A Very Different Draft Year
April 8th, 2021
Joe has listened to many interviews of NFL Draft prospects, including Gators quarterback Kyle Trask yesterday, and there’s a common theme that is different from past years.
The NFL Scouting Combine was cancelled for the first time in 2021, and that’s where typically every single team makes contact with every single top prospect.
A quick but intense meeting in a hallway, a longer hotel room meeting up to the league time limit — whatever it is, they meet and talk.
However, this year is a different animal. Joe keeps hearing prospects say they haven’t talked to every team. Trask, for example, first told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he guesses he’s talked to a majority of NFL teams, and then he stated the actual number was about 20. Joe’s heard potential mid-round picks say they’ve only heard from a dozen teams.
Joe is gleaning from all this that front office’s are relying more on film than ever before and putting greater value on their time to look at film than time talking to a prospect.
Also, the cancelled Combine dealt a serious blow to media accessing prospects and NFL executives, and the flow of information that comes with those in-person chats, so Joe is putting less stock into mock drafts than ever before.
What a great year to be in possession of a Super Bowl general manager who’s returning an entire Super Bowl starting roster. Just imagine if this was 2013, Joe would be ridiculously stressed out.
April 8th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
So, we can at least narrow down the possible positions at least….
Likely we will not pick a LT, S, RT, TE, MLB…or Kicker
I’m thinking DT, Olb, CB…..perhaps WR or RB…..
April 8th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Need a safety as back up. Lost Adams. But may not come from the draft. Probably will be quite a few FA safeties looking for work.
April 8th, 2021 at 12:40 pm
You are forgetting the mist likely pick at #32 – Edge rusher
April 8th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
I have to previously repeat Trask is a bust. Might be a little more mobile, but far from an NFL type player and not needed for this team early.
April 8th, 2021 at 12:44 pm
I think you’re right Tampabaybucfan. In that order
April 8th, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Don’t see OT, S, TE or MLB being off the board at all actually, especially when considering Wells is the only b/u OT and only signed a 1yr/vet min deal; Whitehead is a FA next year and Edwards is too in ’23; Brate is the only TE signed beyond this year; and Minter is 31 and only signed a 1yr/vet min deal as well. While we don’t have any glaring immediate needs this season practically every position besides K needs talented depth, especially when you look at ’22 and beyond.
April 8th, 2021 at 12:50 pm
I think Licht in this draft will be the most relaxed he’s ever been. There’s really no pressure. The main priority was resigning all our free agents and that’s done so now it’s just about filling in some depth maybe adding a new starter.
As long as Licht doesn’t have another 2016 draft I’ll be happy.
April 8th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
FlBoy84
Trade down and let Jason take care of business. Have the best scouts in the NFL.
April 8th, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Licht is gonna draft a kicker #1 and give everyone the double bird on national tv
April 8th, 2021 at 1:09 pm
they have not signed all of the guys back!!!
and they will go DL/edge probably 1st 2-3 picks…then depth/RB or QB and a wildcard late who can return a kick
April 8th, 2021 at 1:11 pm
I do love how JL is now a God among men……. LOL
TB built this house, BA, BL, and JL are just living in it. Todd Bowles separated himself from that group. He did a great job with a young secondary and blitzes when needed. great DC.
April 8th, 2021 at 1:26 pm
I agree Robert. It’s amazing how winning makes people forget the bad times Licht was responsible for. Let’s hope TB12 keeps winning.
April 8th, 2021 at 1:36 pm
“ TB built this house, BA, BL, and JL are just living in it“
Was Tom Brady in charge of putting together a dominant defense?
April 8th, 2021 at 2:17 pm
The defense is by far dominant on paper. They played above their weight class for sure. JL is due props…….not saying he isn’t. but he sure has been elevated to superman. Talk to me when he signs a kicker in round 2. Oh wait!
April 8th, 2021 at 5:10 pm
This is a good year to be #32, because this is the weakest draft class in memory.
April 8th, 2021 at 5:56 pm
Trashk will be doing SEC games as a broadcaster 7 years from now
April 8th, 2021 at 7:24 pm
Swampbuc, you are right, but it will be more like 3 years, when he is still slightly relevant and people remember him.