WFNY 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
April 15, 20212021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Linebackers
April 19, 2021Other WFNY Draft talks
- Versatile prospects
- Pass rush prospects
- Secondary prospects
- Linebacker prospects
- Offensive prospects
- Free Agency
- Athleticism
- Unexpected draft drop
Apprentice year selection
With the signing of Jadaveon Clowney, any Browns rookie might see it difficult to start early on, so the focus for this week’s NFL Draft talk will be on players considered at Pick 26 who might not be ready to start in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, but could pay future dividends for the Browns.
1 Terrace Marshall Jr, WR, LSU
2 Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State
3 Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
4 Levi Onwuzurike, iDL, Washington
5 Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Discussion
JoeGilbert
Here is my quick breakdown of these five guys:
I absolutely love Marshall. I think he is the third-best receiver in the class. He has great size and length for the position at 6-foot-3. He pairs that size up with great ball skills and strong hands. And, for a man his size, he offers good speed. He was able to consistently get open with this speed and solid route running. I would be very on board with picking Marshall.
Michael Bode
I keep wondering what I’m missing with Marshall when I see him further down on WR lists. He has just about every characteristic you want in a receiver. He’d be a nice complement to the group now and someone who can step up into a more prominent role in the future. I’d be quite good with the Browns taking him.
JoeGilbert
Oweh is a freak athlete. I mean a freak athlete. He shows snippets of this athleticism turning to production on film, but he is so very raw. The production has never met his athleticism. I would not consider him at No. 26 and I wouldn’t consider him until late Day 2 and until quite a few other edge rushers have come off the board.
Michael Bode
Oweh is real interesting though flawed. He could well be a bust candidate if he doesn’t get solid coaching because of that lack of translation of athleticism to production you allude to. But, is there a better place for such a player to end up in than Cleveland where Myles Garrett and Jadaveon Clowney can take him under their wings for a year?
JoeGilbert
Melifonwu is an intriguing cornerback. A corner at 6-foot-2 with his explosion is a player who does not come around often. He shows solid mirror skills. He has the length and explosion to play the ball well. He also is not afraid to tackle. Depending on which corners are still on the board, I would consider him at 26.
Michael Bode
Melifonwu is similar to Marshall in that he checks all the boxes (size, film, speed, etc) but then ranks lower on most website boards than I think he should. My concern with him would be that he might fit better in a more zone-concept team with the Browns having a lot more man personnel right now. But, I wouldn’t be wholly opposed either (he’d be after guys like Newsome, Horn, etc… but they might be gone anyway).
JoeGilbert
Onwuzurike is my No. 2 rated interior defensive lineman in the class. He excels in his get-off. He is so quick off the ball, allowing him to quickly penetrate through the gaps of the line. He does have solid strength, too. But, I do not think he is a first round talent. There is only one interior defensive lineman in the class, Christian Barmore, worthy of a first round pick, in my opinion.
Michael Bode
Onwuzurike would be a fun addition because of all those traits you mention, especially if he can just be used sparingly as a change-up guy for his first year. If the Browns think he lasts until their pick in Round 2, then so be it, but I think he’s off the board in late Round 1 or early Round 2. Maybe they can roll the dice with a small trade down to a desperate team in early Round 2?
JoeGilbert
Holland is another really good athlete. He is a very versatile safety with the experience of covering the slot. He opted out of the 2020 season, so we have not seen him since 2019. I don’t think I would consider him at 26.
Michael Bode
Safety is one of the tougher positions in this draft. After Moehrig (who might be gone before 26), there is a big drop to the second tier safeties. Of those, Holland might match the versatility the Browns are after the best, but I’m with you in that there are a lot more risk factors than I’d feel comfortable with at 26 overall.
JoeGilbert
Overall, I think the Browns will take a WR, EDGE, or CB at 26. Those three positions are areas the Browns can improve, but most importantly I think they are the classes that will have the most and highest rated talent available. Safety, IDL, and LB are either weaker classes or the Browns don’t covet those positions as highly as the others.
Michael Bode
CB seems to be the obvious pick with a need (though not urgent one) and a deep class. I wouldn’t rule out any pick though as being as late as the Browns pick in Round 1, a lot of crazy stuff can happen ahead of them. If a Horn, Newsome, or Paye drops, then it’ll be a no-doubt selection. But, if a bunch of CB and Edge go ahead of their pick, then I think it opens up to a bunch of possibilities (including a trade down).
JoeGilbert
True.