2021 NFL Draft: Grades for all Day 2 picks

The fourth-best safety on PFF’s Big Board, Richie Grant had exceptional run-defense grades in college and was a stud during the one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl in coverage, flashing the potential to be an all-around player at the next level. Grant has excellent numbers across the board and is an outstanding overall football player, but he was selected with TCU’s Trevon Moehrig — PFF’s top safety — still on the board.

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R2 (41) DETROIT LIONS: DI LEVI ONWUZURIKE

Pick Grade: Above Average

The Detroit Lions are, perhaps predictably, building from the inside out when it comes to the new regime’s first draft. After taking Penei Sewell in the first round, Detroit came back and grabbed an interior defensive lineman in the second. Levi Onwuzurike didn’t play in 2020, but he has exceptional burst and the potential to be an elite pass rusher at the next level, albeit relying on some projection based on what we saw from him in college.

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R2 (42) MIAMI DOLPHINS: OT LIAM EICHENBERG, NOTRE DAME

Pick Grade: Very Good

One of the top tackles in the country, Liam Eichenberg might not be quite as spectacular a prospect as some of the other players at his position, but he improved significantly in PFF grade every season of his college career, culminating in an 89.9 overall mark in 2020. Eichenberg didn’t surrender a sack in either of the past two seasons, and he gives the Dolphins some real competition at a position they’ve already invested significantly in without seeing clear and certain results yet.

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R2 (43) LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: S TREVON MOEHRIG, TCU

Pick Grade: Elite

Moehrig was the heavy favorite to become the first safety off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. Instead, he’s the third safety off the board here to Las Vegas behind both Jevon Holland and Richie Grant. Moehrig brings some much-needed playmaking ability in coverage to the Raiders secondary, but it remains to be seen how he fits in Gus Bradley’s defense after playing in a split-field safety defense at TCU. There’s reason to believe he can have success as a single-high safety with his size, smarts and explosiveness.

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R2 (44) DALLAS COWBOYS: CB KELVIN JOSEPH, KENTUCKY

Pick Grade: Average

Both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II coming off the board before the Cowboys’ selection in the first round led to the team selecting a linebacker in Round 1, but they fill the need at cornerback here with Joseph. The Kentucky product has elite speed and is a fluid mover at his size, but there were questions about his consistency on tape. That’s why he ranked just 67th on PFF’s Big Board.

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R2 (45) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: OT WALKER LITTLE, STANFORD

Pick Grade: Elite

Little’s NFL projection requires some imagination given that he’s played just 72 total snaps over the course of the last two seasons. A 2019 injury and 2020 opt out have kept Little from being able to show his development on a football field. This still stands out as a strong bet for the Jaguars given Little’s physical tools and an 81.2 pass-blocking grade as a true sophomore at Stanford in 2018. Little was PFF’s OT4 and a top-30 player overall on the big board.

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R2 (46) CINCINNATI BENGALS: OT JACKSON CARMAN, CLEMSON

Pick Grade: Above Average

After reuniting Joe Burrow with Ja’Marr Chase in Round 1, the Bengals attack the offensive line as expected here. It remains to be seen whether Carman plays tackle or guard in Cincinnati, but he raises the talent level of the group regardless of where he lines up. Carman has an impressive combination of size and athleticism and was playing his best football toward the end of the 2020 season.

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R2 (47) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR., FLORIDA STATE

Pick Grade: Elite

The Chargers stand out as one of the early winners in this draft with the selection of Slater in the first round and Samuel in Round 2. Samuel’s instincts and quicks make him an ideal fit in his projected off-ball zone role in Brandon Staley’s new defense in Los Angeles. He recorded a forced incompletion rate above 20% over the course of his career at Florida State.

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R2 (48) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: OG AARON BANKS, NOTRE DAME

Pick Grade: Below Average

It’s not surprising to see the 49ers address the interior offensive line, but it is a little bit of a surprise to see Banks as the target. Banks is coming off a well-rounded 2020 season at Notre Dame in 2020 with 80-plus PFF grades both as a pass-protector and run-blocker. However, physical and athletic limitations kept him outside the top 100 on PFF’s Big Board, and they make him an interesting fit in San Francisco’s offense.

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R2 (49) ARIZONA CARDINALS: WR RONDALE MOORE, PURDUE

Pick Grade: Elite

Arizona brought in A.J. Green in free agency this offseason. Given what we saw from Green in 2020, that wasn’t going to keep the Cardinals from adding another dynamic playmaker at wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft. Moore certainly qualifies as that. His ability to create with the ball in his hands should fit in well with one of the screen-heaviest offenses in the NFL. Moore forced 37 missed tackles after the catch in his lone healthy season at Purdue as a true freshman in 2018.

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R2 (50) NEW YORK GIANTS: EDGE AZEEZ OJULARI, GEORGIA

Pick Grade: Elite

Ojulari could have easily been drafted in the first round, making this selection one of the better values so far in Round 2. He is one of the more advanced pass rushers in this class technically and has an impressive first step off the edge. It helped lead to a 91.7 PFF pass-rushing grade this past season at Georgia. Ojulari also happens to fill a clear area of need for the Giants, whose top four pressure leaders were all interior defenders in 2020.

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R2 (51) WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: OT SAMUEL COSMI, TEXAS

Pick Grade: Elite

Cosmi is easily one of the most athletic offensive tackles in this class. That athleticism, along with his size, is always going to interest teams. Cosmi also earned pass-blocking grades of at least 82.0 in three consecutive seasons as a starter at Texas. There are some things he’ll have to clean up with his technique in the NFL, but there is a lot to like with his profile coming out of college. He should compete with several in-house options for the starting left tackle job in Washington.

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R2 (52) CLEVELAND BROWNS: LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, NOTRE DAME

Pick Grade: Elite

The Browns continue to make smart moves. It’s not easy to pinpoint a clear role for Owusu-Koramoah in the NFL, but he’s talented enough to contribute somewhere. He’s an off-ball linebacker who had slot cornerback coverage responsibilities in Notre Dame’s defense and looked good in that role. JOK is a smooth, explosive athlete who can fill multiple roles for Cleveland defensively. This is tremendous value for a top-20 player on PFF’s Big Board.

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R2 (53) TENNESSEE TITANS: OT DILLON RADUNZ, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Pick Grade: Very Good

Tennessee’s last swing at an offensive tackle was a disaster, as 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Wilson played just three snaps on offense — all kneel-downs — before he ran himself out of town. Dillon Radunz is a little undersized and underweight but has exceptional movement skills and the tools to be an elite pass-blocker, even if it could take a period of time to get there.

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R2 (54) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: EDGE DAYO ODEYINGBO, VANDERBILT

Pick Grade: Below Average

Another player who fits the Colts’ athletic profile for defenders to a tee. Odeyingbo is an extremely twitchy athlete and has prototypical size, but he comes without the grading profile and production to match those freakish traits. The Colts have chased those players in the past several drafts with mixed results. Odeyingbo recorded 25 total pressures in eight games the last time we saw him play.

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R2 (55) PITTSBURGH STEELERS: TE PAT FREIERMUTH, PENN STATE

Pick Grade: Above Average

The Steelers snag the 55th-ranked player on the PFF Big Board at Pick 55. Pat Freiermuth is the clear second-best tight end in the class after Kyle Pitts, but this is a weak group of tight ends. He is an all-around player who fits a throwback style of offense that will covet his blocking every bit as much as his receiving skills. The Penn State product was also one of the few tight ends in college football who was the featured receiver in his offense.

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R2 (56) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: WR D'WAYNE ESKRIDGE, WESTERN MICHIGAN

Pick Grade: Below Average

Eskridge represents a massive reach according to the PFF Big Board, as he ranks 164th overall and 24th among receivers. Still, he is a perfect fit for this offense, which has a history of turning players with his profile into success stories. Eskridge is undersized but extremely polished as a route-runner with great footwork and hand use at the line. He also brings legitimate speed, and if the Seahawks can get Tyler Lockett’s ball skills and physicality to rub off on him, he could justify this pick.

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R2 (57) LOS ANGELES RAMS: WR TUTU ATWELL, LOUISVILLE

Pick Grade: Below Average

The Rams grab the speedster they’ve been coveting in Tutu Atwell, though this is yet another reach on a smaller receiver with some issues. Atwell raised eyebrows by weighing in at the medical combine at 149 pounds, which would make him one of the lightest receivers ever to hit the NFL. His route tree was extremely limited, but there’s no doubting his playmaking ability, and his best PFF grades came against man coverage.

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R2 (58) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: LB NICK BOLTON, MISSOURI

Pick Grade: Very Good

Bolton isn’t the athlete some other linebacker prospects are, but he has exceptional instincts and can flow to the football and make tackles that stick. On his tape, there are plays of him tracking down and snaring Kadarius Toney in the open field when he played Florida, showing that he can hold his own against elite athletes and ball carriers.

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R2 (59) CAROLINA PANTHERS: WR TERRACE MARSHALL JR., LSU

Pick Grade: Elite

Marshall slid this far in the draft because of medical concerns, but on the field, he is a first-round talent and one of the few “big receivers” in this draft. Since the start of 2019, he has generated a perfect NFL passer rating of 158.3 when targeted. The LSU product has the potential to develop into a true No. 1 X receiver at the next level.

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R2 (60) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: LB PETE WERNER, OHIO STATE

Pick: Below Average

Werner possesses a throwback linebacker’s skill set, with a 240-plus-pound frame that can come downhill and lay the wood on whoever he hits. His struggles come with elite athleticism, quickness and fluidity of movement. The word “solid” was made for a player like Werner — the highest PFF grade he ever earned over a single season was just 70.8.

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R2 (61) BUFFALO BILLS: EDGE CARLOS BASHAM JR., WAKE FOREST

Pick: Very Good

Basham added weight throughout his college career and transformed himself into a tank of a pass-rusher with monstrous power and the ability to tear through opposing pass-blockers, but most of his best plays don’t actually come by using that potent power. His consistency has been lacking, but he has the tools of a first-round player. His 2019 season came close to elite in terms of PFF grading.

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R2 (62) GREEN BAY PACKERS: C JOSH MYERS, OHIO STATE

Pick: Poor

Myers has never earned a PFF grade above 75.0 over a full season, and the Packers selected him at this spot with significantly better centers on the board, including the one that went one spot below to the Chiefs. Meyers has impressive explosion and power, but he is far too aggressive and often loses by going for it all and whiffing at the line. The potential is there for Myers to be more, but he needs a lot of work.

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R2 (63) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: C CREED HUMPHREY, OKLAHOMA

Pick: Above Average

Humphrey can start from Day 1 at center, and he can also likely step in at either guard spot, giving Kansas City a tremendous player in terms of versatility and contingency on the offensive line — the area that effectively cost them the Super Bowl. And with Josh Myers going one spot earlier, this looks like an even better pick. Humphrey didn’t allow a sack for three straight seasons in college.

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R2 (64) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: QB KYLE TRASK, FLORIDA

Pick: Above Average

Trask is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in this draft because of how little experience he has. Trask didn’t even start in high school, as he backed up D’Eriq King and attempted just 161 passes at that level. He has just two seasons of starting quarterback play since the age of 14, and one of them produced an elite PFF grade of 92.2, which came in 2020. Trask must project to even better play, given how inexperienced he is, and now he gets to learn behind Tom Brady.

R3 (65) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: S ANDRE CISCO, SYRACUSE

Pick: Above Average

Cisco’s tape is a rollercoaster. He has some of the best range, size and playmaking ability in this class, tallying 26 combined pass breakups and interceptions across 24 games at Syracuse. Jacksonville will just have to live with some reads from Cisco that take him out of position, opening the door for big plays by the opposing offense. The Jaguars are clearly placing an emphasis on the secondary, with both of their Day 2 picks addressing that group.

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R3 (66) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: QB KELLEN MOND, TEXAS A&M

Pick: Average

Mond is one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft class. He dropped back to pass over 1,500 times in Jimbo Fisher’s pro-style offense at Texas A&M. He also brings some athleticism and a decent arm, but that didn’t lead to many high-end plays on his tape. He does provide an upgrade over Minnesota’s current backup quarterback options, putting him in line to sit behind Kirk Cousins.

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R3 (67) HOUSTON TEXANS: QB DAVIS MILLS, STANFORD

Pick: Average

The Texans look toward the future at the quarterback position with their first selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Mills is a former five-star recruit, has an NFL-caliber arm and got the ball out quickly while at Stanford with one of the fastest average times to throw in college football. He just doesn’t bring much mobility or experience. This is an interesting decision on Houston’s part considering that the team will likely be in position to draft a quarterback early in the 2022 NFL Draft.

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R3 (68) ATLANTA FALCONS: OT JALEN MAYFIELD, MICHIGAN

Pick: Below Average

Mayfield was garnering first-round consideration at one point. That might paint this as a value pick, but Mayfield’s 144th ranking on PFF’s Big Board still shows it as a reach. Mayfield’s upside was supposed to be his physical tools. However, his Pro Day didn’t show much in the way of that to get excited about. Mayfield will likely compete for the starting left guard spot in Atlanta — the lone hole on the team’s line right now.

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R3 (69) CINCINNATI BENGALS: EDGE JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS

Pick: Above Average

The Bengals lost Carl Lawson to the New York Jets earlier this offseason in free agency. They’ve since offset that loss by bringing in Trey Hendrickson in free agency and Ossai here. Ossai is an explosive athlete off the edge whose biggest strength, as listed in the PFF Draft Guide, is his motor. That motor and his athleticism form a winning combination off the edge. He should make an impact early as a rotational pass rusher.

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R3 (70) CAROLINA PANTHERS: OT BRADY CHRISTENSEN

Pick: Very Good

Christensen pairs high-end production (96.0 PFF grade in 2020) with high-end athleticism, testing at the 90th percentile or better across the board at his BYU Pro Day. His biggest concern entering the NFL is whether he can hold up at tackle with 32-inch arms. That’s generally below the requisite threshold for starting tackles in the league, but Christensen may be worth a shot given Carolina’s other options at the position. At worst, he should be a quality alternative to Pat Elflein at left guard.

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R3 (71) NEW YORK GIANTS: CB AARON ROBINSON, UCF

Pick: Very Good

The Giants’ secondary was already in a good spot entering the 2021 NFL Draft. By adding Robinson, potentially to man the slot, New York only improves its outlook. Robinson isn’t your prototypical slot cornerback. He has the size and press experience to potentially play outside. He also picked up 80.0-plus run-defense grades in each of the past two seasons at UCF. New York adds another talented piece to its secondary.

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R3 (72) DETROIT LIONS: DI ALIM MCNEILL, NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Pick: Very Good

The consensus was all over the board in this interior defender class, but McNeill slotted in as PFF’s DT2, behind only Alabama’s Christian Barmore. McNeill is an impressive athlete for a guy who tips the scales at 320 pounds. That allows him to provide more pass-rushing juice than your typical nose tackle. It’s not difficult to see him becoming a difference-maker on a defense that sorely needs those types of players.

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R3 (73) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: DI MILTON WILLIAMS, LOUISIANA TECH

Pick: Above Average

Williams is undersized on the interior. However, he showed at a historically impressive Pro Day that he has the athleticism necessary to win at that size in the NFL. He took a big leap forward this past season, improving his PFF grade from 72.6 to 90.8 from 2019 to 2020. The Eagles are set at starter between Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave, but Williams adds to the depth inside following the loss of Malik Jackson.

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R3 (74) WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: CB BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE, MINNESOTA

Pick: Average

St-Juste brings a rare combination of length and change-of-direction ability at cornerback. The Minnesota cornerback is listed at 6-foot-3 with over an 80-inch wingspan, and his three-cone and short shuttle times both ranked in the 90th percentile or better at the position. You won’t find many big cornerbacks who can move like that. St-Juste just isn’t all that experienced (420 career coverage snaps) despite turning 24 years old in September.

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R3 (75) DALLAS COWBOYS: DI OSA ODIGHIZUWA, UCLA

Pick: Above Average

No interior defensive lineman was more dominant at the Senior Bowl than Odighizuwa. He was the highest-graded player at the position both during the week of practice and in the game itself, winning with power and quickness. Odighizuwa also has four seasons of solid-run defense grades on his resume from his time at UCLA. He addresses a clear area of need for Dallas. Their defensive tackles were regularly blown off the ball in 2020.

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R3 (76) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: CB PAULSON ADEBO, STANFORD

Pick: Average

The Saints finally address their biggest need entering the 2021 NFL Draft, taking Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo. The loss of Janoris Jenkins and the uncertain future of Marshon Lattimore made it a necessity for New Orleans to address the cornerback position at some point in this draft. Adebo’s blend of length and ball skills (24 pass breakups in two seasons) seems best suited for a zone-heavy scheme, making this an interesting fit with the Saints.

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R3 (77) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: WR JOSH PALMER, TENNESSEE

Pick: Very Good

Palmer was one of the few wide receivers in this Day 2 range who fit the bill as a seemingly well-rounded player on the outside. Don’t be swayed by his lackluster production over the past few seasons at Tennessee. The quarterback situation there did Palmer no favors. He can create separation underneath and in the intermediate range with sudden routes and was one of the few receivers to beat new Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II deep this past season. He is a legitimate third option at the position beyond Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

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R3 (78) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: LB CHAZZ SURRATT, NORTH CAROLINA

Pick: Average

Eric Wilson departed for Philadelphia in free agency, and Anthony Barr restructured his contract to become a free agent following the 2021 season. That opened the door for Minnesota to target a linebacker within the first two days of this year’s draft. Surratt can make an immediate impact as a blitzer for the Vikings, but he’s still acclimating to the position after recently switching over from quarterback.

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R3 (79) LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: EDGE MALCOLM KOONCE, BUFFALO

Pick: Average

The Raiders test the waters on a very productive pass rusher. He might not have the requisite strength right now, but the team will be hoping he adds that aspect to his game. He’s going to have to add some moves, but the bend and flexibility he possess are uncoachable traits. Can he stand up to the run at the NFL level? He was a reach of about 90 spots according to the PFF Big Board. Classic Raiders. Right now he’s a third-down player until he puts on NFL muscle.

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R3 (80) LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: S DIVINE DEABLO, VIRGINIA TECH

Pick: Average

In a perfect universe, Deablo transitions to linebacker in the NFL and uses his relative speed and explosiveness for the position to become a good modern NFL linebacker. Unfortunately, there are going to be many universes where the former Virginia Tech safety never manages to nail down a spot and ends up living his pro career in positional limbo.

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R3 (81) MIAMI DOLPHINS: TE HUNTER LONG, BOSTON COLLEGE

Pick: Above Average

Even with Mike Gesicki on the roster, Long fills the need for a true inline tight end. He was a volume target at Boston College — head and shoulders the best receiving option for the Eagles over the last couple seasons. He does a lot of different things at a very good level and can help in a few different roles, he just might not have the requisite athleticism to be a difference-maker.

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R3 (82) WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: WR DYAMI BROWN, NORTH CAROLINA

Pick: Very Good

Ranked 45th on the PFF Big Board, Brown falls to 82 overall. Brown wasn’t asked to fill a lot of roles at North Carolina, as he played left wide receiver almost every snap, but he’s a great route runner and you can project that onto the more advanced route tree he will have to run at the next level. He fills out the Washington receiving corps nicely.

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R3 (83) CAROLINA PANTHERS: TE TOMMY TREMBLE, NOTRE DAME

Pick: Very Good

Tremble has been one of the hot names coming out of draft analysts’ mouths over the past few months — a throwback player who wills his opponents into submission with physicality and tenacity. He’s not a receiver — more fullback than tight end — but he’s a player you want on your roster. The Panthers now have a tone-setter on their offense.

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R3 (84) DALLAS COWBOYS: EDGE CHAUNCEY GOLSTON, IOWA

Pick: Average

Golston developed at a solid pace during his time at Iowa, going from a 63.7 grade in 2018 to 75.1 in 2019 before breaking out with an 82.3 grade last season. He is a physical and willing run defender and uses his hands extremely well as a pass rusher. He just might not have the explosiveness to play every down in the NFL.

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R3 (85) GREEN BAY PACKERS: WR AMARI RODGERS, CLEMSON

Pick: Below Average

The Packers finally take a receiver for Aaron Rodgers. The Clemson WR was the 128th player on our Big Board. Although he is very explosive, we don’t know enough about his route-running to assume he’ll run a full route tree in the NFL. Right now he’s a bubble screen, jet sweep and deep-post runner, so the Packers will hope he develops a more well-rounded game.

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R3 (86) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: OG WYATT DAVIS, OHIO STATE

Pick: Above Average

Davis struggled a bit in 2020 with a lower-body injury after coming off a very impressive 2019 season. That’s the only reason why he drops to pick 86. If Davis fixes up some mental errors, he can be a real steal this deep in the draft. He plays a position of need for the Vikings and is a power player. When he gets his hands on defenders, they stop in their tracks. A very nice pick — potentially a Week 1 starter for Minnesota.

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R3 (87) PITTSBURGH STEELERS: OG KENDRICK GREEN, ILLINOIS

Pick: Very Good

Green is one of the most physically gifted guards to come into the NFL in the last few years. He’s fast and physical. One would think he fits more in a zone-based scheme, but he shows some strength that could make it work in a gap and pull system as well. A very good pick for a rebuilding Steelers offensive line.

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R3 (88) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: RB TREY SERMON, OHIO STATE

Pick: Average

Sermon could very well end up being the best running back in this class. He doesn’t possess elite speed, but he breaks tackles and has tremendous contact balance. Still, trading up for a running back isn’t going to be a great value pick. He needs to lower his shoulder pads a bit more on contact, and even though he doesn’t have long speed, he does have great agility and elusiveness.

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R3 (89) HOUSTON TEXANS: WR NICO COLLINS, MICHIGAN

Pick: Average

Collins was a big time recruit who just never produced as a Wolverine. The Texans will hope that’s mostly due to the lack of quarterback talent feeding him the football in Ann Arbor. Collins is a big, physical receiver with some shiftiness who still wants to play physical and get dirty. He also has just enough juice to run by defensive backs. Consistency needs to improve.

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R3 (90) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: EDGE PATRICK JONES II, PITTSBURGH

Pick: Poor

Jones comes off the board over 100 spots ahead of his PFF Big Board ranking of 204.Not great value. He’s a big body but may not have the flexibility and speed to get around NFL-level tackles. The Vikings are reaching on huge potential that may not ever come to fruition. Jones is one of several similar edge rushers that would likely have been available in a couple rounds.

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R3 (91) CLEVELAND BROWNS: WR ANTHONY SCHWARTZ, AUBURN

Pick: Above Average

Schwartz is a very intriguing prospect whose track star speed was not able to be utilized at a consistent level at Auburn due to quarterback issues. The production wasn’t immense, but the Browns are banking on that coming around with Baker Mayfield throwing him passes. He’s not very big and isn’t a polished route runner, but there’s still upside — players with this type of speed don’t come into the league very often. The only issue is that the Browns probably could have picked him much later.

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R3 (92) TENNESSEE TITANS: LB MONTY RICE, GEORGIA

Pick: Average

Monty Rice has been flying around finding the football between the hedges for as long we can remember, but he lost his starting spot to Nakobe Dean this past season. He’ll need to figure out what’s happening in front of him at a much higher level in the NFL, but at least he has the athleticism to work with at the pro level. He’s a great tackler, but he just needs to read the game better.

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R3 (93) BUFFALO BILLS: OT SPENCER BROWN, NORTHERN IOWA

Pick: Above Average

The Bills are banking on coaching and development by taking Spencer Brown from FCS-level Northern Iowa. Brown is a massive player who ran a very fast 40, shuttle and three-cone. He also put up a fantastic broad jump. That’s the tackle they are getting. He’s not yet a technical player for the position, but this is a good spot to take this type of lineman. The Bills will hope that his almost 6-foot-9 frame isn’t too tall for the NFL.

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R3 (94) BALTIMORE RAVENS: OG BEN CLEVELAND, GEORGIA

Pick: Average

Cleveland is a monster of a human being who mauled everyone in his path in college. The problem is that he didn’t pair that size with production. He’ll need to learn the more technical aspects of the game and must become lighter on his feet. Right now, he needs to play in a phone booth because any play in space is going to be rough for him. He brings a mentality that the coaches will love, but this is a big projection.

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R3 (95) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: OT ROBERT HAINSEY, NOTRE DAME

Pick: Above Average

The Bucs are getting a superb technical player, though he does lack some athleticism. Hainsey enjoyed a tremendous 2020 season that saw his PFF grade jump from 74.6 in 2019 to 89.6 in 2020. Proficient in both the passing and running game, he could play tackle as he did at Notre Dame but can also be moved to guard or center without seeing much of a dip in his production.

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R3 (96) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: EDGE RONNIE PERKINS, OKLAHOMA

Pick: Very Good

Perkins burst onto the scene with a 90.5 PFF grade last season. The problem was that his stellar play came on only 262 snaps, and some of that was against the lowly Kansas Jayhawks. If that production is real, he is an excellent steal at this pick. He has all the physical traits that the NFL covets at the position, and the Patriots can work with him to find a role on their defense. He needs to work on his hand usage but has everything else one could ask for in an edge rusher.

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R3 (97) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: TE TRE' MCKITTY, GEORGIA

Pick: Poor

This is a big reach for the Chargers. If they had to take a player who struggled to produce in college, you’d at least like to see them take someone who either has size or athleticism. Instead, they take a player who has neither. McKitty’s one trait is his hand size, which is in the 99th percentile, but his 14.3% drop rate tells you that it might not matter much. A head-scratching pick for a player ranked 246th on our board.

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R3 (98) DENVER BRONCOS: C QUINN MEINERZ, WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER

Pick: Very Good

Everyone’s favorite draft prospect is finally off the board. Meinerz, the Division III prospect, is picked by Denver and could very easily become the team’s starting center next year. He plays with superb technical ability, always showing good leverage and power. He’s also an intelligent player, something you need from your center. Obviously, the level of competition is not good, and he’s not very agile, but he checks every other box.

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R3 (99) DALLAS COWBOYS: CB NAHSHON WRIGHT, OREGON STATE

Pick: Poor

From out of left field, the Cowboys select Last Chance U cameo star, Nahshon Wright. He’s a long corner and shows good ball skills, and he picked up five interceptions in only 18 games in his Beaver career. He is more of a zone player, which may fit Dan Quinn’s scheme, but his athleticism leads a lot to be desired, and that’s why this is a very big reach.

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R3 (100) TENNESSEE TITANS: S ELIJAH MOLDEN, WASHINGTON

Pick: Elite

Molden can come in and be an excellent slot cornerback, especially on a team looking to rebuild its defensive backfield. Molden was a borderline first-round talent and falls to the bottom of the third. There’s no doubt that this is a great pick, and now Molden and Caleb Farley could change the outlook of the Titans’ season. Molden is a playmaker and a great tackler — he has so much value at this pick it’s incredible.

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R3 (101) DALLAS COWBOYS: CB IFEATU MELIFONWU, SYRACUSE

Pick: Average

Melifonwu has unreal physical attributes but doesn’t always play to his size. A 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner should bully the receivers he faces, but that doesn’t show up on tape very often. He lacks an instinctive feel for the position, but he has excellent burst, breaks up plays with his long wingspan and can transition in and out of his breaks as well as anyone his size.

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R3 (102) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: CB AMBRY THOMAS, MICHIGAN

Pick: Average

Thomas plays way above his 6-foot, 191-pound frame. He comes from a pro-ready scheme where he played a lot of press-man coverage, which should translate right away in the NFL. He’s fast and plays physically but still isn’t that strong. The problem with Thomas is that we don’t know much about him. He was a former four-star prospect but didn’t play in 2020, so he only has the 672 snaps from 2019 and the 104 snaps from 2018 under his belt. He’s a big unknown.

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R3 (103) LOS ANGELES RAMS: LB ERNEST JONES, SOUTH CAROLINA

Pick: Below Average

Jones was a good run defender at South Carolina, but he falls because we don’t know much about him in coverage. He needs to anticipate and react faster if he is to stick at the NFL level. He brings it in the run game, but his change of direction and coverage skills leave a lot to be desired.

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R3 (104) BALTIMORE RAVENS: CB BRANDON STEPHENS, SMU

Pick: Below Average

Stephens is far from a great athlete, and he isn’t an incredibly technical player to make up for that. This is a reach for the Ravens. Speed kills him, as it’s not up to the level it should be in the NFL. A move to safety might be in the cards.

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R3 (105) DENVER BRONCOS: LB BARON BROWNING, OHIO STATE

Pick: Average

Browning projects as a pass-rusher at the next level, a role he did play at Ohio State. He was a liability on the field for most of his career until this past season. While he thumps people and is a physical player, he is just not a very fast processor, and that’s why teams will probably move him to the line of scrimmage.