Per Matt Bowen

QB with the best physical traits/tools: Justin Fields, Ohio State

I recently compared Fields to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, given the high-end physical tools and traits I see on the tape. That's the arm talent, movement skill and the physical element he brings to the position, both inside and outside of the pocket. And in a schemed NFL pass game, Fields can maximize those traits while also being utilized as a runner with his dual-threat ability.

Most accurate QB: Mac Jones, Alabama

While Jones might lack upper-tier traits at the position in terms of moving outside the pocket and arm strength, the Alabama quarterback completed 77.4% of his passes last season on an undefeated national championship team. And the tape tells us that Jones can throw with consistent ball location and accuracy, which translates to a timing/rhythm pass game in the NFL. He was off target on just 5.9% of his passes in 2020.

---

Best decision-making QB: Trey Lance, North Dakota State

During North Dakota State's FCS national championship season in 2019, Lance threw 28 touchdowns with zero interceptions. That speaks to his decision-making process skill and the way he diagnoses coverages. While I do believe Lance will have to cut it loose more often as a pro quarterback, he's an easy fit for today's play-action-based NFL offenses that cater to his ability to find open windows and the added element he brings to the position on designed rushes. His 6.8 yards per designed rush in 2019 would have ranked fifth among FBS quarterbacks that year.

---

Most anticipatory QB: Davis Mills, Stanford

 

I see Mills as a Day 2 pick with developmental upside, given his high-end arm talent and footwork inside the pocket. A former five-star recruit, Mills can deliver the ball with anticipation on second- and third-level throws, which is a critical factor to producing in an NFL scheme.

22 hours ago, PhillyRockd said:

Sorry you couldn't figure it out, most did. Good or bad.

Yeah, that's what I said. 

3 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

What’s the value of Zertz in that deal (I don’t have draft value chart handy)?

If I'm looking at this correct, pick 8 has a value of 1400 while pick 12 is 1200

3rd round pick 84 is 170.

4th round pick 123 is 49

5th round pick 150 is 30

12, 84 and Ertz should be more than enough to get to 8.  I want to keep both 3rds if we can.   This is giving Ertz the value of an early 5 which is around 30

12, 123, 150 and Ertz might be a stretch to get to 8.  That would put Ertz's value as a late 3rd.

 

8 minutes ago, RLC said:

I'm only interested in that if one of Pitts/Chase falls. There's no other position player worth trading up for given where we are as a franchise IMO. 

Agreed.

Most sudden WR: Kadarius Toney, Florida

The sudden lateral quickness of Toney jumps on the tape. Watch him run an option route or expose a one-on-one matchup in space. He has the start/stop speed to shake coverage and then the catch-and-run elusiveness to slice up defenses in the open field. He forced 21 missed tackles on receptions in 2020, in the top 10 in college football.

---

Best slot WR: Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

Moore, who caught 11 passes for 143 yards against Alabama last season, displays both the vertical speed and the lateral quicks to separate in the slot. And with his competitiveness and toughness at the catch point, Moore can be a volume target in the pros. His 86 catches in 2020 trailed only DeVonta Smith's 117.

---

Best red zone WR: Nico Collins, Michigan

I'm projecting here with Collins as a red zone target in the pro game -- he didn't play in 2020 and had uneven quarterback play in 2019 -- because of his long 6-foot-4 frame. An offensive coordinator will be able to create isolation matchups with Collins as a backside X or in a slot alignment to utilize his catch radius on contested throws. Look for a team to throw him fades and slants and even scheme him up on seam balls to attack the end zone.

Most dynamic WR: Rondale Moore, Purdue

With the skill set to be utilized as a motion/movement target and the ball-carrier vision to pick up yards in the open field, Moore can create impact plays. Whether being targeted from the slot or seeing touches on fly sweeps, screens and reverses, he has tons of the dynamic ability to get loose in space. He missed time in 2019 and suited up for only three games in 2020, but he had 1,471 yards from scrimmage in 2018.

---

Fastest deep-ball WR: Anthony Schwartz, Auburn

Schwartz is a blazer with the speed to challenge the top of the secondary. And given the amount of schemed "shot plays" we see in the league, off play-action and max protection, Schwartz fits as a vertical target on deep go balls and over routes. He ran a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, and he was a track star in high school.

---

Most versatile WR: Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Bateman can align as the boundary X receiver or bump inside to create matchups from the slot. In a way very similar to how Allen Robinson II and Michael Thomas are utilized in the league, Bateman can be targeted on isolation throws or schemed up inside the numbers as a middle-of-the-field option. From 2019 to 2020, his slot snaps jumped from 23% to 75%.

3 minutes ago, Original Sin said:

Most sudden WR: Kadarius Toney, Florida

The sudden lateral quickness of Toney jumps on the tape. Watch him run an option route or expose a one-on-one matchup in space. He has the start/stop speed to shake coverage and then the catch-and-run elusiveness to slice up defenses in the open field. He forced 21 missed tackles on receptions in 2020, in the top 10 in college football.

---

Best slot WR: Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

Moore, who caught 11 passes for 143 yards against Alabama last season, displays both the vertical speed and the lateral quicks to separate in the slot. And with his competitiveness and toughness at the catch point, Moore can be a volume target in the pros. His 86 catches in 2020 trailed only DeVonta Smith's 117.

---

Best red zone WR: Nico Collins, Michigan

I'm projecting here with Collins as a red zone target in the pro game -- he didn't play in 2020 and had uneven quarterback play in 2019 -- because of his long 6-foot-4 frame. An offensive coordinator will be able to create isolation matchups with Collins as a backside X or in a slot alignment to utilize his catch radius on contested throws. Look for a team to throw him fades and slants and even scheme him up on seam balls to attack the end zone.

Most dynamic WR: Rondale Moore, Purdue

With the skill set to be utilized as a motion/movement target and the ball-carrier vision to pick up yards in the open field, Moore can create impact plays. Whether being targeted from the slot or seeing touches on fly sweeps, screens and reverses, he has tons of the dynamic ability to get loose in space. He missed time in 2019 and suited up for only three games in 2020, but he had 1,471 yards from scrimmage in 2018.

---

Fastest deep-ball WR: Anthony Schwartz, Auburn

Schwartz is a blazer with the speed to challenge the top of the secondary. And given the amount of schemed "shot plays" we see in the league, off play-action and max protection, Schwartz fits as a vertical target on deep go balls and over routes. He ran a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, and he was a track star in high school.

---

Most versatile WR: Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Bateman can align as the boundary X receiver or bump inside to create matchups from the slot. In a way very similar to how Allen Robinson II and Michael Thomas are utilized in the league, Bateman can be targeted on isolation throws or schemed up inside the numbers as a middle-of-the-field option. From 2019 to 2020, his slot snaps jumped from 23% to 75%.

Anthony Schwartz could be interesting if he makes it to round 5 or 6.  He's not shifty by any means but he can burn.  

Best playmaking LB: Jamin Davis, Kentucky

Davis started for just one season in college, but when we look at his athletic traits and the splash plays he put on tape, the arrow is pointing up for the Kentucky linebacker. With his long frame and great closing speed, Davis has playmaking upside in coverage and as a schemed blitzer. In 2020, Davis compiled 96 tackles, three interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. And he took one of his interceptions 85 yards to the house (against Tennessee).

---

Best LB run-defender: Nick Bolton, Missouri

At the linebacker position, I look for prospects who can key and diagnose -- with speed -- against the run game. They have to get a jump on the play, and you see that consistently with Bolton. He's a downhill, physical defender who will strike on contact. And he has the short-area acceleration to close the distance to ball carriers. Over his past two seasons, Bolton had 202 tackles, and his 37 run stops -- tackles against the run at or behind the line of scrimmage -- tied for the fourth most in the country in that time.

---

Most versatile LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

With multidimensional traits at the position, Owusu-Koramoah could play a "monsterback" role in the NFL -- a hybrid safety/linebacker who can create defensive matchups. He brings downhill juice with his game, along with coverage ability as a match/zone defender, and you can scheme Owusu-Koramoah as a rusher on pressure stunts. There's a lot of upside here in sub-packages.

---

Most disruptive LB: Zaven Collins, Tulsa

At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Collins is a fluid, smooth mover with range and disruptive ability. This past season, Collins recorded four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and four sacks. No other player in the FBS had at least four of each. His long frame can close middle-of-the-field passing windows, and he can be utilized as an edge or interior rusher. And that's all in addition to what he brings to the box against the run.

Best ball-hawking DB: Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

Cisco racked up 13 interceptions at Syracuse. He has easy range and can track the ball vertically. I see him as a great fit for both single-high and split-safety systems, as Cisco can patrol the middle of the field or overlap the throw from the deep half.

---

Best run-defending DB: Richie Grant, S, UCF

Grant plays bigger than his 5-foot-11, 197-pound frame as a run-defender. You can see the physical element he brings to the box or when asked to fill the alley. I really like the tape here on a prospect who can also play top-down on the ball in split-field coverage. He had 72 tackles in 2020.

---

Best coverage safety: Trevon Moehrig, TCU

Moehrig can match verticals and in-breakers from a Quarters alignment, but he also has the skill set to cover down over the slot. And expect on-the-ball production from him. And with so much safety movement and disguise in today's NFL, Moehrig can rotate late to cover in pressure schemes. Only three defenders with at least 500 coverage snaps over the past two seasons broke up a higher percentage of their plays as the primary defender than Moehrig (25%)

 

https://insider.espn.com/espn/print?id=31303671

Chris Evans looks like a quality low mileage back , after rd 3

2 minutes ago, Original Sin said:

Chris Evans looks like a quality low mileage back , after rd 3

I'll pass on him.  He turns 24 early in the season. I don't want a rookie running back who is the same age as Miles Sanders.  Low mileage yes, but better, younger options in the draft.

 

 

Just now, bpac55 said:

I'll pass on him.  He turns 24 early in the season. I don't want a rookie running back who is the same age as Miles Sanders.  Low mileage yes, but better, younger options in the draft.

 

I wouldn’t rule him out completely. He’s only like a 6th or 7th round pick anyway. 

3 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

I'll pass on him.  He turns 24 early in the season. I don't want a rookie running back who is the same age as Miles Sanders.  Low mileage yes, but better, younger options in the draft.

 

Backs have a  5 year at best  longevity with team that drafted them , so 22 or 24 makes no difference, take the lesser miles 

IMO the best/most realistic mock draft site is Mockdraftdatabase.com.

Their Consensus Big Board uses an average of 50 other big boards, which should minimise the effect of 'outliers'.

2021 Consensus Big Board | NFL Mock Draft Database

Just came up with this one...

12 Round: 1 Jaycee Horn CB | South Carolina

37 Round: 2 Jamin Davis LB | Kentucky

70 Round: 3 Payton Turner EDGE | Houston

84 Round: 3 Nico Collins WR | Michigan

123 Round: 4 D'Ante Smith OL | East Carolina

150 Round: 5 Tyree Gillespie S | Missouri

189 Round: 6 Jonathan Marshall DT | Arkansas

224 Round: 6 Chris Evans RB | Michigan

225 Round: 6 Shemar Jean-Charles CB | Appalachian State

234 Round: 7 Quintin Morris TE | Bowling Green

240 Round: 7 Charles Snowden LB | Virginia

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

 

The Eagles are "up to something” with the 12th pick and a possible deal could involve Zach Ertz, per Jeremy Fowler.

 

This is interesting.  If they can get up to pick 8 by using Ertz one of the 3rds and not using 37 that would be huge.

If 4 QBs go 1-4, Cincinnati takes Sewell at 5, Miami takes Pitts at 6, and Lions trade down for someone to move up for the 5th QB at 7, we could move up to 8 for Chase.  Carolina needs OL and could get a good one at 12 and add extras picks and Ertz.l

Jamin Davis at 150?

 

2 hours ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

I’m a Penn State fan and I got no clue who Oweh is 

The last big thing was supposed to be Gross-Matos. The next big thing was supposed to be Oweh. The better pass rusher both years was Toney who is downgraded due to size. 

Give me Toney as a 3rd down rusher,  and maybe Joker as well if Gannon implements that. 

I just did one with trades for the heckuvit (3 trades). I couldn't believe Pitts was at 12. I really wanted Marshall and Samuel, too, but I knew it would take a couple of trades to do it. I gave up a 3rd and a 4th next year to get those 2 players. But, we are going to be loaded next year at the top of the draft with picks...so I figured losing a 3rd and a 4th next year wouldn't hurt too much for two potential starters now. Then, I moved down from 84 to 90 because the Vikings wanted to jump up. There was great value on the board at 84 and it looked like there would be value at position of need at 90. So, I  moved down to get a 4th in 2023 and gave them a 6th in 2023. The only bad thing is I didn't get a DE.  We're not drafting 11 players. So,  I ended up with 8.

 

2 minutes ago, Couch Potato said:

Jamin Davis at 150?

 

I have no idea why but he never goes before 150 on PFF.  Ridiculous.  

2 hours ago, hputenis said:

What site are you guys using for this?  I wanna do one!  

That was either fanspeak or first-pick. Already forgot. 

37 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

I'll pass on him.  He turns 24 early in the season. I don't want a rookie running back who is the same age as Miles Sanders.  Low mileage yes, but better, younger options in the draft.

 

I hate old prospects but I don’t care what the RB age is. I’m probably not giving him a second contract anyway 

11 minutes ago, hputenis said:

Jamin Davis is a late first early second. St.-Juste a second or early third. 

9 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I hate old prospects but I don’t care what the RB age is. I’m probably not giving him a second contract anyway 

Late-round picks are mostly misses anyway. If you think you can get a good backup or role player in rounds 6/7, why be picky? Getting a cheap role player late is a win. 

Just now, greendestiny27 said:

St.-Juste a second or early third. 

Yep. He fits a lot of different style defenses, which should make him a pretty popular corner, especially for the teams that want length at the position. 

10 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I hate old prospects but I don’t care what the RB age is. I’m probably not giving him a second contract anyway 

Age is a problem in rounds 1 and 2.  Likewise, in rounds 1 and 2, ignore those jack of all trades, master of none "versatile" lower talents.  Find someone that projects as a starter.  Sure, the hit rate is low once you are into round 2, but EVERY 1st or 2nd round pick needs to at least have the upside and a plan to project into an actual position in the starting lineup.  

Once you get into round 3, the rationale for each pick is going to vary.  If you want upside, that's all you're likely going to get (low floor, low production).  If you want someone with proven production and versatility, then you better realize you are looking for a backup, because they almost certainly won't have the talent to start, otherwise they'd already be off the board.  Once you get into rounds 3+, you might find a very talented player who came to the game later in life and is 23-25.  If they've got the talent and can play, that's fine in the mid-rounds too.  A 25 year old 2nd year player from round 4 who contributes beats your typical 21 year old 4th round pick.