NN Community Mock Draft Recap Round 4: 49ers finally go CB

We have reached the fourth round of our community mock draft recap. On Day 3, if any of these picks make the roster and get onto the field, then they’re a success. So far, San Francisco has gone QB, IOL, and CB.

107 Jaguars NYners

Tyler Shelvin, DT, LSU

Looking at the Jaguars depth chart, a massive hole jumps out where the NT is supposed to be. It seems appropriate to fill that with a massive man. Shelvin is that indeed, tilting the scales at 350+. He’s more than just a space-eater, though. He’s got good movement and can actually cause problems on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Shelvin can play the 0, 1, or 2i technique, providing scheme versatility. Jags continue to maximize the value of their picks, landing the 85th ranked player on the consensus big board at 107 to kick off the 4th round.

108 Jets DeltaLima

Milton Williams, DT, Louisiana Tech

The interior of the defensive line is not a big need for the Jets. There are a few diamonds in the rough I am eying for other positions, but the value with Williams is just too good to pass up, particularly given Saleh’s mantra of rotating defensive linemen and going “all gas, no brakes.” Williams is a sound technician at this point, and he could start at anything from 5T to 3T on some NFL teams.

He is also an elite athlete. I know that pro day numbers are not combine numbers, but what he posted is incredible, even if you allow for favourable conditions and measurements at the pro days: vertical jump of 39”, broad jump of 121”, 34 reps on the bench, 4.62 40-yard dash, 4.25-second shuttle, and 6.87 second 3-cone. Per PFF, pro day numbers are timed faster by up to about 0.1 seconds and jumps, and bench results are inflated by 1 to 2 inches/reps. Even adding those factors in, to find a DT who comes close to Williams’ performance, you have to go back to Aaron Donald. And Donald isn’t even close in some metrics. Now, Williams isn’t the technician Donald is, and the pass rush isn’t at the level it needs to be. Yet. But I think Williams is not a bad technician, and he’s easily a second-round selection. For him to be there at the top of the fourth is just too good to pass up; I don’t care what the positional needs say.

109 Falcons RocklinRoll

Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina

Carter was a productive runner at UNC, with two 1000 yard seasons under his belt.

Feels like a good value pick at this point. Carter should fit in nicely with our new coach’s running back by committee approach.

110 Texans SactoSolon

Jay Tufele, DT, USC

The Texans continue to shore up their porous defense with the selection of Tufele, a high-energy 3T from USC. Tufele, who opted out of the 2020 season, was a first-team All-Pac 12 performer for the Trojans as a sophomore in 2019 when he accounted for 41 tackles (6.5 for loss) with 4.5 sacks. With the trade for Shaq Lawson, the selection of Payton Turner in the 3rd, and this pick of Tufele in the 4th, Houston has acquired better fits along the front for its new 4-3 than what they had entering the offseason.

111 Browns O Liner

Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State

Browns had a need at CB, and when you get to the middle of the draft, doubling up gives you an insurance blanket. I went with a safe pick in Taylor, and now I’m going to the other end of the spectrum. Wade has a lot of upside. A 5-star recruit who’d been a baller in the slot, looking smooth as hell, and his switch to outside corner was priming him for 1st round contention to start the college season. And then...he flopped. Of course, he did. That’s why he’s still here in the 4th. But the talent is undeniably there, and he has ideal length. He looked lethargic and disengaged at times. So maybe he’s a risky guy to bring in, but the Browns culture is strong now, and I’m trusting coaching to bring out what’s there. He could have a future in the slot at the very least—worth a shot.

112 Bengals Chris4949

Drake Jackson, IOL, Kentucky

More needed O-line help. Trey Hopkins, their starting center, went down with an ACL in the 2nd to last game last year, so most likely will miss most, if not all, the 2021 season. They have Billy Price, a former 1st round pick from Ohio State, but he hasn’t seen much playing time since his rookie year in 2018. This gives Price competition and allows the Bengals to have more depth.

113 Lions reedkrase

Josh Ball, OT Marshall

In the third round, I had targeted Spencer Brown to provide the developmental RT the lions need, but he went two picks before the lions. Josh Ball may feel like a little bit of a reach, but the Lions really need help along the OL. He’s a 4-star recruit that started for Florida State in 2017 but had to transfer due to a domestic violence restraining order being put in place against him. He transferred to Marshall and didn’t develop as most people expected. I’m assuming he got his personal life in line. He’s got the frame and build to be a starting NFL OT. With the benefit of the NFL weight room and coaching, I think he’s a diamond in the rough. It Will take a year or so to get him up to speed, but eventually, he’ll lock down the right side of the Lions line.

114 Panthers Mello Old Dude

Bobby Brown III, DT, Texas A&M

Well, the run on DTs started seven picks earlier than we wanted, with Tyler Shelvin, Milton Williams, and Jay Tufele going within the first four picks of the fourth round. Good thing there was a fourth player on our list for this pick: Bobby Brown III. I’ve seen “mountain” and “brick house” in his descriptions, which fit with his 6’ 4” 325-pound frame, but he is more than that. He has an 85.5” wingspan and had a phenomenal pro day with a 4.98 40, a 33-inch vertical, and a 9’5 broad jump. As with Mayfield, he will not be 21 until training camp starts. Our three defensive picks, which will make this defense younger and quicker, should ensure we do not end up 30th in interceptions again next year. Now it is time to focus on the offense.

115 Broncos ScaryBear

Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan

McGrone is explosive, athletic, and best when confronting the run. He’s physical and makes reads quickly, using proper angles against the offense. McGrone is agile when required to change directions, and he’s a finisher when it comes to tackling. McGrone can hang with tight ends in pass defense and throttles up to 110% when blitzing. McGrone is tough, ignoring pain, and projects as a starting MIKE linebacker after only a little bit of development.

116 Cowboys BiggySmalls

Tony Fields II, LB, West Virginia

At 6’-1”, 222#’s, and a 4.5 40yd, Tony is a bit undersized. However, he should be able to add weight and strength once in a pro-style system. His measurables and play are worth noting. He was the leader and focal point for West Virginia and played the MIKE position. He’s speedy and rangy; diagnosis plays quickly, has great anticipation and instincts, and attacks the ball carriers. Even though he might be a little short and underweight for a typical MLB, his athleticism makes up for it. For Tony to become a full-time starter and succeed at the next level, adding strength is a must, as long as it doesn’t affect his speed n quickness. It’s also possible he could play SS, more of a hybrid, as well as special teams. He’s worth the pick and has a lot of upside.

117 Giants Buddabear78

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

Giants here choose to add depth to their receiving core and a potential kick/punt returner with the ability to be excellent in the slot. The top 3 WRs are set with Golladay, Slayton, and Shepard, but competition for the 4th receiver spot will be wide open between the likes of John Ross, Amari Rodgers, and 49ers fan favorite Dante Pettis. (sarcasm)

118 49ers Lancashire49er

Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU

49ers double down on CBS with an interchangeable DB who predominantly would play nickel corner but offers some interchangeable skills with the safety position. As noted in the 3rd round, we are in high need to add depth to the secondary after losing Sherman and Spoon and knowing Verrett and Williams are on one-year deals.

A former 4-star recruit, Vincent comes in as a backup, primarily to Williams, with a view to potentially securing a long-term position. Vincent comes in at 5’ 9” and 185 and has the lightning-quick speed to deal with those inside speed receivers up the middle or to the outside. He ran a 10.07 100m back in 2018 and finished 2019 as the 11th ranked 100m runner in college athletics while running on an LSU 4x100m team that ran the 14th fastest time in NCAA history. The guy can flat-out run!

I like how he is always around the ball. Very good IQ (although he could get caught out eye watching the QB), which, combined with his speed, he would be seen breaking on throws to the receivers with good recognition, feet and closing speed, particularly in the flat or to the outside with great timing, often wrapping up well with the tackle.

He finished his three years playing football for LSU with 87 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, one sack, six interceptions, and 15 passes defended.

Areas to continue to develop, but he has all of the athletic tools to succeed and do well. The secondary is starting to feel a bit more secure.

119 Chargers Carju1

Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina

If Israel had declared for last year’s draft, he may well have been a 2nd round pick but playing injured this year led to a drop in his ability and statistics, so we are pleased to add such a versatile player in the 4th round. Israel played as a wide corner, in the slot, as a deep safety, and in the box, and he is a multi-positional option at the next level that can serve as a matchup neutralizer against tight ends and big slots, and we have Travis Kelce twice a year. Mukumua is long, athletic, rangy, and physical. He does well to stay leveraged in zone coverage, has good ball skills, and is aggressive driving forward.

120 Vikings Blackpool Niner

Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia

Newman was probably my last chance to grab a developmental QB with the tools to one day become a starter, but the floor is low. I really wish we’d got to see him play for Georgia after he transferred, but he opted out of the 2020 season.

His Wake Forest film shows work is needed in terms of his ball placement and working through his progressions. The frame, athleticism, and arm strength are there, and he displays nice touch from a clean pocket.

Andrew Janocko and Klint Kubiak are tasked with molding Newman into an NFL passer who can take over from Kirk Cousins in a couple of years.

121 Patriots Rowingdave

Osa Odighizua, DT, UCLA

122 Raiders ninersfootball

Ben Cleveland, IOL, Georgia

Raiders add another bigggg IOL prospect to stash behind Incognito and hope he can become a future starter. Cleveland is big as he is listed at 6’6 ⅜” and 354 lbs with a wingspan of nearly 80”. As expected, he is very good at run blocking but needs to drop some weight to be better in interior pass protection, especially against smaller, faster DTs. He does his best work in smaller places as a power blocker but is not very effective in space or as a mobile blocker. As a redshirt senior with ~2 years of starting experience (although in SEC at Georgia), Cleveland will need at least one year of coaching and fitness development in order to earn a starting role in Gruden’s offense. With Tom Cable there to motivate and coach him up, Cleveland has a chance at a decent NFL career if he can keep his weight in check, which shouldn’t be a problem as he was extremely versatile and motivated at Georgia. He is expected to be an early to mid-Day 3 pick, so the middle of round 4 is the perfect place to take this massive OL.

123 Patriots Rowingdave

Kendrick Green, IOL, Illinois

124 Eagles MD49erFaithful

Aaron Banks, IOL, Notre Dame

With incredible speed and surprise, the Philadelphia Eagles select Aaron Banks, G, Notre Dame.

Mr. Banks stacked two impressive seasons back to back in our eyes. A player we clearly expected to be taken at this spot in the draft, he can compete at both LG and RG but should settle into a nice career at RG for us. Notre Dame has now put together consistently strong OL prospects for the NFL, and we feel he is next in line in terms of potential. Strong technical blocker; we are just flummoxed as to why he remained past even our last pick.

Honestly.

Our last pick should have been Aaron Banks.. Jalen Hurts is doing his happy dance with the offensive help we are giving him.

125 Washington JUICEcyk

David Moore, IOL, Grambling

126 Vikings Blackpool Niner

D’Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina

Vikings still urgently need O-line reinforcements, and we missed most of the starters in the long gap between our first two picks. In D’Ante Smith, we have a future starter, even if he needs a year or two of seasoning.

As with nearly every tackle prospect, there’s “guard talk” about Smith. And he could be a very good guard. But he’s 6’5”, 305 lbs (though he almost definitely played lighter in college), and has 35-inch arms that pack a nice punch. He’s also a smooth mover in space, a good fit for the outside zone scheme. A nice upside, day 3 add.

127 Titans Reverend Harry Powell

Robert Hainsey, OT, Notre Dame

Hainsey could be that guy who can plug in at guard or tackle. He’s very versatile and has a lot of experience starting. His athleticism is top-notch, but he could serve to add some strength.

128 Colts JUICEcyk

Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State

Another PAC-12 player selected for the Colts. Frank Darby is the most underrated, best-kept secret in this draft. Maybe it’s the same school bias. Maybe it’s that I have been watching him and Brandon Aiyuk (I took Brandon 2nd round with Chicago last year) his entire career. Darby reminds me of prime Brandon Marshall and is a menace in the red zone while having the speed to beat corners down the sideline. I guarantee Darby will be taken Day 2, and I select him here as another member of my controversial Indianapolis picks.

129 Steelers Reverend Harry Powell

Tommy Kraemer, IOL, Notre Dame

Large, mean, power run blocker. These are all good things for the Steelers. With his experience at a top college program and his workman-like approach, it would not be surprising to see Kraemer eventually starting.

130 Seahawks Nologojoe

Deonte Brown, IOL, Alabama

The Seahawks have neglected their OL for years, but today Pete Carroll finally addresses that glaring need with his second pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. May this pick go a long way to soothing Russell Wilson’s fears.

Deonte Brown is one of Alabama’s starting O-Line, arguably the best unit in the country with four potential NFL-caliber players on the line last year.

Brown earned first-team All-SEC honors. A competent blocker in both the pass and run games, Deonte may be a little limited in space but is a reliable piece in the interior. Having him fall to the 4th round for an OL-needy team like the Hawks is a huge blessing for Pete and Russ.

131 Jaguars NYners

Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane

Cam Sample is a versatile Defensive End that plays up and down the line for Tulane. Sample plays a very similar brand of Football as our (about to be again) own Ronnie Blair. If you watch Tulane and their Defense is on the field, Sample is the guy that jumps off the screen.

132 Ravens MD49erFaithful

DeAngelo Malone, LB, Western Kentucky

An underrated player, DeAngelo flashed for us during our normal scouting process in 2019 with 21 TFL and 11.5 sacks. Following that, he had 10 TFL and six sacks in this funk year. A player we feel comfortable bringing into our environment and believe next to other pros with our coaches can turn into a steady player for us. First on Special teams and third downs, and then growing into a starting outside backer in our defense.

133 Browns O Liner

Demetric Felton, WR, UCLA

Ok, I’ll fess up, this guy is a draft crush, and I really like him. So I may be projecting here, but I also think he could really offer this already great Browns offense something different. In many ways, he’s the sort of back Shanny would love to get his hands on because he’s got that Deebo quality of offering you big-play options in a variety of ways. He actually does really well as a ball carrier, grinding out yards and finding the gaps, but he also now looks like a really smooth receiver who has improved his route running. He’s an explosive big-play guy, providing YAC on a consistent basis. I think he’s going to make a splash in the NFL, and I think a team that already has great weapons just got itself a unique Swiss Army knife.

134 Saints 14YearOldNinerFan

Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

Ambry Thomas ran a 4.37 40, which was blazing fast, and he can help provide stability next to Marshon Lattimore - if he’s allowed to play - and CJ Gardner Johnson. Thomas is 6’0, with a 10-foot broad jump, allowing him to go up for jump balls. He also has terrific ball skills, but he does need work on tackling. Still, before 2019, he was a top 45 pick, so I’m glad to be able to get him at 134 as a prospect to develop and get one of the best secondaries in the NFL

135 Vikings Blackpool Niner

Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri

Gillespie has some of the most fun safety films I’ve ever seen. Watching him knock Najee Harris backward on the goal line cemented a draft crush for me, so I’m delighted to get him in the 4th.

He was perhaps miscast as a single-high safety in Missouri, though he does have the range to make a nice free safety. He probably does his best work in the box, though. With Harrison Smith getting near the end of his great career and Xavier Woods only signed for a year, Gillespie is a nice pickup - an immediate special teamer and future starter.

136 Packers Surfer2099

Elijah Griffin, CB, USC

The Packers brought back cornerbacks King and Sullivan on one-year deals, but the depth behind them is sort of thin. Griffin is an aggressive outside corner, as noted by Harris at The Draftnetwork as being competitive and ball hungry. The Packers will need to continue to invest in this area to stay competitive. In 2019, he was voted Honorable mention in Pac 12, where he had nine pass break-ups and 37 tackles in 11 starts.

137 Chiefs ScaryBear

Trey Hill, IOL, Georgia

Hill’s fundamentals are sound, and he comes in at the right weight for this position. Being quick off the snap, he usually achieves leverage against the defender. Hill positions himself well and moves effectively, even while blocking. He dominates linebackers and shows excellent field awareness.

138 Buccaneers Lancashire49er

Seth Williams, WR, Auburn

The more I see and the more you look to the draft, you can only be impressed by the depth of this squad.

With the Antonio Brown uncertainty, a 3rd WR is required to assist with one of the better WR tandems in the league with Evans and Godwin. They have good depth and varied player traits with Miller and Tyler Johnson, who came on well towards the end of last season.

With that luxury, the Bucs add a potential threat at receiver with the 6’3” 210lbs, 4.50sec 40 yard dash WR in Seth Williams to complement that arsenal. Someone that big shouldn’t move that fast!

I ran a limited route tree at Auburn, but that could be down to scheme. He has the ability to operate across the X, Z and Y/Slot. I loved how every high ball 50-50, Williams was more often than not dominating but did so by high pointing the ball most of the time. Rarely does he simply let the ball come into his body.

He also has a good and willing blocking ability to fall in and assist with the running game.

Solid reward-based pick to continue providing a very potent Bucs offensive. Try dealing with Evans, Godwin, Gronk, Brate/Howard, and Williams in the red zone, with a relatively unknown QB under centre!

139 Cowboys BiggySmalls

Marlon Tuipulotu, DL, USC

Another defensive piece to fix the defensive woes last year. At 6’-2”, 308#, Tuipulotu plays with good athleticism and lateral movement. He has a quick 1st step and uses his hands extremely well. He shows good footwork and balance. He has a powerful bull rush with relentless pursuit. He’s a run-stuffing machine who can play all three downs.. His best fit is in the Interior of a 4-3 defense and will become a starter shortly into his rookie year..

140 Patriots Rowingdave

Divine Deablo, S, Virginia Tech

141 Steelers Reverend Harry Powell

Patrick Johnson, EDGE, Tulane

Patrick Johnson played in 34 games at Tulane. In that time, he had 34 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, and six forced fumbles. He’s athletic, strong, and can play the run and drop into zone coverage. His natural fit is as an OLB in a 3-4. He’s literally the perfect fit for the Steelers, and he’s a steal at this point. Get it? See what I did there? A “steel.”

142 Rams ak4niner

Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State

According to NFL.com, he is 5’12” (I wish I were making that up!) He has good straight-line speed. He plays physical and ends the play quickly after the catch. With some good training, he will become a solid backup and then, eventually, a starter.

143 Packers Surfer2099

Brenden Jaimes, OT, Nebraska

With Bakhtiari potentially missing the first few games of the season and the Packer losing center Corey Linsley to free agency, the right side of the offensive line needs both tackle and guard. Brenden Jaimes could fill either role and is a great option as the Packers potentially consider moving Billy Turner to left tackle at least during the beginning of the season.

144 Vikings Blackpool Niner

Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn

It’s hard to call WR a need for the Vikes when they have two top-class performers in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. But behind them on the roster is a lot of nothing. Adding world-class speed to the group won’t hurt.

Schwartz’s ball-tracking and hands aren’t always up to scratch. So he’ll probably never be a high-volume target for Kirk Cousins, but we’re going to find ways to get the ball in his hands early and let him show off his 4.25 speed. And when he’s out there, he’ll have to be accounted for, which won’t hurt the prospects of two of the league’s best receivers.

145 Chiefs ScaryBear

Jaylon Moore, OT, Western Michigan

Moore has three years of FBS starting experience. He’s consistent in getting leverage, and his overall form is solid. Moore moves defenders well on running plays and anchors well in pass protection. Moore’s footwork is good, and he positions himself well. Moore plays forcefully until the whistle.