2021 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Colts Draft Michigan DE Kwity Paye At No. 21

April 29th, 2021 at 9:57pm CST by Zachary Links

With the No. 21 overall pick, the Colts have selected Michigan pass-rusher Kwity Paye. Paye, widely regarded as the best edge rusher on the board, ultimately found himself being selected after Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins, Miami defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips, and Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis.

Paye ranked as Scouts Inc.’s top pass-rushing prospect in this year’s draft, and for good reason. This was thanks in part to a 2019 campaign where the Michigan product finished with 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. That performance earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors and put him on the NFL radar.

The 6-foot-4, 272-pound defensive linemen managed to repeat that production in 2020 (two sacks, four tackles for loss in four games), and he earned a second-team All-Big Ten nod at the end of the season. Paye had emerged as a favorite among teams seeking pass-rush help, with the Giants being among the teams that had been connected to the prospect during the pre-draft process. The defensive lineman has been described as “raw” by some analysts, but his upside makes him an intriguing selection.

Paye will join Ben Banogu, Tyquan Lewis, Al-Quadin Muhammed, Isaac Rochell, and Kemoko Turay in the Colts’ DE group.

Giants Draft Florida WR Kadarius Toney At No. 20

April 29th, 2021 at 9:48pm CST by Zachary Links

After trading back from No. 11, the Giants drafted Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney with the No. 20 pick. This marks the fifth-straight year that the Giants have added an offensive player with one of their first-round picks.

After playing quarterback in high school, it took some time for Toney to find his role on Florida’s offense. He played in mostly a backup role through his first three seasons in college, but he finally had a breakout campaign this past year. The prospect finished the campaign with 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns on only 89 carries, earning him some high marks among draft pundits.

Toney projects to be a slot receiver in the NFL, but his Swiss Army Knife profile offers him an even greater upside. Toney will also be able to contribute on special teams, with the prospect having returned 28 kicks and punts during his collegiate career.

While the rookie will have plenty of time to build a rapport with Daniel Jones, it’s uncertain if Toney will see a significant role in 2021. The Giants added Kenny Golladay in free agency, and they’re already rostering the likes of Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Dante Pettis.

Raiders Use No. 17 Pick To Take Alex Leatherwood

April 29th, 2021 at 9:33pm CST by Zachary Links

With the No. 17 overall pick, the Raiders tapped Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood. Leatherwood wasn’t widely viewed as a mid-first rounder, but GM Mike Mayock has never been afraid to think outside the box.

Pundits may have mixed opinions about Leatherwood, but the offensive line was unquestionably among the Raiders’ biggest needs heading into tonight. Now without Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson, and Trent Brown. While they have Denzelle Good, Andre James, and Nick Martin to manage the interior, Leatherwood will be tasked with protecting the edge.

Leatherwood’s stock might have been higher last year. However, he opted to return to school and watch tackles Jedrick Wills Jr., Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs, and Austin Jackson go pro ahead of him. At the pro level, he’ll look to reward Mayock’s confidence at the tackle position, though his long-term future could be at guard.

Mayock has delivered his first shock of the night, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to stun the league throughout the weekend. As of this writing, the Raiders hold:

Round 2: No. 48
Round 3: No. 79 (from Cardinals), 80
Round 3: No. 80
Round 4: No. 121
Round 5: No. 162 (from Dolphins), 167 (from Seahawks)
Round 5: No. 167 (from Seahawks)
Round 6: No. 200

Cardinals Draft Tulsa LB Zaven Collins At No. 16

April 29th, 2021 at 9:22pm CST by Zachary Links

At No. 16, the Cardinals selected Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. Collins, long believed to be among Arizona’s top targets, will step in to the role previously filled by Haason Reddick.

The Cardinals were reportedly keeping their fingers crossed for Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain, Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, or South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. In reality, those three players were probably higher on their board than Collins. Still, Collins is one heck of a consolation prize.

Patriots Select Alabama QB Mac Jones With No. 15 Pick

April 29th, 2021 at 9:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Bill Belichick has finally added a first-round quarterback. The Patriots have selected Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the No. 15 pick.

The Patriots naturally struggled to replace Tom Brady in 2020. When the team re-signed Cam Newton earlier this offseason, there was plenty of speculation that the team could still pivot to the draft (or the trade market) to find their future QB. There were even rumblings that New England would climb up the draft board in pursuit of the signal caller. Ultimately, one of the top-five quarterbacks fell into their lap without requiring any moves.

Jones naturally lands in a great spot, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Alabama product is a bit disappointed about his slide down the board. Jones wasn’t expected to leap Trevor Lawrence or Zach Wilson, but there were whispers that the 49ers were considering Jones all the way back at the No. 3 pick. Ultimately, San Francisco opted for Trey Lance, and Jones also got leaped by Justin Fields, who went to the Bears at No. 11.

Although Jones was the least mobile of this year’s top QB prospects, he piloted another dominant Alabama team to an unbeaten season and a national championship. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound quarterback threw 41 touchdown passes, compared to four interceptions, and averaged 11.2 yards per attempt. He received the same advantages Tagovailoa did, in throwing to multiple first-round receiver talents. Both those wideouts — DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle — said they preferred Jones to Tua.

Barring a time machine from Newton (or a miraculous turnaround from Jarrett Stidham), Jones will presumably be the Patriots starter by the end of the 2021 campaign. New England has loaded up their offense with targets, including tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith and wideouts Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. While the Patriots never really had a reason to select a first-round QB with Brady under center, it will now be fascinating to see how Belichick deals with such a high-profile prospect.

Vikings Trade No. 14 Pick To Jets; Jets Take Alijah Vera-Tucker

April 29th, 2021 at 9:06pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s shaping up to be a big night for the Jets. After selecting BYU quarterback Zach Wilson No. 2 overall, the Jets have traded back up to snag the Vikings’ No. 14 overall pick. In the process, they’ve leapfrogged Bill Belichick and the Patriots, who were unable to move up from No. 15.

With the 14th pick, the Jets selected USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. The choice wasn’t met with much of a reaction from the crowd in Cleveland, but GM Joe Douglas was practically doing cartwheels. A darling of scouts across the league, Vera-Tucker has been lauded for his versatility and hard-nosed playing style.

AVT was already considered a top offensive guard prospect heading into the 2020 season, but he added even more intrigue following a successful transition to tackle. After earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019, he made a jump to the first team in 2020. He also earned the Morris Trophy this past season, awarded to the best OL/DL in the Pac 12 (as voted by players).

Vera-Tucker lacks elite athleticism, which means his future will probably be on the interior. Either way, his high-IQ play style and versatility should make him a contributor for the Jets right off the bat.

Here’s the full breakdown of the deal that brought Vera-Tucker to the east coast:

Vikings Receive

Pick No. 23
Pick No. 66
Pick No. 86

Jets Receive

Pick No. 14
Pick No. 143

Chargers Draft Northwestern T Rashawn Slater No. 13 Overall

April 29th, 2021 at 9:02pm CST by Zachary Links

With the No. 13 overall pick, the Chargers selected Rashawn Slater. The Bolts weren’t sure if the Northwestern tackle would be available at this stage, but they managed to get one of the top players on their board without mortgaging their remaining draft ammo.

The son of former eight-year NBA veteran Reggie Slater, Rashawn started 37 games at either left or right tackle between 2017 and 2019. This included a sophomore season where he earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors. Slater also fared well against Chase Young in their final matchup of the 2019 campaign, not allowing the ex-Buckeyes phenom to record a quarterback hit when they were matched up. Despite shifting from right to left tackle as a junior, Slater did not allow a sack in 11 games that season.

Slater managed to maintain his high draft stock despite sitting out the 2020 campaign. While the 305-pound offensive lineman stands at 6-foot-3, he lacks the elite length of top offensive tackles. While Slater seems to offer the explosiveness to excel at the position, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if a team looks to develop him as an offensive guard.

Slater can be an immediate contributor on the Chargers offensive line. Justin Herbert looked the part of a franchise quarterback during his rookie season, but he had to tolerate 32 sacks this past year. Slater will certainly keep the signal caller upright.

This is one down for the Bolts, but the Bolts still have eight picks to go this weekend:

Round 2: No. 47
Round 3: No. 77
Round 3: No. 97
Round 4: No. 118
Round 5: No. 159
Round 6: No. 185 (from Jaguars through Titans)
Round 6: No. 198
Round 7: No. 241

Cowboys Select Penn State LB Micah Parsons At No. 12

April 29th, 2021 at 8:53pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys have added to the middle of their defense. After trading back to No. 12, Dallas has selected Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

We heard during the pre-draft process that the Cowboys were zeroing in on cornerbacks, with the organization deciding between Jaycee Horn (South Carolina) and Patrick Surtain II (Alabama). Well, both of those players were off the board by No. 10, so Dallas decided to trade back, pick up an extra late-round pick, and still add a major piece to their defense.

Despite working as an off-ball ‘backer, Parsons registered 14 tackles for loss and five sacks as a sophomore in 2019, resulting in him being named a consensus All-Americans. The 6-foot-3, 244-pound defender also forced four fumbles in his second college campaign. The linebacker sat out the 2020 season, but that didn’t cause Parsons to plummet down the draft board; the player was always projected to be a surefire first-round pick, and that ultimately proved to be the case.

Speed and versatility should provide the rookie with plenty of playing time in 2021. Parsons has been lauded for his ability to cover running backs and tight ends, and his ability to impact the passing game makes him a unique player at his position.

Parsons will join a depth chart that’s highlighted by Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith, a pair of players who have shown potential but struggled in 2020. While Parsons may not possess the ability to cover receivers (a skill set the Cowboys have reportedly been seeking) he’ll still provide a formidable run-stuffing, tight-end-stopping and pass-rushing option.

Bears Trade For Giants’ No. 11 Pick; Take Justin Fields

April 29th, 2021 at 8:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Dave Gettleman couldn’t resist the urge to trade. The Giants moved the No. 11 pick to the Bears in exchange for pick No. 20, pick No. 164, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick. And, with the No. 11 choice, the Bears selected Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.

The Bears invested upwards of $10MM in Andy Dalton this offseason, but the longtime Bengals starter is just a stopgap solution. While Dalton may start this year, the job will eventually belong to Fields.

Fields transferred from Georgia to Ohio State to take over for Dwayne Haskins as the Buckeyes’ starter. He went on to enjoy a dominant two-year run for the Buckeyes, putting him in the top tier of incoming 2021 QBs. Lauded for his arm strength and athleticism, Fields wound up as the fourth passer chosen, behind Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance.

Only three drafts — 1971, 1999, and 2021— have begun with three consecutive teams taking quarterbacks. Fields may not have been in that group, but every scout believes that he has a bright future ahead of him. In just two short years as a Buckeye, he cemented himself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. The dual-threat QB threw for 5,373 yards, 63 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across 22 starts. Now, the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year will try and work his magic for the Bears.

Broncos Draft CB Patrick Surtain II

April 29th, 2021 at 8:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos didn’t take a quarterback after all. With the No. 9 overall pick, the Broncos selected Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

An All-American as a junior, Surtain finished with a career-high nine passes defensed this season, leading to SEC Defensive Player of the Years honors. That performance vaulted him up the draft boards, just shy of fellow corner Jaycee Horn.

We previously heard that the Cowboys were split between Horn and Surtain. Now, they’ll have to pivot. The Cardinals were also infatuated with both corners, so they’ll have to look further down the board when they pick in the middle of the order.

Surtain will follow his father, Patrick Surtain, into the pros. The elder Surtain was a longtime NFL corner who became a Dolphins second-round pick in 1998. An All-American as a junior, Surtain finished with a career-high nine passes defensed in 2020. Now, in Denver, Surtain will join a talented cornerback group that includes Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller, and Bryce Callahan.

He’s the first defensive player drafted in Round 1 by the Broncos since 2018, when they tapped Bradley Chubb No. 5 overall. He’s also Denver’s first Round 1 defensive back since Bradley Roby in 2014.

2021 NFL Draft News & Rumors