Giants Draft Florida WR Kadarius Toney At No. 20
After trading back from No. 11, the Giants drafted Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney with the No. 20 pick. This marks the fifth-straight year that the Giants have added an offensive player with one of their first-round picks.
After playing quarterback in high school, it took some time for Toney to find his role on Florida’s offense. He played in mostly a backup role through his first three seasons in college, but he finally had a breakout campaign this past year. The prospect finished the campaign with 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns on only 89 carries, earning him some high marks among draft pundits.
Toney projects to be a slot receiver in the NFL, but his Swiss Army Knife profile offers him an even greater upside. Toney will also be able to contribute on special teams, with the prospect having returned 28 kicks and punts during his collegiate career.
While the rookie will have plenty of time to build a rapport with Daniel Jones, it’s uncertain if Toney will see a significant role in 2021. The Giants added Kenny Golladay in free agency, and they’re already rostering the likes of Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Dante Pettis.
Raiders Use No. 17 Pick To Take Alex Leatherwood
With the No. 17 overall pick, the Raiders tapped Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood. Leatherwood wasn’t widely viewed as a mid-first rounder, but GM Mike Mayock has never been afraid to think outside the box. 
Pundits may have mixed opinions about Leatherwood, but the offensive line was unquestionably among the Raiders’ biggest needs heading into tonight. Now without Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson, and Trent Brown. While they have Denzelle Good, Andre James, and Nick Martin to manage the interior, Leatherwood will be tasked with protecting the edge.
Leatherwood’s stock might have been higher last year. However, he opted to return to school and watch tackles Jedrick Wills Jr., Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs, and Austin Jackson go pro ahead of him. At the pro level, he’ll look to reward Mayock’s confidence at the tackle position, though his long-term future could be at guard.
Mayock has delivered his first shock of the night, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to stun the league throughout the weekend. As of this writing, the Raiders hold:
- Round 2: No. 48
- Round 3: No. 79 (from Cardinals), 80
- Round 3: No. 80
- Round 4: No. 121
- Round 5: No. 162 (from Dolphins), 167 (from Seahawks)
- Round 5: No. 167 (from Seahawks)
- Round 6: No. 200
Cardinals Draft Tulsa LB Zaven Collins At No. 16
At No. 16, the Cardinals selected Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. Collins, long believed to be among Arizona’s top targets, will step in to the role previously filled by Haason Reddick.
The Cardinals were reportedly keeping their fingers crossed for Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain, Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, or South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. In reality, those three players were probably higher on their board than Collins. Still, Collins is one heck of a consolation prize.
Vikings Trade No. 14 Pick To Jets; Jets Take Alijah Vera-Tucker
It’s shaping up to be a big night for the Jets. After selecting BYU quarterback Zach Wilson No. 2 overall, the Jets have traded back up to snag the Vikings’ No. 14 overall pick. In the process, they’ve leapfrogged Bill Belichick and the Patriots, who were unable to move up from No. 15.
With the 14th pick, the Jets selected USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. The choice wasn’t met with much of a reaction from the crowd in Cleveland, but GM Joe Douglas was practically doing cartwheels. A darling of scouts across the league, Vera-Tucker has been lauded for his versatility and hard-nosed playing style.
AVT was already considered a top offensive guard prospect heading into the 2020 season, but he added even more intrigue following a successful transition to tackle. After earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019, he made a jump to the first team in 2020. He also earned the Morris Trophy this past season, awarded to the best OL/DL in the Pac 12 (as voted by players).
Vera-Tucker lacks elite athleticism, which means his future will probably be on the interior. Either way, his high-IQ play style and versatility should make him a contributor for the Jets right off the bat.
Here’s the full breakdown of the deal that brought Vera-Tucker to the east coast:
Vikings Receive
- Pick No. 23
- Pick No. 66
- Pick No. 86
Jets Receive
- Pick No. 14
- Pick No. 143
Chargers Draft Northwestern T Rashawn Slater No. 13 Overall
With the No. 13 overall pick, the Chargers selected Rashawn Slater. The Bolts weren’t sure if the Northwestern tackle would be available at this stage, but they managed to get one of the top players on their board without mortgaging their remaining draft ammo.
The son of former eight-year NBA veteran Reggie Slater, Rashawn started 37 games at either left or right tackle between 2017 and 2019. This included a sophomore season where he earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors. Slater also fared well against Chase Young in their final matchup of the 2019 campaign, not allowing the ex-Buckeyes phenom to record a quarterback hit when they were matched up. Despite shifting from right to left tackle as a junior, Slater did not allow a sack in 11 games that season.
Slater managed to maintain his high draft stock despite sitting out the 2020 campaign. While the 305-pound offensive lineman stands at 6-foot-3, he lacks the elite length of top offensive tackles. While Slater seems to offer the explosiveness to excel at the position, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if a team looks to develop him as an offensive guard.
Slater can be an immediate contributor on the Chargers offensive line. Justin Herbert looked the part of a franchise quarterback during his rookie season, but he had to tolerate 32 sacks this past year. Slater will certainly keep the signal caller upright.
This is one down for the Bolts, but the Bolts still have eight picks to go this weekend:
- Round 2: No. 47
- Round 3: No. 77
- Round 3: No. 97
- Round 4: No. 118
- Round 5: No. 159
- Round 6: No. 185 (from Jaguars through Titans)
- Round 6: No. 198
- Round 7: No. 241
Bears Trade For Giants’ No. 11 Pick; Take Justin Fields
Dave Gettleman couldn’t resist the urge to trade. The Giants moved the No. 11 pick to the Bears in exchange for pick No. 20, pick No. 164, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick. And, with the No. 11 choice, the Bears selected Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. 
The Bears invested upwards of $10MM in Andy Dalton this offseason, but the longtime Bengals starter is just a stopgap solution. While Dalton may start this year, the job will eventually belong to Fields.
Fields transferred from Georgia to Ohio State to take over for Dwayne Haskins as the Buckeyes’ starter. He went on to enjoy a dominant two-year run for the Buckeyes, putting him in the top tier of incoming 2021 QBs. Lauded for his arm strength and athleticism, Fields wound up as the fourth passer chosen, behind Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance.
Only three drafts — 1971, 1999, and 2021— have begun with three consecutive teams taking quarterbacks. Fields may not have been in that group, but every scout believes that he has a bright future ahead of him. In just two short years as a Buckeye, he cemented himself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. The dual-threat QB threw for 5,373 yards, 63 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across 22 starts. Now, the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year will try and work his magic for the Bears.
Eagles Acquire No. 10 From Cowboys, Select Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
Two division rivals have made a trade. The Cowboys have traded No. 10 to the Eagles, with Philly sending No. 12 and a 2021 third-round pick (No. 84) to Dallas. The Eagles will select Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith with their new selection.
Smith broke onto the scene following a standout junior campaign, but he took it to another level in 2020. The wideout finished the campaign having collected 24 touchdowns and 1,862 yards from scrimmage, culminating in him earning the Heisman Trophy (along with a number of other accolades). This performance resulted in Smith leaping up the draft board, and the wideout was naturally connected to a long list of teams leading up to the NFL Draft.
Smith was generally viewed as one of the three best wide receivers in this year’s class — somewhere behind Ja’Marr Chase and neck-and-neck with teammate Jaylen Waddle. While Waddle is known for his high-end speed, Smith has drawn rave reviews for his soft hands, intangibles, and ability to win 50/50 balls. A dislocated finger (including torn ligaments) led to some brief concern leading up to the draft, but Smith is reportedly healing fine from his injury.
Philly is a great spot for a rookie wideout, as the team struggled to find consistency from their receivers grouping this season. Smith should quickly climb the depth chart, especially considering he played alongside quarterback Jalen Hurts in college. Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham currently top Philly’s receivers depth chart.
We previously heard that the Cowboys front office was split on cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (South Carolina) and Patrick Surtain II (Alabama). Those two players went at No. 8 and No. 9, so Dallas decided to pick up an extra pick instead of settle for a player they didn’t love.
Broncos Draft CB Patrick Surtain II
The Broncos didn’t take a quarterback after all. With the No. 9 overall pick, the Broncos selected Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II. 
An All-American as a junior, Surtain finished with a career-high nine passes defensed this season, leading to SEC Defensive Player of the Years honors. That performance vaulted him up the draft boards, just shy of fellow corner Jaycee Horn.
We previously heard that the Cowboys were split between Horn and Surtain. Now, they’ll have to pivot. The Cardinals were also infatuated with both corners, so they’ll have to look further down the board when they pick in the middle of the order.
Surtain will follow his father, Patrick Surtain, into the pros. The elder Surtain was a longtime NFL corner who became a Dolphins second-round pick in 1998. An All-American as a junior, Surtain finished with a career-high nine passes defensed in 2020. Now, in Denver, Surtain will join a talented cornerback group that includes Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller, and Bryce Callahan.
He’s the first defensive player drafted in Round 1 by the Broncos since 2018, when they tapped Bradley Chubb No. 5 overall. He’s also Denver’s first Round 1 defensive back since Bradley Roby in 2014.
Lions Draft Penei Sewell At No. 7
With the No. 7 overall pick, the Lions selected Oregon tackle Penei Sewell. Sewell opted out of the 2020 season, but the 6’6″, 330-pound prospect was absolutely stellar in 2019. 
Sewell did not surrender a single sack in ’19 and gave up just seven quarterback pressures in total. There was little doubt that he’d be taken somewhere in the top ten, but he solidified his status earlier this month by announcing that he’d be willing to play on either side. Some took that as a sign that he’d be Miami bound. But, after the Dolphins went wide receiver at No. 6, the Lions pounced on Sewell instead.
His film impressed scouts and the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus backed it all up. One year ago, Sewell finished first in the nation with a run-blocking grade of 95.3 while placing third in pass-blocking (91.1).
Now, the Outland Trophy winner will head to the Lions, a team that sorely needed a premier tackle. On Friday, they can start addressing the rest of their needs, including help at wide receiver.
Bengals Draft LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase
With the No. 5 pick in the NFL Draft, the Bengals selected LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The pick reunites Chase with his old college pal Joe Burrow and gives the Bengals one of the brightest offensive talents in this year’s class.
In 2019, Chase set SEC single-season records in receiving yards (1,780) and receiving touchdowns (20). That same Burrow-led offense produced three skill position players that went in the first round of the 2020 draft, including Justin Jefferson. Jefferson, according to many scouts, is an even better prospect.
“I thought Chase was on a different level [than Jefferson],” one scout told The Athletic earlier this year. “Watching what Jefferson did this year (with the Vikings), that just makes me say, ‘Good Lord.’ Honestly, I thought (Chase) was the best receiver in the class last year.”
After capturing the Biletnikoff Award as a sophomore, Chase opted out of the 2020 season. The 6-foot, 208-pounder may have a little rust to shake, but evaluators aren’t too concerned. Based on talent alone, some had Chase slotted as the third-best player in this year’s class, behind only Trevor Lawrence and Kyle Pitts.