2021 NFL Draft Team Rankings Top 10
10. Arizona Cardinals
CFN Draft Rankings
2020: 1, 2019: 18, 2018: 5
You want to set a tone? You want to be the fastest team in a division – and a league – loaded with speed? Then after grabbing Kyler Murray at quarterback in 2019 and picking Isaiah Simmons last year, you take Tulsa’s Zaven Collins at the 16. That might be a we bit of a reach – it wasn’t a need – but that group of Cardinal linebackers can fly.
And then you take the 4.29 wheels of Rondale Moore for your receiving corps. The last four picks were all on Day 3, and they’re not awful attempts to find something that sticks.
–Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Draft Analysis
9. New York Jets
CFN Draft Rankings
2020: 3, 2019: 28, 2018: 25
It’s a really, really good draft – it helps to have ten picks – however, are you really that sure that Zach Wilson is actually the second-best quarterback? He was a lock for this spot for months, but that’s a massive call considering the upside of Trey Lance and the potential of Justin Fields and Mac Jones.
Forgetting Wilson, getting USC OG Alijah Vera-Tucker at the 14, the steal of Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore at the 34, the nice get of North Carolina RB Michael Carter in the fourth round, and a whole slew of good late picks made this a strong weekend no matter how good Wilson is.
–New York Jets 2021 NFL Draft Analysis
8. New England Patriots
CFN Draft Rankings
2020: 32, 2019: 1, 2018: 27
Nailed it. Hated Mac Jones at the 3 to San Francisco, love him at the 15 as the fifth quarterback off the board. Love Alabama’s Christian Barmore – the best defensive tackle in the draft – at the 38, and it’s ridiculous that Oklahoma hybrid Ronnie Perkins lasted until late in the third round.
It’s New England on draft weekend so things fell off the rails late, and there should’ve been a receiver off the board earlier, but the franchise got a shot of energy from this.
– New England Patriots 2021 NFL Draft Analysis
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7. Minnesota Vikings
CFN Draft Rankings
2020: 6, 2019: 16, 2018: 31
It’s a fantastic draft considering ten of the 11 picks came after the first round, and that first rounder filled a gaping hole – getting Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw at the 23 was big after trading down. The Vikings took guys who can just play – even if several are the imperfect fruits in the stand, by NFL prototype standards.
However, the spotlight will quickly be on the Kellen Mond call at QB in the third round, especially if he’s not better than Davis Mills. The Stanford quarterback went one pick later to Houston.
– Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Draft Analysis
6. Carolina Panthers
CFN Draft Rankings
2020: 20, 2019: 26, 2018: 30
After going all defense last year, the Panthers found real value prospects without paying retail. They took South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn at the 8 – a HUGE call over Patrick Surtain – but they landed some nice receivers later and got a sneaky-good value-get in Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard in the fourth.
There was silly-season time with a long snapper drafted in the sixth, but it’s forgiven after getting Alabama OG Deonte Brown and South Carolina WR Shi Smith in the round.
– Carolina Panthers 2021 NFL Draft Analysis