The 2021 NFL Draft is over. The Bills are happy with their two massive Defensive Ends and their 6″8″ Offensive Tackle. The rest of these draft picks will have to compete hard for a position on this team. How did your favorite NFL team do in the Draft?
- Round 5, Pick No. 161: Tommy Doyle, OT, Miami (Ohio)
- Round 6, Pick No. 203: Marquez Stevenson, WR, Houston
- Round 6, Pick No. 212: Damar Hamlin, S, Pitt
- Round 6, Pick No. 213: Rachad Wildgoose, CB, Wisconsin
- Round 7, Pick No. 236: Jack Anderson, G, Texas Tech
They did OK, especially considering that their division rival Eagles traded up to #10 to steal the wide receiver the Giants wanted. Still, they traded down (which they never do) and still got a strong receiver. Of course the big noise around here was the Jets’ quarterback pick, but now they are starting over with him.
Jeff, the NFL Draft was a crapshoot this year. So many players sat out because of Covid-19. Many haven’t played football in over a year. How do you evaluate them? Even the players who opted to play College football had shortened seasons. Luck will be a big factor in who actually makes the NFL and who actually makes the Starting Roster.
No, not luck, ability. The good ones will make the cut, the others, not.
Rick, injuries are always a wild card in player development.
The woeful Falcons had the fourth overall pick and the conventional wisdom was that they’d go for a quarterback, most likely OSU’s Justin Fields. Instead they took the terrific Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. Fields went seven picks later to the Bears. I generally get bored with the draft after the first round and quit paying attention. The team seems pleased with their draft, but what else would they say? I’ll go out on a limb and predict they’ll get their usual 6-7 wins.
Michael, I was surprised that the Falcons didn’t trade down and get more quality picks. Kyle Pitts was the best Tight End on the board so the Falcons did get a superstar player.
The Seahawks had just 3 picks, the highest was #56 and they took an undersized receiver. The other two are projects too. Crummy draft for them, as has been usual for five years or so. I’m starting to wonder if they don’t need a new GM.
Rick, the Free Agent market in the NFL has lessened the importance of the NFL Draft. For example, the New England Patriots just spent $159.6 million on Free Agents: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31142397/how-new-england-patriots-spent-1596-million-nine-days-overhaul-their-roster
I ignored the whole thing, which I do even in the years I’m not disgusted with the NFL! A year from now most of those poor hopefuls will be selling insurance!
Bob, you are correct about the chances of NFL draftees making the team. And, almost everyone in the NFL gets injured.
Looks like the Bills did well.
I think the Ravens had a decent draft. They’re a good drafting team, but they can be confusing because they don’t always draft for need; they tend to draft players they *like*, regardless of position. If they end up with too much of this and not enough of that, well, September is months and months away. There will always be players available. (They’re being graded by sportswriters from A to C this year.)
Jeff, the only draft grades that matter are those given after three years. By then, most of the draft picks are either established with the team…or gone.
How did the Whalers do this year?
Sorry, meant to type the Birmingham Vulcans?
Todd, I don’t know about the Birmingham Vulcans, but there was a riot in Manchester: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/angry-manchester-united-fans-storm-stadium-protest-ownership-liverpool-match-n1266077
Todd, I think they got harpooned.
Eventually! The Vulcans were a shortlived ’70s pro football team out of Alabama.
Less facetiously, have you ever tried BEST AMERICAN SPORTS WRITING? If so, less disappointing than recent PUSHCART PRIZE volumes?
Todd, I’ve read a couple of volumes of BEST AMERICAN SPORTS WRITING. I haven’t read THE PUSHCART PRIZE volumes in the past three or four years. Too long, and too little quality.