football-player football-score football-helmet football-ball Accuracy Arm-Strength Balance Ball-Security Ball-Skills Big-Play-Ability Block-Deconstruction Competitive-Toughness Core-Functional-Strength Decision-Making Discipline Durability Effort-Motor Elusivness Explosiveness Football-IQ Footwork Functional-Athleticism Hand-Counters Hand-Power Hand-Technique Hands Lateral-Mobility Leadership Length Mechanics Mobility Pass-Coverage-Ability Pass-Protection Pass-Sets Passing-Down-Skills Pocket-Manipulation Poise Power-at-POA Progressions RAC-Ability Range Release-Package Release Route-Running Run-Defending Separation Special-Teams-Ability-1 Versatility Vision Zone-Coverage-Skills Anchor-Ability Contact-Balance Man-Coverage-Skills Tackling Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone email play chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook tiktok checkbox checkbox-checked radio radio-selected instagram google plus pinterest twitter youtube send linkedin search arrow-circle bell left-arrow right-arrow tdn-mark filled-play-circle yellow-arrow-circle dark-arrow-circle star cloudy snowy rainy sunny plus minus triangle-down link close drag minus-circle plus-circle pencil premium trash lock simple-trash simple-pencil eye cart
NFL Draft

TDN Scouting Roundtable: 2021 NFL Draft Team Needs Part 1

  • The Draft Network
  • July 27, 2020
  • Share

It seems like the 2020 NFL Draft just happened, but we move fast here at The Draft Network.

Currently going through summer evaluations for the 2021 NFL Draft class, our scouting team of Kyle Crabbs, Joe Marino, Jordan Reid, and Drae Harris are meeting up every day to discuss prospects, traits, and concepts. New to TDN is a daily scouting roundtable where we go through and identify the most important points of conversation from that day’s meeting.

Recently, our staff began to go through their NFL assessments, providing information such as team strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick snapshot of each organizational conversation that was held.

Chicago Bears 

Top 3 needs: QB, WR, IOL

“The biggest need for the Bears is obviously at QB. It could be an interesting situation just because we know the Trubisky pick hasn’t worked out to this point, but maybe they can find something in Nick Foles. Even if he does (work out), they still need a back-up.” - Reid

Cincinnati Bengals

Top 3 needs: OT, WR, CB

With Joe Burrow now at the helm, it’s clear that Cincinnati's top priority needs to be surrounding him on the offensive side of the ball. With strong wideouts and an emerging star running back in Joe Mixon, they’ve seemed to address the weapons portion of that plan, but have yet to do the same on the offensive line. Although Jonah Williams hopefully emerges as the starting left tackle this season, essentially every position on the line—especially at right tackle—can be considered a need entering 2020.

Buffalo Bills

Top 3 needs: CB, OT, LB

“Dion Dawkins (OT) and Matt Milano (LB) are both upcoming free agents. The reason I put offensive tackle above linebacker (as the second need) though, is just because I don’t see the replacement option for Dawkins on the roster. At LB, I (still) don’t love the options the Bills have, but they at least have a few bodies in Vosean Joseph and Corey Thompson.” - Marino

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top 3 needs: EDGE, WR, RB

“I put EDGE as their primary need. Shaq Barrett will be a free agent and I don’t think their depth is very good (either). Bruce (Arians) is going to scout all the quarterbacks, though, so I could also see them potentially see them taking a passer early too.” - Marino

Indianapolis Colts

Top 3 needs: CB, S, QB

“I loved Malik Hooker coming out, but (Indy) not exercising his fifth-year option said a lot to me. He’s a heck of a player but you just can’t bank on him. The best ability is your availability and that’s something he hasn’t had, so (safety) is a need.” - Reid

Dallas Cowboys

Top 3 needs: CB, EDGE, S

“Anthony Brown is the only non-rookie cornerback that is under contract past the 2020 season. Daryl Worley, Jourdan Lewis, Chidobe Awuzie: all of these guys are expiring contracts for them and quite frankly, they’ve all been inconsistent (too).” - Crabbs

Los Angeles Chargers

Top 3 needs: OT, CB, IOL

Like the Bengals, this simply comes down to surrounding your rookie quarterback with the protection he needs. Although acquiring Bryan Bulaga to man the right side helped solve this equation, the Chargers still have a gaping hole at left tackle where Sam Tevi is penciled in to start. Therefore, despite also needing help along the interior, a capable starter at the blindside position is currently the team’s biggest need.

Miami Dolphins

Top 3 needs: WR, S, EDGE

“I’ve done a lot of research on the Dolphins’ current (wideouts) and how they win, comparing and contrasting that to the style they seem to be installing with Chan Gailey (as the new OC), and they just don’t fit at all. These guys don’t get any yards after catch, which is something Tua feasts off of.” - Crabbs

Philadelphia Eagles

Top 3 needs: LB, S, WR

“Philly doesn't value linebackers that much, but at some point, you at least need to have average players (at the position). Three of their top four linebackers are also in contract years, so maybe they don’t do anything in Round 1 with it, but they can’t NOT address it.” - Crabbs

Atlanta Falcons

Top 3 needs: S, EDGE, LB

“At safety, Keanu Neal has had back-to-back season-ending injuries and Damontae Kazee is also going to be a free agent. (EDGE) is also a need because besides Dante Fowler, who was recently signed, Takk McKinley is a free agent and they have a major need for depth (too).” - Marino

New York Giants

Top 3 needs: EDGE, LB, CB

“Looking at the EDGE group here, as far as threats on the perimeter, (New York) is betting on Kyler Fackrell, Lorenzo Carter, and Oshane Ximines as their top three pass-rushers for this year. I’ve got to say, I don’t think that’s going to work out too well for them.” - Crabbs

Jacksonville Jaguars

Top 3 needs: QB, RB, TE

“Everybody loves Minshew Mania, but I think that magic is going to run out sooner rather than later. I like Gardner (Minshew), but he’s more a Case Keenum type as opposed to a long-term starter. I think you have to position yourself somehow to land one of those top three QBs (Lawrence, Fields, Lance)." - Reid

Filed In

Related Articles

Written By

The Draft Network