Still, the New York Jets may have just landed by the best running back in the class with the 107th overall pick. Williams runs hard for a back his size, and his vision and cutback ability will help create chunk plays, but he's not a typical home run threat for a smaller back. In fact, he led the ACC with 1,245 rushing yards in 2020.
While the Tar Heels also had Javonte Williams in the backfield, Carter led the team the last two seasons with 344 carries and 2,248 yards. His change-of-direction ability while setting up defenders at the second level can be absurd. He's much closer to last year's only first-round running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, in size and the way he runs. North Carolina's Michael Carter isn't on the same spectrum as Derrick Henry or Nick Chubb. Elite runners also have the vision, patience and decisiveness to exploit holes that close much faster at the NFL level. Running the football is sometimes more about feel than natural ability. Weaknesses: Lacks top gear, does not accelerate through contact, marginal size without ever handling full-time load Strengths: Best vision in the class, cuts on a dime, ball security Tufele joins Roy Robertson-Harris and Taven Bryan to strengthen Jacksonville's defensive interior. There are ways to hide other things, but you have to have a strong defensive line. There is one commonality of great teams: They have great defensive lines,” Meyer told reporters. "I always believe you build your team around the defensive line, and then you move backwards-so that's what we're going to do. Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer wants his team's identity to revolve around the defensive line.
The 3-technique exploded up the field with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks during his two seasons in the lineup. On the field, Tufele earned first- and second-team All-Pac-12 honors in back-to-back seasons. "She ended up being in the ER basically on her bed, and everyone around me I was able to speak to them and they really were counseling me the right way in terms of having this opportunity and also just believing in myself and knowing what I'm able to do."
"It was more things that happened that were out of my control in terms of my family-COVID really affected my whole family and my sister especially," Tufele told reporters after USC's pro day. USC defensive tackle Jay Tufele decided to opt out in 2020. Weaknesses: Balance, reaction to keys, opted out of last season Strengths: Short-area explosion, consistently works to reestablish line of scrimmage, agile and easy move "Sometimes they're there and you can really use them and sometimes they're there and maybe you don't feel it's as necessary, but then when you get good players on your team inevitably you use them."įollow along as Bleacher Report provides analysis and grades for every selection based on talent, fit and the team's decision-making process. "It's sometimes those players are there and sometimes they're not," New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told reporters. Overall, this class may be the thinnest crop of talent in the event's history, with team boards likely smaller than typical years because of so many mitigating factors.Īs such, the goal is simply sticking to the remaining talent found among each organization's rankings and taking a big-picture approach, rather than addressing significant needs. It's also when each team's scouting department earns its money, which is especially true this year. The heart of the 2021 NFL draft is still beating in Cleveland.ĭay 3 serves as the outro for the league's three-day festival of talent acquisition.