Grading All 32 NFL Teams' 2021 Draft Classes

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Kyle Pitts poses onstage after being selected fourth by the Atlanta Falcons during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Grade: A

Key Picks: Jaycee Horn, CB; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR; Brady Christensen, OT; Tommy Tremble, TE

In one draft class, the Panthers were able to surround Sam Darnold with more support than he ever had with the Jets. Though they would’ve loved to land Penei Sewell at No. 8, getting a high-impact corner in Horn is huge. There’s not much of a drop off in the third-rounder Christensen. 

Marshall Jr. reunited with Joe Brady, his offensive coordinator at LSU, and will round out one of the better young wide receiving units in the league. Tommy Tremble is a fun piece who can move around formations and complement Ian Thomas. In total, the Panthers’ lone question mark is whether they should’ve traded for Darnold or drafted Justin Fields. But that’s not something we’ll know right away.

Grade: A

Key Picks: Zach Wilson, QB; Alijah Vera-Tucker, G; Elijah Moore, WR; Michael Carter, RB

The Jets legitimately landed three first-round caliber players and didn’t have to dip into significant future assets to do so. Wilson will ultimately determine this class since he was chosen second amongst his peers, but the Jets did as well as they could to ensure he’d be successful. Getting Vera-Tucker, Moore, and Carter immediately provides three potential starters, if not solid contributors.

The lone question-mark is not addressing the cornerback position sooner. There’s still veteran depth available in the free-agent market, though, and giving Wilson support is more important. This was a great class. 

Grade: A

Key Picks: Greg Newsome II, CB; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB; Anthony Schwartz, WR; Tommy Togiai, DT

Walking into a draft with clear needs, the Browns can confidently walk away knowing they knocked this draft class out of the park when it comes to mixing great value and filling holes. There was no way the Browns could go further in the playoffs without help at corner and linebacker. They landed two first-round talents who will start immediately. 

Their dominance continued with project, but uber-gifted speedster Schwartz. Getting a legitimate deep threat was key. And fourth-round pick Togiai may start right away as a run-stuffing tackle. This was a fantastic haul.

Grade: A

Key Picks: Rashod Bateman, WR; Jayson Oweh, LB; Ben Cleveland, G; Brandon Stephens, CB; Tylan Wallace, WR; Shaun Wade, CB

Of course the Ravens continue to stack talent as always. Adding Bateman and Wallace to this playmaker corps is potentially game-changing. Both bring polished skill sets to a group that lacked reliability, and these two were workhorses for their program for good reason. 

The defense added great athleticism as well. Oweh is a big risk, but has sky-high potential and fills a need while corners Stephens and Wade help with depth on the back-end. This franchise always contends because it consistently wins the draft.

Grade: A

Key Picks: Justin Fields, QB; Teven Jenkins, T

The Bears traded up twice in order to land headlining talent over depth. This was the right decision, and they did an excellent job getting the perfect players. Justin Fields can transform this franchise as the most talented passer the organization has ever had. Jenkins will immediately solidify what was a good line.

These are two moves that can save everyone’s job in Chicago and help them compete for a deep playoff run if Fields is ready for the task. 

Grade: A

Key Picks: Jamin Davis, LB; Samuel Cosmi, T; Benjamin St-Juste, CB; Dyami Brown, WR

Davis is my early pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year—he’s that good and a perfect fit for the WFT’s defense. They needed a finishing piece on the second-level of the unit and his sideline-to-sideline ability is perfect. He was the start of an elite class.

Cosmi had first-round buzz thanks to a killer final season at Texas and amazing pro day, and can start right away. Brown was a needed addition too, completing an overhaul at the receiver spot. New QB Ryan Fitzpatrick might throw for 5,000 yards in 2021.

Grade: A-

Key Picks: Trevor Lawrence, QB; Travis Etienne, RB; Tyson Campbell, CB; Walker Little, T; Andre Cisco, S

Lawrence is a home-run who will be the best quarterback for the franchise since Mark Brunell, but the Clemson star will be even better. The value on Etienne was far from ideal, but the fact remains he’ll help an offense lacking playmakers. It’s fair to wonder whether they should’ve gone with a receiver like Elijah Moore, though.

Their Day 2 picks were solid. Campbell can ascend to a starter quickly thanks to elite traits. Little and Cisco are well-regarded athletes who have to be refined. New coach Urban Meyer’s track record in college was phenomenal when it came to developing players, so if that continues this class will ascend. 

Grade: A-

Key Picks: Jaylen Waddle, WR; Jaelan Phillips, LB; Jevon Holland, S; Liam Eichenberg, T

Getting four starters right away and upgrading the team’s explosiveness is huge for Miami. Waddle and Phillips are potential Pro Bowl talents, and both Holland and Eichenberg are reliable players who can be long-term starters. There’s risk of Miami looking foolish to trade out of taking Ja’Marr Chase or Kyle Pitts if Waddle doesn’t prove to be as impactful as Tyreek Hill.

The knock on this class is Miami’s decision to take a backup tight end in Hunter Long instead of a running back or guard with the 231st pick. Long is a good athlete, but this roster isn’t deep enough to be worried about replacing 2022 free agents when there’s needs elsewhere. 

Grade: A-

Key Picks: Penei Sewell, T; Levin Onwuzurike, DT; Alim McNeill, DT; Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB; Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

The Lions’ roster allowed them to go a number of different ways. Rebuilding the trenches with Sewell, Onwuzurike, and McNeill will benefit the team immediately. This franchise hasn’t been nearly solid enough on either side of the ball in years, but this class remedies those concerns.

Getting Melifonwu and St. Brown so late are absolute steals. Both could be starting by mid-season and have helpful skill sets. The lone question mark about this class is whether Fields was the better choice to hasten their rebuild.

Grade: B+

Key Picks: Patrick Surtain II, CB; Javonte Williams, RB; Quinn Meinerz, C; Baron Browning, LB

This class will be remembered more because the Broncos passed on Fields and Mac Jones. That could go either way depending on what happens with each player and how Denver performs in 2021. Besides that, there’s no question Denver improved its roster.

Surtain and Browning can step into roles immediately and project as quality starters in Vic Fangio’s defense. Moving in front of Miami for Javonte Williams makes Melvin Gordon expendable and helps complete an offense needing some physicality. There are no excuses for whichever quarterback ends up starting for Denver. 

Grade: B

Key Picks: Caleb Farley, CB; Dillon Radunz, T; Monty Rice, LB; Elijah Molden, CB

Rolling the dice on Farley’s injury history could pay off massively for Tennessee. He was arguably the best overall talent at corner in the draft and the Titans suddenly had a pressing need for one. 

Radunz should provide similar talent to Jack Conklin with the unit thanks to his nasty demeanor and ready-made skill set. Both Rice and Molden can carve out roles early. Molden in particular fits what the Titans want from the slot corner position and be cost-effective.

Grade: B

Key Picks: Christian Darrisaw, T; Kellen Mond, QB; Chazz Surratt, LB; Wyatt Davis, G; Patrick Jones, DE

Trading down in the first-round was a wise gamble that paid off for the Vikings. Getting Darrisaw and two third-rounders was a perfectly executed strategy as far as pick accumulation. But some of their execution left room for improvement.

Neither Mond nor Surratt are likely to be major contributors based on certain traits (accuracy for Mond, and length for Surratt). Davis and Jones were great values, though. Landing three possible starters and a free look at Mond is enough to get an above-average grade.

Grade: B-

Key Picks: Rashawn Slater, T; Asante Samuel Jr., CB; Josh Palmer, WR; Tre’ McKitty, TE

It’s hard to top the value Los Angeles found with both Slater and Samuel Jr. Slater sat atop several draft boards as the tackle to take over Sewell. Both he and Samuel will have an immediate role and project as high-floor players.

Few teams have been as comfortable with smaller corners, though. Putting Samuel with Chris Harris Jr. is a risk. Palmer and McKitty are developmental types who appear to be destined to depth roles.

Grade: B-

Key Picks: Eric Stokes, CB; Josh Myers, C; Amari Rodgers, WR

Green Bay accomplished the goal of getting better by adding three helpful talents, but at what cost? Taking the ninth defender out of their last 10 first-round selections, Stokes is similar to what they had already in Kevin King. Myers and Rodgers will bolster an offense with openings for each.

Not placating Aaron Rodgers will Elijah Moore or a better tight end prospect may prove costly. Either the veteran will work his way out of town or will be stuck at home when the next Super Bowl comes. There’s not enough playmaking on this offense still. 

Grade: B-

Key Picks: Kyle Pitts, TE; Richie Grant, S; Jalen Mayfield, T

There were so many holes on the Falcons roster entering the draft, there was no chance they could address them all without a plethora of picks. They did well to get arguably the best tight end prospect ever, and Day 2 starters in Grant and Mayfield. It wasn’t enough to justify the Falcons not blowing it up this offseason and restarting around youngsters.

There’s gaping black holes at the edge and cornerback spots. Barring the unlikely odds of winning games in the 45-42 range, the Falcons will find themselves drafting high again next year. They’ll be a year older, capped out still, and kicking themselves for not taking a quarterback fourth overall while they had the chance. 

Grade: C+

Key Picks: Mac Jones, QB; Christian Barmore, DT; Ronnie Perkins, LB; Rhamondre Stevenson, RB

Almost all of the Patriots’ picks made sense and had value for where they were taken. Jones is a good schematic fit in Josh McDaniels’ offense, and the defense will benefit from both Barmore and Perkins. Their defensive trenches added two potential difference-makers.

But each of their key picks have significant negatives as well and some of the value is overplayed. Jones doesn’t have the physical tools to be especially high-end, Barmore never put his talent together under Nick Saban, and Perkins is a power rusher who is very stiff in the hips. This is a nice class, but not special enough to turn the tides in the AFC East.

Grade: C+

Key Picks: DeVonta Smith, WR; Landon Dickerson, C; Milton Williams, DT

The Eagles ultimately looked at their roster and decided Jalen Hurts is the guy for 2021. That’s a bold call after he looked so raw last year, and had the chance to get Fields after trading up. Nabbing Smith will certainly help their developing receiver corps, at least.

Dickerson must overcome injuries to succeed and has scattered reviews from scouts. It’s easy to like the overall trench depth the Eagles added, though. Williams can blossom into a real gem in time and may be the best player from this class in three years. 

Grade: C+

Key Picks: Trey Lance, QB; Aaron Banks, G; Trey Sermon, RB; Ambry Thomas, CB

In retrospect, the 49ers could have traded up from their original 12th-overall pick with a Day 3 pick to land Fields instead of two first-rounders to get to third-overall for Lance. Lance better be a heckuva lot better than Fields to justify that trade. It’s more likely Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch completely misread how the league viewed these players.

The rest of their draft was meat-and-potatoes. Neither Banks nor Thomas are sexy names yet can fill roles. Sermon is a fun runner who will do well in Shanahan’s scheme, but he’s not known for having great vision or efficiency.

Grade: C

Key Picks: Payton Turner, DE; Pete Werner, LB; Paulson Adebo, CB; Ian Book, QB

Value be damned, the Saints were able to help their defense quite a bit as a whole. Turner was a reach as a player with limited film and success, but fits their mold as a lengthy guy who should play hard. Both Werner and Adebo were much better picks, injecting needed athleticism and long-term starting potential.

Taking Book to fill out their quarterback room was shocking. He’s at best a backup with his physical traits, adding little to their outlook. Getting receiver help would’ve been wise.

Grade: C

Key Picks: Zaven Collins, LB; Rondale Moore, WR; Marco Wilson, CB

Collins is another off-ball linebacker for GM Steve Keim’s draft resume. The Cardinals have heavily invested into the least valuable role on modern-day defenses and yet still have multiple question marks on the unit. Wilson may help, but was always more of an athlete than consistent performer at Florida.

Getting Moore was their best pick. The offense needed one more receiver with speed to keep the field spread for Kyler Murray. I can’t wait to see how Kliff Kingsbury gets him involved this season.

Grade: C

Key Picks: Nick Bolton, LB; Creed Humphrey, C; Cornell Powell, WR; Trey Smith, G

The Chiefs didn’t need to do too much to help their title odds for obvious reasons, but they added quality depth. This offensive line is now a collection of pulverizers and a fun unit. Getting Humphrey and Smith where they did is downright impressive.

Passing on Terrace Marshall Jr. for Bolton was questionable considering Bolton’s skill set overlaps Anthony Hitchens’s. The offense could’ve used his talents.

Grade: C

Key Picks: Najee Harris, RB; Pat Freirmuth, TE; Kendrick Green, G

It’s hard to look at the Steelers’ haul and feel they spent their picks in the right order. Taking a running back in the first-round, but waiting until the third for an offensive lineman isn’t a winning strategy. And second-round pick Friermuth helps add a contributor, but tight ends are historically slow to develop.

The Steelers still need secondary and offensive line help. Those are the two most important positional groups on the field outside of quarterback. Pittsburgh got better, but didn’t do enough to stay with the Browns and Ravens. 

Grade: C-

Key Picks: Ja’Marr Chase, WR; Jackson Carman, T; Joseph Ossai, DE

The whole selling point of taking Chase over Sewell at No. 5 was to take advantage of the depth in the blocking class. But Cincinnati landed on Carman, who has short arms and will move to guard. Carman was never consistently good at Clemson and largely lived off his recruiting ranking.

Chase and Ossai are much more helpful pieces, but the rest of their draft haul was unimpressive and is highly reliant on getting the most out of developmental projects. 

Grade: C-

Key Picks: Kwity Paye, DE; Dayo Odeyingbo, DE; Kylen Granson, TE

Through the lens of how the Colts handled all of their assets entering this offseason, it’s hard not to feel like they would’ve done things differently if they had a mulligan. Paye was a great value as someone who may flourish like Rashan Gary has away from Michigan, and the Colts needed a pass rusher after whiffing on so many. But the rest of their class is reliant on a player who tore his Achilles (Odeyingbo).

Granson wasn’t on the radar for most scouts, and then the Colts drafted Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger with the 218th selection. There’s a lack of realistic upside in GM Chris Ballard’s moves with all the assets he had available. It’s possible they didn’t get better at all this offseason.

Grade: C-

Key Picks: Alex Leatherwood, T; Trevon Moehrig, S; Malcolm Koonce, LB; Divine Deablo, S

Watching Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden misunderstand the value of the draft board has become hilarious. They continually take players at least one-round early and then wonder why their young players struggle to fulfill expectations based on draft positioning. Third-rounders Koonce and Deablo are the latest punch lines for this regime.

At least this year, we can overlook the value issue with Leatherwood if Moehrig is viewed as their first pick. Both should start right away and be at least average in their respective roles. It’s still fair to ask if this regime will ever make the most out of their assets.

Grade: C-

Key Picks: Micah Parsons, LB; Kelvin Joseph, CB; Osa Odighizuwa, DE; Chauncey Golston, DE; Nahshon Wright, CB; Jabrill Cox, LB

The Cowboys went all-in on investing into defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s scheme. While he needs talent, they now have five linebackers to play with Parsons and Cox joining Jaylon Smith, Keanu Neal, and Leighton Vander Esch. Both new linebackers are good players and may prove to be starters as Smith and Vander Esch have had their fair of issues but adding so much to such an insignificant position is hard to swallow.

Joseph has been shooed away by two coaching staffs thus far and must prove trustworthy. He’s super-talented, which is more than what can be said for Wright. He had the worst 3-cone time of any cornerback recorded, making him a gigantic reach and unlikely to be able to hold his own in the league.

Grade: C-

Key Picks: Kadarius Toney, WR; Azeez Ojulari, LB; Aaron Robinson, CB

Trading down for a gadget receiver instead of staying put for a blocker when Slater was available at No. 11 may prove to be GM Dave Gettleman’s last mistake. Toney is a fine player, but joins a loaded offense. Scheming touches for Toney instead of Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, and Darius Slayton would be a mistake. 

Ojulari was a good value and Robinson has potential to be a rotational contributor within his first two years. It’s hard to explain why Gettleman didn’t invest more into the trenches, though. That’s where the Giants are losing games. 

Grade: D+

Key Picks: Joe Tryon, LB; Kyle Trask, QB; Robert Hainsey, T

The Buccaneers wisely added a rotational rusher in Tryon. He was the perfect fit at the end of the first-round and will immediately help this defense. But reaching for a limited-upside quarterback in Trask was a mistake when in win-now mode. At least drafting a passer with real NFL physical traits could’ve brought reward in a few years after Tom Brady departs. Trask doesn’t have the potential to be more than a spot starter.

Grade: D+

Key Picks: Greg Rousseau, DE; Carlos Basham Jr., LB; Spencer Brown, T

The Bills wanted to bolster their pass rush and start to look forward to the future with their class. Getting Rousseau and Basham added bodies to their rotation, but failed to add significant impact. Rousseau is a big body who does his best at tackle due to below-average explosiveness, and Basham is already 24 and was bullying much younger players in college.

It’s no secret the Bills wanted Travis Etienne at No. 30 and they should’ve moved up to take the back. Their run game is a real issue as-is. And not getting a better second corner will prove costly as their rookie pass rushers play sparingly. 

Grade: D

Key Picks: Tutu Atwell, WR; Ernest Jones, LB; Bobby Brown III, DT

No one looked at the Rams’ roster last year and thought they were a tiny speedster receiver away from winning more games, except GM Les Snead, apparently. Instead of addressing a diminished offensive line and giving new QB Matthew Stafford a fortified unit, the 5’9”, 155-pound Atwell was added to a group that already has DeSean Jackson. This was arguably the worst pick of the draft when a starting caliber blocker like Creed Humphrey, Brady Christensen, or Jaylen Mayfield were there for the taking.

Their best pick was fourth-rounder Bobby Brown. He can help replace Michael Brockers as a versatile pass rusher and big body. Jones was a similar reach when Jabrill Cox and Baron Browning were available.

Grade: D

Key Picks: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR; Tre Brown, CB

All Russell Wilson asked for was more quality blocking and the Seahawks continue to ignore him. Instead, taking diminutive receiver Eskridge to run jet sweeps was more of a priority. Eskridge has the speed and tenacity to be a nice role player for the offense but that shouldn’t be the highest praise of a contenders’ top draft pick.

The Seahawks were in a tough bind due to their self-inflicted issue of limited draft picks—Seattle’s three picks in the draft was tied for the second-fewest by any team since 1967, according to ESPN—but it’s hard to see how they improved. They need a serious influx of assets soon but limited routes to achieve that after the foolish Jamal Adams deal.

Grade: D

Key Picks: Davis Mills, QB; Nico Collins, WR

Getting Mills might prove much wiser depending on how the Deshaun Watson situation plays out and if the Stanford product proves to be a good starter. It’s tough to buy into this class, though, when the Texans will almost surely draft in the top 5 again in 2022. Mills would then be a completely wasted pick barring a miracle rookie showing.

Trading up for Collins was an issue too. They paid heavily for a good talent who will help immediately. But a rebuilding team had no business trading Nos. 109 and 158 plus and a 2022 fourth-round pick for someone who won’t make a big enough difference on their 2021 outcome.