The portrait of the main offensive players available in the draft was drawn up yesterday and the time has come to shine the spotlight on their defensive colleagues. The 2021 vintage is clearly not full of sure values. Besides a few dominant players, several others have very intriguing potential, but remain far from any guarantee of success. There will be home runs and sword strikes in the water. Here are some names to remember before the mock draft of the Journal, which will be presented tomorrow.
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Phillips’ shout
- Winger / linebacker | Miami | 6’5 ”, 260 lbs
There is no prospect who is a safe bet in the role of “edge” in this vintage, either among defensive ends or outside linebackers. However, Jaelan Phillips was dominant in 2020 with 15.5 loss tackles and eight sacks. Talent, physique and ability come together, but it’s the history of injuries that are scary, especially concussions. This aspect cannot be ignored, but healthy Phillips is the bomb.
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Azeez Ojulari
- Winger / linebacker | Georgia | 6 ft 2 in, 249 lbs
Ojulari represents one of the most intriguing cases in the draft. Many fear he is not big enough at less than 250 lbs to play at the end of a defensive front in the NFL. This modest size, however, assures him of being explosive at will in his first movements. He was the fierce SEC conference’s most productive defensive player with 12.5 sacks, 18.5 loss tackles and five forced fumbles against quality offensive linemen last season.
Paye receipts
- Winger / linebacker | Michigan | 6 ft 2 in, 270 lbs
Kwity Paye is very well built to evolve outdoors and in certain situations indoors. He is a good athlete who is recognized as a great leader with a good attitude and who performs with constant effort. In his case, however, production (11.5 career sacks) has not necessarily matched potential to date. His arsenal of movements to apply pressure remains to be developed. Well directed to the next level, he can make sparks.
Jayson Oweh
- Winger / linebacker | Penn State | 6’4 ”, 257 lbs
Oweh is the most phenomenal athlete in his position. When an “edge” runs 40 yards in 4.37s and his other tests are also science fiction, it’s something to be puzzled about. As you’ve heard many times, physical tests are a long way from ensuring sustainability in the NFL, but every time a team falls in love with athletic ability. For the moment, it is a project, a risk that could pay off or be potato.
Gregory Rousseau
- Winger / linebacker | Miami | 6’6 ”, 266 lbs
This is certainly the theme for this position this year, but Rousseau is another intriguing issue. It broke everything in 2019 with 15.5 bags per quarter, although some were harvested opportunistically. This was his first (and only) season as a starter, which hints at grandiose potential. Except Rousseau missed last season and the sample remains meager. At 6 ft. 6 in., It will make teams salivate.
Joe Tryon
- Winger / linebacker | Washington | 6’5 ”, 259 lbs
Here is another defensive player who dominated in 2019 before giving up the last campaign. Decidedly, this draft promises to be unpredictable! Joe Tryon imposes it with his musculature and his long arms. He has played in different places on the defensive front, which makes him a versatile player. Tryon is one of the players who shows the most power in his position.
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Christian Barmore
- Tackler | Alabama | 6’4 ”, 310 lbs
In the defensive tackle category in this vintage, there is Christian Barmore and, far behind, the others. Of course, it’s possible that others will be more dominant later in the NFL, but for now, Barmore is the only one who looks guaranteed to be picked in the first round. We wonder about the fact that he only got six starts, but he was monstrous in good times, especially during the last national championship.
Levi Onwuzurike
- Tackler | Washington | 6 ft 2 in, 290 lbs
In Levi Onwuzurike’s case, it’s the athleticism that catches the eye. Defensive linemen who steal at this point are rather rare. At 290 pounds, however, he might be in trouble moving opposing guards to the next level. In the NFL, it will need to be deployed outside guards, where it could produce more than inside, as it was used at the University of Washington.
Micah Parsons
- Seconder | Penn State | 6 pi 3 po, 246 lbs
A rare athlete! Parsons has been recognized, almost unanimously, as the best linebacker in his class for several months and the fact that he opted out of playing in 2020 hasn’t changed that. The worst part is that there is still a lot of room for improvement since he only played one season as a starter. He will never disembark from the field, unless he makes his own outside. Its immaturity is indeed the only question mark.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- Linebacker | Notre Dame | 6 ft 1 in, 220 lbs
Owusu-Koramoah is another athletic specimen. Some even argue that he could become superior to Parsons in the NFL because of his pass covering skills. He’s also shown he can apply pressure with seven sacks in his last two seasons. His size makes him the ideal candidate to take on the role of hybrid player (linebacker / marauder) that more and more teams are looking for. A “joker” in the field …
Zaven Collins
- Linebacker | Tulsa | 6’4 ”, 259 lbs
In Collins’ case, there is an ideal combination of size, frame, speed and power. Over the past three seasons, he has shown consistency with 244 tackles, including 30 for losses, in addition to five interceptions. There are more impressive athletes at his position in terms of explosion and speed, but his instinct serves him well and his versatility is unmatched.
Jamin davis
- Linebacker | Kentucky | 6 ft 1 in, 234 lbs
Davis has a good build and can become a great linebacker to counter ground play. He’s extremely fast and has a flair for finding the ball constantly. Without being polite enough for man-to-man coverage, he can do well in zone coverage, as evidenced by his five interceptions in the college ranks. It was starting out of nowhere and its value increased astronomically in 2020.
Nick Bolton
- Linebacker | Missouri | 6’0 ”, 232 lbs
Nick Bolton is probably the most physical linebacker in this draft. He stands as a real wall against the competition and seeks the most ferocious contact possible. He’s clearly not in the current mold of linebackers, who need to be good at pass coverage, but as a reliable old linebacker to attack in midfield, he gets the job done.
Patrick Surtain II
- Corner half | Alabama | 6 ft 2 in, 208 lbs
At least three cornerbacks, maybe more, should be selected in the initial round and Surtain should be the first to hear his name. He’s got a good build, is durable and with 31 knockdowns he’s shown he’s been tested and more than held his end. He is expected to shine on man-to-man cover, a man whose technique and consistency do not fail after growing up in an NFL environment with his father, Patrick Surtain Sr.
Caleb Farley
- Demi de coin | Virginia Tech | 6 pi 1 po, 197 lb
In 2019, Farley was among the cream at his position until a back injury caused him to miss the last two games. He put the 2020 season aside, but his injury required two procedures and he might even be forced to miss training camp. If he regains his health, Farley is however a player whose speed and size allow him to compete with any receiver. We will have to see how much his condition will drag him down.
Jaycee Horn
- Corner half | South Carolina | 6’0“, 205 lbs
The son of the former receiver of the Saints Joe Horn has definitely inherited his fighting spirit. On the field, he plays very aggressively and does not hesitate to confront the opposing receivers. Officials will keep an eye on him in the NFL! If he plays in a disciplined manner, he will have it all and quickly become a respected leader in the locker room. Not everyone will like the alpha side, but you need some of the most “sloppy” ones in any team!
Asante Samuel Jr.
- Demi de coin | Florida State | 5 pi 10 po, 180 lb
And another son of the other! Samuel Jr., whose father shone with the Patriots early in their dynasty, shows the same instinct and combativeness, though he often concedes a few inches and a few pounds to the receivers he covers. Its small size obviously sows doubt, but it can evolve as much inside as outside, man to man or zone. He is a hard worker.
Greg Newsome II
- Corner half | Northwestern | 6’0 ”, 192 lbs
Newsome has been very stingy this past season, allowing just 10 completed passes, including just one from over 10 yards, according to The Athletic. In 21 games, he has also broken 25 passes, which shows that he is still in the right place. However, he missed 14 games in his three-season college career, leaving a red flag in terms of his durability.
Trevon Moehrig
- Marauder | TCU | 6’0“, 202 lbs
Moehrig risks being the only marauder selected in the first round. In pass coverage, there is nothing to complain about his game, he who regularly found himself facing the opposing inserted wingers. The physical aspect is not to be despised, however, he who strikes like a linebacker. His production is unabated with 26 knockdowns and six interceptions in his last 22 games at TCU. He’s not the fastest, but his flair makes up for it.
Richie Grant
- Marauder | UCF | 5’11 ”, 197 lbs
Grant isn’t particularly built or particularly athletic, and yet he has a knack for getting his hands on the ball. In three seasons as a starter, he recorded 10 interceptions, 27 knockdowns, six forced fumbles and 11 loss tackles. In short, he flies on the ground. While it was used primarily for deep zone coverage in its early days, it has since built a nest near the line of scrimmage and excels against running.
SOME INTRIGENT PLAYERS …
Each year, players who are not drafted among the first offer intriguing potential in a number of ways. Here are a few.
Payton Turner
- (winger / linebacker, Houston)
At 6’6, 270 lbs and very long arms, Turner has the perfect physique to apply pressure. With five sacks in five games last season, he has asserted himself and seems to be improving.
Alim McNeill
- (tackle, North Carolina)
Tacklers like McNeill (320 lbs), who excels above all against racing, seem less in demand, but he’s excellent in the role. He is quick for his weight.
Ronnie Perkins
- (winger / linebacker, Oklahoma)
Perkins is one of the “edges” of his vintage which shows the best explosion on the initial movement. Maybe not a production monster, but a player who will be reliable.
Jabril Cox
More and more NFL clubs are looking for linebackers who shine in pass coverage, and in that sense Cox shows the athleticism to cover tight ends.
Jamar Johnson
- (marauder, Indiana)
Without being the most physical player or the best tackle, Johnson shows special skills in cover and has the gift of making the big play. He notably intercepted Justin Fields twice in their last duel.
