2021 NFL Draft Steals based on what's happened in training camp and preseason
2021 NFL Draft Steals Thoughts
I’ve read a lot of training camp reports in 2021 and while I’m not claiming to be an expert on any of this (training camp reports can be misleading, like all reports), these are the stories I’m hearing that would indicate that these picks were good ones. This was how I came to know about Gabe Davis last year, as well as Jordan Fuller, Darnell Mooney, Alton Robinson, Solomon Kindley, Michael Onwenu, Damion Lewis, and Antonio Gibson.
Some other 2020 mid-to-late round picks who I’m hearing positive reports on, as far as a potential breakout season in 2021, include WR Bryan Edwards, CB Cameron Dantzler, LB Julian Okwara, DT McTelvin Agim, RT Lucas Niang, LB Tanner Muse, LB Alex Highsmith, CB Darnay Holmes, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, LB Mykal Walker, RB Anthony McFarland, OT Charlie Heck, LB Shaq Quarterman, RB DeeJay Dallas, DE Trevis Gipson, CB Bryce Hall, LB Kamal Martin, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR James Proche II, LB Carter Coughlin, and LB Tae Crowder, the final pick of the draft.
I’ve heard these rookies are doing good and they weren’t drafted that early. This may seem like a “long list” but consider two things:
a) There are way more names left off of it than on it — the draft is long
b) I’m not saying these are all expected to be stars. Some may be starters, some may be important reserves, and plenty of them won’t establish themselves as NFL players. It’s just their first training camp but standing out isn’t a bad thing usually.
I’ll add notes to the players who seem to have stood out even more than the rest.
S Andre Cisco, Jaguars, 3rd round, 65th overall
OL Jalen Mayfield, Falcons, 3/68
DT Alim McNeil, Lions, 3/62
Detroit picked DT Levi Onwuzerike in the second round, but McNeil’s been the star defensive tackle of camp. The Lions are elated with their draft class, and that’s including the slower-than-expected development of Penei Sewell.
CB Benjamin St-Juste, WFT, 3/74
I was high on St-Juste before the draft and he seems like a Week 1 starter for Ron Rivera.
WR Josh Palmer, Chargers, 3/77
He’s got an argument for being the number two option for Justin Herbert already.
LB Malcolm Koonce, Raiders, 3/79
WR Amari Rodgers, Packers, 3/85
OL Kendrick Green, Steelers, 3/87
It seems like there were OL picks all over this draft, from the first round to the seventh, who are starting way earlier than expected. Green is one of those guys.
RB Trey Sermon, 49ers, 3/88
WR Nico Collins, Texans, 3/89
OL Ben Cleveland, Ravens, 3/94
CB Elijah Molden, Titans, 3/100
CB Ambry Thomas, 49ers, 3/102
LB Ernest Jones, Rams, 3/103
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, 4/112
OL Drew Dalman, Falcons, 4/114
RB Rhamondre Stevenson, 4/120
CB Zech McPhearson, Eagles, 4/123
McPhearson should also be a Week 1 starting cornerback. It seems he’s made plays every single day in camp and preseason.
WR/TE Jacob Harris, Rams, 4/141
OT Larry Borom, Bears, 5/151
Chicago’s only received bad news on second round tackle Teven Jenkins, but they’re less concerned thanks to the incredible play of Borom. It looks like Borom is a Week 1 starter at right tackle.
S Caden Sterns, Broncos, 5/152
Another immediate starter in the secondary.
CB Nate Hobbs, Raiders, 5/167
Last year, I might have made Bryan Edwards or Gabe Davis the “Day 3 Training Camp Rookie of the Year” and this year it could go to Hobbs. He’s looked like a complete star from day one and he’ll be the Raiders’ starting nickel in Week 1.
S Richard LeCounte, Browns, 5/169
S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Jets, 6/186
RB Larry Rountree III, Chargers, 6/198
CB Brandin Echols, Jets, 6/200
CB Rodarius Williams, Giants, 6/201
WR Jalen Camp, Jaguars, 6/209
RB/WR Demetric Felton, Browns, 6/211
QB Sam Ehlinger, Colts, 6/218
G Trey Smith, Chiefs, 6/226
Kansas City’s complete rebuild of the o-line wasn’t supposed to need a rookie to help immediately, unless you were talking about center Creed Humphrey. Well, they might instead have the line be 60-percent rookies; Humphrey at center, 2020 third round pick Lucas Niang at right tackle (Niang opted out last year, making him a 2021 rookie), and Smith at right guard. It’s not by default just because Kyle Long is injured. Smith’s played like a starter.
WR Mike Strachan, Colts, 7/229
They absolutely love him in Indy and he might have leapt over 2019 second round pick Parris Campbell, if not also Zach Pascal.
DB Mark Webb, Chargers, 7/241
DE Shaka Toney, WFT, 7/246
LB Chris Garrett, Rams, 7/252
RB Kylin Hill, Packers, 7/256
A team with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon already, Green Bay might have a hard time keeping Hill off of the field given what they’ve seen from him this offseason. He was nearly undrafted by the Packers love this rookie running back.
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Kenneth