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

[sportscoach]

@adam81king is on the clock @PITCavsFan in on deck and @AZ_ is in the hole!

 

[adam81king]

@adam81king is on the clock @PITCavsFan in on deck and @AZ_ is in the hole!

I'm outside with the family, and as much as I'd like to see how long I can go before getting railed like @sportscoach, I'll announce the pick now and update with a writeup later.

With the 86th pick in the RCF NFL Draft, the New York Football Jets select:

TYLAN WALLACE
5'11" WR out of Oklahoma State.

Writeup to come later.

I offered Sam Darnold to @PITCavsFan for #87 just now, but he hasn't responded. He's on the clock, though.

 

[PITCavsFan]

With the 87th pick in the RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select

Josh Myers, C, THE Ohio State University

Friday night...gonna keep this brief.

Steelers replace long-time starting C Maurkice Pouncey with what will hopefully be long-time starting C Josh Myers.

Draft so far:
1.) Najee Harris
2.) Samuel Cosmi
3.) Josh Myers

Steelers continue to go against their own DNA and focus on offense in the first 3 rounds...heavily on the OL. My focus for the Steelers is to:
1.) give Ben one (possibly two - yes, is a story this week) more productive year(s)
2.) build a running game, supporting 1st round pick Najee(kiss my ass) Harris
3.) have an established OL for the QB heir in 1-2 years

Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State

RS Junior, 6'5", 312 lbs

thedraftnetwork.com

Josh Myers projects as a starting center at the NFL level—but his fit is going to be dependent on the key responsibilities his offense requires of him to execute. Myers is a big-bodied center with a pleasant level of lateral mobility to play along the line of scrimmage, but he lacks the dynamic short-area quickness to consistently win isolated reps climbing to the second level or pulling and working out in front of plays that stretch to the boundary. Myers, with his boxy frame, is best suited to work in the phone booth. This isn’t to say he can’t work wide zone concepts or climb off of double teams to pick off linebackers, but he’s not an overly dynamic player in space at this point and his lack of balance and control on the B-level of the defense will allow crafty defenders to take advantage and test him to shoot gaps and attack the front. Myers is predominantly a right-handed shotgun snapper, but he has been given reps at OSU that allow him to snap to a quarterback under center and he’s handled those situations well in short yardage. Myers’ functional athleticism may cap his ceiling as a player, but he’s got the build and strength in his game to serve as an average starter at the pro level. If he’s able to uncover some additional quickness, he could become a more scheme-diverse target for the 2021 NFL Draft and his ceiling could grow; though that would likely require some reworking of his body composition.

Ideal Role: NFL starting center.

Scheme Fit: Inside zone heavy rushing offense; passing offense with high-volume shotgun formations.

 

[AZ_]

Jags taking Tommy Togiai

At the beach, no write up.

1 - Trevor Lawrence
2 - Joseph Ossai
2 - Tommy Tremble
2 - Elijah Moore
3 - Richie Grant
3 - Tommy Togiai

@Hurl Bruce and the Browns on the clock.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Gimme a minute,. I was going to take Tommy T.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

With the 89th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the CLEVELAND BROWNS select:

Jay Tufele, DL, USC

Born: July 25, 1999 (age 21 years), Utah
Weight: 315 lbs
Height: 6′ 3″

STRENGTHS: Solidly built with broad shoulders…balanced mover with short-area quickness to elude or play through contact…flashes efficient arm-over and violent rip moves…able to pry his way into the backfield once he gets under the edge…strong at the point-of-attack and puts down roots to anchor in the run game…uses quickness to beat cut-off blocks…active hands and plays with a fully charged battery…his effort is consistent, chasing plays down with athleticism near the numbers…the coaches heap praise on him for his mature work ethic at such a young age…his production steadily increased from his freshman to sophomore season.

WEAKNESSES: Plays quick, but needs to show better control in his rush setup and execution…undeveloped shed skills and late to attack gaps if he doesn’t win with his first-step quickness…can get stuck on blocks and moved from lanes…attempts to battle through double teams with toughness over technique…relies more on effort than instincts and needs to develop his feel for blocking schemes…overeager play style leads to tall pads and missed tackles in the backfield…only two years of playing experience at the college level after opting out of the 2020 season.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at USC, Tufele lined up at three-technique in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s multiple front, playing mostly over the B-gap. Despite not playing in 2020 as an opt-out, he looked like an ascending disruptor on his 2019 film, although he was more of a flash player and needs continued development. With his rugby background, Tufele competes with the physical violence and body control to work his way through gaps and put heat on the pocket. While he plays strong, he doesn’t consistently play with the power to create knockback or overwhelm blockers through their numbers. Overall, Tufele needs to develop his feel as a pass rusher and block shedder, but he is quick off the ball with impressive balance and a motor that runs hot. He projects as an NFL three technique with starting tools. GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 78 overall)

The Browns can use depth up front and Tufele will be a solid rotational guy for the team. I also have no idea what I'm doing, so this may be a garbage pick.

@Falb7 is on the clock.

 

[Falb7]

With the 90th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the MINNESOTA VIKINGS select:

Kyle Trask, QB Florida

Analysis: Kirk Cousins, despite the hefty money due his way is not getting any younger and the cliff could come very soon. It's time to start thinking about life after him and a quality value falls into the Vikings' laps. Jake Browning currently serves as our backup and before Cousins moves on, Trask could be served well learning from him as Kirk's backup.Bandied about as a Heisman candidate at points through the 2020 season, Trask is worth the lottery ticket investment in the 3rd round and with the right coaching and surroundings could one day become a quality NFL starter. With 43 TD vs. 8 INT this last season, you wont find many statistical profiles over a given season that match Trask's. Minnesota feels like Cousins that Trask can deliver with strong accuracy on short and intermediate passes. When he can get his feet set with a clean pocket, he can throws a pretty ball downfield. We feel he has the potential to clean some things up, become more polished, and really deliver on some great throws.



Positives: Smart, accurate pocket passer who displayed consistent progress in his game through the years. Patient, remains poised as the pocket collapses around him, and consistently scans the field going through progressions. Senses the rush, moves outside the pocket to buy time, and throws with a fluid over over-the-top delivery. Locates the open wideout and goes to the safe, underneath outlet if necessary.

Consistently keeps his eyes downfield and distributes the ball using all his targets. Consistently identifies the open wideout, anticipates where his receivers will be, and hits targets in stride. Accurate and does not make pass catchers work hard based on his ability to place throws. Effective setting up screen throws. Does a great job commanding and controlling the offense.

Negatives: Not a mobile or elusive quarterback. Slow and ineffective on designed quarterback runs. Possesses solid arm strength but not big-time arm talent.

Analysis: Trask is a traditional pocket passer with great vision, instincts, and wherewithal. He’s accurate with a terrific sense for what’s happening on the field, but the lack of foot quickness and leg speed limits him to just a few offensive systems.

(profootballnetwork.com)



The Cleveland Browns and @Hurl Bruce are back on the clock at pick 91.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

With the 91st pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the CLEVELAND BROWNS select:

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

• 
  
• HT/WT
  5' 10", 210 lbs
  
  
  
• STRENGTHS: Compact, stout frame and looks like a running back with the ball in his hands…outstanding play strength, forcing tacklers to fall off him (nine broken tackles in 2020)…strong hands-catcher, spearing away from his body or scooping the ball off his shoe tops…fluid body control to make easy adjustments on the ball…uses start/stop quickness to snap at the stem or shake defenders after the catch…shows the acceleration and gear-change to win vertically…excellent field awareness, toe-tapping the sideline/backline…described as a “master of the details” by former Clemson offensive coordinator Jeff Scott…spent the past three seasons as the team’s featured punt returner, scoring one touchdown (70/529/1)…toughness isn’t a question mark, often feasting over the middle and attacking defenders as a blocker…strong football ties in his family…already prepares and works like a professional (returned from his 2019 ACL injury in 166 days).
• 
  
• WEAKNESSES: Unimpressive height/length…doesn’t have a high win rate on contested catches…more drops than you want to see for a player with his hand strength (five drops in 2020)…most of his college targets came underneath or on horizontal routes (11.8 yards per catch)…only half (53.2%) of his 2020 receptions resulted in a first down or touchdown…hard-nosed blocker, but needs to improve in this area to better sustain at contact…medicals will be important after tearing the ACL in his right knee (March 2019).
• 
  
• SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Clemson, Rodgers lined up primarily in the slot in offensive coordinator Tony Elliott’s shotgun spread scheme, moving around the formation and thriving on quick targets (screens, sweeps, etc.). He was Trevor Lawrence’s favorite receiver in 2020 and finished his career No. 6 in school history with 181 catches. Rodgers is very natural catching the ball in stride and seamlessly becoming a ball carrier, and there is a rumble pack on the clicker when you watch his tape because you feel his play strength and toughness. He has elusive feet to shake defenders and settle in zones, but he still requires maturation as a downfield route runner. Overall, Rodgers might struggle to win on the outside vs. NFL corners, but he is a cranked-up competitor with the play strength, instincts and acceleration similar to Deebo Samuel. He projects as a versatile starting slot receiver with special teams skills.
• The Browns can use some more explosiveness on offense and depth in the WR room for when OBJ and Juice are no longer with us. Again, I have no idea what I'm doing, so this may be a garbage pick.
  
  @Jordan on the clock.
  
  

 

[Jordan]

With the 92nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team select, Ben Cleveland, OG/C, Georgia:

Ben Cleveland is a giant. Literally. Weighing in at 6'6 and 354 pounds, there are not many NFL players that have his raw strength or body mass. Cleveland does what you expect well: he is a bully who does not get overpowered, is lethal when he can double-team in a ZBS, and is really solid on runs down the middle. He also does things well that are modestly surprising: he is a good pass blocker and excelled in wide-zone at Georgia, largely because he is very intelligent.

With that said, Cleveland also is poor at doing things that, well, are also not surprising. If he cannot figure out an exotic pass rush pre-snap, he tends to be gone around fairly easily. Cleveland also has clearly been taught to use his greatest strength at all moments and, therefore, he tries to pancake guys rather than sustain blocks way too frequently.

Overall, the raw physical strength exists for Cleveland to become a stud offensive guard. The problem is that, while intelligent at reading plays, he is not football savvy enough to overcome detriments of a large size. He is a high-upside project who we hope, after a year of learning, can help take over for Wes Schweitzer. Between Christian Barmore and Ben Cleveland, we believe that the Washington Football Team has true anchors for executing and controlling interior pass rush and run stopping.

For game tape, watch #74 for Georgia.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Well, this is the pick I was saving for the 49ers but since Paulson Adebo is off the board...

With the 93rd pick in the fake NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select:

Keith Taylor, CB, Washington

• Height: 6’2 3/8″
• Weight: 191 pounds
• Wingspan: 76 1/8″
• Arms: 31″
• Hands: 9 1/2″

As you can see from this gif, he has disruptive speed and size. A former four star recruit out of California who was overshadowed in his college career by Elijah Molden and Tyler Rapp. The biggest knock on Taylor is never intercepting a pass in his three years as a starter. Often, his sticky defense led to interceptions for his other well known future pro teammates. An accomplished high school track star, he worked on his speed setting a personal best of 10.89 seconds in the 100 meters. As a three year starter, he made conaistent plays breaking up passes and making the physical, sure tackle. In the Senior Bowl, the senior cornerback put on an impressive show:


Near the end of the Senior Bowl broadcast, Daniel Jeremiah had this to say:

"I don't know that I remember a better game from a corner in an all-star game than what (Washington CB Keith) Taylor Jr.'s done today," Jeremiah said. "He's been outstanding. He's just been in position every time."

Why Taylor for the Bills?

This draft has been all about creating competition at the Bills weakest positions. I took Tryon to compete with Epenesa and Davis to compete with Cody Ford.

Levi Wallace is the starting outside corner opposite Tre'Davious White, and he's an undrafted jag. Keith Taylor has the size, speed and technique to take his job.

 

[Randolphkeys]

@Coyote850 PMed his selection to me:

The Kansas City Chiefs select: Rashad Weaver, Edge, Pitt. I'm expecting a delayed write up when Coyote has a spare minute tomorrow.

@TopGun is on the clock with Tampa Bay.

 

[TopGun]

With the 95th Overall Pick in the 2021 RealCavsFans Mock Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select:

Jordan Smith - EDGE - UAB



Reasoning: Smith is an athletic and relentless pass rusher that lacks the strength to play on the end in a 4-man front. However, he seems to have all of the traits to develop into a starting level rush LB behind a 3-man front. Having re-signed Shaq Barrett to a short-term deal and having an aging JPP on his opposite side, Smith would get some spot snaps in 2021 while learning and developing behind two formidable players at his position.

Pro-Day Results:

Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 264 lbs
40-Yd dash: 4.80
Vertical: 33"
Broad Jump: 9' 9"

After being dismissed from the University of Florida as a freshman for his participation in a credit card fraud scheme, Smith transferred to a JUCO for a year before moving to UAB. He played two seasons with UAB and finished with 89 tackles (23.5 for loss), 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Strengths (per NFL.com)

• Freaky length with outstanding flexibility.
• Plays with a good motor.
• Long-strider who chops up space quick to the edge.
• Able to flip hips and use long levers to pull himself around rush edge.
• Possesses adequate spin-counter to work with.
• Sneaky bull-rush potential with more work and strength.

The Draft Network: Smith’s blend of size, length, effort, and athleticism makes him an appealing edge defender at the next level that best fits in a base 3-4 defense that incorporates hybrid fronts. With that said, there is some notable rawness to his game when it comes to having a rush plan, deploying pass rush moves, and processing. Smith is a highly appealing piece of moldable clay, but there is plenty of room for him to grow and he’ll need to in order to become an impact playmaker in the NFL on every down and not just a situational guy. At the end of the day, Smith’s toolbox is loaded and has a chance to be a steal in the right situation.

@CBBI and the New England Patriots are on the clock.

 

[CBBI]

With the 96th pick in the 2011 RCF Mock Draft, the New England Patriots select...

Amon-Ra St. Brown
Wide Receiver
USC



From Dane Brugler: A three-year starter at USC, St. Brown was the X receiver in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s spread scheme, lining up inside and outside on the left of the formation. Considered one of the most refined high school receivers in the modern era, he made an immediate impact and finished his career No. 11 in USC history with 178 receptions. Despite average size, he can play above the rim and be a ball winner, adjusting to the ball in flight and contorting his frame. Though he has the foot quickness to uncover, his separation windows will be much smaller vs. NFL coverage. Overall, St. Brown won’t strike fear in the hearts of opponents with speed or suddenness, but he is ultra-competitive with the body control and polish to be a reliable NFL target. He projects best in the slot.

From Lance Zierlein: Has been both an inside and outside receiver over the last two seasons, but might lack the speed and strength to make a living outside at the pro level. Despite average foot quickness, St. Brown will vary his press release and displays polish as a route-runner from the slot. He's unlikely to gain consistent vertical separation but has above-average tracking talent and body control to improve his chances for success. His focus drops underneath are a concern and his run blocking can be woeful at times. There is nothing dazzling about his athletic profile or overall game, but he's a solid football player with a chance to become a starting slot in the future.

Why did the Patriots make this pick? THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS ARE SLOT WR HEAVEN. JOSHIE BOY MCDANIELS IS GONNA MAKE ASB THE NEXT WES WELKER/JULIAN EDELMAN. IN FACT, SCRATCH THAT, AMON-RA ST. BROWN IS GOING TO BE A COMBINATION OF WELKER *AND* EDELMAN AND ULTIMATELY ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATEST SLOT WRS IN PATRIOTS (AND ERGO LEAGUE) HISTORY.

@Out of the Rafters at the Q is on the clock.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

With the 97th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select CORNELL POWELL, Wide Receiver, Clemson.

We are happy to take advantage of the extremely deep wide receiver class by snagging a true second-round talent in the late third. Cornell Powell has every trait you can ask for in a wide out. He's tough, gets open, has enough speed, wins deep, tracks the ball exceptionally well, and is by far the best run blocking wide receiver in the draft, and one of the best run blocking WR prospects in a long time. Powell is lower on draft boards because of his late breakout, but I judge a player off what he is now, and can do for me in the future--not what he did in the past. Powell has strong hands, comes back to the ball, attacks it in the air, and gives Justin Herbert another great target to throw to.

@Stark and the New Orleans Saints are on the clock.

 

[PIP]

Just hate seeing Kyle Trask go before the Browns selection... Want a young, quality backup