2021 NFL Draft grades: Biggest winners and losers
San Francisco 49ers
For a spell, it seemed that the San Francisco 49ers moved up to the No. 3 overall pick without an ironclad plan for which quarterback they would select after Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson came off the board, but came away with an ideal fit for coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme.
Trey Lance has the deep-ball accuracy and ability to be a precision passer that will fit right into the quick-game concepts of Shanahan’s system. Lance also is plenty mobile, and at times even looks like a running back when he’s needed to scramble outside the pocket.
Already boasting one of the more reliable offensive lines in front of Lance, San Francisco added Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks in Round 2. Banks didn’t allow a sack last season and has the chance to be a plug-and-play starter.
Grade: A-
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons put the finishing touches on an offense capable of being the Buccaneers’ biggest challengers in the NFC South, early in this year’s NFL Draft.
Atlanta made the easiest pick of the entire draft, when they chose Florida tight end Kyle Pitts No. 4 overall.
“You can make an argument that Kyle Pitts plays his position better than Trevor Lawrence plays his,” an AFC personnel director recently told FanSided.
Dropping Pitts into an offense that includes Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley is a massive win for both quarterback Matt Ryan and new head coach Arthur Smith.
Atlanta also mounted a counter-punch to the Buccaneers, with safety Richie Grant and cornerback Darren Hall in Rounds 2 and 4, respectively. The Falcons really helped themselves this weekend.