The 2021 Draft

A linebacker and a slot receiver first, cornerback not until the fourth round, and a 2022 fourth spent to get there.

• The need: cornerback, with Patrick Peterson gone; the third- and fourth-round picks were already spent on Hudson and Hopkins.
• The trade: 160 and a 2022 fourth to Baltimore for 136 and 210, used on Wilson.
• The pick: Collins at 16 was 24th on Jeremiah's board; Moore at 49 was 70th.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Pitts over a quarterback, a sensible trade down for a safety the roster needed, and no pass rusher until the fifth round.

• The need: quarterback succession, pass rush and safety after three safeties left.
• The trade: 35 and 219 to Denver for 40 and 114, a sixth turned into a fourth.
• The pick: Pitts at 4 was second on Jeremiah's board; Grant at 40 was 56th.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two first-round picks for the two biggest needs, one of them bought with the Brown trade, and a Saturday move that added a 2022 pick.

• The need: edge rusher after Judon and Ngakoue left, then receiver and guard.
• The trades: Brown to Kansas City for 31, 94, 136 and a 2022 fifth; 136 and 210 to Arizona for 160 and a 2022 fourth.
• The pick: Oweh at 31 was 31st on Jeremiah's board; Stephens at 104 was a reach to PFF and Yahoo.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The edge rusher the roster needed, twice, at value, and nothing at running back or early at corner.

• The need: defensive end with the starters past 30, then running back and cornerback.
• The trade: 174 to Houston for 203 and 212 on Saturday.
• The pick: Rousseau at 30 was 18th on Jeremiah's board; Basham at 61 was 54th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Horn over a left tackle at 8, then five trades that moved down, added picks and still landed the Day 2 targets.

• The need: offensive line, cornerback and tight end.
• The trades: five in all, among them 39 and 151 to Chicago for 52, 83 and 204, and 89 to Houston for 109, 158 and a 2022 fourth.
• The pick: Horn at 8 was 14th on Jeremiah's board; Marshall at 59 was 48th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two trades up for the quarterback and the right tackle the roster needed, paid for with a 2022 first.

• The need: quarterback, then the offensive line.
• The trades: 20, 164 and 2022 first and fourth to the Giants for 11; 52, 83 and 204 to Carolina for 39 and 151.
• The pick: Fields at 11 was eighth on Jeremiah's board; Jenkins at 39 was 36th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Chase over Sewell, a trade down that added two fourths, and a lineman at 46 the boards had much lower.

• The need: the offensive line in front of Burrow, then receiver and tight end.
• The trade: 38 to New England for 46, 122 and 139.
• The pick: Chase at 5 was third on Jeremiah's board; Carman at 46 was 96th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The corner the roster needed at value, a cheap trade up for a top-20 prospect, and a 2022 pick added on Saturday.

• The need: cornerback first, then linebacker and defensive end.
• The trades: 59 and 89 to Carolina for 52 and 113; 113 and 257 to Detroit for 153 and a 2022 fourth.
• The pick: Newsome at 26 was 27th on Jeremiah's board; Owusu-Koramoah at 52 was 15th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that added a third and still got Parsons, then a defense rebuilt with Day 2 picks the boards had lower.

• The need: the defense, cornerback and pass rush first.
• The trade: 10 to Philadelphia for 12 and 84.
• The pick: Parsons at 12 was 12th on Jeremiah's board; Wright at 99 was outside his top 150.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The best corner in the class, a trade down that added a third-round pick, and a trade up for a running back.

• The need: linebacker and cornerback, with a draft-eve trade for Bridgewater at quarterback.
• The trades: 40 and 114 to Atlanta for 35 and 219; 76 to New Orleans for 98 and 105.
• The pick: Surtain at 9 was ninth on Jeremiah's board; Meinerz at 98 was 45th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Value at every early slot, starting with Sewell, and receiver left until the fourth round.

• The need: nearly everything, receiver and linebacker first.
• The trade: 153 and a 2022 fourth to Cleveland for 113 and 257, used on Barnes.
• The pick: Sewell at 7 was 11th on Jeremiah's board; Onwuzurike at 41 was 29th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Every named need met by the third round, starting with a first-round corner the boards had much lower.

• The need: cornerback, center and receiver, with the quarterback's future in question.
• The trade: 92 and 135 to Tennessee for 85, used on Amari Rodgers.
• The pick: Stokes at 29 was outside Jeremiah's top 150; Myers at 62 was 57th.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Five picks and none before 67, a hedge at quarterback, and a future fourth spent to move up for a receiver.

• The need: quarterback with Watson's future unsettled, then receiver and cornerback.
• The trades: 109, 158 and a 2022 fourth to Carolina for 89; 174 and 233 to the Rams for 170.
• The pick: Mills at 67 was 77th on Jeremiah's board; Collins at 89 was 69th.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A pass rusher at value in the first round, an injured one in the second, and no left tackle.

• The need: left tackle after Castonzo retired, then the pass rush.
• The trade: 206 to New Orleans for 218 and 229.
• The pick: Paye at 21 was 17th on Jeremiah's board; Odeyingbo at 54 was 103rd.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Lawrence at 1, then a first-round back and three Day 2 picks with a price or an injury question attached.

• The need: quarterback, then tight end and safety.
• The trade: 130, 170 and 249 to the Rams for 121 and 209.
• The pick: Lawrence was first on Jeremiah's board; Campbell at 33 was 51st and 108th on PFF's.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Pick 31 became Orlando Brown and pick 63 a starting center, and the edge and receiver needs waited for Saturday.

• The need: the offensive line after Fisher and Schwartz left, then center, defensive end and receiver.
• The trades: 31, 94, 136 and a 2022 fifth to Baltimore for Orlando Brown, 58 and a 2022 sixth; 175 and 207 to the Jets for 162 and 226.
• The pick: Humphrey at 63, a steal to Reuter; the first edge rusher waited until 144.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The ninth tackle on PFF's board at 17, a smart trade up for Moehrig, and reaches on Days 2 and 3.

• The need: the offensive line after three starters left, then linebacker and safety.
• The trades: 48 and 121 to the 49ers for 43 and 230; 162 and 200 to the Jets for 143.
• The pick: Leatherwood at 17 was the ninth tackle on PFF's board; Moehrig at 43 carried the club's first-round grade.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Slater at 13, Samuel at 47 and Rumph at 118: all three named needs met at value without a trade.

• The need: left tackle, then cornerback and outside linebacker.
• The trades: none on the weekend.
• The pick: Slater at 13, a first-day starter to Sports Illustrated; McKitty at 97 was 246th on PFF's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick, a receiver at 57 the boards had much lower, and no blocker in nine picks for a line that had lost its center.

• The need: offensive line, with the starting center gone, then linebacker and receiver.
• The trades: three moves down, 88 for 117 and 121, then 121 and 209 for 130, 170 and 249, then 170 for 174 and 233.
• The pick: Atwell at 57 was outside Bleacher Report's top 145; no lineman came in nine picks.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two trades at the top added a 2023 first, and the receiver, pass rusher and tackle all came in the first two rounds.

• The need: defensive end, receiver and outside linebacker, then a tackle.
• The trades: 3 to the 49ers for 12 and three future picks; 12, 123 and a 2022 first to the Eagles for 6 and 156; 50 and a 2022 third to the Giants for 42.
• The pick: Waddle at 6, fifth on Kiper's board; Phillips at 18, with a concussion history on the record.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that added two thirds and still landed the left tackle, then reaches on the edge and at receiver.

• The need: left tackle after Reiff left, then defensive end and safety.
• The trade: 14 and 143 to the Jets for 23, 66 and 86.
• The pick: Darrisaw at 23, in PFF's top 15; Jones at 90 was 204th on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback at 15 without a trade, then two fourths spent to move up for Barmore, with receiver and corner left open.

• The need: quarterback, receiver and cornerback, with both starting corners a year from free agency.
• The trade: 46, 122 and 139 to Cincinnati for 38.
• The pick: Jones at 15 without a trade; Barmore at 38, 12th on PFF's board.

From 10 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

An end at 28 the boards had in the second round or later, two trades up that each spent two picks, and no receiver until the seventh round.

• The need: receiver, cornerback and linebacker after the cap losses.
• The trades: 98 and 105 to Denver for 76; 218 and 229 to the Colts for 206.
• The pick: Turner at 28 was 106th on Bleacher Report's board; Adebo at 76 was Yahoo's favorite pick.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two trades down added a 2022 first and third, and Ojulari met the edge need, at the price of a reach at 20.

• The need: outside linebacker, offensive line and receiver.
• The trades: 11 to the Bears for 20, 164 and a 2022 first and fourth; 42 to Miami for 50 and a 2022 third.
• The pick: Toney at 20 was 60th on Bleacher Report's board; Ojulari at 50 had first-round buzz.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Value at 34 and 107, but two thirds spent to move up for Vera-Tucker and no corner until the fifth round.

• The need: cornerback, offensive line and running back.
• The trades: 23, 66 and 86 to the Vikings for 14 and 143; 143 to the Raiders for 162 and 200; 162 and 226 to the Chiefs for 175 and 207.
• The pick: Moore at 34, 22nd on PFF's board; the first corner came in the fifth round.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Down for a 2022 first, up for the top-ranked receiver, and all three named needs met.

• The need: receiver, cornerback and offensive line.
• The trades: 6 and 156 to Miami for 12, 123 and a 2022 first; 12 and 84 to Dallas for 10; 70 to Carolina for 73 and 191.
• The pick: Smith at 10, third on Kiper's board; Dickerson at 37 with a known knee risk.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A first-round back for a roster that had just lost its center and both left-side starters, with the line rebuilt from the third round.

• The need: running back, then a line without Pouncey, Feiler and Villanueva, then quarterback.
• The trade: a 2022 fourth to Miami for 156.
• The pick: Harris at 24, a first-round back the boards questioned; Freiermuth at 55 was 55th on PFF's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A coherent plan at the top and two value questions in the middle.

• The pick: Lance over Mac Jones was a bet on ceiling; the doubts were 17 FCS starts and accuracy.
• The value: Banks at 48 was rated the top guard but a doubtful outside-zone athlete.
• The cost: two fourth-round picks went to move up for a running back while receiver and secondary stayed open.

From 6 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Sam Kezar, written Sep 22, 2026. The piece.

Three picks, the fewest in the league, and the only early one spent on a receiver the boards had far lower.

• The need: offensive line, defensive end and cornerback.
• The trades: 129 to Tampa Bay for 137 and 217; 217 and 250 to the Bears for 208.
• The pick: Eskridge at 56 was 164th on PFF's board; Forsythe at 208 was 92nd on Yahoo's.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A champion picking last, with an edge rusher and a quarterback each taken a round early and no interior lineman.

• The need: defensive line, running back and quarterback, on a roster with no immediate holes.
• The trade: 137 and 217 to Seattle for 129.
• The pick: Tryon at 32, a reach to Bleacher Report; Trask at 64, a round early to Reuter.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Farley at 22 with his medical risk named and checked, value at 100 and 135, and the receiver need met late at a reach.

• The need: receiver after Davis left, cornerback after three starters left, and tight end.
• The trades: 85 to Green Bay for 92 and 135; 126, 166 and 232 to Carolina for 109.
• The pick: Farley at 22 with a known injury history; Weaver at 135, 63rd on PFF's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A first-round linebacker the club picked for fit, then value at tackle and receiver, with no quarterback.

• The need: quarterback, left tackle and receiver.
• The trades: a 2022 fifth to the Eagles for 225 and 240; 244 to Miami for 258 and Ereck Flowers.
• The pick: Davis at 19 was 41st on PFF's board; Brown at 82 was 45th.

From 9 reports dated on or before May 3, 2021. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.