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2021 Draft Prospects Thread
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NFL Mock Draft 2021: Complete 7-round edition pairs Patriots, Bears, Washington with new QBs after top picks
Sporting News' latest NFL mock draft for 2021 spans seven rounds, covering all 259 picks from projected No. 1 overall selection Trevor Lawrence down to Mr. Irrelevant.
www.sportingnews.com
26. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
- Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia (6-3, 240 pounds)
59. Cleveland Browns
- Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford (6-1, 198 pounds)
89. Cleveland Browns
- Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA (6-2, 280 pounds)
91. Cleveland Browns (from Saints)
- Charles Snowden, LB, Virginia (6-6, 243 pounds)
110. Cleveland Browns (from Eagles): Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Ohio State
132. Cleveland Browns: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn
169. Cleveland Browns (from Rams): Javian Hawkins, RB, Louisville
211. Cleveland Browns: Joshua Kaindoh, EDGE, Florida State
257. Cleveland Browns (from Bills): Pressley Harvin III, P, Georgia Tech
2021 NFL draft: Miami's Jaelan Phillips looks like a 1st-round star, but character, medical issues could cause slide
Our countdown of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft continues with No. 18 overall — the Canes' supremely gifted pass rusher who must answer questions about health and character.
2021 NFL draft: Miami's Jaelan Phillips looks like a 1st-round star, but character, medical issues could cause slide
18. Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips
6-foot-6, 260 poundsYahoo Sports draft grade: 6.07 — possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report: Phillips might be the best edge-rush talent in the 2021 class, but medical, character concerns must be thoroughly vetted
Games watched: Louisville (2020), Florida State (2020), Clemson (2020), Virginia (2020), Pitt (2020)
The skinny: A 5-star Rivals recruit (No. 6 nationally in 2017, ahead of 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young), Phillips committed to UCLA and enrolled there early. As a freshman, he played in seven games (four starts) and made 21 tackles (seven for losses), 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups, as his season was cut short by an ankle injury and a concussion.
In January 2018, he was hit by a car while on a scooter, suffering a wrist injury that lingered. Phillips played in four games (two starts) that UCLA season, making 20 tackles and one sack but missed the remainder of the season with another concussion.
Phillips announced that he was retiring from football following the second concussion, but changed his mind and transferred to Miami, sitting out the 2019 season.
In 2020, he made 45 tackles (15.5 for losses), eight sacks, four pass breakups and an interception, earning second-team AP All-American and second-team All-ACC mention. Phillips skipped the Hurricanes’ bowl game and declared early for the 2021 draft.
Upside: Elite traits for the position — great height, weight distribution and long wingspan (80 3/4 inches). Tested through the roof at Miami’s pro day, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash (with a great 10-yard split: 1.59), 36-inch vertical jump, 125-inch broad jump, 4.18-second short shuttle and 7.13-second 3-cone drill.
Ideal combination of athleticism and length. Has the kind of frame and athleticism to drop a few pounds or add mass and play multiple techniques with his hand on the ground. Naturally fluid and smooth mover with high-end burst and twitch.
Might have been the best EDGE in the country down the stretch in 2020 — talent finally arrived. Logged 36 total pressures in his final seven games. Had 6.5 sacks in his final four games before opting out. We got a glimpse of a former elite recruit with tremendous upside.
Displays a lightning first step off the ball. Showed cornering ability on the edge. Outstanding closing ability. Generates some speed to power as a rusher. Loose hips and ankles to take sharp angles to the ball. Uses his hands and his length to get tackles off-balance and render their punches ineffective. Loops well inside on stunts and twists.
Good diagnostic skills vs. the run. Generally sees the action in front of him and makes quick adjustments. Handles option-game responsibilities well. Edge-setting potential with his length, quickness, power potential and desire. Will stack some bigger tackles and detach from blocks. Can funnel plays back inside for his teammates to clean up. Rarely on the ground — keeps a good base and maintains his balance.
Motor runs hot — plays with passion and energy. Makes plays downfield and from the backside. Looked reborn in a new setting. Outstanding all-around potential — could be an All-Pro if he puts it all together.
Downside: Worrisome medical history — NFL teams looked hard at hand, ankle and wrist injuries. The wrist required multiple procedures and could be a chronic worry. Multiple concussions are concerning — at least three that we know of. UCLA doctors advised him to medically retire late in 2018.
Inexperienced — fewer than 1,000 career snaps. Really only a one-year producer. Took a few games in 2020 to get his sea legs underneath him. Rushed almost exclusively from the left side in 2020. Not an enormous amount of versatility to his game. Wasn’t used a ton on special teams.
Needs to add strength to his core and lower body. Still will struggle to muscle through to set the edge. Arm length (33 1/4 inches) and hand size (9 3/4 inches) are merely average. Bench-press total (21 reps) on the low side, too.
Still developing a pass-rush arsenal — gets slowed if his initial move stymied and could use some countermeasures. Spin move looks methodical. Plays with occasionally sloppy hands and can lose battles before they really start. Should be a better inside-counter rusher — potential there but needs to be unlocked.
Gets upright and gives blockers too big a target at times. Tips his pass-rush moves. Won’t be able to rely solely on his get-off quickness and needs to add polish and technique to his game. Let his passion run over vs. FSU, flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct (one for kicking an opponent’s helmet that had come off) and ejected early in the second quarter.
Has some character concerns that NFL people wanted answers for, digging on the details of why he flamed out at UCLA. Former Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr., who recruited and coached Phillips, recently downplayed his concussion history and said that “there were other factors at play that led to him leaving UCLA.” Miami coaches said they were pleased with Phillips’ work, but his past still stands as an issue for some NFL clubs.
Best-suited destination: Without the medical and character concerns, Phillips might be the best defensive prospect in the entire 2021 class. He has the length, athleticism, burst and power to be a high-end pass rusher.
Phillips is said to have matured and evolved, but the red flags still could push him down some boards, especially with some more conservative teams. It will take a GM with conviction (and perhaps job security) to sign off on using a first-round pick on Phillips.
Assuming he answers those questions, there’s no reason to think he can’t develop into a prototypical edge rusher and continue building off his explosive 2020 season.
Did you know: Phillips’ grandfather, Jon Robertson, is a world-renowned pianist and conductor who ran the music department at UCLA. Music always has been a big part of Phillips’ life. When he initially gave up football, Phillips enrolled at Los Angeles City College, studying music and dreaming of becoming a producer and rap artist.
“During my recovery I had to seriously think about what I wanted to pursue outside of football, and music was really what I found myself drawn to. I realized that I wanted to pursue a full-time career in music and wanted to get the proper training,” Phillips said.
Player comp: Phillips has some Jadevon Clowney-like qualities to him.
Expected draft range: Top-40 pick
2021 NFL draft: Notre Dame's Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a jack of all trades
Our countdown of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft rolls along with No. 19 overall — the Irish's versatile, disruptive defender.
2021 NFL draft: Notre Dame's Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a jack of all trades
19. Notre Dame LB-S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
6-foot-2, 221 poundsYahoo Sports draft grade: 6.07 — possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report: Hybrid safety-linebacker whose coverage ability, energetic style make him a fascinating evaluation
Games watched: Georgia (2019), Iowa State (2019), Clemson regular season (2020), North Carolina (2020), Alabama (2020)
The skinny: A 3-star Rivals recruit, Owusu-Koramoah flipped on his commitment to Virginia and went to Notre Dame. He redshirted in 2017 (at age 17) and played only special teams in two games in 2018.
In 2019, Owusu-Koramoah stepped into a starting role (13 games) and made 80 tackles (13.5 for losses), 5.5 sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and two recoveries.
He won the Butkus Award (best linebacker) and was ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, logging 62 tackles (11 for losses), one sack, three forced fumbles, two recoveries, one interception and three pass breakups in 12 starts. After the season, he declared early for the 2021 draft.
Upside: Fast, rangy defender who can cover a lot of grass. Played out in space on the “field” side predominantly to take advantage of his work in space. Lightning-quick trigger — ideal reaction time to break on the ball or adjust to the action up front.
Explosive athleticism. Pro-day testing offered a glimpse of that — a 37-inch vertical jump and a 124-inch broad jump. Also reportedly has been tracked hitting 20.4 mph on the field via GPS, can rip off 42 unbroken pull-ups and can back-squat 555 pounds.
Rare versatility was demonstrated in Notre Dame’s “rover” role. Covered the slot extensively — even vs. wide receivers. Did work in the box as a stacked linebacker and overhang defender, asked to blitz and even logged snaps at wide corner and deep safety occasionally. Shows some real juice as a blitzer who can get home with shocking frequency (see three-sack game vs. Iowa State). A true mismatch defender who can man multiple spots.
Coverage ability should be one of his calling cards. Mirrors big and small targets well and can carry them pretty well. Nice awareness and comfort in zone drops. Well-versed in man coverage — can even line up in press, flip his hips and run. Fits today's NFL game and prevents subbing out defenders vs. tempo.
Fast closer who flies in like a missile. Drives through the ball and can blow up screens, draws and backside runs with his pursuit ability. Hits with force and bad intentions. Disruptor — five forced fumbles and 24.5 tackles for loss in two seasons of starting.
Selfless player — will blow up block attempts that open up tackle opportunities for teammates. Improved at slipping blocks and sorting through the trash. Innate nose for finding the ball.
Football smart and real-world smart. Strong, hardened work ethic. Was asked to handle a lot and constantly delivered results. Special teams standout who regularly contributed to those units — four-down player.
Downside: Small frame for a linebacker. Was 188 pounds in high school, 198 when he arrived on campus and might now be maxed out at around 220. Decent overall length (33-inch arms) but unusually small hands (8 7/8 inches). Mild durability concerns — missed a chunk of his redshirt freshman year with a foot injury.
Role and fit will be crucial for his development. Sort of a tweener. Spent most of his time in the slot the past two seasons (more than half his snaps) and might not mirror the NFL’s quickest inside receivers. Likely won’t be able to thrive a large portion in the box. Hybrid defenders are all the rage now, but they don’t always make seamless, immediate transitions.
Still learning to disengage from blocks. Lacks the strength typically found in a box defender. Not a stack-and-shed player by any means. Made a lot of unblocked plays that might not be there at the next level. Best when playing more freely in space to roam.
Hyper-aggressive player who will whiff on some tackles (see the first Clemson game in 2020). Allows ball carriers to slip through his arms. Takes some wild angles to the ball and will grasp air. Attacks too high at times and misses the ideal target zone. Comes in too hot and can’t break down.
Loses discipline at times and can play too frenetically. Could add a dose of control and discipline to his game — gets jumpy and guesses too much. Alabama took him out of the game with a steady diet of RPOs — sort of caught him in no man’s land.
Allowed a lot of catches in coverage. Gave up too many yards after the catch. Only one career interception. Racked up a lot of tackles downfield.
Best-suited destination: NFL teams love chess-piece defenders who can handle a variety of roles and offer scheme flexibility without having to substitute. But those transitions aren’t always overnight successes.
We still believe that Owusu-Koramoah should be able to carve out a role as a box safety and big-nickel defender who can blitz, cover backs and tight ends readily, and make rangy plays with his athleticism. It might take some time for that to be fully realized.
Did you know: Owusu-Koramoah — also known as “Wu” and “JOK” for short — was also a fine basketball player at Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, playing alongside his older brother, Josh, for two years. Jeremiah helped his team to the 5A state title and earned all-state mention. He even became friends with Bethel’s most famous alum, Allen Iverson, and received multiple hoops scholarship offers (VMI and Maryland-Eastern Shore).
Player comp: In the Derwin James or Malcolm Jenkins mold, although less as a deep safety.
Expected draft range: Round 1
2021 NFL draft: Position switch could help Miami's Greg Rousseau emerge
Our countdown of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft rolls along with No. 22 — the Hurricanes' promising but underdeveloped defender.
22. Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau
6-foot-7, 266 poundsYahoo Sports draft grade: 6.05 — possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report: Boom-or-bust prospect with stunning tools but a functional lack of tape, experience
Games watched: Florida (2019), Virginia (2019), Georgia Tech (2019), Pitt (2019), Louisiana Tech (2019)
The skinny: A 4-star Rivals recruit, Rousseau made the massive switch from high school receiver/safety/linebacker to defensive lineman with the Hurricanes. He played in two games in 2018, making five tackles, before suffering a broken ankle and taking a medical redshirt. In 2019, Rousseau shocked the college football world with 51 tackles (four for losses), 15.5 sacks (second nationally to only Chase Young), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one batted pass in 13 games (eight starts). He was named first-team All-ACC and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Rousseau opted out of the 2020 college season and declared early for the 2021 NFL draft.
Upside: Jumps off the screen with his combination of size and athletic traits. Rare, exceptional length — stunning wingspan (83 1/4 inches), great arm length (34 3/8 inches) and some of the biggest hands (11 1/8 inches) you’ll ever seen on a football field.
Ran well at his pro day — a 4.67 40-yard dash with an eye-opening 1.57-second 10-yard split (faster than LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase). Bench-press total (21) isn’t quite as eye-popping, but it works for a player with 34-plus-inch arms.
One-year production was tremendous. Logged 15.5 sacks on a mere 280 pass-rush snaps — an insane disruption rate. It’s even wilder that he didn’t become a starter until the sixth game of the season and only averaged a shade more than 40 snaps per game.
Athletic enough that he was asked to play virtually every technique on the defensive line (including a ton of snaps at nose tackle), stand up as an edge rusher and also drop off occasionally into coverage. Also ran down punts in coverage extensively — made the opening special-teams tackle in bowl vs. Louisiana Tech.
Tremendous rush when lined up inside, and flashes occasionally great hand use. Uses a rip move and is too fast for guards to handle. Outstanding subpackage rush potential as a big interior defender on passing downs. Has the length to be a shot blocker in time.
Uses his length to bull rush opponents and get them on their heels. Will cross blockers’ faces. Counters back inside well after running the arc — can change his rush course well. Fast finisher. Spent time with noted pass-rush guru Chuck Smith during opt-out season.
Natural run-stopping potential. Protects his middle well from blockers. Presses out shorter-armed blockers and sheds naturally. Will flatten down the line and earn backside TFLs as the unblocked man.
Comes from humble roots but with a strong, supporting family. Worker who has some pride in his craft. Plays hard most of the time. Exciting, ascending talent to mold.
Downside: One of the least-experienced prospects in this entire class — 546 college snaps. One-year producer who opted out.
Has plenty to learn about defending the run and setting harder edges. Still adjusting to the trench warfare life. Hands could use more refinement but also more pop.
Could add a lot more strength — played closer to the 250-pound range in 2019. Can get torqued by rushers when he gets too high. Pad level is a consistent issue. You’d expect more speed to power in his rushes. Dominated some tight ends, but a few seemed to do just fine blocking him one-on-one. Learning how to anchor. Legs appear a bit thin and undeveloped.
Only average testing numbers — 30-inch vertical jump, 117-inch broad jump and a 7.50-second 3-cone drill. Some offensive guards topped those numbers. So-so get-off quickness. Average bend. Can get a little off kilter — finds himself on the ground a bit.
Not really an edge rusher. Did plenty of it but appeared to have more pass-rush success working inside the tackle. Lacks ideal twitch on the corner. He’ll need to bulk up if he wants to play any more snaps at nose tackle, which he did a fair bit.
Best-suited destination: The team that takes a chance on Rousseau almost must be prepared for him to serve a redshirt-type of season in 2021, given his lack of experience and refinement as a pass rusher. Rousseau’s athleticism can be put to work early, but expecting anything more than a developmental season in Year 1 could be foolhardy.
Although he might not be instant coffee, Rousseau reads as a rare athlete who could develop into something special. Some teams treat this as a developmental league; others, sadly, do not.
His landing spot is crucial for his cultivation. We could see him being a base 4-3 EDGE or maybe a 3-4 OLB (a la Julius Peppers in Green Bay), but his best work might end up coming inside as a 3 or 5-technique DL if Rousseau can add 20 to 30 pounds of bulk without losing quickness.
Did you know: As a high school receiver — and a giant one at that — Rousseau chased down a defender following a turnover, running nearly 80 yards and tackling his opponent shy of the goal line despite the player having more than a 10-yard head start toward the end zone.
Player comp: It’s impossible to come up with a comp for Rousseau given his rare dimensions and lack of football.
Could he become Calais Campbell or DeForest Buckner (who played in the 260s as college freshmen)? Or is Rousseau the next Shawn Oakman or Lynden Trail?
The closest we could arrive at was David Irving, who was 273 at his pro day but played more inside in the NFL in the 290-pound range. That might be Rousseau’s best path to maximizing his talent.
Expected draft range: Second round
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NFL Mock Draft 2021: Complete 7-round edition pairs Patriots, Bears, Washington with new QBs after top picks
Sporting News' latest NFL mock draft for 2021 spans seven rounds, covering all 259 picks from projected No. 1 overall selection Trevor Lawrence down to Mr. Irrelevant.www.sportingnews.com
26. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
The Browns need some pass-rush and coverage versatility to support their front and the rest of their linebackers and Ojulari would be great for Joe Woods.
- Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia (6-3, 240 pounds)
59. Cleveland Browns
The Browns need some more size and depth at cornerback and Adebo fits the profile well for Woods.
- Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford (6-1, 198 pounds)
89. Cleveland Browns
The Browns need to keep thinking of boosting defense everywhere and they can land a quick backfield disruptor for the inside here.
- Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA (6-2, 280 pounds)
91. Cleveland Browns (from Saints)
The Browns could use some size and thumping ability on the inside of their defense, too. Showden has the frame and athleticism to make a lot of plays.
- Charles Snowden, LB, Virginia (6-6, 243 pounds)
110. Cleveland Browns (from Eagles): Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Ohio State
132. Cleveland Browns: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn
169. Cleveland Browns (from Rams): Javian Hawkins, RB, Louisville
211. Cleveland Browns: Joshua Kaindoh, EDGE, Florida State
257. Cleveland Browns (from Bills): Pressley Harvin III, P, Georgia Tech
I rather trade out 7th round pick than draft a punter, lol
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How the hell did he know?
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Based on my previous LB experience:
OL is trying to make this look like a down blocking scheme. You see JOK take a step up when the the ball is snap, but immediately realizes OL isn’t coming downfield to block like a run play. They are sliding sideways.
Based on scouting and keys, that motion from the OL will tell you it’s a pass play. I’m assuming this is a play VT ran before on the goal line. Once he knows it’s a pass, his responsibility becomes the TE.
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I doubt that the Browns want to bring Philips into the lockerroom. Let someone else deal with all the issues.
2021 NFL draft: Miami's Jaelan Phillips looks like a 1st-round star, but character, medical issues could cause slide
Our countdown of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft continues with No. 18 overall — the Canes' supremely gifted pass rusher who must answer questions about health and character.sports.yahoo.com
2021 NFL draft: Miami's Jaelan Phillips looks like a 1st-round star, but character, medical issues could cause slide
18. Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips
6-foot-6, 260 pounds
Yahoo Sports draft grade: 6.07 — possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report: Phillips might be the best edge-rush talent in the 2021 class, but medical, character concerns must be thoroughly vetted
Games watched: Louisville (2020), Florida State (2020), Clemson (2020), Virginia (2020), Pitt (2020)
The skinny: A 5-star Rivals recruit (No. 6 nationally in 2017, ahead of 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young), Phillips committed to UCLA and enrolled there early. As a freshman, he played in seven games (four starts) and made 21 tackles (seven for losses), 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups, as his season was cut short by an ankle injury and a concussion.
In January 2018, he was hit by a car while on a scooter, suffering a wrist injury that lingered. Phillips played in four games (two starts) that UCLA season, making 20 tackles and one sack but missed the remainder of the season with another concussion.
Phillips announced that he was retiring from football following the second concussion, but changed his mind and transferred to Miami, sitting out the 2019 season.
In 2020, he made 45 tackles (15.5 for losses), eight sacks, four pass breakups and an interception, earning second-team AP All-American and second-team All-ACC mention. Phillips skipped the Hurricanes’ bowl game and declared early for the 2021 draft.
Upside: Elite traits for the position — great height, weight distribution and long wingspan (80 3/4 inches). Tested through the roof at Miami’s pro day, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash (with a great 10-yard split: 1.59), 36-inch vertical jump, 125-inch broad jump, 4.18-second short shuttle and 7.13-second 3-cone drill.
Ideal combination of athleticism and length. Has the kind of frame and athleticism to drop a few pounds or add mass and play multiple techniques with his hand on the ground. Naturally fluid and smooth mover with high-end burst and twitch.
Might have been the best EDGE in the country down the stretch in 2020 — talent finally arrived. Logged 36 total pressures in his final seven games. Had 6.5 sacks in his final four games before opting out. We got a glimpse of a former elite recruit with tremendous upside.
Displays a lightning first step off the ball. Showed cornering ability on the edge. Outstanding closing ability. Generates some speed to power as a rusher. Loose hips and ankles to take sharp angles to the ball. Uses his hands and his length to get tackles off-balance and render their punches ineffective. Loops well inside on stunts and twists.
Good diagnostic skills vs. the run. Generally sees the action in front of him and makes quick adjustments. Handles option-game responsibilities well. Edge-setting potential with his length, quickness, power potential and desire. Will stack some bigger tackles and detach from blocks. Can funnel plays back inside for his teammates to clean up. Rarely on the ground — keeps a good base and maintains his balance.
Motor runs hot — plays with passion and energy. Makes plays downfield and from the backside. Looked reborn in a new setting. Outstanding all-around potential — could be an All-Pro if he puts it all together.
Downside: Worrisome medical history — NFL teams looked hard at hand, ankle and wrist injuries. The wrist required multiple procedures and could be a chronic worry. Multiple concussions are concerning — at least three that we know of. UCLA doctors advised him to medically retire late in 2018.
Inexperienced — fewer than 1,000 career snaps. Really only a one-year producer. Took a few games in 2020 to get his sea legs underneath him. Rushed almost exclusively from the left side in 2020. Not an enormous amount of versatility to his game. Wasn’t used a ton on special teams.
Needs to add strength to his core and lower body. Still will struggle to muscle through to set the edge. Arm length (33 1/4 inches) and hand size (9 3/4 inches) are merely average. Bench-press total (21 reps) on the low side, too.
Still developing a pass-rush arsenal — gets slowed if his initial move stymied and could use some countermeasures. Spin move looks methodical. Plays with occasionally sloppy hands and can lose battles before they really start. Should be a better inside-counter rusher — potential there but needs to be unlocked.
Gets upright and gives blockers too big a target at times. Tips his pass-rush moves. Won’t be able to rely solely on his get-off quickness and needs to add polish and technique to his game. Let his passion run over vs. FSU, flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct (one for kicking an opponent’s helmet that had come off) and ejected early in the second quarter.
Has some character concerns that NFL people wanted answers for, digging on the details of why he flamed out at UCLA. Former Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr., who recruited and coached Phillips, recently downplayed his concussion history and said that “there were other factors at play that led to him leaving UCLA.” Miami coaches said they were pleased with Phillips’ work, but his past still stands as an issue for some NFL clubs.
Best-suited destination: Without the medical and character concerns, Phillips might be the best defensive prospect in the entire 2021 class. He has the length, athleticism, burst and power to be a high-end pass rusher.
Phillips is said to have matured and evolved, but the red flags still could push him down some boards, especially with some more conservative teams. It will take a GM with conviction (and perhaps job security) to sign off on using a first-round pick on Phillips.
Assuming he answers those questions, there’s no reason to think he can’t develop into a prototypical edge rusher and continue building off his explosive 2020 season.
Did you know: Phillips’ grandfather, Jon Robertson, is a world-renowned pianist and conductor who ran the music department at UCLA. Music always has been a big part of Phillips’ life. When he initially gave up football, Phillips enrolled at Los Angeles City College, studying music and dreaming of becoming a producer and rap artist.
“During my recovery I had to seriously think about what I wanted to pursue outside of football, and music was really what I found myself drawn to. I realized that I wanted to pursue a full-time career in music and wanted to get the proper training,” Phillips said.
Player comp: Phillips has some Jadevon Clowney-like qualities to him.
Expected draft range: Top-40 pick
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2021 NFL draft: Miami's Jaelan Phillips looks like a 1st-round star, but character, medical issues could cause slide
Our countdown of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft continues with No. 18 overall — the Canes' supremely gifted pass rusher who must answer questions about health and character.
2021 NFL draft: Miami's Jaelan Phillips looks like a 1st-round star, but character, medical issues could cause slide
18. Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips
6-foot-6, 260 pounds
Yahoo Sports draft grade: 6.07 — possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report: Phillips might be the best edge-rush talent in the 2021 class, but medical, character concerns must be thoroughly vetted
Games watched: Louisville (2020), Florida State (2020), Clemson (2020), Virginia (2020), Pitt (2020)
The skinny: A 5-star Rivals recruit (No. 6 nationally in 2017, ahead of 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young), Phillips committed to UCLA and enrolled there early. As a freshman, he played in seven games (four starts) and made 21 tackles (seven for losses), 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups, as his season was cut short by an ankle injury and a concussion.
In January 2018, he was hit by a car while on a scooter, suffering a wrist injury that lingered. Phillips played in four games (two starts) that UCLA season, making 20 tackles and one sack but missed the remainder of the season with another concussion.
Phillips announced that he was retiring from football following the second concussion, but changed his mind and transferred to Miami, sitting out the 2019 season.
In 2020, he made 45 tackles (15.5 for losses), eight sacks, four pass breakups and an interception, earning second-team AP All-American and second-team All-ACC mention. Phillips skipped the Hurricanes’ bowl game and declared early for the 2021 draft.
Upside: Elite traits for the position — great height, weight distribution and long wingspan (80 3/4 inches). Tested through the roof at Miami’s pro day, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash (with a great 10-yard split: 1.59), 36-inch vertical jump, 125-inch broad jump, 4.18-second short shuttle and 7.13-second 3-cone drill.
Ideal combination of athleticism and length. Has the kind of frame and athleticism to drop a few pounds or add mass and play multiple techniques with his hand on the ground. Naturally fluid and smooth mover with high-end burst and twitch.
Might have been the best EDGE in the country down the stretch in 2020 — talent finally arrived. Logged 36 total pressures in his final seven games. Had 6.5 sacks in his final four games before opting out. We got a glimpse of a former elite recruit with tremendous upside.
Displays a lightning first step off the ball. Showed cornering ability on the edge. Outstanding closing ability. Generates some speed to power as a rusher. Loose hips and ankles to take sharp angles to the ball. Uses his hands and his length to get tackles off-balance and render their punches ineffective. Loops well inside on stunts and twists.
Good diagnostic skills vs. the run. Generally sees the action in front of him and makes quick adjustments. Handles option-game responsibilities well. Edge-setting potential with his length, quickness, power potential and desire. Will stack some bigger tackles and detach from blocks. Can funnel plays back inside for his teammates to clean up. Rarely on the ground — keeps a good base and maintains his balance.
Motor runs hot — plays with passion and energy. Makes plays downfield and from the backside. Looked reborn in a new setting. Outstanding all-around potential — could be an All-Pro if he puts it all together.
Downside: Worrisome medical history — NFL teams looked hard at hand, ankle and wrist injuries. The wrist required multiple procedures and could be a chronic worry. Multiple concussions are concerning — at least three that we know of. UCLA doctors advised him to medically retire late in 2018.
Inexperienced — fewer than 1,000 career snaps. Really only a one-year producer. Took a few games in 2020 to get his sea legs underneath him. Rushed almost exclusively from the left side in 2020. Not an enormous amount of versatility to his game. Wasn’t used a ton on special teams.
Needs to add strength to his core and lower body. Still will struggle to muscle through to set the edge. Arm length (33 1/4 inches) and hand size (9 3/4 inches) are merely average. Bench-press total (21 reps) on the low side, too.
Still developing a pass-rush arsenal — gets slowed if his initial move stymied and could use some countermeasures. Spin move looks methodical. Plays with occasionally sloppy hands and can lose battles before they really start. Should be a better inside-counter rusher — potential there but needs to be unlocked.
Gets upright and gives blockers too big a target at times. Tips his pass-rush moves. Won’t be able to rely solely on his get-off quickness and needs to add polish and technique to his game. Let his passion run over vs. FSU, flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct (one for kicking an opponent’s helmet that had come off) and ejected early in the second quarter.
Has some character concerns that NFL people wanted answers for, digging on the details of why he flamed out at UCLA. Former Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr., who recruited and coached Phillips, recently downplayed his concussion history and said that “there were other factors at play that led to him leaving UCLA.” Miami coaches said they were pleased with Phillips’ work, but his past still stands as an issue for some NFL clubs.
Best-suited destination: Without the medical and character concerns, Phillips might be the best defensive prospect in the entire 2021 class. He has the length, athleticism, burst and power to be a high-end pass rusher.
Phillips is said to have matured and evolved, but the red flags still could push him down some boards, especially with some more conservative teams. It will take a GM with conviction (and perhaps job security) to sign off on using a first-round pick on Phillips.
Assuming he answers those questions, there’s no reason to think he can’t develop into a prototypical edge rusher and continue building off his explosive 2020 season.
Did you know: Phillips’ grandfather, Jon Robertson, is a world-renowned pianist and conductor who ran the music department at UCLA. Music always has been a big part of Phillips’ life. When he initially gave up football, Phillips enrolled at Los Angeles City College, studying music and dreaming of becoming a producer and rap artist.
“During my recovery I had to seriously think about what I wanted to pursue outside of football, and music was really what I found myself drawn to. I realized that I wanted to pursue a full-time career in music and wanted to get the proper training,” Phillips said.
Player comp: Phillips has some Jadevon Clowney-like qualities to him.
Expected draft range: Top-40 pick
Between the injuries and "aspiring music producer", that summary scares the shit out of me. Odds are massive regret if any team takes him in the first round.
natedagg
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Like really. We already had an aspiring music producer from the U on our team. Fuck thät.
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I shrugged off all the red flags with Chad Thomas because he was a mid-third round pick. I didn't like it at the time, but a true 4-3 end with that size is rare.
Now we are talking about a first round pick with even more red flags.
Nope.
2021 NFL draft: Michigan's Kwity Paye is an elite athlete, but what's his upside?
Our countdown of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft continues with No. 16 overall — a promising rusher who could use some refinement.
2021 NFL draft: Michigan's Kwity Paye is an elite athlete, but what's his upside?
16. Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye
6-foot-3, 261 poundsYahoo Sports draft grade: 6.10 — possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report: Twitchy edge rusher with a white-hot motor; a high-floor prospect but one in need of some pass-rush schooling
Games watched: Iowa (2020), Alabama (2019), Minnesota (2020), Indiana (2020), Penn State (2020)
The skinny: A 3-star Rivals recruit, Paye committed to the Wolverines and saw action in nine games as a true freshman, making five tackles (1.5 for losses) and one sack. In 2018, he made 29 tackles (5.5 for losses), two sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble in 13 games (four starts). Paye started 11 of 12 games in 2019, making 50 tackles (12 for losses), 6.5 sacks and one fumble recovery, earning second-team All-Big Ten. As a team captain in 2020, he started four games (missing two with injury) and made 16 tackles (four for losses) and two sacks as Michigan had three games canceled. Paye received an invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl but declined it.
Upside: Tremendous athletic prowess. Explosive ability with a twitchy lower half. Displays some excellent quickness, agility and change-of-direction skills. Finishing speed and quickness evident. Great upper-body power. Thickly developed lower body. Big hands (10 inches).
Terrific pro day workout results — namely in the 40-yard dash (4.57 seconds), vertical jump (35 1/2 inches) and broad jump (118 inches). Also repped out an outstanding 36 bench-press reps — with 33-inch arms. Former prep track star who was a state champ in the 4x100 relay (he ran anchor) and long jump, as well as a standout in the shotput and 100 meters.
Wasn’t even able to display near-legendary 3-cone drill skills — he opted out of that and the short shuttle because of a quadriceps injury — after previously recording a stunning 6.37-second time. (For reference, no edge rusher has ever bettered a 6.75 at the NFL scouting combine.)
Gives max effort every snap, it seems. High-motor player who seldom gives up on plays. Possess great late-rush potential — doesn’t stall when initial move is stymied. Racks up backside pursuit plays. Wears down opposing tackles with his drive and energy. Forces opponents to bring their best.
Strong run defender. Maintains good pad level — low-cut and doesn’t make himself easy to block. Sets a good, hard edge despite lacking ideal length. Uses strong hands well to gain early advantages. Plays with good leverage vs. the run. Works laterally well to string plays outside and make tackles from the backside. Played on the boundary often for his athletic traits. Can beat up tight ends all day.
Pass-rush potential to be unlocked. Explosiveness off the snap gives him a natural edge to make strides. Speed-to-power rushes could be his calling card. Goes right after the tackle’s outside shoulder and can exploit oversetters. Had some exciting flashes in 2019 tape. Effective on loops and stunts vs. slower interior blockers.
High-floor prospect. Hard worker with determination to better his craft. Accountable and reliable — effort doesn’t waver when times get tough. Versatile enough — lined up at both edge spots (two- and three-point stances) and inside (even as a nose tackle) and occasionally dropped in short zones.
Downside: Better tester than player right now — film still shows some rawness and undeveloped traits. Turned in a better season in 2019 than in 2020 (because of injuries and canceled games). So-so career production — 11.5 sacks, one forced fumble in 38 games. Lacks ideal experience — 19 career starts and just over 1,300 defensive snaps.
Still developing his instincts — more of a read-and-react player. Can look out of sorts vs. misdirection and option looks. Tries to win more with natural athleticism than technique. Good for about one missed tackle per game.
Pass-rush skills remain a bit crude. Doesn’t set up blockers well enough. Lacks counters and creativity in his rush plan. Won’t get away with the straight bull rushes in the NFL that he defaulted to so often in college. Not quite as loose-hipped as you’d imagine for his athletic traits — has trouble carving the edge. Was often left single-blocked outside.
Lack of ideal length for the position. Arms are on the shorter side at 33 inches and doesn’t do much to disrupt passing windows. Could take a better upfield rush approach to negate lack of length.
Projection prospect with work to be done. Requires more coaching and seasoning to coax out his max potential. Battled nagging injuries throughout his career despite only missing a handful of games. Limited special-teams experience or obvious value.
Best-suited destination: Paye’s athletic traits make him a scheme-versatile player who could be tried in a stand-up rush role or allowed to attack on either side. His role in Year 1 might be relegated to rotational rusher, but Paye has starter potential in time and should profile as no worse than a solid starter with his raw traits and exciting athleticism.
Did you know: There have been 39 players born in Rhode Island in NFL history, per Pro Football Reference, including a few fairly well-known ones of yore such as former Houston Oilers kicker Al Del Greco.
The last Rhode Island-born player in the league was former cornerback and returner Will Blackmon, who saw time in 15 games for Washington in 2016. Paye and Blackmon actually attended the same high school, Bishop Hendricken Catholic, too.
However, Paye was actually born in a refugee camp in the West African republic of Guinea after his mother, Agnes, fled her home state of Liberia, which was in the midst of civil war at the time. Paye actually never has met his father, Leroy George, who remains in Liberia to this day.
Paye was brought to the United States before his first birthday, as the family settled in Rhode Island back in 1999.
Player comp: Brian Orakpo
Expected draft range: First-round pick
blommen
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wrt the music, it’s a bit more complicated.
after Philips had his last concussion, he was forced to retiré by his school, due their specific regulations regarding concussions. He had to find another field of study and was a year into it when he got a Call from a different College offering him a spot on their football team which led to Miami reaching out and offering him a roster spot.
Phillips didn’t want to retire and the moment he got a chance to get back to the game he took it.
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