NFL draft winners, losers of Round 1: From Trevor Lawrence to Mac Jones, QBs reign https://t.co/8aNnwk6JNY

— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) April 30, 2021

Deadpool

2. Liam Eichenburg – OT – Notre Dame – 6′-5″ 305 lbs. – Good size (could use some weight) and lots of power. He is an OK athlete and can climb to the 2nd level and get after LBers but he lacks quickness that allows speed rushers to give him an issue now and again. LT prospect.

3. Jalen Mayfield – OT – Michigan – 6′-5″ 320 lbs. – a somewhat raw RT, Crazy power with really good balance and good mobility. Needs some refinement in technique, but thats to be expected. RT/LT/OG prospect.

4. Azeez Ojulari – Edge – Georgia – 6′-3″ 240 lbs. – Great athlete with a big time motor, can rush and defend the run. Could stand to use some more good weight. 34 WOLB

8. Dillon Radunz – OT – NDSU – 6′-5″ 305 lbs. – Smooth mover with enough power to handle bull rushes. Could use some weight/strength for the NFL. Showed at the Senior Bowl he can play OG or OT.

9. Creed Humphrey – OC – Oklahoma – 6′-4″ 315 lbs. – OL leader and makes all the line calls, A better athlete than he gets credit for IMO. Good power/strength and is a gamer. OC in power or zone.

11. Joseph Ossai – Edge – Texas – 6′-3″ 245 lbs. – Nice quickness, really athletic with a good pass rush game. High rev motor. Needs to get stronger to handle run defense. 34 OLB

12. Sam Cosmi – OT – Texas – 6′-7″ 300 lbs. – A good athlete and a smooth mover laterally, combine that with his great length and there is a lot to like about his potential. Needs to add some weight and strength to that 6′-7″ frame to handle power. LT/RT prospect.

13. Asante Samuel Jr – 5′-10″ – FSU – 5′-10″ 185 lbs. – Twitchy athlete with a real natural feel for the position. Willing tackler, but size is a hinderance. Decent ball production. in/out CB

14. Jabril Cox – LB – LSU – 6′-3″ 232 lbs. – Top notch pass defender, at his best in a run and chase position, Very good athlete that has all sorts of range. Can blitz off the edge. Played outside in NDSUs 43, inside in LSUs 34. 34 ILB/43 WLB

15. Jamar Johnson – S – Indiana – 6′-1″ 197 lbs. – A physical safety with good range and good ball skills, he is effective equally against the run and the pass.

16. Aaron Robinson – CB – UCF – 5′-11″ 190 lbs. – Smooth lower half, ultra competitive and a willing tackler. Average athlete. Slot CB that could develop outside.

17. Quinn Meinerz – IL – Wisconsin Whitewater – 6′-3″ 320 lbs. – OG that learned OC during the pandemic, he is a decent mover, but can get a bit lungy in space. Crazy power and looks to hit anything until the whistle. Best fit as a OC in any blocking scheme.

18. Elijah Molden – CB – Washington – 5′-10″ 190 lbs. – Not a big or super athletic slot CB, but has very good ball skills, is a willing tackler and plays smart. He competes. Slot CB only

19. Rondale Moore – WR – Purdue – 5′-9″ 175 lbs. – Super electric, HR speed. Return specialist. Smaller frame and has extensive injury history. When healthy, must be accounted for. Slot WR

20. Baron Browning – LB – Ohio State – 6′-3″ 240 lbs. – Fast. Versatile (played all over) Good blitzer, plenty of range. Matches up with TEs well. OLB 43/ ILB 34

21. Teven Jenkins – OT – Oklahoma State – 6′-6″ 315 lbs. – Played OG and OT. OK athlete, but a guy I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. He will beat you up for 60 minutes. Opted out halfway thru the season with a back issue. RT is his best spot.

22. Nico Collins – WR – Michigan – 6′-4″ 215 lbs. – #2 WR. Nice Size/speed combo that can win 50/50, over the top or deep. Good hands. Lack of production and opted out. #2 WR

23. Pat Freiermuth – TE – Penn State – 6′-5″ 255 lbs. – My #1 coming into the season, very good size/athlete combo with very good hands. Can block some. A seam buster. Used all over. Combo TE.

24. Richie Grant – S – UCF – 6′-0″ 195 lbs. – Ball hawk. Super versatile. Physical with plenty of range. Great athletic profile.

25. Landon Dickerson – OC – Alabama – 6′-6″ 326 lbs. – Power blocking team leader that can make all the calls, literally played all 5 spots for the Tide. Best suited as an interior blocker due to average athleticism. OC for a power blocking team. Multiple injury red flags.

26. Walker Little – OT – Stanford – 6′-7″ 307 lbs. – Agile, good length, smart. Was a 2020 opt out and missed ’19 with ACL. Decent strength, but could stand to get stronger. OZS OT

27. Ronnie Perkins – Edge – Oklahoma – 6′-3″ 250 lbs. – Powerful with great hands, not the most fluid athlete, he can make plays all over. Great motor. 34 OLB maybe a 43 end with weight gain.

28. Jevon Holland – S – Oregon – 6′-1″ 197 lbs. – Very good athlete. GOOD, like good ball skills, good in run defense, good range, good motor, good versatility.

29. Milton Williams – DT Louisiana Tech- 6′-4″ 280 lbs. – Makes a living in the other teams backfield. He isn’t explosive, but he is athletic, makes good use of his hands and has a good motor. Arrow up guy. 3/5 tech

30. Nick Bolton – LB – Missouri – 6′-0″ 232 lbs. – A good athlete and arrives with a pop. Struggles to shed blocks. I like him as a WILL in a 43. 43 WLB/ 34 ILB

31. D’Wayne Eskridge – WR – Western Michigan – 5′-9″ 190 lbs. – Good hands, plus route runner and can create separation. Big play ability esp. in the open field. slot/3rd WR

32. Ihmir Smith-Marsette – WR – Iowa – 6′-1″ 186 lbs. – Vertical threat thats dangerous in the open field. Jet sweeps, screens. He is diverse. Love to see him add strength to thrive outside. #3 WR

33. Brevin Jordan – TE – Miami – 6′-3″ 245 lbs. – Physical, explosive, competitive. Makes for a tough tackle after the catch. Willing blocker. Combo TE in any offense.

34. Quincy Roche – Edge – Miami – 6′-3″ 243 lbs. – Advanced pass rusher with decent athleticism and a good motor. Good explosiveness off the snap. 34 OLB

35. Paulson Adebo – CB – Stanford – 6′-1″ 190 lbs. – Very good athlete with good ball skills and a willingness to tackle. Good speed. Outside CB

36. Josh Myers – OC – Ohio State – 6′-5″ 310 lbs. – OC only prospect that will fit best in a zone scheme. Good, not great power, and a decent athlete. Room to grow, but a nice package.

37. James Hudson – OT – Cinncinnati – 6′-4″ 305 lbs. – Smooth mover with decent size, good power and plays with a bit of an edge to him. Raw, will need time. LT

38. Dyami Brown – WR – UNC – 6′-1″ 195 lbs. – Vertical WR with good hands and is a good athlete. OK route runner but was limited at UNC. Outside #3 WR

39. Kelvin Joseph – CB – Kentucky – 6′-1″ 191 lbs. – Love his length and ball hawk skill set. Only 20ish games under his belt due to transfer. scheme diverse outside CB

40. Jaylen Twyman – DT – Pitt – 6′-2″ 290 lbs. – 2020 opt out. 1st Pitt DT to lead his team in sacks since, I forget his name, Albert Darnold? Something like that. And there are similarities between AD and JT. Super explosive, plays low to the ground and lives in the backfield. Needs to add strength. And maybe come from Krypton. 3 tech, maybe 5 tech

41. Carlos Basham Jr. Edge – Wake Forrest – 6′-3″ 281 lbs. – He packed the stat chart. wins with decent quickness and lots of power. Can handle run duties due to his power. 43 DE

42. Cameron McGrone – LB – Michigan – 6′-1″ 235 lbs. – A bit raw, but good athleticism, not afraid of contact, developing coverage ability. Good blitzer. 34/43 MLB

43. Trill Williams – CB – Syracuse – 6′-2″ 200 lbs. – Super versatile (CB,slot, S ) aggressive against the pass and run. Great length. Great athlete. Little ball production. Jack of all trades/master of none. Inside/outside CB/Safety

44. Spencer Brown – OT – Northern Iowa – 6′-8″ 315 lbs. – Good athlete for his stature, good power and tons of length. finishes blocks. RT

45. Rashad Weaver – Edge – Pitt – 6′-4″ 265 lbs. – strong with ideal length. He can get after the QB. Not super athlete or explosive. Also a good run defender. 43/34 DE

47. Tyson Campbell – CB – Georgia – 6′-2″ 185 lbs. – Long, athletic CB. Questionable long speed. Ball skills are not a strong suit. Outside CB, Zone maybe press man.

48. Anthony Schwartz- WR – Auburn – 6′-0″ 180 lbs. – Literal track star speed. Slight frame and a raw route runner. Good hands. HR threat. Slot WR

49. Dylan Moses – LB – Alabama – 6′-3″ 235 lbs. – Love his range, plus blitzer, does well to drop in coverage. Athletically gifted. A thumper. SLB or MLB 43/ ILB 34 that can blitz off the edge.

50. Amari Rogers – WR – Clemson – 5′-10″ 211 lbs. – Small but physical. Good hands and dangerous in open space. Slot WR

51. Demetric Felton – WR – UCLA – 5′-9″ 190 lbs. – Dynamic athlete, good hands. a RB/WR combo that is dangerous once the ball is in his hands, Good speed. Offensive weapon/slot

52. Pete Werner – LB- Ohio State – 6′-3″ 240 lbs. – Surprising athlete in a good way. Can cover and play the run well. I like his physicality. A bit of a slower processor. 43 OLB/34 ILB

53. Elijah Moore – WR – Ole Miss – 5′-9″ 184 lbs. – Explosive athlete, dangerous in open space, lacks the bulk to play outside in the NFL. Needs route work. Solid hands. Slot WR

54. Marco Wilson – CB – Florida – 6′-0″ 190 lbs. – Smooth lower half, nice frame for a CB, successful as a blitzer. Needs to be coached up technique-wise. Slot/outside CB.

55. Stone Forsythe – OT – Florida – 6′-8″ 315 lbs. – Power, lots of it. Not the smoothest mover. Inconsistent anchor. A bit raw. Lots of tools. gap/power LT/RT

56. Ambry Thomas – CB – Michigan – 6′-0″ 190 lbs. – 2020 opt out. Physical corner that excels in press man. Willing tackler against the run. Outside CB press man

57. Chazz Surratt – LB – UNC – 6′-2″ 227 lbs. – Former QB. So a bit raw. Sideline to sideline range Getting better in coverage. Surprisingly physical. Traffic gives him issues though. 34 ILB or 43 WILL

58. Dayo Odeyingbo – Edge – Vanderbilt – 6′-6″ 265 lbs. – Athletic with power coming off the edge. Better against the pass than run. Torn achilles clouds his immediate value. 34/43 edge

59. Ifeatu Melifonwu – CB – Syracuse – 6′-2″ 215 lbs. – nice size/athletic combo that had decent ball production, an OK tackler that will mix it up. At his best facing the offense. Outside CB/ Safety

60. Benjamin St-Juste – CB – Minnesota – 6′-3″ 200 lbs. – physical and long, at his best in a press situation. Smooth, loose moving athlete for his size. Could transition to S. Outside CB.

61. Hamilcar Rashed Jr – Edge – Oregon State – 6′-4″ 254 lbs. – Decent athlete with good strength. Speed to power style pass rusher. very good run defender. Big motor. 5T/34 OLB

62. Marvin Wilson – DT – Florida State – 6′-3″ 320 lbs. – flashes that size/strength/explosive athlete combo, but he has just kinda topped out. The potential is there, needs the right coach. 3 tech.

63. Tommy Tremble – TE – Notre Dame – 6′-4″ 250 lbs. – Easy athlete with good, not great hands and decent speed that just lacked opportunities at ND. Competes as a blocker, but not his forte. motion action pass catching TE.

64. Janarius Robinson – Edge – FSU – 6′-5″ 265 lbs. – Smooth and quick, with great length that he uses well to maintain separation. 34 End

65. Hunter Long – TE – BC – 6′-5″ 255 lbs. – Good long speed and a seam splitter. Size mismatch in the middle of the field. Good, soft hands. Not physical enough right now as a blocker. Receiving TE.

66. James Wiggins – S – Cinncinnati – 6′-0″ 205 lbs. – Super versatile S that can line up anywhere in the middle of the field. Good run defender, quick and smooth athlete. Good ball skills. ACL concerns.

67. Brady Christiansen – OT – BYU – 6′-6″ 300 lbs. – An OK at best athlete. Good power, disciplined. RT/OG gap/power

68. Elerson Smith – Edge – UNI – 6′-6″ 260 lbs. – Good athlete that can use his length and athleticism to get after the QB. Run defense needs work. 34 Edge

69. Chauncey Golston – Edge – Iowa – 6′-5″ 268 lbs. – Lots of length, run defense is ahead of his pass rush. High effort guy. Stiff, with OK strength. 43 DE/ possibly 34 DE

70. Jonathan Adams Jr. – WR – Arkansas St. – 6′-3″ 210 lbs. – 50/50 ball magnet. Strong hands. Raw route runner. Nice size/speed combo Outside WR

71. Osa Odighizuwa – IDL – UCLA – 6′-2″ 280 lbs. – Lacks ideal size, but is athletic for the position. Good strength. Run defense lacks again due to size. 34 End/ 43 3T

72. Caden Sterns – S – Texas – 6′-1″ 207 lbs. – Outstanding athlete with good range, good ball skills. Spotty tackler. I think he can play any scheme.

73. Tutu Atwell – WR – Louisville – 5′-9″ 165 lbs. – Extremely fast. Dangerous with the ball. Serious HR threat from the Slot. Hands are OK. Small catch radius. Slot WR

74. Ar’Darius Washington – S – TCU – 5′-8″ 180 lbs. – Real heady player that makes up for ideal size with smarts. Nice range with good ball skills. Split Zone Safety

75. Jonathon Cooper – Edge – Ohio State – 6′-3″ 254 lbs. – Tireless. smooth moving defender with a nice arsenal of pass rush moves. Good against the run, esp from the backside. 34 OLB (weakside)

76. Rodarius Williams – CB – Okla. State – 6′-0″ 195 lbs. – Average play speed and a little stiff. Smart, with good instincts. Not a lot of ball production. Outside CB

77. Simi Fehoko- WR – Stanford – 6′-4″ 222 lbs. – Big play threat due to his size/speed combo. 50/50 balls are his. Not the shiftiest WR, but a good route runner. (gives me Claypool vibes) Outside WR

78. Tamorrion Terry – WR – FSU – 6′-4″ 203 lbs. – Long, lean, with deep speed. Hands are iffy. Routes can be lazy. HR hitter after the catch. Outside WR

79. Darrick Forrest – S – Cincinnati – 6′-0″ 200 lbs. – Smart, instinctual safety with good range, above average ball skills and a willingness to defend the run. Reminds me of JJ3. Scheme diverse Safety

80. D’Ante Smith – OT – East Carolina – 6′-5″ 295 lbs. – Nice combination of length and athleticism. Didn’t see him this year? opt out or injury? Functional strength, needs to get stronger. LT OZS

81. Garrett Wallow – LB- TCU – 6′-2″ 230 lbs. – tackle machine, sideline to sideline, can drop into coverage. Plays with an edge. Calls the defense. When kept clean, he’s dangerous. Traffic/blockers give him issues. 43 WILL/ 34 ILB

82. Tre McKitty – TE – Georgia – 6′-4″ 245 lbs. – Good hands, really fluid athlete for his size, willing blocker but needs more sand in his pants. A RAC machine. pass catching TE

83. Monty Rice – LB – Georgia – 6′-0″ 238 lbs.- Good athlete and can get sideline to sideline. Has shown the ability to defend the pass. Can get tied up with OL due to lack of length. ILB 34/43

84. Marlon Tuipulotu – IDL – USC – 6′-2″ 300 lbs. – Explosive, bull rushing 3T. Big motor, good run defender. Beyond bull rush, not mush pass rush variety. 3T DT

85. Thomas Graham Jr. – CB – Oregon – 5′-11″ 200 lbs. – Average athlete, average speed. Willing against the run. Good ball skills. Outside CB – zone

86. Justin Hilliard – LB – Ohio State – 6′-0″ 227 lbs. – Stuck behind a good LB group, he has shown an ability to play the pass, mix it up against the run and is a sure tackler. Can cover TEs. 43 SAM, or Rams sized ILB

87. Patrick Johnson – Edge – Tulane – 6′-3″ 255 lbs. – Real stat machine. Mixes up his pass rush, nice athlete with good burst. Solid against the run. 34 OLB

88. Robert Hainsey – OT – Notre Dame – 6′-5″ 302 lbs. – Rare prospect, an actual athletic RT that is more suited to OZS than gap/power. Easy mover, but needs to ad strength. RT OZS

89. Daelin Hayes – Edge – Notre Dame – 6′-4″ 260 lbs. – Long with some pop. A tad stiff, but has nice power. 34 OLB

90. Derrick Barnes – LB – Purdue – 6′-1″ 245 lbs. – A bit stiff as a mover. Lots of power to combine with a top end motor. 34 ILB

91. Keith Taylor Jr. – CB – Washington – 6′-2″ 190 lbs. – Press man with great length. No interceptions in 2 years. Willing tackler. Ok athlete. Scheme diverse outside CB.

92. Charles Snowden – LB/Edge – Virginia – 6′-6″ 232 lbs. – Ridiculous length as a LBer, good athlete and a smooth mover forward or backward. Excellent in coverage, decent pass rusher. needs strength/ weight. 43 WILL/ 34 OLB

93. Cameron Sample – Edge – Tulane – 6′-3″ 275 lbs. – Strong with heavy hands. Bull rusher and tough against the run. Ok athlete. 43 DE

94. – Austin Watkins – WR – UAB – 6′-2″ 207 lbs. – Love his size/speed combo. Great hands. Vertical threat and a good route runner. A bit raw and level of competition concerns. Outside WR

95. Nick Eubanks – TE – Michigan – 6′-5″ 255 lbs. – Michigans offense limited his pass catching opportunities, but a good blocker. Nice athletic profile with upside that can win in space. #2 TE in 2 TE sets.

96. Shaka Toney – Edge – Penn State – 6′-3″ 238 lbs. – Great burst off the LoS, twitched up athlete. High energy. A tweener, too small for DE, Has never stood up. Wide 5 or 34 OLB

97. Josh Imatorbhebhe – WR – Illinois – 6′-2″ 215 lbs. – Vertical threat with great athleticism, strong hands and great size. OK route runner, separating may be tough at the next level. Outside WR

98. Ernest Jones – LB – South Carolina – 6′-2″ 230 lbs. – Good tackler, with decent range. A bit stiff. Looks stronger than he is. 43 WILL, maybe 34 ILB

99. Dan Moore Jr. – OT – Texas A&M – 6′-5″ 309 lbs. – Nice combo of good, not great strength and agility. Needs some technique work. OZS LT/RT

100. Kendrick Green – IOL – Illinois – 6′-3″ 300 lbs. – Good power, decent lateral mover. Has technique issues timing everything up. OZS OG/OC

101. Shaun Wade – CB – Ohio State – 6′-1″ 195 lbs. – physical, good ball skills, kinda stalled out on the outside. Love his athletic toolbox, something is missing. Inside CB/ possible safety

102. Shawn Davis – S – Florida – 5′-11″ 200 lbs. – good athlete, fast and a ball hawk. Run defense can be hit and miss. Scheme diverse safety

103. Marquez Stevenson – WR – Houston – 5′-10″ 182 lbs. – HR speed. Inconsistant hands. Twitchy athlete. Gains separation with quickness and athletic ability, not route running. Slot WR

104. Olaijah Griffin – CB – USC – 6′-0″ 175 lbs. – Ok athlete with ok speed. Nice ball skills. and is a willing tackler in the run game. Outside CB

105. Malcolm Koonce – Edge – Buffalo – 6′-3″ 248 lbs. – Nice combo of agility/strength and burst. Can set an edge against the run. Raw as a pass rusher. Good motor. 34 OLB

106. Jaylon Moore – OT – Western Michigan – 6′-4″ 311 lbs. – Nice athlete that needs to add power. Technique is a bit sloppy. Zone scheme OT, maybe OG

107. Camryn Bynum – CB – CAL – 6′-0″ 200 lbs. – Easy moving CB with good speed. Not much ball production. High IQ. Outside CB

108. Paris Ford – S – Pitt – 6′-0″ 190 lbs. – Super aggressive, great athlete. May lack the instincts. Ball skills are ok. Zone safety

109. Tarron Jackson – Edge – Coastal Carolina – 6′-3″ 260 lbs. – Played at 275, Senior Bowl 260…good athlete with a decent burst and ok power. versatile edge defender depending on weight

110. Kary Vincent Jr. – CB – LSU – 5′-10″ 190 lbs. – oily lower body with great feet and good ball skills. Willing but ineffective tackler. Played slot and safety. Slot CB/eventual Safety?

111. Dez Fitzpatrick – WR – Louisville – 6′-2″ 202 lbs. – Multi-level threat with good size. Strong hands, only an OK athlete, nothing exciting. I like his physicality. Outside WR

112. Drew Dalman – IOL – Stanford – 6′-3″ 286 lbs. – Agile, undersized, smart OC that will need to add power/weight for the next level. OZS OC

113. Drake Jackson – IOL – Kentucky – 6′-2″ 290 lbs. – Easy moving OC with OK power, won’t blow you off the LoS. OK anchor. Zone OC

114. Darius Stills – IDL – West Virginia – 6′-1″ 281 lbs. – Nice first step. great athletic/strength combo. High rev motor. Can play a bit out of control/discipline. 34 DE/43 3T

115. JaCoby Stevens – S – LSU – 6′-1″ 216 lbs. – Played all over. Good ball production. Mixes it up against the run. Average athlete with limited range. Zone safety/big nickel LB[/quote]

Bonus Rams Stacked Big Board – These guys didn’t crack my top 200, but the Rams probably have interest in them:

116. Jaelon Darden – WR- North Texas – 5′-9″ 190 lbs. – Deep threat with electric athleticism in the open field. Can run routes, excellent in the return game

117. Trey Hill – OC – Georgia – 6′-3″ 320 lbs. – Plays with a bit of an edge, good lateral movement for his size. Can play OG. Can be a bit slow on picking up stunts. IOL in any scheme

118. Nick Niemann – LB – Iowa – 6′-4″ 220 lbs. – smart with good instincts. good athleticism to work inside in a 34. Rangy, but needs to add some good weight. ILB 34

119. Amen Ogbongbemiga – LB – Oklahoma State – 6′-1″ 235 lbs. – Run defense is ahead of his pass defense. Has enough range to drop into zone coverage in a 34. ILB 34

120. Trevon Grimes – WR- Florida – 6′-4″ 215 lbs. – Decent route runner with strong hands. Possession with redzone size and a chance to be a deep threat. I don’t think he plays to his 40.

121. Jim Morrissey – IOL – Pitt – 6′-3″ 300 lbs. – OK mover with average strength and a good anchor, intelligent. Absolutely a technician, not a brawler. OC OZS

122. Adrian Ealy – OT – Oklahoma – 6′-6″ 325 lbs. – Excellent mover in space, not as powerful as he should be. A perfect late round development type. OT OZS

123. Ben Mason – FB – Michigan – 6′-3″ 255 lbs. – An absolute hammer as a FB, moves well for his size. Soft hands when catching a pass. ST upside. A real throwback warrior. Stiif and not a great athlete.

124. Michal Menet – OC – Penn State – 6′-3″ 305 lbs. – Nice anchor, decent strength and good lateral agility. Needs mechanical work. Like his work ethic. OC OZS

125. K.J. Britt – LB – Auburn – 6′-0″ 235 lbs. – Tough, physical and instinctive against the run. Stiff and not very fluid against the pass. 2 down ILB 34/43

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Trevor Lawrence
Trey Lance
Justin Fields

All have one thing in common: They’re on the Rams’ 2021 schedule

===

Round Pick Overall Team Pick
1 1 1 Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
1 2 2 New York Jets Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
1 3 3 San Francisco 49ers from Dolphins through Texans Trey Lance, QB, NDSU
1 4 4 Atlanta Falcons Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
1 5 5 Cincinnati Bengals Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
1 6 6 Miami Dolphins from Eagles Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
1 7 7 Detroit Lions Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
1 8 8 Carolina Panthers Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
1 9 9 Denver Broncos Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
1 10 10 Philadelphia Eagles from Cowboys DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
1 11 11 Chicago Bears from Giants Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
1 12 12 Dallas Cowboys from 49ers through Eagles, Dolphins Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
1 13 13 Los Angeles Chargers Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
1 14 14 New York Jets from Vikings Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC
1 15 15 New England Patriots Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
1 16 16 Arizona Cardinals Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
1 17 17 Las Vegas Raiders Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
1 18 18 Miami Dolphins Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
1 19 19 Washington Football Team Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
1 20 20 New York Giants from Bears Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
1 21 21 Indianapolis Colts Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
1 22 22 Tennessee Titans Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
1 23 23 Minnesota Vikings from Seattle Seahawks through Jets Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
1 24 24 Pittsburgh Steelers Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
1 25 25 Jacksonville Jaguars from Los Angeles Rams Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
1 26 26 Cleveland Browns Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
1 27 27 Baltimore Ravens Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
1 28 28 New Orleans Saints Payton Turner, DE, Houston
1 29 29 Green Bay Packers Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
1 30 30 Buffalo Bills Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
1 31 31 Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
1 32 32 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington

—

With the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cardinals select LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa#NFLDraft2021 pic.twitter.com/1RSSKek8bj

— PFF (@PFF) April 30, 2021

My thoughts on Aaron Rodgers/Packers: pic.twitter.com/jPlF3QOJNt

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) April 29, 2021

ProFootballTalk@ProFootballTalk
Buzz is definitely building for Broncos making a move for Aaron Rodgers. G.M. George Paton witnessed what Aaron can do while in Minnesota. Coach Vic Fangio witnessed it while in Chicago.

mark schlereth@markschlereth
I’m hearing @AaronRodgers12 to @Broncos is close to a done deal… still could fall thru but fingers crossed Crossed fingers

Joel Corry@corryjoel
If Aaron Rodgers is traded before June 2, the Packers will have $31.556M of 2021 dead money because of dealing him. The only 2021 cap hit for a player on a team that would be bigger would belong to Russell Wilson ($32M). Carson Wentz’ dead money with Philly is $33,820,611.

"The tallest mallard duck to have ever lived (since records began) known as 'Long Boi.' He lives on the campus of the University of York, England. He stands just over 1m tall (3.5ft)." pic.twitter.com/YMQVRlfCb5

— Dick King-Smith HQ (@DickKingSmith) April 29, 2021

ProFootballTalk@ProFootballTalk
As @JayGlazer said, the contract is part of the reason for Rodgers’ discontent. I’m told he “doesn’t like anyone in the front office for a variety of reasons.”

ProFootballTalk@ProFootballTalk
From unimpeachable source: As of last night, Aaron Rodgers’ wish list was 49ers, Broncos, Raiders (not necessarily in that order). He wanted Packers to take the 49ers’ offer. Next move by Rodgers is TBD.

Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
No first-round pick for the Rams tonight. GM Les Snead on their drafting philosophy: …”in this phase, we’ve determined to use those picks in a creative way to maybe go get some more known players that can come in and help us right now with less projection and development.”

Ex-GA deputy bragged to extremist group about beating Black man in custody, FBI says

https://news.yahoo.com/ex-ga-deputy-bragged-extremist-185414062.html

A former Middle Georgia sheriff’s deputy bragged in text messages with members of an alleged extremist group that he had beaten a Black person he arrested and planned to charge Black Georgians with felonies to keep them from voting, according to an FBI affidavit.

The ex-Wilkinson County deputy, Cody Richard Griggers, of Montrose, was fired last November after the FBI contacted the sheriff there about an investigation into illegal guns and their alleged ties to a California man said to have made violent political statements on Facebook.

Griggers, 28, a former Marine, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court in Macon to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, a crime the authorities discovered in their probe, which began last summer. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in July.

Investigating ‘Shadow Moses’

His name surfaced in August when federal agents searched the cellphone of a San Diego man and discovered group text messages with members of the texting group who referred to themselves as “Shadow Moses” or “Shadmo,” court documents state.

Griggers, in the texts, was said to have claimed he was making and gathering illegal firearms and explosives.

Griggers, who is white, “also expressed viewpoints consistent with racially motivated violent extremism, including the use of racial slurs, slurs against homosexuals and making frequent positive references to the Nazi holocaust,” prosecutors said in a statement on Wednesday announcing Griggers’ plea.

The prosecutors said that on Nov. 19 last year that the FBI searched Griggers’ patrol car and found a machine gun “with an obliterated serial number,” a weapon he was not allowed to have in his patrol car.

“An unregistered short barrel shotgun was found in his home,” the statement went on. “In all, between the defendant’s residence and duty vehicle, officers found 11 illegal firearms.”

Bragging about beating, arrests

It was Griggers’ statements in text messages, however, that most concerned Wilkinson Sheriff Richard Chatman.

Some of the statements were noted in an FBI affidavit used to obtain a search warrant of Griggers’ home on Ga. 112 in Montrose.

In a text with the “Shadmo” group in August 2019, Griggers claimed to have used excessive force on a man in his custody.

“I beat the (expletive) out of a (racial slur) Saturday. (Expletive) tried to steal (a gun magazine) from the local gun store. … Sheriff’s dept. said it looked like he fell,” the affidavit noted, quoting Griggers.

Griggers went on to write that the beating was for him “sweet stress relief.”

“That never happened,” said Chatman, the sheriff, in an interview with The Telegraph Wednesday. “We don’t even have a gun shop here.”

Chatman, who is Black, said he concluded that Griggers’ claim was perhaps Griggers “being braggadocious.”

“I think he may have been working in the jail (at the time). … We looked at all the cases he may have been involved in and we never had any complaints on him of any kind,” Chatman said. “We looked back and we pulled (records) of anything that he had taken a warrant for, any call that he had gone on, and we found nothing [that raised any red flags].”

Ex-deputy discussed killing politicians

The affidavit also said Griggers had texted how he “intended to charge black people with felonies in order to keep them from voting.”

“It’s a sign of beautiful things to come,” he wrote, according to the affidavit. “Also I’m going to charge them with whatever felonies I can to take away their ability to vote.”

Griggers had worked as a deputy in Wilkinson County — which lies just east of Macon and has a population of about 9,000 people, about 40% of them Black — for just over a year, the sheriff said.

According to the FBI affidavit, Griggers also discussed “killing liberal politicians” with other members of the text group, writing they could “make it look like Muslims” were responsible.

I bet they can get him (Little) lower than 57.

Rams hope to keep Darious Williams on long-term deal. https://t.co/TRLzImhWyt

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 28, 2021

Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
Sean McVay says the Rams don’t have any glaring holes on their roster, they aren’t in a position where a drafted player must come in and start. Building depth is where this draft will help.

Rams Head Coach Sean McVay and General Manager Les Snead – April 27, 2021

(Opening statement)
MCVAY: “All right, I’m sure the first question is why the heck are me and (General Manager) Les (Snead) are at our houses and you guys are at the Draft House. Long story short, we had a person that got COVID that Les and I were both close contact traces with. Wanted to be smart. Neither of us is affected by this, but just following the protocols. We wanted to be smart and hopefully as long as we remain asymptomatic and our tests come back negative, which that’s what has occurred over the last couple of days, we’ll be able to have fun. And maybe I’ll be able to take my shirt off when we draft like (Cardinals Head Coach) Kliff Kingsbury said. But other than that, hopefully you guys are enjoying that.”

(On if McVay and Snead have taken COVID tests with negative results)
MCVAY: “Yeah, that’s correct.”

(On when they became aware of being a close contact)
MCVAY: “That happened yesterday.”
SNEAD: “More tests to come.”

(On the protocol to resume in-person):
MCVAY: “I think the bottom line for us and really, it was more of a let’s be smart, let’s be safe, let’s take the next couple of days to ensure that up until, and really through Thursday, everybody remains asymptomatic, their tests come back negative. As long as that’s the case then we’ll be able to get it going on Friday. Don’t expect much action from us on Thursday, unless we maybe trade up into the first round, which knowing Les and the Rams, you never know, huh Les?”
SNEAD: “Yeah. I hear there’s a few picks for sale. The Falcons and maybe we move up to (No.) four? See what happens.”

(On if they will not be at the Draft House on Thursday regardless of negative covid results)
MCVAY: “The plan is Friday will be the first day that I’ll be there.”

(On what the Rams will be looking for when drafting in the second round)
MCVAY: “You know the answer to that. I won’t even have Les waste his time with that. Come on, now. You’re better than that. (laughs)”
SNEAD: “How do I answer this to try to be interesting too. I think like we have in the past, we try to work and figure out which players at what positions might be in and around, as we’ve said, ‘Swimming in the in that part of the pool,’ is a little bit harder to do, easier said than done sometimes. You somewhat got to wait and see how the draft unfolds and as it gets closer to (No.) 57, at that point in time, you can get a feel for what positions, there could be a run on certain positions and you can manage the strategy from there and whether, ‘Hey, do you go grab somebody? Do you wait and catch whoever falls, or do you move back and try to grab another apple?’ But at the end of the day, we’ve tried to prepare for as many scenarios as possible. But really, you’re looking at probably multiple players at multiple positions because there’s 56 at this point in time, 56 teams get to get a say before we do.”

(On if there was passion from scouting staff about prospects worth making trades for)
SNEAD: “We got a new term in the building thanks to (Defensive Coordinator) Raheem Morris the magic of Raheem Morris, obviously you all probably interviewed him. So, very passionate, vibrant, brings energy every day. He definitely termed a new term and probably a new grade that will implement it’s called the ‘Pool party grade,’ so at that point in time, if there’s a few players at a few positions and I know he’s on the defense side of the ball, but I know the offensive staff joined in as well. But there’s a there’s a few players that maybe as Raheem termed it, we’d have a pool party, if they fell and we were able to grab them. But to be determined, to be continued. But we’ll see.”

(On if discussions have taken place about trading back)
SNEAD: “Right now, the answer is, we GMs start talking this time of year. The answer is a yes on a few. Historically, when you’re picking 57th, a little late in the second round, at the end of the day, there’s a supply and demand factor that comes into it. But historically those picks have been traded often because a team that may be sitting in the third round maybe has more capital, wants to move up just to jump a few teams. So, I do think the exploratory talks will continue between now and then. But again, could happen a lot on Friday, but I think at that pick right there, there will be not to be teams behind us that a player falls to that pick and they want to go get him. That’s kind of how that those economics work.”

(On if there is a player on the roster to take over at center)
SNEAD: “I think we’ve definitely discussed some internal candidates. I’ll let Sean, if you want to follow up on that. And yeah, definitely like every draft, we evaluate the center position and try to stack those players as best as possible. But Sean, you might elaborate on our discussions from within.”
MCVAY: “There’s absolutely candidates in our building right now. (OL) Brian Allen is a guy that started at the center position. (OL) Coleman Shelton and then we’ve got starter caliber guards. Guys that have started at guard that absolutely have the position flex. So, one of the things that we’ve tried to do over the last couple of years is really have some position flex, especially with those interior players. But, definitely have more than enough guys in house and it’s that’s something that we feel really confident about.”

(On the Rams position surrounding the first round of the draft)
SNEAD: “It’s a good question. How do you answer it? I mean, I think the first round is obviously a place where there’s some talented players. I think based on kind of where we’ve been as a team, where we’ve been consistently picking since Sean has been here, we’ve been able to win some games, contend for the division, advance to the playoffs – you’re picking later. So, even when Sean and I did have a first-round pick, a couple of years back, we did determine instead of picking at (No.) 31, it might be better to move back and collect capital. So, right now in this phase, we’ve determined to use those picks in a creative way to maybe go get some more known players that can come in and help us right now with less projection and development. Or we’ve used that pick to add draft capital to get, let’s call it instead of just one player, maybe two or three. So, it has been a while. It’s a fun place to pick and it’s even fun when you’re, let’s call it, one of our former teammates, (Lions General Manager) Brad Holmes, and (Lions Assistant General Manager) Ray Agnew, it’ll be fun watching those guys when it’s been a long time since we’ve picked, let’s call it top-10, and you’re in that pool. That’s definitely a different swimming pool than we’ve been swimming in lately.”

(On how much COVID has impact player evaluation)
SNEAD: “I think it has impacted the process. I don’t know if the process has been more in, maybe let’s call it, when certain data comes across your desk or is made available, right? Instead of having a lot of workout numbers at the combine in the middle of February, if you’re looking for the LSU linebackers’ numbers, you didn’t get them until yesterday. So, there’s been some delay gratification in that type of thing. I know (Vice President, Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie Scott’s been a huge, let’s call it organizer, logistics, idea person in getting the medical situation where it was a little more consolidated. I know that’s been probably a logistical nightmare if you say it. So, at end of the day, there’s been impact. But I’m not sure it’s been an impact where you can’t draft, you can’t draft successfully. And I’m not sure there’s really been much of an impact other than when information is gathered, collected and when you’re able to analyze it.”

(On the decision to sign WR DeSean Jackson)
MCVAY: “I think first of all, the history that I have with (WR) DeSean (Jackson) and talking through some of the things that we felt like would help add to our offense – really smart, explosive player. I know he’s had some injuries over the last couple years. But we are confident in his ability. I mean, you even look at the impact that he has – he comes off the broken ankle, has an explosive, long touchdown where he’s just floating past Dallas late in the year, I want to say it was in late December. So, he brings an element to our offense where he adds to an already really solid receiving group with (WR) Robert (Woods) and (WR) Cooper (Kupp), kind of headlining that group. Really ascending player and (WR) Van Jefferson and what the different amount of personnel groupings that you want to activate, being able to have four and five guys that you feel like can make major contributions from the receiver room is something that we valued. He’s known for the ability to stretch the top shelf of the defense and create an add to some of those explosives. But it certainly isn’t exclusive to that and being able to come back home and the experience. There was a lot of things that led to it being something that we were excited about the possibility and fortunately we were able to get it done and real credit to (Vice President, Football Business and Administration) Tony Pastoors for being able to figure out a creative way to add a player of his caliber.”

(On Snead’s perspective on identifying Jackson as the guy that could fill the deep-threat role)
SNEAD: “Well, I think there’s two ways you can do it – you can go to our film and you can sort by, let’s call it big plays and explosive plays over the last few years and watch all of those and go, ‘Okay, even though he’s an older gentleman, he can still roll’ and you can tap into some of your next gen stats and go, ‘Okay, yeah, he’s still running with the young guys.’ so I guess some people were born to run, but he’s a pretty simple ‘eval’ (evaluation) based on the resume that he’s put on film, on ESPN highlights, on the grass over the years. So, jacked to have him.”

(On what it’s like between McVay and Snead when they’re in the draft room together)
MCVAY: “I think one of the things that Les and I have always, really had such a good rapport, is I think we see the game through a very similar lens. Even going back to when I first got the opportunity to interview for the job, I remember feeling an instant connection in terms of the things that we valued, what it looked like to operate really in all three phases – offensively, defensively, and in the kicking game. Really, I respect the work that he puts in. You can feel the way he’s studying it. He loves football. He’s passionate about that. And so, I think as with any good relationship, the more that we’ve worked together, the more I appreciate the rapport and the consistent communication and dialogue and I think as much as anything is, there’s a comfort in being able to maybe not necessarily always agree, but being able to come to an agreement that, ‘Hey, whatever decision we make, we’re making these decisions collectively.’ It really hasn’t happened often that we don’t see it through the same lens. I can’t think of many times, and that’s something that you don’t take for granted and I think it’s a real credit to the way that he approaches it. I think just the natural rapport that’s kind of always been existent between us, where you’ve got a good feel for one another and just good overall chemistry.”
SNEAD: “It’s interesting. Our roles are reversed, It seems like during the season it may be a calming presence for Sean and then I mean now maybe he gives me that look and interestingly again, it’s a little similar to maybe calling a game, but Sean can be a very calming presence for myself. It’s been awesome partnering with him and the staff and there’s this chemistry and want to have seen him fall through some instances of what we’re looking for in football players and then working with his staff on skill sets, at what specific positions, in what role can help the Rams and that’s what we’re going to try to attack on Friday and Saturday.”

(On when looking at the Rams NFC West rivals, what are you seeing in terms of what they’ve done so far this offseason and what they could do in the draft)
SNEAD: “I mean, from a big picture, it does seem like we’re all probably aware of kind of the window we’re in. We’re all trying to, let’s call it get an edge on one another and that being said, we’re all being aggressively aggressive in the way we’re trying to get an edge on each other. So, I think it’s a competitive league. It’s a very competitive division and each team is definitely well coached, has really good players and we’re all trying to maybe stay ahead of each other as best we can and as aggressively as possible.”
MCVAY: “I think a lot of the same. I mean, I think the main focus is always about, kind of looking at ourselves. But you definitely want to be mindful of those matchups and those things that are going to be really important because the first goal that you have every year is going to be to try to win a division. So, I think you closely look at different things that each of these teams is doing, and what do we feel like is the best way to present and pose matchups that are favorable for us, so that ultimately when you see these teams twice a year, you give yourself a chance to be able to create those edges, because it’s such a small margin for error in this league, but it’s a really competitive division. They do an excellent job, all three of those teams. And so, for us, our focusing concentration is on building this team the right way, doing a great job with the offseason program that’s now in the second week and you definitely keep an eye on it, but our focus and concentration is on ourselves right now.”
SNEAD: “I wanted to just clarify too. I think the teams, what everyone’s doing is not necessarily just to beat one another, it’s to, let’s call it, contend in that division and go on to maybe bigger things. So, I know Sean alluded to that, but that’s what I was trying to say. The moves being made weren’t just to go 6-0 in the division per se.”

(On the offensive line and Offensive Line Coach Kevin Carberry’s thoughts on the format and schemes)
MCVAY: “That’s all we’ve been doing for the last couple months. I think it all starts with how do you make sure with what we have, what do we want to be? And then how is that going to express itself as we get on the grass and get a chance to work with these players. But there will be a lot of continuity that we’ll be able to keep. I think the best thing that happened to us that was kind of a blessing in disguise, going back to a couple of years ago was the depth that we were able to develop with a lot of different guys being forced to play earlier than maybe we ever anticipated. I think last year we saw the benefits of that and then I think really going into this coming season, you’ve got a lot of depth with guys you feel really good about that have some position flex. I mean, seeing (OL) Bobby Evans start at guard, at tackle, you’ve seen (OL) David Edwards and (OL) Austin Corbett both start at the left and the right guard spots. You’ve seen (OL) Joe Noteboom start at the guard spot and the tackle spot. And so, that position flex is something that’s extremely valuable and beneficial. I’ll tell you what’s been really helpful is (Offensive Line Coach) Kevin Carberry, the mastery that he’s had from recruiting and a lot of the crossover with whether it’s Pac-12 guys, or even just when you’re looking at a lot of these linemen now that are coming out, he’s got a great command of this draft class because he was at Stanford for three years. I’ve really, really enjoyed working with him and the rest of our offensive coaching staff and Les and his group and collaborating and kind of understanding, ‘All right, where are there some possible players dependent upon where we decide, if we decide to utilize a pick on an offensive lineman, that can add depth or provide real value for us,’ and those are things that we’re excited about seeing how this week unfolds, but a lot of good options and that’s a huge part of what the last couple months have entailed.”

(On the thought process on signing P Corey Bojorguez and if that impacts P Johnny Hekker’s status)
SNEAD: “I will put that under the, I call it the ‘Nickell Robey Bucket’ and every year during free agency, right when the bells about to ring, each team gets a waiver wire and has all the lists of their unrestricted free agents on it but there is this subset list of players who weren’t tendered by their club for a reason and I know Nickell Robey(-Coleman) was one of those players, (LB) Ramik Wilson, if you remember him. So, I know our pro staff, (Assistant Director Pro Scouting) John McKay has been leading the charge with Ray (Agnew) leaving for bigger and better things and (Pro Scout) Matt Waugh working with him, but I know the punter was one that they recommended as someone that had a very good year, didn’t get tendered for (inaudible) of a reasons. So, to the Nickell Robey-Coleman signing, to the Ramik Wilson signing, us signing (QB) Duck (Delvin) Hodges this year, claiming (OL) Austin Blythe or (CB) Troy Hill or (CB) Darious Williams. It’s when a player comes available, it’s a chance to add and I think, obviously Johnny’s resume speaks for itself. Right now I think we’ve got the most specialists of probably anybody in the league. We have probably seven. Probably got two kickers, two punters and one guy who can kick and punt and two long snappers, but I know we began that a little bit last year, because during COVID if you did have an outbreak and you did lose some players, if you lost a corner, there’s usually three, four or five others that you have an answer for, but with the specialist, if you lose anyone in contact tracing, there’s truly no answers, so it goes under that bucket.”

(On clarifying that this isn’t a punting competition)
MCVAY: “No. It’s not.”
SNEAD: “Well, I think anytime you go to the practice field it’s a competition but no.”

(On how big of a priority it is to draft a center)
MCVAY: “I think it’s not something that you feel like you have to fill because we’ve got a lot of guys in house that we feel like are more than capable of being starting-caliber NFL centers. And so, if it’s something, dependent upon how everything falls, it might be something that you address. But I think the one thing that’s been really good and Les and I’ve talked about this, and it’s a real credit to Les and his group, and really everybody in its entirety, is that we don’t have any major glaring holes where it’s like, ‘Okay, you’ve got to address this position or else,’ we’re not really asking anybody to feel like they have to come in and immediately start. You are trying to provide depth at some positions, there’s different things based on the personnel groupings, offensively or defensively that we want to try to fulfill, there’s some different things that (Special Teams Coordinator) Joe DeCamillis and (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Dwayne Stukes are looking for to help kind of fill out the way that we envision trying to be one of the upper-echelon special teams, units, and outfits in the league but that’s something that if it happens, it happens, but we feel more than comfortable if we don’t draft a center that we can fulfill that with the guys that we already have on the roster right now.”

(On if he is comfortable with WR Nsimba Webster as the punt returner or if he is looking for a returner in the draft)
MCVAY: “I think (WR) Nsimba (Webster) did some really nice things. Obviously adding DeSean Jackson, he’s had some experience and history returning punts. But I don’t think you can find enough guys that have the ability to influence and affect the game when the ball is in their hands and certainly those returners – and hopefully if we continue to be as successful as we were and as we’ve been over the last handful of years defensively, that punt return unit and operation is extremely important. We have got guys that are capable, but if there is somebody that provides return value that certainly makes them more enticing. When you look at some of these receivers or guys on the back end that can also provide real punt return and kick return value for Coach DeCamillis and Coach Stukes, it’s definitely something that we take into consideration as well.”

(On if he values catching or returning the ball more in the returner position)
MCVAY: “Well, I think both are really important. You’re looking for guys that can score points, but I think it’s all of those things. It’s ball security, it’s decision making, and then it’s the ability to be able to create, hit those vertical seams, make people miss and get vertical. But the guys that can ring the bell, as Joe DeCamillis would say, are certainly the ones that are the most enticing and the guys that you want, but it’s hard to find them. They’re rare guys. But I think you have to able to No. 1 is the ball security and the decision-making and then the explosiveness and the ability to create after that are the things that you’d love to be able to have, but there’s very few that can actually check all those boxes.”

(On assessing this year’s draft class of inside linebackers)
SNEAD: “I’ll keep my true assessment in house (laughs). (Inaudible). The one thing I will say is the interesting part of evaluating inside linebackers is with how the game is changing. Seeing who’s playing it, how college defenses are utilizing players. Again, the kid that ran yesterday at LSU, go out, transfer from North Dakota State and go cover the number three receiver in the slot, similar to what nickel corners do. So, it’s fun. It’s an assessment of trying to work through what types do we have, what types do we need, who can help also cover kicks and those type things. So that’s a very important position to scrutinize.”

(On if this draft is unique or different without having any major holes to fill)
SNEAD: “Well, it’s an enticing spot to be in because you can truly let the draft unfold and I call it, ‘Take the best player,’ because best available player can be subjective. Our best available maybe another team’s not best available, so that’s subjective. But what it does do is it gives you a little bit of freedom. At this point in time (last year), I don’t know if we let it out in a press conference, but we’re pretty intentional about attacking that running back spot, maybe this year a little bit different. So, it gives you that flexibility, but that’s the nice thing about where we’re at as a football team.”

(On evaluating a player who opted out of the 2020 season)
MCVAY: “I think Les and his group do such a great job with the background. The tape is always the best guiding light. So, you go back to their ‘19 film and you use that as the most important reference. Then the character is all a big part of it. Les and his group do an outstanding job of vetting these players and really our coaches as well, it’s all part of it. But the most important thing that guides our decision-making is, first and foremost, the tape. You don’t punish a guy. This past year has certainly been, I think one that is different in so many ways, but you don’t punish guys for that. You go back to the tape. You look at what they’ve previously done – and then there are some projections with guys that maybe have less tangible evidence on the tape and it all is a part of the evaluation process. But certainly nothing weighs more than when you’re evaluating them playing the game that we’re going to ask them to do.”
SNEAD: “I’ll add to that. One of the bigger impacts of COVID and Sean picked up on the cue, is when we’re watching a player and you start with film when the stands are full, then Sean would go, ‘Okay, this is an opt-out right, cause you’re watching 19’ tapes.’ So that’s probably one of the major impacts of COVID and the opt-out is, ‘Hey, this must be an opt-out because stands are full (laughs).’”

(On if Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury called to let him know he was upset about last year’s draft)
MCVAY: “No, you know what? A couple of things – I was glad (Cardinals Head Coach) Kliff (Kingsbury) was such a big fan watching us on Hard Knocks to know every detail about what went on. And then I think he was trying to get me back for when I got him a couple of years ago before he had coached a game with the Cardinals. He had gone out to dinner with a group of people and (Chiefs QB Patrick) Mahomes was there. I had him convinced that he was going to miss out on that first overall pick and he and (Cardinals General Manager) Steve Keim weren’t going to be able to draft (Cardinals QB) Kyler Murray. So, I think that was a delayed payback that he was trying to get me on. But I’m glad that he was watching our Hard Knocks season so closely (laughs).”
SNEAD: “It does seem like we’ve seen (Seahawks Head Coach) Pete Carroll without his shirt on (laughs).”

(On how important cornerbacks are in this draft)
SNEAD: “It’s always important to add corner depth. And I do think, like we have been able to over the last few years, we’ve been able to draft, have that player not come in and have to cover teams’ number one or number two wide receivers immediately. But again, I like where we’re at in the draft, 57 and then 88 and 103. Really at that point in time, you don’t want to go into it saying, ‘Hey, we have to have this position.’ That’s where you may reach. So, we’re well aware of the corners and whether they play inside, out, both or just outside. Whether Joe D. and Coach Stukes like what they’ve done covering kicks in college and whether they’ve returned some punts or kicks in their time. So, we’re definitely well aware, but that’s a position that’s sought after and a lot of good players usually go early in that position because it does take a special human to be able to go play that position for sure.”

(On keeping CB Darious Williams long term with the projected salary cap and when that gets talked about)
SNEAD: “I think it’s obvious (CB) Darious (Williams) is obviously someone you’d love to be a Ram for a long time. We will definitely begin having those discussions internally. We’re a little bit tougher right now, based on the variables you mentioned, and even tougher for planning, because you’re not necessarily sure how next year goes and what’s going to happen there. But as (former Defensive Coordinator) Wade Phillips used to say, ‘Good players get paid,’ and Darious has proven to be a good player. I’ve always said we’d love to have as many good players as possible, guys like Darious. His story’s pretty cool. Give him credit, give our coaches credit for developing him and having the courage to put him out there and then give him credit for making the most of that opportunity.”

(On assessing the risk that comes with medically evaluating players this year due to opt-outs)
SNEAD: “I think Reggie Scott, his staff, our doctors – they may have more gray hair than I do. What I can tell you is the information Reggie has provided myself, I don’t have as many gray hairs and I think it’s a credit to them for being able to orchestrate this with all the adversity, if you want to call it that, that they ran into. So, the information they’ve provided is as good as it has been in the past and maybe even better at times with some people who didn’t get to Indy, per se because it’s been such a proactive and intentional process. But medical is a big thing. You’ve been playing football for a long time – high school, college and some of them have started a lot of games, some have been injured previously, things like that. It’s a hazardous occupation, but the probabilities are very similar to what they’ve been in the past. Reggie and everyone who’s been behind the scenes, that’s not just on our staff, to make this happen to get the information to us.”

(On the alleged situation with DL Aaron Donald)
MCVAY: “I think (Chief Operating Officer) Kevin Demoff, when he was asked about it, said it best – I think that’s why you let things play themselves out. I had spoken to (DL) Aaron (Donald) immediately and I have total trust in him. We were very confident that the facts would come out and that this would be something that would kind of take care of itself as you just demonstrated patience and truly let the process play out. That’s exactly what it entailed and it’s kind of where we were at with it. We feel very fortunate. Aaron was great, communicated very clearly and I love Aaron. I’m glad it worked itself out.”

Preparing for '21 Draft, I have revamped optimism about the '20 Rams class.

9 picks from outside Top50.
4 legit starters, with a 5th entirely possible (Lewis).
Plus a redshirt still to be deployed in Hopkins.
Could totally see Anchrum providing value from 250 overall, as well.

— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) April 27, 2021