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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
Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions, 2021 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Draft Grade: A

  • Round 1, Pick 7: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
  • Round 2, Pick 41: Levi Onwuzurike, IDL, Washington
  • Round 3, Pick 72: Alim McNeill, IDL, NC State
  • Round 3, Pick 101: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
  • Round 4, Pick 112: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
  • Round 4, Pick 113: Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue
  • Round 7, Pick 257: Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State

Let’s be honest, the Detroit Lions weren’t going to win many games in the 2021 season no matter what they did in the draft. Subsequently, the goal should’ve been to start laying the foundation for when they are able to adequately upgrade from Jared Goff and actually start putting wins on the board.

To me, they did that wonderfully. New head coach Dan Campbell is now infamous for his “biting kneecaps” mentality he wants to instill with the Lions and this is a class that fits right into that. These are some fighters that address key positions on both sides of the ball, including starting the draft with Penei Sewell. Once the Lions rebuild is further along, this draft class will truly start to be appreciated.

Green Bay Packers 2021 NFL Draft Grade: C

  • Round 1, Pick 29: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
  • Round 2, Pick 62: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State
  • Round 3, Pick 85: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
  • Round 4, Pick 142: Royce Newman, IOL, Ole Miss
  • Round 5, Pick 173: Tedarrell Slaton, IDL, Florida
  • Round 5, Pick 178: Shemar Jean-Charles, CB, Appalachian State
  • Round 6, Pick 214: Cole Van Lanen, IOL, Wisconsin
  • Round 6, Pick 220: Isaiah McDuffie, LB, Boston College
  • Round 7, Pick 256: Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State

It’s hard not to color the Packers’ draft class without looking at it while the Aaron Rodgers cloud hangs over it. But if they went into the draft with their MVP quarterback questioning his future, then this draft made even less sense. But overall, I’m not just not a fan of how they addressed needs.

Eric Stokes could be a good player but an offensive lineman at that spot would’ve been better value, especially when they could’ve followed that up with a Round 2 receiver and then gotten a slipping cornerback in the third round, especially if they were already willing to trade up. And as for the late-round picks, hardly any of them even moved the needle, which is not what you want to see.

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