2021 NFL Draft Day 3 Recap: Sixth Round Pick-By-Pick Analysis

2021 NFL Draft Round 3 Recap

6.185 | Los Angeles Chargers | Nick Niemann | LB | Iowa

The Chargers started off the sixth round of the draft by using their seventh pick on a valuable depth piece. Nick Niemann projects as an option behind Kenneth Murray Jr. and Kyzir White in the middle of LA"s linebacker line. His prolific numbers show that he could receive more and more playing time come September.

This past winter, Niemann posted 77 total tackles in just eight games, a noticeable increase from the 43 he turned in in 2018 when he appeared in ten games for the Hawkeyes. Furthermore, he ranked fifth within the Big Ten in total tackles and eighth in solo tackles.

6.186 | New York Jets | Hamsah Nasirildeen | S | Florida State

In a true 2021 draft surprise, the Jets have selected their third safety on Saturday. Their struggles last year were avid, with Bradley McDougald and Ashtyn Davis putting on disappointing campaigns. Even now that the former Seahawk is gone, Joe Douglas already addressed this opening with Lamarcus Joyner. Therefore, it is really confusing trying to find Douglas"s point in drafting three safeties on Day Three.

Hamsah Nasirildeen had three tremendous years in FSU before an inactive 2020. To be precise, he registered more than 90 tackles in two of those seasons. Moreover, Nasirildeen finished his Seminole career with nine passes defended.

6.187 | Atlanta Falcons | Frank Darby | WR | Arizona State

The Sun Devils pass-catcher was the team"s top deep threat. However, that takes away from the credibility of his numbers. Across four seasons in Tempe, Darby notched just 67 receptions, with a career-high of 31.

Frank Darby will join the likes of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Russel Gage in what the Falcons hope is one of the NFL"s most productive receiving groups and sufficient support for QB Matt Ryan.

6.188 | New England Patriots | Joshuah Bledsoe | S | Missouri

Joshuah Bledsoe, who is set to join the safety-ridden Patriots, put his skills in pass coverage on notice during the four years he spent for the SEC team. Since the beginning of the 2019 campaign, he has recorded 16 PD, with his ten in 2019 ranking fifth with the Southeastern Conference.

Meanwhile, New England is already rich in depth in that department with Adrian Phillips, Devin McCourty, Jalen Mills, and Kyle Duggar.

6.189 | Philadelphia Eagles | Marlon Tuipulotu | DT | USC

After drafting a front-line defenseman yesterday in Milton Williams, the Eagles add another asset at the post in Southern California"s Marlon Tuipulotu. Tuipulotu registered 79 tackles between 2018 and 2019 as well as ranking tenth in sacks within the Pac-12 in the latter campaign. At the same time, Philly was one of the strongest teams in stopping the run, allowing just 4.2 yards per carry, the tenth-fewest.

6.190 | Cincinnati Bengals | Trey Hill | C | Georgia

Last year, Cincy"s offensive line surrendered the sixth-most sacks in the National Football League. Since then, the Bengals have added Riley Rieff in free agency, as well as Jackson Corman and D"Ante Smith thus far in the draft. All three of the aforementioned names are exterior linemen.

As center wasn"t necessarily the biggest need, with Billy Price and Trey Hopkins already available, Trey Hill will battle for his role as a backup and could get his chance if the plan there or at guard ultimately fails.

6.191 | Philadelphia Eagles | Tarron Jackson | DE | Coastal Carolina

The Eagles ended the 2020 season with the third-best pass-rush in the league. Therefore, they didn"t feel pressed to address this unit early. All that was left was finding an underprice asset to strengthen the group even more without it being at the expense of a needy department. Tarron Jackson resembles just that.

The Coastal Carolina defensive end is one of the most productive edge-rushers at this point of the 2021 NFL Draft. Jackson has turned in 42.5 tackles for loss and 24.5 sacks over his four-year tenure as a Chanticleer. Moreover, he led the Sun Belt in 2019 with 9.5 sacks.

6.192 | Dallas Cowboys | Quinton Bohanna | DT | Kentucky

The Cordova, Tennessee native has been primarily featured as a nose tackle within the Wildcats" defensive unit. In four campaigns, he recorded 58 tackles (no less than ten per year) and 9.5 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Dallas"s run defense was the third-worst during the 2020 NFL season.

6.193 | Carolina Panthers | Deonte Brown | G | Alabama

From “32 NFL Mock Drafts in 32 Days: Jets Edition“:

“Deonte Brown perfectly fits that [read article] description. According to Pro Football Focus, he didn’t allow a single sack across 916 snaps with the Crimson Tide. He was incredibly reliable with Alabama and promises to have a high ceiling come NFL time."

6.194 | San Francisco 49ers | Elijah Mitchell | RB | Louisiana

With Raheem Mostert back, the Niners" running faction is aspiring to return to where it truly belongs – the top of the NFL ranks. Moreover, the unit isn"t in severe need of depth after settling for Jeff Smith Jr., Trey Sermon, and Wayne Gallman behind the starter Moster.

Lousiana"s Elijah Mitchell will experience a tough time earning a spot within that group, even despite his impressive track record. The Rajin" Cajun has never averaged south of 5.8 yards per rush in a season, despite registering more than 140 carries in three of his four Sun Belt campaigns. However, these figures drive up the hope that he could narrow the margin and stay on the roster so that he can unveil his potential.

6.195 | Houston Texans | Roy Lopez | DT | Arizona

Lopez spent five seasons on the collegiate level, yet had just a single productive year. Roy Lopez‘s 2018 display with NM State, which included 63 total tackles and second-best 12.5 TOL, was prolific. However, no campaign of his had previously, or has since, come close to these figures.

Houston allowed more yards on average per run than any other team in the NFL in 2020. The urgency for an upgrade in that field is high. However, that looks like a miss rather than a hit, even for the sixth round.

6.196 | New York Giants | Gary Brightwell | RB | Arizona

New York has elected to provide its running unit some reinforcements behind Saquon Barkley by picking Wildcats running back Gary Brightwell. Brightwell"s average per-rush figure remained in the 5.8-5.9 YPC range in 2018 and 2019, though he never posted more than 91 rushing attempts.

6.197 | New England Patriots | William Sherman | OT | Colorado

With their second selection of this round, NE has added their first offensive lineman of their 2021 NFL Draft performance. ESPN expects William Sherman to find his slot as a fourth-string option at left tackle, where the starter currently is Isiah Wynn. Throughout his career, he has played on both sides of the exterior offensive line so he can also serve as depth behind right tackle Trent Brown.

6.198 | Los Angeles Chargers | Larry Rountree II | RB | Missouri

Larry Rountree"s production as a regular starting ground-game weapon for the Tigers was well over 5.0 yards per rush in his first two years. However, it dropped sharply to 4.5-4.7 in 2019 and 2020. This downturn puts his effectiveness on the professional level in jeopardy amid him joining a Chargers stable that consists of Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, and Joshua Kelley. It was the third-least productive during the 2020 season.

6.199 | Minnesota Vikings | Jaylen Twyman | DT | Pittsburgh

The Vikings didn"t touch this hole until their final pick of the draft came around. However, adding a defensive tackle of Jaylen Twyman‘s caliber makes a lot of sense. Last winter, Minnesota"s upfront defense conceded 4.6 yards per rushing attempts, the eighth-most in all of NFL football.

6.200 | New York Jets | Brandin Echols | CB | Kentucky

Brandin Echols has played just two campaigns on the NCAA Division I level but the former of those was very satisfying. During the 2019 SEC season, Echols ranked sixth with nine passes defended. Moreover, he has posted 54 tackles in each of these two seasons.

New York"s need for depth in the cornerback department has been widely documented and perhaps cried for help earlier in this draft. The Jets allowed the fourth-highest passer rating in coverage, as well as the fifth-most total air yards and the third-highest completion percentage.

6.201 | New York Giants | Rodarius Williams | CB | Oklahoma State

The Giants probably completed their starters field and high-end depth by drafting Aaron Robinson in the third round. Therefore, Rodarius Williams will struggle to get opportunities and could have to work hard to even remain on the roster. The Cowboys cornerback has racked up 27 passes defended across his four campaigns in Stillwater, including 10 in 2017, which was the fifth-best within the Big 12 Conference.

6.202 | Cincinnati Bengals | Chris Evans | RB | Michigan

The Michigan runner holds a college career average of 5.6 yards per carry. However, he had more than 100 rushes on just one occasion, across the 2018 NCAA season. During that campaign, he managed to put on an average of 5.1. Evans could have a better chance to earn playing time than most rookie running backs with little guaranteed alternatives behind Joe Mixon and easy competition for a spot behind him on the depth chart.

6.203 | Buffalo Bills | Marquez Stevenson | WR | Houston

Marquez Stevenson was a prolific and dominant weapon for the Houston Cougars, especially avidly so before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In 2018, Stevenson had 72 receptions for an average of under 14 yards per catch. The next year, the decrease to around 50 catches was justified by his long-threat role. All in all, Stevenson could be a steal compared to his position at No.203

6.204 | Carolina Panthers | Shi Smith | WR | South Carolina

During the 2020 NCAA season, Smith’s 57 catches placed him inside the top 25 of Division I. He also had at least 40 receptions in each of the previous two campaigns. Moreover, Smith has succeeded as a short-game weapon that has averaged a little over 11 yards per reception over his South Carolina stint.

6.205 | Tennessee Titans | Racey McMath | WR | LSU

It will be difficult to fill the void left by Corey Davis‘s departure. However, the Titans made the first crucial move earlier on when they drafted Dez Fitzpatrick. LSU"s Racey McMath provides another depth asset who doesn"t have Fitzpatrick"s positive as a surrounding feeling. McMath had just 33 receptions over three years, with a career-high of seventeen.

6.206 | New Orleans Saints | Landon Young | OT | Kentucky

Kentucky"s offensive tackle Landon Young is a fitting draft pick for the Saints considering their need for reinforcements behind tackles Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead. While Armstead"s top backup is currently James Hurst, Ramczyk didn"t have even this behind him. In fact, ESPN now projects Young as the second-string right guard on New Orleans"s roster.

6.207 | New York Jets | Jonathan Marshall | DT | Arkansas

The Jets" defensive ground against the run was one of the most adequate in the league for a long time. However, the exit of Steve McLendon in a mid-season trade challenged their status. Nonetheless, Marshall is unlikely to be a part of the battle for a starting spot for the jobs currently dedicated to Sheldon Rankins and Quinnen Williams in the heart of the Jets" 4-3 defense.

6.208 | Seattle Seahawks | Stone Forsythe | OT | Florida

Forsythe"s fall in the draft order comes as a huge surprise and a pleasant one for the Seahawks. Per Sports Illustrated: “Forsythe allowed only two sacks this past season across 513 pass-blocking snaps (according to Pro Football Focus), helping lead the Gators" offensive line while Heisman finalist quarterback Kyle Trask set numerous school passing records.

Alabama and Georgia"s typically threatening pass rushes combined for just three quarterback pressures, and zero sacks, against Forsythe in 2020.

6.209 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Jalen Camp | WR | Georgia Tech

Jalen Camp wasn"t able to post any type of sustained success and didn"t prove his capabilities over the course of his four years with the Yellow Jackets. To be specific, he had a total of 46 catches and no more than 27 in a single season.

6.210 | Arizona Cardinals | Victor Dimukeje | DE | Duke

This surely is an impressive snatch from the Cards" front office at this stage of the draft. Few low-end defensive ends in the sixth round are more productive and accomplished than Victor Dimukeje. The Duke edge-rusher had 21 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in four seasons for the Duke Blue Devils.

6.211 | Cleveland Browns | Demetric Felton | WR | UCLA

The Browns" sixth-round selection needed much time to fit within the Bruins" offense. However, an intriguing note is that he eventually settled, playing more time as a running back rather than a wide receiver. In his latest effort, Felton had 132 rushing attempts for an average per-carry figure of 5.1 yards.

6.212 | Buffalo Bills | Damar Hamlin | S | Pittsburgh

This impressive selection sees the Bills acquire a massively solid safety that has had immense success over his last three years. The Pitt defensive back had no fewer than 66 tackles in each of his last three years, with his high coming in at 84 tackles. This consistency could be a huge driving factor as to him going a long way.

6.213 | Buffalo Bills | Rachad Wildgoose | CB | Wisconsin

The Buffalo Bills add another versatile player to their secondary in Rachad Wildgoose. He can perform at both corner and nickel, and is great in man coverage. In college, he totalled five tackles for loss and 14 pass breakups in the Big Ten.

6.214 | Green Bay Packers | Cole Van Lanen | OT | Wisconsin

The Packers" two starting offensive tackles, David Bakhtiari and Billy Turner, are untouchable at their posts as of now. Nevertheless, Cole Van Lanen provides a deserving backup option via the 2021 NFL Draft. According to the Wisconsin Badger web page, Van Lanen helped the team en route to posting the third-best Pass Blocking Efficiency in the NCAA Division I (per PFF"s rating).

6.215 | Tennessee Titans | Brady Breeze | S | Oregon

The Titans" second pick of the round goes to one of the Oregon Ducks" top defensive players in Brady Breeze. Two years ago, Breeze appeared in thirteen games and posted a total of 62 tackles. Both values represented career-highs for Breeze, who missed the entirety of the 2020 Pac-12 campaign.

6.216 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Quincy Roche | OLB | Miami (Fl.)

The Steelers have strengthened the NFL"s most powerful pass-rushing unit with a truly hidden gem in the context of the low end of the sixth round in the 2021 NFL Draft. Quincy Roche has been scarily consistent over the last three seasons, posting 30.5 sacks and 54 tackles for loss. That makes him one of the best defensive ends in the round, if not the best. The main concern – the former three campaigns of his four-year tenure were in the American Conference with Temple.

6.217 | Chicago Bears | Khalil Herbert | RB | Virginia Tech

Khalil Herbert will be plugged in as the fourth-choice running back behind frontrunner David Mongomery, Tarik Cohen, and Damien Williams. After struggling mightily with the Kansas Jayhawks for four years in a row, Herbert put on a massive season in 2020 that saw 155 running attempts in 11 games and 7.6 yards per game. That shaky collegiate tenure makes for mixed expectations, even for a sixth-rounder, heading to the NFL.

6.218 | Indianapolis Colts | Sam Ehlinger | QB | Texas

Ehlinger was once considered a star in the making and a candidate even for a first-round selection. However, the dramatic turnaround occurred in 2020, when his completion percentage fell from 65.2% to 60.2%. Nonetheless, this position in the sixth round makes him a bit underestimated and lowers the risk assumed from giving him a chance on the professional level.

6.219 | Denver Broncos | Seth Williams | WR | Auburn

From “32 NFL Mock Drafts in 32 Days: Buffalo Bills Edition“:

“Seth Williams, with his 16.2 yards per reception, was 13th in receptions amongst NCAA DI WR with more than 16 YPR.

Draft track records have proved that a busier workload on the collegiate level leads to efficiency in the NFL (e.g. Justin Jefferson). Seth Williams could follow that pattern and significantly help the Bills’ downfield passing game."

6.220 | Green Bay Packers | Isaiah McDuffie | LB | Boston College

Isiah McDuffie has a ton of qualities NFL teams look for in a linebacker. He can play through just about any matchup: in coverage, in pursuit, at the line of scrimmage, and against anyone. He was a consistent performer for Boston College. His main knock is his processing ability. McDuffie will need some patience but can develop into a star.

6.221 | Chicago Bears | Dazz Newsome | WR | North Carolina

The Chicago Bears" newest 2021 NFL Draft acquisition was certainly a frequently featured part of the Tar Heels offense from the get-go. Furthermore, he has appeared in at least ten games in each of his last three campaigns, and each one has been more successful than the previous. In an intermediate-distance role, Newsome registered 72 receptions in 2019 and 54 reception in 2020. This is a significant workload that raises the stakes, even bearing his position in the draft in mind.

6.222 | Carolina Panthers | Thomas Fletcher | LS | Alabama

His accolades, according to Alabama"s website:

• Perfect on all snapping duties to date across his four seasons
• Has started every game of his Alabama career
• Picked up first-team All-America honors from Rubio Long Snapping

6.223 | Arizona Cardinals | Tay Gowan | CB | UCF

Gowan"s only real season on the field, the 2019 campaign, provided a very positive outlook as regards his future. Across twelve games that year, Tay Gowan recorded 31 tackles as well as eight passes defended. However, he has only appeared in a single game (2017) outside of that strong 2019 campaign.

6.224 | Philadelphia Eagles | JaCoby Stevens | S | LSU

JaCoby Stevens is known for playing close to the line of scrimmage and being featured on many safety blitzes. That"s exactly the reason why he has 9.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss over four campaigns for the Tigers. Not only that but he has done his tasks in a very successful manner.

6.225 | Washington | Camaron Cheeseman | LS | Michigan

Per Michigan"s website, during his senior year, Cheeseman:

• Appeared in and long-snapped in all 13 games to earn his third varsity letter

• Academic All-Big Ten honoree

• Named Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 31)

• Started and snapped for punts and field goals against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 31), Army (Sept. 7), Rutgers (Sept. 28), Iowa (Oct. 5), against Notre Dame (Oct. 26), Michigan State (Nov. 16), Ohio State (Nov. 30), at Wisconsin (Sept. 21), at Illinois (Oct. 12), at Penn State (Oct. 19), at Maryland (Nov. 2), at Indiana (Nov. 23), and added one assisted tackle against Alabama in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1)

6.226 | Kansas City Chiefs | Trey Smith | G | Tennessee

Trey Smith projects as a starting guard in the NFL, but there is certainly work to be done. He has to work on his technique and footwork, but he has the physical tools to run a gap/power offense. His slide to the sixth round likely stems from his raw prospect status and history of blood clots in his lungs, dating back to 2018.

6.227 | Dallas Cowboys | Israel Mukuamu | CB | South Carolina

During his best campaign, Israel Mukuamu had 59 total tackles and eight passes defended. However, he struggled to come anywhere close to that, with no more than 17 tackles and 1 PD in the remaining two seasons of his Gamecock stint.

6.228 | Chicago Bears | Thomas Graham Jr. | CB | Oregon

The missed 2020 campaign might have affected his perception but Graham was nothing short of solid during his first three years in the Pac-12 Conference. Graham had between 57 and 64 total tackles in each year and posted more than ten passes defended twice. Overall, he led the “Conference of Champions" with 18 PD in 2018 and has the fourth-most career-wise of any P12 defensive back since 2005.

Thanks for reading my analysis of the Sixth Round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Follow me on Twitter @TeodorTsenov for more of my content and follow @OT_Heroics!

Main Image Credit