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2021 Top 32 Big Board (Pre Senior Bowl)

Discussion in 'The Bill Nunn Draft Room' started by AskQuestionsLater, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Apr 21, 2016
    Hello there and welcome fellow readers! Here we are yet again with another installment of the Top 32 Big Board for the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. I am AskQuestionsLater and today I will be giving you who is among the best within the 2021 Class. As is always, before we start, I disclaimer:


    These written statements by the author do not reflect nor are shared opinions of members of TheSteelersFans Message Board, Staff Members and/or Site Administrator.


    As is the case every year, only a select number of players are considered a First Round prospect by the NFL Draft Advisory Board. Due to this, the NFL Draft as a whole is not only greatly competitive for these players but also yields immense pressure and immense uncertainty. This is the normal aspect of any NFL Draft. However, COVID 19 has made the 2021 Draft Season even worse. No Combine means no medical check ups, no interviews, no anything really in person. The only aspect teams will have at their disposal is the following:


    1.) Pro Day Performances: This will be very intriguing as Pro Days often tend to sell the prospect far more than their abilities suggest.cv


    2.) Virtual Interviews: Teams are only permitted to conduct such interviews through a camera; greatly eliminating the prospects of reading important aspects such as body language.



    Due to these circumstances, the issues that the 2021 NFL Draft present gives this draft the greatest risk of hit or miss prospects the NFL has seen in a very long time. That said, it is still the requirement of General Managers to obtain the best players possible to give their teams the best chance at competing for a Super Bowl run. Same goes for people who like to analyze player film and round projections... such as yours truly. To that end, we begin our 2021 journey with the Top 32 Players before the eve of the Senior Bowl. You ready?!


    Lets go!!!




    2021 Top 32 Big Board (Pre Senior Bowl):



    1.) *** Trevor Lawrence: Quarterback from the University of Clemson



    2.) ** Penei Sewell: Offensive Tackle from the University of Oregon



    3.) ** Micah Parsons: Linebacker from the Pennsylvania State University



    4.) ** RaShawn Slater: Offensive Lineman from Northwestern University



    5.) * Ja'Mar Chase: Wide Receiver from Louisiana State University



    6.) Jaylen Waddle: Wide Receiver from the University of Alabama



    7.) Zach Wilson: Quarterback from Brigham Young University



    8.) ** Kyle Pitts: Tight End from the University of Florida



    9.) Christian Darrisaw: Offensive Tackle from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University



    10.) Patrick Surtain II: Cornerback from the University of Alabama



    11.) Justin Fields: Quarterback from Ohio State University



    12.) * Jeriemah Owusu-Koramoah: Linebacker from Notre Dame University



    13.) Kwity Paye: Defensive End from the University of Michigan



    14.) Caleb Farley: Cornerback from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University



    15.) DeVonta Smith: Wide Receiver from the University of Alabama



    16.) Zaven Collins: Linebacker from the University of Tulsa



    17.) * Travis Eitenne: Running Back from the University of Clemson



    18.) Jaycee Horn: Cornerback from the University of South Carolina



    19.) Trey Lance: Quarterback from North Dakota State University



    20.) Alijah Vera-Tucker: Offensive Lineman from the University of Southern California



    21.) Gregory Rousseau: Defensive End from the University of Miami



    22.) Jalen Mayfield: Offensive Tackle from the University of Michigan



    23.) Jaelen Phillips: Defensive End from the University of Miami



    24.) Wyatt Davis: Offensive Guard from Ohio State University



    25.) Pat Freiermuth: Tight End from Penn State University



    26.) Alex Leatherwood: Offensive Tackle from the University of Alabama



    27.) Joseph Ossai: Linebacker from the University of Texas



    28.) Samuel Cosmi: Offensive Tackle from the University of Texas



    29.) Jevon Holland: Safety from the University of Oregon



    30.) Liam Eichenberg: Offensive Tackle from Notre Dame University



    31.) Javonte Williams: Running Back from the University of North Carolina



    32.) Jay Tufele: Defensive Lineman from the University of Southern California





    Legend:


    ***: Denotes Generational Prodigy (Hall of Fame Level)

    **: Denotes Zero Bust Prospect (Transcendent/Borderline Hall of Fame Level)

    *: Denotes Game Breaking Prospect (Elite/Perennial All Pro Level)










    Okay everyone!! Now that we have the ground work set for the Top 32, it is time to explain as to why each specific section as each specific player. To begin, let us start with what constitutes as a Top 10 Player shall we?!





    Top 10 (Tier 1):



    Definition: A Top 10 player not only transcends scheme but also possess elite to transcendent athleticism relative to their positions. Furthermore, their athletic abilities sometimes surpasses other positions either within their positional functions to entire spectrums of the game. They have shown impressive degrees of not just athletic prowess but mental acumen as well; traits that not even many current players have sans some of the best at their respective positions. Even some of the best at their respective positions do not have some of the traits these players possess in some cases. Furthermore, more often than not, these players have the intangibles teams are looking for that their clubs sorely lack; leadership, alpha male mentality and being absolute workout warrior to name just a few. These players not only have the ability instantly transform an entire teams infrastructure and culture but in some cases be the missing piece towards reverting back to the path of relevancy and playoff contention.





    Now, to start off this Top 32, I think it is safe to say that, above all other players, Trevor Lawrence stands above, by himself, at the top. He really does not need any form of analysis from me as I honestly could not say anything that has not been said already. He is someone to look out for in the coming years as he possess the ability to transform any team into winners without fail. Look for him to instantly become a hit the moment he takes the field. Now, for the likes of Penei Sewell, Micah Parsons and Kyle Pitts, they are added to the terminology of players who truly have little to no chance of becoming busts sans extreme circumstances. How so?! Let us start with Parsons. Micah Parsons is truly the best of both Devin Bush Jr. and Devin White from the 2019 NFL Draft. Not only does Parsons possess Bush Jr.'s tremendous instincts but also his freakish overall explosiveness and agility. Parsons also has Devin White's ability to excel in coverage as well be it man or zone thanks in part to his tremendous overall speed and body control. One major aspect as to why Parsons is better than both is his ability to play multiple linebacking spots without being a detriment to the overall plan. Be it inside or outside, Micah Parsons is tailor made for today's NFL and will not just be a Top 10 Linebacker but Top 10 Defensive Player by the time his Rookie Season concludes. For both RaShawn Slater and Penei Sewell, both players can be classified as such but both for different reasons. Penei Sewell is the most Pro Ready Offensive Tackle to come out since Tyron Smith. If anything, he reminds me more of Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Jones than Tyron Smith. Either way, he is an instant wall of a blindside protector and will make any Quarterback or rushing attack he is paired up with very happy. Now, for RaShawn Slater, his main calling card is his versatility. While he does not possess absolute blindside protection like Sewell, Slater is no pushover and can hold up against even some of the best pass rushers out there. For that matter, among the players that gave Chase Young fits during his final season at Ohio State, RaShawn Slater tops the list. However, merely being a Left Tackle is just scratching the surface on Slater. If anything, the reason he is a Zero Bust Prospect is due to the fact that he has an advanced understanding of all five Offensive Lineman positions and can be a plug and play starter on any said position. Outside of the usual "Not Tall Enough" moniker that has followed around (quite the nitpick if you ask me), there is not much RaShawn Slater cannot do for an Offensive Line and can be the missing piece for teams looking to complete their Offensive Lineman units. Now, both Jaylen Waddle and Ja'Marr Chase are both going to be instant impact playmakers on their team. However, for me, Ja'Marr Chase is truly a cut above the rest in the class. Outside of some small quibbles about being more physical in press, one will not find a more complete receiver coming out than Chase from not just this class but possibly the past five classes. Sure, Justin Jefferson had a sensational Rookie Campaign but Jerry Jeudy was the far superior player coming out. However, neither compare to Chase. Now, as for Jaylen Waddle, he is of a different story as he is essentially Henry Ruggs III but with a bit of a caveat. While I did not like Henry Ruggs III because his hands were so inconsistent, Waddle does not have that issue at all. If anything, Waddle possess the greater catch radius and ball tracking ability of the two. That said, his medicals will determine if he is ready to go but despite such an injury concern, Waddle has the ability to play multiple Receiving Positions on the Offense. It is just not as impressive as Chases. As for the rest of the Top 10, Kyle Pitts will be a matchup nightmare for any opposing defense as there really is not any way or set of ways teams will ultimately stop him from obtaining great production. Never mind being just an inline Tight End or a Flex option, Kyle Pitts can also play any receiving position on the field; augmenting his capabilities even greater. Given the fact that Defensive Coordinators already have trouble of stopping top tier Tight Ends like Travis Kelce, I can only imagine the horror Kyle Pitts will bring to whatever division he arrives in. Christian Darrisaw is the final Top 10 Offensive Lineman but he will be better suited to playing Right Tackle to start out his career. He does not have the polish that Sewell does nor possess the flexibility and positional versatility that Slater provides but he has tremendous physical gifts to become a Pro Bowl Level Right Tackle. That said, quite a bit of his development will come down to who is his Offensive Line Coach. Surtain II is the most complete Corner of this class but that is not saying much. In comparison to Jeffrey Okudah, Surtain may have NFL Bloodlines but does not possess the transcendent athletic profile that corners like Okudah or Jalen Ramsey had when they declared. That said, what Surtain II does have working in his favor is his ability to play any coverage style that a team could ask for and possess the ball skills to match. Zach Wilson has a cannon that has the ability to make any throw on the field in addition to having athleticism that will do damage on the ground. Add in his playmaking abilities and some could wonder why Zach is not any higher on the board. For one, his decision making could use some improvement as he is always attempting to go for the kill shot more times than necessary. Other is to improve his pocket poise and pocket presence. That said, there is plenty to like about Mr. Wilson and no doubt he will bring some serious competitive fire to any team he goes to.





    We have completed the Top 10 everyone. Now, it is time to go forth into numbers 11-20!!




    Rankings 11-20 (Tier 2):



    Definition: Players who have either elite to transcendent athleticism and/or elite to transcendent Football IQ but are short of the process of being truly special. These players usually have one or two holes in their game that prevent them from going into the Top 10; schematic fit, rawness at the position, positional based shortcomings, injury concerns or in very rare cases, a combination of the four. Should the very rare case pop up, what allows these players to vault into Top 20 territory is that they usually possess such immeasurable athletic or Football IQ abilities with great levels of either athletic or mental ability that such major holes usually can correct themselves; in some cases such areas of athletic or mental ability even surpass the likes of some Top 10 players. Overall, these players, while great, are a step below of being the best of the best. Even so, in some cases, such players are instrumental as building blocks to becoming competitive or returning to playoff contention in rare cases.






    Well, I understand that the Justin Fields omission has some people scratching their head. That said, let me take care of this proverbial issue and nip it in the bud. Now, let us start with what Fields has that only is surpassed by Trevor Lawrence; athleticism. By Quarterbacking standards, only Lawrence surpasses him in that department. In terms of his arm talent and throwing power, he is third for me behind the likes of Lawrence and Lance. Accuracy?! He definitely has it for certain and, paired with his arm talent, can make all the throws on the field. So again, what is the issue for Justin Fields?! Poor pocket awareness combined with very poor pocket presence. Adding to this nasty fuel is his inability to remain calm when under duress; often freezing up worse than the proverbial deer in the headlights. When I say poor, I mean POOR! Once again, one major factor into Quarterback evaluations is the ability to handle an onslaught of pressure from multiple angles in multiple ways while not only taking command of the pocket but also manipulating and navigating through the chaos. Sadly, Justin Fields has yet to showcase this and it does a number on the types of systems he can operate from. However, none of this compares to the fact that he has a limited number of snaps in addition to having an all star cast of Offensive players around him. While his reliance on players is not nearly as bad as Mac Jones or even Kyle Trask, it does beg the question as to how quick he will catch on to the Offense he will go to. However it is not just Fields I have questions for. Thanks to COVID 19, the opt outs this season were expected and immense. The most notable of the players ranked 11-20 was Caleb Farley. Caleb Farley does indeed possess transcendent athletic measurables to be a true lockdown Corner. That said, having sat out a year will still add some concerns to his tape as he does have some work to do overall in terms of the technical aspects of his game; his footwork and press zone being the most notable. Add his string of injury issues, an ACL in his Freshman Season along with a back injury in his Sophomore Campaign he battled through and it simply adds up to Farley being placed into the Top 10 a bit too rich for my blood. Now, for players like Jeriemah Owusu-Koramoah, Zaven Collins and Alijah Vera Tucker, there are similar sets of concerns with each but more so for Collins and Tucker than with Owusu. For Jeriemah, unlike Derwin James and Isaiah Simmons, I do not see that immeasurable athletic talent but I do see the immeasurable versatility. This creates quite the conundrum for Owusu-Koramoah as the aforementioned players were so successful thanks in part to their physical gifts. Now, Owusu has the same elite level of understanding multiple positions like both James and Simmons but to me, his athleticism, while great, might not be sufficient enough for teams looking for an all world player. Now, that said, there is a reason I believe he can be an elite level player at the next level. His instincts and pre snap ability are already at an All Pro level. Not too many defenders have his skillset in that department. The most notable though is his abilities at Linebacker where I truly believe he will become a Top 10 Linebacker in time. Outside of some shortcomings in the overall strength department, his combination of instincts, football IQ, speed, agility and explosiveness will serve him well early on. However, what will make him truly shine though is the scheme he is put in. Asking Jeriemah to be a seek and destroy, off ball Linebacker will allow him to maximize his other abilities early on. However, putting him anywhere else is diminishing his abilities. Regarding both Collins and Tucker, both of their weaknesses are roughly the same; experience on one set task. For Collins, while he no doubt has the abilities to play inside or outside linebacker, his overall game as a pass rusher is in need of a tune up; perhaps more so due in part to the lower level of competition he played against. Alijah possess very good position versatility but also possess some woes in his pass blocking. Like Collins, the athleticism is not in question but the technical and fundamental aspect of the game is; namely timing his punches and obtaining a good base after his initial kick slide in pass protection sets. This trend of tremendous potential and athletic ability for this years class honestly can scale down to much of the class with the exception of Travis Etienne. For Trey Lance, as immeasurable, if not limitless potential that he has, one game with less than 500 pass attempts in a career sadly is too little information to allow him to be propelled anywhere higher than the lower section of the Top 20 and never mind the Top 15. As for Jaycee Horn, way too grabby during his presses against his opposing Wide Receivers and can be a bit over the top in terms of his aggressive nature. As for Travis Etienne, he definitely will provide any team an immediate boost to their rushing attack in addition to being able to block. His receiving skills are also impressive and can provide match up issues; doubly so if a team has multiple weapons already. Now, the reason he is not any higher is because while he has feature back capabilities, there sadly is not enough additional juice to his abilities that can help him propel himself toward the Top 10.






    We have now officially cleared rankings 11 to 20 and thus, have cleared the overall Top 20. Now, it is time to finish off the Top 32 with those who just missed the Top 20 with rankings 21-32.






    Rankings 21-32 (Tier 3) :



    Definition: A player who is ranked within this category is either not athletic, instinctive, polished or having the necessary football IQ to push them higher than the Top 20. These players usually have one major defining quality to their game while having a number of other core issues. For example, a player can have limitless potential that not even a Top 10 player possess but has far too many shortcomings from the mental aspect of the game that can push them into the Top 20; some of these players having mental and technical abilities that are more comparable towards a Top 50 player than a Top 32. Other players may have a balance of having very good athletic, fundamental and mental understanding of the game but simply do not have much else to offer and, are considered what is called "maxed out" in terms of development; what you see is what you get for a better term. Some players only have good athletic ability but their understanding of the game is so advanced that it allows them to pick up the NFL speed of the game much faster than their contemporaries in this Tier; even more so than the Top 20 in some cases. In some instances though, injuries can play a bigger role than even the Top 20 as that can undermine the overall effectiveness of the player. Overall, this group can be classified as the "Boom or Bust" area as teams who take players in this Tier are making a gamble on these players and how quickly they can pick up not just their playbooks but the overall game of the NFL as well. Due to this, more often than not, some players are red shirted for at least half the season before they see any meaningful action; some even the entire season depending on the circumstances.





    Gregory Rousseau not only exemplifies this Tier to the tee but just might be the biggest oddball Top 32 player I have ever had. However, his placement has more to do with his opt out than anything else. Going back to his 2019 tape, he possessed not just athletic but playmaking ability that could have ended up in Top 10 territory as his limitless ceiling, great athleticism and freakish size are not seen very often. However, his limited time at the position, having only played it for two seasons, is what really lets him down. It would have been nice to see him play this season as there are many questions that I have about how much more improved his technical ability in pass rushing has become. However, Jaelen Phillips is the exact opposite of the major issue I have with Gregory. If anything, his athletic abilities far surpass that of his Hurricane teammate and, due to his immense season after being a 5 Star Recruit, should be higher. Here is the biggest issue for me, the injury bug has been his crippling weakness; even having to retire due to the issues. Add the fact that a team is taking a major gamble off of one year of production and Jaelen Phillips, while very gifted is also very risky. In terms of having immense potential and talent but lacking polish in many areas, much of the same can be said for the likes of Samuel Cosmi and Joseph Ossai; doubly so for Cosmi. In terms of potential and athleticism, Samuel Cosmi not only rivals the likes of Penei Sewell but a case can be made for Cosmi of having the greatest level of potential in the entire class for Offensive Tackles and one of the greatest levels of potential overall in the entire draft; second only to Jayson Oweh who just missed the cut. That said, for his immense athletic talent and potential, there is a whole lot to work on with him. If anything, that potential may not be evident from the start; likely forcing a team to have him Red Shirt his Rookie Campaign. However, the physical gifts and immeasurable potential are simply way too great for a team to pass up on. Joseph Ossai is much of the same albeit not as much of the overwhelming potential that his teammate Cosmi possess. Much like Cosmi though, Ossai has a lot to work on but the potential definitely is there for a team to unlock that potential early on. Players like Alex Leatherwood though have a different issue; good overall game but not a great one. The athleticism, technics and football IQ are not to be questioned here. His demeanor in the run game and, for that matter, overall is. Initially speaking, I had Leatherwood as a Top 20 player but to be considered within that tier, an elite Offensive Lineman must have a mentality that takes no prisoners and will crush all before them; something Leatherwood sadly does not possess. Now, Liam Eichenberg, does possess this level of nasty. However, unlike Leatherwood, the athleticism sadly is not here for him to be called a stalwart Franchise Left Tackle. That said and, despite such athletic shortcomings, outside of Wyatt Davis, Javonte Williams and Jevon Holland, good luck finding a more capable starting player at their respective position. Speaking of said players, each of the aforementioned are within this Tier because, while they each have more overall athleticism and ability than Liam Eichenberg, they do not have anything that is great overall in their game. For Wyatt Davis, while his football IQ, functional strength, length, leverage and athletic ability should easily qualify him into Top 20 territory, Davis can struggle greatly in pass protection sets; stunts and freakish to freak level pass rushers giving him fits. That said, the tools are there to build on to become not just a great Guard but possibly an All Pro. However and, for now, he is only good due to these limitations. For Jevon Holland, his issues stem from is overall game; very good and even great in some areas, he is sadly not great in his overall game. Add the fact that his frame does possess some possible durability concerns and Holland could be a bit more of a gamble for a team than it could be an asset.






    Well everyone, there you go!! The Top 32 for the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Now, before we go, I do understand there may be some lingering questions. With that, away we go!!






    Final Notes:



    Some of the Top 32 players such as Caleb Farley and RaShawn Slater did indeed drop out of the 2020 College Football Season due in part to COVID 19. Now, the main question some might ask is as to why some players have received higher grades despite not playing vs. those that have. The answer is not as complicated as one may believe. For one, the aforementioned players, along with others, have already demonstrated enough of the pre requisites that is required for their respective positions and thus did not need further examination for a final review score unlike other players. For two, COVID 19 had shut down or shortened the NCAA FBS Season by a considerable margin. Due to this, some players only had a limited number of reps to perform; others like Trey Lance only one game at that. However, a number of factors went in to some of the rankings even with the reduced season. As stated before, players would already had sufficient tape really did not need another year to prove much of anything given their success. Others though, could have benefitted from it but had to opt out due to COVID concerns; opt outs I have no issue with at all. Overall, ranking this years group of NFL Hopefuls was both fun and challenging; more so than I have had since 2013, the last time I had such a challenge. I do hope that COVID 19 is gone for good come July but we will all have to wait and see.



    One major note I would like to leave you before I go, Trevor Lawrence is now my sixth player ever to receive a "Generational Prodigy" tag. He joins the likes of J.J. Watt, Andrew Luck, Jalen Ramsey, Quenton Nelson and Chase Young. Another note I will add as well. I will be doing a shortlist of who I believe is the greatest of these six players when they came out but that will not be for a while yet.





    Closing Statements:




    Expect some serious movement for a good majority of these players. Keep in mind everyone this is merely the early stages of the NFL Big Board. As such, getting the main topics, such as tier listing, legend info and explanations as to why each player or set of players with similar issues were in each tier, took a bit longer than I would have hoped. It also does not help that, of my initial 75 drafts, 65 of them were sadly wiped out on my PC during an update. As such, restarting from scratch made this endeavor, while fun, a bit more time consuming than it needed to be. Either way though, all turned out well for the Pre Senior Bowl and plenty more to come!



    Once again everyone, thank you for reading. I hope you learned something new and I hope you enjoyed! The Senior Bowl is still a ways from here so another update will not happen for a while yet. That said, I have begun my final drafts for the Top Five Positional Rankings and it should be up by weeks end barring no setbacks! Until next time everyone, this is AskQuestionsLater saying so long, stay safe and have a good day!!! :)







    Go Steelers!!! :steelflag:
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2021
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  2. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Hmm... at this rate, Top Five should be up by..... Saturday?! Again, software issues aside, all going according to plan.
     
  3. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    So Trevor Lawrence is a "generational prodigy." High praise indeed. I disagree. I see a guy who is probably the best QB in this draft, and probably the best choice as the #1 overall pick, but I don't see a guy who is likely to challenge Patrick Mahomes as the true "generational prodigy" at QB. I see a guy who has the upside to be Josh Allen with a 1-2 year development curve instead of Allen's 3 year development curve. I see a guy who should be a fixture at QB for the next several years, but who will need a really good supporting cast around him, and a coaching staff that tailors the offense to his particular strengths to ever win a championship. I don't think he's immune from the risk of being a bust. He can easily fizzle out if he gets into a bad situation for the first couple of years of his career. I think Burrow's 2019 film was superior to Lawrence's 3 years of film, and while I watched more of Lawrence than Burrow the last 3 years, I can remember more times that I said "Wow" watching Burrow in just 1 season vs. 3 seasons. I would prefer to build a team around Burrow instead of Lawrence without giving it a second thought. Would I take Lawrence with the #1 overall pick this year? If I needed a QB I would likely do that because he has the best probability of working out IMO based on what I've seen to date of the other guys. That's of course subject to change when I watch more film of the other guys, but I don't think I will see anything to change my mind. However a generational prodigy? Nope.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    Leatherwood and Cosmi both below where we draft, so either would be a steal...I say this in sarcasm, both should have a long career, but just Leatherwood for what could instantly bring to this team. Likely day 1 starter, but if Banner resigned and L'wood needed as a guard could fill that role nicely. I guess it depends on trades, needs, and so forth, but would not surprise me if one or both go in the teens.
     
  5. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Of the two, I also would like Leatherwood. That said, I will not be mad if Cosmi is the guy at 24. If neither are available, focus on BPA then. I will have my Mock Draft sometime next week. Have to get this Top 5 out of the way first.
     
  6. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    did you see this from last week

    https://steelersdepot.com/2021/01/zach-banner-fired-up-after-best-exit-interview-ever/

    Sounds very positive that Banner might be back. If so I still say draft a T as this could indeed be a short term deal, but it does give more depth and options with Leatherwoods talents.
     
  7. Animus

    Animus Well-Known Member

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    Unless there's an absolute steal in the first round, I think trading back to the 35-40 slot and picking up a 3rd is our best idea. Grab Creed Humphrey there and at our 55 slot grab RB Javonte Williams. In the third look for one of the T like a Dillion Raduz or Liam Eichenberg.
     
  8. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Even if Banner does come back, Chuks is off the books in 2022. I would rather have that flex option in Leatherwood than without. Furthermore, Big Al is likely to be gone soon the same. Have to restock those Offensive Tackles.
     
  9. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    While you and I don’t agree on how great of a prospect Trevor Lawrence is, I think we’re well aligned on Leatherwood being a very good 1st round option for us if available. I need to watch film of him in isolation, but he was always impressive to me watching games on live TV.
     
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  10. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    No problem if we do not agree on Lawrence Elvis!! Truly!! All in good spirits and good fun! :drinks:




    Leatherwood is definitley a treat to watch though. He does possess some levels of nasty disposition but there are times, especially in the running game, where he does leave you wanting more to me. The aggression is there but the consistency at which he uses his disposition needs some fine tuning.
     
  11. SteelCity_NB

    SteelCity_NB Staff Member Mod Team

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    Great list AQL! I think we have the same top 10 albeit a little different order. I think we are seeing things fairly similarly this year . I should have my first big board done by the end of the day/weekend.
     
  12. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Ugh...


    Thanks Windows 10. Thanks a lot. As if deleting my Top 5 was not bad enough. My updated 2021 Big Board and my Mock Draft files have now both been corrupted!!! :@
     
  13. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    My only Question is...Why does Qb Jones get disrespected because of Talent around him, but T. Lawrence doesn't?
     
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  14. Wardismvp

    Wardismvp Well-Known Member

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    Good question, almost as many 5 stars on Clemson as their is at Alabama, Ohio State, Ga?
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    We have seen guys like Lawrence, Fields make plays with their legs when the play breaks down, they're also bigger and have stronger arms than Jones.
     
  16. TarheelFlyer

    TarheelFlyer Well-Known Member

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    I think you just hit it right on the head.

    Lawrence...makes plays with arms and legs in college. Projected to continue in pros.

    Fields...makes plays mostly with legs and some with arms in college...No one knows if he can do it in the pros. No other OSU QB has.

    Jones...makes plays with his arm in college...No one knows if its big enough to do it in the pros.

    The reality is, these are all projections. Its why I don't want a QB this year. If Ben returns, we will know nothing more about the drafted players potential than the 2 guys who we had 1st round grades on already.

    The real problem we have in the QB room is we have 3 QBs signed at the moment for this coming year. Of those at the moment NONE of them have a contract beyond that. If Ben signs a new contract he might be the only one who will. It is really scary to the future of this team.
     
  17. Jball

    Jball Well-Known Member

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    Jan 1, 2012
    I think you're right on the money.

    I will say that I think Mac's arm is getting a bit undersold. I've been watching some tape and, while he doesn't have a rocket, his arm seems better than most are saying.

    Now, I notice Rudolph's lack of arm strength but Mac's arm doesn't jump off the screen as weak. I think it's being overblown a bit.
     
  18. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

    29,865
    7,884
    Dec 23, 2020
    Jones's arm strength is being way overblown. What makes me laugh is the same people who wanted T.T. from Alabama last year. Think Jones should be a 2nd round pick. LoL. All I hear about is legs(he can do this or that with his legs) . Man Legs have really won alot of SBs. If you can step up , or 2 the side at the right time . That's all the legs you need. What you need in a Qb know matter what people on tv try 2 make you think is.... How fast you process info(what you see) is number 1 thing. Quick & correct decision making. Nice touch, and able 2 see the open man. You know how many times I have watched film on these legs QBs, and watched them completely ignore the open man ,cause he wasn't his 1st read. That's why they run so much. I mean look at the speed and arm strength of the most wining Qb. Neither blow you away. That is also why picking Qb is so hard. Because, there's really not a great test yet for ( other than seeing it real time , in real NFL situations) seeing how well they process what they are seeing. Looking at game film , and asking what they see is no comparison 2 real bullets flying in the NFL.
     

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