Some Draft Nuggets

With the 2021 NFL Draft fast receding into the past, here are some draft nuggets from the three-day event.

1. With 11 selections each, the Minnesota Vikings were tied with the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys for most selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

The curious thing about the Vikings 11 selections is that they made them in only five of the seven rounds. They had no picks in the second or seventh rounds. 

2. At the other end of the drafting spectrum was the Seattle Seahawks. They made three selections. That can’t be good for the long term roster health of the team. 

3. There have been rumors that the Vikings were seriously considering selecting Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields if he fell to the 14th pick. Those rumors went so far as to suggest that the Vikings might’ve even considered trading up a few spots in order to secure the quarterback. Selecting him at 14 is one thing. Trading up a couple spots is a whole other thing. It would’ve required topping what the Chicago Bears sent to the New York Giants to land Fields. That means that it would’ve required more than next year’s first round pick to move from 14 to 11. Think about that. It would’ve cost the Vikings as much, or more, to move up three spots as it cost the Bears to move up nine spots. The Giants were probably going to select the same player, Florida receiver Kadarius Toney, at either 14 or 20. They were going to take the best return. Paying a serious price for Fields also means that the Vikings don’t draft Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis. That means that the Vikings offensive line would continue to struggle due to a severe lack of talent. The people crying the loudest now about the team not doing what needed to be done to get Fields are many of the same people that annually bitch the loudest about shitty offensive line play. 

I’d rather have:

Christian Darrisaw

Kellon Mond

Wyatt Davis

than:

Justin Fields 

and no 2022 first round pick

Kirk Cousins is the Vikings quarterback for the next two seasons. Cousins and a talented, raw quarterback that might require two years to get NFL-ready (Kellon Mond) is a far more acceptable quarterbacking situation than a year of the nightmarish daily drama of Cousins and Fields. 

4. Alabama 2017 Recruiting Class:

Tua Tagovailoa 

Jerry Jeudy 

Jedrick Wills

Henry Ruggs III

DeVonta Smith

Mac Jones

Alex Leatherwood

Najee Harris

Ridiculous. Every year, the factory just reloads. 

5. More Alabama. Six Alabama players were selected in the first round. That ties Miami (2004) for most first-round selections from an individual school.

Eight of the first 38 players selected were Alabama players.

6. No players from the Big 12 Conference were selected in the first round for the first time since the conference’s formation in 1994. 

7. Michigan State players were shut out of the draft for the first time in 80 years. 

8. After a little wheeling and dealing of some of the draft picks involved, the Vikings trade of Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills is now complete:

Bills Received:

Stefon Diggs

Dane Jackson, CB

Vikings Received:

Justin Jefferson, WR

Kenny Willekes, DE

Camryn Bynum, S

Janarius Robinson, DE

Zach Davidson, TE

9. A total of 229 high schools had players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Overall, these states had the most players drafted:

Florida: 37

Texas: 33

Georgia: 20

Florida’s American Heritage and IMG Academy each had six players drafted. 

American Heritage had a particular draft curiosity. The high school had a player selected in each of the first six rounds of the draft.

1. Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, CB

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyson Campbell, CB

3. Cleveland Browns: Anthony Schwartz, WR

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marco Wilson, CB

5. Green Bay Packers: Tedarrell Slaton, DT

6. Chicago Bears: Khalil Herbert, RB

10. 259 players were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

A breakdown:

38 Cornerbacks

36 Receivers

34 Defensive Ends

25 Offensive Tackles

21 Linebackers

21 Safeties

19 Defensive Tackles

18 Running Backs

13 Offensive Guards

11 Tight Ends

10 Quarterbacks 

  8 Centers

  2 Long Snappers

  1 Placekicker

  1 Punter

Of the 10 quarterbacks selected, eight were selected by the third pick of the third round. 

11. My favorite Vikings draft pick? It’s probably the trade down and still getting Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw. Going into a draft, I’m rarely a fan of trading back. I’m especially no fan of trading back when the Vikings are on the clock. After months of draft evaluations, mock drafts, all of it, I’m at a fever pitch by pick time. The last thing that I want is another wait. Then the Vikings land Darrisaw at 23. I would’ve been a fan of his selection at 14. Throw in a couple of thirds for the effort, how could I not be a fan of this trade down? The Vikings added potential quarterback of the future in Kellon Mond and guard Wyatt Davis with those two third-round picks. Darrsiaw and Davis should be immediate starters on an offensive line in desperate need of their talent, size, and strength. 

12. Another favorite is fourth-round pick Camryn Bynum. He’s one of those players that I hated see leave the Cal program. His coming to Minnesota makes it easier. He’s terrific on the field. He’s terrific off the field. If Vikings fans aren’t already fans of Bynum, they soon will be. He was an excellent college cornerback that I think will be an even better NFL safety. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s an early starter.