Tag: 2021 draft

Were the Saints on the wrong end of this viral draft-day phone call with the Broncos GM?

Was New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis on the wrong end of this viral 2021 draft-day phone call with Denver Broncos GM George Paton?

George Paton is really popular with Denver Broncos fans these days. He’s executed blockbuster trades for franchise quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton in back-to-back offseasons, but that followed the strong impression he made during the 2021 NFL draft. The Broncos shared video from their war room with fans after the draft in which Paton took phone calls with other teams while negotiating trades

“Hey let me, look I’ve got someone else who’s going to give me more,” Paton said frankly to one speaker, hanging up and switching to another line with applause raining in from around him. The video skips in an edit to Paton speaking with various general managers around the league, leading off with, well: “Hey Mickey.”

Mickey Loomis and the New Orleans Saints did trade with the Broncos in the 2021 draft, sending both of their compensatory third-round picks (Nos. 98 and 105) so they could move up to the Broncos’ pick at No. 76 and select cornerback Paulson Adebo.

So we’ve got Paton chirping to a competitor that he’s about to get a better offer from someone else, we’ve got him addressing Loomis at a later time, and we’ve got a trade the Saints and Broncos executed in that same draft. Does that mean Loomis was on the wrong end of things?

Not necessarily. Paton traded with multiple teams during the 2021 draft, moving down in the second round (with the Atlanta Falcons) and in the third round (with the New York Giants, who gave them the No. 76 pick they traded to New Orleans) while acquiring picks in the later rounds. So that’s three possible teams who could’ve been on the line with the Broncos general manager. We’ll rule this one as inconclusive.

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Nick Saban defends ‘rebuilding year’ comments

Nick Saban harshly defends rebuilding comments after receiving criticism.

Earlier this week, [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] called Alabama’s 2021 season a rebuilding year.

Saban’s comments were not perceived very well as many people viewed his comments as an excuse for the national title loss against Georgia. However, his goal was to state that the Tide had to refill a lot of lost production and relied on inexperienced players who hadn’t had substantial playing time before to make up for it.

Saban stood by his comments again today, saying, “I don’t think our standard is like everybody else’s standard.”

He is flexing his muscles by saying that even a rebuilding year for him would be the best season in program history for most teams. He is clearly displeased with people refusing to see his point yet again this summer.

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Packers rookie review: OL Royce Newman

Reviewing the rookie season of Packers offensive lineman Royce Newman, a fourth-round pick of the team in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.

Next up: wide receiver Royce Newman, the 142nd overall pick and the Packers’ fourth-round draft pick in 2021:

Saints waive rookie draft pick WR Kawaan Baker

New Orleans Saints: Rookie draft pick Kawaan Baker among roster cuts

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The New Orleans Saints have begun the difficult process of cutting their roster down from 80 players to just 53, and one of the first to go was rookie wide receiver Kawaan Baker. The team’s seventh round draft pick out of South Alabama struggled to separate from the pack in training camp. While he should be a favorite to land on the practice squad for more development, he has to clear waivers first.

Additionally, the Saints also waived wide receiver Easop Winston, who handled the bulk of returns duties on punts and kickoffs during their two preseason games. He made our final roster projection as an option to fill in for Deonte Harris, but the All-Pro returns specialist still has not officially received notice of his two-game NFL suspension following an offseason DUI charge. If Harris is cleared to start the regular season, Winston doesn’t have a role on the team.

This is an ongoing process that will continue to see roster moves filed in the hours and days ahead, so stay tuned for updates. For now, the Saints wide receiver corps includes two injured starters (Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith) whose Week 1 availability is in doubt, along with Marquez Callaway, Ty Montgomery, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Chris Hogan, and Kevin White. The team rarely rosters more than five receivers so keep an eye out for more movement.

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Dolphins boost pass rush in latest ‘way too early’ 2022 mock draft

Dolphins boost pass rush in latest ‘way too early’ 2022 mock draft

If you were to look over the roster needs of the Miami Dolphins as things currently stand, you’d need a whole lot of projection to get a feel for where the Dolphins definitively need to get better. There are plenty of questions across the Dolphins’ roster — but the majority of spots also have young talents that are going to be given the opportunity to wrangle a full-time role on the team and take command of a starting gig.

Running back? Myles Gaskin is looking to run it back. Offensive tackle? Miami has drafted three of them in the past two NFL drafts. Center? Third-year player Michael Deiter is going to be given a chance to win the job. Quarterback? Tua Tagovailoa didn’t break records as a rookie but he’s the former No. 5 overall pick and showed fair promise throughout his half of the season starting.

And so if you’re going to forecast needs for Miami based on what we know now, you’re likely better off doing so by either anticipating an offseason departure via free agency or drafting positional value.

The latest 2022 NFL mock draft, courtesy of Sports Illustrated, does both of those in one shot. They have the Dolphins, courtesy of San Francisco, drafting a pass rusher in the 1st-round.

“No. 28 – Miami Dolphins (via SF): Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

With his length and power, Walker would be a perfect fit in the Dolphin’s defense. He is just sniffing his potential and has inside-out flexibility.” — Lorenz Leinweber, Sports Illustrated

Knowing what we know about Miami’s drafting tendencies early on, projecting a defensive lineman feels like a safe route. The Dolphins, under Brian Flores and Chris Grier, have drafted premium positions early on. Since 2019, Miami has landed the following in the first:

  • A quarterback
  • An offensive tackle
  • A wide receiver
  • A defensive tackle
  • An EDGE defender
  • A cornerback

No linebackers or running backs for this team. And three of the six have played on the trenches. So while it is certainly far too early to be nailing down 2022 draft prospects with confidence, this selection feels like the right idea; just way too far ahead of schedule.

Cowboys News: Julio Jones rocking Cowboys gear, Parsons vs Sanders

Sean Lee discusses a tradition after injuries. Power rankings, cornerback depth, and a feud between Dallas rookies and the Eagles?

The Dallas Cowboys are always in the news and when it comes to free agency they always seem to be used to drive up the notoriety and potentially price. But when a player is on the trade market? That’s interesting. Even more interesting is when it’s a wide receiver and there’s no room at the inn. Julio Jones in a Cowboys’ t-shirt? Prepare for the Monday morning water cooler talk.

Meanwhile in more serious news, Sean Lee opens about who helped motivate him while injured. Products of Lee’s alma mater Penn State have engaged in some friendly banter as new rivals in the NFC East. The corner situation, depth at quarterback and whether or not the Cowboys should be considered as one of the top teams in 2021 are all up to bat.

UDFA Carl Tucker hoping to show versatility at Dolphins’ minicamp

UDFA Carl Tucker hoping to show versatility at Dolphins’ minicamp

The Alabama Crimson Tide to Miami Dolphins pipeline is quite strong these days — between the additions of Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle to the offense over the past two off-seasons, the Dolphins’ offensive identity will be sure to pull plenty of inspiration from the play that was featured in Tuscaloosa over the past few seasons. But the headlining 1st-round talents aren’t the only Miami Dolphins to call Alabama “home” as we get ready for 2021 training camp — the Dolphins signed TE/FB Carl Tucker as an undrafted free agent once the 2021 NFL draft came to a close.

Tucker, who caught 36 passes for 549 yards in 38 games  as a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels program before becoming a graduate transfer to Alabama for the 2020 season, offers plenty of physicality on tape and should be expected to compete for a role as a hybrid player in Miami’s offense — which has hoarded a significant number of tight ends throughout the course of the offseason.

But Tucker doesn’t want folks to assume he’s just a mauler or a blocker. And, in his mind, there’s no better time for him to flash what else he can do than right now at rookie minicamp, when full speed and full contact isn’t an option.

“I think that’s the best part because people a lot of times just see that I block very well and they see or believe that’s all that I can do. But I personally believe that one of my strong suits as well is that I have good speed for my size, I have great hands, I feel like I run solid routes,” said Tucker.

“So it’s definitely a perfect opportunity for me to of course be smart and take care of teammates and everything, but also at the same time, get better at the other things that don’t include heavy physicality, like with route-running and stuff like that.”

Tucker’s numbers from the Alabama Pro Day are a good indication of why he wasn’t an athlete who was in high demand at the end of April, but he certainly appears to have baseline athletic ability for a tight end in the NFL. And if his former experiences from his prep days are able to shine through (he came to UNC having played only wide receiver), he may well just be able to push for a bottom of the roster spot come the start of the season.

It would be considered an upset if he did — but the foundation needed to do so can be laid starting this weekend.

‘Now it’s a job:’ Will McClay’s scouting report on all 11 Cowboys draft picks

The team’s VP of player personnel offers advice for the team’s rookies ahead of minicamp and gives his thoughts on each player.

Welcome to the NFL, rookies.

Friday marks the start of minicamp for 29 NFL teams, including the Cowboys. Drafted prospects, undrafted free agents, and others simply invited for tryouts- 31 players in all- will go through three days of initial evaluation at The Star in Frisco as they prepare to compete with the team’s veterans for a spot on the final roster.

Will McClay, the Cowboys’ vice president of player personnel and the man who had a hand in each one of them being given the opportunity, had a final word of advice for the youngsters.

“This isn’t college anymore,” McClay said, in part. “Now it’s a job.”

ESPN’s Todd Archer got McClay’s scouting report on all 11 of the Cowboys’ draft picks as they prepare for their first day on the company payroll. Here are excerpts from his comments:

Cowboys sign 4 draft picks to rookie contracts day before minicamp

The team’s fifth- through seventh-round selections all inked their deals prior to the start of Friday’s minicamp session.

The Cowboys made it official with four of their 2021 draft picks just a day ahead of the kickoff of rookie minicamp.

Wide receiver Simi Fehoko, defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna, cornerback Israel Mukuamu, and guard Matt Farniok each signed a four-year contract with the club on Thursday. Minicamp was set to begin the next morning at The Star in Frisco.

Those players represent the Cowboys’ final four selections of this year’s draft class; they were taken in the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds. The team’s other seven draft picks still have an opportunity to sign a deal before the start of Friday’s practice, but rookies are permitted to take part in camp sessions even without a contract.

They will be joined by this year’s crop of undrafted free agents, tryout invitees, and first-year veterans who spent last season on the practice squad. The team expects 31 players in all to participate in minicamp, which goes through Sunday.

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Green Bay Packers draft in 2021 was solid, safe and sensible

The best way to describe the Packers’ 2021 draft class: Solid, safe and sensible.

A lot has happened in the week following the 2021 NFL draft. Aaron Rodgers this, Aaron Rodgers that.

But seven days have provided enough time for a clear perspective on the Green Bay Packers’ work in the draft.

The immediate assessment of a draft class is often based on what can be assumed is instant impact potential. The Packers’ draft in 2020 was maligned for a variety of reasons, but it was also quite difficult to scan through the class and find a player that would impact the Packers on the field that season.

The Packers’ 2021 draft does not suffer from this problem. The nine-player class could provide impact in a variety of ways right away, but this reality isn’t the only reason why the Packers’ work this year looks solid, safe and sensible.

Consider the following:

– In the first round, the Packers added an elite athlete with two years of high-level play in the receiver-rich SEC. Eric Stokes might not play right away, but he will provide immediate competition for the oft-injured and inconsistent Kevin King. And he is a strong investment in the team’s weakest premium position and possibly the team’s biggest need.

– In the second round, the Packers took a center from a program with a rich history of producing NFL centers and provided a potential Day 1 replacement for the team’s biggest loss in free agency, All-Pro Corey Linsey. Josh Myers might have the highest potential for instant impact in the class.

– In the third round, the Packers traded up to get a slot/gadget weapon that both fits the Matt LaFleur offense nicely and adds a threat on special teams. Amari Rodgers is exactly the type of player the Packers offense has been missing over LaFleur’s two seasons. He’ll add a new dynamic for the NFL’s No. 1 offense, strengthening a strength.

– The first three picks will have a very good chance at contributing in a meaningful way in 2021. And all three play positions that can provide value in the passing game. Smart.

– On Day 3, the Packers loaded up with big people (two offensive linemen, one defensive lineman), found depth at need positions and added help for the special teams.

– Closer examination of Royce Newman (fourth round) and Shemar Jean-Charles reveals two potentially useful players for the Packers found on Day 3. Newman has the kind of snap quickness that could help him play right tackle. Jean-Charles is so fluid in his movements and always finds the football. Getting a potential future starter at right tackle and slot cornerback on in the middle rounds could really make this a nice class.

– Many analysts saw offensive line, cornerback and wide receiver as the three deepest positions in the draft class. This aligned nearly perfectly with the Packers’ biggest needs. We all expected the Packers to get a cornerback, help for the offensive line and a pass-catcher. Check, check, check. In fact, the Packers took two offensive linemen, a cornerback and a receiver in the first four rounds.

– The competition along the offensive line and cornerback will be very fascinating this summer. One thing to remember: Adam Stenavich and Jerry Gray might be the two best positional coaches on the staff. Not a bad idea to give them both a bunch of quality players.

– There was hardly a surprising pick in the bunch. Maybe taking Josh Myers over Creed Humphrey and Quinn Meinerz raised some eyebrows, but many had Myers graded out similarly, and Myers might be the best fit in the Packers offense of the three.

– Not every draft board will agree, but the Packers clearly believe they took second-round caliber players on Day 2. They were ready to pick Rodgers at 62 but ended up getting him by trading up to 85. The fourth-round pick was a steep price to pay, but it’s also not if the Packers thought they were getting a top-60 player at 85.

– The Packers gave up one draft pick but ended up picking nine players. The roster will be very competitive at the fringes this summer, but the Packers also needed to create some depth at several positions going into 2022. They accomplished this goal well.

– The draft class actually fits the Packers offseason (save for that pesky Aaron Rodgers situation). This team put in a lot of work to bring back just about everyone from last year. They couldn’t retain everyone, but they found some answers to the departures in the draft. The Linsley-Myers connection is an easy one. But also consider Newman-Rick Wagner, Cole Van Lanen-Lane Taylor, Isaiah McDuffie-Christian Kirksey and Kylin Hill-Jamaal Williams. This class did a nice job of filling in the cracks leftover from free agency.

– The goal of any draft is to build a better, deeper roster. The Packers did this in a perfectly sensible way over three days.

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