Tag: nfl 2021 draft

Washington Football Team drafts Jamin Davis: Instant analysis of the No. 19 pick

Ron Rivera may have drafted his next Thomas Davis in the person of Jamin Davis, the Kentucky linebacker.

With the 19th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Washington Football Team selects Jamin Davis, linebacker, Kentucky.

Analysis: Life as an NFL linebacker will require more than spot-dropping so patience might be warranted early in his career. But Davis is moving up boards for a reason. There is room for growth and we know NFL coaches often think that “if I just get my hands on him, I can mold him into something greater.” Whether this is simply “coach-em-up-itis” or something more accurate remains to be seen. But his ability against the run combined with his athleticism gives him a path to be an immediate contributor as the rest of his game is filled out.

Grade: B. It could be argued that Washington is a great linebacker away from becoming the NFL’s best defense, and I’m not quite sure if Davis is that guy right away. Davis brings formidable athleticism to the field, and Washington head coach Ron Rivera had that in Carolina with Like Kuechly and Thomas Davis, and there are elements of Davis’ game beyond the same last name.

Falcons draft Kyle Pitts: Instant analysis of the No. 4 pick

The Falcons made Kyle Pitts the highest-drafted tight end in pro football history, and he’s a perfect fit with the Falcons.

With the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Kyle Pitts, tight end, Florida.

Analysis: Football is a matchup game, and offensive coordinators try as hard as they can to create mismatches and then exploit them. A player like Pitts, with the ability to beat defensive backs and linebackers in man coverage, is ideal to fill that role. Even teams that have a tight end already on the roster, like the Philadelphia Eagles or the Detroit Lions, would be smart to consider Pitts. You can put him next to a Zach Ertz or a T.J. Hockenson and run a 12 personnel package that forces the defense to decide whether to use a base package, or a sub package. Either way the defense is wrong. If they go light, you can run behind the TE duo. If they go heavy, spread them out, put Pitts on the boundary and watch him run away from safeties or linebackers. It is a win-win for you as an offense.

Grade: A+. Pitts is the highest-drafted tight end in pro football history, and there are reasons for that. The specific fit with former Titans offensive coordinator and new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is absolutely dead-on. Last season, the Titans had 14 touchdown passes and two interceptions with at least two tight ends on the field, and the combination of Pitts and Hayden Hurst should be absolutely incendiary.

Jaguars draft Trevor Lawrence: Instant analysis of the No. 1 pick

The Jaguars did what everybody thought they would, selecting Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick.

With the first pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Trevor Lawrence, quarterback, Clemson.

Analysis: A number of different comparisons have been thrown around for Lawrence. Some have gone as far as comparing him to Andrew Luck, given the expectations. Others have made the Deshaun Watson comparison. The more I watched Lawrence over the past few months, the more I saw another quarterback: Justin Herbert. That might sound crazy, but if you look at Lawrence’s athleticism, arm talent and ability to attack leverage in the secondary, it looks somewhat similar to the peaks of Herbert during his time at Oregon, and what he did last year as a rookie. If you had said during this time last season that Lawrence and Herbert were comparable, someone would have said you were crazy. But now? Teams would take a rookie season from Lawrence similar to what Herbert did in a heartbeat.

Grade: A+. This is the move everybody knew was going to happen, and there are specific reasons for that. There isn’t anything Lawrence can’t do at the position, and he may be the most can’t-miss QB prospect since Andrew Luck.