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

[CBBI]

Oh, I know. Just thought it was a perfect response to that pick in the mock.

 

[AZ_]

Side commentary: PFF has some very worthwhile stats, but their whole model and commentary is...

Sub optimal...IMO

 

[Jordan]

Side commentary: PFF has some very worthwhile stats, but their whole model and commentary is...

Sub optimal...IMO

PFF has a few really smart analysts (Kevin Cole is fantastic), but generally run into an arrogance problem. Part of the joy academic statistical research is embracing the strong reality that you’re probably wrong. A lot of their commentators just guarantee that they’re correct when that isn’t actually clear.

 

[DJTJ]

Can we take the commentary to the commentary thread...

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

With the 16th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select Christian Darrisaw, LT, Virginia Tech.

The clear-cut #2 tackle in this class (suck it Slater!) comes in to protect our franchise QB, Justin Herbert. Darrisaw brings every trait you could want out of a tackle. He's a mountain of a man with exceptional athleticism and powerful, effective hand work. He's the type of talent to be the #1 tackle off the board in most years that don't contain Penei Sewell.

Per PFF, "His 95.6 overall grade this past season is the second-highest we’ve ever seen from a Power Five tackle, behind Penei Sewell’s 2019 campaign. He allowed zero sacks, zero hits and only six hurries all season."


Per PFN:

Christian Darrisaw earned the second spot on our top offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft. The lowest any analyst had Darrisaw was 17th, and one analyst even had him at No. 7 overall.

Darrisaw is a rare tackle prospect in his own right. His physical tools are right up there with Penei Sewell’s for best amongst the offensive tackles in the 2021 class. Both his ability in pass protection and his physicality give him a claim as a Day 1 starter.

As I said in a previous article: “Ultimately, I believe that OT2 belongs to Darrisaw. Simply put, Darrisaw can make up the ground on Slater technically. However, Slater cannot make up the ground on Darrisaw physically. As a result, Darrisaw’s ceiling is much higher.” It seems like the other analysts at PFN agree.


After trading down and picking up additional assets, the Chargers still get their man. It was a risk, but knowing the Cardinals wanted Horn, we felt comfortable betting that the Patriots and Ravens weren't going to be taking the tackle before we got back to the podium.

Darrisaw, Bulaga and Jones flip a weakness on this roster into strength, and the entire offensive line unit should perform well in 2021 under the guidance of Corey Linsley.

 

[CosmoKramer]

With the 17th pick of the 2021 RCF Mock Draft the Las Vegas Raiders select...



Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC

HtWt: 6'4'' - 315 lbs.
College: USC

My Take:
The Raiders need to add talent to their offensive line after trading away Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson and Trent Brown this offseason alone. Richie Incognito and Nick Martin were signed to start at left guard and center, but there's still huge holes at both positions on the right side.

Denzelle Good started 14 games at left guard in place of an injured Incognito last season, but he wasn't good most the year and is clearly a backup. He's currently penciled in at right guard. Brandon Parker is a former third round project tackle that hasn't improved much since struggling mightily in 12 starts as a rookie in 2018-19. He was so bad the Raiders guaranteed Trent Brown $37 million that offseason. Right now it's him or 33-year-old journeyman Sam Young starting at right tackle for the Raiders.

That has to change for a team that prides itself on running the football and emphasizing ball control on offense. I had started a nice writeup for Christian Darrisaw here before he got picked right before me, but Alijah Vera-Tucker is a nice consolation prize. Well, kinda. Maybe it's just me but I've always found hyphenated last names kind of pretentious.

A two-year starter for the Trojans with experience at tackle and guard, Vera-Tucker's versatility will help Las Vegas put its best five offensive lineman on the field.

PLAYER BIO:
Born Solomon Alijah Tucker, the former Trojan also uses the last name of his stepfather, Sylvester Vera, to honor Sylvester's role in his life. He has both surnames tattooed on his arms. The first-team all-state and San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro selection from Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High School played in all 12 games as a reserve his redshirt freshman season. Given the chance to start all 13 games at left guard in 2019, he not only garnered second-team All-Pac-12 notice but won the team's Offensive Lineman of the Year Award over stud left tackle and 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson. Vera-Tucker initially opted out of the 2020 season but decided to opt back in when the Pac-12 announced it would have a fall football season instead of playing in the spring. He started all six of the Trojans' games at left tackle to earn first-team all-conference honors. -- by Chad Reuter

OVERVIEW:
Ascending wide-body with powerful hands and above-average core strength, allowing him to play with good balance and control the action around him. He's not a forklift-style drive blocker, but he does have the frame and natural strength to improve in that area if he can play with a little better pad level. Vera-Tucker is adept at catching and tagging moving targets in space. His effective play at left tackle in 2020 might create some buzz about him making that a permanent position if teams are OK with his lack of prototype length. He's a plus in pass pro and solid as a run blocker.

STRENGTHS:

• Wide, thick frame with burly lower body and plus upper-body and core strength.
• Able to step out and play tackle effectively if a team needs it.
• Adequate athletic talent to pull and trap.
• Big man with impressive reactive adjustments on second level.
• Hip-to-hip on double-team blocks.
• Displays his recovery talent when he's cross-faced.
• Hands are strong and his placement is consistently accurate.
• Plays under control.
• Rips a stiff punch directly into rusher's frame.
• Gets to full extension with inside hands.
• Can clinch and mirror rusher in putting his rush plan in the deep freeze.
• Substantial anchor to eat a bull rush.
• Quick to process twists and alter assignment.

WEAKNESSES:

• Pad level can get away from him off the snap.
• Needs better drop and pop to move the nose with down blocks.
• Below-average creating engagement momentum with settle steps.
• Average sink and push to clear debris.
• Narrow drive base causes him to fall off blocks against surly two-gappers.
• Needs to keep working on hand resets when he loses positioning.
• Needs to tighten up footwork in run and passing games.

DRAFT PROJECTION:
Rounds 1-2

NFL COMPARISON:
Will Hernandez

@Jack Brickman and the Miami Dolphins are on the clock

 

[raiders91sc]

can we have a trade list??

 

[Randolphkeys]

can we have a trade list??

Look through the thread. It's right there.

 

[Jack Brickman]

THE PICK IS IN...

With the 18th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins select...

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame​

Position: Linebacker
School: Notre Dame
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 pounds

A versatile, explosive player at the LB position, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah instantly improves a Miami defense that was already great at creating turnovers last season. JOK is built for the modern NFL game and can play on all three defensive downs.

He'll slot in nicely next to my early first round pick in last year's mock as the Dolphins GM, Isaiah Simmons, as both guys can play multiple defensive positions and rotate as necessary. I'm building a dynasty here, kids.

And sorry, @Out of the Rafters at the Q, but JOK's not making it into the twenties in this draft.

@Jordan and the Team That Shall Not Be Named are on the clock.

 

[raiders91sc]

Look through the thread. It's right there.

by the time we get to the 3rd round the thread will be over 20 pages long. lot easier knowing what's going on if we attach a trade thread on the draft order list.

 

[Randolphkeys]

by the time we get to the 3rd round the thread will be over 20 pages long. lot easier knowing what's going on if we attach a trade thread on the draft order list.

Sure would. But that job went to @Soda and I think he quit for a good reason. We are updating the original thread, but no advertising trades in a separate section.

You want to succeed in this draft, you have to read the thread. It think that's fair HOMEBOY.

View attachment ERhqtO.mp4

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

1) Can we keep the picks-only thread to only picks?

2) Trades are reflected in the draft order on the first post. If anyone needs more than that, that's on them.

 

[Jordan]

THE PICK IS IN...

With the 18th pick in the 2021 RCF Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins select...

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame​

Position: Linebacker
School: Notre Dame
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 pounds

A versatile, explosive player at the LB position, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah instantly improves a Miami defense that was already great at creating turnovers last season. JOK is built for the modern NFL game and can play on all three defensive downs.

He'll slot in nicely next to my early first round pick in last year's mock as the Dolphins GM, Isaiah Simmons, as both guys can play multiple defensive positions and rotate as necessary. I'm building a dynasty here, kids.

And sorry, @Out of the Rafters at the Q, but JOK's not making it into the twenties in this draft.

@Jordan and the Team That Shall Not Be Named are on the clock.

1. Fuck, that was my pick.

2. The WFT draft Christian Barmore!

PROs:
-43/478 pass-rush snaps were QB pressures. 12 pressures and eight stops in the CFP
-19.5% pass-rush win rate (winning battles against opponent)
-13.3% run-stop win rate (this is in about the 75th percentile for prospects, not bad, not great)
-Absolute athlete. 6'4 + 310 lbs.
-Can probably pull-off a strong side one-tech every once in awhile, but starred as a three-tech and four-tech. Versatile enough, therefore, for every NFL front.
-3-tech Jonathan Allen is on the least year of his rookie deal and, while dependable, is hardly irreplaceable. Da'Ron Payne is the 1-tech/0-tech and has been pretty poor. Barmore has the potential to be better than both at either spot, but especially Allen as the 3-tech.
-Is it really the NFL draft if the WFT do not draft a defensive linemen in the first round?

CONs:
-Only 747 career snaps. Not a lot of "data"
-Probably not ever able to play as a NT in the NFL. Pure pass-rushing DT. Played 1T in college, though.
-Inconsistent + slow start to the season.
-He does not have a ton of pass rush moves. This is my biggest concern and definitely a question mark for a 1st round pass-rush specialist DT.

 

[bronko]

Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern - NFL Draft Player Profile

Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome is widely viewed as an NFL Draft sleeper, but his play warrants a reputation beyond even that.

www.profootballnetwork.com

The pick is in,the Chicago Bears select Greg Newsome II, cb from Northwestern with the 20th pick.
With the top QBs gone, a corner was the biggest need for Chicago. Caleb Farley's back surgery is too risky to ignore, so we'll happily take Newsome, a long corner with the skill to play zone or man. Not bulky, he is still a willing tackler. Not blazingly fast, he still excels in coverage. Being from Northwestern, I figure he's a pretty smart kid and has the Chicago connection.
With the loss of Kyle Fuller, Desmond Trufant was signed in FA as a replacement and should do so fairly well. But Trufant has trouble staying healthy and the Bears are still lean at the corners. Lots of needs on this team, still reeling from the disastrous deal to draft Mentor Mitch Trubiskey.

 

[bronko]

Don't Sleep On Greg Newsome II In 2021 NFL Draft

There’s just something about defensive backs. Players need to have intrinsic qualities…

thedraftnetwork.com

A sub 4.4 40 yard dash at his pro day turned some heads for a cb not known as a blazer. A super safe pick for a team that can't afford a miss with their first day one pick in three years. The Miami edges were very close to being this pick, but corner is a more pressing need and Newsome seems like a low risk pick. Wouldn't be upset if he went at 26 in the real draft.

Concerns:
A lanky physique, he was 167 pounds after HS, 190 now and could stand to add 10 more. He never played a full season, missing a few games each year beginning as a true freshman. He's still young, though and can probably add the weight without effecting his athleticism. His injuries were groin, and muscular ailments, he never suffered a major injury.