Wednesday, April 28: Latest rumors and buzz around the 2021 NFL Draft
Make sure to check in throughout the week, as this article is updated regularly with all the latest rumors from the 2021 NFL Draft. The most recent information will be updated at the top of this section. Be sure to also follow me on Twitter: @TonyPauline, along with Pro Football Network: @PFN365.
Are the New England Patriots going to get a QB in the 2021 NFL Draft?
(9:45 PM ET on PFN’s Draft Insiders) The Patriots will end up with a QB by either trading up if there’s one that starts to slide, trading down and taking a guy like Stanford QB Mills, or a potential trade for San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo soon after the first round is over.
Are the 49ers starting to convince Kyle Shanahan to consider Trey Lance?
(9:45 PM ET on PFN’s Draft Insiders) Over the last 24 hours, I’m told that Kyle Shanahan is coming off his staunch stance on Mac Jones – and it seems that the scouting department is at least bending his ear to listen to why Lance should be the pick.
As I mentioned last week in a previous article, the coach, Shanahan, is driving the draft process. And as we see, he will get his quarterback no matter the price.
Is there any interest in trading for the fourth overall pick currently owned by Falcons?
(3:00 PM ET) While the Falcons would like to trade down from No. 4, I don’t believe the trade market for that pick is all that great right now. After the top three quarterbacks come off the board, I do not think a team is going to want to move up to the fourth slot to get a signal-caller. Why? I’m hearing teams do not think Atlanta is going to take a quarterback, though I know the Falcons will talk about the possibility of selecting one. Obviously, Cincinnati and Miami are not going to take a QB, so it’ll start to get interesting again at No. 7 or 8 for a team that wants to trade up for a QB.
Additionally, Atlanta’s asking price will be steep. There are going to be multiple QBs there and I don’t think that anyone will be in such love with any of them when the Falcons are called to the clock that they will feel inclined to move up for one.
I continue to hear it’s Kyle Pitts for the Falcons, though they’d like to trade down and the conversation in the war room will include a quarterback.
Late Day 1 movement on offensive tackles?
(2:15 PM ET) Towards the end of Round 1 in last year’s draft, eyebrows were raised with some of the cornerbacks selected starting with Damon Arnette, who the Las Vegas Raiders chose with the 19th pick of the draft. If there’s a position that may cause mayhem as the first round closes out this year, I’m told it’s offensive tackle.
After the top three players at the position, offensive tackle boards around the league are all over the place. Liam Eichenberg, Dillon Radunz, Spencer Brown, and Walker Little are graded anywhere as potential late first-round picks to early third-rounders depending on the team you speak with.
2021 NFL Draft Rumors: Is Kyle Trask in the QB6 conversation?
(2:15 PM ET) While everyone is focused on the top five quarterbacks expected to be selected in the first round, the second tier of signal-callers is catching fire. We’ve talked about Davis Mills this past week and I’m also told Kyle Trask is getting a lot of love from teams. Trask is a pure passer with a solid arm and terrific head for the game.
Among the teams that like Trask include the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From what I’m hearing, it would be a surprise if Trask makes it out of Round 2, and New Orleans or Tampa Bay may have to move up from the bottom part of Round 2 to secure the Florida passer.