2021 April - Pro Football Rumors

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.

Washington Takes Kentucky LB Jamin Davis At No. 19

April 29th, 2021 at 9:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Jamin Davis has completed his rise up the draft board. The Kentucky linebacker was selected by Washington with the 19th-overall pick.

The 6-foot-4, 234-pound linebacker has had one of the greatest jumps in draft stock in recent history. Davis was projected to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick as recently as October, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). However, following a standout 2020 campaign, the linebacker established himself as a potential day-one selection.

How good was that 2020 campaign? Davis ultimately finished this past season with a team-leading 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and three interceptions. This standout performance earned him First-Team All-SEC honors from Pro Football Focus.

Davis should be an immediate contributor in Washington. He has the versatility to play in a coverage role, and he has some untapped potential as a pass rusher, a pair of skills that could certainly be used at the position.

Washington should have more opportunities to add to their defense during the draft. The team has seven more selections, including

Round 2: No. 51
Round 3: Nos. 74 (from 49ers), 82
Round 4: No. 124
Round 5: No. 163
Round 7: Nos. 244 (from Vegas), 246, 258 (from Chiefs through Dolphins)

Dolphins Select Miami DL Jaelan Phillips At No. 18

April 29th, 2021 at 9:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Jaelan Phillips won’t have to make a major (literal) move from college to the pros. The Dolphins have selected the Miami defensive lineman with the No. 18 pick.

Standing at 6-foot-5, the 286-pound prospect is one of the most intimidating prospects in the draft. He earned his early-round draft stock thanks to a breakout 2020 campaign that saw him finish with eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss (after having compiled 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss through his first two collegiate seasons). His performance in 2020 earned him second-team All-American and second-team All-ACC honors, and it also caused his draft stock to rise.

Phillips has experience on the edge and playing with hands on the ground, and this versatility will surely be utilized by his new squad. A brief injury history resulted in him being ranked lower on some pundits’ pre-draft rankings, but the defensive lineman has as much potential as any of the draft’s top defensive prospects. The Dolphins front office is presumably thrilled to add a player of Phillips’ caliber at this point in the draft.

The Dolphins were busy prior to the draft (via trades), but it seems like their night is probably over. Miami is currently armed with four more picks in the draft:

Round 2: Nos. 36 (from Texans), 50
Round 3: No. 81
Round 5: No. 156 (from Cowboys through Eagles)
Round 7: Nos. 231 (from Texans), 244 (from Washington)

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.