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2021 NFL Draft grades for every team: Browns and Bears crush it, Cowboys flop

By Cody Williams

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Mya Tomoto stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after announcing Greg Newsome II as the 26th pick by the Cleveland Browns during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Mya Tomoto stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after announcing Greg Newsome II as the 26th pick by the Cleveland Browns during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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2021 NFL Draft grades
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2021 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 NFL Draft Grade: C+

  • Round 1, Pick 24: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
  • Round 2, Pick 55: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
  • Round 3, Pick 87: Kendrick Green, OG, Illinois
  • Round 4, Pick 128: Dan Moore Jr., OT, Texas A&M
  • Round 4, Pick 140: Buddy Johnson, LB, Texas A&M
  • Round 5, Pick 156: Isaiahh Loudermilk, DL, Wisconsin
  • Round 6, Pick 216: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami (FL)
  • Round 7, Pick 245: Tre Norwood, CB, Oklahoma
  • Round 7, Pick 254: Pressley Harvin III, P, Georgia Tech

If the Pittsburgh Steelers had taken Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth in the first two rounds of any draft prior to 2021, I would’ve loved it — even with a running back going in the first round. That would’ve been a winning combo that fits the Pittsburgh blueprint like a glove. The problem is that it’s 2021 and those players aren’t offensive linemen.

Kendrick Green isn’t ready to start Week 1 by my measure and they still don’t have a certain answer at left tackle. That’s a problem for this team that the talent of Harris and Freiermuth aren’t going to solve. Moreover, outside of getting a steal with Quincy Roche and drafting Pressley Harvin III, who should be your new favorite NFL player, the fliers they took were lackluster as well.

San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft Grade: C+

  • Round 1, Pick 3: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
  • Round 2, Pick 48: Aaron Banks, IOL, Notre Dame
  • Round 3, Pick 88: Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State
  • Round 3, Pick 102: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
  • Round 5, Pick 155: Jaylon Moore, OL, Western Michigan
  • Round 5, Pick 172: Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon
  • Round 5, Pick 180: Talanoa Hufanga, S, USC
  • Round 6, Pick 194: Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

Taking Trey Lance was the right call for the San Francisco 49ers. And I’m almost inclined to give the team an A for the draft just because of how expertly they pulled off the Mac Jones smokescreen with the No. 3 pick. But having said all of that, it needs to be said that, after Lance, this was an extremely weird and hard-to-follow class for the 49ers.

After dealing with crowded running back rooms, the Niners used two more picks on backs. And while they took nice swings on two corners I like in Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, they reached on Aaron Banks and Trey Sermon — and probably on Jaylon Moore too. Overall, the plan felt flawed after they got their guy in Lance.

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