The 2021 NFL Draft is in the books, which means everybody is releasing their draft grades as if they actually know the prospects better than NFL GMs and their scouting department.
In case you cannot tell, I am not a very big fan of those draft grades as they are completely meaningless when the season begins.
That being said, there is one person in the scouting business who I respect more than any other and his name is Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Brugler does an excellent job scouting prospects and he seems to have a better bead on things than some NFL GMs do.
On Monday, Brugler posted an article ranking his favorite 2021 NFL Drafts and the Detroit Lions came in at No. 3.
Here is what Brugler has to say about the Lions draft haul.
3. Detroit Lions
| RD. | OVERALL PICK | PLAYER |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
7
|
Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
|
|
2
|
41
|
Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
|
|
3
|
72
|
Alim McNeill, DT, NC State
|
|
3
|
101
|
Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
|
|
4
|
112
|
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
|
|
4
|
113
|
Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue
|
|
7
|
257
|
Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State
|
Favorite pick:Â Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
A top-five ranked player on my board, Sewell was the perfect first addition for a new regime tasked with rebooting the franchise. At only 20 years old, his combination of big man balance and natural instincts are uncommon, which should allow him to start as a rookie and develop into one of the league’s top tackles.
Day 3 pick who could surprise: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
The Lions wide receiver depth chart was wiped out after last season and it was a slight surprise they didn’t address the position with any of their four top-100 picks. But the value of St. Brown in the fourth round was an impressive find by general manager Brad Holmes, who had an impressive weekend running his first draft.
