a bit of a project, but we're getting into the range where there are very few instant impact guys left on the board.
    
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma. With Donovan Smith, Ryan Jensen, and Aaron Stinnie's contracts all set to expire either this year or next year, adding some offensive line help makes sense. Jensen is the weakest of the group, and will likely walk in 2021 if the Buccaneers can acquire a top prospect through the draft. Regardless, the Buccaneers are going to have to add more depth to the center group so the talented Humphrey fills a need.
    
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Kansas City) - RB Michael Carter, North Carolina. James Conner is set to be a free agent, and it makes financial sense for the Steelers to move on from him. Carter is an excellent value at the bottom of the second round, and he's excellent in the passing game, so he'll be a great fit for the Steelers. Running backs also have the ability to make an impact right away, which is crucial for a team looking to make one last run with QB Ben Roethlisberger.
    

Third Round

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame.
   
2. New York Jets - WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss.
   
3. Houston Texans - S Jevon Holland, Oregon.
   
4. Atlanta Falcons - EDGE, Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forrest.
   
5. Cincinnati Bengals - WR D'Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan.
   
6. Philadelphia Eagles - EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami (FL).
   
7. Miami Dolphins (from Denver) - S Richie Grant, UCF.
   
8. Detroit Lions - LB Cameron McGrone, Michigan.
   
9. Carolina Panthers - QB Kyle Trask, Florida.
   
10. Washington Football Team (from San Francisco) - CB Elijah Molden, Washington.
    
11. Dallas Cowboys - LB Pete Werner, Ohio State.
    
12. New York Giants - OT James Hudson, Cincinnati.
    

XX. New England Patriots - Forfeited

1. Los Angeles Chargers - DT Tommy Togiai, Ohio State.
   
2. Minnesota Vikings - OG Ben Cleveland, Georgia.
   
3. Arizona Cardinals - C Josh Myers, Ohio State.
   
4. Las Vegas Raiders - S Ar'Darius Washington, TCU.
   
5. Miami Dolphins - CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State.
   
6. Washington Football Team - WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State.
   
7. Chicago Bears - OT Walker Little, Stanford.
   
8. Indianapolis Colts - EDGE Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Oregon State.
   
9. Tennessee Titans - DT Marvin Wilson, Florida State.
   
10. New York Jets (from Seattle) - LB Charles Snowden, Virginia.
    
11. Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Shi Smith, South Carolina.
    
12. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams) - S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State.
    
13. Cleveland Browns - DT Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh.
    
14. Minnesota Vikings (from Baltimore) - WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson.
    
15. Cleveland Browns (from New Orleans) - WR Seth Williams, Auburn.
    
16. Green Bay Packers - EDGE Payton Turner, Houston.
    
17. Buffalo Bills - CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford.
    
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt.
    
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Kansas City) - TE Brevin Jordan, Miami (FL).
    

Compensatory Picks

1. New England Patriots - QB Davis Mills, Stanford.
   
2. Los Angeles Chargers - TE Hunter Long, Boston College.
   
3. New Orleans Saints - RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State.
   
4. Dallas Cowboys - S Andre Cisco, Syracuse.
   
5. Tennessee Titans - OT Brady Christensen, BYU.
   
6. Los Angeles Rams - CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina.
   
7. San Francisco 49ers - EDGE Victor Dimukeje, Duke.
   
8. Los Angeles Rams - OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa.
   
9. Baltimore Ravens - DT Tyler Shelvin, LSU.
   
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Kary Vincent Jr., LSU.
    

Trades:
Indianapolis Colts receive: QB Sam Darnold New York Jets receive: Indianapolis 2021 2nd, 5th
This trade value is based on internet rumors and a similar trade in 1987, where the San Francisco 49ers sent a 2nd and 4th round pick to Tampa Bay for 2nd year starter Steve Young. Steve Young was 3-16, with 11 TDs, 21 INTs, a 53.3 comp% and a 63.1 QB rating in two seasons with Tampa Bay but his upside netted a nice return. I think for several reasons, such as the fact that neither Douglas nor Saleh drafted Darnold and the potential to reset the cap window by drafting a 1st round QB, the Jets will trade Darnold. The Colts have a good offensive line and much better weapons than the Jets, so Indianapolis could be a good destination for Darnold after they missed out on Stafford.
***
Denver receives: Houston 2021 1st (3) via Miami Miami receives: Denver 2021 1st (9), 2nd (40), 3rd (71), 2022 1st, 2nd, 2023 2nd
***
Chicago receives: New York Giants 2021 1st (11) New York Giants receive: Chicago 1st (20), 2nd (52), 2022 1st
***
San Francisco receives: Seattle 2021 1st (23) via New York Jets New York Jets receive: San Francisco 2021 2nd (43), 4th, 2022 2nd
***
Kansas City receives: Pittsburgh 2021 2nd (55) Pittsburgh receives: Kansas City 2021 2nd (64), 3rd (95) ***
QB Notes: New England signs Ryan Fitzpatrick Indianapolis trades for Sam Darnold from New York Jets New Orleans re-signs Jameis Winston Washington re-signs Kyle Allen

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs are now over, and there's a lot to really think about. In this mock draft, I have a few trades, including a block buster to help find the successor for a QB headed for Canton, as well as a blockbuster deal in which a team that is currently at dumpster fire status get's their lost draft capita back. Here's the mock draft.
1 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Nothing to say here. They didn't call this season 'Tank for Trevor' for nothing, now did they?
2 - New York Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
TRADE - Dolphins send 3rd overall pick to the New Orleans Saints, in exchange for 28th overall pick in 2020, Saints' 2nd round pick in 2020, Saints' 3rd round pick in 2020, Saints' 1st round pick in 2021, Saints 3rd round pick in 2021, and Saints 4th round pick in 2021, and maybe more...
3 - New Orleans Saints - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The Drew Brees era has ended in New Orleans after a long, and impressive run. At 42 years of age, Brees walks away from the game as 13x pro bowler, a two time OPOTY winner, a super bowl champion (2009), and many other accolades and accomplishments under his belt. With the greatest QB in Saint's history now gone, it's time for New Orleans to fill in the big shoes left by the legend. The Saints are in no position to blow up their roster and tank in the wake of Brees' apparent retirement. They've got a 20+ million dollar WR in Michael Thomas, one of the highest paid RBs in Alvin Kamara, a star-studded OL, a great defense featuring Cameron Jordan, the breakout Trey Hendrickson, Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore, and Malcolm Jenkins. This team really can't afford to tank for a top QB in 2022 like Sam Howell, or Spencer Rattler. What they can afford, is to give up a lot to receive a lot in Justin Fields. While his 2020 season wasn't anything to ride home about, Justin Fields is still more than likely going to have a great career in the NFL, and frankly what better place for him to go than the Big Easy, which will have a fantastic team around him unlike many other high end QBs in the draft. New Orleans will most certainly be giving up their first round picks for this year, and next year in order to land the coveted college football superstar, and set up their franchise for possibly another 12-15 years.
4 - Atlanta Falcons - Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
QB is at the top of Atlanta's wishlist, but if they are unable to land neither Wilson, nor Fields, then Atlanta could target one of the biggest receiving talents in CFB history, in Devonta Smith to create the best WR core in the entire NFL. Reportedly, Julio Jones has been the center of trade discussions with the Falcons, as they enter a new era after firing coach Dan Quinn. If Julio goes, then Smith, who is wickedly talented at route running, & separation, could provide the Falcon's receiving department with more than enough insurance if Jones departs. If Jones doesn't leave, then you've still got a ridiculous WR trio for at least the next two years, until Calvin Ridley hits free agency.
5 - Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Sewell is a generational talent at OT, and if the former Outland Trophy winner were to fall to the Bengals at #5, then it's a no-brainer to get him to protect Burrow. Sewell is just 20 years old, he has plenty of room to improve, and with his youth, he could have a 15+ year career barring any injury.
6 - Philadelphia Eagles - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Jalen Hurts has some promise in Philly, but he needs some targets. Neither Desean Jackson, nor Alshon Jeffrey can stay healthy, and all you have left is Greg Ward, who is becoming a free agent, and Travis Fulgham who fell off hard after a pretty impressive four game stretch earlier this year. It's time for Philadelphia to get a new WR1, and LSU's Ja'Marr Chase has all of the makings to be the next big thing in Philly. Chase's ridiculous 2019 campaign was so good, that he didn't even need to play in 2020 in order to cement his status as a top 10 pick. It's universally agreed that he is a top 10 level prospect, and his rookie year in Philly should be special.
7 - Detroit Lions - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The three top receivers for Detroit will become free agents. While the Lions will likely retain at least one of them (probably going to be Golliday), they will need to reload in this department in order to keep their offense up. Jaylen Waddle was on pace for a ridiculous 2020 season, up until he broke his ankle last October, but in the games we did see him, he was arguably just as unguardable as Devonta Smith. While Smitty was the precise tactician in that stacked Bama receiving corps, Waddle was the dynamite playmaker, who was one of the top downfield threats in the country. Waddle will most certainly make Detroit explosive upon arrival.
8 - Carolina Panthers - Micah Parson, LB, Penn State
I originally had Carolina taking Isaiah Simmons last season, but they passed on him for Derrick Brown instead. Ever since the departure of Luke Kuechly, the team has been in dire need of a leader at LB, and Penn State's Micah Parsons is the one to do it. Parsons can play the Panthers system, and his quickness, and instincts are incredible for the position.
TRADE - Denver Broncos send 9th overall pick + more to the Houston Texans in exchange for QB Deshaun Watson, + a late draft pick.
9 - Houston Texans - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The second big shocker of the night. In this scenario, Denver wins the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, and in return Houston gets its lost draft capita from the O'Brien era. Houston could use this pick to get a lineman like Slater, or a DB like Surtain or Farley, but Kyle Pitts at this point is the best overall player on the board, and he's one of the best TE prospects to come out in a good while. Pitts will likely be the top receiver for Houston, even as a rookie, Deshaun Watson gets an acceptable trade for his sake, and Denver FINALLY gets its QB of the future. This was my favorite move on this mock draft.
10 - Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Completely unrelated, but I just wanted check in and see if y'all were still them boys...nah I'm just kidding. But in all honesty, the Cowboys need some help in their secondary, since they just lost Byron Jones a year ago, and Chidobe Awuzie, plus a few others enter free agency, leaving just 2nd year man Trevon Diggs by himself. Reunite him with his former college teammate, Patrick Surtain II, the son of Patrick Sr, who was a 3x pro bowler as a DB during his time in the league. Surtain is a smooth operating corner, whose efforts with the Tide in 2020 earned him SEC DPOTY honors.
11 - New York Giants - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
I think that the G-Men will get some pass rushing help in free agency, by way of someone like Haason Reddick or Matt Judon. If they do that, which they probably will, then they can go after the stud LB prospect of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who had a huge 2020 season, winning the Butkus award, and helping Notre Dame make it to the College Football Playoff. JOK has some fantastic instincts, and some frightening closing speed to attack the backfield, and make plays. Not to mention, he is small enough to where he can drop back into coverage, but big enough not to get pushed around.
12 - San Francisco 49ers - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
It's become evident that Jimmy G just isn't the guy to hold the reins for the 49er offense in the coming years. He's pretty average as an NFL QB in general, and he's well below average for a QB that has a nine figure contract, and on top of that, he has played only one full season as the starter with San Fran, missing 13 games in 2018, and 10 games in 2020. While I expect Jimmy G to start next year, I think it's time for San Fran to get the next guy for the job. Mac Jones, a Heisman finalist this past season had just about as perfect of a season you could have for a college QB. Jones has pinpoint accuracy, and terrific decision making. I think that Jones will stew behind Garoppolo, and get coached up in his rookie season, then he will eventually get turned lose, in the 49ers offense.
13 - Los Angeles Chargers - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Slater has risen up draft boards from 2nd round status, to early 1st round status without even playing game during 2020. Many scouts highlight his brilliant performance against Ohio State in 2019, in which he stifled current NFL star edge rusher Chase Young in their showdown. Slater is versatile enough to play at OG as well, which is really where the Chargers could use some help at right now.
14 - Minnesota Vikings - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Minnesota's ability to protect Kirk Cousins was not too good in 2020. Cousins was sacked 39 times last season. Christian Darrisaw is one of the best offensive tackles in the class with good size for the position, and a ton of praise from scouts around the country.
15 - New England Patriots - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
The Patriots could use some help up front for their DL. They allowed the 7th most rushing yards in the entire league across all of last regular season, allowing around 131 yards per game. When you compete in a conference that has runners like Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, the entire Ravens backfield, Josh Allen when he feels dangerous, and even Kansas City who isn't really bad at the run themselves, then you need to do what you can to slow that down. Meet Christian Barmore, the massive Alabama defensive lineman who gained a ton of positive attention thanks to his dominant performance against Ohio State in the national championship game. Barmore, in my opinion has ascended to the top of the IDL big board, thanks to his disruptiveness, his shocking quickness, and his ability to rush the passer, as well as a disrupt the running game make him a great get for the New England Patriots at 15th overall.
16 - Arizona Cardinals - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Now while I did say that Najee Harris was the best RB in this class, I just feel that Travis Etienne fits the Cardinal's system more than Najee. Etienne reminds me a lot of Kenyan Drake, who hits free agency this spring. He's a long built, yet quick runner with a keen ability to catch the football. Etienne could make Arizona's defense a legit threat in the coming years.
17 - Las Vegas Raiders - Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
When it comes to drafting in the first round, the Raiders do their own thing. They've always been one to reach with their first round selection, showing this with picks like Kolton Miller, Karl Joseph, Damon Arnette, and most infamous as of recent, Clelin Ferrell, who they picked over Josh Allen, which I am still frustrated about to this day. I don't see the Raiders leaving this odd, and borderline comedic trend behind in Oakland, and as a matter of fact, I can see history repeating itself year after year. Jaelan Phillips, who used to play for UCLA, and was a 5 star prospect in high school, finally seemed to hit his stride after dealing with many injuries, and transferring across the country to Miami. Phillips athletic ability, and natural pass rushing tools were on display in the latter half of Miami's 2020 season, and while Phillips currently has a 2nd round grade, I don't see this stopping the Raiders from passing on him over other players projected to go in round 1 (however I think there is a lot more upside to Phillips than past 1st round picks by the Raiders).
18 - Miami Dolphins - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
I've become extremely impressed with Nagurski Award winner, Zaven Collins, a defender that combines a staggering amount of size (6'4", 260 lbs), and a surprising amount of speed, and mobility in coverage that makes Collins such a difficult player to face. Collins can be an excellent addition to the Dolphins defense.
19 - Washington Football Team - Trey Lance, QB, ND State
Washington is one QB away from being a legitimate contender in the NFC; not a 7-9 division leader, not fringe wild card team, a legit contender. Do I think this happens within a year? No. If Washington ends up with Trey Lance, they must use him right. He needs to be brought up in the shadows of a veteran QB for at least a season, before getting on the field, similar to what Kansas City did with Patrick Mahomes. The starter for that KC team with rookie Mahomes was Alex Smith. The potential starter for this team with a rookie Trey Lance: Alex Smith. Of course with the depletion of Smith's career because of that brutal leg injury in 2018, Smith may not be playing for Washington despite an inspiring comeback season, potentially the greatest comeback season ever for any NFL player.
20 - Chicago Bears - Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
The Outland Trophy winner for Alabama has moved around the entire line like many linemen do under coach Nick Saban. The Bears need some help up front, and Leatherwood is an extremely versatile option who is as good of a run blocker as they come.
21 - Indianapolis Colts - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
T.Y. Hilton, who has really fallen off recently, as well as Zach Pascal, are both free agents for Indy. The only guy they've got is Michael Pittman, who they drafted just last year. While I expect big things from the former USC standout in his sophomore season, this WR group needs a ton of assistance due to it's lack of diversity. Ohio State's Chris Olave was one of Justin Fields' favorite targets across the QB's two year career with the Buckeyes. Olave is sound route runner, with good hands, and solid ability in getting separation.
22 - Tennessee Titans - Azeez Ojulari, LB, Georgia
My team, the Tennessee Titans is probably the most desperate team for a franchise pass rusher. Seeing this pass rush week in, and week out was painful. They recorded the 3rd least sacks, and opposing QBs averaged a 97.5 passer rating (9th highest), when facing Tennessee. The weak pass rush gave QBs more time to make throws downfield, thus tiring the secondary, and making the defense slower. Azeez Ojulari is one of the better LB prospects in this draft class, showing the ability to play standup, but also along the edge, which is where he did really well at in his last season with the Bulldogs. Check out his games against Tennessee, and Alabama, and you will see how he was able to outclass many offensive linemen in those two games.
TRADE - New York Jets send 23rd overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the 26th overall pick, as well as a mid round pick in either 2021 or 2022.
23 - Cleveland Browns - Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
The Browns could be looking for a complementary edge rusher for Myles Garrett with Olivier Vernon departing in free agency. Vernon surged late in 2020, but a very unfortunate achilles injury derailed his hopes to make some more noise in the post season. Kwity Paye, who was projected to go 2nd-3rd round after 2019, exploded thanks to a chaotic performance against Minnesota, in which he had 3 sacks in a row on a 4th qtr drive. While Paye may have small stature, he has enough upside that should make Cleveland want to roll the dice on him.
24 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Pittsburgh has struggled to run the football. They were dead last in total rushing yards as a team, with the 5th least total rushing attempts, and the least YPC (3.6). James Conner and Benny Snell just don't seem to have the answers. But my solution is for Pittsburgh to dip into the pool known as RBU, aka Alabama. Najee Harris was the Doak Walker winner for a reason, becoming a wrecking ball bruiser, that just so happens to be able to catch the ball really well, and jump over defenders that are standing straight up. Najee can help make Big Ben, or the next Steeler QB's job easier with his versatile skillset for the position.
25 - Jacksonville Jaguars* - Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish have provided some of the best linemen in the NFL, like Ronnie Stanley, Zack Martin, and Quenton Nelson to name a few. Liam Eichenberg made the first team all ACC, and was a consensus All-American in 2020. He has overall very sound fundamentals, and I actually think he has the potential to be a legitimate lineman in the NFL.
26 - New York Jets* - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
As previously mentioned, the Jets will be selecting Zach Wilson with the 2nd overall pick. With Breshad Perriman entering free agency, the Jets need a receiving facelift in order to provide Wilson with the much needed tools for success. Bateman appears to have the potential to be a WR1, and help give the Jet's atrocious offense something to be excited about.
27 - Baltimore Ravens - Terrace Marshall Jr, WR, LSU
The latest product of LSU, Marshall has been regularly playing since last year, getting reps alongside Ja'Marr Chase, and current pro bowl WR Justin Jefferson. The Ravens offense will get jolt of energy from Marshall, who is impressively built for the position, and who has a keen ability to run routes well.
28 - Miami Dolphins* - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Dolphins use their second 1st round pick of the draft to help protect Tua. Samuel Cosmi has the positional versatility of a Bama lineman, with the build of the ideal OT. His large stature towers at 6'7", over 300 lbs. He'll add some legit experience points.
29 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Joseph Ossai, LB, Texas
Thanks to the Buccaneers, I was right about TB (both the team and the player) pulling the upset in NOLA. Regardless, at the end of this season, the Bucs need to fill some much anticipated holes this offseason, and many players are likely gone. If Shaquil Barrett is one of those, then Tampa needs an edge rusher, and they need one pronto.
30 - Kansas City Chiefs - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
The Chiefs are about as perfect as you can get on offense, but some help up front won't hurt at all. Vera-Tucker from USC showed that he has the skill to play at IOL, and OT. While he is built for OG.
31 - Buffalo Bills - Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
A draft pick like this could be a steal for Buffalo, with Nick Bolton providing several bolts of energy, and momentum into these nights. Bolton is a quick, powerful linebacker, and one of the SEC's finest.
32 - Green Bay Packers - Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
If your name is either Green Bay, Buffalo, or Kansas City then you can really get under the skin of defensive coordinators by taking this guy. Rondale Moore when healthy, is a juggernaut, who is one of the best receivers after the catch. If the Packers decide to finally take a WR in round1, then the earth could shatter.
​
THANK YOU FOR READING, COMMENT WHAT YOU THINK, GOOD NIGHT

32. Houston Texans, 4-12 (previous rank: 30)
With it being official that the Texans cut JJ Watt. the Texans are dead last in the NFL. The Texans, even with JJ Watt, ended 4-12 and third in their division. They were beaten by teams that they shouldn't have lost too, including the Bengals, and some games were hilariously too close for comfort, especially the Jaguars game that ended at 25 - 27.
The Texans are in a terrible position, and if Deshaun Watson is traded. . .then this team could have a 0-16 season.
31. Detroit Lions, 5-11 (previous rank: 31)
The Lions could be contenders for the 2022 and 2024 seasons, earning themselves two extra first round draft picks, but they definitely won't this season. Even with Stafford, a top ten QB, they finished at 5-11, worst in their division. Now they'll be playing with Jared Goff, who is a downgrade. They might get a higher ranking if they draft correctly this season.
30. New York Jets, 2-14 (previous Rank: 31)
The Jets are quite possibly the most interesting offseason team. They have a lot of cap space and draft picks at their disposal and, unlike the Texans and lions, have a lot to work with. If they can get Deshaun Watson, they could be playoff contenders. It actually get's better. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald - one of the top reporters in the business - the Jet's are Watson's preferred team. If they manage to get him the Jets could be ejected to the top 16.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-15 (previous rank: 32)
NOTE: this ranking assumes that Trevor Lawrence is on the roster. If Lawrence is, then the Jaguars can no longer be ranked as the worst team in the NFL.. Their offense is a little below average, but they do have some weapons. Unfortunately, this team can't rank any higher as their defense is a complete disaster.
28. Philadelphia Eagles, 4-11-1 (previous rank: 29)
The Eagles are most likely trading Carson Wentz, but the front office probably overpriced him. They are demanding two second round draft picks, but they should probably be the ones giving it away. The Eagles finished lower than even my expectations, and I hate the Eagles. (My Father is a Washington fan)
27. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-11-1 (previous rank: 28)
I joked about the Bengals starting a cardboard cutout of Penei Sewell at left tackle in 2021 because they ruined their chances of landing him with a late win, but the Dolphins could conceivably select Devonta Smith, which would mean Sewell would be the pick at No. 5. That's the good news. The bad news is that Joe Burrow may not be ready for the season opener. Cincinnati is difficult to rank for that reason.
26. North Carolina Panthers, 5-11 (previous rank: 22)
Teddy Bridgewater was not Teddy Bridgewater this season. He threw for countless end zone interceptions just in week 17, and the Panthers, overall, finished third in their division with a record of 5-11, and there was little difference from the 2019 season.
25. Atlanta Falcons, 4-12 (previous rank: 25)
The Falcons say that they plan on retaining Matt Ryan, but with a cap space 31 million dollars over, it seems very unlikely. If Atlanta Selects Justin Fields or Zach Wilson, there will be pressure to start the rookie and trade Matt Ryan. Either way, the Falcons aren't going to be very competitive next season as they'll need to cut some players to get under the cap.
24. New York Giants, 6-10 (previous rank: 24)
The Giants put up a fight this season, nearly making the playoffs by one game. Now they'll be better with Saquon Barkley's return to the line up, who was missing ever since an injury on week 2. Nate Soldier's return should help as well.
23. Dallas Cowboys, 6-10 (previous rank: 26)
Dallas is rumored to be an elite force in 2021 with Dak Prescott as the opener. But what about the offensive and Defensive line? Dallas wasn't even winning games when Prescott was the opener early is 2020.
22. Washington Football Team, 8-8 (previous rank: 22)
Washington made huge steps from the 2019 season, and now Chase Young will have experience. There defense was pretty dominant in 2020 and is expected to be the same, if not better, in 2021. Even though my father might hate me for ranking his team in the bottom half of the league, their offense is struggling. There QB situation is also a question mark, which is never a good sign. Of course, if they draft themselves a Jackpot QB, they could bounce forwards to the top 16, possibly 12.
21. New England Patriots. 7-9 (previous rank: 20)
The Patriots are a very difficult team to rank without knowing their QB situation. If they can land Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan, they will definitely become a playoff contending team again.
20. Minnesota Vikings, 7-9 (previous rank: 21)
The Minnesota Vikings are in an unusual QB situation. Kirk Cousins has shown dominance when playing weaker teams, throwing for 400 yards in week 17 against the Lions. This makes some fans think that Cousins should stay and was worth the terrible contact they signed. Their defense also stinks, and, according to Locked On Today podcast, the "Vikings were too soft this season."
19. Los Angeles Chargers, 5-11 (previous rank: 20)
The Chargers showed some promise with their QB this season, and managed to put up more of a fight then most expected. If Herbert doesn't regress, the Chargers may have a shot at the playoffs this year, however slim.
18. Denver Broncos, 5-11 (previous rank: 18)
The Broncos are another hard team to rank. If they supply themselves with an actual QB like Matt Ryan, the Broncos team will become a serious competitor for the Super Bowl. I had a lot of controversy in my mind over where this team stands, and I still think I ranked them to high.
17. Chicago Bears, 8-8 (previous rank: 19)
This Bears team is a real dilemma. They're defense is good, but their offense is a lot of question marks, especially QB wise. NVP Mitchell Trybulski has not shown the spark he once had. The offensive line was a mess last season, and even though their defense was good, it wasn't enough to get them higher than 8-8.
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 8-8 (previous rank: 17)
You don't even have to watch a Raider's game to know they need to upgrade their defense. Their offense was surprisingly good and even Beat the Kansas City Chiefs, who were 14-2 this season. With a good defense the Raiders are a very serious playoff contender.
15. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8 (previous rank: 16)
Even though I am obviously a Rams fan, I respect my divisional rivals. They improved greatly this season and managed to pull of an upset against the 13-3 Buffalo Bills. They would have been much higher on this list if they hadn't lost 7-18 to a Rams team with a backup QB.
14. Indianapolis Colts, 11-5 (previous rank: 8)
The Colts missed out on Mathew Stafford, so unless the Texans want to trade Deshaun Watson to a divisional rival, the Colts are stuck in the QB position. The Colt's two options as of now are Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz. unfortunately for the Colts, the Falcons are possibly not trading Matt Ryan and the Eagles are asking way to much for Carson Wentz. Things look grim for the Colts, but patience is the best thing the can do right now.
13. Tennessee Titans, 11-5 (previous rank: 7)
The Titans were dominant into the midway point of the season, however they began to slip near the end. This team's ranking will have to depend on how they fare without their offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, who recently took Atlanta's head coach job.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4 (previous rank: 12)
For the first time in my five years of writing Offseason Power Ranking, this is the first time the Steelers ended up behind the Top Ten. Big Ben was regressing later down the season. They lost to teams they shouldn't have, like Washington. And even though the defense was good this season, they were kicked from the playoffs by the Browns. The Steelers did not live up to expectations at all.
11. Seattle Seahawks, 12-4 (previous rank: 11)
The Seahawks had a strange inconsistency throughout the season. Either their offense was great and their defense was trash, or vise versa. The Seahawks have gotten lots of flak for their offensive line negligence, but it's not like they haven't tried to repair it. They traded for Duane Brown, spent a first-round pick on Germain Ifedi and found a gem in the third round last year when they selected Damien Lewis. That said, they probably should've addressed the offensive line further when they wasted a first-round pick on L.J. Collier in 2019.
10. Miami Dolphins, 10-6 (previous rank: 13)
Despite finishing 10-6 this season, the Dolphins are a fierce competitor for the playoffs this season. Unfortunately for me, this team is hard to rank because they are linked with Watson. If they start with Tua Tagovailoa this year they could be major playoff competitors. If they start with Deshaun Watson, they would be Super Bowl Contenders.
9. Cleveland Browns, 11-5 (previous rank: 10)
The Browns have shown unnatural aggressiveness, this season, going all the way to putting a fight up against the 14-2 Chiefs in the Divisional Round. For all five years of writing power rankings, the Browns were either in the low 30s or the high 20s. Now their breaking the top ten. Of course, everything depends on if Baker Mayfield plays like he did in 2019 or 2020. Hopefully for the Brown's it the latter.
8. New Orleans Saints, 12-4 (previous rank: 5)
With Drew Brees most likely retiring, the New Orleans Saints will be playing without the All-Star QB for the first time in 15 years. The only reason they still break the top ten is because they still have a lot of weapons. But, if I could, I would rate them a question mark. They are in cap space hell, and we don't know how well they'll actually play without Brees. For now, however, the Saints remain in the top 10.
7. San Francisco 49ers, 6-10 (previous rank: 14)
It hurts me write this, but the 49ers are main competitors for the playoffs and even the Super Bowl. They injured so many players last year, and if they don't do that this season, they could regain those 2019-2020 vibes. They may not be the best team in the NFC, but if they don't injure players like they did last season, they could be easy favorites.
6. Baltimore Ravens, 11-5 (previous rank: 6)
The Ravens are a strong team, and they'll be even better with Ronnie Stanley returning to play. Their only major flaw is the passing game. They ranked very low in the subject and it cost them a divisional round game. If they manage to improve on that, they could become the team to beat in the NFC North.
5. Buffalo Bills, 13-3 (previous rank: 4)
The Bills, unfortunately, were the worst team in the Championship round. They didn't play like they used to. They'll most likely be back next year, but they'll still have Patrick Mahomes in the way. Will this Bills team end up being like the 90s Utah Jazz team, who were really good but never won because they kept running into Michael Jordan? For the Bill's Mafia that has waited 25 years for this, I hope not.
4. Green Bay Packers, 13-3 (previous rank: 3)
This Packers Team would probably be first on this list and be the team throwing the Lombardi trophy across boats if they had drafted Chase Claypool or Tee Higgins instead of -Shudder!- Jordan Love. This team fortunately has an amazing chance at the Super Bowl, but this time they don't have a first round draft pick. . .they would probably draft another QB anyway,
3. Los Angeles Rams, 10-6 (previous rank: 9)
The Rams made a huge jump on the ranking table after the Stafford-Goff trade, and they could jump even further if they can draft players like Marvin Jones. And every Rams fan prays that they somehow manage to draft JJ Watts. The Rams have a bright future, even though it might be short term
2. Kansas City Chiefs, 14-2 (previous rank: 1)
First off, I didn't put the Chiefs at number 2 just because they lost the Super Bowl, its because I know the effects of losing them. The 2018 Los Angeles Rams went from 13-3 to 9-7 after they lost the Super Bowl, and they didn't lose by 22 points. Fortunately, Patrick Mahomes is still young and none of their players are being traded, so they still have amazing odds for the Super Bowl.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 11-5 (previous rank: 2)
The Buccaneers have the G.O.A.T on their side, and their defense seems to be just getting better and better. The only problem I can see is how long it will last. The Tampa Defense struggled earlier in the season and could detain them from getting an incredible record. That doesn't mean they aren't my favorite team to win it all.
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Thanks for reading! These take a lot of time and effort, so please be supportive!

[ Removed by reddit in response to a copyright notice. ]

The Giants coaching staff spent last week doing their final evaluations on the 2020 season. I figured I’d do the same, so here are my grades for every player who played at least 10 percent of the snaps on offense or defense this season.
An important note: Expectations are factored into my grading scale. Daniel Jones is obviously a better player than C.J. Board, but they got the same grade based on how their performances measured up to preseason expectations.
QUARTERBACKS
• Daniel Jones: C. Jones didn’t make “the leap” often experienced by second-year quarterbacks. Most of Jones’ numbers were down despite making 14 starts this season compared to 12 as a rookie. Jones’ drop in touchdown passes (24 to 11) was jarring, although he also cut back on turnovers (12 interceptions and 18 fumbles in 2019, 10 interceptions and 11 fumbles in 2020). This coaching staff leaned more heavily on Jones as a runner and he proved to be a legitimate threat on the ground.
There are endless reasons/excuses for the struggles of the offense, and by extension, Jones this season. How much the scheme, protection, skill players or reduced offseason affected Jones is impossible to quantify. But in a production business, the Giants offense was a failure. The quarterback has to bear some responsibility for that.
The coaching staff is fully committed to Jones as the quarterback of the future. It’s clear that coaches believe Jones has the intangibles to lead the team and they observed subtle improvements in the second half of the season. But he needs more production in his third season to validate that faith.
• Incomplete: Colt McCoy, Joe Webb. McCoy was exactly as expected: A solid veteran behind the scenes who could fill in competently in a spot start (he was the quarterback for the biggest win of the season over Seattle) but with physical limitations that make him best served as a backup.
RUNNING BACKS
• Devonta Freeman: C-. Freeman clearly wasn’t the player he was earlier in his career in Atlanta. He only averaged 3.2 yards per carry, but he had the misfortune of being the lead back before the offensive line hit its stride. Freeman never returned after suffering an ankle injury in Week 7.
• Wayne Gallman: B+. Gallman was buried by Pat Shurmur’s staff and then overlooked by Joe Judge until Freeman’s injury. Gallman took over as the lead back in Week 8 and thrived. His north-south style meshed with the offensive line and he always finished runs by falling forward. Gallman doesn’t bring much to the passing game, but he proved he’s a legitimate NFL back.
• Dion Lewis: D. Lewis clearly wasn’t capable of replacing Saquon Barkley, but the veteran underwhelmed in his primary role as a third-down back. Lewis had three fumbles, including two on kickoffs. He’s a good locker room presence who had familiarity with Judge, but the Giants need an upgrade next season.
• Alfred Morris: B. There were no expectations when the Giants signed the 32-year-old Morris to the practice squad in Week 4, but injuries eventually opened the door for a role. Morris has clearly lost a step from his Pro Bowl days, but the savvy veteran was surprisingly effective, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
• Incomplete: Saquon Barkley, Eli Penny. Barkley’s torn ACL early in Week 2 was a crushing blow to an offense built around the dynamic back. Barkley has a lengthy rehab ahead, but expect him to come back loaded with motivation. The run game improved as Penny’s playing time increased in the middle of the season, but the fullback’s role was limited in this offense.
WIDE RECEIVERS
• C.J. Board: C. Board met low expectations. He was an afterthought as a receiver and didn’t make an impact on special teams.
• Austin Mack: B-. It’s an accomplishment for an undrafted rookie just to get playing time. Mack made an immediate impression with four catches for 72 yards when starting in Golden Tate’s place in Week 9, but otherwise was a non-factor as a receiver aside from a crucial third-down drop in Week 16. Mack’s aggressive blocking stood out. He likely needs to become a special teams contributor to carve out a role.
• Damion Ratley: D. The Giants chose to sign Ratley rather than keeping one of the receivers who impressed in camp. Ratley’s most notable contribution in five games was an offensive pass interference penalty that negated a touchdown in a loss to the Cowboys and led to his release.
• Sterling Shepard: B. I wrote before the season to “expect around 70 catches and 800 yards if Shepard stays healthy.” Shepard finished with 66 catches for 656 yards despite missing four games with turf toe. Shepard has proven to be a quality No. 2/3 receiver during his five seasons. The problem is he’s been thrust into a No. 1 role the past two seasons. Ideally, Shepard will slide back into the slot and complement big-play threats outside next season. He’s a useful player to have in that role.
• Darius Slayton: B. Slayton’s numbers in his second season were nearly identical to his rookie year (50 catches for 751 yards in 2020, 48 catches for 740 yards in 2019). His touchdown rate predictably regressed; he had three this season after having eight as a rookie. This season felt like a slight disappointment since expectations were high after his impressive rookie season, but Slayton has still been a steal as a fifth-round pick. It’s impossible to know how much Slayton was limited by injuries, but it seems clear that he’s not a No. 1 receiver. He could be a solid deep threat to complement a true No. 1.
• Golden Tate: D. It was evident in training camp that Tate’s role was going to be reduced. It was also predictable that the accomplished veteran wouldn’t handle that well. That friction came to a head when Tate was suspended for a game in the middle of the season after complaining about his role. His production plummeted this season, although he was oddly effective at making contested catches. Tate’s season came to a premature end when he suffered a calf injury in practice in Week 16. It’s a safe bet that the 32-year-old has played his final game in a Giants uniform since the team can create $6 million in cap savings if they cut him.
• Incomplete: Dante Pettis. Pettis had to wait until Week 16 for an opportunity after getting claimed in Week 10. The 2018 second-round pick made an impact in two games, which is encouraging heading into next season.
TIGHT ENDS
• Evan Engram: C-. It’s difficult to grade Engram objectively because his lows were so low, but he still was a productive player. His Pro Bowl selection was a farce, but his 63 catches and 654 yards ranked among the NFC leaders at tight end. But those numbers don’t tell the full story, as Engram was directly involved in a disproportionate number of turnovers and he was inefficient considering he was the fourth-most targeted tight end in the league. Engram works hard but it should be evident by now that he’ll never be a competent blocker. The Giants can bring Engram back for 2021 on his fifth-year option, but a change of scenery may be best for all involved.
• Kaden Smith: B. Smith didn’t take the next step after showing promise in place of Engram late in the 2019 season. Smith wasn’t a big part of the passing game but he remains a solid blocker, especially on the counter runs that became a staple of the offense. His ceiling is being a No. 2 tight end and he fills that role capably.
• Levine Toilolo: C-. It was always strange that the Giants gave Toilolo a two-year, $6.2 million contract with $3.2 million guaranteed. It didn’t make any more sense after Toilolo played just 27 percent of the offensive snaps. Toilolo was a decent blocker, while getting just six targets. He’ll likely be cut for $3 million in cap savings this offseason.
• Incomplete: Eric Tomlinson. Tomlinson was mostly a healthy scratch before getting cut in Week 10 and landing in Baltimore.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• Cameron Fleming: C-. Fleming was signed to be a swing tackle but was pressed into a starting job by Nate Solder’s opt out. Fleming wasn’t good, but his performance was in line with his established level of play. If nothing else, Fleming provided some reliability as a veteran.
• Nick Gates: B. Gates made tremendous progress after being thrust into the starting center job with no game experience (or even a full offseason at the position). It’s hard to evaluate the mental aspect of the position and that’s surely an area that will grow with experience. But Gates looked comfortable in the middle of the line and embraced an enforcer’s role. He showed enough to provide optimism that he can develop into a quality center.
• Will Hernandez: C-. Hernandez’s play was similar to last season, which was a disappointment since he hasn’t built on a promising rookie season in 2018. He lost the starting left guard job after missing two games with COVID-19 in the middle of the season. It doesn’t seem like Hernandez is a big piece of the new coaching staff’s plans.
• Shane Lemieux: C. Lemieux was a fifth-round pick, so expectations were low. He took over as at left guard after Hernandez missed time with COVID-19, starting the final nine games. Lemieux plays with a nasty streak that is evident in his run blocking, but he has a long way to go in pass protection. The Giants need to decide if they believe Lemieux is ready to be a full-time starter next season.
• Matt Peart: B. Peart was viewed as a developmental project, so it was encouraging that the third-round pick showed enough to merit snaps in a rotation with Fleming at right tackle. Peart looked promising early but his play fell off in the second half of the season after he missed one game with COVID-19 and dealt with an ankle injury. Peart didn’t play a single snap in the season finale, leaving questions about how he’s viewed by the coaching staff.
• Andrew Thomas: C. Thomas predictably experienced growing pains in his first season as a starting left tackle. The No. 4 pick had a particularly rough transition to the NFL in the first half of the season, but he made strides in the second half. The view of Thomas was hurt by comparisons to the other rookie tackles picked after him, but he showed enough signs to indicate he can be the long-term answer at left tackle.
• Kevin Zeitler: B. Zeitler’s play may have slipped a bit, but the 30-year-old remained a reliable, durable, low-maintenance player. The Giants have a big decision looming on Zeitler and his $14.5 million cap hit for 2021.
• Incomplete: Jackson Barton, Kyle Murphy, Spencer Pulley, Chad Slade. The line stayed remarkably healthy aside from a few COVID-19 related absences, so these backups never got an opportunity to play.
DEFENSIVE LINE
• B.J. Hill: B. Hill was effective in a limited role after being relegated to backup duty by the additions of Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams last year. Hill has another year on his rookie deal so he provides an insurance policy if Williams or Dalvin Tomlinson leave in free agency.
• Austin Johnson: B+. Johnson was a perfect fit in the role he was signed to fill. He was solid against the run and made a few big plays early in the season. He’s worth bringing back on a similar low-cost deal.
• Dexter Lawrence: B+. I predicted Lawrence would have four sacks after recording 2.5 as a rookie. He hit that total, as he made strides as a pass rusher. Lawrence’s strength remains run defense. The 23-year-old is a solid piece in the middle of the defense to build around.
• Dalvin Tomlinson: A-. The Giants know exactly what they’re getting from Tomlinson: A strong run defender who will be in the lineup every week and be a positive influence in the locker room. Tomlinson continues to show more as a pass rusher, recording 3.5 sacks for the second consecutive season and setting a career-high with 28 pressures. Tomlinson has earned a big free-agent contract; the question is if he’ll get it from the Giants.
• Leonard Williams: A+. This was the player the Jets thought they were getting with the sixth pick in the 2015 draft. Williams broke through with a career-high 11.5 sacks in his sixth season. Williams has always pressured quarterbacks, but sacks get players paid and he’s now in line for a deal worth $20 million per year. He’s young and durable, which will help the Giants feel comfortable making that type of commitment, although there should be an understanding that his sack production is likely unsustainable.
• Incomplete: R.J. McIntosh. The defensive line didn’t suffer any injuries so McIntosh was a healthy scratch all season.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
• Lorenzo Carter: B. Carter looked like a good fit in Patrick Graham’s defense before tearing his Achilles in Week 5. But there still haven’t been any signs that he’ll ever be a top edge rusher. Carter could be a solid complement to a No. 1 edge rusher, which is a reasonable return for a third-round pick.
• Carter Coughlin: B. Injuries at edge rusher forced Coughlin into a bigger role than expected as a rookie. He flashed potential, although the seventh-round pick’s limitations were evident in an expanded role. Coughlin could grow into a Kyler Fackrell type of player.
• Kyler Fackrell: B-. Fackrell made a few splash plays early, but he was quiet in the second half of the season before missing four games with a calf injury. The Giants got a decent return on the prove-it deal they gave Fackrell, but he’s not a difference maker.
• Markus Golden: B. The coaching staff showed no interest in Golden, dating back to when he sat in free agency until the team applied the seldom used unrestricted free agent tender. Golden was a productive pass rusher in limited opportunities despite being buried behind less accomplished players before a midseason trade to Arizona.
• Jabaal Sheard: C+. The Giants needed a legitimate NFL edge defender after injuries and the Golden trade decimated the position. Sheard made a few plays, most notably a late strip sack in a win over the Bengals, but otherwise made minimal impact.
• Incomplete: Oshane Ximines, Cam Brown, Niko Lalos, Trent Harris. Ximines had a quiet start before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4. Brown made a solid impression on special teams and flashed pass rush potential in limited opportunities, but he needs to get bigger to be an impactful player on defense. Lalos turned heads with a pair of takeaways in his first two games, but he didn’t get enough playing time to make a bigger impact.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
• Tae Crowder: B. Considering he was Mr. Irrelevant, it was impressive that Crowder started six games next to Blake Martinez at inside linebacker. Crowder showed promise, particularly with his speed. But there’s plenty of room for improvement when it comes to taking on blocks and filling gaps consistently. Giants fans should be careful not to go overboard with expectations for Crowder as happened with Ryan Connelly a year ago.
• Devante Downs: C-. It’s hard to understand what the staff saw to make Downs a starter out of training camp. Downs’ performance was what was expected from a player who didn’t play a single defensive snap in first two NFL seasons. Downs needs to be a backup in the future.
• Blake Martinez: A. I predicted 140 tackles for Martinez; he was even more productive, finishing third in the league with 151 tackles. There was some skepticism about the three-year, $30.75 million contract the Giants gave Martinez in the offseason, but he was better than expected. In addition to being a tackling machine, Martinez was effective as a blitzer and wasn’t a liability in coverage. Martinez gives the Giants an ultra-reliable leader in the middle of their defense.
• David Mayo: C. Mayo shifted back to the reserve role that he’s suited for. The coaching staff oddly tried to use Mayo on the edge at times but he didn’t have the ability to fill that role.
• Incomplete: TJ Brunson. Brunson played a handful of special teams snaps in a few games, but mostly was a healthy scratch.
CORNERBACKS
• James Bradberry: A+. Imagine the Giants defense without Bradberry this season. If the nausea from that thought has passed, you can appreciate the impact Bradberry made in his first season in New York. Bradberry proved capable of eliminating opposing No. 1 receivers, although he wasn’t always asked to do so as the defense grew more zone heavy. Bradberry had three interceptions and 18 passes defensed, which ranked second in the league. Bradberry established himself as a premier cornerback after signing a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Giants.
• Darnay Holmes: B. Like most rookie corners, Holmes struggled early in the season. He started to find his groove before a knee injury cost him three games late in the season. Holmes was flagged too frequently, and his penalties always seemed to come in costly moments. Holmes’ role could be reduced by the Giants’ commitment at safety.
• Ryan Lewis: C+. Lewis was signed because he’s a favorite of Patrick Graham. Lewis added some stability to the No. 2 corner spot, but he got beat deep late in losses to Dallas and Philadelphia. Lewis suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8 and missed the rest of the season. He’s best suited as a backup.
• Isaac Yiadom: B-. The Giants’ desperation at cornerback prompted a trade of a seventh-round pick to Denver for Yiadom late in camp. Yiadom struggled early in the season before providing some solid play after getting a second chance midway through the season. Yiadom was benched for the season finale after his play regressed. Like Lewis, Yiadom should be viewed as a backup.
• Incomplete: Madre Harper, Brandon Williams, Jarren Williams, Corey Ballentine. The Giants’ plan to start Ballentine at No. 2 corner was doomed from the outset and he was benched after two games and then cut in Week 10.
SAFETIES
• Julian Love: B. Love is the defensive version of Gallman. The coaching staffs in each of the past two seasons have been hesitant to play Love, but he’s been solid when given opportunities. Love filled in admirably twice at cornerback late in the season. He lacks the speed to be a full-time answer at corner, but he should be the ideal backup to Logan Ryan as a defensive back who can fill multiple roles.
• Jabrill Peppers: B+. Peppers had the best season of his career, showing flashes reminiscent of Landon Collins when the former Giant was on top of his game. Peppers was a physical presence around the line of scrimmage and a punishing tackler when he lined up ball carriers. Peppers is never going to be great in coverage, but this staff minimized his one-on-one matchups and he seemed more comfortable in the zone-heavy scheme. Peppers was productive as a punt returner and he brings an energy that the defense needs.
• Logan Ryan: B+. Ryan earned an A+ in intangibles, serving as a great model for younger players and providing vocal leadership buttressed by a pair of Super Bowl rings. Ryan was extension of coordinator Patrick Graham on the field, while his versatility allowed for varied looks defensively week-to-week. Ryan’s actual play was a bit uneven at times. He displayed a knack for big plays, particularly with forcing turnovers, but his tackling was spotty.
• Incomplete: Xavier McKinney, Nate Ebner, Adrian Colbert, Montre Hartage, Sean Chandler. McKinney provided a glimpse of his potential in the final six games after missing the first 10 games of his rookie season with a broken foot. Ebner’s limited defensive playing time reinforced that he should only be a special teamer.
SPECIALISTS
• Riley Dixon: C. It was a disappointing season for Dixon, who had been consistent in his first two seasons with the Giants. Dixon didn’t have the same knack for pinning opponents deep (9.2 percent of punts for touchbacks this season compared to 2.9 percent in 2019). That decline can partly be attributed to subpar gunners in coverage, but the Giants need Dixon to get back on track.
• Graham Gano: A+. Gano was lights out. His lone missed field goal was a 57-yarder in Week 2. He then made a franchise record 30 straight field goals. Gano made 5 of 6 field goals from 50-plus yards making him a weapon for a low-scoring team.
• Casey Kreiter: A. Kreiter’s name wasn’t mentioned once all season. That’s evidence of a job well done for a long snapper.
COACH/GM
• Joe Judge: A-. Since I’m weighing preseason expectations, Judge grades out well. I predicted the Giants would win five games so 6-10 can’t be viewed as a disappointment for Judge. Think about the obstacles he was facing as a first-time head coach in an unprecedented season with a flawed roster. Judge took charge from Day 1 and impressively got players to buy in, even when the team started 1-7.
Judge dealt with brushfires — suspending Tate, firing offensive line coach Marc Colombo — but always seemed in control. His game management was sound, although he skewed conservative on fourth downs. The defensive coaching was stellar and it’s clear that Judge and Graham have an excellent working relationship. On the other side, Judge assumes some responsibility for the No. 31 scoring offense and he needs to get that fixed for next season.
Judge succeeded in laying a foundation in his first season. The grading curve will get steeper next season when there will be higher expectations for tangible results.
• Dave Gettleman: B. Gettleman gets an A+ for free agency, as Bradberry, Martinez, Ryan and Gano were game-changing additions. The draft is harder to assess. Many of the rookies played this season, but none were clear stars. Time will tell on this draft class.
Gettleman’s grade is lower than Judge’s since this wasn’t his first season. It’s impossible to separate previous years when assessing a general manager. And the many holes on the roster that Judge had to compensate for is a reflection of the job Gettleman has done in his three years as GM.
Co-owner John Mara is encouraged by the working relationship of Gettleman and Judge. Their first year together was promising, but Gettleman needs another strong offseason to overcome the errors of his past.

Written Thursday January 14th, 2021 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (spreads/odds may have changed)
Last week in the Wildcard Round I made three official picks against the spread: the lone losing bet was the Bills -6.5, while the other two were winners (Ravens -3 and Saints -10).
Many people have asked me to recap my preseason win total predictions. Remember that I previewed each of the 32 NFL teams, while making a pick on the oveunder for their win total. Those plays were largely based on the simulation of one million seasons using the projected point spreads on all 256 regular season games.
It turned out that 20 picks were right versus 12 that were wrong, a nice 62.5% win rate. I ended up racking up more than $8,000 on those bets. I wanted to go to Vegas to place larger bets, but COVID-19 prevented me from making the trip, unfortunately.
It’s now time for my Divisional Round picks against the spread. Buckle up, here we go!!!
DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME #1: LOS ANGELES RAMS VS GREEN BAY PACKERS (-6.5)
When the line opened at 7, I was clearly leaning towards the Rams. Early money agreed with me and went heavily on Los Angeles, so sportsbooks had to drop the line to 6.5. Since then, I have heard that bettors are hammering the Packers.
After analyzing the game in-depth, I am now betting Green Bay as 6.5-point favorites. Most of the time, I go against the public, but not this time.
The Packers are the number one seed and coming off a bye week. As mentioned several times this season, getting additional time to heal and gameplan has produced a much bigger advantage to great teams, as opposed to weaker squads who do not seem to make good use of this extra time. I believe we all agree Green Bay is a solid team.
On top of that, the Packers will be facing a banged up team. Jared Goff, John Wolford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald are all hurt. They will likely suit up Saturday, but won’t be 100% for sure.
Also, L.A. is not used to playing in cold weather. We are expecting below-zero temperature, a situation where Aaron Rodgers is 29-7 straight up.
The Rams defense has been very impressive this season, but here is a jaw-dropping statistic: they have allowed an average of 13.5 points per game at home versus 23.5 on the road. That’s a huge difference! They haven’t been nearly as stifling as visitors this year. I do believe Rodgers and company will find a way to move the ball, especially if Aaron Donald is slowed down by his injured ribs.
Green Bay is a perfect 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings with the Rams. They are 11-6 as home favorites since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach.
Rodgers and Goff did face off against each other in 2018, a game in which the Rams won 29-27 in Los Angeles. Rodgers will get the victory by at least 7 points this time around.
Official pick: Packers -6.5
DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME #2: BALTIMORE RAVENS VS BUFFALO BILLS (-2.5)
Born in Florida, Lamar Jackson said it would be his first time playing in the snow, if the forecast is right about getting close to an inch of snow this Saturday in Orchard Park, NY. That would make the field more slippery, and therefore more difficult for him to shake and bake as a runner.
That’s one of the reason why I’m going with Buffalo as 2.5-point favorites. The Bills will also be at home for the third straight week, while Baltimore will be traveling for a third consecutive time.
Also, the Ravens lose one day of preparation after playing last Sunday and now playing Saturday. That’s not a huge blow, but still worth mentioning.
Some things are scaring me, though. Baltimore is 6-0 ATS as an underdog in the playoffs. They also match up fairly well against Buffalo since they led the league in yards-per-carry, while Buffalo’s run defense finished 25th in that category. Also, the Bills pass the ball often, which happens to be Baltimore’s strength on defense (they were much softer against the run this year).
Still, I’ll go with Buffalo, whose offense has been much more convincing. The Ravens were struggling against a bad Titans defense last week, until Lamar scored on a 48-yard scamper that completely changed the game.
Despite a recent surge by Baltimore, the Bills seem to be the stronger team and they will be at home on a cold day. They have been one of the hottest teams in the league during the latter portion of the regular season, and they have what it takes to win their first Super Bowl ever.
Official pick: Bills -2.5
DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME #3: CLEVELAND BROWNS VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-10)
This won’t be an official pick since I don’t have that much confidence, but if I were forced to bet this game I’d bet Cleveland as 10-point dogs.
However, I do not like the fact that the Chiefs are coming off a bye. Under such circumstances, Andy Reid is 20-3 in his career, an astounding record! Kansas City will also be at home for the fourth straight week, which means they didn’t have to travel and will be well-rested.
Still, I am leaning towards the Browns due to their strong running game facing the Chiefs’ front seven that has been soft at times. Cleveland will be looking to control the clock and leave Patrick Mahomes on the sidelines.
After throwing 7 interceptions over the first 7 games of the season, Baker Mayfield has thrown just one in its past 10 matches! He has significantly improved, and he seems to be playing better since Odell Beckham went down to an injury.
The Chiefs have beaten the spread in 5 of their past 6 matchups at home against a team with a winning record, but they are just 1-6 ATS as favorites recently.
One more thing prevents me from pulling the trigger on this one: was Cleveland’s win in Pittsburgh last week their Super Bowl? Their subconscious might feel like they’ve already accomplished something great, and they may not be as hungry this week in K.C.
Lean: Browns +10
DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME #4: TAMPA BAY BUCS VS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-3)
You know how much I love the revenge factor. Beating the same opponent three times within the same season is very hard. That’s the challenge the Saints will be facing this Sunday. And that’s one of the reasons I’ll put my money on Tampa.
Am I super confident the Bucs will advance to the NFC Championship Game? No. The Saints might win a close game. If you back New Orleans, your ticket will be a winner only if New Orleans wins the game by 4 points or more. To me, that’s less likely to occur than Tampa either winning the game or losing by less than a field goal.
Sure, the Bucs are 0-5 ATS in their last five meetings with Sean Payton. They were also 1-4 ATS as road underdogs recently.
However, since their shameful 38-3 loss to the Saints in Week 9, Tampa has scored an average of 34 points per game. It took them more time to develop chemistry on offense, and they have since added Antonio Brown to the mix.
New Orleans has beaten the spread the last four times they were home favorites, but they post a disappointing 1-5 ATS record as playoff favorites over the most recent years.
I expect a very tight game that could go either way, in which case I prefer to side with the underdog.
Official pick: Bucs +3
Enjoy the games!
Professor MJ
https://youtu.be/uiKo-YKjgok

Welcome to the reveal for players ranked 5-1 for this year’s NFL Top 100 Players for the 2019 Season!

Players whose average rank had them land in places 5-1 are on this portion of the list revealed today. Players are associated with the team they finished 2019 with.
LINK TO THE HUB POST WITH A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY
So now, without further ado, here are the players ranked 5-1 in the NFL Top 100 Players of the 2019 Season!

#5 - Christian McCaffrey - Running Back - Carolina Panthers

Accolades

Accolade	Total	Year
NFL Pro Bowl	1	2019
AP All-Pro 1st Team	1	2019
AP All-Pro 2nd Team	1	2018
/NFL Top 100	2	2018 (22), 2019 (56)

Written By: sanswagata
Christian McCaffrey's 2019 season will be talked about with some of the greatest dual threat RB seasons in history. He went for over 1000 yards in both receiving and rushing adding up to a total of 2392 yards and 19 touchdowns. This has only been done twice before in Marshall Faulk's 1999 and Roger Craig's 1985. No one in history has done this two separate times in history, so next year CMC has a real shot at being the first. He also did this while being in the top 10 for yards per attempt at 4.8 and not to mention that he performed this with one of the worst QBs in the league for a majority of the season in Kyle Allen. Teams were able to focus on CMC and he would still beat them. He accounted for 43.7% of Carolina's offense this year for Carolina. He was durable, dependable, handsome, and fun to watch this year.
So what does Christian McCaffrey do so well that lead to him running for 1300+ yards on nearly 5 yards per carry despite playing with dogshit at quarterback? Well it starts with his mind and processing. He presses the hole very well and rarely will miss the correct gap. His vision and mind do half of the battle for him so he isn't running into clogged areas and when he presses he opens up the best hole even more. Let's look at one of his most exciting plays of the season as our first example. On this play at the mesh point (when the qb is handing the ball to the RB) you can see that there is no cutback and that his OL isn't getting any push to create a hole up the middle. That means it's time to bounce this play to the outside. The EDGE actually plays it pretty well, but CMC tells him to talk to the hand and shoves him to the ground. Then he is able to speed past the LB trying to reach him. There's just one guy left and CMC finishes this in style by jumping right overtop of him for a TD. On the second destruction of Jacksonville CMC can see that one LB is trying to cheat outside on this outside zone, so CMC can't bounce again like he did in the first clip. The other LB completely falls for the motion end around and splits that way which leaves the middle wide open. McCaffrey sees this and cuts that way and then uses his speed to get past everyone and keep his lead for 84 yards and the touchdown. Here is a fantastic example of his ability to press the hole and make micromovements to cause defenders to react. This is a counter play with a pulling guard and a fullback taking him past the second level and if everything is set up it will work beautifully, but the blocks have to work. The guard kicks out the end perfectly opening up that hole and then to make sure he gets the seal where he wants to go he just hesitates and looks towards the A gap just a little bit. This freezes 58 and makes that hole even bigger for him to run through and helps his OL. This time he presses outside before working in which helps him turn a small gain into a first down. This time you can see him cutback with great success because Green Bay blows up the playside. He turns the sift block from the TE into a lead block and follows him for a big gain. He gets a weird look on this outside zone, but is able to quickly adapt for a nice gain with Cam Jordan coming over as part of a T-E stunt CMC has to read it in real time, but he does so well and gets a nice gain. On this last example CMC reads the LBs and sees that Bobby Wagner overcommits to the outside zone just a little bit, so he presses him for half a second allowing the combo block to get some movement and letting the block be set up on the second level before cutting back. This ability turned a loss or gain of nothing into a very big gain and a first down.
Another reason he was so good last year is his ability to make people miss. This example shows his vision, pressing the hole, and elusiveness where everything falls apart, but he is able to turn a bad play into a good play by reading the defense and then making a guy miss. This play shouldn't have gone anywhere, but instead of being a loss because multiple guys failed their blocks he just makes them miss. He throws a nasty juke on the safety before putting on the jets and scoring a TD. Here he shows off his vision and ability to press the hole before wrecking another safety with a juke. Another play another juke on a safety making them go the wrong way. Another play which shows off his fantastic ability to turn a bad play into a great play this time by making a few guys miss in the hole. Blake Martinez gets the shake and lets CMC pick up an extra 7 yards. On this one Vonn Bell gets shook for a TD which makes Tony laugh a little bit. However he is not only elusive on run plays, but also pass plays where he quickly can secure a pass and then turn upfield and make defenders miss. On this little dump off he turns upfield and then gives 28 a quick case of polio giving him no use of his legs as he scores a TD. Here he outruns the pursuit angle making a guy miss after catching a quick swing pass. Here is the same swing pass against the Washington team turning a little gain into a big gainer. CMC is the last person I want to face in the open field 1 on 1.
While Carolina seemed to mostly use him as a dump off or swing pass guy he actually runs very nice routes and anytime you have a RB that can beat a cornerback on a route you have something special. This is a nice Texas route out of the backfield he opens up outside before quickly cutting back inside for a catch and a nice gain. He splits out wide here and runs a quick drag then makes a few guys miss for a large gain. He can change from a swing to a wheel to gain 20+ yards. From the slot he will beat you this time with an in route. He gets singled up vs a LB and beats him with a Texas route for a huge gain. He also can go the opposite way and beat the LB on the out route. Here he runs a whip route where he fakes the slant inside and then cuts back outside for a big gain and a first down. He almost has the ability of a WR to find the soft spot and make the catch. You can see on all of these clips that he's a very natural cathcer of the ball. He catches with his hands first and then brings it into his body. He doesn't use his body to catch the ball like a lot of runningbacks. Here is a good example of him using his hands to bring in a pass the pass is a little off (what else is new from Kyle Allen) so he has to jump and catch it with his hands. If he wasn't so great at catching the ball than he might have dropped this. On this crucial 4th down the Panthers go to CMC's hands and he delivers with a nice TD. This play he chips the EDGE and then is able to improv his way open after the play breaks down he makes a fantastic catch here for the first down.
This play deserves it's own paragraph and basically shows everything I've talked about from a receiving aspect for CMC. This route is called a juke route that the Patriot's have run for years with Edelman. This article will basically show you everything you need to know about it and if you want more Bill O'Brien did an entire clinic on this play. So here the receiver (CMC) has three options. He can sit if the LB plays him off and gives that up, he can return if the LB plays inside too much, or he can juke and run across if the LB tries to play him tight. McCaffrey hits the LB with the juke route and runs this requires great route running, hands, and elusiveness. He runs it perfect like he will sit on the route which makes the LB covering him come up just a little. CMC then hits him with his elusiveness and jukes to the outside leaving the LB in the dust as he speeds into the endzone for a TD. The Panthers should run this play with CMC more often because not only can he run the route well, but he can make people miss after the fact as well.
Next year and beyond I think there is even more room for CMC to shine. We saw in those clips that he was amazing, but could you imagine him with a real QB that makes the defense play a little bit off and not commit so much to the run? His OL in the clips wasn't amazing either. If he got a better OL he could manage better efficiency and if he stays healthy more volume. Not only would adding these thing help, but I would love to see more plays with CMC running real routes. It felt like a lot of the time the Panthers left him as just a safety valve when he could be so much more. It's possible that they have addressed all of this in the offseason. They added a LT (at the expense of another OL), they added a QB, and they have a new HC and innovative OC that just came off using another very good receiving RB well. I'm excited to see if CMC can come back stronger than ever and improve upon his last season with even more greatness.

#4 - Stephon Gilmore - Cornerback - New England Patriots

Accolades

Accolade	Total	Year
NFL Pro Bowl	3	2016, 2018, 2019
AP All-Pro 1st Team	2	2018, 2019
NFL Defensive Player of the Year	1	2019
PFWA NFL Defensive Player of the Year	1	2019
/NFL Top 100	2	2018 (7), 2019 (4)

Written By: O_the_Scientist
Acquired in a splashy free agent deal in 2017, Stephon Gilmore caused significant controversy among the Patriot fanbase from multiple angles. He had proven to be a good corner in his time in Buffalo, but his deal was expensive, leaving many wondering if there would be funds to pay Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler and what exactly Gilmore had done to deserve a top 5 positional contract. Over the first few weeks of 2017 that controversy stewed, as the defense allowed historically bad passing production as Gilmore appeared lost at times. Since the mid-point of 2017, however, Gilmore has been the league’s best cornerback, producing the special combination of deafening silence and highlight reel moments you only get from an elite lockdown corner. In 2019 the Gilly Lock became the first defensive back since Troy Polamalu to win the Associated Press’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. We’re going to take a look at the polished technique and savvy game sense Gilmore exhibits week in and week out that made him the best Cornerback in the NFL and one of the best overall players of 2019.
Stephon Gilmore in 2019
From a technical standpoint Gilmore is a master craftsman. His trade has been refined from the fundamental base through the finest detail. We’re going to take a look at the anatomy of an elite cornerback from the ground up, and the foundation is footwork. When you watch Gilmore run with opposing receivers, you see quick, clean, deliberate steps that both set up the following motions and maintain his balance, and each of those three factors is key. For a start lets look at this PBU against a Darius Slayton curl route. Off the snap Gilmore takes a minuscule jab step forward with his outside foot, creating a leverage point for his next steps that will allow him to follow any break. If the receiver breaks in on a quick slant or a drag his hips are now open toward the middle of the field and he can pursue that angle, driving inside off of that plant foot, and when the receiver breaks outside he can drive backwards from that plant foot to follow. On this rep, Gilmore takes a couple chop steps as the receiver makes his break so as to not over-commit and expose himself to a cross-up in-cut or deep slant, and only when Slayton hits the point of no return on his break does Gilmore flip his hips to run with him. At the top of the route he uses a T-step technique to drive on the ball, disrupting with his hands and creating 4th and 8. Contrast with this PBU on an in route against Cincinnati’s Alex Erickson. This is patience, situational awareness and an exhibition of why deliberate steps are key. Playing off the receiver, Gilmore is happy to let this play come to him in a red zone situation. Gilmore waits on-balance for Erickson to make his break, drops the outside foot and shuffles slightly when the receiver fakes that way, then uses that shuffle positioning to drive and beat the receiver to his spot. Every down, every rep, every one of his league-leading 20 PBUs starts right there in the feet. You'll see this on every following .gif if you look for it.
After the feet, movement flows through the hips. Stephon Gilmore’s hips don’t lie are fluid and disciplined, allowing him to stick with even the shiftiest receivers through their routes. The technique here - in theory - is so simple that it’s one of the first instructions you’ll get playing pee wee or high school ball - you can’t go anywhere without your hips, you can move in the direction they’re pointing faster than you can go anywhere else and if you have to flip them you’d better be damn sure about it. To see active hips, we can look at this rep against Tyler Boyd. Gilmore is in a softer press and Boyd manages a clean release, crossing his face with a large step outside before breaking back in. Gilmore’s initial drop step outside allows him to follow the outside release if committed, but his hips never rotate past ~45 degrees before he crosses back over to the inside following Boyd. At the top of the route Gilmore’s hips follow the receiver ever so slightly as he fakes an outside break then he closes to the inside of the field with the receiver’s in-cut, allowing Gilmore to break up the pass and in this case, pick it off. On the less-active, more-disciplined end of the spectrum, here he is against John Brown, opening up immediately to the outside against a very fast opponent, showing discipline not to over commit with steady hips as Brown fakes a look inside, then turning fully with the receiver. This technique is crucial to Gilmore’s ability to cover any kind of receiver on any kind of route.
The great footwork and fluid hips put Gilmore in position to use his hands, which he does exceptionally well both during the route and at the catch point. There's an art to getting handsy through a receiver's route both with bump n' run near the line and leverage at the breaks while balancing the knife edge between physical play and a penalty. Gilmore is also constantly fighting through the catch point. There’s a tenacity with which he outright attacks balls even if a receiver gets his hands on one. He attacks by punching to and through the ball and hands in any contested situation - seen with this PBU against Sammy Watkins - and he high points the ball like a receiver to either swat it or tip it up - seen here setting up a Devin McCourty INT. This comes after the hard part, but it’s the kind of fine finishing touch that transforms a great coverage player into a disruptive playmaking defensive back.
Stephon Gilmore is so practiced and effective with the physical process of playing coverage that he’d be a very good corner if he was only ever asked to man up and follow whoever, but what propels him to that next level is a blend of instinct, preparation and sheer brilliance. There’s just no substitute for study, knowledge and game sense if you want to be an elite cornerback. Look for the physical details I've described employed to their fullest effect in these quick hits that highlight why Gilmore is the premiere playmaking cornerback in the NFL right now. He knows what routes to jump against which receivers. He knows when to play off-coverage to invite a throw. He feels the right time to peel off his receiver and play the ball. On this Pick-six vs Miami he hits the top of his dropback an drives right in front of the outlet receiver, reading the QB rollout. On this Int vs NYG he bumps his man at the line before passing him off on the interior cut and dropping underneath the corner route from the TE. On a decisive PBU against the Giants with excellent coverage form and a laser-precise finishing punch. Undercuts on this ball tipped for an INT. Reads the receiver's eyes to time the high point. These are the highlights we see, but most of his year was spent smothering receivers so badly Quarterbacks refuse to try him, or sticking with an elite receiver for 4 seconds to not allow a QB outlet.
There's really only one way for a corner to produce a league-leading number of passes defensed and an allowed passer rating under 50. It's about the intelligent and selective application of a full, premium quality tool kit in the hands of an absolute master. That's what makes Stephon Gilmore special. He's so good the Patriots modeled their entire approach in the secondary off of his presence on the outside. The team played cover-1 and cover-0 - two defensive schemes that place a massive, high risk burden on outside man coverage players - more than any other team in the league because Gilmore could be trusted to lock down his assignment without help on every single coverage snap (except one, you're welcome Bills fans). I highly recommend his excellent Film Session to get a glimpse into how he prepares and what he sees and how his abilities dictate New England's approach in the secondary.
Legacy
Before Stephon Gilmore came to New England in 2017 he had entered the league as a competent starter and had grown into a pro bowl CB1 over a handful of seasons. He wasn’t someone mentioned in the same tier of Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson, Aqib Talib or Darrelle Revis. Since the mid-point of the 2017 season, however, he’s been the best corner in the NFL, punctuating his Patriot seasons with a game-clinching PBU in the AFC Championship Game, a game-clinching Interception in the Super Bowl, two First Team All Pro selections and an Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award. The full list of cornerbacks who have won that award is now Mel Blount, Lester Hayes, Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, Stephon Gilmore. Four of those Six are in the hall of fame and Woodson is considered a strong candidate for first-ballot induction when eligible in 2021. Only 24 cornerbacks since the merger have been named 1st team all pro 2 or more times, and 12 of them are in the Hall of Fame or are what I consider guarantees (^Patslegend Darrelle Revis, Charles Woodson). I don’t believe his career to date has made a compelling Hall of Fame case, but his 2019 season is the kind of monumental step a player can take late in his career to make Canton a realistic goal.

#3 - Aaron Donald - Interior Defensive Line - Los Angeles Rams

Accolades

Accolade	Total	Year
NFL Pro Bowl	6	2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
AP All-Pro 1st Team	5	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
NFL Defensive Player of the Year	2	2017, 2018
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year	1	2014
PFWA All-Rookie Team	1	2014
NFL 2010s All-Decade Team	N/A	N/A
/NFL Top 100	6	2014 (43), 2015 (2), 2016 (1), 2017 (1), 2018 (1), 2019 (3)

Written By: Projinator
Introduction
What could possible be said about Aaron Donald that hasn't been said before?
The man is on a rare path, the path to be deemed the greatest ever defensive player. Don't misread my words, Donald isn't the GOAT yet and there surely are a handful of active players who have done more in their careers. But he's maybe the only active player that has done enough in his career to stay on that pace. JJ Watt was another candidate but injuries slowed down his pace, and unless he has some elite years in the next few he probably won't be able to make up the ground. In 2020, Aaron Donald will be entering his 7th season in the NFL at the age of 29, and still realistically has three more years of peak level prime with another five to seven years of elite play remaining. The man earned his 5th consecutive AP 1st Team All Pro and 6th consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2019, and even in his statistically worst year since 2016 still managed to get one DPOY vote. Part of what makes Aaron unique in his combination of strength and speed, all while staying small relative to the average DT. Because he sits lower to the ground, his center of gravity gives him superior leverage on most all opponents he will face.
He has a strong argument as the greatest modern defensive tackle of all time already, the only other player who may steal that from him would be Warren Sapp; but Donald already has more tackles for loss in his six seasons than Sapp AND has a higher pressure rate. This time next year, with another batch of awards, we could be talking about Donald as the greatest defensive tackle ever. Don't want to take the word of a redditor who left the GOAT QB off the Top 100 list two years in a row? Take a listen to Brian Baldinger's breakdown, and become baptized in the shock and awe of the greatest Donald this country has ever known.
Aaron Donald is the perfect example of what fruits the labor of hard work can bear. For those unfamiliar, Donald has kept his humble roots by continuing to workout in the gym of his childhood home. He's explained that he discovered how strong and fast he could become in high school, and became addicted to seeing the changes in his body and how they resulted in superhuman power. What seems like such a slam dunk now, in retrospect wasnt considered as much in the 2014 NFL Draft. Many scouting reports had his size as a weakness, with many speculating whether his small frame would be able to hold up at the NFL level. Even during his rookie season he wasn't given the opportunity to compete for the starting job until week 6 (thanks Jeff Fisher). He's managed to overcome essentially every professional obstacle in his way, which gives me conviction in my, obviously homered belief, that by the time Aaron Donald retires he will be end up as the greatest defensive player in NFL history.
2019 - A Season In Review
While he didn't accumulate the sack totals he had in 2018, Donald still led all DTs with 12.5 which was good for 7th in the league. He also led all DTs in total pressures with 80, tied for 5th in the league. He did all this despite being double teamed on over 60% of his pass rushing snaps, sometimes being triple teamed and the occasional quadruple team. The amount of attention Donald requires truly is unprecedented, but honestly is required for any offensive game plan that hopes to have success.
He has a wide arsenal of pass rush techniques that he's able to use to perfection; he's able to leverage himself well enough to use the swim move with devastating precision. He can spin quick enough to completely lose any guard or center trying to keep him pinned. Perhaps most impressive is his jump chop as illustrated brilliantly by u/craigroh. His strength, despite being considered undersized, is unrivaled as shown in his bull rush. Truthfully his greatest strength is the variety of his arsenal and the way he can piece together multiple techniques. Because of this he's able to keep his opponents and opposing DCs constantly guessing.
In the run game, Donald is able to completely disrupt running backs behind the line of scrimmage, and regardless of whether that results in a TFL or not, it changes the play and causes chaos. He isn't really an elite run stopper, but he doesn't need to be in order to be disruptive. He's most effective in altering the path of RBs by blowing up holes and causing the interior of the offensive line to move outside where they want to be. In this play, Donald is so quick to penetrate the LOS that it forces Kamara to try and find a different hole, which results in a TFL on a critical 4th down.
In actuality, this may be the lone weakness to Aaron Donald's game. He occasionally gets baited into using his speed against him, effectively taking him completely out of the play. Sometimes he can recover, but OCs have begun to notice this trend and have been adjusting by running the ball directly at Aaron banking on him shooting off immediately after the snap. Essentially this boils down to a guess on Donald's part, but it's still a part of his game that he could improve on.
2020 and Beyond
If Aaron Donald is to become the GOAT, he will need another big year in 2020 and beyond. Under Wade Phillips, Aaron wasn't really given any help in terms of scheme to get his pressures and sacks. Wade was notorious for relying on 4 to generate pressure, and running a 3-4 defense with a 4-3 DT can prove challenging. For 2020 the Rams hired Brandon Staley, former Denver Broncos OLB coach, who could be the McVay-like spark the defense needs. I expect more exotic blitz packages to open things up for Donald so he isn't constantly facing two or more linemen, and in turn I'd expect a return to MVP-like form. My prediction for Aaron Donald in 2020 is as follows; 19.5 sacks on 95 pressures with 4 FFs and 1 INT. As a bonus, Look for Donald to be included on some goal line packages. My man has been lobbying McVay since last year and the coach is the exact type of person to experiment with odd personnel groupings.

#2 - Michael Thomas - Wide Receiver- New Orleans Saints

Accolades

Accolade	Total	Year
NFL Pro Bowl	3	2017, 2018, 2019
NFL Offensive Player of the Year	1	2019
AP All-Pro 1st Team	2	2018, 2019
PFWA All-Rookie Team	1	2016
/NFL Top 100	3	2016 (85), 2017 (40), 2018 (12), 2019 (2)

Written By: Lazy_Street
As a 2nd round pick in 2016, no one expected the prolific production Michael Thomas would output over his first 4 years in the league. He started with an immediate impact in his first year, quickly displacing Brandin Cooks as the team's number one receiver on route to setting the franchise rookie records for receptions, yards and touchdowns.
He wasn't done there, he then established himself as a very tough cover going in his sophomore season. He grinded out 104 catches and 1200 yards making his 196 catches through his first 2 seasons a new NFL record.. He earned his first of three straight Pro Bowl appearances this year.
At this point, I think the league and fans were unsure of how to feel about Mike. He was on most Top 10 lists at the position but rarely was cracking any top 5 lists or being talked about as a dominant gamechanger.
Everything changed when the fire nation attacked He cashed in a smooth 125 rec/1405/9 TD in 2018. He led the league in receptions and was 6th in yards. He was proving he was a master route runner with outstanding body control and catch radius. He became the fastest player to 300 career receptions ever at the end of the 2018 season. However, interacting with other fans on reddit there still seemed to be an air of doubt on him being in the same tier as Julio and DeAndrew Hopkins and his game would always be just below their level.
Enter 2019, the year of Can't Guard Mike. In one of the most consistent seasons I've ever personally seen, Mike shredded opposing defenses catching 10+ passes nine times. He set a NFL reception mark at 149 receptions and was awarded the NFL OPOTY, becoming the first receiver since Jerry fucking Rice in 1993 to win the award. He now has the most receptions by any player through his 2nd, 3rd and 4th seasons while being the fastest ever to record 400 career receptions.
But that's not what makes Mike great. His biggest detractors say all he does is catch slants and outs. Yes he catches a ton of them but if that's "all he does'' you'd think a professional defense would be able to stop him. They don't. If you actually watch Mike play you will see one of the strongest WRs in the league. He shakes off contact like a running back and consistently slithers through arm tackles for extra Yardage. He is excellent at head and hand discipline, where he wont move either til absolutely necessary making catches like this look routine. He is one of the best route runners in the game, here he shakes the corner off at the top of his route then uses that snake like strength to push through contact and get the TD. Which he does again later in the same game. His concentration was amazing to watch all year and he was consistently coming up with catches that required perfect placement and he didn't flinch from them.
He will never be a burner but he can be a threat at any level of the field, no matter which QB is throwing to him..
His appearance in the top 10 is absolutely deserved this year and anyone who doesn't have him in the top 10 players overall going into whatever weird Frankenstein covid season we have in 2020 isn't paying attention. He will be put to rest any argument and be the best WR in the game by the end of the 2020 season.

#1 - Lamar Jackson - Quarterback - Baltimore Ravens

Accolades

Accolade	Total	Year
NFL Pro Bowl	1	2019
AP All-Pro 1st Team	1	2019
NFL Most Valuable Player	1	2019
Bert Bell Award	1	2019
/NFL Top 100	1	2019 (1)

Written By: UnbiasedBrownsFan
Introduction
You've made it, the top of the list, the crème de la crème. Lamar Motherfuckin' Jackson. It's difficult to put into words what exactly makes Lamar Jackson special. Some of the words I've used to describe him include: "Holy Fuck" "What the Hell" "You've got to be shitting me" Basically, it's the return of the "Ah, wait, no way, you're kidding. He didn't just do what I think he did, did he?" The likes of which we haven't seen since the Michael Vick days in Madden 04 but if we turned him up to about 17. Coming into the season Lamar had the weight of the Ravens franchise on his shoulders and constant pressure from critics who didn't believe he could cut it as a quarterback. Well, the jokes were on them because he spent literally all of 2019 cutting it up and down the field.
And whether he was tormenting opposing teams on the field, or just torturing me in my own personal dreamscape, it truly felt like Lamar Jackson was everywhere last season. And perhaps he was? No. That must have been a dream. Virtual Reality Lamar Jackson can't hurt you. But he still possessed the uncanny ability to feed a grown man into the dirt and had an unnerving knack for inserting IV drips directly into the lives of opposing linemen. And it is because of this that Jackson has become a man to be feared among NFL circles. And it was that same sheer force of will that engineered Jackson's brilliant 2019 season.
2019
Lamar Jackson's 2019 season was nothing short of marvelous, spectacular, terrific... Lamarkable. Okay, you can blame Ian Eagle for that one. But in just his second season in the league, and first full season starting, Jackson tore down the NFL team by team with an offense completely designed around his unique skillset. And he didn't just tear them down, he ground them to the bone with a deadly combination of inhuman athleticism and spectacular change of direction. But then it hits you. He can throw the ball too... I mean, he can really zip that thing.
The stats speak for themselves. He led all quarterbacks in broken tackles with 42. The next closest was Josh Allen with... 20. He led the league in passing touchdowns and total touchdowns with 36 and 43 respectively and he didn't just break Michael Vick's rushing record, he shattered it. With a mind-boggling 1206 rushing yards, Lamar Jackson ran his way into the top 6 amongst running backs. But actually watching the plays? Well, there truly are no words. Just how exactly are you expected to stop a play like this? How do you even wrap your head around this throw? Of course, it was efforts like these that were enough to earn him MVP honors and solidify this season amongst some of the all-time greats, but it's not just his stats and plays that made him the best player in the NFL in 2019.
Because the true measure of the greatness of a player is how great he can make those around him. And Lamar Jackson was able to lead the league in passing touchdowns with, checks notes Antonio Brown's cousin as his WR1? His ability to move around the pocket and the sheer threat of him gashing opposing defenses on the ground created extremely favorable matchups along the offensive line and the threat of the read-option allowed the Ravens backfield to set the all-time record for rushing yards with three players averaging at least 5 yards a carry. A record that had previously stood for 41 years. So you can argue that he had great running backs around him and a great offensive line too, but I don't believe that takes away from the greatness of Lamar Jackson. It enhances it.
Legacy
Lamar could certainly never touch a football again and still be remembered for what he accomplished this season. An MVP in just his second year and first full season starting, combined with a rushing record that, let's face it, will never be broken, thrust Jackson into a category of players that consist of sheer greatness. Only time will tell if his play will continue, but with the type of upward trajectory and growth he's displayed already, I'm not even sure he is bound by limits of reality. The only thing that can stop Lamar at this point is this fucking thing.
As for Lamar's 2019 season itself? It will certainly go down in the history books. But I believe we'll also look back at this season as a significant turning point in the NFL. You don't have to fit your quarterback into a mold, you can mold your team around a quarterback. The NFL's a' changing and Lamar Jackson is at the forefront of that change. As for the future of Lamar Jackson, well, that's a frightening thought. The sheer improvement as a passer from year one to year two is unprecedented, and the thought of him getting even wiser and refining his game to another level is legitimately terrifying. And that's all before you realize he's younger than Joe Burrow... Fuck. All I know is that if Lamar Jackson plays next season even a little bit like he played this season, his legacy is going to include about 500 million more dollars.

LINK TO 2019 POSITIONAL GROUPING TRACKER

LINK TO 2019 RANKER SHEETS

LINK TO HUB

Schedule Change

The series Post Mortem will take place July 22 instead of July 15. I won’t be able to post on the original date.

I spent my off time this week taking a hard look at the recruits of this class. I’ve compiled our current commits below and done my own evaluation and what I see in each recruit- the good and the bad. I’ve made determinations on how I think they should be rated and compare that to their 247 rating.
I’m a complete amateur at evaluating recruits and have no experience other than watching film and seeing what the experts take into account and how they rate players. This was an exercise for me and I gave a brief bio about each player. The heights and weights are taken from 247 and from what I’ve seen on film as some of the weights were not up to date. I followed 247’s rating explanations as a guide.
Koby Bretz - Omaha, NE
6’2” – 185lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 50.74 Miles
Profile: 88 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: S/WR
Recruitment Position: S/Field OLB
Koby Bretz plays for Omaha Westside in Omaha, Nebraska. Last year Westside played Bellevue West for the state title but came up short. This year, they and Bellevue West are again the favorites to play in the state championship. The currently are undefeated sitting at 7-0.
Bretz is a tall, powerful, athletic Safety that shows great speed and angle recognition when coming downhill. While not the strongest looking player, he brings a level of physicality to Westside’s defensive backfield, capable of forcing fumbles on devastating hits. He has highlights of him coming between gaps and through blocks to make tackles. His playmaking highlights at safety much of the time is in run support, but in the games I’ve seen of him this year he has been able to recognize pass plays and make some high caliber PBU’s. At wide receiver he has shown that he can go up and make plays on balls while showing above average straight-line speed (this also shows up in his pursuit as a DB).
Bretz has all the tools to be a great player- of this class, he has one of the highest ceilings. He is someone that will need a year to learn hone his skills as a DB, get stronger and learn the playbook. His frame looks like it can hold another 20-30lbs comfortably- however he will need to work hard to develop himself. I think he starts out as a Safety before moving down to the field OLB. I think he can be a force at this position- he is a gifted tackler. Additionally, if the staff felt like they needed him at ILB, I feel as though he could play this position as well.
Bretz is rated an 88 by 247. I think his rating is appropriate. Depending on how he has looked this year, I could see him rise. Unfortunately, he has not posted any of his gameplay from this year on hudl.
Marques Buford – Oakdale, CT (Cedar Hill, TX)
6’0” – 195lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 1274.04 Miles
Profile: 87 247 – 5.5 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: ATH – DB/WR
Recruitment Position: DB
Marques Buford plays for St. Thomas More Preparatory School in Oakdale, CT. Buford is a two-time state champion with his high school team at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, TX.
Buford is an excellent all-around athlete playing at Defensive Back. He was a top camp performer multiple times in high school. He is agile, he is fast, he has great hands and a solid frame. He can lockdown receivers in man coverage and go up for balls just as well. He has solid play recognition ability and tackling ability. With a year at Prep School, he will be in a similar position to Alante Brown this year and have the opportunity and come in and help the DB room immediately.
When viewing his film, Buford does not have any immediately recognizable deficiencies. He will need to continue working hard and improve his body and skills as a DB.
Buford is rated an 87 by 247. I think Buford is underrated here and should be a borderline 4* at an 89 or 90. He is the best prep school player in the country.
James Carnie – Firth, NE
6’5” – 223lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 19.8 Miles
Profile: 86 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: TE/OLB
Recruitment Position: TE
James Carnie plays for Norris High School in Firth, Nebraska. His team finished 7-4 last year and currently sits at 6-1 this year.
Carnie is an athletic Tight End/Outside Linebacker standing a 6’5” 223lbs. During the summer Carnie caught eyes with his 32.5” vertical and 4.6- 40 yard dash time at the Warren Academy Showcase. He is regarded by some as the best tight end in the state of Nebraska. This season he has shown that his athleticism in camps shows up on the field. He is a physical blocker and pass rusher, capable of pancaking DBs/LBs and coming off blocks to chase down QBs/RBs. Carnie has been able to show his speed and explosiveness on the field as a tight end, getting free from DBs and winning footraces to the end zone. He has shown ability to go up for 50/50 balls and yank them out of the air. His hands have improved greatly from last season and over the course of this season.
He is a physical player that will need to improve his body position going into contact. Carnie can run through people with poor tackling now, but if he lowers his shoulder, he should be able to blow through better tacklers. He has shown that he can drag tacklers and spin out of waist tackles.
Carnie will need to improve his route running ability, while decent now, he needs better breakouts and crisper routes. He also needs to improve his general elusiveness and on-the-field speed slightly, it appears that not all the speed he gained during the offseason has translated.
When he gets to Nebraska, he must maintain the same mentality he had over the summer and this season, working hard, and proving he can be a great player. He will need to continue to gain lean muscle and explosiveness to be a physical blocker and pass catcheroute runner.
Carnie is rated an 86 by 247. I believe this is the correct range for him to be in, however, I could see him improve to an 88 with his performance over the season and into the playoffs.
Gabe Ervin – Buford, GA
6’0” – 200lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 834.65 Miles
Profile: 84 247 – 5.7 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: RB
Recruitment Position: RB
Gabe Ervin plays for Buford High School in Buford Georgia. Buford High School won the 5A state title last year in a come back victory and moved to the 6A division currently sitting at 3-1 this season. While the school is not filled with P5 athletes, the school executes its offense and defense at a high level to control and win games.
Playing at the Running Back position, Ervin is one of the most intriguing prospects of Nebraska’s class. He appears and is capable of being a 3-down back that runs downhill, makes quick cuts and breaks tackles. However, Gabe Ervin’s athleticism is more than being a downhill bruiser and he has shown he can be shifty in the backfield and bounce the football outside the tackles this season. Ervin is capable of getting down the field in a hurry and if a seam opens up in the middle of the field he will hit that seam and take it to the house- he is capable of accelerating and hitting his stride as soon as he reaches the second level.
Ervin’s vision and ability to read defenses is at a high level coming out of high school and I think this is attributed to the system he plays in and the coaching he has received. In game film I have seen him make reads on linebackers and use footwork while he is in the backfield to get LB’s to bite on the wrong gaps- in a particular play that he did this he turned what would have been a 7 or 8 yard gain to a 40 yard gain.
Ervin’s shiftiness is not given enough credit, he has been able to put DB’s and LB’s on skates with his footwork. He has shown that he can put defensive players at bad angles to make tackles and then break them- shedding them off his hips or with a stout stiff arm. His balance is very impressive and has shown great resilience on going down on ankle tackles. Last year Ervin averaged ~6.7 ypc. He seeks to improve his YPC and has done a good job, rushing for 178 yards on 10 carries in his most recent game.
Ervin is rated an 84 by 247. I believe Ervin deserves at least a 4-point bump. Ervin’s running style is akin to what Devine Ozigbo’s looked like his senior season. Strong downfield runner with unexpected elusiveness, but Ervin’s ability to bounce the ball outside the OT’s this season has been his biggest improvement and it has surprised a lot of people- me included. According to “Tracking Football” Ervin scores a 4.6 out of 5.0 on their athleticism scale when looking at his height, weight, and track times. This is considered “exceptional”. If I were to describe Ervin’s running ability and approach to the game in one word it would, “professional”.
Thomas Fidone – Council Bluffs, IA – US Army All American
6’5” – 225lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 54.1 Miles
Profile: 95 247 – 6.0 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: TE
Recruitment Position: TE
Thomas Fidone plays for Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is an Army All American Tight End. Thomas Fidone is the best Tight End in the nation of the 2021 class. He is the best route running and pass catching tight ends I’ve ever seen at the High School level. If you were to look at all the recruits this cycle and ask for the best route runners and pass catchers (RB’s, WR’s, and TE’s included) Fidone would still be at the top of the list. His breakouts are exceptional, his footwork is exceptional, his hands are exceptional. He stands at 6’5 225 and runs a 4.63 – 40-yard dash with a 37” vertical, all of which shows up on the field, winning in foot races to the endzone and showing elusiveness and acceleration.
He is a physical player and wins jump balls and sells his body out to make great catches. He drags defenders and puts them in the dirt with stiff arms. He is a capable and physical blocker. He is an extremely hard worker that wants to be the best.
Fidone is rated a 95 by 247. He has had a fantastic season so far. He has a shot at becoming a 5* player by 247, but I believe much of that decision will come down to how he plays at the All-American Bowl.
Mikai Gbayor – Irvington, NJ
6’2 – 220lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 1172.70 Miles
Profile: 87 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: ILB
Recruitment Position: ILB
Mikai Gbayor plays for Irvington High School in Irvington, New Jersey. His school lost in the semi-final for the state championship. His team is off to a 2-0 start this season.
Gbayor plays Inside Linebacker and is a physical presence in the center of the field. He has solid play recognition, appears to be a sure tackler and often is a decleator. He has multiple highlights of him destroying RB’s and QB’s. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a ton of hudl film for me to look through. He is best as a run stopper and is fast enough to hit gaps he needs to. He has a long frame and appears to be able to put on a good bit more weight and muscle. His lateral movement needs to improve as does his pass coverage and acceleration. However, I do think he has the athleticism to pull this off- he will need to dedicate himself to the S&C program and to improving technique.
Gbayor is rated an 87 by 247, I think this is a fair assessment. I do think his skill is in the 85-87 range. If he can show this season that he has improved his acceleration, ability to get off blocks and pursue sideline to sideline he will be a force to be reckoned with.
Kamonte Grimes – Naples, FL – US Army All American
6’2” – 205lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 1324.77 Miles
Profile: 88 247 – 5.5 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: WDB
Recruitment Position: WR
Kamonte Grimes plays for Palmetto Ridge High School in Naples, Florida. His team went 4-6 overall in 2019, but are off to a 3-0 start this season. He is an Army All American.
Grimes is both a Wide Receiver and Defensive Back at his high school but was recruited as a WR by the Huskers. He spent the offseason becoming a better athlete and really worked on his body. Over the summer he accepted an invitation to play in the Army All American Bowl. Grimes is another unique prospect. The way that he runs makes him look slower and less elusive than he is, but he can create separation and outrun pursuing players. He glides and is a smooth route runner. He can go up for balls and break tackles made with poor angles. He’s a willing blocker. I think the biggest parts of his game he needs to improve upon is his explosiveness and route running.
Grimes is rated an 88 by 247, I find this to be a fair rating. I found the invite to the Army All-American Bowl particularly interesting as I don’t see him as an elite receiver. I think his performance at the AA Bowl will tell us a lot about how good he is.
Heinrich Haarberg – Kearney, NE
6’5” – 185lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 119.43 Miles
Profile: 88 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: QB
Recruitment Position: QB
Heinrich Haarberg plays for Kearney Catholic in Kearney, Nebraska. His team finished 7-3 last year and currently sits at 5-1 this season.
Haarberg is a tall athletic and raw Quarterback. He has a lot of untapped talent and if he can hone his skills, he can be dangerous. Haarberg makes throwing 50-yard bombs and 20-yard lasers look easy. He’s adept at using his body and hips to generate power on his throws and can make strong throws while on the run and across his body. Haarberg is a boon in the QB run game, an area his team has relied on a lot this season. He can run through tackles and likes to play physically- he lowers his shoulder into contact. If Haarberg gets into the open field he can win footraces, having run a sub 11.0 100m.
Haarberg will need to spend time with Verduzco to improve as a QB, but understands he needs work. I’m not super familiar with looking at and evaluating QB’s, but I can tell he has poor footwork when he drops back in the pocket. If Haarberg spends a lot of time in S&C, he can become a force in the QB run game that no player wants to tackle. I can see him getting up to 235lbs and still retain his speed.
Haarberg is rated an 88 by 247. I think this is an appropriate rating. He has a very high upside and athletic ability, he just needs to develop and harness it.
Shawn Hardy – Kingsland, GA
6’3” – 190lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 1086.47 Miles
Profile: 85 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: WR
Recruitment Position: WR
Shawn Hardy plays for Camden County High School in Kingsland, Georgia. His team finished 8-3 last year and sits at 4-2 this year.
Hardy is a taller receiver that excels in his ball tracking ability and ability to go up and win 50/50 balls. He has solid speed to take the tops off defenses on go routes with his long stride. He plays a physical game when jumping up for balls and routinely rips the ball from defenders’ hands. He has surprising elusiveness for his size, and it has really come out this season with being able to accelerate around blocks and make strong cuts. While his route running is solid, there is always room to improve. His top end speed, elusiveness and acceleration only need a slight improvement to take him from a good receiver to an elite receiver. He has already improved his acceleration markedly.
Hardy is rated an 85 by 247. I think Hardy is underrated and would consider him our best receiver of the class when looking at this film. He plays against a high level of competition in Georgia 7A football- he finished with the 2nd most receiving yards in his conference and is on pace to surpass his previous years number. I would give Hardy a 2-point bump to an 87, maybe a 3 point bump to an 88.
Randolph Kpai – Sioux Falls, SD
6’3” – 185lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 189.39 Miles
Profile: 90 247 – 5.7 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: LB
Recruitment Position: ILB
Randolph Kpai plays for Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Last year his team finished 4-7 and is currently 3-4 on the season.
Kpai is one of the most athletic Linebackers in this class and it is apparent on his film. Kpai can accelerate to gaps and lay the wood on whatever offensive player is unlucky enough to get hit by him. He doesn’t have any official testing numbers but just watching his film you can see his ability- he moves at a different speed than everyone else on the field. Kpai could be either a Field OLB or WILL ILB and be effective in either position. He is fast coming off the edge and closing in on ball carriers to make tackles. He strikes blocks hard and can chase RB’s and WR’s laterally. He’s everything you want athletically at LB.
Kpai remains slight at 6’3, but he should be able to add a lot of good weight to his frame and become a dangerous player. He will need time to learn assignments and continue getting experience at one of the toughest positions to learn in football to become a great ILB.
This season Kpai leads his team in Solo (25) and Assisted (35) tackles. He is second on the team in TFL’s with 6.0. He sits at 1.5 sacks this season. Kpai has forced a total of 7 turnovers (4 INT, 3 Fumbles) in the 7 games he has played and has recovered 1 fumble. He has a total of 60 yards after interceptions. He already has two touchdowns scored on turnovers. He has performed very well throughout this season.
Kpai is rated a 90 by 247. I think this is an… adequate rating. Kpai could manage to see a slight bump. A total of 7 forced turnovers and 2 defensive touchdowns to his name, as a linebacker, is nothing short of impressive. I could see Kpai deserving up to a 2-point bump. I think he is one of most overlooked guys of the class by fans.
Henry Lutovsky – Mount Pleasant, IA
6’6 – 330lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 269.38 Miles
Profile: 87 247 – 5.7 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: OL
Recruitment Position: OL
Henry Lutovsky plays for Mount Pleasant High School in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Last season his team finished 6-3. They currently sit a 3-3 on the season.
Henry Lutovsky plays on the Offensive Line and has seen himself move around from OG to OT- usually to match up against a defensive line’s best player. In his first game he played against TJ Bollers, a 4* DE committed to Wisconsin. He started slow and had a tendency to over pursue at OT, but as the game went on he got more comfortable and prevented Bollers from making an impact on the game- him finishing with only 3.0 tackles for the night and no TFLs/Sacks (albeit the Panthers schemed away from Bollers).
Lutovsky is strongest at the offensive guard position and maintains good hip position and feet movement while driving through blocks and maintaining pass protection. At this level, his strength is overwhelming and rarely sees himself challenged- regularly pancaking his competition. He stands at 6’6, 330lbs and carries his weight extremely well. There are videos of him moving and jumping that are impressive to see at his size. Lutovsky will continue to need to develop and hone his game, but at his size and with his ability he would easily be a starting OG at the G5 level as a true freshman.
Lutovsky is rated an 87 by 247. I find his rating quite low for his ability. I think the biggest thing holding Lutovsky back from seeing a ratings bump is a lack of activity in camps and not seeing better competition. I really would have liked to see him get an invite to the All-American Bowl and see how he stacks up against elite competition. It’s hard to justify more than a 2 or 3-point bump for Lutovsky because he simply has not played against good enough competition, but I think he deserves to be in the low 4* range at a 89-91. I think I’m able to justify that rise alone in his performance against Bollers, at a position that he normally doesn’t play.
Lutovsky is one of my favorite recruits of this class, he has been a peer recruiter for this cycle and carries one of the most impressive OL frames this cycle. I think Lutovsky will be an elite offensive lineman for this team and an eventual NFL draft pick.
Seth Malcom – Tabor, IA
6’3” – 195lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 54.51 Miles
Profile: 83 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: LB/RB
Recruitment Position: LB
Seth Malcom plays 8-man football for Freemont-Mills High School in Tabor, Iowa. Last year his team finished 8-2. His team currently sits a 2-1 for the season.
Seth plays both Linebacker and Runningback in 8-man football making him particularly difficult to evaluate. The game between 11-man football and 8-man changes quite a bit, but I can comment on what I’ve seen from him on his junior film in terms of athletic ability.
His best feature is how hard he plays and how tough he is. He plays with a chip on his shoulder like he’s got something to prove. He’s a patient linebacker that will wait for a play to develop before filling his gap- this can be a bit of a double edged sword- but may be a result of 8 man football since the game has a lot more space and one missed tackle can be a touchdown. He’s pretty nimble on his feet and you can see that in his RB highlights.
He needs to improve his lateral speed, general explosiveness, and striking/coming off blocks. He will need to dedicate himself as a student of the game and work closely with Barret Ruud and Luke Reimer (a former 8-man playing in Kansas) to learn 11-man football. He’ll need to spend equal time in the weight room, developing his body. If the staff can develop Malcom into a starter at Nebraska, it will be a major accomplishment.
Malcom is rated an 83 by 247. It is difficult to just a higher rating for Malcom and I found it strange that the staff took his commitment. Malcom has a lot to prove and the odds stacked against him.
Latrelle Neville – Missouri City, TX
6’3” – 195lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 775.97 Miles
Profile: 85 247 – 5.8 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: WR
Recruitment Position: WR
Latrelle Neville plays for Hightower High School in Missouri City, Texas. Last year his team finished 6-5 and they currently sit at 0-1 this season.
Latrelle is a large Wide Receiver that can operate as a punishing blocker and tremendous leaper. Latrelle can go up for balls and snatch them out of the air. He received high flying evaluations his sophomore year of High School, before dropping off to his current rating.
Neville is difficult to evaluate because the QB play at his High School has been atrocious. His QB barely threw a .500 completion rate and threw half as many picks as TDs. Many times, his QB had to settle for shovel passes. It’s been difficult to evaluate Latrelle for me because there simply isn’t much of him. Between his Sophomore and Junior year there was a drop off in his play due to the QB situation and due to the weight he gained. He played heavier his junior season than he is now in his senior season. In the short film that I’ve seen of his senior season he is faster and more agile than he was last year, his routes look crisper, but it is really hard to say.
Neville is rated an 85 by 247. I think this is an appropriate rating. I don’t think we will know what Neville can do until he gets here or manages to put up more film- but with his QB returning from last year, I don’t think we’ll get to see much.
Patrick Payton – Miami, FL
6’5” – 205lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 1405.29 Miles
Profile: 89 247 – 5.7 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: OLB
Recruitment Position: OLB
Patrick Payton plays for Miami Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida. His team has yet to play this season. Last season he played for Miami High School and finished 8-4.
Payton is a lengthy, lean, athletic Outside Linebacker that uses his speed and agility to come off the edge, rush the passer and get into the backfield. Payton understands his reach and can make arm tackles and trip up ball carriers when pursuing at disadvantageous angles. He’s skilled at using his hips and hands to get around blocks. He’s shifty and slippery enough to get linemen to pursue blocks on him and slip around them. He had a productive season last year, accruing 17.5 sacks.
Payton is rated an 89 by 247. I think this is an appropriate rating. His biggest detractor is simply his weight and strength. At 205lbs, he isn’t big enough to compete at the P5 level. If he can gain the weight and strength, he instantly becomes a lot more dangerous.
Teddy Prochazka – Omaha, NE
6’8” – 300lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 50.74 Miles
Profile: 88 247 – 5.9 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: OT
Recruitment Position: OT
Teddy Prochazka plays for Elkhorn South High School in Omaha, Nebraska. His team sits a 6-1 this season after finishing 7-4 last season.
Prochazka plays Offensive Tackle. He carries a hulking frame while maintaining a high level of athleticism and mobility. He suffers from the same problem that plagues Lutovsky in that the competition level he is up against is just not good enough to test his skills. I find that Prochazka’s form is not as polished as other offensive tackles, getting out of position and standing upright at times- technique is something that he will need to attack when arriving on campus.
Prochazka is rated an 88 by 247. I think his athleticism and size could justify him seeing a slight bump a point or two- but his technique really holds him back. The coaching he’ll receive from Austin should help him make that leap to the next level.
AJ Rollins – Omaha, NE
6’6” – 220lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 50.74 Miles
Profile: 86 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: TE/DE
Recruitment Position: TE
AJ Rollins plays for Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska. Last year his team finished 6-4, this year his team currently sits a 6-2.
Rollins carries a sizeable frame with the ability to put on ~25-35 more pounds on comfortably. From his film it appears that he’s quick out of his 3-point stance and that is where he is able to create the most separation and get open. It doesn’t appear that he has top end speed or agility- an area he will have to work on to compete with the other tight ends joining him in this class. When the ball is thrown his way he’s able to jump and extend upwards, high pointing his catches. His physicality as a blocker is a strength and he can stand up against edge rushers and engage LBs downfield.
His breaks on his route running are decent and he’s able to create separation, but like Carnie, needs to improve his route running.
Rollins is rated an 86 by 247. I think this rating is appropriate. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen a lot out of him this season and I don’t think it’s possible he rises. His QB’s play has been poor and has had trouble getting him the ball. It’ll need to be a year where Rollins focuses on his blocking and making the most out of the catches he gets.
Lardarius Webb Jr. – Jackson, MS
5’10” – 170lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 690 Miles
Profile: 84 247 – 5.5 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: CB
Recruitment Position: DB
Lardarius Webb Jr. plays for the Jackson Academy in Jackson, Mississippi. He is the son of former Baltimore Raven Lardarius Webb. His team sits 5-3 this season. Last season his team finished 7-5.
Webb is a tough prospect for me to judge adequately, I feel that DB film is tough to evaluate well. From what I’ve seen Webb is a tad undersized and will need play a role similar to what Dicaprio Bootle does where he accelerates and sticks to receivers, getting his hands in where balls are thrown. Webb has a decent number of TFL’s (4) as a CB for the season and seems to be capable of reading when screens are coming and breaking to the receiver. He plays hard and throws as big of hits as he can, but he will need to put work in the S&C room to get where he needs to be- he also needs to improve his tackling form and wrap up appropriately. From his training film, what I find most impressive about him is his hips. Webb has very fluid hips and can whip them around to follow receivers’ changes of direction- however, he will need to increase his speed and acceleration breaking to the ball once his hips are aligned.
Webb is rated an 84 by 247. I think this rating is appropriate and I’m a little surprised it’s not lower. There isn’t much film on him and I wish that DB’s put more film of them covering receivers rather than them going for the big hit or big play, because there isn’t much to learn from those.
Malik Williams – Buford, GA
6’0” – 187lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 834.65 Miles
Profile: 81 247 – 5.6 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: DB
Recruitment Position: DB
Malik Williams plays for Buford High School in Buford, Georgia. Buford High School won the 5A state title last year in a comeback victory and moved to the 6A division currently sitting at 3-1 this season. While the school is not filled with P5 athletes, the school executes its offense and defense at a high level to control and win games.
Williams is a rangy, strong corner that jams receivers at the line of scrimmage. He is solid at accelerating and breaking to receivers with the ball, but alike Webb, doesn’t have a lot of film of him operating in coverage. From what I’ve seen he seems to play off receivers slightly too much and allows them just enough room to be hit with a pass. I’m unsure if that is a factor of him not being able to keep up with receivers and being beaten on go routes or if it’s him not understanding how far off the receiver he needs to play. For a CB, however, he is strong and long enough to come off blocks and make tackles- this is an area I think he is particularly strong in. I think he will be capable of playing safety or cornerback at Nebraska.
Williams is rated an 81 by 247. I think this rating seems a tad low, however, alike Webb there isn’t much to justify him seeing a rise. I do think Williams is a better DB than Webb though. If Williams puts up film of him in coverage locking down receivers, making tackles, breaking up passes and making interceptions, I expect to see him rating rise (you can say this with just about any DB- but if your coverage is so good QB’s won’t throw the ball to your area, you need to show that). He plays for a great team in one of the larger classes in Georgia. You don’t start on a championship team in Georgia without being a good player.
Branson Yager – Grantsville, UT
6’7” – 332lbs
Distance to Lincoln: 824.28 Miles
Profile: 83 247 – 5.7 Rivals – Hudl
Current Position: OT
Recruitment Position: OT
Branson Yager plays for Grantsville High School in Grantsville, Utah. His team currently sits at 5-5. Last season his team finished 10-3.
Yager plays offensive tackle; he can be punishing with his blocks and pancake guys that line up across from him. He was matched up against an All-American Defensive end last year and played okay. His frame, although massive, needs work. He will need to spend a lot of time in the S&C program, breaking himself down and building himself back up – he needs to improve his agility, speed off the line and flexibility. He has trouble at times getting across laterally to make blocks on rushing defenders. He has the poor tendency to lurch forward while trying to make blocks, causing him to miss them at times.
Yager is rated an 83 by 247. I think this an accurate rating. I think Yager could see a 2-point bump if his overall athleticism has improved, but looking at his senior film, he looks about the same as he did last year with slight improvements in blocking form. If Yager arrives on campus, drops weight to 300 and rebuilds himself from there, I think we could be looking at an interesting prospect at offensive tackle. Yager understand he needs time to develop, however, he needs to hit the ground running.
In Review
Nebraska’s 2021 recruiting class is not as star studded as our previous classes, but it contains a lot of athletes that have low floors but high ceilings. It is a much more local class than previous classes with 9 recruits coming from the 500-mile radius and an average distance to Lincoln of 583.2447 miles. I think this can be attributed to both COVID and the talent that seems to be on the rise in Nebraska.
I would describe this class as developmental. If the coaching staff can develop these players, it will be a very solid class. There are still some additions that the staff needs to make at DL to make this a complete class.
Notes/Fun Facts
Our highest rated recruit of this class is Thomas Fidone, rated as the #1 Tight End in the country at a 95. Our lowest rated is Cornerback, Malik Williams at an 81. I would consider the most underrated recruit of this class to be Gabe Ervin, rated an 84 or Henry Lutovsky, rated at an 87.
The farthest from Lincoln is Patrick Payton at 1405.29 miles, while the closest recruit is James Carnie at 19.8 miles.