2021 NFL Draft grades: Biggest winners and losers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When you win the Super Bowl, and then return all 22 starters by keeping all of your free agents, it allows the flexibility to take some projects in the NFL Draft. That seems to be what general manager Jason Licht and Buccaneers did.
Washington edge rusher Joe Tryon has massive upside because of his athleticism and explosiveness, but he’s likely not going to play immediately because of Tampa’s depth up front.
Meanwhile, even though Tom Brady likely has at least one or two more seasons, Kyle Trask seems like a massive reach as a developmental quarterback.
Fortunately the Buccaneers didn’t need to nail this draft, because they didn’t.
Grade: C+
New Orleans Saints
Ohio State linebacker Pete Warner is the best pick in this class, because of his ability to be dominant in coverage, which will be necessary in a division that now features Kyle Pitts in addition to Christian McCaffrey, and Rob Gronkowski, among other dominant running backs and tight ends.
However, It felt like the Saints reached both for Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book in Round 4 and cornerback Paulson Adebo in Round 3.