NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 16
Next
2021 NFL Draft grades
Alex Leatherwood, Las Vegas Raiders, 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders 2021 NFL Draft Grade: C

  • Round 1, Pick 17: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
  • Round 2, Pick 43: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
  • Round 3, Pick 79: Malcolm Koonce, EDGE, Buffalo
  • Round 3, Pick 80: Divine Deablo, S/LB, Virginia Tech
  • Round 4, Pick 143: Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri
  • Round 5, Pick 167: Nate Hobbs, CB, Illinois
  • Round 7, Pick 230: Jimmy Morrissey, IOL, Pittsburgh

At this point, we should really just expect the Las Vegas Raiders to do the siilliest possible thing in the first round only to make up for it in the second round. Because taking Alex Leatherwood, a second-round pick in most projections, was one of the biggest reaches of the first round. But then getting Trevon Moehrig was one of the best values of the second round.

Overall, though, not getting value in the first round and then reaching on Malcolm Koonce and Divine Deablo while also not finding any sleepers late (by my book, at least) doesn’t do this class any favors. Leatherwood and Moehrig could undoubtedly work out for the Raiders and that’s fine. But in the immediate aftermath, this is another strange haul for Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden.

Los Angeles Chargers 2021 NFL Draft Grade: B+

  • Round 1, Pick 13: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
  • Round 2, Pick 47: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
  • Round 3, Pick 77: Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee
  • Round 3, Pick 97: Tre’ McKitty, TE, Georgia
  • Round 4, Pick 118: Chris Rumph II, EDGE, Duke
  • Round 5, Pick 159: Brenden Jaimes, OT, Nebraska
  • Round 6, Pick 185: Nick Niemann, LB, Iowa
  • Round 6, Pick 198: Larry Rountree, RB, Missouri
  • Round 7, Pick 241: Mark Webb, DB, Georgia

If we were basing these draft grades just on the first two picks, the Los Angeles Chargers might be at the top of the board. Rashawn Slater at No. 13 is great value and a perfect player for a team that has long needed offensive line help and does even more so now with the emergence of Justin Herbert. Then to get Asante Samuel Jr., a terrific coverage cornerback, in the mid-second round is even better.

The grade is docked a bit, however, because the Chargers somewhat dropped the ball thereafter. While I like the upside of Josh Palmer and Tre’ McKitty, both players were reaches in the third round. Moreover, the only player who really moved the needle in Rounds 5-7 would be Brenden Jaimes, and even he needs some development.

Home/NFL Draft