The 2021 NFL Draft Recap: NFC North breaks down the selections of all the division teams. The Detroit Lions prioritized the trenches under new HC Dan Campbell. While, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings look to the future at quarterback with Justin Fields and Kellen Mond. Can Eric Stokes (pictured) help the backend in Green Bay?
| Detroit Lions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selection | Team | Player Selection | Position- School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | Notes |
| 1st round, 7th overall | Detroit Lions | Penei Sewell | 6’5 331 OT-Oregon | 3/1st Round | Sewell’s nastiness made him one of the best picks in this year’s draft and fits what the Lions are trying to do with a physical running game. |
| 2nd round, 41st overall | Detroit Lions | Levi Onwuziurike | 6’3 297 DT-Senior | 41/2nd Round | Despite not being an elite interior pass rusher, there is room for Onwuzurike to develop into more in that facet of his game. |
| 3rd round, 72nd overall | Detroit Lions | Alim McNeill | 6’2 317/DT-NG-NC State | 72/2nd Round | McNeill has all of the tools to be a legitimate first and second down force as a zero-technique nose guard. His strength is sudden, particularly after establishing hand placement inside the numbers of centers or guards. The All-ACC defensive tackle can win laterally or to a spot, but there are questions about his ability to finish as a pass rusher. |
| 3rd round, 101st overall | Detroit Lions | Ifeatu Melifonwu | 6’3 213/CB-Syracuse | 187/3rd Round | His tackling was solid for the most part, but he did not attack stalk blocks with a dominant mentality. Overall, Melifonwu played with awareness and attacked the three-step passing game. After a solid Senior Bowl week, he should hear his name called early on Day 3 of the draft process. |
| 4th round, 112th overall | Detroit Lions | Amon-Ra St. Brown | 5’11 197/WR-USC | 21/2nd Round | Traffic. How do prospects play within the high traffic areas on the field? St. Brown attacks traffic as a route runner or blocker. |
| 4th round, 113th overall | Detroit Lions (from Carolina Panthers) | Derrick Barnes | 6’0 245/LB-Purdue | 169/3rd Round | Barnes’ value depends on where a team decides to play him. In 2019, he was more than capable as a rush outside linebacker. We feel the former All-State running back’s feel for the game should be used in a multitude of roles. His experience on special teams helps his overall value. |
| 7th round, 257th overall | Detroit Lions (from Cleveland Browns) | Jermar Jefferson | 5’10 206/RB-Oregon State | 222/4th Round | Jefferson is a smooth effortless runner who is light on his feet with good contact balance. He squirts through holes, picks his feet up and uses subtle slide steps that cover distance going laterally. |
| Minnesota Vikings | |||||
| Selection | Team | Player Selection | Position- School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | Notes |
| 1st round, 23rd overall | Minnesota Vikings (from New York Jets) | Christian Darrisaw | 6’5 314 LT-Virginia Tech | 4/1st Round | The Vikings get one of the draft’s best offensive line talents after sliding back in the first round. Good moves again by the Vikings front office. |
| 3rd round, 66th overall | Minnesota Vikings (from New York Jets) | Kellen Mond | 6’3 211/QB-Texas A&M | 147/3rd Round | Overall, the Aggies’ all-time leader in total offense has a dual-threat game that largely translates to today’s NFL game. To put it all in perspective, he had 18 games with a rushing and passing touchdown in school. |
| 3rd round, 78th overall | Minnesota Vikings | Chazz Surratt | 6’2 227/LB-North Carolina | 132/3rd Round | Surratt is a converted QB and has limited reps as a linebacker although he did play safety in high school. The Tar Heels converted QB will be judged by his ability to learn the intricacies of the position, but in a short time he has shown the raw talent is there. |
| 3rd round, 86th overall | Minnesota Vikings (from New York Jets) | Wyatt Davis | 6’3 315/OG-Ohio State | 63/2nd Round | The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year has paved the way for Ohio State’s running game and likely a spot for himself early in the 2021 NFL Draft. We were probably most impressed with his ability to re-anchor in the pass protection aspect of his game. His ability to play with a base gives him a chance versus some of the quicker leverage-based defensive tackles he will face at the next level. |
| 3rd round, 90th overall | Minnesota Vikings | Patrick Jones II | 6’4 268/DE-Pittsburgh | 97/3rd Round | We think the first-team All-American’s future in the NFL is as either a right defensive end or 30-front rush outside linebacker. As an outside linebacker, he will be able to operate with a little room to set up his pass rush moves. The former Virginia high school product has a game that blossomed the last two years after serving an apprenticeship role back in 2018 (23 tackles, 4 QB sacks, 7.5 TFLs, FF). |
| 4th round, 119th overall | Minnesota Vikings | Kene Nwangwu | 6’0 212/RB-Iowa State | 171/3rd Round | Nwangwu, a former prep level track and field star, has battled injuries while in school. He bounced back positively from an Achilles tendon injury in 2017 to embody what the Iowa State program currently represents from a leadership perspective. Even though he played second-fiddle to first-team All-American Breece Hall, it should not be a reflection of his own diverse talent. |
| 4th round, 125th overall | Minnesota Vikings (from Chicago Bears) | Camryn Bynum | 6’0 198/CB-California | 236/4th Round | There may be questions about Bynum’s flat-out speed, but we think those may concealed if used in a Vonn Bell-type roll at the next level. |
| 4th round, 134th overall | Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo Bills; conditional) | Janarius Robinson | 6'5 266/DE-FSU | 134/3rd Round | Games like the Clemson contest in 2019 display the potential of Robinson, who is a big defensive end with very good field speed. We even think he has the upside to potentially play an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. His quickness is tough to handle. |
| 5th round, 157th overall | Minnesota Vikings | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | 6'0 181/WR-Iowa | 146/3rd Round | His foot speed is probably best represented with how well he carries his pads on Saturday afternoons. The instincts with the ball in his hands are first-rate, as is his peripheral vision to feel defenders around him in space. |
| 5th round, 168th overall | Minnesota Vikings (from Pittsburgh Steelers through Baltimore Ravens) | Zach Davidson | 6'7 248/TE-Central Missouri | 250/4th Round | Plays TE and punts for the Mules. The team aligns him in the No. 2 slot, No. 3 slot, Y-TE and offset FB. If he can improve as an in-line blocker and eliminate the drops, his foot speed and athleticism gives him a chance to become even more. |
| 6th round, 199th overall | Minnesota Vikings | Jaylen Twyman | 6’2 301/DT-Pittsburgh | 316/4th Round | It was impressive that he pumped out 40 repetitions at 225 pounds on his Pro Day in March. However, that really isn’t his game when you turn on the film. The 2019 second-team All-American has some lower body strength, but he is most satisfied winning with arm overs and swim moves. |
| Chicago Bears | |||||
| Selection | Team | Player Selection | Position- School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | Notes |
| 1st round, 11th overall | Chicago Bears (trade from New York Giants) | Justin Fields | 6’3 227 QB-Ohio State | 31/2nd Round | Fields goes to a football team where he can add arm strength to pierce balls through the wind and add diversity to the team’s running team. |
| 2nd round, 39th overall | Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers) | Tevin Jenkins | 6’6 317/OT-Oklahoma State | 20/2nd Round | Jenkins needs more technique work, but he has improved for the most part during his career. |
| 5th round, 151st overall | Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers) | Larry Borom | 6’5 327/OL-Missouri | 183/3rd Round | He should not have a problem with the power of the NFL game due to his wide base and strong trunk. Dealing with the speed of NFL pass rushers, however, could become an issue. |
| 6th round, 217th overall | Chicago Bears (via Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory selection) | Khalil Herbert | 5’8 204 RB-Virginia Tech, Kansas | 203/4th Round | It was a bit of a surprise that Herbert never returned kickoffs while at Kansas, but he became a hit at Virginia Tech in that regard. In addition, his ball security ranks as a plus entering the NFL. Herbert never fumbled in the Big 12 or ACC. He may not have a dominant trait, but his smooth nature makes him difficult to get a grasp on down-to-down. |
| 6th round, 221st overall | Chicago Bears (compensatory selection) | Dazz Newsome | 5’10 190/All-purpose-North Carolina | 190/4th Round | His 188 career receptions are supported by a nine yard per carry average and over 11 yards per punt return. Newsome is an all-purpose weapon with upside in the slot or the return game. |
| 6th round, 228th overall | Chicago Bears (compensatory selection) | Thomas Graham, Jr. | 5'10 193/CB-Oregon | 112/3rd Round | Prior to opting out of the 2020 season, he had already put together a full career’s worth of film for NFL teams to devour. He’s tough, competitive, sturdy and generally displayed good technique week-to-week in the Pac-12. He works to stay aligned in the team’s coverage concepts and is rarely out of position. |
| 7th round, 250th overall | Chicago Bears (from Seattle Seahawks) | Khyiris Tonga | 6’2 325/DT-BYU | 171/3rd Round | Did 35 bench press reps at 225 pounds. In today’s NFL, the splash interior defensive line prospects typically are able to work to half a man for quick penetration. This is not Tonga’s game. Where he does flash in the passing game revolves around his timing to cloud passing lanes. He finished his career with 12 pass deflections. |
| Green Bay Packers | |||||
| Selection | Team | Player Selection | Position- School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | Notes |
| 1st round, 29th overall | Green Bay Packers | Eric Stokes | 6’1 194/CB-Georgia | 35/2nd Round | Stokes continued to get better year-to-year, but prior to 2020 he hadn’t finished on the ball. The 10.39 100-meter sprinter finished with four interceptions as a senior. |
| 2nd round, 62nd overall | Green Bay Packers | Josh Myers | 6’5 310/OC-Ohio State | 168/3rd Round | 10 1/2” hands. Myers is capable of getting to most of his spots but his hand placement is a question mark. He is a fit in a zone blocking scheme and it might be at a guard position as opposed to center. |
| 3rd round, 85th overall | Green Bay Packers (from Tennessee Titans) | Amari Rodgers | 5’9 212/WR-Clemson | 99/3rd Round | Rodgers was just five months removed from a spring ACL tear (knee injury) in 2019, so did Tigers fans truly see the best he had to offer? If 2020 was any indication, then probably not. He looked stronger, more decisive and faster as a senior. In addition, his route-running savvy took another step forward. At 211 pounds, he is more than willing as a blocker, runs well after the catch and separates with timely cuts on option patterns. |
| 4th round, 142nd overall | Green Bay Packers (compensatory selection) | Royce Newman | 6’5 306/OL-Ole Miss | 234/4th Round | He has started at OG (LG) and moved to RT in 2020. Allowed just one QB sack at OG in 2019. Plays with hot feet. We think he has positional versatility as a backup at three-to-four different line spots. |
| 5th round, 173rd overall | Green Bay Packers | Tedarrell Slaton | 6’4 330/DT-Florida | 416/5th Round | He seemed to get his weight down to around the 340-pound range in 2020 and it helped him play with more consistency. The projected two-down defender has upside as a zero-technique in three-man fronts and one-technique in four-man schemes. |
| 5th round, 178th overall | Green Bay Packers (compensatory selection) | Shemar Jean-Charles | 5'10 184/CB-Appalachian State | 171/3rd Round | Team captain. One of the areas which stands out with Jean-Charles is his ability to accelerate in the move area (12-to-16 yards). Whether it is playing off-man or using a bail-and-run, he accelerates with energy once the receiver makes a decision to go vertical. |
| 6th round, 214th overall | Green Bay Packers | Cole Van Lanen | 6’5 304/OT-Wisconsin | 156/3rd Round | Van Lanen has enough length to keep defenders at bay, but he is somewhat narrow overall. It will be import for him to unlock his hands with increased urgency to handle NFL-style pass rushers. |
| 6th round, 220th overall | Green Bay Packers (compensatory selection) | Isaiah McDuffie | 6'2 225/LB-Boston College | 248/4th Round | Collegiately, McDuffie was able to outrun a number of his mistakes. We don’t anticipate that remaining the same at the NFL level. The second-team All-ACC linebacker is a run-and-chase type who will need to be covered up as a Will linebacker. |
| 7th round, 256th overall | Green Bay Packers | Kylin Hill | 5’10 214/Mississippi State | 83/3rd Round | His low center of gravity allows him to slide and dart with square-stance cuts to get back north-south. In 2020, no one was expecting to see Hill get 20 carries per game in first-year head coach Mike Leach’s air raid system. He never received more than seven (in a game). |
