2021 NFL draft grades: Jets get an A- for Day 1

Joe Douglas picked two highly-coveted players and only had to give up two third-round picks to move up for Vera-Tucker.

The first round of the 2021 NFL draft couldn’t have gone better for the Jets.

Not only did New York grab Zach Wilson – one of the best quarterbacks in the class – but Joe Douglas also moved up nine spots to take arguably the best zone-blocking guard in the draft, Alijah Vera-Tucker.

“I feel like the ballclub improved,” Douglas said, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I feel good about the two people and players we brought in — just ecstatic, really, about those two young men.”

While the final evaluation of either pick won’t be seen for quite some time, the immediate improvements at two key positions on offense are important first steps in the Jets’ quest to regain relevance in the league. Douglas paid a hefty price to go up and snag Vera-Tucker, but it was certainly worth it for what he ended up adding to the Jets.

Here are Jets Wire’s Day 1 grades for the Jets.

2021 NFL draft: What picks do Jets have left after trading up for Alijah Vera-Tucker?

Joe Douglas got himself a much-needed interior lineman, but trading up for Alijah Vera-Tucker cost the Jets some draft capital.

After picking Zach Wilson second overall, the Jets sent their 23rd, 66th and 86th picks to the Vikings for the 14th and 143rd selections. Douglas used the 14th pick on USC’s Vera-Tucker, who the GM said was one of the best players on New York’s board.

“We felt we had a unique opportunity to get a top-10 player in our minds,” Douglas said.

Vera-Tucker figures to be an immediate starter at left guard. New York, meanwhile, now enters Day 2 of the draft without a third-round pick. As the board stands, their only Friday selection is at No. 34, the second pick of the second round.

Of course, that could change with another trade. For now, here’s a list of every remaining pick the Jets have in the draft.

Why Jets fans should be excited about Alijah Vera-Tucker

Breaking down the New York Jets’ selection of USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker in the 2021 NFL draft

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Following their selection of Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, the New York Jets look to find him some help after trading up to No. 14 overall.

The Jets went with Southern California offensive guard in Vera-Tucker. This selection is all about protecting their investment at quarterback after they traded away their last quarterback in Sam Darnold. Vera-Tucker will be tasked with protecting the middle of the offensive line, keeping the quarterback on his feet, and opening up holes in the running game.

Vera-Tucker can play a variety of roles as he started all six games for the Trojans at offensive tackle in the shortened season. In 2019, he was a guard that played in all 13 games on the left side and was named the Trojan’s offensive lineman of the year. He would serve as a backup and saw playing time in 12 games as a redshirt freshman. Now he is heading to the Big Apple.

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Vikings first-round predictions for the 2021 NFL draft

What do you think the Minnesota Vikings will do in the 2021 NFL draft? Take an OL like Rashawn Slater or Alijah Vera-Tucker? Or land a DE like Kwity Paye?

Despite making moves in free agency, the Vikings have some clear and obvious needs remaining on their roster.

With only one pick in the first two rounds of the draft, Minnesota needs to be accurate with the first few selections, or else the team could be looking at another disappointing season.

So the first round is crucial. As it stands, the Vikings have the No. 14 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Minnesota could trade back from there, or the team could be aggressive and move up to land a top prospect. There are certainly a lot of options.

Here are a few predictions for what the Vikings could do tonight:

5 realistic 1st-round options for Washington in 2021 NFL draft

The 2021 NFL draft is finally here. No more smokescreens. We will finally see which teams are serious about going all-in for a quarterback.

The Washington Football Team is in an interesting position with their first-round pick at No. 19 overall. Will the team move up? Move back? Realistically, I believe the team stays patient and takes the best player available at a position of need.

Fortunately, that strategy would line up well with Washington’s needs. WFT enters the draft with needs at offensive tackle and linebacker. However, that doesn’t mean Washington is out on other positions such as safety, wide receiver — and quarterback.

If Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields begins to slip down the board, watch out for Washington. Will he make it to No. 19? I just don’t see it. The slander on Fields throughout this process is mind-boggling. But, say he did, Washington would likely be interested.

Here are the five most realistic options for the Washington Football Team in the 2021 NFL draft, assuming the team sticks at No. 19.

POLL: Who will Chargers GM Tom Telesco draft in first round?

Will Tom Telesco take the leap or will he stay put and select in the first round?

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco will have a big decision to make in about less than three hours when the team is on the lock.

Whether it’s a trade-up or at No. 13 overall, Telesco will be looking at a few of the top prospects that will be able to step in right away and contribute.

With that being said, step in the shoes of Telesco let us know what he will do, not who you want Los Angeles to select on Thursday.

Below is the poll:

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2021 NFL draft: Top 10 Chargers targets in first round

Who will be the newest member of the Los Angeles Chargers by the end of the night?

The Chargers will be on the clock in about four hours from now.

Who might be the newest member of the team by the end?

Here’s a look at Los Angeles’ 10 targets in the first-round based on positions of need and top players likely to be available.

1. OT Penei Sewell, Oregon

This would require a trade-up, but it would be worth it. Arguably the top offensive lineman in this year’s draft, Sewell is a big-bodied athlete who is light on his feet coupled with impressive play strength in the running game to overwhelm his opponents and a high football IQ. Being only 20 years old, he will need to continue to develop parts of his game, but he projects as a starting left tackle with All-Pro upside.

2. OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

While many believe he should get kicked inside at the next level, Slater is technically sound and has the athleticism and smarts to overcome any measurement concerns, projecting as a top-notch blindside blocker with the ability to play any position along the offensive line.

3. CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

Horn is the type of matchup eraser who can be used inside or outside and against any receiver or tight end, similar to the way Jalen Ramsey was used. Due to his combination of size, athleticism, competitiveness, football IQ, smoothness, ball skills and versatility, Horn has All-Pro upside.

4. CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama

While Surtain isn’t going to run as fast as some of the other corners in this year’s class, he can pattern match from press coverage and find the football downfield at a high and consistent level. He’s big and long enough to handle even the most physical of receivers, projecting as a starting corner with inside-out versatility.

5. OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

Vera-Tucker put together a solid season as the Trojans’ left tackle this past season and he has plenty of experience at guard, where many project him to play in the NFL due to his lack of arm length. In my opinion, Vera-Tucker comes with the functional athleticism, movement skills and impressive strength to match and stymie pass rushers, and I believe he can be a fine blindside blocker in this league.

6. OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

While he needs to develop his true strength & power and more attitude in his game, Darrisaw has the size at 6-foot-4 and 322 pounds, athletic ability, body control, run-blocking prowess and most importantly, the experience (35 starts at LT), projecting as a player with the tools and traits to become a Day 1 starter.

7. WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

Waddle would give quarterback Justin Herbert a dynamic weapon who can win with speed, quickness and route running ability to consistently separate and win with the ball in his hands, as well as a player who can return kicks and punts at a high level.

8. EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan

Paye is an explosive pass rusher who’s powerful with his hands and plays with good leverage, loose lower body movements and a motor that never cools down when getting after the quarterback and the anchorage ability to control at the point of attack against the run, projecting as a versatile chess piece up front.

9. EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia

A natural athlete at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds, Ojulari possesses the physical traits, balance, flexibility, short area quickness, explosiveness needed to disrupt the quarterback, solid ability against the run and experience in coverage. At only 20 years old, Ojulari is still developing into his frame. However, the upside is there to generate pressure and contribute against the run on a consistent basis.

10. LB/S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

Staley is a big advocate of position versatility and he could be enticed by the idea of getting another playmaker next to Derwin James to be able to impact all levels of the defense. Owusu-Koramoah is a player with high-end speed, coverage ability and sharpness as a blitzer who can be used as a linebacker, safety or nickel.

Best-case scenario for the Jaguars at pick 25: Alijah Vera-Tucker slides

The Jags like their starting offensive line, but Alijah Vera-Tucker would give them an option they would have to heavily consider at pick No. 25.

With the 2021 NFL Draft starting Thursday night, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a chance to change the fortunes of the franchise for the next decade or more. New general manager Trent Baalke has 10 total picks at his disposal and the first of those picks (No. 1) will be going towards Trevor Lawrence.

Even after taking the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck, the Jaguars have a further four selections in the top-65 picks. Meaning they should find multiple long-term starters in this year’s class.

Every year, the NFL Draft sees high-level prospects fall for no known reason. Last year, CeeDee Lamb almost fell out of the top-20. In 2019, highly touted cornerback prospect Greedy Williams nearly fell out of the top-50. So who could be the star prospect that falls to the Jaguars at 25? Although it might be underwhelming for the more casual fans, the answer is USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Vera-Tucker has played at a variety of different spots on the offensive line and has excelled in all of them, making him the most versatile lineman in the 2021 class. The redshirt-junior stands at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, and despite below-average arm length, he was dominant at left tackle for the Trojans in 2020.

Vera-Tucker is thick-framed and has a tremendously solid base thanks to elite-level core strength. However, this is matched with his explosive athleticism which allows him to snap off the ball and provide a real anchor on the offensive front.

So, what is the likelihood of him being there at 25?

Slim at best. There are multiple teams picking in the teens who have gaping holes on the offensive line, and once the selections get into the 20s, teams with a need on the offensive line continue to present themselves. At pick No. 21, the Indianapolis Colts could look to address the retirement of Anthony Costanzo, whilst the New York Jets decided against adding to their woeful interior unit and pick two spots ahead of the Jags at pick No. 23.

How can Vera-Tucker end up a Jaguar later on tonight?

There will have to be a historic run on offensive players to start the 2021 NFL Draft. And by historic, that means offensive players being selected from the first pick to the seventh or eighth for the first time in the common draft era. That would push premier defensive talent toward the middle of round one and allow the second tier of offensive linemen (Vera-Tucker, Christian Darrisaw and Teven Jenkins) to trend toward the 20s.

A legitimate top-15 talent in this year’s class, Vera-Tucker could become a Day 1 starter at guard in Jacksonville. Whilst he might also project as a long-term replacement for left tackle Cam Robinson, who has signed his franchise tag and isn’t on the roster beyond 2021.

2021 NFL draft: Kiper, McShay release final mocks, including a Jets trade

In Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr.’s final mock draft, the analysts both have the Jets selecting Zach Wilson, while differing at No. 23.

It’s draft day.

Naturally, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. are out with their final projections for this weekend’s event. The two ESPN draft analysts agree upon New York’s No. 2 pick, as Zach Wilson has been the expected selection since the Jets parted ways with Sam Darnold earlier this month.

Here’s McShay’s explanation for pairing Wilson with Gang Green:

The Jets chose to move on from Sam Darnold earlier this month, and Wilson would provide them with an excellent replacement as a QB who can read the defense, make all the throws and create when pushed out of the pocket. But like the Jags, the Jets need to continue building on offense with five total picks on Days 1 and 2.

While McShay indicates that the Jets need to keep building on offense with the remainder of their high draft choices, he pairs New York with Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II to round out Gang Green’s first round.

Here’s his explanation for New York’s second first-round selection:

The Jets might look at offensive line here, but Newsome would give their defense a spark with his speed, versatility and strong press coverage. The Jets had the third-worst completion percentage allowed last season (69.1%), so the picks can’t all go to the offense.

As for Kiper, he has the Jets trading up to select an offensive lineman. He projects that New York will strike a trade with Arizona, moving up to No. 16 to select USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker.

According to the NFL draft pick value chart, the 16th pick is worth 1,000 points, while the 23rd pick is worth 760. That means New York would likely have to come up with 240 points in additional draft compensation.

New York’s third-round pick (No. 66) is worth 260 points, so that would be more than enough for Gang Green to move up seven spots to select Vera-Tucker, who has the versatility to play guard or tackle at the next level.

Last week, Joe Douglas indicated that the Jets have laid the “groundwork” on moving up if a player they covet becomes available.

While New York can obviously go any which way with its second first-round pick, both Newsome and Vera-Tucker are names that have been linked to the Jets.

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Final mock draft round-up: Who do analysts have Chargers taking in Round 1?

The mock drafts finally come to an end today.

The day has finally come. We are hours away from the 2021 NFL draft, which means that mock drafts are finally being put to bed.

I put out my final seven-round projections yesterday, but who are the other analysts and writers predicting the Chargers to do when they’re on the clock with the No. 13 overall selection?

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah — WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

“I could see the Chargers trading back and drafting an edge rusher. If they stay put at No. 13, Waddle would be the perfect complement to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.”

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler — Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

“The Chargers will likely explore a trade up for Sewell, but there is also a possibility that Slater falls to them. The Northwestern left tackle would give Los Angeles an upgrade blocking Justin Herbert’s blindside.”

Underdogs Fantasy’s Josh Norris — Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

“Again, the Chargers could move up if the Lions drop their asking price. If not, Darrisaw makes sense as the next option to protect the left side.”

ESPN’s Todd McShay — OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

“With both of the top tackles off the board, I have the Chargers pivoting to the interior here. Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler were both good signings in free agency, but L.A. can’t be done. It has to make protecting quarterback Justin Herbert the top priority. Vera-Tucker is the top guard in the class and an excellent pass protector. Plus, he played tackle this past season and offers versatility.”

USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz — CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

“Much as they might like to finish off their offensive line reclamation project, the Chargers could also be drawn to rebuilding their secondary with one of the top cornerbacks on the board. While it might be a stretch to liken Horn to Jalen Ramsey, new coach Brandon Staley no doubt would relish another well-built cornerback with explosive athleticism and fierce competitiveness after he worked with Ramsey last year as the Rams’ defensive coordinator.”

Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline — OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

“The offensive tackle-needy Chargers take the next best tackle available in Christian Darrisaw. They could move up a few spots for Slater or Sewell if either starts to drop.”

Pro Football Focus’ Cris Collinsworth — OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

“Darrisaw is a physical mauler, a legitimate tough guy, and should create real opportunities in the running game, as well. Darrisaw has an athletic kick step and a death grip when he gets his hands on rushers. He comes off the ball low and powerfully in the run game and has plenty of athleticism in space. My concern is how he’ll fare against speed off the edge; he has such great energy in the running game, but I would just like to see him use that same energy finishing in protection. But make no mistake, he is a bad man.”

Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn — OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

“Darrisaw has prototypical size with very good power and solid athletic ability, plus he has demonstrated the necessary toughness to stick as a pro. Adding him here would give the team tremendous upside while ensuring Herbert’s blind side is protected by a player that could grow alongside their franchise signal-caller. Darrisaw has some questions about his focus and concentration on a snap-to-snap basis, but he has all the tools and traits needed to develop into a high-end starter if he can dial it in consistently.”