Tag: Penei Sewell

2021 NFL mock draft roundup: Bengals get Joe Burrow some serious help

2021 NFL mock drafts have some interesting ideas for the Cincinnati Bengals.

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The theme for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 NFL mock drafts is simple — surround Joe Burrow with as much talent as possible.

Most mock drafts feature win-loss projections or outright odds to position the Bengals as a team picking in the top five again. And when they do it’s all about Burrow.

Over at Draft Wire, Luke Easterling gives the Bengals offensive tackle Walker Little out of Stanford at No. 5.

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards goes a similar route, giving the Bengals Oregon lineman Penei Sewell at No. 2: “Sewell is too good of a prospect to bypass. By adding the Oregon product, the Bengals can move Jonah Williams to the right side or slide him inside. The protection of Joe Burrow is of the utmost importance.”

Sewell was also the pick for the Bengals a few weeks back at No. 3 in a mock from Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus:

“The use of the term “generational” has gotten out of control. That being said, Sewell is still a generational tackle prospect. He’ll likely be the best offensive tackle prospect since at least Jake Long, if not Orlando Pace. He already dominated college football with an FBS-high 95.8 overall grade as a true sophomore — his blend of power, technique and athleticism is scary.”

The writeup helps to explain why it’s worth getting excited over such an idea in 2021.

But such ideas do come with a catch. Protecting Burrow is a noble cause, but there is always an outside chance the line won’t be a massive need by the time the draft arrives. Jonah Williams will get his shot at left tackle and the staff really likes a prospect such as Fred Johnson, who could always push Bobby Hart at right tackle.

Ideally, the Bengals will be free of such outright needs and can go best player available. But targeting offensive line this far out is only logical.

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ESPN has Redskins drafting with the No. 2 overall pick again in 2021

Just weeks after drafting Chase Young at No. 2 overall, the Redskins are being projected to finish at the same place in 2021 again.

The Washington Redskins may be new and improved in 2020, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to be good.

After the 2020 schedule was released on Thursday night, many media pundits — including ourselves — made predictions on what their final record would be when all is said and done. Most people have the Redskins pegged for 5-6 wins. ESPN’s latest draft order projection doesn’t give them as much credit.

The Redskins are projected by ESPN to have the No. 2 overall pick once again in 2020, finishing one spot behind the Carolina Panthers. It isn’t so much the defense that causes the uncertainty, but the unknown development of QB Dwayne Haskins and the offense that leaves a lot left to be desired.

We forecast that the Redskins’ defense will improve in 2020, so the issue here is offense and specifically quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Haskins was the least valuable quarterback in the league last season according to both Football Outsiders’ DVOA and ESPN’s QBR. Haskins still has potential, and it’s wrong to write off a young quarterback completely after one bad half-season. Nevertheless, the record of young quarterbacks with similar performances is not a good one.

That’s not a good list to be on. Jared Goff and Alex Smith became capable NFL starters, and Matthew Stafford was close to making this list as a rookie. But overall, quarterbacks who play as poorly as Haskins do not develop into stars. Of course, part of Haskins’ poor performance was the lack of talent around him, but Washington didn’t exactly stock its lineup with new weapons this offseason. Cody Latimer isn’t changing much.

Best-case scenario: Washington’s defensive front full of first-round picks matures and coheres all at once, similar to the San Francisco defensive front a year ago. Chase Young has Nick Bosa’s rookie season. Haskins takes dramatic strides forward in his second season, following the path of Goff and Stafford instead of the path of Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles.

It may be tough to sit through another disastrous season that lands Washington with one of the top overall picks, but as there was in 2019, there will be the same in 2020 — a light at the end of the tunnel. A top-two pick means the Redskins will have the chance to draft either Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, or Oregon LT Penei Sewell, two incredible prospects who have a chance to completely turn around a franchise.

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Jets land Oregon offensive tackle in Draft Wire’s way-too-early 2021 mock draft

Draft Wire’s way-too-early 2021 mock draft has the Jets landing another elite offensive lineman in Oregon tackle Penei Sewell.

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than a week old, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the next draft.

Draft Wire did just that on Friday, releasing its first 2021 mock draft. Using the latest Super Bowl odds, the Jets are slated to pick third in the mock, which positions Joe Douglas to land another elite offensive tackle in Oregon’s Penei Sewell.

The Sewell pick is an intriguing one since New York just selected Mekhi Becton in the first round. However, even with Becton in the fold, the right tackle spot is up for grabs. George Fant and Chuma Edoga will battle for the starting job in training camp this year, but it remains to be seen if either player can be the answer at the position past this season.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds, Sewell is already generating hype as an elite draft prospect. He won the Outland Trophy for the nation’s best lineman on either side of the ball in 2019, becoming the first sophomore to ever win the award. A complete prospect, Sewell’s technique and strength place him far above any other offensive tackle in his class.

If the Jets landed Sewell, they would have two mammoth offensive tackles to protect Sam Darnold. Considering Douglas’ affinity for offensive linemen and pledge to keep Darnold safe at all costs, it would not come as much of a surprise to see him select a lineman in the first round for a second consecutive year.

Who will be picked No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft and the betting odds for who will be the first overall pick.

We’re just finishing up the 2020 NFL Draft, but we’ll take a look ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft and a few potential candidates for the first overall pick next April.

2021 NFL Draft: Who will go first overall?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The Cincinnati Bengals nabbed LSU QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He is the third straight Heisman Trophy winner and third consecutive quarterback taken with the top overall selection. A signal-caller has been taken first overall in 15 of the past 20 drafts, too. Each of the past three No. 1 overall picks have also been transfer quarterbacks.

While that last tidbit is a bit interesting, that streak is likely to come to an end in 2021. It’s widely believed Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (-250) will be the first player to hear his name called next April.

2021 NFL Draft bets: Trevor Lawrence (-250)

Lawrence, who already has a national championship under his belt from 2018, is also considered to be the favorite for the 2020 Heisman Trophy in college football. In just two seasons in the upstate, he has thrown for 6,945 yards with 66 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions while also running for 740 yards and 10 scores.

Lawrence will no longer have WR Tee Higgins to target downfield, as he will be playing on Sundays with Burrow and the Bengals. WR Justyn Ross (+10000) is expected to be the new No. 1 wideout for Lawrence and the Tigers, and he might also be a Top 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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2021 NFL Draft bets: Justin Fields (+350)

While Lawrence might be the favorite at this juncture, Ohio State QB Justin Fields (+350) is also a candidate for the top spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. And hey, he was a transfer from Georgia to Ohio State before last season, so he fits the trend we discussed above. Fields had a season to remember in 2019, throwing for 3,273 yards while completing 67.2% of his passes. He also tossed 41 touchdowns while being picked off just three times and he ran for 484 yards and 10 more scores.

Fields will be the trigger man in Ryan Day’s wide-open offense, and he has outstanding WR Chris Olave to reel in those big downfield passes.

2021 NFL Draft bets: Penei Sewell (+500)

If you want to think outside of the box, and believe the quarterback run at No. 1 overall will come to an end, Oregon OT Penei Sewell (+500) might be a potential candidate. Sewell protected QB Justin Herbert, now of the Los Angeles Chargers, and he even received one second-place vote for the Heisman in 2019.

2021 NFL Draft bets: Best of the rest

The Bengals, Chargers and Dolphins all picked quarterbacks early in 2020. If they end up back with the No. 1 pick in 2021, they will certainly not be taking a signal-caller again. That’s why Sewell and Ross could be top picks, and at great value.

In addition, watch LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase (+5000), Clemson RB Travis Etienne (+4000), Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood (+4000), Wake Forest QB Jamie Newman (+4000), Penn State LB Micah Parsons (+2000), and Miami QB D’Eriq King (+1400) and DE Gregory Rousseau (+4000) as potential candidates for the top overall selection.

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2021 NFL Draft: First Pick Overall Odds, Best Bet Value Ranking

Who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft? The odds are out from BetMGM, and here’s our ranking from best values to worst.

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Who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft? The odds are out from BetMGM, and here’s our ranking from best values to worst. 

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We already know who the No. 1 overall pick is going to be in the 2021 NFL Draft, right? Sure we do … just like we knew last year at this time that fifth-round prospect Joe Burrow was going to turn into the must-have top pick overall.

Just like we knew that a quarterback smaller than your sister would end up being the top overall selection in 2019. And before Kyler Murray went to Arizona, it’s not like anyone had any idea that Baker Mayfield would somehow by the top overall pick for Cleveland in 2018.

This is hardly the slam dunk you might think it is.

BetMGM is out with its initial lines for the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Here’s our ranking from the worst value on up to the best of the bunch.

One quick note before we start. The Field isn’t an option. If it was, that would be the No. 1 choice here. And why? Again, Burrow, Murray, and Mayfield.

Here are all of the 30 prospects listed with the lines to be the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Want to bet on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft?
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30. WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

The hype will be huge coming off a fantastic 2019, but just getting close to the first round in a deep class of of wide receivers would be strong enough. BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

29. WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State

Wallace will be in for a huge season if he stays healthy. However, it’ll be a long shot to be the No. 1 receiver taken, much less the top overall draft pick. BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

28. CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State

He’s going to be among the next great Ohio State defensive backs, but great Ohio State defensive backs don’t go No. 1 overall.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +6600

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27. QB Brock Purdy, Iowa State

He is a quarterback, and he is going to throw for a ton of yards, but this isn’t the class to be just a quarterback who’s going to throw for a ton of yards. BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

26. LB Micah Parsons, Penn State

I like his NFL game a lot more than most, but it would require something unreal for him to get into shouting distance of the top pick. At +2000, it’s not worth it as a flier.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +2000

25. RB Kylin Hill, Mississippi State

Not only is a running back for an okay team in the SEC West not going to get the yards, he’s really not going to get the yards in the Mike Leach offense. The position it too devalued. It is +20,000, but … nah.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +20,000

24. WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

It’s hard enough for a wide receiver to be a top pick, much less one who’ll have to share the wealth with so many other talented stars on his own team. Waddle is special, but notice how many other Alabama guys are on this list.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +5000

23. OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan

A rising star prospect who should work his way into the first round, there’s going to be too much traffic at the position – forgetting about the quarterback talents – to earn the top pick.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

22. WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

His game will be more than fantastic for the NFL, but he’s not exactly the prototype wideout. We’re talking about the No. 1 overall pick in a draft with phenomenal quarterback prospects – +5000 isn’t enough to get interested. BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +5000

21. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

The next-level talent is there for an offense that’s going to put up insane passing numbers, But he’s still a wide receiver.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

20. WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama

The +5000 value isn’t enough to bite. A wide receiver isn’t going first, but Smith might play his way into a top 15 pick.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +5000

19. WR Justyn Ross, Clemson

As outstanding as he is, and as good as the +10,000 might look, he doesn’t have No. 1 overall pick talent. He’ll likely go around the 20.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

18. WR Rondale Moore, Purdue

The blazing speed and all-around playmaking ability could make him the first receiver off the board – think Henry Ruggs – but even at +10,000, don’t worry about him at the top spot.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +10,000

17. CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama

All the NFL tools are there, but if Jeff Okudah couldn’t get higher than the No. 3 pick … it’s not going to happen for a corner in this draft.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +5000

16. RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

Get ready for a theme here. There’s just no value at running back anymore. Even if there is – and Hubbard should be a great pro – it’s asking for way too much to make Hubbard No. 1 overall.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +8000

15. RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

+4000 isn’t enough to get excited about him as the No. 1 overall guy. He’ll have a fantastic season, and the speed is serious, but it’s a position problem – ask D’Andre Swift and Jonathan Taylor about the value of being a great running back.
BetMGM 2021 NFL Draft 1st Overall Pick Odds: +4000

NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft: First Pick Overall Odds, Best Bet Value Top 15 Ranking

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Five Oregon players who Badger fans need to know

Here are five Oregon Ducks who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout the 106th Rose Bowl game on New Years Day.

Here are five players on Oregon’s roster who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Wednesday’s Rose Bowl Game.

Justin Herbert – Quarterback

2019 stats: 66.7% passing, 3,333 yds, 32 TD, 5 INT

Herbert almost certainly would have been a first-round selection in last year’s NFL draft after an excellent junior season, but the Eugene, Ore. native opted to return for his senior year for one last opportunity to lead his hometown Ducks to a Pac-12 title and College Football Playoff berth.

While he wasn’t able to accomplish the latter, Herbert is still a lock for the first round of this spring’s draft after enjoying the best statistical season of his career in 2019. The 6-6, 237-pound signal-caller has put up career-highs in both passing yards (No. 3 in the Pac-12) and touchdowns (No. 2), and his 158.7 passing efficiency rating (PER) is the third-best in the conference.

Herbert will end his college career near the top of several all-time (at least since 1956) Pac-12 lists, including career passing yards (currently No. 16), passing touchdowns (No. 6) and PER (No. 9).

CJ Verdell – Running Back

2019 stats: 6.5 YPC, 1,171 yds, 8 TD/14 rec, 125 yds (8.9 avg)

Oct 26, 2019; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks running back CJ Verdell (7) picks up a first down during the second half against the Washington State Cougars at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Verdell won’t be the best running back to take the field in Wednesday’s Rose Bowl Game (that distinction goes to No. 23 in the Cardinal and White), but make no mistake, that is very rarely the case.

The sophomore from Chula Vista, Calif. had a huge redshirt freshman season in 2018 as the only Power 5 player nationally with at least 1,000 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving, and he has not fallen off a bit this year. A Second-Team All-Pac-12 performer this season, Verdell ranks at the top of the conference in yards per carry and is second in rushing yards.

Aside from J.K. Dobbins of Ohio State, this is the most talented back the Wisconsin defense has faced all season.

NEXT: Penei Sewell/Troy Dye/Kayvon Thibodeaux

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Tyler Biadasz, Penei Sewell take center stage in the Rose Bowl

A look at the Rose Bowl’s two best offensive linemen

Aside from prolific running backs and outstanding quarterback play, the 2020 Rose Bowl will also feature a rare matchup of two first-round offensive linemen playing for different teams. Both the Wisconsin Badgers and the Oregon Ducks are fielding two of the nation’s premier offensive linemen and both men will be critical to their team’s success on January 1. While their styles of play and positional objectives are vastly different, their levels of importance to their teams and what they do on offense are extremely similar. If they are having a good day as individual players, their teams are usually having a good day as well. 

For the Wisconsin Badgers, Tyler Biadasz takes the field as the Rimington Trophy winner, given to the nation’s top center. He was a first-team Big Ten selection and an AP All-American. Picked by several pundits as the No. 1 interior lineman in the upcoming NFL Draft, Biadasz has yet to declare his intentions but surely must be weighing his options after an impressive haul of personal awards. As crazy as it may seem with Wisconsin having such a pronounced history of successful running backs, Biadasz is the Badgers’ first-ever Rimington Trophy winner. There’s not much left for him to win as a center. Biadasz can do it all. He’s sound in pass protection and firm off the ball as a run-blocker. In fact, he was a finalist for another trophy that will be mentioned in this column — The Outland Trophy. 

The winner of this year’s Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior lineman, was Penei Sewell of Oregon. Sewell and Biadasz going pro in the same class would give general managers sleepless nights when making a decision between the two, but fortunately for the GMs, Sewell has another year to play before he is eligible to go pro. He will certainly be talked about as a top-10 pick when he does go pro, however. In 466 pass-blocking snaps, Sewell has allowed only seven pressures and zero sacks. Sewell gets the job done. 

Both of these offensive linemen are critical to what their teams do on offense. Sewell’s ability to keep Oregon QB Justin Herbert clean has allowed Herbert to throw for 3,333 yards, 32 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. As talked about in our look at the quarterbacks in this game, the ability to play mistake-free and turnover-free football has enabled these teams to thrive against tough competition. On the other side, Biadasz has led the way for the nation’s top running back two years in a row. Jonathan Taylor is part of a running back room that ran for more than 1,400 of Wisconsin’s 3,127 total rushing yards up the middle. 

In any other year, Justin Herbert is likely being fawned over and projected as a No. 1 overall pick. But Joe Burrow isn’t any other player and he has stolen a lot of shine from Herbert. As a result, people have somewhat overlooked how dominant Sewell is on that Oregon offensive line. Just put on tape of the Ducks’ passing game; his play will immediately jump out at you. There won’t be a need to ask which player he is, that will become evident in less than a minute. 

If Sewell and the Ducks can keep Herbert clean, they’ll have a chance to pick apart Wisconsin’s 16th-ranked passing defense… or, as an alternative viewpoint, Wisconsin will have a chance to show the nation why its defense is ranked that high. The Badgers have the nation’s 14th-ranked passing efficiency defense. Given Oregon’s run defense ranking, one of these things is likely to break in Pasadena. 

The Ducks will have to find a way to budge Biadasz off the snap and get to Taylor. If Wisconsin can block for Taylor, he will have a chance to humble Oregon’s 10th-ranked rushing defense. The Badgers enter the game with the nation’s 15th-ranked rushing offense. The Ducks are either going to shut Taylor down, or Taylor is going to show the nation why he’s the Doak Walker Award winner, given to the nation’s top running back, two years in a row. 

There are already many reasons to tune in to the 2020 Rose Bowl. There are prolific running backs, NFL-ready quarterbacks, solid defenses, and the guys up front deserve some love. If you’re into offensive line play, this really is the game to watch. You won’t find a bowl game with two better offensive linemen on the same field. Tyler Biadasz and Penei Sewell are the cogs in the wheels of these offenses.