Who Has The Best Draft Class in 2021?
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It’s that time of year again. The 2021 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and everyone is wondering who has the best draft class. We take a look at the top prospects and break down which team has the best chance of coming away with a top-tier class.
The Best Overall
When it comes to the 2021 NFL Draft, there are a few teams that stand out above the rest. The first team that comes to mind is the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have the first and twentieth overall pick in the draft. They also have an extra second-round pick.
Green Bay Packers
It’s safe to say that the Green Bay Packers had an outstanding 2020 NFL Draft. They filled needs on both sides of the ball and added valuable depth that should help them compete for a Super Bowl in 2021.
The Packers started their draft by selecting offensive tackle Rashawn Slater with the No. 12 overall pick. Slater was widely considered to be one of the best offensive linemen in the draft and he immediately fills a need for the Packers, who lost offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga in free agency.
With their second-round pick (No. 45 overall), the Packers selected running back A.J. Dillon, who provides them with a big, physical presence in the backfield. Dillon should complement Packers running back Aaron Jones well and gives quarterback Aaron Rodgers another dangerous weapon to work with.
The Packers made two more picks in the second round, selecting cornerback Eric Stokes at No. 62 overall and wide receiver Amari Rodgers at No. 85 overall. Stokes is a talented cornerback who provides good value at pick No. 62, while Rodgers gives the Packers another playmaker on offense.
In the third round, the Packers selected linebacker Krys Barnes at pick No. 94 overall. Barnes is a good value at this point in the draft and he fills a need for the Packers, who lost some depth at linebacker this offseason.
The Packers made two more picks in the fourth round, selecting tight end John Lovett at pick No. 118 overall and safety Vernon Scott at pick No. 136 overall. Lovett gives the Packers another option at tight end, while Scott adds depth to a position that was hit hard by injuries last season.
The final two rounds of the draft were all about adding depth for the Packers as they selected wide receiver Malik Turner (No. 166 overall), linebacker Tipa Galeai (No
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers had an excellent draft, addressing needs on both sides of the ball. On offense, they drafted quarterback Trey Lance with the third overall pick. Lance is a raw talent with a lot of upside. He needs to develop his game, but he has the potential to be a franchise quarterback. The 49ers also drafted running back Kenneth Gainwell in the fifth round. Gainwell is a versatile player who can play both running back and receiver. He should be a valuable weapon in San Francisco’s offense.
On defense, the 49ers drafted defensive end Zion Kelly in the second round. Kelly is a physically gifted player with the ability to rush the passer and stop the run. He should be a big part of the 49ers’ defense for years to come. The 49ers also drafted cornerback Deommodore Lenoir in the fifth round. Lenoir is a talented player with good size and speed. He has the potential to be a starter in San Francisco’s secondary. Overall, the 49ers had an excellent draft and added several impact players who should help them compete for a Super Bowl in 2021.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers currently have the best overall draft class in the 2021 NFL Draft. They have done an excellent job of finding value picks throughout the draft, and they have a good chance at having a very successful season. The Chargers have a lot of talent on their roster, and they should be able to compete for a playoff spot in the 2021 season.
The Best Offense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the best draft class in 2021. They have the best quarterback, the best wide receiver, the best tight end, and the best running back. They also have the best offensive line and the best defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 2021 NFL Draft will go down as one of the most talented and deepest in recent memory. future All-Pros and franchise quarterbacks are littered throughout the first round, and even the second and third rounds are loaded with potential impact players.
But which team landed the best class? It’s tough to say for sure this early on, but we can take a detailed look at each team’s crop of rookies and project how they’ll fit into their new homes. With that in mind, here’s a look at each NFC team’s 2021 draft class, starting with the defending Super Bowl champions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
1. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
2. Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington
3. Cameron Kinley, CB, UNC
4. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)
5. Jason Pierre-Paul, LB, USF
6. Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska
7. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
8. Rayshawn Jenkins, S, UCF
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the best draft class in 2021. They drafted QB Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick, WR Kadarius Toney with the 25th pick, and RB Travis Etienne with the 33rd pick. All three of these players are expected to be immediate starters and have the potential to be Pro Bowlers. The Jaguars also have a great group of young players already on their roster, so they should be one of the best teams in the NFL for many years to come.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have the best draft class in 2021. They have six picks in the first two rounds, including the No. 15 overall pick. The Patriots also have an extra fourth-round pick and an extra fifth-round pick.
The Patriots’ draft class is headlined by No. 15 overall pick QB Mac Jones. Jones was a consensus All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 2020. He is a smart and accurate QB who should be a great fit in the Patriots’ system.
The Patriots also drafted WR Kyle Pitts with the No. 20 overall pick. Pitts is one of the most talented WR prospects in recent years. He has great size, speed, and route-running ability. He should be a big part of the Patriots’ offense for years to come.
Other notable picks for the Patriots include OT Christian Barmore (No. 38 overall), LB Zaven Collins (No. 57 overall), and CB Tyson Campbell (No. 60 overall). Barmore is a talented interior lineman who could start as a rookie. Collins is a versatile linebacker who can play inside or outside. Campbell is a long and athletic cornerback who has the potential to be a shut-down player at the NFL level.
The Patriots have one of the most talented draft classes in recent memory. They added several playmakers on both sides of the ball that should help them compete for championships for years to come.
The Best Defense
It’s hard to say who has had the best draft class in 2021 until we see how these young men perform at the NFL level. However, if we’re judging strictly on paper, the Miami Dolphins have to be near the top of the list. The Dolphins selected Jaelan Phillips with the 18th overall pick, adding a potential franchise pass rusher to an already strong defensive line. They then followed that up by drafting Norte Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with the 36th pick.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens (8-8) had a disappointing 2020 season, but they still have one of the best young cores in the NFL. They’ll look to improve in 2021 with another solid draft class.
The Ravens have done an excellent job of finding talent in the draft over the last few years. They have a number of young playmakers on both sides of the ball that should help them contend for a playoff spot in 2021.
On offense, they have a potential franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson, who is just 23 years old. They also have a great young running back in J.K. Dobbins, who had a great rookie season. The Ravens also have a talented group of wide receivers, led by Hollywood Brown.
On defense, the Ravens are loaded with talent. They have one of the best young defensive players in the NFL in Calais Campbell, who is still playing at a high level at 32 years old. They also have a great young linebacker in Patrick Queen, who had an excellent rookie season. The Ravens also have a talented secondary, led by Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey.
The Ravens will look to add to their already talented roster with another solid draft class in 2021.
Pittsburgh Steelers
No matter how you look at it, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL over the past decade.
They have had a top-10 defense in terms of points allowed in eight of the past 10 seasons, and their five Pro Bowlers from last season were all on that side of the ball.
This year, they look to be just as good, if not better, with the addition of rookie linebacker Devin Bush.
Bush was taken with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, and he is expected to make an immediate impact. He will be joining a linebacking corps that already includes All-Pros T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.
The Steelers also drafted safety Terrell Edmunds in the first round last year, and he is expected to be a big part of their defense for years to come.
All in all, it is clear that the Steelers are once again building their team around a strong defense, and it is hard to argue with that strategy given their recent success.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are in a bit of a pickle. They possess the third overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they also have needs all over the field. With that said, they could go a number of different ways with their first-round pick.
The biggest need for the Dolphins is on the offensive line. They allowed 52 sacks last season, which was tied for second worst in the NFL. They also struggled to run the ball, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry, which was 28th in the league. Therefore, they could use some help at both tackle and guard.
They could also use some help at wide receiver. DeVante Parker had a breakout season in 2020, but he’s the only receiver on their roster that really scares opposing defenses. They could use a playmaker on the outside to take some of the pressure off Parker.
Finally, they could use some help on defense. Their pass defense was actually pretty solid last season, but their run defense was horrific. They allowed 5.1 yards per carry, which was worst in the NFL by a wide margin. They could use some help at defensive tackle or linebacker to shore up their run defense.
So, who should the Dolphins take with the third overall pick? It’s tough to say because they have so many needs, but they should definitely take an offensive lineman or a wide receiver if either of those guys are available when they’re on the clock.
