The dust has settled following the 2021 NFL Draft, with all 32 teams attempting to make substantive additions to their rosters.
Most general managers will now move on to the remaining free agents on the open market. First, though, we should take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from this NFL Draft. For added clarification, the “Losers” section will be far more brief in nature.
Let's get to it.
Winners
Chicago Bears
There was a lot of pressure on Bears general manager Ryan Pace entering the 2021 NFL Draft.
Chicago is coming off a tumultuous offseason in which it parted ways with former No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky and struck out in its effort to acquire Russell Wilson. The Bears ultimately signed Andy Dalton, though the Red Rifle is hardly the long-term solution.
This franchise has been desperate for a franchise quarterback. So, Pace got aggressive in an effort to draft one.
The Bears moved up nine spots from No. 20 in order to select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. The former Buckeyes star was one of the coveted quarterback prospects in this year's class, with tremendous athleticism and an outstanding deep ball.
There are a couple dynamics here. Firstly, the Bears get a quarterback with immense potential and physical gifts unlike any signal-caller in recent franchise history. Additionally, it's pretty miraculous Pace managed to make that leap up the board.
But the Bears weren't done trading. They moved up in the second round to select Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, who did not allow a sack in each of the last two seasons and is now primed to take over for the departing Charles Leno Jr.
Do not sleep on Chicago's late-round selections, either. Sixth-round pick Khalil Herbert could be a valuable return man on special teams. North Carolina wide receiver Dazz Newsome could also add value in the return game and gives Matt Nagy's offense a speedy archetype who could make an impact in the slot.
Cleveland Browns
My goodness, the Cleveland Browns hit a home run in this NFL Draft.
Defense was a clear priority for general manager Andrew Berry. He got what could be a pair of absolute steals in cornerback Greg Newsome II and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Newsome excelled at Northwestern despite having a fairly limited sample size. He recorded nine passes defended in eight games during the 2019 campaign, with seven passes defended and an interception in 2020. The former Wildcat could be an immediate impact guy who might even win the other outside corner spot opposite Denzel Ward.
It was borderline preposterous Owusu-Koramoah fell as far as he did. The former Notre Dame star was projected by many to go in the first round, only for the Browns to scoop him up in the second.
Owusu-Koramoah gives Cleveland a hyper-athletic playmaker at the second level. He had 11.0 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles this past season after recording 13.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks in 2019. Owusu-Koramoah is also capable of dropping into coverage and using his range to make plays from sideline to sideline.
Auburn wideout Anthony Schwartz might not have been the most prolific receiver in the class, but he gives the Browns yet another option in a pretty deep corps.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are immediate NFL Draft winners mostly because Rashawn Slater essentially fell in their lap.
The former Northwestern offensive lineman was regarded by some as perhaps the second-best offensive line prospect in the class behind Oregon's Penei Sewell. Slater can play just about every position up front and has both the strength and agility to be a perennial Pro Bowler.
Los Angeles was lucky to get Slater at No. 13. Remember, this is the same guy who mostly shut down 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young. He now figures to be a pillar for the Chargers in their efforts to protect Justin Herbert.
Addressing the secondary was another need for L.A., and the Chargers got a good one in cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. The former Florida State star had some buzz as a potential first-round pick. Samuel gets great breaks on the ball and can compensate for a lack of size in a more zone-heavy scheme.
Moreover, the Chargers added another potential weapon in Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer. The former Volunteer averaged 15.3 yards per reception in college despite dealing with some unsavory quarterback options. He could be a boon for the offense lining up alongside Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
New England Patriots
It always seemed possible Alabama quarterback Mac Jones would slide to the Patriots at No. 15 if the San Francisco 49ers did not take him third overall.
Sure enough, Jones was still on the board when New England was on the clock, and Bill Belichick and Co. pounced to take him.
The former Crimson Tide star has drawn comparisons to Tom Brady for his pre-snap adjustments and recognition. He is an efficient signal-caller who knows his outs and can make a variety of throws. That's good news for a Patriots team that reloaded at the skill positions and will now look for Jones to compete with Cam Newton.
Furthermore, the Pats got perhaps the steal of the 2021 NFL Daft in Jones' teammate and defensive tackle Christian Barmore. He was arguably the best interior defensive lineman in the draft.
Barmore dominated in 2020, finishing the season with 8.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss to go along with three forced fumbles. He gives Belichick a legitimate pass-rushing menace and disruptor in the middle of the defense.
Oklahoma's Ronnie Perkins has the tools to be a good edge rusher, with 20-year-old linebacker Cameron McGrone also looking like the kind of coachable talent who could excel under Belichick's tutelage.
New York Jets
We don't need to get too long-winded here.
The Jets got their franchise quarterback in Zach Wilson. They then traded up to select USC offensive tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker, who immediately gives Wilson more protection up front.
But New York's best 2021 NFL Draft picks might actually have come in the second and fourth rounds. Elijah Moore gives Wilson a legitimate weapon outside. North Carolina running back Michael Carter was more unheralded than teammate Javonte Williams, but he is quite capable of breaking big runs for a Jets team that needs dynamism in the running game.
Losers
Carolina Panthers
Nothing against cornerback Jaycee Horn here. But the Panthers could have gotten new quarterback Sam Darnold more protection by taking Slater or Christian Darrisaw.
Darnold's struggles in New York were partly the result of poor offensive line play. Shouldn't the Panthers have been more intent on remedying that issue?
Terrace Marshall Jr. gives the Panthers a nice replacement for Curtis Samuel, and Brady Christensen's athleticism might make him an asset on the O-line. But it feels like the Panthers missed an opportunity at No. 8.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are another team that might have missed an opportunity with its first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
Las Vegas chose Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 overall pick. Leatherwood won the Outland Trophy and figures to move to one of the guard spots.
But it's a bit puzzling general manager Mike Mayock opted for the former Crimson Tide star with Christian Darrisaw still on the board, particularly since Darrisaw would have been a more natural fit at right tackle after the Raiders traded Trent Brown.
Las Vegas did well to nab TCU safety Trevon Moehrig. Still, choosing Leatherwood over Darrisaw and reaching on Buffalo edge rusher Malcolm Koonce were questionable moves.
New Orleans Saints
Defense was a priority for the Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft, though the quality of the guys they selected remains to be seen.
New Orleans surprisingly did not add a cornerback until the third round. The Saints used their first-round pick on Houston edge rusher Payton Turner, one of the big surprises of the first round. Peter Werner is hardly the most athletic of linebackers.
Plus, the Saints selected Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book in the fourth round. That seemed like a bit of an unnecessary reach.
Green Bay Packers/Aaron Rodgers
The Packers were basically losers before the 2021 NFL Draft began thanks to the Aaron Rodgers drama. They didn't do their frustrated quarterback any favors by waiting until the third round to take a wide receiver.
Green Bay definitely needed to upgrade its secondary. Eric Stokes should be an improvement over Kevin King.
However, picking Ohio State's Josh Myers in the second round definitely seemed like a reach, especially because there were better center options still on the board.
General manager Brian Gutekunst appeared to improve the secondary. But the rest was very “meh” for a team desperately trying to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl.
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