A Guess At The Top 11 Of The First Round Of The 2021 NFL Draft...Plus Thoughts On The Browns

 Good morning, and welcome back to a somewhat annual post predicting how the first round of the NFL Draft will go.  I am truly writing this in unfamiliar territory, as the Cleveland Browns are not picking high in the first round for the first time, due to a winning record, since 2003.

For those of you who don't recall, the 2002 Cleveland Browns were the last team to make the playoffs.  In 2003, I can vividly recall sitting in Ohio Stadium, watching the 2003 Ohio State spring game, as there was a ticker on at the stadium, showing the Browns had selected Jeff Faine, C, from Notre Dame.  Ah, such memories.

On to the top 11 picks.  Why 11, you ask?  Two reasons - one is because the NY Giants are slated to pick at 11, which is the favorite team of my good friend Tim Tallaksen.  And the other reason is it gives me an opportunity to remind you of this awesome clip from "Spinal Tap"...

1.  Jacksonville - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson:  Gutsy pick

2.  NY Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU:  Poor kid

3.  San Francisco - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State:  Yes, I know how everyone is saying it will be either Mac Jones or Trey Lance.  I just have a feeling that Kyle Shanahan wants a QB with mobility, and that is Fields.  I may be wrong.

4.  Atlanta - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida:  Very tempting to pick a quarterback, but Pitts is too good and too immediate of an impact for the Falcons to ignore.

5.  Cincinnati - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU:  Offensive line is a crying need for the Bengals, but CIN gives QB Joe Burrow a target that he has familiarity with and the Bengals will address the OL in later rounds.

6.  Miami - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama:  The Dolphins grab a familiar target for their QB Tua Tagavailoa.

7.  Projected Trade (NE with DET) - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama:  The Patriots move up to grab a quarterback before Carolina.  Detroit moves back to stockpile picks for their rebuild.

8.  Carolina - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State:  Yes, I know that the Panthers recently traded for Sam Darnold.  Lance is a project that they can slowly work in while they determine if Darnold is salvageable.

9.  Denver - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern:  The Broncos just traded for Teddy Bridgewater, and look to build up solid protection for him.

10.  Dallas - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama:  The Cowboys look to regroup defensively.

11.  NY Giants - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama:  More offensive weapons for QB Daniel Jones.

As for the Cleveland Browns, here is how I can see it shaping out...

1.  Trading out of the first round when a team wants to draft a QB at the end of the first round - Possible, and it saves the Browns money with their salary cap.

2.  Best Player Available:  Very cliche, but this can be any number of positions, including a WR like Rashod Bateman of Minnesota.

3.  Defensive Back:  If the Browns go this route, my hope is for Greg Newsome of Northwestern.

4.  Linebacker:  Doubtful, as the Browns are de-emphasizing the position, with more nickel looks, i.e., more defensive backs and less linebackers.  If they go this route, someone like Zaven Collins of Tulsa could be the pick,

5.  Defensive Line:  Like my point number 2 about the best player available, this could be any number of raw, unproven players who could add depth to the defensive line.  I would like Kwity Paye of Michigan, but it could be someone like Jayson Oweh of Penn State.

2020 Ohio State Football: Big Ten Championship Trailer

Some Random Thoughts On The 2021 Ohio State Recruiting Class

 Congratulations to the 21 young men who officially signed their letters of intent during the Early Signing Period today.  Ohio State is still in the mix to potentially add a few more players to the class, but that will not take place until the traditional signing day period in February.

For more on the Ohio State 2021 Recruiting Class, here is a link to the official Ohio State website...

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/football-signing-day-central-2020-2021/

A few things to keep in mind about this recruiting class...

1.  This class did not have any official visits - Considering the NCAA instituted a policy of no official visits for schools and players, there are recruits who are signing with Ohio State who have never even been on campus.  That is a testament to the players' belief and faith in Ryan Day and the coaching staff that Ohio State will be able to fully develop their abilities over the next four or five years.

2.  Ryan Day has emphasized Ohio, as he said he would - This class is nothing like Jim Tressel would sign, where the overwhelming number of players were from Ohio.  Even still, Day signed 6 players from Ohio, which makes up about 29% of the total class.

3.  The secondary was emphasized - Ohio State signed 6 players, with 3 players labeled as cornerbacks, and 3 as safeties.  Time will tell if these players stay with those designations, but props to Kerry Coombs for identifying and signing players at positions of designated need.

Below is a listing of the players alphabetically, as well as a few graphs and charts identifying the positions and home locations of the players signed.  Here is to hoping that we will be able to see these players in Ohio Stadium in the 2021 Ohio State Spring Game, if not in person, at least on Big Ten Network...

An Updated Timer For THE GAME

 This post may be premature, but with the news of the 2020 cancellation, I wanted to update my blog to reflect that THE GAME countdown was accurate.  A quick disclaimer - The B1G is going to revise the 2021 schedule, due to the 2020 modifications, but I feel confident that THE GAME in 2021 will still be held on November 27, 2021.  Of course, if mistaken, I will revise it.

2020 Ohio State Football: Tea❌ Up North Trailer

From The Mind Of Minnich ~ The Possible Top 10 Of The 2020 NFL Draft

This NFL Draft, from its start to its conclusion, will be solely, and exclusively, based upon the evaluations of every team's scouting department.  It will truly illustrate how every team evaluated prospects, which is why projecting the first round is going to be so challenging.  Rumors are abundant that teams are going to be willing to trade up, or down, and should make the first round very difficult to project.

My good friend Tim Tallaksen asked me to write up how the top ten will go.  I feel good about the first two.  After that - let's see how I do...

1.  Cincinnati - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU:  Has been basically a done deal since the end of the season.

2.  Washington - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State:  Yes, Washington will take calls, but Young is the best player in this draft, and could make an immediate impact.

3.  Miami (Projected trade with Detroit) - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia:  Rumor has it that Miami wants to get ahead of the Giants to take their preferred offensive tackle.  While nobody knows if this is how it will play out, and if Miami truly wants an offensive tackle, I am guessing Thomas is the offensive tackle on top of their board.

4.  NY Giants - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa:  Maybe the Giants will move down, but if the offensive tackles are in such high demand as rumored, taking Wirfs here at 4 will be okay.

5.  Detroit - Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State:  The Lions move down a few spots, get additional picks, and still get a player who can make an immediate impact within their secondary.

6.  LA Chargers - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama:  The Chargers are in need of a young QB after the PRivers era.  Tagovailoa has a LOT of injury risk, but a great deal of upside.

7.  Carolina - Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson:  Versatile defender who can line up at linebacker and in the secondary.  

8.  Arizona - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama:  Protecting Kyler Murray is paramount.  Better suited on the right side versus left.

9.  Jacksonville - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn:  Powerful interior defensive lineman can help a rebuilding Jaguars squad.  Oregon's Justin Herbert is another possibility here, with QB a major need.

10.  Denver - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama (Projected trade with Cleveland):  If all of the offensive tackles the Browns want are gone, and I believe they will be, I can see Andrew Berry moving down to acquire some more draft choices for days 2 and 3.  

My pick for the Browns?  Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State.  

A Quick Breakdown On The 2020 Ohio State Recruiting Class

For those of you who may want to hear Coach Day's official press conference, here is a link to the official Ohio State website https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ryan-day-signing-day-recap-2020/

Some quick thoughts...

• This seems more like a Jim Tressel-type class with regards to the Ohio focus (see below)
• Very happy with the offensive line numbers, as depth is always paramount at that position
• The wide receivers are arguably the best incoming recruits at that position in school history

By the numbers...

• Ohio State signed 25 players
• Geographically, the class breaks down as follows ~

Ohio	8
Texas	3
Arizona	2
California	2
Michigan	2
New Jersey	2
Indiana	1
Maryland	1
Missouri	1
North Carolina	1
Pennsylvania	1
Washington	1

By position group, it breaks down as follows...

Without further ado, the list of the players signed by Ohio State.  I have labeled Cameron Martinez as an ATH, as Coach Day stated that Martinez will have opportunities to play on both defense and offense.  I have also listed the players who signed early in December in italics, as they will be participating in the upcoming Ohio State Spring Game on April 11th.  There is a possibility that PK Jake Siebert may grayshirt, as the scholarship numbers are presently over the 85 number limit.