The NFC North could look like a very different division once things kick off in 2021. The Aaron Rodgers trade rumours continue to rumble on in Green Bay, whilst the Bears look to have secured their future franchise quarterback in Justin Fields. The Vikings and Lions were two other teams with strong draft classes and it certainly looks set to be a more competitive affair in 2021. Here are my grades for each team’s draft class.
Chicago Bears
1.11 – QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
2.39 – OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
5.151 – OT Larry Borom, Missouri
6.217 – RB Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
6.221 – WR Dazz Newsome, North Carolina
7.250 -IDL Khyiris Tonga, BYU
The Bears clearly went with a quality over quantity approach in this year’s draft. They had just two picks inside the first four rounds, but they look to have struck gold with their choices. Justin Fields was subject to plenty of pre-draft scrutiny but should have been in the conversation for QB2 in this class. He has the ideal combination of arm strength and athleticism you look for in a prospect and was consistently impressive at Ohio State. He will need to improve his processing speed, but that should come with time. Fields may be the missing piece the Bears need to compete for the NFC North again.
Teven Jenkins in the second round also looks like a steal, even if they had to trade up to get him. He is one of the best run blockers in the entire class and should have been long gone by this point in the draft. There wasn’t much to write home about after that pick, but the Bears made several interesting moves in the later rounds. This includes two of the best value picks of the entire draft. Khalil Herbert at No. 217 is an excellent value pick and they have a potential starter with Thomas Graham in the sixth round. If Chicago wanted to make a statement with this draft class they certainly succeeded.
Grade: A+
Detroit Lions
1.7 – OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
2.41 – IDL Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
3.72 – IDL Alim McNeill, NC State
3.101 – CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
4.112 – WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC
4.113 – LB Derrick Barnes, Purdue
7.257 – RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
It feels like this offseason is the beginning of a long rebuilding process in Detroit. There aren’t many better ways to kick that off than by getting a generational left tackle prospect. Penei Sewell is easily the best tackle in this year’s class and is still just 20 years old. He is an exceptional pass blocker and allowed just 15 pressures across his 706 career pass blocking snaps. He is also a fantastic run blocker, with the ideal combination of strength and athletic ability. Detroit may have considered a quarterback at that spot, but Sewell looks like a sure-fire prospect at a valuable position.
They continued their process of building from the trenches with two interior linemen in Onwuzurike and McNeill. The two offer complimentary skillsets and should help to improve a Detroit pass rush that ranked 32nd in pressure rate last season. Ifeatu Melifonwu at No. 101 was another excellent move and gives them some added reinforcement in a threadbare cornerback room. I felt like Derrick Barnes in the fourth was a little bit of a reach, but if that is the biggest criticism of your draft class you have done pretty well.
Grade: A
Green Bay Packers
1.29 – CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
2.62 – IOL Josh Myers, Ohio State
3.85 – WR, Amari Rodgers, Clemson
4.142 – OT Royce Newman, Ole Miss
5.173 – IDL Tedarrell Slaton, Florida
5.178 – CB Shemar Jean-Charles, App State
6.214 – OT Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin
6.220 – LB Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College
7.256 – RB Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
The Packers’ draft was always going to be interesting, but ended up being overshadowed by the Aaron Rodgers debacle. Eric Stokes in the first round came as something of a surprise. On the plus side, he helps to address an obvious area need on their roster. He also boasts three good years as a starter for the Bulldogs. That said, the scheme fit seems odd. Stokes excelled in press man coverage at Georgia. With the Packers he moves to a defense that play a tonne of off zone coverage. Whilst he has good speed, he lacks the fluidity and change of direction ability you want in a corner. He is also incredibly grabby downfield and will be a flag magnet in the NFL. Taking him whilst Asante Samuel Jr. was still on the board seems like an odd move.
The rest of the draft was a mixed bag for Green Bay. Josh Myers is a solid enough prospect, but taking him ahead of Creed Humphrey and Kendrick Green seemed like a very odd choice. Once again, he seems like a peculiar scheme fit, lacking the athleticism you want in an outside zone heavy offense. One pick I really liked though was Amari Rodgers in the third. He gives the Packers another receiving weapon and can be the genuine slot receiver that they have been lacking for some time. I wasn’t overly impressed with the bulk of their work on Day 3, but Shemar Jean-Charles and Kylin Hill both look like nice developmental options.
Grade: C
Minnesota Vikings
1.23 – OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
3.66 – QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
3.78 – LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
3.86 – IOL Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
3.90 – EDGE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh
4.119 – RB Kene Nwangwu, Iowa State
4.125 – CB Camryn Bynum, California
4.134 – EDGE Janarius Robinson, Florida State
5.157 – WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
5.168 – TE Zach Davidson, Central Missouri
6.199 – EDGE Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh
Just like the Bears and Lions, the Vikings came away from the 2021 Draft as a significantly better roster. They made one of the best moves of the entire draft with their trade down in the first round. I would have been a fan of them taking Christian Darrisaw at No. 14 overall so to get him at No. 23 was a great piece of business. He has the ideal combination of pass blocking prowess and run blocking technique and should immediately improve their offensive line.
The trade down also saw them net two third rounders, which they used to get Wyatt Davis and Kellen Mond. Taking Mond in the third felt a little rich, but I can understand them taking a swing at a high value position. Chazz Surratt also projects as an interesting developmental option at linebacker, with all of the traits to be an NFL starter. They also managed to pick up some upside picks in the later rounds. One name I’ll be interested to watch is fifth rounder Ihmir Smith-Marsette. His production suffered in Iowa’s offense but he has the tools to be a good deep threat in the NFL.
Grade: B+
