NFL Draft 2021 is finally upon us.
Months of endless rumors and conjecture come to an end as the first round of the NFL Draft kicks off from Cleveland, where five quarterbacks are expected to be chosen on Night 1. The draft is set to begin at 8 p.m.
Bringing back all 22 starters from the Super Bowl-winning team allowed the Buccaneers to go with the best player on their board. He is a pure pass-rush specialist who eventually could replace veteran Jason Pierre-Paul. He had zero sacks last season, playing without Parsons' help. That's a first for a first-round edge rusher in the last 25 years, according to ESPN. Oweh showed freakish 4.3-second speed for a 6-foot-5, 257-pounder.32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Joe Tryon (EDGE, Washington)
By Ryan Dunleavy 31. Baltimore Ravens -- Jayson Oweh (EDGE, Penn State)
By Ryan Dunleavy
He was labeled as a one-year wonder after his 15.5-sack season in 2019 was followed by opting out. Scouts saw too many "coverage sacks" on old tape. One of the few mediocre pro day performances this year.
If you watched the NFL Championship game, you know the Packers were desperate at cornerback. Nine of their last 10 first-round picks are defensive players. The other was a quarterback. No wonder Aaron Rodgers is angry.
The Saints reportedly tried to trade into the top 10 picks. When it didn't work, they took a player some scouts thought was a third-rounder. Broke out during an injury-plagued five-game season in 2020.
There is the red-zone target the Ravens targeted -- but did not land -- in free agency. Bateman can play on the outside or in the slot and plays bigger and stronger than his 6-foot, 190-pound measuremeants.
Before he crushed his pro day testing, Newsome led the FBS in passer rating against and the Big Ten in passes defended (10) last season. This is the first time Northwestern has had two first-round picks in the same NFL draft.
A bit of a strange pick given power runner James Robinson's success as an undrafted rookie. Etienne was the most productive running back in ACC history who surprisingly returned to school last year and fumbled four times.
The easiest pick to forecast was the Steelers taking a running back -- and they went with Harris over Travis Etienne. He has the size to withstand and deliver punishment. A three-down back as a receiver or a pass-protector.
The Vikings wanted a tackle, not a guard. And they got the same player they were expected to get at No. 14 before trading with the Jets. He made 35 straight starts at left tackle.
Raw potential lives in this former quarterback and wide receiver who opted out of the 2020 season and then missed his pro day after undergoing back surgery. He is highly motivated after his slip. Great ball skills.
He played 4-3 end and was better against the run than as a pass-rusher. A long journey to this point and he has the contagious motor you would expect from an undervalued recruit.
