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RCF 2021 NFL Mock Draft: On the clock...

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My write up for Dallas' choice of Levi Onwuzirke:

Height: 6'2"
Weight: 290 lbs.
Class: Senior (red shirt)
School: Washington


Easily one of the nation’s top defensive lineman heading into the 2020 season. He opted out of the 2020 season and wasn’t seen on the field until the Senior Bowl. A former four-star recruit out of Allen, Texas (30 minutes from Dallas), where he attended Allen High School.

Onwuzurike was on almost every 2020 pre-season watch list heading into the season because of the dominant flashes throughout his 2019 tape. He finished his time at Washington with 95 tackles, 16 for a loss, and seven sacks. He was a 2019 First Team All Pac-12 and was an honorable mention as an All-American.

The Cowboys have filled two holes on their defense that can start day one in Surtain II and Onwuzurike as they look to improve their defense that struggled mightily last year.
 
My Ifeatu Melifonwu write-up for the Chargers:

Ifeatu Melifonwu NFL Draft Profile​

  • Position: Cornerback
  • School: Oklahoma
  • Current Year: Redshirt Junior
  • Height: 6’2 5/8″
  • Weight: 212 pounds
  • Wingspan: 80 1/8″
  • Arm: 32 1/8″
  • Hand: 9″

Melifonwu_Ifeatu2018.jpg


The Chargers have a glaring need at corner, and Melifonwu has every physical trait you could ask for in an NFL corner. We're pleased he was available to us in the second round, and are happy to scoop him up.

Melifonwu has the fourth-highest RAS at his position at 9.70. At 6'3" and 213 lbs, Melifonwu has all the size to match up with anyone in the NFL--and he has the speed to do so as well, gliding smoothly all over the field stride-for-stride with anyone thrown at him with long speed to boot. Smooth, fluid hips are a big bonus. This is a corner we believe can cover every route. He has the speed to cover deep and the size to cover slants and posts. We want to work with him to better use his size and athleticism to jam receivers at the line. If he can excel in press coverage, the sky is the limit for the younger Melifonwu brother.
 
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With the 48th pick of the 2021 RCF Mock Draft the Las Vegas Raiders select...



Jevon Holland, FS, Oregon

McKinley_Holland_Stanford_EE_2_.JPG



HtWt: 6'1'' - 207 lbs.
College: Oregon

My Take:

The Raiders need to keep adding talent to what is one the worst group of defensive backs in the NFL. Jonathan Abram has yet to live up to his first round pedigree, but he's still got a starting position locked up at safety. Jeff Heath has been decent for a few years now, but he's already 29 and on the back end of his career. They could desperately use another versatile safety.

Jevon Holland is the player the Raiders thought they were getting when they signed LaMarcus Joyner- a safety couple of playing single high one play then coming down and manning the slot the next. He was a Thorpe award finalist in 2019 mostly playing out of the slot for Oregon, and the year before as a true freshman picked off five passes while moving around the field at different positions as a super sub. An impressive pro day with a 4.45 forty answered concerns about his long speed, and 19 reps of 225 was equally impressive for proving his play strength. Combine that with his big play production and plus NFL-size and he's worked himself into late first round discussion as one of the first safeties off the board.

PLAYER BIO:
Despite starting just two of 13 contests as a true freshman, Holland tied for 10th in the FBS with five interceptions. He also recorded 44 tackles and six pass breakups for the Ducks. He continued to play well as a sophomore, garnering honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors by posting 66 tackles, four interceptions (one returned for a score) and four pass breakups on the year. Holland opted out of the 2020 season. The four-star recruit and 2017 San Francisco Chronicle East Bay Player of the Year (five interceptions, 1,012 receiving yards, five punt return touchdowns) was coached by former NFL back Napoleon Kaufman at Bishop O'Dowd High School. Holland's father, Robert, played football at Sacramento State and then had a long career in the Canadian Football League. -- by Chad Reuter

OVERVIEW:
Versatile defensive back with good size, above-average instincts and impressive ball skills. Holland plays with good pattern recognition and anticipation underneath. He has the ball greed and competitiveness to make contested catches a challenge for opponents. He's willing and able in run support near the line of scrimmage, giving him value as a big nickel, but he lacks recovery burst and will struggle if he's matched one-on-one with speed from the slot. He has the football IQ and ball skills to handle split-safety duties but needs to continue fine-tuning his tackling technique. His added value as a punt returner should push him up the board a few spots.

"Scouts on other teams I talk with kind of beat him up because they think he can't run, but I don't see it as a huge problem. I also don't see him as a full-time cornerback; I see him as a safety." -- Area scout for AFC team

STRENGTHS:
  • Looks, feels and moves like a pro player.
  • Versatility to move around in the secondary.
  • Proper eye balance between quarterback and route traffic from zone.
  • Adequate route-break anticipation from off-man.
  • Looks to smother and find entry point to play the throw at the top of the route.
  • Timing to open and sprint into phase with receiver.
  • High school receiver with excellent ball skills and competes hard for the football.
  • Tools for continued ball production on the next level.
  • Consistent punch and separates from perimeter blocks.
  • Flies into developing run lanes to greet runners near the line.
  • Makes centered, aggressive strikes as downhill tackler.
  • Flashed impressive punt return talent.
WEAKNESSES:
  • Scouts have some concerns about long speed.
  • Loses coverage effectiveness as route progresses downfield.
  • Had trouble catching up once he got behind in man coverage.
  • Gets caught flat-footed at times.
  • A little labored transitioning from his pedal.
  • Average range as sideline-to-sideline tackler.
  • Needs to be quicker coming to balance and getting tackle-ready.
  • In 2019, pushed around at point of attack by Washington tight end Cade Otton.
DRAFT PROJECTION:
Rounds 1-2

NFL COMPARISON:
Jordan Poyer

@DJTJ and the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock
 
With the 49th Pick In the 2021 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select... Javonte Williams.. RB... UNC!


The Reasons: The Arizona Cardinals struggled to put teams away in 2020, and really struggled to punch the ball in from inside the five (unless Kyler kept it). With Kenyan Drake leaving, the RB room is... thin. Chase Edmonds is an emerging threat, but his threat really comes by being played all over the field (unless in NY, he shits all over NY teams). The Cards also have ASU product, Eno Benjamin, who should have stayed a year and as a result... never suited in 2020, including when Kenyan Drake was hobbled. Basically, the Cards needed a North and South see hole hit hole runner, and while the offensive line is passable when healthy, holes are a plenty when defenses have to account for Kyler.

The fit: Look, I really wanted a TE here, because the Cardinals really used Dan Arnold well in 2020, but he bolted (RIP Tom Arnold inside joke with my family). I also considered trying to build o-line depth. Being devoid of talent in the running back room, and my willingness to try to get back into the third (Christian Kirk anyone?) to get a TE/iOL led me to this pick. I think after the big four, the drop off is really, really steep. Williams is a terrific N/S guy, who while not a home run threat, is a grinder, and something Kenyon Drake was supposed to do but was wildly incapable of doing. I’ve seen a decent amount of tape, and Williams is also a solid receiving threat, but with the WR group+ Edmonds, he won’t really be asked to do this, which is usually the hardest leap for a rookie rb. Pretty thrilled to inject major talent into, IMO, the two most under performing position groups on the Cards (outside of Kliff himself).

@Jack Brickman and the Miami Dolphins are on the clock!
 
THE PICK IS IN!

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WITH THE 50TH PICK IN THE 2021 RCF MOCK DRAFT, THE MIAMI DOLPHINS SELECT...

stokes.jpg


ERIC STOKES, CB, GEORGIA

Position: CB
Height: 6'1
Weight: 194

Discovered as a high school track star by former Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, Stokes is a natural athlete who made the expected strides over the course of his collegiate career. He went from a spot starter his redshirt freshman year to starting all but one game his sophomore season, where he notched 38 tackles, 1 sack, and 9 pass break-ups. In his final year, he earned second team All-SEC honors behind a nine game season where he notched 20 tackles and 4 picks, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Stokes has the ability to play on the outside or in the slot depending on scheme, and while he's a little raw, that seems like a perfect fit with a Dolphins coaching staff that absolutely gets the most out of everyone on their defensive side.

@Jordan and the Football Team are on the clock.
 
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Clench your buttocks, because The Washington Football Team sent me a PM of their selection last night...

Davis Mills, QB, Stanford


Hopefully @Jordan will be able to come back and explain why he has Mills ranked so high.

@bronko and the Bears are up!
 
The Packers @sportscoach and Cardinals @DJTJ have made a trade!!!

Packers are sending 2nd Round Pick number 62 to the Cardinals for WR Christian Kirk, FS Deionte Thompson and a future 5th round pick!

Also the Packers agree to a contract extension with Kirk! It's a 4 year deal worth 22 million and 8 million guaranteed!

Packers are also looking to do more wheeling and dealing!
 
The Packers @sportscoach and Cardinals @DJTJ have made a trade!!!

Packers are sending 2nd Round Pick number 62 to the Cardinals for WR Christian Kirk, FS Deionte Thompson and a future 5th round pick!

Also the Packers agree to a contract extension with Kirk! It's a 4 year deal worth 22 million and 8 million guaranteed!

Packers are also looking to do more wheeling and dealing!

Since I have been on a family vacation the past few days, I am not keeping careful track of all these trades. Be prepared to send @Hurl Bruce and me a PM if you made a trade tomorrow so we can be sure the big board was updated.

Thanks.
 
With the 52nd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, The Chicago Bears select Alex Leatherwood, OL from Alabams. Long, powerful, athletic left tackle, he checks all the boxes for an NFL starting left tackle, but also capable of playing inside for the start of his career. Top 10 overall high school recruit, started 7 games at guard as true freshman, all 15 as a sophomore, and everyone his final 2 years at left tackle. A bit of an enigma, in that he doesn't totally dominate the way it appears he should, but a high floor high ceiling pick who I'm surprised fell to 52.

Strengths
  • Looks the part with well-proportioned frame and long arms.
  • Offers experience and roster flexibility at either guard or tackle.
  • Can bend and leverage at point of attack.
  • Athletic in his movements.
  • Can operate effectively in outside zone and for screen blocks.
  • Kick-slides are good and bring him to proper depth.
  • Base width rarely fails him in pass pro.
  • Able to unlock hips and sink against bull-rusher.
  • Length can discombobulate rush plan when punch is well-timed.
  • Diligent to protect inside post in pass sets.
  • Can open hips and recover when edge is assaulted at the top of the rush.
Weaknesses
  • Mechanical and lacking explosion into initial contact.
  • Needs to guard against long initial lateral steps in run game.
  • Athletic but movement lacks twitch in tight quarters.
  • Needs to improve play strength contact balance.
  • Doesn't play with consistent fire and passion as finisher.
  • Punch needs to punish and not push the enemy.
  • Would benefit from attacking rushers earlier with his length.
  • Slows feet prematurely against speed rushers.
  • Needs better hand positioning in general.
  • Disappointing power to separate and redirect when rush hits his edge.



 

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We have a trade:

The Packers receive:
-Pick #74
-Pick #82
-2022 4th

The WFT receives:
-Pick #92
-Pick #135
-Pick #142
-Pick #173
-2022 second

(Posting my second round pick justification in a moment). @Hurl Bruce sending this to you in a PM.
 
@CBBI PMed me his draft board, and he ends up with his top choice from this morning:

Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

Hopefully he updates with a write-up, this guy may end up on the actual Browns, after all.

@Out of the Rafters and into the Q up.

With the 46th pick of the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the New England Patriots select

Nick Bolton
Linebacker

Missouri

Bolton.jpg


VIOLENCE!


Nick Bolton plays fast, plays aggressive and plays physical. He might not be the biggest guy in the world and might not be the greatest of all time in coverage, but he's what we're looking for in New England.


From Dane Brugler: A hammer in search of a nail, Bolton is a forceful downhill defender with outstanding play speed and striking skills to put ball carriers on the ground before they can reach the line of scrimmage. His lack of size and length will show up, especially in coverage, but his fiery play personality is something that will endear him to NFL coaches.

From Lance Zierlein: When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter.

 

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