The NFL’s regular season is coming to an end, and the college football bowl season is also looking to wrap up shortly. As a result, I’m here to answer your questions regarding the latest NFL rumors, college football, and 2021 NFL Draft news.
If you have a question you want to send in for next week’s mailbag, you can email asktony@pfn365.com or send a tweet to @PFN365 on Twitter using the hashtag #AskTonyPFN, and we’ll try to include it in an upcoming mailbag column.
Related | Tony Pauline’s December 2021 NFL Mock Draft
This week’s installment will continue to cover my 2021 NFL Draft prospect rankings, what I’m hearing about the New York Jets and what they might do with their second overall pick, what this year’s offseason might look like, and much more.
NFL Rumors & Draft News: The Tony Pauline Mailbag (12.30.20)
With the Jets locked into the second overall pick, do you think there’s a chance they decide to move the pick for a bounty? Or do you believe they are dead set on selecting a quarterback?
I don’t think they are dead set on a quarterback at this point. They still have to hire a coach. I think they will listen to offers, but ultimately my guess at this point is that the Jets select a quarterback.
Is it just me, or is the 2021 cornerback class very weak at the top and lacking depth in the middle rounds?
I agree, and I will add that it’s not just the cornerback position; the entire secondary class is very suspect this year. Patrick Surtain II, Shaun Wade, Caleb Farley, and Jaycee Horn all have warts in their games and are no sure things. Derion Kendrick is developing, but he still needs work. The corner class really drops off after that and the safety position is even worse.
Do you expect any starting QBs to retire this season? Drew Brees? Ben Roethlisberger? Tom Brady?
Ben Roethlisberger already announced he’s returning. I believe Brady will return. Brees is still up in the air.
Whose draft stock has fallen the most this college football season?
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson was considered a potential Day 2 pick at one time, but he’s been invisible for most of the year. He now grades as a mid-Day 3 selection.
Oregon State pass rusher Hamilcar Rashed Jr. had a chance to pop into Day 2, but he looked uninspired this season and played as though he wanted to be someplace other than the football field. He’s gone from a potential top-100 pick to the late rounds.
What do you make of the Dwayne Haskins situation? Do you think he can salvage his career and become a starting NFL quarterback? Any idea on where he ends up next? Are there any NFL rumors surrounding him?
Too many self-inflicted wounds. I liked Haskins coming out of Ohio State. There were times when he showed leadership in Washington, but there were too many dumb mistakes. I think the bigger lesson here is to be wary of quarterbacks who are one-year starters in college, as they have a short shelf life in the NFL.
Can Haskins become a starter at the next level? I would not give up on him just yet, but he needs to focus on himself, he needs to focus on his game, and, more than anything else, he needs a real good quarterbacks coach.
Who has the most on the line – from a draft stock perspective – in the CFB playoffs?
At the top of the board, I would have to say Justin Fields based on the poor performances against Northwestern and Indiana.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore of Alabama, who is expected to enter the draft, has been inconsistent this season and needs a big game against Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks.
Clemson cornerback Derion Kendrick, who displayed a lot of development this season, would benefit from a good game against Ohio State receiver Chris Olave.
Will the NFL attempt to expand offseason minicamps because of the lack of offseason work in 2020? Conversely, will the NFLPA attempt to make the 2020 offseason and lack of minicamps and OTAs the new standard moving forward?
My gut feeling is no to both.
The NFL won’t expand offseason work. It will cost them money, plus everything worked well prior to 2020. The NFLPA wants offseason work, as it helps the players get into proper condition and is important for young players to learn systems.
What the NFLPA may try to do is cut the preseason to just a single game.
Tony Pauline is Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst and Insider. Follow him on Twitter @TonyPauline and follow PFN on Twitter @PFN365 for all the latest NFL rumors and draft news.