The knee-jerk reaction and analysis to the incoming 2021 MFFL draft prospects

The 2021 NFL Draft has concluded, and with it comes the first view of player relevancy for the upcoming MFFL Draft in August. Landing spot matters so much to an MFFL player’s value, and here’s a quick, off-the-cuff, knee-jerk reaction and analysis to what value might be offered by this incoming crop of MFFL rookies.

* Players ordered by overall draft pick.

(OVERALL PICK NUMBER — PLAYER, POSITION/TEAM)

#1 — Trevor Lawrence, QB/JAX
From the moment the Jacksonville Jaguars clinched the first-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence’s fate was all but wrapped up. Lawrence will step into Jacksonville on Day 1 and completely change the dynamic of the organization. Lawrence checks all the boxes that an organization is looking for, and with his mobility, he’ll make some MFFL franchise very happy in Year 1.

#2 — Zach Wilson, QB/NYJ
Wilson is clearly an intriguing prospect based on his skill set alone. He’s a mobile athlete who can extend plays which is clearly enticing to MFFL organizations. His biggest question mark is whether the level of competition he faced in college will translate to the pros, and whether he landed in a situation that will enable him to produce enough points for an MFFL team.

#3 — Trey Lance, QB/SF
When it comes to Trey Lance, you’ve got to do as Dirty Harry said and ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?” Lance is a tremendous athlete with a very high ceiling, but he is clearly raw. According to ESPN stats: “Lance had 318 pass attempts at North Dakota State, the fewest college passes thrown by any 1st-round QB in the last 40 years.” Which MFFL team will take that gamble?

#4 — Kyle Pitts, TE/ATL
Pitts is a freak athlete who possesses a rare combination of size and speed that is tough for any normal defender to handle. He will instantly create matchup problems for opposing defenses and give a boost to whichever MFFL offense chooses to take him. Assuming he remains a tight end by definition, he becomes a big X-factor from Day 1.

#5 — Ja’Marr Chase, WR/CIN
Chase looks like the real deal and likely the top receiver in this draft class. He sat out the 2020 season but put together an impressive 2019 campaign and now reunites with his quarterback from that season. Chase is the most sure pick of this crop of receivers and could contribute right away.

#6 — Jaylen Waddle, WR/MIA
As the movie Spaceballs famously said, which was echoed by ESPN, Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has “ludicrous speed!” He’ll reunite with his college quarterback which will help ease his transition to the pros. He doesn’t have great size, but what he lacks in that department he more than makes up for with his burst and explosion with the ball.

#10 — DeVonta Smith, WR/PHI
Alabama’s got a history of producing pro-ready receivers and Smith fits the bill. The Heisman Trophy winner is a top-notch route runner and shows tremendous hands. The biggest concern for him, of course, is his slender frame of just 170 pounds (soaking wet, I’d presume). Still, his talent is enough to warrant a high selection and quick playing time.

#11 — Justin Fields, QB/CHI
Fields is one of the most talented and pro-ready quarterbacks in this draft class but slipped down to the fourth one selected. He’ll start the offseason on the bench, and even if he works his way into the lineup, big numbers aren’t expected right off the bat. Whatever MFFL team takes him should expect a learning curve and some time in the Rookie Corral.

#15 — Mac Jones, QB/NE
Jones is a steady field general who comes from the nation’s top college football program. He’s got almost no athletic ability so he’s not going to pick up a lot of points with his legs for any MFFL team. He puts a nice touch on the ball and places it well. But one has to wonder if playing with elite weapons has skewed the analysis on him.

#20 — Kadarius Toney, WR/NYG
It seems like every speedster to come out of college these days is inevitably compared to Tyreek Hill, and Toney is no different. Before we go comparing the two, it’s important to remember that Toney is still raw and he’s not entering the same type of situation in which Hill finds himself. Toney will get schemed touches, but is unlikely to see enough volume right off the bat to make a difference.

#24 — Najee Harris, RB/PIT
Perhaps no rookie of consequence found himself in a better situation after the NFL Draft than Harris did. Suggested by many to be the most complete back in the class, Harris also goes to a team that has traditionally churned out top running back prospects. Harris also has the clearest path among rookie running backs to the starting job and consistent touches.

#25 — Travis Etienne, RB/JAX
Etienne is reunited with Lawrence at the pro level, and that comfortability should boost each player’s stock. His landing spot is not the best, but he’ll take over the RB1 job in due time. He’s an explosive runner and a threat every time he touches the ball. He ought to be picked early and find himself some playing time rather quickly for whichever team selects him.

#27 — Rashod Bateman, WR/BAL
Bateman is a nice physical specimen with good route running and a player capable of going up and getting the ball in tight coverage. He’s got decent speed and will make a nice target in the red zone. The only thing bad about Bateman is his landing spot, as he just doesn’t figure to get a lot of volume in Baltimore’s offense.

#34 — Elijah Moore, WR/NYJ
There’s an awful lot to like about Moore. Just about everything but his size. He’ll do best as a slot receiver beating zone coverage and making plays with the ball in his hands. He was very productive in college and he’ll get a lot of touches whether it be quick targets in space or even on a handful of carries. He might take a while to get going, though, so he’ll likely sit and grow first.

#35 — Javonte Williams, RB/DEN
Williams is another victim of a poor landing spot, at least initially. An aggressive back who seeks out contact and punishes defenders, Williams was quite productive in college. He is not particularly special in any one area but does almost everything fairly well. He’s likely to share time as a rookie so won’t offer much ROI right off the bat.

#49 — Rondale Moore, WR/ARI
Moore is quite the diminutive specimen at 5-7 and 181 pounds. He’s surely explosive, but will probably require a ton of schemed touches. He’s more of a gadget player than anything else and his landing spot couldn’t have been much worse. Even if he saw a ton of playing time as a rookie, he’s surrounded by talent and won’t get enough volume to make a significant impact.

#55 — Pat Freiermuth, TE/PIT
Ah, yes, yet another “Baby Gronk” that enters the pros. I don’t know why analysts insist on setting up tight ends to fail like that. Freiermuth is definitely a pass-catcher who landed in a decent situation. He’s not likely to see a ton of action right off the bat, and will get lost among the crowd seeking to get fed. But he could have decent long-term value.

#56 — D’Wayne Eskridge, WR/SEA
Another undersized slot receiver with speed (there’s a theme developing here in this year’s draft class), Eskridge lands with a great quarterback, which is the most you can ask for with a rookie receiver. He’ll obviously take a backseat to two heavily-used teammates so it limits his weekly upside. Should be kind of a boom-or-bust player.

#57 — Tutu Atwell, WR/LAR
On Atwell’s first day with his new team, I can imagine one of the veterans calling out, “Who let the child into the locker room?” or “Who brought their son into work today?” Atwell is ridiculously small at a listed size of 5-9 and 155 pounds, but he’s very talented. He’ll need a ton of schemed touches to make any kind of impact.

#59 — Terrace Marshall Jr., WR/CAR
Marshall is another in the long line of talented receivers to come out of LSU. He’s got good size at 6-3 and 205 pounds. He’ll join a receiver room with D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson and will have to work his way into the lineup. Besides those two veterans, he’ll have to contend with Christian McCaffrey for touches.

#64 — Kyle Trask, QB/TB
Trask was a very productive quarterback in college but has a number of undesirable traits working against him, such as athleticism and arm strength. He’s going to be sitting for a while to start his career and might have a lot to learn about the pro game. A late-round gamble at best.

#66 — Kellen Mond, QB/MIN
Mond is one of the more unheralded quarterbacks of this draft class who has flown under the radar. He lands in an interesting situation behind veteran Kirk Cousins, who has had an up-and-down career and never has been able to get his team to the next level. While it might be tempting for fans to call for Mond on a weekly basis, he’ll have to sit and wait his turn for a year or two.

#67 — Davis Mills, QB/HOU
Mills lands in Houston where there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position. Does Deshaun Watson stay and play? Does he stay and endure some kind of suspension? Or does he hold firm and get shipped out of Houston? As most mid-round quarterbacks, Mills has inconsistencies he needs to work on. It’s a gamble and hard to envision he’ll offer value during his rookie contract.

#77 — Josh Palmer, WR/LAC
There are a number of things to like about Palmer including his size and long arms. Getting off the line in press coverage will help determine what kind of impact he can have. The Chargers could use some extra weaponry alongside Keenan Allen. Landing on a team with a good quarterback has increased his draft stock.

#81 — Hunter Long, TE/MIA
Long joins a crowded tight end room in Miami where he’s not expected to receive a lot of play as a rookie. With Mike Gesicki’s unsure contract status, Long seems like an insurance ploy more than anything. Long does have desirable qualities for a tight end with good hands, and a decent size-speed ratio. He’ll be a developmental product in an MFFL Rookie Corral.

#82 — Dyami Brown, WR/WAS
Brown might be bit raw, but has positive traits to his game. He’s a good catch-and-run player who is an adequate fit for a quick-pass offense. He’ll join a muddled receiving corps with Terry McLaurin and newcomers Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries, along with second-year pro Antonio Gandy-Golden. Brown is likely a wait-and-see prospect.

#83 — Tommy Tremble, TE/CAR
Scouts rave about Tremble’s blocking ability more than anything, so unless the MFFL adds yet another weird scoring criterion, Tremble might not offer great upside. He did have to play behind some other tight ends at Notre Dame, which might be part of the reason why he doesn’t have an extensive pass-catching resume. But he’ll join a crowded field in Carolina and might not offer great ROI.

#85 — Amari Rodgers, WR/GB
You couldn’t ask for a better landing spot for this Rodgers — or could you? There’s a lot of drama coming from a Rodgers, and it ain’t from the brother who appeared on a reality TV show. It’s hard to see Aaron Rodgers (you keeping track of all these Rodgers?) not returning to the Packers, and if he stays, Amari has the chance to produce right away. If not, he’ll have to work his way up like any other rookie.

#88 — Trey Sermon, RB/SF
Does every Shanahan hate fantasy football? Back in the early days of the game, it was father Mike Shanahan who made it difficult on owners by hoarding backs and making it difficult to choose the right one. Kyle now adds a talented player in Sermon with good vision and patience. He could contribute immediately, but the maddening question is … just how much?

#89 — Nico Collins, WR/HOU
Collins has tremendous size at 6-4 and 215 pounds. He’ll obviously snag jump balls and fight for contested catches, but his hands have been inconsistent. If Deshaun Watson stays put in Houston, Collins landed in a terrific situation as a rookie. If not, Collins will have to fend for touches in an offense that already appears to be intent on running the football more.

#91 — Anthony Schwartz, WR/CLE
If the adage that “speed kills” is true, the Browns added dynamite to their roster. Schwartz has blazing speed, as he apparently “set a boys youth world record when he ran a 100-meter dash in 10.15 seconds in 2017.” He ran a 4.26 40-yard-dash time. Now the question is: how do the Browns plan to deploy him? There are a lot of other mouths to feed in that offense.

#97 — Tre’ McKitty, TE/LAC
McKitty is an intriguing prospect who did not churn out great production in college, likely because he wasn’t used to his potential. McKitty lands in a nice situation in Los Angeles with Justin Herbert, to help fill in for the departure of Hunter Henry. McKitty will have to earn his stripes as a rookie but could blossom by Year 2.

#107 — Michael Carter, RB/NYJ
There’s a lot to like about Carter as a prospect other than his lack of prototypical size. There have been other short running backs to find success at the pro level and Carter will have to similarly find his niche. Carter joins a talent influx in New York where they’re still developing a plan on how to deploy it all. He’ll likely have moderate usage as a rookie with an opportunity to carve out a bigger role moving forward.

#109 — Dez Fitzpatrick, WR/TEN
The Titans needed to add some depth to the receiver position after losing Corey Davis and Adam Humphries this offseason. Fitzpatrick has nice size at 6-2 and 208 pounds. He won’t offer much in terms of yards after the catch, but could develop a nice niche as a possession receiver.

#112 — Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR/DET
Who’s even playing receiver for the Lions these days? Under a new coaching regime, the Lions saw a lot of turnover at the receiver position and will be fielding some new bodies. The team has some unspectacular veterans in Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams. St. Brown won’t light it up as a rookie, but could have some long-term value.

#119 — Kene Nwangwu, RB/MIN
Not much of a prospect for MFFL teams to get excited about. Nwangwu projects as a kickoff returner and will be buried on the running back depth chart.

#120 — Rhamondre Stevenson, RB/NE
Stevenson will fill an interesting role in the pros. He’s a slow, plodding running back who will likely be confined to goal line and short-yardage duties, which he’ll excel at. But it limits his value for MFFL teams. Unfortunately, unless he develops into a workhorse who gets a ton of touches, he has limited upside and will have weekly, touchdown-dependent performances.

#124 — John Bates, TE/WAS
Bates adds some depth to the tight end position for Washington, but doesn’t appear set for an early, carved-out role. He’ll back up Logan Thomas and will have to earn his stripes first. He’s a strong blocker, so might fill that role for a while. Definitely more of a developmental prospect.

#126 — Chuba Hubbard, RB/CAR
Hubbard is a big play waiting to happen. He’s got good patience, waits for the hole to develop and then pops it. He’s had a fumbling problem that he needs to correct and he didn’t exactly land in the most ideal situation backing up Christian McCaffrey. He offers little upside more than a handcuff initially.

#127 — Kylen Granson, TE/IND
Granson lands in a good offensive scheme, but his opportunities might be a bit limited. He’s undersized for a tight end and might line up as an H-back or moved around to beat defenders in coverage with his speed. Will probably find it difficult to make an impact right away.

#129 — Jaelon Darden, WR/TB
In a familiar theme, Darden is an undersized slot receiver that will be best utilized when on the move. He already lands in a system with a lot of established weapons, so the idea of him being anything more than a deep sleeper who spends time in the Corral is tough to buy.

#131 — Tylan Wallace, WR/BAL
The Ravens didn’t just stop at one receiver when they took Bateman in the first round; they followed that up with Wallace in the fourth round. Surrounding Lamar Jackson with more weapons is obviously a good thing. But until they start opening up the passing game, it’s a futile effort. Wallace is dynamic with the ball in his hands; it’s just getting the ball there that will be the challenge.

#133 — Ian Book, QB/NO
Many experts had Book ranked far lower on their draft boards, with others having him signing as an undrafted free agent. The fact that the Saints spent a fourth-rounder on him significantly increases his draft stock. Unfortunately for MFFL teams, he seems like a long-shot to make an impact during his rookie contract. There’s already a quarterback competition going on there, and it won’t include him.

#141 — Jacob Harris, WR/LAR
Harris is a huge target at 6-5 and 211 pounds, but he enters an offense that will see him buried on the depth chart. He’s a potential late-round stash because he’s on a good offense, but he won’t be making an immediate impact.

#145 — Luke Farrell, TE/JAX
Farrell projects as more a blocking tight end than a pass-catching one. He’ll see time on special teams, which, of course, offers very little value to MFFL teams.

#147 — Brevin Jordan, TE/HOU
It’s actually a little bit of a surprise that Jordan slipped as far as he did in the NFL draft and with so many more tight ends taken before him. He’s one of the better athletes among tight ends in this draft. He’s definitely a pass-catching tight end as his blocking is not up to snuff. If he can hone his skills, there will be a role for him in which he can eventually blossom, but he’s a late-round target for sure.

#150 — Kenneth Gainwell, RB/PHI
Gainwell is an all-around player who can be a weapon as a runner and a receiver. He lacks the upside of an every-down, full-time player, but he certainly offers FLEX value and will get his touches at the pro level.

#157 — Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR/MIN
Smith-Marssette has great speed and decent size and will likely be the field stretcher at the pro level. He walks into an offense that has established receivers already, so his role will clearly be limited right off the bat. He’s a potential late-round stash because it’ll be a while before he can see enough action to make a difference.

#162 — Noah Gray, TE/KC
Gray will join one of the best offenses in the NFL but needs to improve considerably to offer any kind of value to an MFFL team. He’s a willing blocker, but needs to get strong to sustain them. If he gets on the field, it’ll likely be as a pass-catcher. If he works at it, he can develop into a contributor, but he has a ways to go.

#168 — Zach Davidson, TE/MIN
Davidson came from a Division II program, thus his film shows skewed production. He has good size at 6-7 and 245 pounds, but he’ll be buried on the depth chart initially.

#179 — Simi Fehoko, WR/DAL
You’ve got to love Fehoko’s size at 6-4 and 222 pounds, but there’s not much to like about his landing spot. The Cowboys are loaded at receiver, and while there are rumors they could move a veteran after the upcoming season, Fehoko isn’t going to make an impact any time soon.

#181 — Cornell Powell, WR/KC
The Chiefs lost Sammy Watkins this offseason and might replace him with another Clemson receiver in Powell. Powell played big-time college football and landed with arguably the best offense in pro football, two things that are invaluable for incoming rookies. He might be worth a late flyer, but he has some work to do to get reps and offer value to an MFFL team.

#184 — Ben Mason, FB/BAL
Mason is a fullback, meaning he might help open holes for the run game but won’t exactly do an MFFL team much good.

#187 — Frank Darby, WR/ATL
Darby tracks the ball well and can fight for contested catches, but needs more consistency to get on the field and sustain a role.

#194 — Elijah Mitchell, RB/SF
Mitchell is kind of an upright runner but he has good instincts and burst through the hole. The problem he faces is a loaded backfield depth chart. He’s a late-round stash.

#196 — Gary Brightwell, RB/NYG
Brightwell is a depth chart body who might be good for some passes in the flat. He doesn’t offer much value, even as a deep handcuff.

#198 — Larry Rountree III, RB/LAC
Rountree is a solid, all-around prospect. He just doesn’t do anything particular great. He will get some usage in a deeper rotation, but is far from a reliable MFFL option.

#202 — Chris Evans, RB/CIN
Evans has sleeper potential, but will have to earn his stripes. It’s been a solid two years since he regularly played football. He sat out the 2019 season due to a suspension and carried the ball just 16 times last year. But he can catch the ball well and provide valuable depth. An injury may just pave the way to meaningful minutes.

#203 — Marquez Stevenson, WR/BUF
Stevenson is an absolute burner and he lands in a good offensive system. He’ll primarily be a kickoff returner, or so it seems, but if he can work his way into the offense, he has big-play potential. As with most rookies selected this late, he’s not likely to make an immediate impact and will have to wait his turn.

#204 — Shi Smith, WR/CAR
Smith is a solid player who could offer good late-round value. He doesn’t have great size, but he knows how to read the field, sit in zone coverage, and can pick up some yards after the catch. He lands on a full depth chart and will have to fight for time.

#205 — Racey McMath, WR/TEN
McMath is a big target at 6-3 and 211 pounds. He’s got decent speed and will have to earn his stripes in the pros as a special teamer. It could be several years, if at all, before he develops any kind of usable offensive production.

#209 — Jalen Camp, WR/JAX
Camp is a good-sized, fast playmaker who needs to improve his route running and separation. He joins a brand new offense in the making and will jostle with others for playing time. He doesn’t project to offer much value during his rookie contract.

#211 — Demetric Felton, WR/CLE
Felton is a tremendous athlete and very productive in college, but he just might be a man without a position in the pros. He played a lot of running back in college but projects as a receiver (and kick returner) in the pros. For those willing to take a flyer on him late, he could carve out a niche, but it’s hard to envision him being a regular producer, especially in an offense with a lot of weapons.

#217 — Khalil Herbert, RB/CHI
Herbert was a very productive player in college, but he’ll find himself buried on the depth chart in the pros and might be more focused on kick return duties. He’s worth a late-round stash, but will likely spend a lot of time in a Rookie Corral.

#218 — Sam Ehlinger, QB/IND
A decent college quarterback, Ehlinger doesn’t project to have much of a pro career and probably isn’t worth drafting.

#219 — Seth Williams, WR/DEN
Williams is a fiery competitor whose mouth runs on motor oil. He’s got good size at 6-3 and 211 pounds, but he’ll struggle in press coverage and he needs to work on his route-running. Maybe he can learn from new teammate Jerry Jeudy, a notable route runner, because Williams will be buried on the depth chart and will struggle for playing time.

#221 — Dazz Newsome, WR/CHI
Newsome was a productive college receiver and a worthy route runner. He’ll have the opportunity to contribute early in his career, but his success hinges on who is playing quarterback and whether there are enough touches to go around.

#229 — Mike Strachan, WR/IND
His frame his impressive at 6-5 and 226 pounds and he’ll clearly bring down some jump balls. He has to shore up his route running and will take a while to get meaningful reps.

#233 — Jake Funk, RB/LAR
Funk is likely to be a special teams player exclusively. He won’t receive a lot of playing time on offense and offers little to nothing to an MFFL team.

#242 — Tre Nixon, WR/NE
If a first-round receiver couldn’t cut it for the Patriots, I find it hard to believe this seventh-rounder will. There are too many moving pieces in New England for an MFFL team to take a chance on Nixon.

#244 — Gerrid Doaks, RB/MIA
The extent to which Doaks might contribute is a short-yardage or goal line back. It’s hard to imagine he’ll get any kind of regular play to do anything meaningful.

#249 — Ben Skowronek, WR/LAR
Another wide receiver gets added to a loaded depth chart. Skowronek has good size at 6-3 and 220 pounds and is a good route runner with decent separation, but he’s not very fast and is not likely to get a ton of playing time.

#255 — Kawaan Baker, WR/NO
Baker is a decent vertical threat, but doesn’t project to play enough to make much of an impact during his rookie contract.

#256 — Kylin Hill, RB/GB
Hill is an intriguing college prospect who shows some quickness and agility, but he doesn’t have gamebreaking speed and will be buried on the depth chart. With Aaron Jones signed to an extension and Dillon being highly drafted last year, Hill’s path to MFFL relevance is slim.

#257 — Jermar Jefferson, RB/DET
Jefferson might be one of the steals of the draft, but he doesn’t offer good ROI for MFFL teams. He’ll back up D’Andre Swift and only be relevant if he gets a set number of carries or if there is an injury.

#258 — Dax Milne, WR/WAS
Milne is probably not worth the investment of even a fourth-round pick. He’ll be buried on the depth chart and won’t see the field enough to make any kind of impact.