Editors’ Note: This is the inaugural post of Cicero and Adams’ Culture Corner, a new feature dedicated to positively engaging with the culture and creating original cultural content.
The NFL Draft is tomorrow night. Draft season is my favorite time of the year, because every team is filled with anticipation for the upcoming season. It also gives me a chance to look at the rookie class with a clear eye. It allows me to exercise my research and writing skills, watching film, reading profiles, and analyzing team needs. It’s become an annual tradition of mine, and I’m excited to share it with you here on Cicero and Adams.
Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson:The consensus #1 pick. I don’t know what else I can say about Lawrence. He’s got it all: size, pocket presence, a cannon arm, and a professional attitude. I like Lawrence a lot, and I hope he has success in Urban Meyer’s offense.
New York Jets- Zach Wilson, QB, Brigham Young: Pick 2 seems to be set in stone too. Wilson has everything Lawrence does, but it’s pretty clear why he’s #2. His highlights are loaded with risky throws that were completed by dumb luck or sheer willpower. Still, he’s got the talent to be the Jets’ franchise QB if he puts it all together.
San Francisco 49ers- (from Dolphins via Texans)- Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State: When the 49ers traded all the way up to 3, it was obvious they were chasing a quarterback, but which one? The majority opinion seems to be that that guy is one Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones, but I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: Jones is going to be there at 12. You don’t mortgage the future for a guy who was going to be there anyway. They want one of Justin Fields or Trey Lance. But since the rumors of Fields’ off-field issues have apparently knocked him out of contention, it has to be Lance. He has the physical tools to be the face of the franchise, and time in the Shanahan system will allow him to have success while he addresses the concerns about his deep accuracy.
Atlanta Falcons- Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida: Pitts is BPA. I’m not committed to the idea of the Falcons drafting a quarterback, because I don’t believe in wasting a top-10 pick on a guy who isn’t a day one starter. If the Falcons get a decent trade offer, I think they’ll take it, but if not, adding a freak of nature like Pitts to an already loaded receiving corps is a win any day.
Cincinnati Bengals- Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon: One of my favorite memes from the pre-draft process is the image of Joe Burrow sitting with his surgically-repaired left knee prominently displayed, with the caption, “tell me who the Bengals are drafting without telling me who the Bengals are drafting.” The Bengals need to do a better job protecting their quarterback if they want to have a quarterback. The thing that stuck out to me about Sewell is his awareness. Whether he was passing off double teams to bowl over a linebacker, flipping his hips to lead block for a leaking running back, or turning a full 90 degrees to help a running back on a chip block, Sewell played with his head on a swivel. He’ll likely start day 1 at guard, but since Riley Reiff is only signed for one year, and since Jonah Williams has some experience at right tackle, he’ll likely be the starting left tackle next season.
Miami Dolphins (from Eagles)- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama: The Dolphins pass on Chase for two reasons: 1) to reunite Tua Tagovailoa with his college teammate, and 2) to give the offense another hot rod. The Dolphins signed Will Fuller earlier this year, and adding the freakishly fast Waddle to that cast would create a receiving corps to rival the Chiefs’. Both Fuller and Waddle are threats to dust defenses over the top, but Waddle can also embarrass defenses underneath too. Adding Tua’s speedy pass catcher would give the Dolphins the offensive firepower to make a run at the playoffs again this year.
Detroit Lions- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU: The Lions are taking a wide receiver. They just are. I mean look at their receiver depth. Two journeymen, one a straight-line home run hitter, the other a big body possession receiver, and a backbencher/return specialist. The Bengals preferring to protect their quarterback over reuniting him with his college teammate, and the Dolphins choosing to reunite their quarterback with one of his, allows WR1 to fall into their laps, and they snatch him up.
Carolina Panthers- Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern: The Panthers need a blindside blocker. Taylor Moton is great, but their options on the other side are not. Slater is famous for shutting down Chase Young two years ago, which will no doubt help Sam Darnold feel safe in the pocket.
Denver Broncos- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame: Owusu-Koramoah is the best linebacker in this class, period. Micah Parsons is a freak athlete, sure. So is Jamin Davis. Zaven Collins is a great athlete for his (massive) size. All have really fun highlight tape, and most of them will likely develop into stud linebackers in time. But JOK did all of the things they did on their highlight reels, AND broke up passes against slot receivers, AND defended floaters against tight ends one-on-one in the end zone, AND stole the ball right out of Travis Etienne’s hands for a TD. Plus, he’s a perfect fit for Vic Fangio’s defense, in the exact same mold as Roquan Smith. Fangio has been pounding the table for his stud linebacker for two years now. It’s time for new GM George Paton to give him what he wants.
Dallas Cowboys- Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama: The Cowboys have lost almost their entire secondary in the last two seasons. They remedy this by pairing Trevon Diggs with his old college teammate, and a lockdown corner.
New York Giants- Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State: The Giants’ linebacking corps is a sorry bunch. Blake Martinez is the only big name, and to say he’s been underwhelming is being charitable. The second level needs help. Parsons can play inside, nickel, or either outside position and be an immediate upgrade. He has the athleticism to play back in zone, the size to hang with tight ends, and the speed to contain any of the pass-catching backs in the NFC East.
Philadelphia Eagles (from 49ers)- Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina: Oh Eagles. Your defense has so many needs. First among them is corner. The Eagles spent an absurd amount of draft capital and money on the cornerback position and not one has panned out. Maybe this one will be different. Jaycee Horn is incredibly talented, and has the most experienceand success of any of the corners in this draft. Perhaps he will finally give the Eagles’ defense a reason for fans not to tear their hair out.
Los Angeles Chargers- Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech: Darrisaw hasn’t gotten the hype of guys like Sewell and Slater. I think the reason for that is because his tape is kind of forgettable. For a tackle though, that’s a high compliment. There are questions about his effort, and he plays basically standing up, but he’s a big, long, strong tackle with a powerful anchor. If he puts the effort in, lowers his base, and finishes strong, he could be a reliable bookend for Justin Herbert.
Minnesota Vikings- Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC: The Vikings’ current crop of guards is not good. Ezra Cleveland is playing out of position, for what reason I don’t know, and Dakota Dozier is not good either. Kirk Cousins was sacked 39 times. The NFC North is loaded with interior D-Line talent. Every set of circumstances points to an immediate need at guard. Vera-Tucker can replace either guard, making Dozier expendable or easing Cleveland’s transition to tackle.
New England Patriots- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State: The Fields news/rumors of work ethic questions as well as a diagnosis of epilepsy came as a shock to me. I have no idea of their veracity or why they’ve affected Fields’s draft stock, but they have. But apparently the Patriots are dead set on a new QB. Cam Newton was supposed to reinvigorate the Pats run game while also allowing them to keep the Josh McDaniels’s machine humming along. Cam clearly did not live up to those expectations, but the interest in Fields seems to indicate that this will be the ideal going forward. They’d have to give up a hefty price to trade up into the top 10 if they really want him, but I think he fits what the Pats want and I think he’d have success in their system.
Arizona Cardinals- Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech: The Cardinals need to replace Patrick Peterson. Malcolm Butler is on the wrong side of 30, and he’s not going to replace the PP’s talent. Neither is Robert Alford. Farley doesn’t have the repertoire of a guy like Jaycee Horn, but he has everything else: the size to compete with big receivers, and the speedto match guys like DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Deebo Samuel.He would provide a serious boost to Vance Joseph’s DB corps, and might fill the hole left by their departed former first-rounder.
Las Vegas Raiders- Jamin Davis, LB,Kentucky: A Mike Mayock pick if ever there was. A physical freak but questionably NFL-ready, Davis joins Kolton Miller, Clelin Ferrell and Henry Ruggs as the Raiders newest underperforming first-rounders. He also joins an overpaid, underperforming Linebacker corps including Cory Littleton, Nick Kwiatkowski, Nicholas Morrow, and the ghost of Vontaze Burfict’s career.
Dolphins- Najee Harris, RB, Alabama: Tua reunites with his former backfield partner. I love Najee Harris as a prospect. If you put Dalvin Cook and Zeke Elliott into one body, it would look a lot like Harris. He has the strength to play through contact, the body control of a wide receiver, and he hurdles people. A lot. As much as I want to see Harris play for my Broncos, Miami would be remiss to pass on a chance to complete the Alabama trifecta, and get a great #1 running back at the same time.
Washington Football Team- Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa: The Football Team has the makings of a long-term contender for the NFC East title. Their offense is loaded with talent, their defensive line is one of the scariest position groups in football, and their secondary is extremely talented too. But Ron Rivera’s defenses live or die on their linebackers, and right now they look mortally wounded. Jon Bostic is ok, but I have no idea who the other two linebackers are. Collins comes in and immediately improves either OLB spot. He does a lot of the same things as Thomas Davis did, and he’s going to be a thumper, if only because he’s an enormous human being. An elevated second level allows the Team to do much more than just squeak out of the worst conference in the NFL and be embarrassed in the first round.
Chicago Bears- Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State: It was a tough call here between Jenkins and Mac Jones, but as a Broncos fan who saw our right tackles flounder for two years I couldn’t possibly bear to watch Elijah Wilkinson get his quarterback murdered every other snap, be it Andy Dalton, Nick Foles, or McCorkle. Jenkins, “the most violent man in football,” fills that hole. The right tackle position is increasingly becoming the more important of the two tackles. Chicago cannot afford to miss out on Jenkins’s talent if they want to be competitive in the NFC North.
Indianapolis Colts- Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami: Indy’s defensive line needs help. DeForest Buckner is the only one with a real resume. Grover Stewart is unproven. Tyquan Lewis has potential, but I’m not sure about Isaac Rochell. That’s why Jaelan Phillips is a premium pick here. Not only is he a freak athlete, he has the savvy to go with it. It would be criminal for Phillips to fall this far, but the Colts would be remiss not to take him if he does.
Tennessee Titans- DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama: It’s a shame that Smith fell all the way down to 22, but I couldn’t think of another team that really needed a wide receiver. So I’m going to justify it by attributing it to his size. But Smith more than fills the void left by Corey Davis. After all, it’s hard to compete with a guy who just runs around press coverage and also posts up fellow first-round picks. The Slim Reaper has it all: speed, elusiveness, and hands. Put him opposite the absolute unit that is AJ Brown, and Tennessee has the offensive firepower to repeat as AFC South champions.
New York Jets (from Seahawks)- Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern: The Jets have a lot going for them. CJ Mosley is back after opting out last season. Marcus Maye is turning out to be a real asset on the back end. Their defensive line has the potential to be special. And Bryce Hall showed a lot of potential. But Blessuan Austin got embarrassed pretty frequently, and Lamarcus Joyner is just a band-aid. Newsome has good size and speed, and he brings the coverage resume of a Big Ten corner. He would be a valuable addition to Robert Saleh’s defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers- Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones, QB, Alabama: It’s becoming ever more clear that Ben Roethlisberger is more of a liability than an asset in Pittsburgh. He’s had too many injuries, and he isn’t a reliable winner when he’s on the field. It’s time to choose an heir. Mac Jones can sit and learn for a while if the Steelers are willing to insult their fans for another year, or he can replace Big Ben so that the Steelers might have some semblance of a functioning offense.
Jaguars (from Rams)- Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU: I have no idea who most of the players of the Jaguars defense are. Besides Josh Allen, Joe Schobert, Myles Jack, Shaq Griffin, and CJ Henderson, none of their players are of any note. Safety is the worst of it. They need a safety. Any safety. Fortunately, Trevon Moehrig is that guy. He has the speed to carry receivers deep and the instincts to be a missile in run defense. He makes the Jaguars bargain bin defense just a little less bad.
Cleveland Browns- Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama: The Browns defense is going to be scary. Their linebacking corps has a lot of potential, and their secondary regains Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit after losing both to injury. Adding John Johnson III to that group makes it easily one of the best position groups in the AFC. All they need is a strong interior presence to take the pressure off of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. Barmore has excellent size and a decent repertoire of pass rush moves. He can be a three-down asset for Joe Woods’s defense.
Baltimore Ravens- Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington: Losing Matt Judon hurts, but Tryon can almost immediately fill that hole. He’s a long and lanky guy, but he brings good speed and burst, and once he gets some strength and adds a few power moves to his arsenal, he’s going to be an absolute terror off the edge.
New Orleans Saints- Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota: The Saints are in a bit of a pickle. Their QB competition is completely open. Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston can both be defined by the word “yeet,” but Jameis is the better quarterback, likely because he is a quarterback. Either way, the Saints are going to need more than just Michael Thomas if they want either quarterback to succeed. Bateman has a lot of similarities to Denzel Mims, both in athletic profile and in how he was utilized at Minnesota: a big-bodied jump ball guy who can also house a seam route over the middle. He adds a much-needed vertical threat that can help take the pressure off of Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and their quarterback.
Green Bay Packers- Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss: GET. AARON. RODGERS. ANOTHER. RECEIVER. After the baffling decision last year to pass on at least 5 receivers who could have immediately started in favor of Jordan Love, the Packers absolutely must address the receiver position. It is continually baffling to me that Davante Adams continues to carry the Green Bay offense. Almost a third of the team’s receiving yards came from Adams. He is the player defenses target. A true burner like Moore gives the Packers a threat to take the top off of a defense, which allows them to dictate coverages away from Adams like Will Fuller did with DeAndre Hopkins in Houston. Adams would benefit from less double teams, and Aaron Rodgers would also benefit from a downfield threat to complement his rocket arm.
Buffalo Bills- Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia: I was originally going to give the Bills Travis Etienne because of their complete lack of a running game in the AFC Championship, but then I remembered the 38 points the Chiefs put up in that game. Part of the reason for that was the Bills lacking a DB who could match the speed of one Tyreek Hill. Stokes solves that problem. Not only does he run a 4.25 40-yard dash, he has experience matching up against some of the best wide receivers in college football. In a division (and conference) loaded with speedsters, Stokes erases many of the mismatches.
Ravens (from Chiefs)- Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU: I originally had the Chiefs taking Texas OT Samuel Cosmi here, and I was tempted to give him to the Ravens as well because of the Orlando Brown trade, but this tackle class is loaded with talent, and it’s still the case that Lamar Jackson needs a true #1 receiving threat. The Ravens went from 4th in the league in Redzone scoring percentage in 2019 to 15th in 2020. They ran the ball a lot more, but Lamar Jackson also regressed a little bit. I’ve been pounding the table for this for three years now. Give Lamar a big body. He needs somebody who can take on bigger corners so his smaller receivers can thrive underneath, as well as someone who can win one-on-one matchups in the Redzone. By giving him a true #1, the Ravens make Lamar’s life a whole lot easier.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame: The Buccaneers seem to be in good shape to repeat as champs. They have the roster to do it, so long as Tom Brady doesn’t collapse. The one remaining question mark is left tackle. Is Donovan Smith the answer? I doubt it. Eichenberg has some technical concerns, but he is tenacious and a strong finisher. He might benefit from a year to refine his technique, but in either case he’d be a significant upgrade over Smith.
Mac Jones will be picked #3 because Shanahan wants a really competent pure pocket passer so he can finally win his first Super Bowl. And I think New Orleans needs to draft a QB.