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

[Randolphkeys]

With the #155th pick of the fake 2021 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select:

Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee
Height: 6'1
Weight: 210
Arms: 32.875
Hands: 9.625

Josh Palmer Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Josh Palmer

www.nfl.com

Strengths

• Nearly 70 percent of his catches went for a first down.
• Uses pad and hip sink for quicker breaks.
• Will give what he gets against physical corners inside route.
• Comes out of turns with tight angles.
• Partitions defender away from the catch point.
• Catches the point of the football with adequate hand extension.
• Works to maintain field leverage for bucket throws to the boundary.
• Has ball-tracking and body control of an NFL wideout.
• Graceful and fluid in mid-air.
• Settles into favorable angles for his quarterback versus zone.
• Built and skilled for contested catches.
• Beat up UGA cornerbacks for 27- and 36-yard touchdowns over the top.

Weaknesses

• Production doesn't always match the tape.
• Never hit 500 receiving yards or five touchdowns in a single season.
• Only one career game with 100-plus yards receiving.
• A little slow firing up the field off the snap.
• Will wear press coverage for the first five yards.
• Burst out of breaks doesn't create much separation.
• Pro cornerbacks will be able to stay in phase with deep routes.
• Slow finding run-after-catch acceleration.

Why is he a match for the Niners?

Palmer was one of the biggest winners coming out of the Senior Bowl practices. According to Micheal Renner of Pro Football Focus: "His 81% win rate was the highest of any outside receiver at the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl one-on-ones." This performance in drills pushed Palmer up to Renner's #71 prospect in the entire 2021 draft. Coach Kyle Shanahan places a premium on wide receivers, and Palmer slides into the Kendrick Bourne role of frequently used possession receiver.

@Jack Brickman is on the clock with the Dolphins.

 

[Surge]

Palmer is one of my sleepers for this draft. I had placed a couple offers for trades to move up for him. Great pick Keys.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Palmer is one of my sleepers for this draft. I had placed a couple offers for trades to move up for him. Great pick Keys.

I have a few players targeted who just blew up the Senior Bowl. I gave the top cornerback from the Senior Bowl to the Bills, I saved Palmer for the Niners. I think they will both go on Day Two of the actual draft.

 

[Jack Brickman]

With the 156th pick in the RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins select...

Chris Rumph II, EDGE, Duke​

I see Rumph as a high-upside athletic prospect that performed well in college who needs to find a true position in the pros, which is exactly the type of guy you take this late in the draft and gamble that your coaching staff can figure it out. And given that Miami's coaching staff seems to have a knack for getting the most out of their defense, this seems like a great fit for the kid.

Here's what NFL.com had to say about him:

"Rumph redshirted his first year with the Blue Devils following a strong two years playing football at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, where he twice earned first-team all-state honors. Rumph got one start in 13 games in 2018, garnering USA Today first-team Freshman All-American honors (25 tackles, eight for loss, three sacks). Despite coming off the bench in all 12 games for Duke in 2019, league coaches thought enough of Rumph's pass-rushing ability to name him third-team all-conference. He posted 47 tackles, 13.5 for loss, with 6.5 sacks, and three pass breakups for the Blue Devils. Rumph garnered second-team All-ACC honors in 2020 after leading Duke with 12.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks among his 53 total stops in 11 starts. Rumph's father played linebacker at South Carolina and coached for many years at the collegiate level before taking the Houston Texans' outside linebacker coach job in 2020. He is currently the Chicago Bears' defensive line coach -- by Chad Reuter

Rumph is more of a litmus test than a prospect with a defined position. As a 3-4 outside linebacker, teams will worry about his edge-setting power. As a designated pass rusher, teams could have a hard time pinpointing his draft value. That said, if a team sees him as an explosive athlete with a knack for finding the pocket, it will draft the talent and figure out the rest. There is no question that his lean frame and lack of play strength will cause him to take some bad losses, but that shouldn't overshadow his ability to make plays on the other side of the line despite his strength deficiencies. He's an instinctive rusher with the skill and traits to win outside or inside and can activate a long-arm bull rush from a position of leverage from time to time. He has the talent to play off the ball on occasion as a chase linebacker and can be activated as a rusher from a variety of entry points to further stress the protection. There is some boom/bust in his projection, but I see an ascending NFL rush talent."

Strengths

• Unwilling to give in or give up as a pass rusher.
• Long strides gain ground quickly to the top of the rush.
• Submarines under outside hand and flattens to the quarterback.
• Lateral quickness creates havoc on twists and inside counters.
• Oily in upper and lower body for explosive flips past blockers.
• Secondary motor and scramble range lead to sacks.
• Challenges blocks with inside hands.
• Punch lands with full extension to stay clean.
• Wiggly working into gaps as penetrator.
• Burst to walk down wide-flowing run plays.
• Father is a long-time football coach.

Weaknesses

• Lacks desired weight for edge duties against the run.
• Thin hips with lack of mass in his legs.
• Plays tall with narrow base affecting contact balance.
• Too many mistimed snaps and offside penalties.
• Landed punch discombobulates rush plan.
• Needs better strength to get to his power counters.
• Below-average hand force to grease the edge.
• Lost sacks due to lack of finishing strength.

@Falb7 and the Vikings are on the clock!

 

[Falb7]

With the 157th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma

Height: 5'11
Weight: 231



Analysis: The Vikings add a battering ram of a runner to its backfield, helping spell Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison as a potential goal line back and injury fill-in. Despite the bulky frame, Stevenson also runs remarkably light on his feet with low pad level and one-cut burst which is suitable for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's zone run scheme.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic:

BACKGROUND: Rhamondre Stevenson started playing football at the Pop Warner level and attended Las Vegas’ Centennial High School. He had a breakout season as a junior with 171 carries for 1,457 rushing yards (8.5 average) and 19 touchdowns, earning First Team All-State and several Player of the Year honors. Stevenson was on pace for another productive season as a senior before suffering a broken foot, which sidelined him for most of the 2015 season. A three-star running back recruit out of high school, Stevenson received scholarship offers from FBS programs like Kansas State and Middle Tennessee State, but most programs backed off due to his poor academic record. Unable to meet NCAA qualifications, he sat out the 2016 season and didn’t attend school. Stevenson enrolled at Cerritos College, a junior college in Norwalk, Calif., where he served as the backup running back in 2017. He became the starter in 2018 and set the school record with 2,111 rushing yards (191.9 rushing yards per game), which was the second-most in a season in California Community College history. A three-star JUCO recruit, Stevenson was the No. 2 ranked JUCO running back and committed to Oklahoma over offers from Texas, USC and others. He accepted his invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Big athlete with natural run balance and the feet of a much smaller back…very little wasted motion in his cuts…picks up his feet to jump cut between gaps or slalom around pursuit…accelerates well off his plant foot to reach his top speed quickly…presses the line before making backside cuts…improved block recognition since he arrived in Norman…sports a compact, muscular frame…covers up the ball and churns his legs through contact with low pads…soft hands as a
receiver and adjusts well to throws outside his frame…minimal wear and tear in college with under 200 touches at the FBS level…highly productive when on the field, averaging 7.2 yards per carry at Oklahoma.

Vikings haul: T Orlando Brown (acquired from BAL), S Trevon Moehrig, QB Kyle Trask, LB Cameron McGrone, WR Tutu Atwell, LB Justin Hilliard, G David Moore, RB Rhamondre Stevenson

My old pal @CBBI is on the block with the New England Patriots.

 

[CBBI]

With the 158th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the New England Patriots select...

JACOB HARRIS
TE/WR
UCF



From Dane Brugler: Harris plays with controlled burst and long strides to challenge defensive backs, flashing potential to run the full tight end route tree. In order to make it at the next level, he must improve his focus and finish as both a pass-catcher and blocker. Overall, Harris faces obvious growing pains and is older than ideal for a developmental prospect, but his blend of size and athleticism is rare and his special teams skills will keep him on an NFL roster as he develops. Several teams view him as a tight end while others grade him at wide receiver.

From Lance Zierlein: Under-the-radar wideout with elite size and dangerous speed. Harris has inside/outside experience and offers the potential to threaten coverage as a matchup talent. Cornerbacks tend to fall asleep on his long, smooth strides and he gets by them before they know it. While his size and speed will be alluring, his consistency as a pass catcher could be a concern. Harris hasn't developed a feel for utilizing body positioning to help him win more contested catches and his ability to correct that issue could be the difference between becoming a productive pro or just an explosive athlete.



Why: HE'S FAST AS FUCK BOI

15. MAC JONES, QB, Alabama
46. NICK BOLTON, LB, Missouri
96. AMON-RA ST. BROWN, WR, USC
120. KENNETH GAINWELL, RB, Memphis
139. DEONTE BROWN, OG, Alabama
158. JACOB HARRIS, TE/WR, UCF

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

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

With back-to-back picks, the Chargers are just going BPA.

Even though it's their third WR of the draft, Trevon Grimes, WR Florida is now a Bolt. Joining him will be Khalil Herbert, RB Virginia Tech.

What does Trevon Grimes bring to the Chargers?​

Trevon Grimes is an intriguing case study. His production was never more than average. However, he managed to carve out a specific niche in his senior season as a deep threat and a red zone specialist. Grimes scored a touchdown on almost 25% of his receptions, and he logged 15.5 yards per catch.

The stats shed light on Grimes’ best traits. He’s a spectacular athlete with late-4.4 speed, despite measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. He also has solid vertical athleticism, as he frequently displays downfield. Grimes also has the body control and ball tracking ability to capitalize on his athleticism, making him a dangerous player in the deep third.

Grimes’ contested catch ability expands off of his fundamental traits. The Florida wide receiver has the bounce to high-point passes, the size to box defenders out, and the play strength to convert more often than not.

What does Khalil Herbert bring to the Chargers?​

Positives: Explosive ball carrier coming off a career campaign. Patiently waits for blocks to develop, runs with balance as well as body control and finds the open lanes. Possesses vision, follows blocks everywhere on the field, and keeps his feet moving. Makes defenders miss in the open field, creates yardage, and keeps plays alive.

Possesses a burst of speed and beats defenders into the open field. Terrific pass catcher extending his hands to make the reception away from his frame. Keeps the play in bounds whenever the ball is in his hands and consistently takes plays north and south. Possesses terrific blocking vision.

Negatives: Not a big ball carrier who moves piles or picks up yardage off initial contact. Lacks true perimeter speed.

Analysis: After toiling as a productive reserve running back for Kansas, Herbert took hold of his opportunity as starter at Virginia Tech and turned in a career year. He’s an explosive multi-purpose back who picks up big chunks of yardage from the line of scrimmage as a ball carrier while also producing as a pass catcher. Herbert is a scheme-specific running back who can start at the next level, giving us a Herbert-Herbert backfield.

@Randolphkeys and the Buffalo Bills are on the clock!

 

[Randolphkeys]

With the 161st pick of the 2021 Fake NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select...

Josh Ball, OT, Marshall
Height: 6'7
Weight: 308
Arms: 35
Hands: 10

Josh Ball Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Josh Ball

www.nfl.com

Strengths
*Desired pro blend of size, length and athletic ability.

*Natural knee-bender with fluid movements.

*Quick, rhythmic pass slides gain proper depth.

*Punch is sudden and snappy.

*Loose hips to recover and run rushers past the pocket.

*First-step quickness to gain positioning advantage in run game.

*Bend and upward strikes create leverage point.

*Can get to all the angles to reach, seal and/or climb.

*Sustains his block with big, strong hands.

*Extra fluid and agile as blocker in space.

*Runs feet through block and is angry finisher.

Weaknesses

*Overly responsive with pass sets and mirroring.

*Needs to work with better inside/out leverage.

*Opens himself up to inside counters.

*Late weight shift to outside foot at the top of his sets.

*Could use more diversity in his punch approach.

*Weight gets too far forward in pass sets.

*Doesn't always center up when fitting into first contact.

*Could use better play strength at point of attack.

Why is Ball right for Buffalo?

Some teams won't touch Ball because of a checkered past. He was a four-star recruit who initially signed and played with Florida State before a 2018 suspension for dating violence started the process of his departure from the school. He capably handled left tackle for a major national program, but a restraining order from his ex-girlfriend bumped Ball to community college and then Marshall. He has experience at both tackles, with a nasty demeanor in the run game. I don't believe the running backs were the reason the Bills struggled running the ball... I blame the line. With a legitimate hot head as the swing tackle, this running game is in much better hands. Down the line, the Bills can let one of their expensive veteran starting tackles leave to save money against the cap.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

With the 162nd Pick in the RCF Mock, the Raiders select:

ISAIAH MCDUFFIE | Boston College LB


STRENGTHS: Active tone-setter because of his play speed and aggressive motor…covers ground with open-field acceleration…makes plays at both sidelines…quick to key and flow, understanding football geometry to stay ahead of blocks…faces up the ball carrier and runs his feet at contact to drive through tackle attempts…smooth weight transfer to turn and run with backs in coverage…has some pop in his upper half to shed tight end blocks…flashes a closing burst as a blitzer…son of a coach and wired right for the position (BC head coach Jeff Hafley: “He’s got the right attitude, the right makeup, the right mentality”)…high-volume tackler, averaging 8.2 tackles per game the last three seasons.

WEAKNESSES: Slightly smaller frame and lacks ideal length or growth potential for the position…struggles to extend and take on climbing blockers…tends to react before reading, leading to wasted steps…will occasionally arrive too hot and needs to stay disciplined as a tackler…struggles to get his head turned to locate in coverage, leading to premature contact downfield…his combative play personality will show itself past the whistle, leading to fouls…missed most of the 2019 season after knee surgery during spring drills.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Boston College, McDuffie played weakside linebacker in head coach Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 base scheme. After missing most of the 2019 season with a knee injury, he returned strong in 2020 and finished fifth in the FBS with 107 total tackles, averaging 9.7 tackles per game. A run-and-hit style defender, McDuffie is an alert, determined chaser who looks to tune up his target. However, he needs to improve in coverage and struggles to match up against climbing blockers with his average size. Overall, McDuffie needs to play with better discipline, but he only knows one speed and flies around the field with a touch of insanity to him. He projects as a special teamer and linebacker depth.

@Jordan and the WFT are next.

 

[Jordan]

With the 163rd pick in the 2021 (Fake) NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team selects Alaric Jackson, Guard, Iowa

You can never have too many interior offensive linemen that can also play as a swing tackle. Jackson likely projects to be a guard in the NFL, has had some injury issues, and has other flaws that make him a long-term prospect. Still, we believe the upside is present.

PROs:
-Great size. 6'5 and 321 pounds.
-Over 1,043 snaps in college, only allowed six sacks and 30 QB pressures.
-Really nice explosion out of his stance. He plays aggressively. It wont work as a tackle, but he absolutely can use that skill as a guard.
-Played in both gap and ZBS at Iowa. Did both well.
-Strong hands are great in the run game.
-After being criticized for a lack of speed, he changed his diet, became a vegan, and put a lot of attention into body composition. Absolutely a hard worker.

CONs:
-Really short arms - 32.5 inches
-Frequently is too aggressive and, at times, he completely blows by his assignment.
-Panics when he has to cover two defensive linemen.
-Only one year of truly strong production.
-Weird hand placement. For as strong as they are, you would expect him to know how to use them better, alas...

In this video, he is playing left tackle and is #77.


@bronko you are up!

 

[bronko]

With the 164th pick in the 2021RCF Mock Draft (thanks Ben), the Chicago Bears, with utmost optimism and grace, select Feleipe Frank, Qb, Arkansas.

Yea, its a reach, but I'm looking at Andy Dalton for the foreseeable future, barring a trade, so we need a developmental guy every year. Frank could play special teams or tight end if qb doesn't work out, so I've got that going for me.

Seriously, he's 6-6, 230, sub 4.6, natural but not exceptional athlete. Experience in pro style offense, he's got a big arm and great deep touch. Beat out Kyle Trask for two years at Florida before an ankle cost him the job and Frank transferred to Arkansas. Improved his accuracy with the Razorbacks, Franks was a top 5 qb out of high school who underachieves. His main flaws involve getting through his reads and its a tough one to overcome. But there's still Andy Dalton.

Feleipe Franks is the most criminally underrated QB in the 2021 NFL Draft

A quarterback this talented is almost never available as late as Feleipe Franks is projected to be available.

www.acmepackingcompany.com

 

[dkbldev]

With the 165th pick in the 2021 NFL mock draft…



The Indianapolis Colts select…

Josh Imatorbhebehe, WR, Illinois

@Amherstcavsfan and the Tennessee Titans are now on the clock

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

In the 2021 fake NFL Draft, the Tenneessee Titans select

Darren Hall, secondary player, San Diego State

Positives: Two-year starter who also saw extensive action as a freshman. Nice-sized cornerback with a knack for breaking up a lot of passes. Quick-footed in reverse, effectively reads and diagnoses plays, and possesses a good burst to the ball. He breaks down well, fights with his hands, and positions himself against receivers to make a play. Gives effort defending the run, firing up the field, and wrapping up ball handlers.

Negatives: Occasionally bites on receivers’ moves, which results in blown assignments. Deep speed is a bit of a concern.

Analysis: Hall decided to enter the draft after two productive campaigns and looked good during Senior Bowl practices. He possesses the size and ball skills to play nickel at the next level, though I believe Hall would be best in zone coverage or backed off the line of scrimmage.

Darren Hall, CB, San Diego State - NFL Draft Player Profile

Can San Diego State cornerback Darren Hall continue the Aztecs' impressive run of draft selections when he heads to the 2021 NFL Draft?

www.profootballnetwork.com

 

[Jack Brickman]

With the 167th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select...

Landon Young, OT, Kentucky​

From NFL.com:

A five-star prospect and top 15 overall recruit nationally, Young decided to sign with his hometown Wildcats. He was a two-time first-team all-state pick at Lexington's Lafayette High School, as well as the state's Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year for his efforts in the discus and shot put. Young also won the state wrestling title at 285 pounds as a senior. He started three of 10 games played at left tackle as a true freshman in 2016, then six of 13 games at that spot his sophomore season. A meniscus injury sidelined him for 2018 but he came back to start all 13 contests in 2019. Young was named the captain of the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his work in the community. The accolades continued to roll in during the 2020 season, as he garnered a first-team All-SEC nod as an 11-game starter at left tackle. -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
Will likely be viewed as a right tackle or could be kicked inside to guard. Young possesses NFL size and strength but his athleticism is average. He plays with good toughness and can handle physical battles that are in front of him, but his waist-bending and inconsistent base tend to create imbalance through contact. He needs to create better block positioning after contact to open running lanes and keep them open. The pass protection fundamentals are good enough, but he will need help against faster, more athletic rushers if teams plan to keep him at tackle.

Strengths

• Good overall size with adequate length.
• Has core strength to get after opponents in man-on-man battles.
• Adequate lateral movement to compete on cut-off blocks.
• Quiet hands in his pass sets.
• Fires with a quick, stiff punch.
• Good toughness in playing through the whistle.
• Was a highly rated tackle prospect out of high school.
• Teams will like his background in shot put, discus and wrestling.

Weaknesses

• Pops upright when attempting to get to cut-off blocks.
• Needs to locate hands further inside with his punch.
• Excessive waist-bender at point of attack.
• Plays too far out in front of his feet and will fall off blocks.
• Tends to become too straight-legged as drive blocker.
• Speed rushers will give him trouble.
• Shows panic at the top of the rush and lunges.
• Footwork becomes erratic and base gets too narrow when he's on the move.
• Crossed up by inside rush counters.

@Rookie and the Ratbirds are on the clock.

 

[Rookie]

With the 168th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select...

Victor Dimukeje, Edge, Duke​

Via NFL.com
Overview
Compact edge defender with hard-hat demeanor and play strength that seems suited for the NFL game. Dimukeje will typically win with force and physicality over plus skill and finesse. He loses some reps to longer tackles but does a good job of setting strong edges, as long as he's able to long-arm the blocker in time. Below-average burst limits his range as a run defender and ability to close out quarterbacks as a rusher. He needs to diversify his rush a little but is already efficient and powerful to trim the edge and create pocket pressure. He has an average ceiling but should be a fairly steady backup as a 3-4 rush linebacker or 4-3 base end.
Strengths

• Compact, powerful frame.
• Tremendously durable over four years.
• Leverage to set strong edge against tight ends.
• Stout lower body with workable anchor.
• Pursues from backside with gusto.
• Hands are heavy and forceful.
• Generates early push as power rusher.
• Effective rip-and-run to flatten to the quarterback.
• Good ability to dip under redirect blocks at top of the rush.
• Undeterred once he gets the sniff of an edge.

Weaknesses

• One-speed rusher with short strides.
• Lacks acceleration up and around the turn.
• Will need to develop a go-to rush counter.
• Average closing burst to the quarterback.
• Telegraphs inside move and makes it with tall pad level.
• Length from tackles will give him problems.
• Glued to blocks when he's not in quick with his hands.
• Below-average pursuit speed if he loses contain.
• Has trouble playing through lateral engagements.

@Hurl Bruce is on the clock.