Let’s be honest. We all know Bill Belichick will probably trade out of this pick. The Patriots could go any direction and are typically hard to pin down from a draft-needs perspective. Will they sputter without Tom Brady? Who knows, but that seems unlikely. New England will need to address the interior of its offensive line at some point and has some contracts coming up in the next year or so. Linderbaum was outstanding as a redshirt freshman at Iowa in his first season at offensive line after making the transition from defensive tackle. He’s a nimble, strong athlete with a nasty disposition and figures to make another leap as a sophomore. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him emerge as the top center in college football and the 2021 draft cycle. Belichick has some connections here as well – Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz worked under Belichick in Cleveland and Ferentz’s sons have both coached and played for the Patriots.
21. Buffalo Bills: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Farley and the Bills look like a match made in heaven. The Hokie corner has a strong combination of size, ball skills and athleticism and projects well as a zone corner at the next level. The former four-star wide receiver projects as a good athlete in a combine setting as well, posting sub 10.8 second 100-meter times in high school. Sean McDermott runs a bunch of zone coverage in Buffalo and the Bills already have some familiarity with Farley’s former teammate Tremaine Edmunds on roster.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
The Colts will obviously have the quarterback question looming. Indianapolis is unlikely to have a high pick if things go as they hope during the Philip Rivers era. But the Colts did take Jacob Eason in the fourth round and could wait to see how he looks before opting to use a first-rounder at the position. Freiermuth seems like a natural fit for Indianapolis, who will be looking for a replacement for an aging Jack Doyle. The Nittany Lion pass catcher could’ve come out for the 2020 draft and would’ve been among the first tight ends selected. He’s a big, physical target in the pass game with 15 touchdowns in his first two seasons in State College.
23. Seattle Seahawks: Trey Smith, G, Tennessee
Similar to New England, odds are the Seahawks try to trade out of this pick, as they do most years. Seattle will need to address its interior offensive line – they recently released Justin Britt and DJ Fluker. Smith fits the Seahawks’ M.O. on the offensive line, too. He’s a big-bodied, mauler and is known as a bully in the run game. Medicals will be big for Smith, who has missed time after doctors found blood clots in his lungs. But he should be an early round pick, if not a first-rounder, if the health checks out. Few coaches love drafting or signing former five-star prospects more than Pete Carroll and Smith would fill a need for the Seahawks.
24. Green Bay Packers: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Packers have to give Aaron Rodgers some targets, right? After not drafting a single receiver over the weekend, you’d imagine Green Bay finds a way to address the position in 2021. They could also go for a defensive tackle as they may not be able to pay Kenny Clark when his contract is up. Regardless, Rodgers and Cheeseheads would be thrilled with the addition of Waddle who is perhaps college football’s most electric player in space. The Houston native is a maestro after the catch, with elite quickness and cutback ability in the open field. He would be a movable chess piece for Matt LaFluer and is dangerous on jet sweeps and in the quick game. It also doesn’t hurt that Waddle is one of the most prolific punt returners in college football history.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
We’ve seen the Steelers play more man coverage recently and Stokes is among the best on an island in college football. Pittsburgh also places a heavy emphasis on drafting athletes and Stokes projects to test well in the draft process – he ran a 10.39 second 100-meter time in high school. Don’t be surprised to see the Georgia native as a name that continues to rise over the next year.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Caden Sterns, S, Texas
The Cowboys will have a need at safety and will be familiar with Sterns, who turned in a breakout freshman season in Austin before missing much of 2019 with a knee injury. Sterns is one of the more talented defensive backs in college football when healthy. Should he return to form, he figures to be a high pick as he’s instinctive and athletic for the position.
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Moses projected as a potential first-rounder in the 2020 draft, but he missed the season after tearing his ACL in training camp. Word of his return was a shot in the arm for an Alabama defense that will be looking to regain form. Moses is a versatile, highly athletic linebacker with the ability to play in space. Philadelphia will be looking to bolster the position and Moses would be an immediate upgrade.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Tampa Bay has shifted to “win now mode” for as long as Tom Brady is in town. The Bucs addressed needs on the offensive line and running back over the weekend. Adding a slot option to go with the duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin would be ideal. Moore would give Brady a coveted high-volume target who can pick up chunks of yardage after the catch. Adding the dynamic Boilermaker the Bucs already stacked skill group would be a ton of fun to watch.
29. New Orleans Saints: Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
Drew Brees has reportedly already signed a deal to call games for NBC after he retires, perhaps as soon as the end of next season. So it goes without saying that quarterback will be a priority for the Saints at some point in the near future. Purdy enters the season among the top group of prospective first-rounders at the position and may even draw some Brees comparisons. He doesn’t play with the type of supporting cast that Lawrence or Fields enjoy, but Purdy has still managed to be one of college football’s best quarterbacks through his first two seasons in Ames. It was Purdy, not Trevor Lawrence, who set the NCAA record for highest passer efficiency by a true freshman in 2018. He may not have the pure physical tools of Lawrence, Fields or Lance, but is an accurate, quick processor and excels when facing pressure.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
The 49ers will need to continue upgrading their secondary. They could go with a long corner who projects in their zone scheme like South Carolina’s Israel Mukuamu. We’ll go with Holland here, though. The Oregon defender has shown next level instincts and football IQ during his tenure in Eugene with nine interceptions. Holland has the versatility to play all over the secondary and would aid in the Niners’ efforts to slow down divisional foes like Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s a Bay Area native. Holland’s draft ceiling will likely be determined by how well he runs in the pre-draft process, but it’s hard to argue with his play to this point.
31. Baltimore Ravens: Jalen Redmond, Edge, Oklahoma
Baltimore is coming off a killer draft that saw the Ravens sit back and nab a number of perceived high value picks. The franchise has one of the more robust scouting departments and typically drafts well. We could see Baltimore look to restock along the edge at this spot. Redmond is a bit of a projection at this point, but fits the bigger edge rusher that the Ravens covet. The former five-star showed significant flashes down the stretch in 2019. He started four games, but led Oklahoma in sacks with 6.5. We could see Redmond take his game and production to the next level with more snaps as a redshirt sophomore. The Ravens also have a lot of familiarity with the Oklahoma program, having picked four Sooners in the last three drafts.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida
Notre Dame offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg and Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas received consideration here, but we’re going with Pitts who would give Patrick Mahomes yet another weapon in the passing game and serve as an eventual long-term replacement for Travis Kelce. Pitts is a big, fluid target with a big catch radius. He’s a matchup issue for defenses and had a breakout sophomore season in Gainesville to the tune of 649 yards and five touchdowns on 54 catches.
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