Falcons: Jake’s big board for the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft

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We’re back to some draft talk! With the 2020 season being as odd as it was, it’s harder than ever to evaluate where some of these players will go in April, but here are the names I like to round out Day 2. Day 3 will be next, followed by a massive board right before the draft. Like with the second round, I’ll break guys into positional groups using TDN’s predictive board. Keep in mind, I’ll be considering need and fit with these big boards, plus some additional players I just really like in this draft. If you missed any previous editions, you can find those here:

 

Fourth pick

9-15

16-24

25-32

Second Round

 

Skill Players:

1. TE Brevin Jordan, Miami

2. RB Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis

3. RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State

4. TE Hunter Long, Boston College

5. WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

6. WR Nico Collins, Michigan

7. WR Rondale Moore, Purdue

 

Running back is a way bigger need than tight end at the moment, as Hayden Hurst still has a fifth-year option that can be exercised. However, it would be near impossible to pass up on Brevin Jordan in the third round. He’s Kyle Pitts-lite — a freak athlete with unique RAC ability. Also, he’s an excellent blocker. 

I wrote about Kenny Gainwell and Trey Sermon here if you want to read my thoughts on them. I raved about Hunter Long at the Senior Bowl, and while he isn’t as athletic as Jordan, he’s rock-solid as a TE2. All three wide receivers land at the bottom simply because of the lack of need, but they’re all supremely talented. I think all three of these guys could go in the second round, but I wouldn’t consider snagging them until the third to stop their fall.

Elijah Moore might serve as a consolation prize to whoever misses out Kadarius Toney; he is electric with the ball in his hands. Nico Collins profiles best as a massive, athletic X receiver — I think he’ll be a steal. Rondale Moore’s pro comp of Travis Benjamin is too perfect; if he can shore his hands up, he will be dangerous.

 

Offensive Line:

1. IOL Josh Myers, Ohio State

2. OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa

3. OT Jackson Carman, Clemson

4. OT James Hudson, Cincinnati

5. IOL Deonte Brown, Alabama

 

Not a fantastic group, but there is a plethora of great centers and guards in free agency. I’d rather cut ties with James Carpenter to free up some more space and target the interior offensive line in free agency or snag a talent like Landon Dickerson in the draft. However, there are a few names worth mentioning here. 

Josh Myers profiles as a plug-and-play center, but with Matt Hennessy still developing, Atlanta could shy away. Spencer Brown is a mountain of a man generating some buzz out of the FCS, and you can read Alex’s profile on him here. The former five-star recruit — Carman never lived up to his billing, but he is very gifted for his size and could benefit from a move to guard. Hudson is a bit of a project, and Deonte Brown barely got a nod here. He had a terrible Senior Bowl, looking very slow. 

 

Front Seven:

1. EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington

2. EDGE Hamilcar Rashed Jr, Oregon State

3. EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt

4. EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami

5. LB Cameron McGrone, Michigan

6. EDGE Payton Turner, Houston

7. LB Pete Werner, Ohio State

8. EDGE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma

9. IDL Tommy Togiai, Ohio State

10. IDL Marlon Tuipulotu, USC

 

Goodness, talk about the first team “can’t pronounce their name” squad. Thankfully this is a long list because Atlanta should be hitting the defensive trenches early and often in this draft.

Joe Tryon is apparently very well-liked around scouting circles and improving his stock, as his exceptional instincts and athleticism have put scouts on notice. He would be a perfect stand-up EDGE in Dean Pees’ attacking scheme.

Hamilcar Rashed is incredibly raw, but his physical gifts are difficult to ignore. Dayo Odeyingbo is a lot like Carlos Basham, who I’m also very high on. He can play inside out and rush the passer from a 3-4 defensive end spot.

Quincy Roche is still a project, but if this draft was based solely on potential, he might be a first-round pick. He needs to clean up his technique, but if he is adequately coached, watch out.

Cameron McGrone fits in as a “thumper” up the middle; he’s a pure MIKE. Allowing Deion Jones and Mykal Walker to play more natural WILL roles while McGrone helps against the run would be immensely valuable.

Payton Turner had a wonderful Senior Bowl, and he’s another guy that can shift all over the defensive line. Pete Werner’s game is similar to Foyesade Oluokun‘s, serving as a SAM that blasts gaps in the run and is sufficient against the pass. I think he could work inside and serve as a MIKE.

Ronnie Perkins isn’t much of a scheme fit, but he is insanely athletic and strong for a guy his size. Togiai probably serves best as a 3-4 defensive end, so his selection would depend on how comfortable the Falcons are with Marlon Davidson and Grady Jarrett holding those roles down.

Tuipulotu is a solid nose tackle prospect, but he would work best in a 4-3 even front. He could still fill a need to eat up double teams, but probably not this early in the draft.

 

Secondary:

1. S Andre Cisco, Syracuse

2. CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford

3. CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse

4. S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State

5. CB Elijah Molden, Washington

6. CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky

7. CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State

 

This is the strongest position group for this range. Outside of Brevin Jordan and Joe Tryon, these are where my favorite choices sit. I have talked about Cisco before, and not only does he fill a need, he has tremendous ball skills and is always around the football. Paulson Adebo is another guy I’m high on; he is a terrific athlete for a corner his size, and he’s very competitive at the point of attack. The more ballhawks, the better.

Ifeatu Melifonwu isn’t the best prospect instinctively, but he’s a long and rangy corner with unique athletic gifts. Hamsah Nasirildeen is an exciting prospect, and he would serve as an immediate Keanu Neal replacement in the box. Let’s hope he’s more Derwin James than Su’a Cravens as a “positionless” sub-linebacker/box safety if the Falcons draft him.

Elijah Molden is an immediate plug-and-play starter at slot corner. Kelvin Joseph is a bit more of a project, but he has all of the intangibles to be great in the NFL. I don’t know if anyone lost more money by playing in 2020 (maybe Marvin Wilson) than Shaun Wade. He was a consensus top-ten selection, and he may not even be picked in the third round. As a pure nickel corner, Wade is elite. If he is switched onto the boundary, he’s dog food. That’s really all you can bank on by selecting him.

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