My first round of the big board is finally over, so I will turn my attention to the later rounds of the draft, after some guys stood out in the Senior Bowl. Since 32 choices is a wide range – and hopefully, the Falcons get some extra choices in this round by switching back – I will be delving into each positional grouping instead of an arbitrary ranking system. I like a lot of guys in this band, as usual. I’ll do the last few rounds after getting some results from Pro Day, so stay tuned. If you missed any of my previous editions, they are here:
Fourth choice
9-15
16-24
25-32
Skill players:
1. RB Najee Harris, Alabama
2. RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina
3. RB Michael Carter, North Carolina
4. WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
5. TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
6. QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Nothing has changed with Najee Harris; it is still a punitive back with athleticism and enough elusiveness to stop big runs. You can read Chase’s draft profile on him here. I just can’t imagine spending a great deal of recruiting in the first round, harassing him.
Then my attention turns to UNC thunder and lightning. Javonte Williams, the thunder, is a bowling ball and another punishment runner. He ends up charged with authority and is not afraid of contact; he honestly reminds me of Michael Turner a little bit. Williams is very athletic and a good reception option, no matter how strong he is. He’s really pushing Najee Harris into first place on this list, and you can read my full profile draft of him here. Lightning, Michael Carter, won some money in the Senior Bowl, by showing his cunning and athletic gifts in general during the week and in the game.
Marshall is dropped here due to positional need, but I think he is an absolute steal of a choice in the second round. If you want to know why, check out Alex’s detailed analysis here. Pat Freiermuth is the victim of some potential fatigue and Penn State’s low production in 2020, but he is an absolute mismatch in the tight end. He has a smooth ride and hands to keep up with his incredible athleticism for a guy his size. At 6’5 and 250, I think he just gains more muscle and improves as a blocker. He would be a luxury choice at the moment, but he looks even better than his Penn State colleague Mike Gesicki on leaving college.
Kellen Mond had a Senior Bowl good enough to launch at the end of the second round, probably, but I’m good at a quarterback right now. This class is extremely heavy and, as you will see, there is a lot of value in the trenches and the secondary to reach the Mond here.
Offensive Line
1. IOL Landon Dickerson, Alabama
2. IOL Trey Smith, Tennessee
3. IOL Wyatt Davis, Ohio
4. IOL / T Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma
5. IOL / T Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Landon Dickerson is still my favorite candidate on this track, and although he has not played in the Senior Bowl – he certainly helped in his case by measuring in the 97th percentile for active NFL centers in size, weight and wingspan. His leadership in Alabama was apparent, and he is a plug and play holder who would immediately occupy the left guard or the center, two massive positions of need for Falcons.
Trey Smith had a pretty solid senior bowl and is undoubtedly one of the best pure guards in the class. Another plug and play initiator that immediately helps protect Matt Ryan. Wyatt Davis’s draft fell, but he is another very athletic and physical guard who instantly improves the team – probably starting opposite Chris Lindstrom if selected.
I really like Teven Jenkins, but he’s more of a project. He has more gifts than some of the guys above him, but Jenkins needs more refinement in his technique. He’s bad at the racing game and was solid at protecting passes. The ex-Cowboy has some flexibility in guarding, and while he has the potential to be better than some of these guys – Jenkins also needs a little more work and doesn’t offer the same immediate impact. Alex Leatherwood had a bad senior bowling. Although I wouldn’t accept it unless Atlanta won an extra second round, he still has a lot of versatility and experience that will make him quite solid from day one.
Front Seven
1. EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
2. EDGE / IDL Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
3. IDL Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
4. IDL Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
5. ILB Dylan Moses, Alabama
6. LB Jabril Cox, LSU
7. LB Baron Browning, Ohio
8. LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
Jaelan Phillips is one of my favorite candidates in the draft, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the former high school player first infiltrated the first round. Phillips is incredibly talented for his size and his profile is 3-4 EDGE – something that should be attractive to Dean Pees. Carlos Basham is projecting in the third round, but I’m not sure if he falls that far – or close to that. He showed incredible skill from the inside out in the Senior Bowl. Basham’s flexibility to kick in and still get over the edge is something that can really transform a 3-4 save. This switch with Grady Jarrett and Marlon Davidson can give Atlanta MANY looks.
Daviyon Nixon is raw, but he may be the best player in that group. He is incredibly athletic at 6’3 and 305, and uses his hands very well to create an inner impulse. If Nixon is developed correctly, the sky is the limit – don’t be alarmed if he is a Pro Bowler one day. Levi Onwuzurike had a fantastic week in the Senior Bowl, and he’s another fantastic indoor pass runner that I could see Atlanta interested in.
I barely have to give Dylan Moses an advantage over Jabril Cox, mainly because of positional adjustment. Dean Pees was successful in Baltimore, New England and Tennessee with internal supporters to stop the race. Jabril Cox is great in space, but I prefer Moses to allow Deion Jones to transition to a more natural WILL role. Moses is not as good at coverage as Cox, but immediately provides more energy against the race.
I liked Baron Browning later in this draft, but he flew into the draft after an impressive Senior Bowl. Browning finally showed why he was a five star out of high school, and he will certainly be a versatile piece for anyone who chooses him. The old Buckeye is a combination of what Cox and Moses do well, but I’m not 100% sold in a week of Senior Bowl practice. I really like his game and would not be shocked if he became an excellent NFL linebacker.
Chazz Surratt is the group’s biggest project. The former defender has all the tools and athleticism, but is still learning the position. If he goes to a team that develops linebackers at an elite level, he can become a dangerous weapon. Surratt terrified the ACC quarterbacks throughout the season, advancing against the passer, defending the race and falling on the cover.
Defensive Backs
1. S Richie Grant, UCF
2. S Jevon Holland, Oregon
3. S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
4. CB Asante Samuel Jr, State of Florida
5. CB Aaron Robinson, UCF
6. CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
This may be hypocritical, but I will not be much influenced by the Senior Bowl with Browning, but Richie Grant was too impressive not to make him my first safety on the plate. What really sold me was his ability to the limit. Most in their position can keep falling in the box or even as a slot corner, but it is rare that a security guard can match the border with a guy like Nico Collins and absolutely eat his lunch – the best comp I found was Charles Woodson. Grant is fast, physical and has impressive ball skills to match the versatility he offers – really the complete package as a prospect. It is still a little raw and may take some time to develop, but I would bet on the positive side – even with the need for immediate security help.
Everyone who reads my draft knows that I love Jevon Holland, and he offers much of what Grant does, but he reminds me of Desmond King with his ability to be a lockdown defender in the slot. He doesn’t offer the same juice as Grant at the border, but he has something there. I think Holland is more polite than Grant, so I would be happy with any of these guys.
Moehrig is more of a hawk than any of the other guys, which is why I would be happy to select you too. He’s more of a pure free guard, but I think he’s physical and athletic enough to play rover when called. I like A LOT of Asante Samuel Jr (his father was fantastic for the Falcons), but he will probably limit himself to paying for nickel in the beginning. Samuel is the most sticky man’s song you’ll find, but your zone technique will need a little polishing. He still has the full potential of a full NFL corner, but he will need to be polished in that area.
You can pretty much copy and paste all of that for Aaron Robinson, who had a fantastic week in the Senior Bowl. I think Robinson and Samuel will be experts in fantastic slots, which is a necessity for Atlanta. Tyson Campbell plummeted on the draft boards, but I predict that a team in the second round bets on its potential in a league where you will never have many talented corners. His tools will keep him afloat, but he has never shown exceptional ball skills in Georgia. It is a sticky press corner to a good extent, but Atlanta should have drafted an Isaiah Oliver type prospectus. I would consider winning him in the third round, but I could see him being defeated before them.