Each year the folks at BuildThe53 (formerly TBHague) go out and come up with a grading scale on how each of the 4 teams in the 3GML universe does on draft weekend. The years in the past have been a bit skewed due to immense draft capital, and while there were a lot of day 3 picks this year, the 2021 draft felt the most real of any experienced so far. This was the 2nd best draft that BuildThe53 has scouted since he got into the Industry and the 3GML GM’s did not disappoint. Let’s take a look at each team and their respective grades.
Green Bay Packers B+
32. Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame --- BT53 Grade 31st overall
Excellent value and scheme fit as well as a position of need here for the Packers. They desperately needed tackle help after losing both starting tackles in Jake Matthews to the expansion draft and Brian Bulaga via trade. Eichenberg is a super high floor player who should start at right tackle immediately. One of the safest players in the draft, quality value, at a position of need. Great start to the draft for GM SD.
46. Terrace Marshall, WR LSU --- BT53 Grade 53rd overall
Two for two on the SD specials to start the draft. SD generally takes big program players with high floors and he does it again here and again with appropriate value. While it may not seem like a position of need with one of the best WR corps is the league, the team needed a pure outside receiver and the depth chart is empty after the top 3. Marshall is a quality player who projects as a solid WR2 in the NFL and could have WR1 low upside with good quarterback play.
95. Ronnie Perkins, EDGE Oklohoma --- BT53 Grade 90th overall
You can see a pattern here emerging for SD. Perkins is a solid player who works his ass off each and every snap and battles in both setting the edge and getting effort sacks. SD is looking to add depth and versatility to his roster and adding someone like Perkins who at worst is a rotational guy at both DE and SAM was very smart. You can tell what the plan was and he’s been executing it well through two days. Another high floor player from a big school. The value was appropriate again, as he’s 3/3 on those selections so far.
100. Baron Browning, LB Ohio State --- BT53 Grade 100th overall
Kind of crazy how close the draft picks are here with how SD picked his players. He took BT53’s #100 player at #100 overall. Browning his a high upside guy who at worst is going to be a dynamo on special teams. SD continues to add high floor depth but has now started to look toward some upside as well.
111. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR USC ---BT53 Grade 79th overall
Perhaps the best value pick of the draft for SD occurs in the 4th round. St. Brown is a quality receiver and projects as a good WR3 in the NFL. SD loves to accumulate guys who are tough after the catch and St. Brown is a high floor guy who is a solid route runner. SD adding more depth with high floor guys from Big Programs take 5. Very nice pick here.
118. Tyler Shelvin, DT LSU --- BT53 Grade 73rd overall.
SD Strikes again going with a very good pick here. Shelvin is a throwback player at 6’2 and 350 pounds but he may be the best run defender in this draft. SD likes to add players to fill roles and Shelvin is someone who can step in right away and give you 20 snaps a game stuffing the run and pushing the pocket. Excellent snag here from someone who absolutely will have a role in the NFL.
122. Shaun Wade, CB Ohio State --- BT53 Grade 101st overall
Wade isn’t exactly high floor as he was one of the worst cornerbacks on tape this past season but his 2019 tape from the slot was very good and he has the potential to be solid. He’s also a tough tackler and physical guy and could end up finding his way to a safety role or as a dime back in the NFL. Yes this pick has a bit of boom or bust to it, but what a great spot to take someone who has this type of upside. Again too, Wade provides depth and while he shouldn’t play outside, he can certainly provide that DB6 type player every team needs.
159. Stone Forsythe, OT Florida --- BT53 Grade 5th-7th round
This was a sneaky good move from SD. Forsythe is a developmental tackle but has all the tools you need to become a quality swing tackle in the NFL. SD was looking for OL depth and kept trying to find it but he did a great job of waiting for the board to come to him and not attacking unnecessarily and he found great value throughout the board.
OVERALL:
Honestly in the entire NFL this is a top 8 draft. SD didn’t have a ton of draft capital considering he only had two picks in the top 90 and yet he grabbed excellent value with literally every pick, never reaching and finding high quality players. He has a type of player that he looks for and he doesn’t deviate often from that and that’s why he finds more hits than almost any GM in the NFL. You could see what the plan was this season, he wanted high floor guys, at positions of need, and was looking for upside as a secondary option. Some of these guys provide versatility as well to play multiple positions, giving them an opportunity to provide quality depth regardless. This was a very smart draft, and a way to help do a soft reset on a team that’s lost quite a bit from the two time defending Champs roster. An impressive job.
BEST PICK:
Liam Eichenberg - It may not be the best pure value (Shelvin) but it’s the smartest pick and the most SD pick in the draft. This is a guarantee hit as if he can’t play tackle due to short arms he at worst kicks inside and is a quality guard in the NFL. He also plays right tackle which means he’ll be blindside protector for Tua in two seasons barring a Rodgers trade. Just a rock solid smart pick.
WORST PICK:
Terrance Marshall - This is completely nit picky as I actually think this is a good selection. If your worst pick is a rock solid one you’ve done something right. The only reason I say this is he could have traded back and still got Marshall, and two he has 3 good receivers right now and had bigger needs at tackle. I still like the pick though and completely get why he was going here. Nitpicky to say the least.
MIAMI DOLPHINS A-
15. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, SS Notre Dame --- BT53 Grade 18th overall
GM EP came out swinging with a pick that was felt to be a little high in most draft circles but BT53 actually felt like this was graded out perfectly. The Dolphins love to play a hybrid defense with 3 or 4 or 5 or 11 safeties on the field at the same time and JOK is the perfect addition. He’ll play overhang for this team and run around and make plays sideline to sideline.
18. Kwity Paye, DE Michigan --- BT53 Grade 30th overall
Paye is an exceptional story and an incredible athlete. EP loves to draft high character guys and Paye fits the bill without question. He is raw to say the least as a pass rusher and definitely needs to develop more skill in that scenario but he has high upside and EP will likely play him with both his hand in the dirt and in a two point stance. While this was a bit of a reach based on grading, it sure looks like EP wanted to get more athletic and dynamic on defense and he did just that.
51. Elijah Molden, DB Washington --- BT53 Grade 24th overall.
How EP convinced Molden’s agent to only take the pay of a player selected 100th overall I’ll never know, but Molden was an excellent pick here in terms of value. As BT53 24th overall player to get him in the middle of round two was an excellent snag. Molden will play all over this secondary and reminds me a lot of Tyrann Mathieu. While this pick brings up issues of who is going to play outside corner and if any of his DB’s can break 4.60 in the 40, Molden’s value at this spot was too high to pass up.
66. Creed Humphrey, IOL Oklahoma --- BT53 Grade 52nd overal.
This pick was the perfect EP special right here. The team probably wanted an upgrade at some point from Bradley Bozeman and Humphrey is a rock solid player. He’s a tough, physical run blocker who is better than given credit for in pass protection. I’m not sure he’s a star in the NFL but I think he’s a quality starter for a long time. Good pick here, although he did have to give up quite a few assets to move up here.
75. Alim McNiel, DT NC State --- BT53 Grade 76th overall
Quality value and someone who it turns out will probably play a significant role as the 0 Tech as a rookie. The team traded Danny Shelton and was looking for a good NT so they could slide stud DL Ionnadis out of his role at the nose. McNiel is a good player with some juice as a pass rusher as well and getting him here was a quality snag. His role will be defined immediately and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he starts as a rookie 3rd rounder.
77. Daviyon Nixon, DT Iowa --- BT53 Grade 56th overall
Excellent value pick here and yet another person to add DL depth with. I love when people pair up positions in the draft as it gives the team a great chance to play the best player at those positions. Nixon is probably a 3T or even a 4T in this type of hybrid defense but he makes sense and is someone to rush from the inside again for this unit. I think he was very good value here as well.
86. Quincy Roche, OLB Miami --- BT53 Grade 68th overall
A high motor effort guy who will play in the Marcus Golden position for the Dolphins this season. Roche plays with excellent effort and hand usage and was a highly effective player against the run and the pass. While he may not end up as a starter he will probably be a good rotational guy and be a core special teams player. Once again high quality value here from EP who absolutely killed day 2 of the draft.
123. Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State -- BT53 Grade 5th-7th round
The Fins biggest weakness on offense other than the QB spot was RB and they decided to go get some speed offensively with Hubbard. He’s a one cut and go runner with good straight line speed but not much wiggle. That said in their new open offense with Hurts leading the crew needs a runner like this and Hubbard is a perfect scheme fit. Smart pick here looking at need and scheme fit.
125. Robert Rochell, CB Central Arkansas --- BT53 Grade 121st overall
Good high upside pick late in the draft here and at appropriate value. The team is always looking for guys who can play defensive back as you can never have enough guys that can cover. The nice thing here too is that Rochell has some ST experience so worst case scenario you have 4 years of a coverage guy.
126. Kenneth Gainwell, RB Memphis --- BT53 Grade 66th overall
This was maybe the best pick of the draft by EP. Gainwell is going to be a dynamic player who can return kicks, play on 3rd down, and has enough juice in a wide open offense to be a dynamic running back. Gainwell may end up starting for this team as a rookie RB and has the juice, pass catching ability, and wiggle to turn into a ROY candidate for the 3GML.
OVERALL:
This was one of the better drafts in the entire NFL this season and the GM did a phenomenal job of adding more and more talent each round. Having 8 of the top 76 players is absolutely insane, and while most GM’s may think this is a bit of a quiet draft there’s a chance EP found more than half a dozen guys who will play significant roles on his team as early as this season. He got more athletic on defense, adding versatile pieces, and found two RB’s on day 3 who could end up leading his team in carries. What he did made a ton of sense. The only thing that hurt is that I don’t think he helped Hurts in this draft. I know he did a ton in free agency to improve offensively with Julio and Corey Davis, but adding a star running back early could have done a bit more to alleviate some pressure. He also traded a very good player in Mike Gesicki, and while probably a prudent move in the grand scheme of things, still is a detraction on the roster. Overall, however, this draft was the best volume draft in the NFL this season.
BEST PICK:
Kenneth Gainwell, RB Memphis. I get that this won’t be the consensus best pick, but Gainwell has the juice this team is looking for and getting him with a late round 4 selection is stealing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gainwell leads this team in All-Purpose yards as a rookie, even if he starts training camp 4th on the depth chart.
WORST PICK:
Kwity Paye, DE MIchigan. I like Paye and don’t think this was a bad pick, just a bit of a reach, in particular with the team playing more of a 34 look, Paye also is a bit of a projection. The team needed pass rushers though and I don’t think it was a bad pick, just the worst of a bunch of really quality selections.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS B+
3. Justin Fields, QB Ohio State --- BT53 Grade 10th overall
The 49ers gave up a ton of draft assets and moved all the way up to 3rd overall and then did… the exact right thing. Fields has massive upside and his floor is much higher than most people think due to his ability to create big plays in both the passing game and with his legs. The 49ers have been searching for someone to get the team over the top sense the ill fated Andrew Luck trade and Fields presents the biggest upside the 9ers have had. I know GM CD says that the competition is open, but it shouldn’t be, Fields should start week 1.
59. Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB Syracuse --- BT53 Grade 83rd overall
A bit of a reach here but the pick made a ton of sense. I had a 3rd round grade on Melifonwu but he is an absolute perfect scheme fit for the 9ers Cover 3 heavy scheme. Melifonwu is an exceedingly long corner who has the size and pop to play the zone with ease. The 9ers had a serious hole at CB2 and Melifonwu could challenge for that spot immediately. I do think there’s some risk here with him though so this pick doesn’t get the grade some others would. That said you can’t be mad at filling a position of serious need and pairing it with a perfect scheme fit.
64. Dyami Brown, WR UNC --- BT53 Grade 87th overall
The 9ers needed a pure speed guy, particularly after trading Julio and this pick allows Tyler Boyd to stay in the slot where he dominates. This was a 3rd consecutive pick where the 9ers were making sure they added positions of need with an eye of schematic fit. Brown has tremendous downfield ability particularly on inside releases, right where Justin Fields likes to throw the ball. GM CD is playing to his teams strengths on all the early picks, meaning the players while maybe lower in ratings than other teams will be better in this scheme than any others. That’s the sign of a good GM.
78. Jabril Cox, LB UNC --- BT53 Grade 43rd overall
Absolutely wonderful pick here. Cox will likely be a rotational guy early in his career and special teams player but he gives CD the opportunity to potentially move on from Tremaine Edmunds and play the coverage dynamo Cox. There’s a scenario where Cox ends up as the #1 coverage linebacker in this draft and to get him in the middle of the 3rd round is exceptional value. At worst Cox becomes a core special teams player and LB3, so his floor and his ceiling are both high. This was CD’s best value pick of the draft.
80. Tommy Tremble, TE Notre Dame --- BT53 Grade 62nd overall
Tremble was one of my favorite players in this class and he continued a familiar path here with CD in adding perfect scheme fits for the offense. Tremble has an insanely high floor as a TE2 but he has the upside and athleticism to turn into a very good TE1. I loved Tremble and had him as a RD2 type player and to get a perfect scheme fit, high upside and high floor guy all at a position where you could use him was a tremendous selection. CD continues to add perfect scheme fits, showing an understanding between his team and his coaching staff that most GM’s never do.
102. James Hudson, OT Cincinnati --- BT53 Grade 108th overall.
Another pick, another perfect scheme fit, and another situation with huge upside. Hudson is one of the more athletic lineman in this draft and I think the benefit of taking him here is he can sit and learn for a year or two but has the chance to become a dynamic left tackle down the road. In round 3 was this a bit high, maybe, or it could turn out to be two rounds too low. Hudson has some first round ability, but he’s raw as can be. I love this high upside pick where he went. I think in the outside zone scheme too, Hudson may even have a chance to play inside if he struggles at OT.
115. Tommy Togiai, DT Ohio State --- BT53 Grade 81st overall.
Super high floor DT from Ohio State here, Togiai is a very solid and consistent player. I think he gives you quality snaps every single time he takes the field and can provide some inside pressure as well. At only 300 pounds, you’d think he has to play the 3T in the NFL but I disagree, in a 4 man front he can be the 1T and he’ll fight his butt off. He’s a better run defender than anyone gives him credit for an he’s a solid rotational DL in the NFL. I don’t think he’s special but as part of a 3 or 4 man rotation at DT he could be in the NFL for a decade.
154. Jaylon Moore, G Western Michigan --- BT53 Grade Draftable
Moore wasn’t someone that was on the radar of too many teams here but he’s not a bad selection in the 5th round. I question whether or not he’ll end up being a starter down the road but adding depth and developmental pieces on the line is never a bad thing. The scheme fit certainly makes a lot of sense here.
162. Jamar Johnson, S Indiana --- BT53 Grade 104th overall
I was shocked Johnson lasted this long in the draft and CD took advantage. He has a great history of drafting safeties and maybe JJ can be another in the long line of successes. Johnson is a versatile DB, showing an ability to play either safety spot and reminds me actually a lot of Jacquiski Tartt. This was a high quality pick by CD.
180. Hamsah Nasirildeen, DB/LB Florida State --- BT53 Grade 93rd overall.
I loved this selection by CD because this is the type of high upside low risk pick late in the draft that can pay huge dividends. Hamsah the hammer is a bit stiff, and it’s tough to figure where he’ll play but worst case scenario is he has Pro Bowl ability as a special teams player. He could probably play any linebacker spot, big nickel, dime linebacker, or even some strong safety in a run heavy look. The versatility can save you a roster spot as he could be a 5 position backup. These are the moves that gives teams roster flexibility and cap flexibility to keep them viable for years.
213. Khalil Herbert,RB Virginia Tech --- BT53 Grade 5th round
Really good value pick here, particularly as Lindsay is in the last year of his contract. Herbert gives the team a different look in terms of his ability to hammer the ball between the tackles as well, meaning he may very well find carries as the power back, even has a late 6th round pick. That’s the type of value you want on day 3. Herbert also has a ton of special teams experience. CD does his homework.
248. Jose Borregales, K Miami --- BT53 Grade (He’s a kicker)
Exactly the right decision here to draft a kicker. Borregales was either the K1 or K2 in this draft and when you have a chance to draft a specialist that you think can be dominant, go for it. Smart move.
OVERALL:
Whenever you go into a draft and end up with a quarterback who is 90+ rated, your draft has to be deemed successful. When you add to that 9 of the top 108 players in the class overall, you have to think you knocked it out of the park. I can’t give this draft an A because there wasn’t another player outside of Fields in my top 40, and most were outside my top 70, but there were so many quality rotational pieces and potential starters that are perfect scheme fits that this ended up as an excellent draft. Fields is going to thrive in this offense and should start from day one in my opinion. The draft added loads of quality and quantity. This is the type of draft that sets your team up for a favorable cap situation in two or three years to be aggressive with extensions and free agency because this is the perfect depth building draft. CD had a gameplan of building good depth with players who fit the scheme and he did that perfectly.
BEST PICK:
Tommy Tremble, TE Notre Dame
I know everyone will say Fields, and Cox deserves some credit but I’m going off script here. I think Tremble in this offense could turn into George Kittle down the road. Now will it happen in real NFL I don’t know, but in Madden, in this offense with his skill set, this could be the pick of the draft for CD. Fields may be great, but Tremble was a fantastic pick.
WORST PICK:
CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
I understand the pick and the scheme fit is perfect, he just has serious bust potential and the pick was about a round too early on my board. That said, he could be excellent in a cover 3 scheme and I could eat my words.
HOUSTON TEXANS A
23. Christian Darrisaw, LT Virginia Tech --- BT53 Grade 8th overall
The Texans traded back from 13 to 19 and added Daron Payne, the 6th highest rated DT in the NFL. Then they traded back again and added the 87th pick in the draft. Yet they still ended up getting the 8th overall player in the class in the Virginia Tech mauler Darrisaw. He’s an excellent pass protector who may be even better as a run blocker. The value here was exceptional and adding a player of Payne’s caliber as well ends up making this arguably the best move in round 1. He’ll start from day 1 for the Texans at the premium position on the offensive line.
38. Azeez Ojulari, OLB Georgia --- BT53 Grade 14th overall
The value the Texans got here was outstanding. GM TH was reportedly thinking about grabbing Ojulari all the way up at 19 and the move would have been decent value then. Ojulari is a perfect scheme fit in the “JACK” linebacker role Houston plays and will likely slide down on passing downs as a WDE. Ojulari’s ability to set the edge even at just 249 pounds is unique and the crazy part is he’s not even 21 years old yet. Perfect scheme fit and a dynamic super young player makes a ton of sense.
42. Trevon Moehrig, S TCU --- BT53 Grade 16th overall
The Texans walked into a trade up here and gave up the 3rd rounder they stole from Pittsburgh the night before to select the consensus #1 safety in the class. Moehrig can play strong or free safety and has the size and ball skills to become an instant Pro Bowler. Houston had no safeties under contract before this weekend and now locked up a star in round two. Through 3 picks Houston has 3 of the top 16 players in the class and added Daron Payne.
97. Quinn Meinerz, IOL Wisconsin-Whitewater --- BT53 Grade 43rd overall
The Texans traded back from 51 to 81 to add emerging star Tight End Mike Gesicki from Miami, filling the team’s last remaining big need at TE. In sitting at 81 they moved back again adding a 4th round pick. However, at 97 they pounced giving up that pick and another 4th rounder to move up and pick back to back essentially grabbing “The Belly”. Meinerz is a super athletic interior lineman who will need a year of seasoning. That said he was arguable the best lineman in one on ones during Senior Bowl week and has exceptional size. TH always tries to add as many quality lineman as he can and Meinerz has the potential to be a Ali Marpet type player in the NFL.
99. Michael Carter, RB UNC --- BT53 Grade 40th overall
After the trade back the Texans took the dynamic running back Carter from UNC. Carter average almost 7 yards per carry throughout his career and was an exceptional pass catcher as well. Houston needed a 3rd down back and Carter may step right into that role early this season. He’s better between the tackles than you’d think as well and will likely see some touches as a rookie. Getting Carter at 99 was a steal.
214. Jacoby Stevens, SS LSU --- BT53 Grade 5th-7th round
Stevens is likely a special teams player here for the Texans but again TH was looking to add safety depth and Stevens can not only play SS but also WLB for Houston. He’s a quality depth piece here with upside as a tremendous athlete.
OVERALL:
When you add in the two really good starters in Payne and Gesicki to this draft class it becomes arguably the best in the NFL. The top 3 picks were all rated in the top 16 overall players in this class, giving the team 5 potential stars in one draft. Getting Meinerz and Carter, both top 43 players in the 3rd round gives the team 5 of the top 43 in the draft. The only thing keeping this from an A+ is the lack of volume of total picks and the fact they didn’t come out of this draft with a QB. TH Has to be ecstatic about coming out of this draft with these pieces.
BEST PICK:
Christian Darrisaw, OT Va Tech.
You had to think Darrisaw was going to go 13 to Houston or at worst 14 to Minnesota but instead he stayed on the board all the way to 19 even after Houston added Payne. Then to trade back again and still get his guy was maybe the best move of round 1.
WORST PICK:
Jacoby Stevens, SS LSU
He could have taken a much higher rated player in Seth Williams or added a desperately needed punter, but instead he took a developmental safety who probably will only be a one contract special teams player.
