DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2021 NFL Season 2021 NFL Draft 2021 NFL Draft in The Land

Not to be confused with any talk about draft prospects. I’m wondering what’s up with the draft in Cleveland this year. Anyone going? Any chance Covid will even permit human attendance?

We’re hoping to get up there with my sister and some cousins. We’ve booked an Airbnb, just in case. Would be nice to take in the sights and have a few nights out on the town.

Right now I’m not seeing anything online about how to attend. Assuming it will involve tickets. Guessing there’s nothing out there yet because it’s still all up in the air. I can’t tell if they’ve even officially determined where it would take place. Around the stadium and Rock Hall Museum, most likely.

They might hold it remotely if CO-VID isn't under control by then. (like last year)

It might have been because that was the first normal sports thing in the Covid world... but I really enjoyed the draft this past year!

If we can I would love to go ...

The Browns first pick would get the biggest ovation in Draft history. LOL

People WILL find a reason to boo.

I doubt it. The draft is only a few month away and delivery of vaccine will probably take towards 2 years.

I am not even hopeful attendance at games is going back to normal by September.

My First Crack at Our Draft

https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/user-mock-drafts/2021/user-mock-203746

Pick 26 Round: 1 Browns Dylan MosesLB | Alabama

Pick 59 Round: 2 Browns Asante Samuel Jr.CB | Florida State

Pick 90 Round: 3 Browns Shaka Toney EDGE | Penn State

Pick 92 Round: 3 Browns Paddy Fisher LB | Northwestern

Pick 101 Round: 4 Browns Richard LeCounte S | Georgia

Pick 123 Round: 4 Browns Haskell Garrett DL | Ohio State

Pick 153 Round: 5 Browns Cole Van Lanen OT | Wisconsin

Pick 187 Round: 6 Browns Trevon Grimes WR | Florida

Pick 222 Round: 7 Browns Isaiah Thomas EDGE | Oklahoma

I gots no problem helping the Jets fans lol

It is a lot harder picking later in the draft and not having to pick skilled positions ...

https://first-pick.com/NFL/DraftGame.aspx

Round 1 Pick 8 (CAR): Micah Parsons, ILB/OLB, Penn State (A)
Round 3 Pick 4 (ATL): Shaka Toney, DE/OLB, Penn State (B+)
Round 3 Pick 27: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina (A+)
Round 4 Pick 1 (JAX): Jonathon Cooper, DE/OLB, Ohio State (A)
Round 4 Pick 3 (ATL): Cole Van Lanen, OT, Wisconsin (A+)
Round 4 Pick 27: Cory Durden, DT, Florida State (A+)
Round 5 Pick 1 (JAX): Anthony Hines, ILB/OLB, Texas A&M (A)
Round 5 Pick 25: Isaiahh Loudermilk, DT, Wisconsin (A+)
Round 6 Pick 27: Greg Eisworth, FS/SS, Iowa State (A+)
Round 7 Pick 30: Luke Matthews, OG/C, Texas A&M (A-)

Haskell Garrett is returning to OSU.

anyone remember way back in the Lee Suggs/Andre Davis days when they had the really exclusive Draft Party where you could eat breakfast in the locker room and legends would come and do meet/greet and then go up the the suite for the draft party. Was a fun time

I don't remember that, but I feel uncomfortable saying "way back" when referring to "the Lee Suggs/Andre Davis days." Not that it isn't accurate.

How accurate you feel that sounds depends on how old you are.

No doubt. Many times I will talk about something saying it was a few years ago. My wife then reminds me it was maybe 30 years ago.

Hey, what's a few decades?

I remember when I was growing up my dad would say something along the lines of, "What's wrong with that refrigerator? I just bought that thing!"

Then my mom would remind him that he bought it 15 years ago.

LOl....parents were like that. In the living room us kids weren't allowed to sit in any of the furniture. For that matter, nobody really was. They never entertained people in there, or VERY rarely.

It was like a furniture show room in our own house. To this day my shoes come off as soon as I hit the door because as a kid I wasn't allowed to wear shoes in the house..

As far as I know we have 3 rooms at the Indigo on Huron.. we are waiting to find out any news

I made 1 trade Our #26 for TB's 1st (32) and 2nd (64)

Your score is: 43709 (GRADE: A)

Round 1 Pick 32 (T.B.): Zaven Collins, ILB/OLB, Tulsa (A+)
Round 2 Pick 27: Tommy Togiai, DT, Ohio State (B+)
Round 2 Pick 32 (T.B.): Patrick Jones II, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh (A+)
Round 3 Pick 25: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina (A+)
Round 3 Pick 27: Alaric Jackson, OT, Iowa (A+)
Round 4 Pick 5: Caden Sterns, FS/SS, Texas (A+)
Round 4 Pick 27: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson (A+)
Round 5 Pick 25: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse (A+)
Round 6 Pick 27: Chauncey Golston, DE/OLB, Iowa (A+)
Round 7 Pick 30: Naquan Jones, DT, Michigan State (A)

Your Future Picks:
2022 Round 1 Pick

Is that reason The Commish? That's just expected, I guess.

Oh, you gotta boo the Commish! He'd probably be dumbfounded if people didn't boo.

Pigskin rituals. Just like indefinitely suspending JG and endlessly allowing him to come back and screw over another club.

I plan to boo him. Just seems needful.

Pastor, if we spend another 3,4 or 5 round pick on a linebacker I think I will scream. We have done that with three young linebackers and we never give them time to develop. We cannot expect mid rounders to perform at pro bowl level immeditely. They need time and time in the same defense to improve. Our three guys are finally getting that. Unless our pick has a linebacker as bpa I think we should give our three guys time to develop. Make sure we have a couple of experienced linebackers but let’s give mack, taki and Phillips a chance to improve.

In todays NFL, speed at LB is key. Phillips has speed. Mack and Taki don't. Those two are about as good as they are going to get.

Ballpeen, taki 40 time was 4.63, jaelin was 4.66. I could not find a 40!time for Mack but someone on here posted it was 4.5. May have been at a pro day, not sure. I know there is more to playing fast than just speed, like recognition, preparation and instinct. Some of that can be coached up and improved with hard work. If we take another mid rounder at lb we will probably get what we already have. IMO unless the selection is a like k. or devin w. type we should use our draft to upgrade our front and back four. I would bet money our three young linebackers will improve next year!

Cool, I hope you are right. I am certainly not rooting against it. I just don't see Taki and Mack being much above Wali Rainer.

That may be a bit unfair, but not all that much IMO.

We'll see.

I think you're right. Taki had a nice game, and a couple of key interceptions, but he is what he is. Slow, and an inconsistent tackler.

Wilson just seems so lost out there.

I think we have seen what both have to offer.

Takitaki is pretty good against the run and terrible in coverage. He is a nice role player. There is definitely he takes a leap going into his third year and his second year with the same defensive coordinator.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Mack Wilson is on a different team at the start of the 2021 season.

j/c

This years' draft is underwhelming, IMO. Outside of QB's, there is not much to get excited about. Sorta like going to the grocery store and shopping for no-name brands...

A lot of question marks with so many players playing partial seasons or opting out. A lot of it is probably how even we as fans had more to be concerned with this year.

plus, the inability to live scout and evaluate and meet will play a role too

It is as far as positions we might consider a need.

As you mentioned, QB's is very deep as is the WR and inside Oline class. DB's isn't bad.

I could see us drafting a receiver in the first round.

While it will inevitably lead me to be disappointed come draft day, this FO has shown it's not at all against drafting a non-need when BPA says so.

j/c:

If that's sarcasm, you get an A+ from me, sir. Your gif can be taken a couple different ways.

Browns always whiff on their 2nd pick of the entire draft.
Discuss.

I shouldn't have posted that, because this thread is about the fact the Draft is in Cleveland.

And My first reaction is Covid is without mistake impacting my ability to celebrate the Browns hosting of the draft.

(And offense round #1)

NFL plans “large, live, in-person” draft in Cleveland
BY BEN FISCHER
Monday, March 22, 2021
The NFL Draft will mostly return to its pre-pandemic form at the Cleveland lakefront April 29-May 1, with prospects invited to appear in person, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing picks from a stage and a large “Draft Experience” with brand displays, musical performances and other fan attractions. Mask wearing, social distancing and capacity limits will be enforced, and one key element will remain remote: teams will select their picks entirely from their local draft rooms, with no on-site “Selection Square.”

The event will hammer home a pro-vaccine message, ideally adding to the sense of hope implicit in every draft, said NFL Exec VP/Club Business & League Events Peter O’Reilly. “This draft in particular feels like it represents hope beyond that, because we hope to role model and showcase a bit of what a brighter future continues to look like, in terms of being able to do live, in-person events safely,” O’Reilly said in an exclusive interview detailing the league’s plans publicly for the first time.

The major unknown yet is the legal capacity, to be set in talks with Ohio and Cleveland political authorities as the pandemic picture clarifies in the coming weeks. However, officials are confident many thousands will be allowed into the open-air venues. “We have been characterizing it as a ‘large, live, in-person event,” said Greater Cleveland Sports Commission CEO David Gilbert. While officials will not project a firm number yet, “certainly no matter what it would be the largest event in this city in many years, certainly since the ('16) Republican Convention,” Gilbert said.

The general public, including those not yet vaccinated, will be allowed into the Draft Experience, set for FirstEnergy Stadium and the broad plaza between the stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock ‘n’ Roll HOF, all located just north of downtown Cleveland. Fans seeking entrance must download the NFL OnePass app, which includes a mandatory COVID health survey.

The league will erect a stage and theater at the northern edge of the space just off Lake Erie, where attendance will be limited to invited, vaccinated guests. O’Reilly said a number of prospects “not too far off from what it’s been in recent years” will be invited. In ‘18, 22 prospects appeared live; in ‘19, 23 did. Inside the Green Room, presented by NFL sponsor Lowe’s, they will be given their own space for about 10 close family or friends, distanced and divided from other prospects, O’Reilly said.

Like at the Super Bowl in Tampa, vaccinated fans will have special privileges. All 32 teams will invite 12 vaccinated fans and other special guests to join the “inner circle” seating near the stage. League sponsor Subway will sponsor the inner circle. Also, the Browns and the Cleveland host committee will be reaching out to “invite specific sets of vaccinated folks to attend within the theater or just behind the theater,” O’Reilly said.

The event will push a pro-vaccine message -- emphasizing that shots are important both to ending the pandemic itself and as a way for fans to regain access to sporting events more quickly. “It’s important to highlight and emphasize that getting vaccinated does come with the ability to have the types of experiences that hopefully we’ll all get back to soon,” O’Reilly said.

The league hopes to keep some of the unique flavor of the all-remote ‘20 draft by sending digital video kits to prospects who do not make the cut to appear in person, allowing fans to see into their homes and for Goodell is interact with those players chosen in later rounds. Cameras will also be in teams’ draft rooms.

While organizers expect a robust crowd, local fans interested in attending must have tempered expectations given the ongoing pandemic, Gilbert said. “Not everybody who wants to get in will be able to get in,” he noted. The NFL pioneered the concept of bifurcated rules for vaccinated and non-vaccinated fans at the Super Bowl in Tampa in early February, but the percentage of potential attendees with a shot figures to be far higher by late April. In Ohio, eligibility expanded to all people over 40 on Friday, and on March 29, anyone over 16 will be eligible. The primarily outdoors-nature of the event also adds to their confidence in high capacity limits.

As of today, about 24% of Ohioans had received one shot, with 13.9% fully vaccinated, according to the N.Y. Times data tracker. As of Saturday, Cuyahoga County was averaging 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people daily, down from its peak of 79 per 100,000 in December, according to the Times. Currently, Ohio regulations cap outdoor sporting events at 30% of capacity.

Other details laid out by O’Reilly include:

The general admission Draft Experience will encompass the open areas to the east of First Energy Stadium and the stadium itself. The areas will include large video screens, brand activations, fan engagement displays, and fans will be allowed onto the Browns’ playing field to attempt a field goal.
Subway, Lowe’s, Bud Light and Panini America are among the NFL sponsors that have committed to a presence in Cleveland so far, O’Reilly said. More will announce plans soon.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll HOF will host the draft red carpet and musical performances. The NFL will be producing a special exhibit at the Hall dedicated to the history of Super Bowl halftime shows.
The Great Lakes Science Center will host all media.
More information on attendance will be published in the coming weeks.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Breaking-News/2021/03/NFL-Draft.aspx

Our timing is bad. The last live draft was Nashville, and they killed it.

We get it in this watered down environment.

Vegas gets it next year when things should be back to normal.

People are going to compare and we are going to look like chumps.