https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/insidestory/_/id/30862243/nfl-mock-draft-2021-todd-mcshay-post-super-bowl-
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Another mock draft, another Lawrence-to-Jacksonville projection. You won't be seeing much of anything else, and for good reason. The 6-foot-6 big-armed quarterback has all the traits you want in a franchise guy, and he would be the focal point of what new coach Urban Meyer hopes to build. Only Washington has a lower Total QBR over the past three seasons than the Jaguars' 41.6, but Lawrence has finished in the top 10 among all FBS quarterbacks in that category in every season of his college career. He will throw for scouts on Friday ahead of surgery on his non-throwing shoulder this spring, but consider him a lock for the top pick at this point.
EDITOR'S PICKS
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10 prospects rising and falling at the Senior Bowl: Who has impressed NFL scouts
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Projected 2021 NFL draft order: Jaguars clinch No. 1 pick, Dolphins move into top five
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Kiper's first mock draft for 2021: Will Justin Fields or Zach Wilson be the No. 2 QB?
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2. New York Jets
Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
What the Jets do here will alter how the draft plays out -- but this projection is more about the spot than the team because, frankly, the Jets have some evaluating and decision-making ahead. We know they are listening to offers for QB Sam Darnold, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are aggressively pursuing a trade. Regardless, this much is pretty clear to me: If Darnold is traded, Wilson should be the pick. And if New York keeps Darnold, I think a team -- perhaps Carolina -- will jump on the chance to move up to take Wilson here.
The BYU signal-caller is tough in the pocket but can also create when it all breaks down, and he excelled on the deep ball this season, hitting 20 of 27 passes thrown at least 30 yards downfield.
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Trade: Carolina moves up the board
OK, my guy Mel Kiper Jr. waived the no-trade clause on our mocks, so let's have at it. The Panthers give the Dolphins a call in this scenario, seeing a chance to jump the line to get a quarterback at No. 3. Miami originally acquired this pick via an August 2019 trade with the Texans but now hand over the selection to Carolina in exchange for the No. 8 pick, the Panthers' second-rounder (No. 39) and a 2022 first-rounder. It's a great haul for the Dolphins, who just barely missed the playoffs this season and can now build even further around QB Tua Tagovailoa. But it's also a good price for the Panthers, who need their QB of the future.
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3. Carolina Panthers (via mock trade with MIA through HOU)
Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Eight of the Panthers' 11 losses were one-score games, running back Christian McCaffrey missed most of the season and the defense was an improved unit this year. But Carolina needs a QB it can build around. Teddy Bridgewater is under contract for two more years -- with a potential out after the 2021 campaign -- and can serve as a bridge, but his 15-to-11 TD-INT ratio in 2020 left a lot to be desired.
The quarterback-to-Carolina rhetoric isn't new, but some might be surprised to see Lance as the pick rather than Ohio State's Justin Fields. Both possess strong arms, both are highly competitive, both are sturdy in the pocket and can pick up chunks when they decide to tuck it and run, and both can hit the deep ball. But in going back to the tape, I think Lance goes through his progressions a little quicker than Fields, who gets stuck on his primary read too often. It's tight, but I think Lance has an edge.
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4. Atlanta Falcons
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Atlanta will want to move out of this spot and pick up some extra draft capital, and plenty of other teams likely will be interested. It needs reinforcements at edge, offensive line, running back, tight end and linebacker. Quarterback, however, is not a dire situation, as Matt Ryan is still highly productive and under contract through 2023. But if the Falcons can't trade out, will they really pass on the opportunity to draft their QB of the future? It's no given that they will be drafting this high again any time soon, and Ryan is turning 36.
Fields has consistency concerns, but he will be a talented NFL starter with an ability to drive the ball and make plays off-schedule outside of the pocket. In two seasons as the Buckeyes' starter, he has 63 touchdown passes and just nine interceptions. If it plays out like this, it would be the first time that quarterbacks have gone 1-2-3-4 to begin Round 1.
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5. Cincinnati Bengals
Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Cincinnati fans watched No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow take 32 sacks in 10 games, so no one needs any convincing here. Sewell -- who opted out of the 2020 season -- is a game-changing tackle. Opposite Jonah Williams, he'd help keep Burrow upright when the Bengals' franchise quarterback returns from a knee injury suffered on (yup, you guessed it) a hit this season. Whereas Sewell allowed just one combined sack during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Bengals closed 2020 with the fifth-most sacks allowed (48) and tied for the third-worst pass block win rate (50.0%), an ESPN metric powered by NFL Next Gen Stats.
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6. Philadelphia Eagles
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
The Eagles' wide receivers room ranked No. 30 in yards this season (2,082), and they were one of three teams to catch fewer than 60% of their WR targets (56.3%). Those numbers came even after they drafted Jalen Reagor in the first round last April. The Eagles need to give quarterback Jalen Hurts -- who is taking the reins as the team moves on from Carson Wentz -- tools to succeed, and that, of course, starts with a game-breaker on the outside.
Chase vs. Alabama's DeVonta Smith is a tough call, but I think Chase might have slightly better traits and certainly more size at 6 feet, 200-plus pounds. You might have forgotten because he opted out in 2020, but Chase had 20 touchdowns and nearly 1,800 yards in 2019. It's win-win for Philadelphia if both receivers are still on the board, but the LSU product gets the call here.
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7. Detroit Lions
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
If Philly is on the clock and both Chase and Smith are still available, you'll see some smiles from new coach Dan Campbell and new QB Jared Goff. It would mean one of the talented pass-catchers would be there for them. Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr. and Danny Amendola are all pending free agents, meaning the most productive wide receiver on the roster returning right now is Quintez Cephus, a fifth-round rookie who had 349 yards in 2020. It's a problem, but not one that the Heisman winner can't help solve. Smith is explosive, piling on 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior year.
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8. Miami Dolphins (via mock trade with CAR)
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
So in our mock trade scenario, Miami picks up an extra first-rounder and a second-rounder and it still gets an elusive playmaker on offense. Tagovailoa was ranked 35th out of 35 qualified quarterbacks this season in yards per attempt when targeting wide receivers (6.2), and the WR group was No. 30 in the NFL in yards after the catch per reception (3.18). Waddle caught 48 passes from Tagovailoa during their Bama days together, and he'd be a dangerous option opposite DeVante Parker.
This would not only be the first time a school has sent multiple wide receivers to the first round in back-to-back years, it would also be the first time two from the same school have been off the board this quickly. (The previous high was last year, when Alabama's Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy were off the board by No. 15.)
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9. Denver Broncos
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
We will have to see if new GM George Paton decides to run it back with Drew Lock as the team's clear starting QB, but with four signal-callers off the board and the Broncos' pick of any defender in the class, they would likely address another need at No. 9 regardless. Cornerback happens to be one of those needs. Bryce Callahan and A.J. Bouye are both primed to hit the open market, and Denver hauled in only 10 interceptions this season. Surtain didn't have his best season, but he's a true shutdown corner with the instincts to read and reroute receivers.
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10. Dallas Cowboys
Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Big D needs help on D. Last year's second-rounder, Trevon Diggs, looks like a solid find for the Cowboys, but that secondary is still problematic -- especially now that Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis could be headed elsewhere in free agency. The Cowboys allowed 34 passing touchdowns this season, tied for the third most in the NFL. Farley (another opt-out) is a ball hawk who could turn some of those TD passes into interceptions.
2021 NFL draft coverage
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• Mock drafts: Kiper » | McShay » • Rankings: Kiper » | McShay » • Meet the loaded, elite QB class » • 30 big questions for Kiper & McShay » Full ranking » | Pick order » | More »
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11. New York Giants
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
With the top three wide receivers and top two cornerbacks off the board, filling those needs would mean significant reaches for the Giants here. Offensive line could be in play, as could the edge rush. But if Pitts is still there at No. 11, it'd be really hard for New York to do anything but add the 6-6 speedy and versatile matchup nightmare. Giants tight end Evan Engram has missed 14 games over four years and will be a free agent after next season. In the meantime, the Giants could enjoy a fantastic duo at tight end -- Pitts is versatile enough to play with Engram and be moved around the formation -- and provide quarterback Daniel Jones with a playmaker.
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Trade: Chicago makes a play for a QB
Another trade! Four quarterbacks went in the first four picks, and in this scenario, the Bears didn't fully address quarterback via free agency or trade. That means it's now or never for Chicago, and it pulls the trigger on a move up the board in the middle of the first round. So what gets it done? To land the No. 12 pick from San Francisco, the Bears would have to send their own first-rounder (No. 20) and a second-rounder (No. 52), probably along with a 2022 first- or second-rounder.
This is more than the traditional trade-value chart expects, and whether that '22 pick is of the Day 1 or Day 2 variety would depend on how desperate Chicago is for the last true Round 1 QB still out there. Niners GM John Lynch could maybe throw a midrounder back to the Bears to sweeten the deal and get it done.
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12. Chicago Bears (via mock trade with SF)
Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
This would tie the earliest that five quarterbacks have been drafted in the common draft era (1999), but the Bears didn't want to risk missing out on the player I consider the final Round 1-worthy QB. If there is a run on quarterbacks, and Wentz goes to Indianapolis or elsewhere, then the Bears have to do what they have to do here. Mitchell Trubisky played pretty well down the stretch, but after declining his fifth-year option, Chicago is likely looking at other options. This season, the Bears were 25th in Total QBR and 28th in yards per attempt, and they tied for the fourth-most interceptions thrown.
Jones had a fantastic 41-to-4 TD-INT ratio and led the nation in Total QBR at 96.1. He anticipates well and has a nice touch on his deep throws, and Chicago would hope he can spark one of the NFL's least efficient offenses.
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13. Los Angeles Chargers
Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
The Chargers were middle-of-the-pack with 34 sacks allowed in 2020, but they saw QB pressure on 33.5% of their dropbacks (eighth in the NFL). Not what you want when you have a rookie quarterback whom you are trying to build around. Los Angeles will have free-agency concerns all over that offensive line in the near future, too. So how about drafting a talented and versatile tackle who can pop inside to play guard or center? Slater opted out in 2020, but he would help give quarterback Justin Herbert time in the passing game.
It's worth pointing out, though, that the Chargers could go in a lot of directions. They are facing quite a few free-agency questions this March, and how that plays out will directly impact the focus of this pick.
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14. Minnesota Vikings
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/G, USC
Minnesota will take a long look at the pass-rushers on the board, and it might decide someone like TCU safety Trevon Moehrig is worth the grab here. But the Vikings' offense starts with a good zone-blocking scheme, and Vera-Tucker excels there, with a feel for angles and blocking at the second level. I like how Ezra Cleveland, last year's second-rounder, has fit into the Minnesota offensive line puzzle, but more help is needed in protecting quarterback Kirk Cousins and springing running back Dalvin Cook on big runs. Plus, Vera-Tucker can play tackle or guard.
First Draft Podcast
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Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay break down the 2021 NFL draft. • First Draft podcast »
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15. New England Patriots
Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
No, one of the top five quarterbacks isn't available, but this isn't a bad consolation prize for coach Bill Belichick. Parsons -- my No. 4 prospect overall -- slides to the No. 15 pick here because of unique circumstances following a rush on QBs and wide receivers. Dont'a Hightower will be back after opting out of the 2020 season and Chase Winovich has been disruptive off the edge, but Parsons gives Belichick a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker who can do a little bit of everything. And if the team moves on from Hightower after the 2021 season when he is set to be a free agent, Parsons would be the QB of this defense going forward.
As for QB of the offense, it doesn't seem to be in New England's nature to trade up for one. Watch the free-agent market closely and keep an eye on what happens with former Patriot Jimmy Garoppolo, but if it comes down to the draft, the Patriots might have to look to Day 2 if all five QBs are indeed off the board.
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16. Arizona Cardinals
Gregory Rousseau, DE/OLB, Miami (FL)
Finally, an edge rusher. The last time it took this long to see one drafted was 2004, when Will Smith went to the Saints at No. 18. But you won't hear any complaints from the Cardinals, who can jump on an opportunity to slide in a difference-maker opposite Chandler Jones (who is a free agent after next season). The Cardinals were tied for fourth in sacks this season (48), but 12.5 of those came from Haason Reddick, who is hitting the open market this spring. Rousseau opted out in 2020 but trailed only Chase Young in sacks in the FBS the season prior with 15.5.
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17. Las Vegas Raiders
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
The Raiders spent last spring bringing in Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski at linebacker, but the unit didn't help a defense that surrendered the eighth-most yards per game in 2020, and Raekwon McMillan is now a free agent. Owusu-Koramoah gives the Raiders a little bit of everything and something they don't already have in that LB corps. He can play off the ball in overhang, he can cover and he can rush the QB. This is a true value pick in the middle of the first round, and the Notre Dame game-breaker provides versatility to a defense that is begging for help.
There are holes all over. The pass rush generated all of 21 sacks this season, and the run defense allowed north of 125 yards per game. And let's not forget that Derek Carr has two years left on his deal and at least some QB consideration needs to be made if one or more of the top quarterbacks are still here at No. 17.
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18. Miami Dolphins
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
After getting Tagovailoa a receiver at No. 8, let's turn our attention to the defense and keep a strength exactly that. Miami had 41 sacks in 2020, tied for 10th in the NFL, but the rich get richer with Phillips, who racked up eight of his own this season. The Dolphins will love his suddenness and length coming around the corner. And looking ahead to 2022, he'd ease a potential loss of Emmanuel Ogbah or Jerome Baker in free agency.
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19. Washington Football Team
Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Toney isn't the most polished receiver in the class, but he is ultraversatile and offensive coordinator Scott Turner could get very creative with the way the team uses him. After Terry McLaurin (1,118 yards), you have to look all the way down to Cam Sims (477) for the second-most productive WR on Washington this season. Toney caught 10 touchdowns with the Gators in 2020.
And of course, Washington is another QB-needy franchise. But Alex Smith is still under contract, and the team can afford to wait it out if no one falls to it in this spot. Washington could handle this in free agency or via a trade, too.
play
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Toney shines as Florida steamrolls Mizzou
Kadarius Toney catches two touchdowns and runs in another as the Gators dominate on both sides of the ball for a convincing 41-17 win over Missouri.
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20. San Francisco 49ers (via mock trade with CHI)
Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
Remember that we had the Niners trade back to this spot. The Garoppolo decision looms large for the Niners' draft plan, and what happens there might not only keep San Francisco from trading down but might even influence a trade up into the top 10. For now, though, let's fixate on a secondary losing many pieces. Safety Jimmie Ward is currently the only defensive back on the entire roster under contract beyond next season. Perhaps the 49ers look to cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (South Carolina) or Aaron Robinson (UCF), but the value and need of Moehrig is just too great to miss. He's my No. 13 prospect and picked off six passes over the past two seasons.
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21. Indianapolis Colts
Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
The Colts are playoff contenders right now, so I'd expect them to look for a more veteran option at QB -- Wentz or Darnold jumps to mind. Maybe Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw is the play, replacing Anthony Castonzo. Perhaps cornerback is a focus. But with three of the team's top defensive ends out of contract -- Justin Houston, Denico Autry and Al-Quadin Muhammad -- I think replenishing the edge is going to be critical. Drafting Paye gives the Colts a playmaker (he had 8.5 sacks over his last 16 college games) and simultaneously blocks a division rival with a big need in that place set to pick next.
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1 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - At this point, the only way Lawrence wont go first is if the Jags somehow write the wrong name on the card.
2 - New York Jets - Justin Fields, QB, OSU - Zach Wilson vs Justin Field has become a hotter debate in recent times, with mocks seems to split 50/50 on which of the 2 will go before the other. This one will likely end up coming down to preference, but personally I prefer Field’s upside and athleticism. Still, it’ll probably end up being a close call overall.
3 - Carolina Panthers (via MIA via HOU - sends 1.08, 3.73, 2022 CAR 1st, 2022 CAR 2nd, for 1.03) - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU - This seems like a lot at first glance, but I’d bet on the Panthers being much improved next year with the return of a healthy McCaffery and Joe Brady/Matt Rhule having another year to establish their system. What that means is that if the Panthers can improve at QB, they could be a legitimate playoff contender. Teddy Bridgewater is not the answer, and IMO when you have someone as good as CMC, you need to give him a good QB. The Panthers don't want to end up like the Vikings, sticking a bunch of mediocre at best QBs next to their stud RB.
4 - Atlanta Falcons - Trey Lance, QB, NDSU - I know there’s a large portion of Falcons fans who really want to go anywhere but QB here, but how much longer can Matt Ryan play at a high level? With the 2022 QB class still full of question marks, grabbing your guy of the future right now would be a prudent move. Its instant gratification vs long term strategy. And with the success of raw QBs at the next level under proper development, Trey Lance looks like a solid bet. He’s got a great arm, and plays smart enough to only have a single interception in his college career. There’s a serious ceiling here, and he could absolutely benefit from learning from Matt Ryan for a year. Arthur Smith completely revitalized Tannehill as well, so maybe he could turn Lance into a stud.
5 - Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - Seems like it ends up working out for the Bengals, who really need to protect Joe Burrow. There’s been whispers that teams have Rashawn Slater over Sewell currently, but I partially chalk that up to prospect fatigue. IMO Sewell’s the best OT in the class, and although he’s got areas he can improve, his body of work is utterly dominant currently. If he can polish up his technique and stay healthy, he’ll be a godsend to the Bengals OL.
6 - Eagles - Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU - DeVonta Smith has been crazy this year, but it seems like people have forgotten Ja’Marr Chase was just as dominant last year too. Honestly, the Eagles really can't go wrong here with either WR, but IMO Chase is more of a sure thing to be dominant in the NFL, as minute of a difference as that is.
7 - Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama - After that insane performance against Ohio State, I don't think the Lions can pass up on Smith here, even as bad as their defense is. With their entire WR corps being possible FAs, they need to find replacements ASAP, especially if they cannot find a way to agree to a deal with Kenny Golladay. As for Smith well, he’s a beast. Plain and simple. Y’all saw what he did to Ohio State in just one half.
8 - Houston Texans (Via MIA via DET - Sends Deshaun Watson, 2022 HOU 3rd for 1.08, 2.50, 2022 MIA first, 2023 MIA first, Tua Tagovailoa, salary fillers) - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan - The Dolphins send away Tua + a ton of picks for a shiny new franchise QB, and the Texans begin their rebuild. First up is addressing the defensive line. JJ Watt is very likely gone, Whitney Mercilus is done, and Jonathan Greenard has disappointed. They need someone who can make a serious impact, now. Kwity Paye has been one of the most dominant players in college football, with an insane pressure rate, and is a supposed athletic freak who runs a sub 6.8 3 cone at 6’4’’, 272, with some claiming it being as low as 6.37. No matter what the time ends up being, it's utterly insane for someone of his size, and he could likely play the same role that Watt does for the Texans.
9 - Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - The Broncos do really need CB, but there’s a pretty big hole in the middle of the defense next to Alexander Johnson. Josey Jewell isnt a 3 down LB, and it's really hard to pass up on Parsons here, an elite LB who can be the tonesetter of the Broncos defense from day one. Pairing up Parsons and Johnson should give Denver two monsters in the middle of the defense.
10 - Dallas Cowboys - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech - Now that Dan Quinn’s the new DC, meaning that they’ll be running a ton of Cover 3. And with how much Quinn loves his physical/athletic CBs who can play both man and zone, Caleb Farley is the natural pick here IMO. He’s sticky as glue, with fluid hips and a size profile that NFL teams dream of, perfect for pattern-match that should be used a lot in Dallas next season. His zone coverage does need a little work, but the Cowboys will likely be doing mostly spot-drop zone, which is pretty simple to pick up, and outside of injury concerns, Farley should be a huge help for the Dallas defense.
11 - New York Giants - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina - The Giants love their press man coverage, but were forced to run zone a lot last year due to how bad their cornerbacks were outside of James Bradberry. Jaycee Horn fits their preferred scheme, and also shores up that huge hole at CB2 that they have. No CB in the class is as good as disrupting WRs at the LOS as Horn is, and he’ll be a great addition to what was a surprisingly good defense last year.
12 - San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama - The 49ers have 0 CBs under contract next year. They need building blocks now, especially with Robert Saleh now gone. Patrick Surtain fits into their zone heavy system perfectly. He’s got elite ball skills, is consistently disruptive, and can stick to WRs like glue. He’d be the perfect guy to replace Richard Sherman if the 49ers cant bring him back, and should be able to slot in at CB1 or CB2 immediately.
13 - LA Chargers - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern - Slater’s a guy who's been getting a ton of hype in recent times, with some even putting him above Sewell. How much of that is real and how much of it is smoke? Hard to say at this point, but I do know that he’ll be an upgrade no matter where he slots in for the Chargers. Protecting Herbert should be there #1 priority right now, especially for the terrible LA OL. Slater should be a fantastic player for the Chargers from day 1.
14 - Miami Dolphins (Via Minnesota Vikings - sends 1.18, 3.82 for 1.14) - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama - Miami goes ALL in here. With Watson now on the roster, their window is now, and they treat it with urgency, giving up some more draft capital to grab the last of the 3 main stud WRs in the class. Jaylen Waddle fits what Miami needs right now, a speed demon joystick who would be what Will Fuller was for Watson in Houston, a connection that was lethal even with Fuller being injured constantly. Watson to Waddle should be one of the deadliest partnerships in the league, turning the Miami offense into a high powered scoring machine.
15 - New England Patriots - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama - Mac Jones is a guy who’s worked his way from fringe QB prospect all the way up to R1 guy. I'm not sure if the NFL likes him as much as most people in the draft community do, but he’s a smart QB who was instrumental in leading the Crimson Tide to a National Championship. I’d say he grades out pretty well at all the important areas of being a QB, like his arm, going through progressions, that kind of thing. This only big flaw IMO is his ability to extend plays, but the Patriots have the OL to shore up that weakness. The main question here is how will Mac Jones play without any solid WRs? The Patriots receiving corps is barren, so that will be something that must be addressed soon.
16 - Arizona Cardinals - Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State - The Cardinals offensive line seems to consistently lose at the LOS, something that was a huge part in them not making the playoffs. With that in mind and all of the top 3 CBs long gone, they grab the mauling OG out of Ohio State, an absolute mauler who can hit hard to create space in the run game. He’s a great fit for the Cardinals run game, and should give them some of the nasty they’ve been lacking.
17 - Las Vegas Raiders - Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, LB, Notre Dame - It's hard to say what the Raiders will go with, as Mayock has not been on the job that long, but this is a pick that I agree with Daniel Jeremiah on. The Raiders lack that dynamic linebacker who can move around and cover everything, and JOK should be able to line up all over. He’s perfect for an NFL that seems to value positionless players more, and especially for a Raiders defense that’s going to be stuck against Travis Kelce for the near future.
18 - Minnesota Vikings - Gregory Rousseau, DE/DT, Miami - When your sack leader is a guy you traded away half way through the season, there's a problem. That Vikings defense was inexcusably bad this year, even with the loss of Danielle Hunter, and basically cost their offense a shot at the playoffs. They need to add some juice to the pass rush ASAP. Gregory Rousseau would be perfect, a raw and crazy athletic player who can line up all over the defensive line to wreak havoc. Considering Minnesota turned one athletic freak into a stud, they should have confidence that they can make Rousseau great too, and he’d be a wonderful addition, especially considering the fact that the Vikings have moved around their edge rushers to exploit mismatches, most notably against the Saints.
19 - Washington Football Team - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech - There doesn't seem to be a solid answer at QB available here for Washington, so they look to bolster up their trenches in order to replace the departed Trent Williams. Darrisaw has the size and length to be a fantastic NFL tackle, along with an extremely strong anchor and some great agility for his size. His technique needs to be cleaned up a little, but he could easily lock down the LT spot for Washington in the future.
20 - Chicago Bears - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota - Allen Robinson is gone, leaving a huge hole at WR1 for Chicago. Seeing as there’s not really a great way to fix Chicago’s QB situation, they instead look to try and make the most of their closing window. Rashod Bateman should come in and be the WR1 for Chicago, a great route runner with sure hands who can snag a ball and some more yards after the catch. Hopefully Trubisky builds a much better connection with him than he did with Arob.
21 - Detroit Lions (Via IND - sends Matthew Stafford for 1.22, salary filler) - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa - The Lions defense really needs help at LB. Jarrad Davis is probably starting again, but Tavai really shouldnt be. Zaven Collins can step in and be the best LB in the Lions from day 1, an absolute freak athlete who can cover, can stop the run, and even has a pass rushing upside. He’s the perfect chess piece for the new Lions defense to build around, and should be an immediate impact player from day 1.
22 - Tennessee Titans - Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa - The Titans need pass rush in every capacity, and that includes from the defensive line. Jeffery Simmons is a monster, but he doesn't get much help. He’d pair up great with Daviyon Nixon, a freak athlete out of the B1G who excels most when he gets to pin his ears back and just attack the QB. His ability to cause issues down the middle should help alleviate the Titans pass rush issues somewhat.
23 - New York Jets (Via SEA) - Kyle Pitts, TE/WR, Florida - The Jets just need to add weapons to their team at this point. Their WR corps has little promise outside of maybe Mims, and their TE corps is equally barren. Pitts addresses both of those issues at once. Able to play all over the lineup, Pitts can work as both a huge WR and a TE, able to consistently beat coverages and get catches against defenses. He’ll be a great weapon for Fields to utilize, a truly dynamic threat who could be one of the best receivers on the Jets from day 1.
24 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Liam Eichenburg, OT, Notre Dame - A lot of the Steeler’s tackle depth, most notably starting LT Alejandro Villenueva, will be lost to FA, and Pittsburgh needs to address that ASAP. Liam Eichenburg isnt the most athletic OT with a crazy high ceiling, but he’s a solid technician who should be able to start from day 1, perfect for a contending team like the steelers.
25 - Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas - The Jaguars need to protect their investment, especially with Cam Robinson a question mark to be back due to his poor play. Protecting a young QB should be the #1 priority after landing one, and Cosmi is a tantalizing prospect to add. He’s got plenty of athleticism and a frame that’s waiting to be filled out, a solid pass blocker who can deal with speed rushers really well. He’s a high ceiling prospect who could become a great LT and lock down Tlaw’s blind side for the future.
26 - Cleveland Browns - Jaelen Phillips, EDGE, Miami - Sometimes it just feels like the Browns defensive line is just Myles Garrett. That can't stand. The Browns need to give Garrett some help in the pass rush, and that's why they pick Jaelen Phillips. There’s a lot of injury concerns here, but if Phillips can stay healthy, he’s an absolute MONSTER in the pass rush, having notched 8 sacks in just 5 games this year. If he can stay on the field, he and Garrett should give opposing offensive lines some serious headaches.
27 - Baltimore Ravens - Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC - The Ravens need to bolster their offensive line more. After the loss of Marshall Yanda, the Ravens offensive line has taken a notable step back, and Ronnie Stanley’s injury certainly didn't help there. AVT’s easily BPA at this point, an interior beast who is a stone wall with excellent hand usage. He should be able to make the Ravens offensive line even better, and boost their already lethal run game to higher levels.
28 - New Orleans Saints - Kyle Trask, QB, Florida - Im sorry, I don't think Taysom Hill is an NFL level QB. Especially not for a title contender. Drew Brees is retired, and I doubt Winston will be back. That means QB is the most glaring hole in NO. Kyle Trask might never be Patrick Mahomes, but he’s a good solid player who can make accurate passes, adjusts to pressure well, and is willing to extend plays. With the Saints filled with weapons and talent, Trask should be a good enough game manager to help the Saints be contenders for the rest of their window.
29 - Green Bay Packers - Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington - Kenny Clark and Keke Kingsley are building blocks along the defensive line, but the Packers could afford to add some depth. Onwuzurike has been mocked in the first by DJ, and he tends to have his ear to most NFL team’s pulse. Onwuzuriki’s calling card is his length and athleticism, which combined with his explosiveness and motor results in him just running over people at times. He does need to improve his power and add more consistently, but the addition of Onwuzurike could make the Packers defensive line a force as good as the Steelers DL.
30 - Buffalo Bills - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson - The Bills just need playmakers especially in the run game, and Etienne is one of the best pure playmakers in the class. He’s an explosive threat who must be addressed at all times, or else he could break free and gash the defensive for serious yardage. His acceleration and contact balance make him a problem to tackle, and with supposed 4.3 speed, defenders won't be able to catch him once he gets into open space. He’s no slouch in the pass game either, putting up solid production at Clemson and flashing the ability to run a few option routes. The Bills already have their Jim Kelly and Andre Reed in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Time to add the Thurman Thomas of the trio, and turn Buffalo into an offense that can toe to toe with the Chiefs.
31 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan - Donovan Smith is very likely gone this year, meaning that Tampa would have a hole at one of the tackle spots opposite of Wirfs. No matter if they move Wirfs to LT or keep him at RT, Mayfield would be a great get opposite of him. Mayfield’s a dependable run blocker who has good feet, and although he's not finished just yet, if Tampa can utilize his athletic gifts to the fullest, he’d be a great compliment to their current franchise OT.
32 - Kansas City Chiefs - Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington - Joe Tryon’s another player who is apparently well regarded according to DJ. He’s shown flashes of being a great pass rusher, but he’s really still a WIP in most areas, especially as a run defender. However, he does fit the mold of what the Chiefs want in their pass rushers, standing at 6’5 262. Kansas City does need the help on the EDGE, and they can afford to take a gamble here, considering the Mahomes led offense should be able to easily cover up any defensive deficiencies for the next few years.

Preamble

The origins of the Terran Federation began long before EVE Echoes was launched. The relationships between the individuals and corps (that would determine the shape of things to come) had their beginnings in previous games. The most dramatic of these relationships was the extremely bitter one between DEAD and GenFed. I'll spare you all the dramatic details, but suffice it to say that from what I've seen, both sides crossed a lot of lines. While I like to think it's old history, that kind of bad blood doesn't just fade away and will be relevant in the later portions of this history.
As a side note... there are definitely parts of this story where I could point fingers and openly criticize people. I do believe that certain individuals do bear more blame than others... However, I will do my level best to not insult anyone and try to stick to the facts as much as possible. I am dead (get it, DEAD) certain that some people will accuse me of spinning this one way or another, regardless, but I do not make a habit of lying. Check my videos, check my post history, ask around... you should all be able to tell that I have a sense of humour, and can admit when I've lost or made a mistake. On that note, if you notice any factual issues or gross mischaracterizations of events in this, PLEASE let me know and I will do my best to investigate and correct them.
I should also add the disclaimer that this is how things unfolded to the best of my knowledge. I didn't have a seat on the DEAD Leadership team until mid-September, and my insight into alliance leadership waxed and waned as the Discord server was updated and roles/channels were added/removed. Much of my knowledge regarding drama and conflicts from Second Galaxy is second- or even third-hand knowledge.
Also, unfortunately, the TF discord server has largely been deleted by now, and much of the history is lost to time. I do have quite a few screenshots, but I feel it would not be in good taste to share most of them. Sorry.

Origins

Truth be told, I'm a little hazy on the exact origins of the Terran Federation, as I didn't play Second Galaxy or any of the EVE Echoes betas. I just saw a catchy looking recruitment poster and joined DEAD the day after the game launched, on August 15th, 2020.
Even in these earliest of days, we were already beginning to move into WY-9LL, a system with an NPC station in Fountain. In these humble beginnings, we would rat by scouting Fountain for special anomalies and then throw dozens of trainer cruisers at it. There were issues with loot thieves, desync was crazy, prices were a mess, but NPCs were much tamer at this time, so you could get by with juggling aggro by warping out when the enemies began to yellow box you.
Before the end of August, the alliance had been officially founded. Thus, [TF], the Terran Federation, was born, with alliance ID 2000000018. The founding members (I'm including those that joined within a few days of inception) were:

1. [ATLE] Atlas Empire, the executor, run by Keltan 01
2. [ATLS] [ATLAS], run by Chevron7
3. [DEAD] Dead Space, run by Likander
4. [DUNE] Atreides, run by ChasedFlame
5. [TLC] The Lobster Cult, run by Riful Abyssal
6. [AGRO] Aggressor, run by Jack Woodcock

Please do make note that ATLE and ATLS are different corporation run by different people. This will be relevant later. ATLE was the executor, ATLS was a co-founder.

The Rise

As more groups started moving into Fountain and as more players started joining, the alliance swelled. Some corps joined because of strong personal relationships, such as DUNE and SIN joining TF to be with DEAD. With more corps joining, new alt corps required to handle the overflow, and secondary alliances, TF2 and TF3 were both founded before the end of September.
Fairly early on, [ATLE] Keltan 01 appointed [ATLE] LordDragon (who went by Hateful / Lustful in-game) as his sky marshal. Unfortunately, due to disagreements about doctrine and other conflicts, [ATLE] LordDragon didn't last long and was replaced by [ATLE] BATMAN before the end of September.
The growing pains were not too bad, in the beginning. The greatest source of drama and headaches were ratting claims. The different corps and CEOs wanted to handle things in different ways. Some CEOs wanted it to just be a total free for all, others wanted rules about claiming systems, others wanted separate spaces for separate corps, etc. Eventually, the matter was put to rest by dividing up Fountain into regions for each corporation to rat in. Each group was responsible for coming up with their own set of rules for handling who got what and how.
This freed up the leadership to focus more on doctrines, PVP, and diplomacy. From the very start, TF was a "fuck the blue doughnut!" kind of organization. The goal was to never have too many blues and to find and enjoy PVP content on a regular basis. We had neighbours in Querious and in Delve who were both reliable for providing content. Occasionally they would send roaming fleets at us, and sometimes we would send roaming fleets at them. We knew that if we lingered around certain staging locations long enough, they would eventually form up. We won and lost many fights this way. The general theme of these engagements was that our forces were almost always smaller, but more disciplined and more effective. We usually went home with more killmarks gained than losses.
We set alliances red, we set alliances blue. We went to attack outposts, we went to defend outposts. We were part of one of the first capsuleer outpost kills (technically the second, but it was the first one to do the whole shield->armour->structure rigamarole). We fought in wars for the sake of fighting wars; we wanted to be a lean, mean, fighting machine. And for the most part, we were.

Tensions Rise

I'm going to try doing this without naming any names. To be perfectly clear: DEAD was not without fault in all this, but we were far from the sole perpetrator. Some of the worst interpersonal issues that occurred in TF were actually between officers of two corps that weren't even any of the co-founders.
Anyhow, the summary is this: There were occasional disagreements between leadership (CEOs, directors, and FCs). For the most part these could be worked through, or resolved. However, some key people in positions of power in the alliance generally did not respond well to criticism, and some had the unfortunate habit of hearing constructive criticism as a personal attack. Some particular officers seemed to carry a grudge towards the officers of another corp.
When any issues escalated too far or when arguments got too heated, the solution was always to either 1) shut down the conversation by temporarily kicking someone from Discord or 2) remove the forum of discussion in which it was taking place (e.g. delete #officer-chat). Issues never got resolved, they got deferred. This kind of aversion to conflict is a death-sentence for any organization.

New Friends, New Foes, New Wars

In the beginning, we had SHH set to blue, as Keltan01 enjoyed working with Mr.PayToWin to develop and try out new tactics. However, a couple blue-on-blue incidents occurred due to sluggish standing changes. I don't know if it was a flex or a misunderstanding, but war eventually broke out when [PEW] Tahini stole some loot from a TF gatecamp in Syndicate and [DEAD] KiithSa decided to engage in some spur-of-the-moment "diplomacy" by erasing the small, blue [PEW] fleet from existence to retrieve said loot. In terms of the war itself, there were some skirmishes and some relatively large battles but each side was many jumps from the other and the conflict eventually petered out just due to sheer inconvenience. No structures were destroyed. However, TF made allies with FF and HONK over a mutual distaste for SHH.
Around mid-October / early-November, Keltan 01 had to step down for personal reasons with plans to return in 2-3 months. He appointed his second-in-command, [ATLE] BATMAN, as the new Alliance President.
In Delve, the two main groups there were HappyBees and PIBC. We eventually PIBC set to blue and HappyBees to red. The "plan", such as it was, was for us to help PIBC wage war on the HappyBees (who had drawn more corps to their banner and formed Pantheon). Pantheon spent a small fortune hiring MC to wage a month-long campaign on PIBC. Due to TF's support (at least nominally) for PIBC, Pantheon had MC add TF/Fountain into their contract.
However, we ended up not coordinating well with PIBC, as we were preoccupied with our war vs SHH and fighting MC. At least twice, PIBC asked us for help in a defensive CTA and the person responsible for doing so in TF forgot to make an announcement... this resulted in them losing an outpost, worsening relations with them, and possibly costing them the war in the end. This was deeply embarrassing. I can only speculate whether or not the "forgetting" was intentional or not...
(Aside: Regarding "the botting wars", TF never received any payments or transfers of any kind from PIBC. We did hear rumours of some of them botting, but we pressured them to publicly condemn the practice and remove the violators, which they did.)
Pantheon, having some breathing room after evicting PIBC, decided that TF was becoming a real thorn in their side. They did not appreciate the content roams we would send their way. While from our point of view it was just fun PVP content, from theirs it was an invasion into their home and an attack on their community. At this point they started regularly sending large fleets and hitting outpost timers on a regular basis.
From the skirmishes between MC and TF, a mutual respect was born. Both were respectable fighters with a fondness for PVP and "gfs in local". With the Delve contract completed, TF offered MC a small, but central, part of Fountain as an industrial base of operations and a place to call home when not on deployment. In return, MC would be obligated to call a full CTA to help defend any TF structure timers.
After the NORF alliance disbanded in distant lands, some of the ex-NORF corps (e.g. UNFS) merged into TF and formed TF4, expanding our ranks and securing our border with Querious.
Far beyond our borders in Fountain, on the other side of Querious, lay the Genesis Federation. GenFed has always been both very large and very displeased with DEAD. Pantheon and GenFed are also close allies. While GenFed rarely sent any large fleets our way, they would occasionally send roams into our space and set up CovOps gatecamps. Additionally, the leaders of GenFed and assured the leaders of Pantheon that if push came to shove, GenFed would back Pantheon up in the war against TF. Furthermore, GenFed would tell anyone who would listen how toxic DEAD was based on old history from Second Galaxy.
Meanwhile, in Querious, Trimark and other alliances had banded together to form the Querious Coalition (QC). Being a less bloodthirsty alliance than TF, QC had gone blue with with their neighbours, Pantheon and GenFed. Although we continued to send content roams into their space, things had remained relatively neutral between TF and QF (although there was some bad blood between EVO1 and QC). We had an informal agreement not to hit each other's structures. A roam from FT (False Trajectory, part of QC) did hit one of ours first, but they promised it would not happen again. However while Pantheon were hitting our structures, QC would usually be gatecamping near our staging systems. Feeling that this violated the spirit of the understanding, Evolution and Likander lead forces into Querious to hit QC structures. At this point QC voted to enter the war efforts fully. They started hitting TF structures too, and coordinating more with Pantheon. There was some posturing between QC and TF, which resulted in the now infamous "I'll be frank you you guys. You're an indy alliance." copypasta.
On one of these Querious offensives, we brought some allies with us, FF and MC. Unfortunately, alliance leadership had not properly communicated standings and while FF had set MC blue (because they knew MC was in Fountain with us), MC had not set FF blue (because MC's thing was "TF would be the only hard blue"). This lead to the MC fleet attacking the FF fleet. So FF traveled over 50 jumps just to get wiped out by blues. Thankfully, FF were very understanding about it, and told TF that we could let bygones be bygones if we just helped them hit a SHH outpost up North. However, TF leadership declined to grant this request because FF said TC would be there joining the attack. This was an unfortunate misunderstanding because TF leadership thought FF was talking about "The Collective" (part of QC) but FF actually meant "The Coalition", an unrelated entity. That's a facepalm for the history books and it soured the relationship with FF.
Another infusion of fresh blood occurred when the RFC coalition (comprised of RET and WOLF) moved into Fountain and merged with TF under their original alliance banners. These alliances added much needed fresh blood, although they did not integrate as completely into the TF fabric.
Around early December, PEW left SHH, the Silent Alliance, and joined MC, returning to Syndicate to be pirates when not on deployment. This lead to the somewhat awkward scenario of being blue with [PEW] Tahini (the CEO) after he had been at the center of events that lead to the war with SHH in the first place...

The Fall

It was around the second week of December that the fateful, final battle of 7BIX-A would occur.
(I was not creating YouTube content at this time, sadly, but [GOON] Gengar094 has some great videos of the fights: armour, structure)
Pantheon and QC sent a full coalition CTA to hit the structure timer. MC helped run gatecamps on the invading forces, and TF called in allies to assist with the defense. However, due to our approach to diplomacy, the bulk of those forces didn't end up participating. Some didn't join because we had snubbed them, some didn't join because they refused to fight alongside Tahini. Regardless, at the end of the day, we had far fewer allies coming to our aid than hoped for. Karma's a bitch.
Without more reinforcements, TF was unable to kill off the attacking fleet in time, and the station ended up exploding. This was a pivotal moment in the war because it signaled to TF that despite their best efforts they could not hold their objectives. With sovereignty on the near horizon, this was a particularly demoralizing event. Were we going to anchor Corporation Outposts only to have them go the same way as the Spice Factory? On one hand there was hope that with larger health pools, we would have more time to kill off the enemy fleet before losing the structure. On the other hand, if GenFed actually decided to enter the war it would seal our fate.
Another pivotal nail in the coffin was that GenFed made MC an offer they couldn't refuse. GenFed, being so large and having control over so much territory, offered them two whole constellations in Period Basis. All they had to do in exchange was to set GenFed to perma-blue and never take any contracts against them. This gave MC more, and cost MC less, than the deal with TF in Fountain did. Naturally, they took it, removing a key layer of defence for TF in Fountain.
As the holidays drew near, activity took a hit and leadership began self-reflecting a little more critically. At the same time, Pantheon announced a cessation to full-CTA activities, but simultaneously announced a tournament to see who could get the most kills in Fountain. This resulted in Fountain being constantly roamed by multiple small-to-mid sized red fleets, with few TF pilots ready and willing to form up and take them on. Each TF corp largely stuck to their own pocket of space, venturing out less frequently and less confidently.
A few days before Christmas, a CEO meeting was held to discuss the problems facing the alliance. One of the newer CEOs suggested a system of checks and balances, because there were some concerns with the president's decisions and approach to diplomacy. Likander could only be present for the first 5 minutes of the call. He said that it wouldn't hurt to have some sort of process for decision making, as he shared many of the same concerns, then had to go. That same CEO then decided it would be a good time to air some grievances... things got very heated, apparently, and BATMAN ended up feeling hurt, and betrayed by his CEOs.
Many of the CEOs who remained on that call believed that by the end of it, grievances had been aired and issues had been resolved. However, immediately after, BATMAN made the fateful decision on Dec 22nd to announce (to his own corporation only) that they were leaving the alliance. This caused mass confusion as news of this leaked into the alliance Discord without any formal alliance announcement being made.
Once details started emerging, Likander and others practically begged Batman to stay and to not leave, but he didn't want to deal with the stress and the drama and just picked up his corp and left Fountain. Ironically, that same CEO who had antagonized him so much on that call then quit the game shortly after... I can only guess that he was also burning out and vented his frustrations on his president? I don't know exactly, I wasn't there on that fateful call, but everyone who was has said pretty much the same thing.

The Aftermath

Along with ATLE, EVO1 and AGRO also left. (EVO1 to join ATLE and AGRO to go their own way.) Considering that TF was already on the ropes in the war vs Pantheon/QC/GenFed, this was a very bad turn of events, and essentially spelled the death of the [TF] alliance.
On his way out, BATMAN appointed [DEAD] Šystem Errør as the interim alliance president. This surprised all of the existing CEOs (including Likander) but seeing as none of the other CEOs (again, including Likander) wanted to step up and lead the alliance, they temporarily tolerated the appointment.
System Error first attempted to persuade BATMAN to remain / return, but despite his best attempts this effort yielded as much fruit as previous attempts had. System then began attempting to engage in diplomatic talks with our enemies to try to understand the nature of the war and possibly negotiate a way out of it. More on this later.
Still reeling from the shock of the executor leaving with barely a word, the remaining corps had a decision to face. How to proceed? Broadly speaking, each corp had a few different options that they were considering:

1. Stay in Fountain and try to form a new alliance with the remaining corps
2. Leave Fountain to go join MC as mercs
3. Leave Fountain to go do their own thing elsewhere
4. Stay in Fountain under the enemy's banner (i.e. join Pantheon or QC)

Around December 24th / 25th the CEOs held a meeting to discuss how they should proceed. The strong preference was to go with option #1. A democratic process saw [3PT] A Large Mealworm (of the RET alliance) elected as the interim alliance president. Ironically, this the first time many of us had heard his name. In an effort to maintain some semblance of continuity, Mealworm immediately appointed System Error to a new council to help lead the alliance.
However, for this path to succeed, a lot of things needed to happen very fast:

• We needed a new identity (as TF was ostensibly dead),
• We needed a new Discord server (as the TF one was owned by Keltan, who hadn't logged on in months),
• We needed new diplomatic relations (either more allies, or less enemies, basically),
• And, most importantly, we needed the line members to have confidence in the new alliance to have faith that it would succeed.

Betrayal and Black Lists

Those efforts each would take time. Time that we did not have. Each corp was simultaneously considering the remaining alternatives even as we all endeavoured to try to make the new alliance a success. As the days slipped by, we would occasionally hear of yet another corp leaving. For example PI betrayed us and flipped to join Pantheon and join in the war efforts against us and PHPC decided to leave peacefully to go join MC.
On an alliance-level, diplomatic efforts hit a dead end. Pantheon and GenFed had both published a list of names of individuals and corps who were "black listed". While some of the names on these lists were understandable, others were utterly bizarre. Some, such as BATMAN and Likander were on the list because of their role in leading the alliance, others such as KiithSa and Aaronius were on the list because of their trashtalk, while others yet, such as random line members or junior FCs were on there for no discernible reason at all.
Furthermore, Pantheon was absolutely stonewalling us. We could not even speak to their diplomats / leadership. We only really heard about these things second hand through diplomatic contacts elsewhere who had been told that if they took in any blacklisted entity they would be immediately set red and warred out of existence. (See here for a bit of context to get a sense of just how much Pantheon hates DEAD.)
Attempting to cut through the bullshit and red tape was exhausting and frustrating to the extreme. Many of our diplomats burned out and quit over the holidays due to this (including System Error).
For the record, no one has ever gotten a clear picture of exactly why Pantheon hates DEAD so much. (Related reading: Pantheon/SonBanana vs DEAD)
These black lists essentially forced our hand. For example, we considered joining MC, however due to their relationship with GenFed they could not accept us. Similarly, we also had an offer from EA to join, but QC leadership vetoed it because of the pressure from Pantheon/GenFed.

Civil War and Dissolution

Although [3PT] A Large Mealworm had been appointed as interim alliance president, the executor corp of RET was WECU. Much like DEAD, or any other group in Fountain, [WECU] ValkSki was considering ways forwards for the organization(s) that he represented.
I am very murky on the details, but what I believe happened was that Mealworm had asked ValkSki to reach out to Pantheon to see about opening up a diplomatic dialogue for the new alliance. Meanwhile, Mealworm worked on continuing to build the new alliance. Either some miscommunication occurred, or some wires got crossed, because ValkSki came back with an announcement that he was going to take RET and join Pantheon. I'm not sure exactly how this went down but it caused a Dwarf Fortress-esque loyalty cascade... some RET corps decided to stay and try to build the new alliance with 3PT, others decided to go with WECU (and remain in RET), others (like the entire WOLF alliance, part of the RFC coalition with RET) just "noped" right out of the whole thing and headed back to where they came from before moving to Fountain.
Setting all else aside, I don't believe the vast majority of the people involved had a clear way forwards. To stay with RET was to betray the new alliance. To stay with the new alliance was to betray RET. For Mealworm to decide the new alliance would be in Pantheon would be to betray all the blacklisted members. After Valk made the call for RET to join Pantheon there simply was no course of action for any member of RET to take that didn't involve betraying someone.
As this civil war unfolded, Likander finally decided to go through with option #3 and get out of Fountain. It was clear that #1 was not going to work, and DEAD and its members occupied the lion's share of space on the blacklists. We believed that our departure would make peace in Fountain a more viable prospect. Some other corps decided to follow us to our new destination and continue working together, such as DUNE and 3PT.
Unfortunately, this move did signal the final nail in the coffin of the new alliance. Every remaining corp had to either leave or join Pantheon / QC. Some corps, such as AL left Fountain to join other alliances. Some corps, such as UNFS, joined QC but set us blue while we left Fountain. Other corps, such as ATLS, joined Pantheon and immediately started gatecamping us as we tried to leave with our assets. These final betrayals hurt the most, as people we had fought together with for months turned their guns on us.
We hired MC to run protection for our exfiltration, and got most of our assets out in one piece. However, lots of ships, materials, and members were lost in the move. There were some standings issues, as GenFed decided to come in and hit us as we were leaving, but MC had GenFed set perma-blue. Additionally, some of our members turned out to be more loyal to ratting in Fountain than they did to the team. But at the end of the day we became truer to what we always wanted to be: a lean, mean, fighting machine.

Epilogue

DEAD & friends moved to the other side of the map. We originally intended to lay-low for a while, living on the border of LowSec / NullSec and rebuilding. However, as those of you who have seen my videos or read Reddit already know, this is not what happened.
We ended up joining the Angel Cartel Republic (ACR, a large Chinese alliance) as their English-speaking / NA branch. In a 24/7 game like EVE, it's always good to have international allied and good timezone coverage.
The timing happened to be actually quite fortuitous, as we ended up assisting them with the world's first corporation outpost kill by destroying GenFed's citadel in ZID-LE.
All in all, the Terran Federation was a roller coaster ride, and a very interesting alliance to be a part of. Mistakes were made, and we weren't perfect, but I'm sad that it died the way that it did. However, I'm happy to have been along for the ride and even happier with our new direction.
o7 and good fight!
​
With Love,
[DEAD] Diskciiple
​
EDIT: Apparently TruZealot has written up an explanation of some of the bad blood from Second Galaxy. If you want to go check it out next for some even deeper context, here it is: https://www.reddit.com/echoes/comments/ifzkg1/i_dont_know_why_genesis_is_so_mad_at_us_were/g2rir8u/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
EDIT 2: Fixed some spelling and grammar, also fixed the details of the various MC arrangements.
EDIT 3: Keltan is back! What timing... Removed a couple speculations on motivations

Using knowrivalry.com and footballdb.com I have calculated the top 20 rivalries in the NFL of the past 10 years (beginning January 3rd, 2011). To calculate the size of a rivalry I whipped up an equation: a+g+(p*20)+(a/(d/2)) = total score
Key:
a = aggregate score on knowrivalry (eg Lions assigned 44.12 rivalry points to the Packers, and the Packers assigned 12.81 rivalry points to the Lions, therefore the aggregate score is 56.92)
d = difference between the two scores on knowrivalry (eg Lions assigned 44.12 rivalry points to the Packers, and the Packers assigned 12.81 rivalry points to the Lions, therefore the difference is 31.31)
g = regular season matchups since Week 1 of the 2011 season
p = postseason matchups since Round 1 of the 2010-2011 postseason
There was an instance where the difference divided by 2 equaled less than 1 (Seahawks and Rams), so I manually overrode that and turned it into a 1, for the Seahawks and Rams are obviously not the biggest rivals in pro football.
Before we start the list I want to mention 10 rivalries that I personally wish were more severe, and if you feel the same way go to knowrivalry.com and take the survey.
Chiefs vs Patriots with a score of 48
AFC Championship which went into overtime
1-20-2019
Rams vs Patriots with a score of 48.5
Super Bowl LIII when everyone but the Pats lost
2-3-2019
Giants vs Patriots with a score of 38.87
Super Bowl XLVI when the Giants won... again
2-5-2012
Giants vs Jets with a score of 20.51
Overtime thriller with plenty of Fitzmagic
12-6-2015
Colts vs Chiefs with a score of 55.08
2nd largest comeback in NFL history
1-4-2014
Packers vs Cowboys with a score of 58.22
Packers heartbreakingly eliminate the Cowboys in the postseason... twice in 3 seasons
1-11-2015, 1-15-2017
Packers vs Seahawks with a score of 86.29
NFC Championship which had an onside kick
1-18-2015
Packers vs 49ers with a score of 87.28
49ers eliminate the Packers in back to back postseason... and again in 2020
1-12-2013, 1-5-2014
Saints vs Seahawks with a score of 52.71
Saints go on the road to Seattle to lose in heartbreaking fashion... twice... in the playoffs
1-08-2011, 1-11-2014
Saints vs Vikings with a score of 58.31
Minneapolis Miracle and then another big upset two post seasons later
1-14-2018, 1-5-2020
So now for the real list. If you have any disagreements talk about it in the comments, but also go to knowrivalry.com and take the survey so you can really change the data we have on rivalries.
​
XX. Raiders vs Chargers with a score of 91.90
An excellent geographical rivalry between the Bay Area and San Diego is now a shell of what it once was. I’m expecting this to fizzle out because neither team has been in AFC Title contention in the 2010s, and now both teams are in new and unfamiliar locations. It is also very one-sided.
Matchup in L.A. where the Raiders hosted their first true home game since 1994
12-31-2017
Chargers lose after a last second touchdown call was reversed
11-8-2020
XIX. Giants vs Eagles with a score of 92.72
This is definitely the most overrated rivalry in the NFL. Neither team has been good at the same time in the past 10 years, so the bitterness only remains from great games from a long time ago. It is also pretty one-sided, both in terms of wins and losses and their scores on knowrivalry.
Jake Elliot kicks the longest field goal in Eagles history to win the game
9-24-2017
Eagles win in overtime to keep their playoff hopes alive
12-9-2019
XVIII. Panthers vs Saints with a score of 98.69
Pretty good rivalry within the most volatile division in football. The Panthers and Saints have fought for NFCS Championships which makes this rivalry a really good one in recent years. It is one sided on knowrivalry, but pretty close in terms of wins and losses in the series.
Panthers drive down the field in the end of the 4th quarter to remain undefeated
12-6-2015
Wildcard matchup where Cam Newton injures his head-- or maybe his eye?
1-7-2018
XVII. Cowboys vs Football Team with a score of 101.12
A classic rivalry with a similar name to the popular kids game “Cowboys and Sports Team.” Neither team has been relevant since the early 90s, so this rivalry is kept on life support by annual Thanksgiving day matchups. It is a one-sided affair, but in 2020 the Football Team swept the Cowboys for the first time since 2012, so this might change.
De facto NFCE Championship game where the Football Team won
12-30-2012
Cowboys nearly choke on Thanksgiving, but win to advance to a 10-1 record
11-24-2016
XVI. Titans vs Jaguars with a score of 104.79
An extremely lopsided rivalry, but the Jaguars hate the Titans so much this rivalry ranks 16th in the past 10 years. Both teams have been awful, and they’ve been awful at the same time. The only notable games I could find were tank bowls (which are fun in their own right). While the Titans are good now, the Jaguars were literally the worst team in 2020. Hopefully Lawrence and Meyer can breathe new life into this potentially great rivalry.
Tank bowl in week 16 where the Titans lost and secured the 2nd overall pick
12-18-2014
Tank bowl in week 13 where the Titans won but secured the 1st overall pick
12-6-2015
XV. Broncos vs Patriots with a score of 106.20
Probably the greatest quarterback rivalry in NFL history. Two AFC Championships will certainly cause a rivalry between two teams, and especially if their quarterbacks are the two greatest quarterbacks of all-time. It’s also decently mutual with Pats fans expressing disdain toward the Broncos on knowrivalry. I don’t think this rivalry will live on for long.
Patriots have a huge comeback in the second half to eventually win in overtime
11-24-2013
AFC Championship where the best statistical offense of all-time wins (Broncos)
1=19=2014
AFC Championship where a failed 2 point conversion hands the Broncos the W
1-24-2016
XIV. Browns vs Steelers with a score of 108.07
This is a wildly lopsided rivalry, but I’m hoping that could change in the upcoming years. The Steelers were 35-7-1 against the expansion team until the 2020 season where the Browns may have turned a new leaf. This has potential to be a big rivalry in this decade.
Steelers rest most of their starters in week 17 but still beat the winless Browns
12-31-2017
Despite winning the game Browns DE Myles Garrett bashes Steelers QB Mason Rudolph over the head with his own helmet. Fights ensue and a coach gets fired
11-14-2019
The “Browns is the Browns” game in the wildcard round. This is technically the Browns’ first playoff win. Did you know the Steelers started the season 11-0?
1-10-2021
XIII. Ravens vs Patriots with a score of 108.76
This is the 2nd biggest non-divisional rivalry in the NFL, and that’s because of postseason matchups. The rivalry almost ended until Lamar Jackson came into the fold to challenge Brady for AFC dominance. Now that Brady’s gone this rivalry will probably die. P.S. I want everyone on this subreddit to go on knowrivalry and make the Ravens and Chiefs the new big thing.
AFC Championship where the Ravens lost on a missed field goal. In the following offseason they got Justin Tucker who would help them next year
1-22-2012
AFC Championship where the Ravens didn’t really need Justin Tucker to win
1-20-2013
Ravens meet the Patriots in the postseason for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. Joe Flacco loses the game for the Ravens and the Patriots win the Super Bowl
1-10-2015
XII. Rams vs Seahawks with a score of 115.64
This rivalry was arguably enhanced when the Rams moved to the same time zone as the Seahawks, and it’s been very requited ever since. For whatever reason Jeff Fisher was Pete Carrol’s kryptonite, but even now the Rams still beat the Seahawks more often than not. This will be a great rivalry for the rest of the decade as both teams battle for NFCW ownership.
Season opener where the Seahawks lost in overtime because they handed the ball off to Marshawn Lynch instead of passing it to Tyler Lockette
9-13-2015
Close game where Greg Zuerlein missed a 44 yard field goal and the Rams lost
10-4-2019
Wildcard round where the Seahawks only had 11 players on the field. They lost
1-9-2021
XI. Bengals vs Steelers with a score of 116.85
I was hoping this rivalry would make the list, and I’m really glad it is ranked this high. It is an insanely one-sided affair, but just because the fans don’t hate each other doesn’t mean the players don’t. Let’s see what happens when the two least well-behaved and least disciplined squads face each other twice a year and once in the playoffs.
Wildcard round where the Bengals ended the longest playoff win drought in NFL history, but Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones had a different plan. Despite the fact that the Bengals won the game, they managed to ultimately lose the game
1-9-2016
Primetime game where Ryan Shazier broke his back, William Jackson decided to not tackle Le'Veon Bell, and JuJu Smith-Schuster body slammed Vontaze Burfict. The Bengals were penalized 13 times and blew a 17 point lead
10-22-2017
Steelers miraculously win on a last minute touchdown pass to Antonio Brown
10-14-2018
X. Colts vs Texans with a score of 118.93
Yet another ridiculously one-sided rivalry. The Colts dominated the AFCS until Deshaun Watson came along and helped the Texans compete with the Colts. This rivalry is going to become even more lopsided as the Texans venture into the great unknown.
Texans defeat the Colts to snap their lengthy streak of division wins
1-9-2016
Overtime thriller where the Colts played for a win instead of a tie, but lost
9-30-2018
Wildcard round where the Colts thoroughly beat the Texans on the road
1-5-2019
IX. Broncos vs Raiders with a score of 120.07
This is a transparently a goes-both-ways rivalry both in terms of wins and losses and their scores on knowrivalry. This is the battle for Utah as both teams now border the state, so this is a great geographical rivalry too. We will probably never see them face off in the playoffs though.
Broncos defeat the Raiders to knock them down from the 2 seed to the 5 seed
1-9-2016
Michael Crabtree and Aqib Talib have one of the biggest fights in NFL history
11-26-2017
A 2nd quarter blocked PAT ultimately helped the Broncos win this game 20-19
9-18-2018
VIII. Packers vs Vikings with a score of 126.17
The 3rd most unbalanced rivalry in the NFL according to knowrivalry. Both teams have been duking it out for NFCN dominance in the past 10 years. I would’ve expected this rivalry to be a lot bigger because the states border each other, but Packers fans do not take the Vikings seriously at all. Fun fact: they ended matchups in ties twice in the 2010s
Wildcard game where the Packers beat the Vikings right after losing to them
1-6-2013
De facto NFCN Championship game where Rodgers’s hail mary actually failed
1-3-2016
Critical week 16 game that gave the Packers the NFCN division title
12-23-2019
VII. Colts vs Patriots with a score of 126.66
The highest ranked non-divisional rivalry is also the most unbalanced according to knowrivalry. The last Colts quarterback to beat the Patriots was Peyton Manning back in 2009. Perhaps Patriots fans hated the Colts in the 2000s but the animosity is not there anymore. The Colts still hate the Patriots though. In fact, they assigned more rivalry points to them than any team in their own division, so I personally agree that this rivalry should be in the top 10.
Divisional round game where the Colts almost managed to come back until imploding in the 4th quarter
1-11-2014
AFC Championship where the Colts lost by 38 points, but there was something strange happening on the Patriots’ side...
1-18-2015
“What... the... heck?” “What in the world? Flag is down. You tell me.”
10-18-2015
VI. Cowboys vs Eagles with a score of 129.67
This is a pretty groan-worthy rivalry if you ask me. Dallas has not been a serious contender in 25 years, but when they reach the playoffs they never face the Eagles (in the past 10 years). The Eagles tend to lose to the Cowboys in recent memory even though they’ve had better postseason success. Maybe someday in the distant future these teams will be relevant again.
De facto NFCE Championship where Dallas lost on a failed 2 point conversion
12-29-2013
High scoring game ended in an overtime loss for the Eagles. EDP445’s video title: Another epic eagles collapse! Sorry ass pieces of shit
10-30-2016
Yet another game ended in an overtime loss for the Eagles which gave the Cowboys the NFCE title. EDP445’s video title: Nearly fired over the eagles
12-9-2018
V. Jets vs Patriots with a score of 160.75
Fun fact: the first trade these two organizations made since the Patriots acquired Bill Belichick? It was in 2019. These teams hate each other and surprisingly the fans hate each other too. Pats fans hate the Jets more than any other team, and vice versa. It is a hilariously one-sided affair on the field though. Let’s look at some notable games of the past 10 years.
Jets pull off a massive upset in Foxboro to advance to the AFC Championship
1-16-2011
The Butt Fumble. “It is the perfect representation of failure, buffoonery, submission, and outstanding comedic timing.” - UrinatingTree
11-22-2012
Patriots come back in the 4th quarter to reassure their spot as AFCE leaders
10-25-2015
Austin Seferian-Jenkins scores a crucial 4th quarter touchdown which gets controversially overturned; the ball was given to the Patriots at their 20 yard line because of a mind-bendingly awful touchback rule
10-15-2017
IV. Seahawks vs 49ers with a score of 163.75
This is one of the closest contested rivalries of the past 10 years. Both teams have won numerous NFC Championships recently, and both fanbases hate each other equally. We can expect this rivalry to live on for several more years as they are geographically fighting for Oregon, and they will both be in contention for the NFC West (as long as Russell Wilson plays).
Frank Gore tears into the Seahawks defense to win the game in the final minute
12-8-2013
NFC Championship where the 49ers tried the best corner in the game with a sorry receiver like Crabtree. They should have never talked about him
1-19-2014
Overtime thriller where the 49ers tried to harm the Seahawks’ playoff chances. They won but the Seahawks still reached the postseason
12-16-2018
De facto NFCW Championship game where the Seahawks forgot to snap the ball at the 1 yard line, so the 49ers won and were given the 1 seed
12-29-2019
III. Bears vs Packers with a score of 176.56
This is obviously a great historic rivalry. The Packers just recently took the lead in the series, and it is looking like they are going to run with it. The rivalry is very unbalanced according to knowrivalry, but the Packers do hate the Bears more than any other team. This rivalry is so important that the NFL interrupted the tradition of scheduling the season opener for the defending Super Bowl champs so that the Packers and Bears could play for the 100th season.
NFC Championship where the Bears were underdogs at home, and they lost
1-23-2011
De facto NFCN Championship game where the Packers miraculously won
12-29-2013
Yet another Soldier Field game where Rodgers broke hearts. “Rodgers has time. Now some pressure, throws it deep, Jordy Nelson... he’s got it!”
12-18-2016
Sunday Night season opener where Aaron Rodgers comes back from 20 points late in the 3rd quarter, and he did it on one leg. Or this can be known as the biggest choke the Bears ever had. Fun fact: they passed the ball on 3rd & 1
9-9-2018
II. Saints vs Falcons with a score of 187.96
Of course this rivalry is on this list. It is incredible how much these teams and fanbases hate each other, and how many times they’ve played must-win games. Surprisingly they haven’t met each other in the playoffs in a long time even though they’ve both been good recently. This rivalry will still be a doozie for years to come as both teams will be similarly awful for a while.
Overtime thriller where the Falcons ran a terrible play on 4th and inches and lost
11-13-2011
Important Thursday night game where Sean Payton taunted the Falcons then later ran onto the field to immediately get penalized and lose the game
12-29-2013
Overtime thriller where Drew Brees ran for two touchdowns to win the game
9-23-2018
Coming into this game the Falcons were 14 point underdogs. They proceeded to win 26-9 and the Saints eventually had to settle for the 3 seed in the playoffs
11-10-2019
I. Steelers vs Ravens with a score of 275.39
That score is not a typo. This is far and away the most contested, evenly matched and primetime slot stealing rivalry in the NFL. This has the second highest aggregate score on knowrivalry right after the Saints vs Falcons, but the playoff appearances and small difference inflate this rivalry’s score. If you think about it, who could argue with this being the top of the list? In the past 10 years the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens have the best rivalry in the NFL.
Divisional round game where the Ravens blew a 14 point lead at halftime
1-15-2011
Important Sunday night matchup where the Ravens stun the Steelers in Pittsburgh with a last minute touchdown pass to Torrey Smith
11-6-2011
Thanksgiving night meeting where the Steelers lost on a failed 2 point attempt
11-28-2013
Christmas night matchup where the ‘Immaculate Extension’ happened. The Steelers had no timeouts and there were 9 seconds on the clock, so if Antonio Brown’s touchdown was overturned they would’ve lost the game à la the Detroit Lions against the Falcons. The Steelers won the division because they won
12-25-2016
Big Ben has a big Sunday night game (seriously these teams always play at night because the NFL knows what’s up) as the Ravens choke a 2 score lead in the 4th quarter. This was one of four times Roethlisberger threw for over 500 yards; he holds the record for most 500 yard games.
12-10-2017
I would also like to mention 5 rivalries the NFL believes are some of the best of all-time, but ultimately failed to make the list. Perhaps they were once good rivalries, but now they are dead. The Raiders and Steelers are not that big of a deal anymore. The Cowboys and Steelers seldom play each other so that’s not that big of a deal. The Cowboys and 49ers don’t play each other in the playoffs anymore because the Cowboys don’t reach the playoffs. The Patriots and Steelers is extremely lopsided and neither team will be in Super Bowl contention for years to come. And lastly the Giants and 49ers which has been dead because the Giants never face them in the playoffs anymore.
Seriously go on knowrivalry.com and take the survey
TL;DR Giants and Eagles is overrated, and Steelers and Ravens is underrated

Week 1 @ Saints L 34-23
Brady will QB sneak even if it's a full 2 yards.
defense is aggressive, gets burned by screens and double moves
brady lacks zip – pick-six on out-route
McCoy gets beat bad in pass protection
Week 2 vs. Panthers W 31-17
Led 21-0, but lead was cut to 21-14 with Panthers driving, when Bridgewater throsws a pick.
McCoy drops TD - so he's getting benched...
Week 3 @ Broncos (Driskel) W 28-10
They really love Evans in the red zone - two TDs
Driskel is awful
brady likes to underthrow/backshoulder – DBS need to get head around
Week 4 vs. Chargers W 38-31
Herbert beats zone deep (to a psquad wR)
brady lacks zip, pick-six on out route
ugh, Herbert is good.
Chargers take 24-7 first half lead. Then a fumble inside their 10 when they are just running out the half – Evans red zone TD
The key is the Bucs interior O-line. They are a wall and Brady can step up in the pocket. It's not a big area, he's not fast enough to go anywhere else. Get there and you can really disrupt him, but they do a great job protecting it.
Chargers flea-flicker does not work, nowhere to throw at all. DBs Not fooled.
chargers punt on 4th in 1 with 7 to play when losing and being torched for the last 20 minutes.
Week 5 @Bears (Thursday) (Foles) L 20-19
The Brady forgot what down it was game (they don't include this in the highlights, SMH)
Foles torching them with throws along sideline, especially in improv moments.
EVans red zone TD
Kyle Fuller murders a guy (Brady with the assist) https://youtu.be/avI2_Bc8sYo?t=490
Bears offense not impressive, but they win anyway
Bucs get ball under 3 minutes, up 19-17, just need a couple first down – get to 3rd and 12 – rough 3-and-out
Brady forgets what down it is. Woof. PAst his bEd tImE.
Week 6 – Packers W 38-10
Rodgers takes big hit as he goes in for a TD (kinda) to make it 10-0. They don't score again, so I wonder if that hit has anything to do with it. https://youtu.be/LtAD1jLuSFc?t=106
Rodgers doesn't step into throw, little zip – pick six. Next drive, Rodgers throws another near pick-six (returned almost for a TD), but the play should either have been blown dead for neutral zone infraction or false start and shouldn't have counted: https://youtu.be/LtAD1jLuSFc?t=208
Another red zone, another Evans staredown, but it's not there, throws somewhere else.
Horrific rb pass pro leads to sack on Rodgers: https://youtu.be/LtAD1jLuSFc?t=336
Brady underthrows deep ball for easy PI https://youtu.be/LtAD1jLuSFc?t=528
Dbs need to get head around
Week 7 - @ Raiders W 45-20
Was 24-20 in the 4th Raiders have tipped pass interception, gets out of hand in the last 8 minutes. But was closer than final score appears.
Brady loves to take deep shots to Scotty Miller, lay it out for him to catch up to it, while with Evans/Godwin he tends to put it high or back-shoulder, let them go up and get it/be physical.
Week 8 @ Giants (1-6) (MNF) W- 25-23
Giants try a WR throwback, secondary doesn't bite, nobody open downfield it seems. (Trick plays are just not working on this secondary it seems)
The dumpoff to Rbs are wide open and Brady takes them so often. How are you not keying on those at all? (season long, not just a giants problem)
Jones throws horrific INT – Bucs first play after is predictably is a play-action deep shot to go for the jugular (not there takes dump off)
red zone – gronk TD, Evans for the 2 (defended)
red zone - 1st and goal, throw to Evans.
Tons of room for Jones to scramble, he mostly doesn't take it.
Giants score to pull within 2- don't get the 2 and game ends. Bucs easily could have lost this game.
Week 9 – Saints Huge game, Saints already beat them, division title basically on the line - L 38-3
https://youtu.be/T3MDyQ9nrV8?t=41 – secondary tooo aggressive, bites on a short route to Kamara, leaves another receiver wiiiide open in end zone.
Jared Cook fumbles at the Bucs 2 as Saints are going to go up 14-0, instead, turnover.
its 21-0 Saints before Bucs get a first down (and they had a drive end in a fumble at the 2, easily could have been 28-0 before Bucs had a single first down)
They get a first down! Then a tipped ball at the line is intercepted. Saints go up 28-0
Brady throws bad pick, no idea what's going on
if you can get Brady to scramble instead of having his office in the pocket, it is not pretty. Ditto
Bucs settle for fg while down 38-0 and 6 minutes to go in game - woof
Bucs set NFL record for fewest rushes in a game with 5 which includes a Blaine Gabbert kneel down.
Absolutely embarassing loss in the biggest game on their regular season calendar.
Week 10 – @Panthers W 46-23
Another Evans – Red zone TD
Bucs lead 20-17, 7 minutes into 3rd, Panthers have been leading, but it's back-and-forth. Panthers pin the Bucs on their own 2 with a punt. Whole game turns on this as RoJo has a 98 yard td run, then Bridgewater is hit as he throws and picked on the first play of the next drive (settle for FG, but then its 29-17). Then Panthers run fake punt, fail, hand them another short field, held to another FG. 32-17.
Bridgewater then leaves game, Bucs win 46-23, but it's down to this AWFUL 3rd quarter. Could have been a much closer game.
Week 11 – Rams (MNF) past Brady's bEd TiMe! L 27-24
Brady throws a duck, not picked somehow : https://youtu.be/EeWXw6UuPrM?t=63
Another Evans red zone TD
Bucs D made Goff look good. Cooper Kuff feasted on YAC
Goff throws WTF pick, Bucs held to FG (tie at 17), Rams respond with missed fg
Brady horrible pick
Brady sacked and then hit on back to back plays: https://youtu.be/EeWXw6UuPrM?t=448 both just a 4 man rush getting home.
https://youtu.be/EeWXw6UuPrM?t=493 – brady pass batted down, he catches it and throws it again?
Goff pick – short field, Bucs TD to tie it at 24 with only 4 minutes to play.
Rams FG to take 27-24 lead, giving ball back to Brady with 2+ minutes left, down 3, he promptly throws a terrible pick to lose the game: https://youtu.be/EeWXw6UuPrM?t=631
Week 12 – Chiefs - L 27-24
Chiefs get cute in the red zone: https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=32 have to settle for fg on opening drive (at the 2)
Tyreek bomb for TD on first play: https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=82
Bucs 3 and out, another quick punt.
Kelce with the hook and ladder fake out: https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=122
Now they try man: https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=140 Tyreek beats em again.
17-0 after 3 drives.
4th KC drive gets inside the Bucs 10, ends in a Mahomes strip-sack – Fisher gets beat bad and quickly. If not for this, could easily be 24-0 after 4 drives.
https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=247 – horrific chiefs tackling lets them score way too easily
Chiefs eat the clock to end the half and get a FG, leaving no time for Brady to come back at them – 20-7 at half. Bucs get ball to start 2nd half, go down to red zone, stall for a 26 yard fg. 20-10
https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=384 – Chiefs respond by hitting Tyreek again for a TD (27-10). Chiefs over 450 yards of offense 8 minutes into the 3rd quarter. (on pace for 700+ yards for the game).
Brady responds by throwing up a prayer when pressured, picked by Breeland: https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=416
Brady pressured, throws a terrible pass that's “tipped” because it hits Dirty Dan in the forehead at the line of scrimmage: https://youtu.be/j9hlfqaw4i8?t=444 picked by Tyrannasaurus
Chiefs go 3 and out thanks to a holding call and two leveon runs for 1 yard total.
27-10 in the 4th quarter – chiefs stop bringing blitzes, trying to rely on just 4 man pressure, Bucs go down and get a TD.
chiefs run out the last 4 miuntes (with quite a few passes).
Week 13 bye
Narrative is that they figured out all their problems in this bye, haven't lose since. Let's see how that plays out.
Week 14 – Vikings W 26-14 Vikings go down and score, but miss XP, next drive missed 36yd fg – should be 10-0, instead 6-0
7-6 – then Vikings miss 54 yard field goal
Evans targeted in red zone – PI call.
1 second left in half – they throw a hail mary, and the Vikings are called for PI on a hail mary... Bucs get a FG. Wow. Don't know if I've ever seen a pi call on a hail mary before.
17-6 Bucs, could be 14-13 Bucs (if not missed fg/xp, hail mary Pi) Bucs go down and score a TD on first drive, suddenly it's 23-6.
Vikings drive down to bucs 9 (23-14, 10 minutes to play) Bucs bring blitz, Cousins doesn't see it coming at all, takes bad sack/fumble (recovers) takes another sack, pushing all the way back to a 46 yarder and it's another miss.
26-14 final score, if not for kicking woes and that hail mary PI, instead of 26-14, we're looking at 23-23 tie in the 4th. Instead they win by 12. So don't just look at the score, this is a close game.
Week 15 @ Falcons W 31-27 (no Julio Jones mind you)
Matt Ryan has tons of time in the pocket or to scramble, Mahomes could feast if the line holds up this well.
Falcons bring only 4 (but a zone blitz, bringing a safety) and get immediate sack, fools o-line: https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=126
Calvin Ridley roasting Murphy-Bunting – 14-0 Falcons lead.
Surprise S blitz and fools brady for a sack: https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=227
Falcons up 17-0 at half (uh oh)
Trade Tds to start 2nd half 24-7
This isn't even a rub/pick, just bad D by the falcons in the red zone: https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=440
Extremely close play, a forced fumble on Scotty Miller, but his knee was down a split second before, so it's no fumble on review: https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=492 – Game changing split second.
Falcons offense dies in the 2nd half, letting Bucs just take over quickly goes from 24-7, to tied at 24.
Ridley feasting – 10, 163 yards, 1 td
https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=604 – Look at that time in the pocket.....but TD pass is just barely broken up. Sad. Settle for FG,
Bucs respond with deep ball to Antonio Brown, take 31-27 lead.
Falcons respond with deep ball, nearly hit: https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=687 To me, if that's Pat and Tyreek/Mecole/Sammy that's a 77 yard TD.
https://youtu.be/nkzys5ARecw?t=724 – look at Gronk and LT in pass block. Woof.
Bucs win 31-27. Really a squeaker, and the Falcons were without Julio (and a bang-bang turnover barely goes Bucs way).
*Week 16 @ Lions * W 47-7– Lions had like no coaching staff because of Covid (and firings), and Stafford is injured on the first drive, it's a Chase Daniel game. Bucs run away with it easily.
Week 17 Falcons W 44-27
Don't have a linebacker guard Godwin 1-on-1, now you know Atlanta.
Evans tweaks his knee, Brady hits hand on helmet on follow through on the same play. https://youtu.be/dly-nKcW-GA?t=186
Falcons fumble a qb/rb exchange for the 2nd time in the first half.
23-17 Bucs, 7 minutes into 3rd quarter. 23-20 to start 4th quarter -- again, final score is wayyy out of whack with game flow.
https://youtu.be/dly-nKcW-GA?t=741 – Bucs red zone d, 4th and goal at the 1, bites hard on the run, wide open play action to the TE.
Bucs LT decides not to block anyone? https://youtu.be/dly-nKcW-GA?t=764
Bucs up 3, 3rd and 12, at own 44, 5:32 to play. Hit a deep shot to Godwin. If incomplete, punting back to Falcons, up only 3. Instead, the pass is complete, they go down and score to make it a 10 point lead, then Falcons immediately turn the ball over and the final score is 44-27. If they don't hit that Godwin deep shot, you're looking at a totally different game.
Wild Card – @ a 7-9 Football Team W 31-23
Heiney – deflection/interception, pretty lucky for the Bucs, gives them short field, they get a TD. (9-0)
Heiney making plays, escaping pressure, eyes downfield, this dude is good. And that bucs pass rush can get him off his spot, but that doesn't mean it ruins the play (secondary can't hold up):
https://youtu.be/WrXfJJEu-Oc?t=106
https://youtu.be/WrXfJJEu-Oc?t=125
https://youtu.be/WrXfJJEu-Oc?t=140
https://youtu.be/WrXfJJEu-Oc?t=267 – is this one of the worst blitz calls you've ever seen? A safety blitzes from 10 yards off the line of scrimmage, takes 3 seconds to get even near Brady and by then the ball is out. Why?
https://youtu.be/WrXfJJEu-Oc?t=372 – Heiney escapes pressure, scrambles. This dude is good. Football team scores to make it 18-16 with 2 minute to go in 3rd (then misses a 2-pt).
HUGE play – Bucs up 28-16, 5min to go. IF you want to close out a win, you do it here. WFT 3rd and 10 at Bucs 11. No pass rush, burns Murphy-Bunting for a TD, pull within 5. 28-23. https://youtu.be/WrXfJJEu-Oc?t=509
Bucs get ball, can go win it with a TD, instead, settle for FG, which makes it an 8 point game (31-23) with 2:49 to play
Drives past midfield then stalls. So if they'd hit that 2 point conversion, the football team has the ball with 2:00 to play at midfield, down only 6. This is not a convincing win, especially given who is playing QB. He is good, don't get me wrong, but you'd think an elite defense wouldn't be beatable by a dude who was on the St. Louis Battlehawks like 10 months ago.
So the whole "Bucs figured everything out in the bye week" thing -- uhh, so after the bye they had close games with Vikings and Falcons, then blew out the coachless Lions, and beat up on the "ready for golf season" Falcons. 3 of those 4 games against teams that had already fired their coaches, and then they open the playoffs against a 7-9 team starting a nobody at QB. So yeah, this "streak" is not super impressive. The next two games are, but as we'll see, they aren't exactly big convincing wins either.
Divisional – @ Saints W 30-20 Brees throws basically a pick-six (returned to the 3), noodle arm.
Brady throws pick, dude just doesn't get feet down (but probably should have): https://youtu.be/elkS8MEHY0Q?t=270
https://youtu.be/elkS8MEHY0Q?t=430 – brady throws another probably-should-be interception
Even with Brees throwing basically a pick-six, with 4minutes left in 3rd quarter it's 20-13 Saints, Saints driving over mid-field when Jared Cook turns it over with a fumble. https://youtu.be/elkS8MEHY0Q?t=457
IF not for handing them the almost-pick-six, and if Jared Cook doesn't fumble (and this drive settles for FG), then it;s 23-6 to start the 4th quarter. Instead it's 20-20 game. Credit for forcing a fumble (though they are super random), not sure how much credit you get for Brees noodle arm (playing this year through 11 broken ribs and a partially torn rotator cuff, dude just doesn't have it anymore).
Another near pick from Brady: https://youtu.be/elkS8MEHY0Q?t=553
Brees throws the game with multiple picks. Saints are the better team, as we clearly saw in two games in the regular season. Bucs had the breaks and Brees noodle arm bail them out. If this is week 1, healthy brees (also we know now Michael Thomas has like multiple injuries needing off season surgery), then this is a Saints win.
NFCCG – @Packers W 31-26
Steal a possession before half, and then Packers D-coordinator runs a Greg Williams patented “fire me” defense and gives up an atrocious TD to end the half. A HUGE swing in the game.
Then Packers fumble and hand Bucs short field to start 2nd half, another TD. Again, you gotta force the fumble, credit where credit's due, but they are just so random (especially who recovers a fumble).
https://youtu.be/Gt6NsqMbByo?t=133 – The Bucs we torched are still torchable
https://youtu.be/Gt6NsqMbByo?t=149 - What percent of the time do you complete this? That's on 3rd down too, and they end up with a TD, that 50-50 ball is a 7 point swing.
Bucs runD is good between the tackles, but the outside stuff is open. Look for Jet sweeps and misdirection and not much runing between the tackles. They are big dudes and not that fast.
Packers just forcing it to Davante Adams in the redzone and failing.
Kinda surprised at Rodgers being a bit of a statue. He CAN move, but he is often sacked by not that much pressure, he just is not effectively moving around in the pocket or evading pressure. Staring down field and not that much pocket awareness it seems. Maybe having one of the best o-lines in the league made his pocket awareness skills rusty?
This game completely turns on the end of the first half, fumble to start first half. 14-17 point swing right there. Credit to the Bucs, but if you take care of business and don't turn the ball over, Packers win.
After obviously force feeding Davante Adams in the red zone all day, the Bucs decide to single-cover him and blitz and give him an easy TD.
failed 2 (bad drop by Equanimeous Tristan Imhotep J. St. Brown ), would have made the game 28-25, instead it's 28-23...
https://youtu.be/Gt6NsqMbByo?t=545 – Brady under pressure just flails the ball down field. He isn't even touched I don't think. Fallon d'flor material there.
Neither offense wants to do anything with it for most of the 4th quarter.
31-23, Packers stall in red zone..
https://youtu.be/Gt6NsqMbByo?t=635 – just run it – if you don't get in, go for it on 4th, if you fail to get that, you've at least pinned them deep. No you know what, let's try to force it to Adams again, they won't see that coming.
Overall, my big takeaways:

1. Evans is the Red zone target, double the shit out of him.
   
2. Get pressure on Brady, disguise blitzes, make that o-line adjust on the fly, often you can get pressure with exotic blitzes. If you pressure Brady he has barely any mobility, will not scramble, all you need to do is get him off his spot and his passer rating drops a ton.
   
3. Bucs offense hits a lot of deep passes, and likes to go back-shouldeunder throw, and let their big physical receivers go up and get it OR get a PI call. DBs MUST turn their heads and look for balls. Brady throws picks or interceptable balls quite often if the DBs get their head around.
   
4. Bucs offense is not very efficient. They might hit big plays, but they also go long stretches where they don't get anything done. They are still running the ball a lot on early downs instead of throwing (which is one of the biggest no-nos according to analytics).
   
5. Bucs streak is largely down to strength of schedule dropping, and then quite a bit of luck in the playoffs. If not for Brees being a shadow of himself (And Michael Thomas hurt), the Saints should beat them. Brady throws 3 picks against Green Bay, but they win largely because of two flukey plays (the end of first half greg williams defense TD, and the start of 2nd half fumble).
   
6. Bucs benefitted throughout the playoff run from a lot of short fields. Against just the Packers and Saints They have TD drives of 3, 8, 20, 40 yards. In the 16 other drives in those 2 games (excluding kneel downs), only 3 are TDs (51, 66, and 73 yards). So if you don't turn the ball over and give them a short field, they are not efficient and don't produce many long drives. For comparison, against just the Bills, the Chiefs had TD drives of 82, 80, 77, 75, and 58 yards. Chiefs do not need short fields, they are both explosive and efficient and sustain drives.
   
7. Bucs offense has gotten more drives than the Chiefs. Credit to their defense...though they played the corpse of Drew Brees, a St. Louis Battlehawk, and the Packers playing not to lose... But you look at a drive chart and you see lots of punting back and forth, or trading interceptions.
   

Bucs across 3 games: 2.96 points per drive
Chiefs across both playoff games (only Mahomes drives, no Henne): 4.3 points/drive
Chiefs had only 8 possessions against the Bills (including one which was Hardman fumbling, so the offense only had 7, excluding kneel downs/clock killing), and Mahomes had only 6 against the Browns (team had 8 total). Through 8 drives against Bills, Chiefs had 38 points, through 6 against Browns with Mahomes, they had 22 points.
Bucs had 12, 10, and 10 drives (excluding kneel downs/clock killing). They're getting more possessions...again, credit to their defense...but look at opponents as well.
Through first 8 possesions, the Bucs had 18, 20, and 28 points in their 3 playoff games. And the 28 includes the Scotty MilleGreg Williams atrocious half-ender, and an 8 yard td "drive."
So if you hear people say the Bucs should limit the total number of possessions, just remember, if there are only 8 possessions each, in Mahomes 7 playoff games so far, through the first 8 possessions, they average 28 points scored (38, 22, 24, 35, 34, 21, 24). Bucs in their three playoff games are averaging 22 points scored through their first 8 possessions.
Brady, last 7 playoff games (age 41, 42, 43 seasons) 165/271 60.8%, 288 yards per game, 9 Tds, 7 Ints, rating 84.4
Mahomes in 7 playoff games in career: 165/252, 65.4%, 293 yards per game, 17 Tds, 2 Int, rating 109.8

Background

The NFL is the professional organization for gridiron football in the United States, and one of the largest sporting organizations on the planet. Boasting a yearly revenue of over $16 billion... you know, lets pause and put that in perspective. Video games - the entire idea of electronic games you play, whether on your phone, computer, or dedicated console - have a yearly revenue of $44 billion. That means the NFL makes about 40% of what video games - the entire fucking industry - does worldwide.
It is also deliciously petty. 31 of the 32 teams are owned by rich individuals who did not make their money through football. That means they're essentially owned by super rich fans who are not used to anyone telling them no. These owner superfans can fire people, demand trades, etc. And do. Imagine if you picked your industry, and had it run by a bunch of outsiders who knew very little about it, but had vast amounts of money and bad tempers. Oh and unlike European football with relegations, there's nothing to remove a team or force them to be competitive, meaning people making bad decisions can just keep making the bad decisions.
The result is you could probably make a subreddit just called "Gridiron football drama" and it'd be populated as fuck. Therefore I won't go into the minor things - the players who robbed a bunch of people but then bribed their way out of charges, the dogfighting, the guy who shot himself in the leg, that's just standard petty shit. Coaches fired after good seasons because the owner doesn't like them, total idiots left on for years, good ol' boys who never seem to quite depart the NFL despite no one having an idea what they're good at, the ongoing disaster of analytics (the idea of applying mathematics to a sport run by overgrown infants), no, no, that's for another time.
A good time. I'll probably do one or two more of these.

COVID and the League

The NFL makes $16 billion. COVID kills people. $16 billion vs. dead people. Hmmm. Dead people. $16 billion.
So we're having a football season this year. It's almost guaranteed to kill at least some people who are either involved or involved in outbreaks caused by it, but hey, life goes on. Or doesn't.
The NFL pays lip service to preventing the spread, which is the start of our delicious drama.

COVID Protocols - the answer

The NFL has instituted COVID protocols. These are insane. For instance, people on the sidelines have to wear a mask. Athletes don't, because you can't breath through a mask while pushing your body to its limits. They explored face shields, but nah.
So you have two guys who are literally laying next to each other on the ground panting for breath after tackling (this sport isn't at all gay). They are breathing heavily, inches from each other. But say those exact same players who have been breathing in each other's faces for hours celebrate winning in the locker room? That sounds like half a million in fines. Pay up!
There's no real describing how insane this is. The raiders coach doesn't like his mask so he's declared war on the NFL. The Patriots, Steelers, 49ers, Raiders, and more have been fined.
The masks have also looked sillier and sillier. This man is considered a football genius. No, he hasn't taken one too many shots to the head or something, he's just incapable of wearing a mask normally. God knows why. Coaches regularly pull them down to talk to people, thus defeating the entire point, etc. See? He wears a mask when he doesn't need to be close to people or talk to them he only pulls it down for short periods of time when he's close and talking. I don't see the problem here.
Half the organizations fined are appealing, and accusations of bias have flown back and forth. Angriest are the Saints, who are PISSED about being fined half a million dollars for having a celebration in their own locker room after a win after they passed a COVID test right before the game.
Does any of this make sense? Nope!
There's some more sensible protocols too. For instance new players have to test negative, then sit out in isolation for six days while the teams wait for them to make sure they don't have COVID, test negative again, then they can join the team. Of course isolation isn't that isolating, but that's a whole other matter. So overall, mixed bag for protocols.

Fake fan noise

Okay, so most games can't be attended by fans (not Dallas, Dallas said fuck it get sick and die) but crowd noise is a big part of football. Crowds cheer their team. So they pipe in fake crowd noise.
This is a little creepy but not too bad. So where's the drama? Well, lets turn to Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. Their QB, Carson Wentz, has been having a bit of a down year. So to show him love, they piped in fake boos. At a home game. This is kinda how Philly fans roll, but needless to say this move drew some controversy.

Baltimore Ravens COVID

The Baltimore Ravens were supposed to play a game on Thanksgiving, but their QB might have COVID. Fortunately the NFL was understanding. A QB is the most important position on the field, and without Lamar Jackson, there's no way the Ravens could be expected to play. So the game has been delayed as they work the situation out. So far, so good.

Denver Broncos

Okay, so that brings us to the Denver Broncos. See, anyone who has COVID has to be quarantined, as does anyone who might have it. Even if they test negative for a long while.
So the Denver Broncos backup QB has COVID. And they had a long meeting with their QB and their other backup QB. And their other backup. In a room with no masks. They're all put on COVID watch list, meaning they can't play.
So the Denver broncos have four quarterbacks, and none can play. The Ravens have just had a game delayed. The Broncos get told... game on.
Okay, they look around for QBs they can get on short notice. But remember in the protocol section where they have to have new players wait six days? Oh. They don't have six days.
In desperation they ask the NFL if they can at least play their assistant coach. He can throw footballs, and knows the playbook. Nope! Not signed as a player, has to sit for six days. "But he's been practicing with the team!" the Broncos tell the NFL. The NFL decides to beat the dead horse some more, and denies them.
Thus the Denver Broncos try to figure out who on their team can throw a football. The answer was their practice squad wide receiver Kendell Hinton. Here's him throwing passes in training camp.
Uh yeah, he catches passes. Not throws them. And has never played a game. And last threw a pass in a game in 2016, in college. And works as a salesman part time.
Is this a total middle finger to the NFL from the Broncos, or just the only person they had? I don't know, but it's ugly.

The game.

So the Kendall Hinton completed 1 of 9 passes. These are the highlights. 1 for 9, 13 yards, 2 interceptions. The Broncos got drubbed by the Saints, obviously, although NO was pretty gentle with Hinton overall. There's a lot of "welcome to the NFL" defense strategies you can use against a new QB like blitz zero - basically an all-out blitz - that will generally crush them until they get used to it. NO kindly used none of that, playing pretty standard.
Of course Hinton couldn't beat pretty standard, because Hinton is a receiver who isn't good enough to make the main squad. It's not all bad for him. The Denver Broncos gave him a shoutout on their Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/Broncos/status/1333195716831838208
They reportedly gave him an ovation in the locker room, and gave him a the game ball. Multiple players have said they respect him, and they should. They weren't throwing the ball, and they probably would have looked just as bad. Gridiron football positions are not interchangeable, and QB is the hardest to step in to.
Fortunately Hinton seemed happy postgame interview, but damn.

Fallout

Broncos fans are furious the Ravens sat while their team was forced to play. Even ESPN has called this game "unprecedented in the modern era of football." There's a bunch of wagon circling back and forth.
Mike Klis a team reporter who covers them has reported that the Broncos other QBs tested negative before and after the game, meaning they could have played. Had they delayed the game they CERTAINLY could have played. So why did the NFL punish the Broncos and not the Ravens? Why show one team favoritism and guarantee the other a loss?
A big controversy is the NFL seems to be pushing "name brand" QBs. Lamar Jackson, QB of the Ravens, is one of those name QBs, and the NFL is pushing him hard as one of the faces of their game. Drew Lock, the Broncos QB, is not.
So this is adding fuel to that fire. Fans are convinced that people like Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Lamar Jackson are getting more protection from the NFL - refs are calling fouls if anyone touches them, they're rearranging schedules to highlight them, etc. These people most certainly increase NFL revenue, and the NFL pushes them hard.
On the other side, many outfits are talking how the Broncos broke the rules, and how the punishment was not unwarranted. Are these connected to the NFL? Maybe. Sports media is a bit incestuous. They can't just go report on some other organization if the NFL bans them or does mean things to them.
So this has drawn battle lines, and lead to a grand controversy that's still developing.
Was this interesting? Anyone interested in a writeup of the collapse of the Chicago Bears in 2020, the Antonio Brown saga (in three part harmony), or the 60 year history of mismanagement and ineptitude that is the Detroit Lions? Do you like reading about Gridiron football?

Hey everyone! This is my Mock Draft I did because I am a ridiculously bored bastard in the middle of a lull in my classes schedule. Let me know your thoughts! Trades are included in this, and the list of them can be found at the bottom.

1. Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence, QB

I really don’t have to explain this pick. He is far and away the most valuable pick in this draft and the Jaguars would be insane not to lock this pick in months in advance.

1. Jets- Justin Fields, QB

The first real decision of the draft comes from the Jets, where they decide to move on from Sam Darnold and draft an accomplished player in Justin Fields. On top of his clear physical talents and admiral skills at the QB position, the Jets choose him over Zach Wilson for culture reasons. Fields has faced high pressure situations his entire career and rebounded admirably from losing out in a QB competition, and for a team with a long history of losing he is a great piece to help turn the culture around.
3.Dolphins (Via HOU)- Penei Sewell, OT
The Dolphins can choose between getting a franchise left tackle and one of Tua’s old wide receivers, and ultimately they choose to protect their investment in a young QB. Sewell is a monster of an O-lineman and I would be shocked to see a team go with anything else, especially when the QB is one with the injury history of Tua.
4.49ers (Via ATL)- Zach Wilson, QB
The 49ers get aggressive and move up 8 slots in the draft, allowing them to select a QB who has been much more impressive than Jimmy G. He has outright said he thinks he would be a good fit in the 49ers scheme, and I expect Shannahan is thinking the same thing. The Falcons also gained extra picks to further rebuild their defense with, which is a priority for them in this mock.

1. Panthers (Via CIN)- Trey Lance, QB

Matt Rhule continues his rebuild of the Panthers by adding a dynamic dual threat quarterback who can eventually take the job over from Teddy Bridgewater. Trey Lance still needs to be developed as a passer, but I am confident with the weapons he would have in Carolina if he can do it anywhere it is there and Matt Rhule knows that as well.

1. Eagles- Devonta Smith, WR

The Eagles (and more specifically Howie Roseman) are under heavy fire from the media and fans, and are also in desperate need of help at the WR position. This leads them to picking a talented player that everyone already loves, and I suspect they will be rewarded for this decision. They get a technician to support Jalen Hurts / Carson Wentz, and if either of those guys are the answer they have to be able to get it done with a weapon as electric as Smith.

1. Lions- Micah Parsons, LB

Sorry Lions fans, the appropriate way to describe your needs is that you need help at every position. The Lions use this pick to go defensive BPA, which leads to them selecting Micah Parsons to be the centerpiece of their defense. Combined with Jeff Okudah, the Lions continue building a good young defensive core to support aging (and potentially traded) QB Matthew Stafford.

1. Bengals (Via CAR)- Christian Darrisaw, OT

Joe Burrow is going to reward the Bengals for their tank if they build around him, and starting Bobby Hart at RT is not building around him. The team selects the best OT left on the board at this point in order to try and keep their young QB upright and protect their investment in him. I also personally don’t buy the argument that the Bengals need another #1 receiver, as I believe in both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, thus passing on a better player in Ja’Marr Chase to fill a position of need.

1. Broncos- Patrick Surtain II, CB

The Broncos need a CB, and they go and get a proven SEC defender with a pedigree of performing against the best wideouts he faced. Surtain can be an anchor in the secondary to allow the edge rushing talents of this team to have the time needed to get home. This defense with some help could be a nightmare for opposing teams, and this furthers that goal.

1. Cowboys- Caleb Farley, CB

The Boys need help in the secondary, and especially considering the player they are about to pass to a division rival it makes the selection of the second best CB in the class in Caleb Farley a no brainer. This bit of aid may not fix a struggling Cowboys defense, but it will certainly help stem the bleeding.

1. Giants- Ja’Marr Chase, WR

The steal of the mock goes to Dave Gettleman at the 11th pick. After promising to get Daniel Jones weapons, he gets him an absolute monster of a receiver to supplement a receiving core that struggled mightily in 2020. With a monstrous deep threat in tow, Daniel Jones will have no excuse but to prove it in 2021.

1. Falcons- Kwity Paye, EDGE

The Falcons need help at all three levels of their defense, and they begin this retool with the draft of physical freak Kwity Paye. Paye is a bit of a developmental prospect, but the Falcons need help alongside Grady Jarrett and they find a promising young Edge Rusher in Kwity Paye to solve that.

1. Chargers- Rashawn Slater, OT

After Justin Herbert’s monster rookie season, one thing became quickly apparent: the Chargers needed to fix their offensive line to prevent Herbert from joining a dishonorable list of names including Joe Burrow and RGIII. They get this by getting a great OT prospect in Slater who can help solidify the line and keep a great QB upright.

1. Vikings- Wyatt Davis, IOL

Kirk Cousins is not a bad quarterback, but he also isn’t going to win on his own. He has a great set of weapons to showcase in Thielen, Jefferson, and Cook. Now the failure comes in that he can’t stay upright long enough to use these weapons properly. Adding a piece for Cousins to pass behind and Cook to run behind makes this offense more dynamic as a whole, and the top interior lineman comes off the board to help this issue.

1. Patriots- Jaylen Waddle, WR

The Patriots WR core was… bad. An already struggling WR core lost their best player in Edelman, Tom Brady, and their WR Coach in Joe Judge and the floor fell out from under an already mediocre group. They get a dynamic separator to serve as their #1, and will aim to address this issue again later on in the draft.

1. Cardinals- Kyle Pitts, TE

Kyler Murray is a great QB and the Cardinals have continuously invested in his success. That being said, he only has one elite target and when Hopkins can’t beat his double teams, the offense struggles. This situation is solved by obtaining a massive upgrade at TE in Kyle Pitts. This weapon can help continue to push Murray above and beyond in a powerhouse of a division.

1. Raiders- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB

Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, and the WR corp of the Broncos all pose a brutal challenge for a defense that already is struggling mightily. They begin to rectify this by getting a versatile athlete at LB to try and right the ship. Owusu-Koramoah is not the entire answer, but he is a good bet to be an effective NFL LB, and god only knows how badly the Raiders need one of those.

1. Dolphins- Rashod Bateman, WR

The Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa as their QB of the future, and now they need to tailor his weapons to what he is good at. He clearly does not trust his WRs, and for that reason the Dolphins bring in a fresh new face to try and work with the young QB. Tua has it in him, and Bateman can help him unlock the parts of his game he hasn’t yet showcased in the NFL.

1. Football Team- Mac Jones, QB

I’m going to level with all of you: I don’t really like Mac Jones all that much. In my opinion he has too low of a ceiling for me to like selecting him this early. That being said, the WFT has shown an ability to make game managers succeed: and I think they’ll be desperate enough for a QB that they’ll take their chances that Jones is more Alex Smith than AJ McCarron.

1. Bears- Samuel Cosmi, OT

The Bears are likely to lose Allen Robinson, and with that I think they need to focus on their best offensive weapon left in David Montgomery. Getting an absolute monster of a man to man at a tackle position can help possibly make the Bears an elite rushing team if they continue to build along this path.

1. Colts- Alex Leatherwood, OT

The retirement of Constanzo makes this pick a bit of a no-brainer. The Colts need a LT, and they get one in Leatherwood. Ballard and Reich get to keep rolling with their offense behind a prospect that I like quite a bit for them. I could also see the argument to select an Edge here, but given this franchise's history with not protecting their QB I would much rather have another O-Lineman.

1. Titans- Gregory Rousseau, Edge

Vrabel and the titans like physical freaks, and a freak they get in Greg Rousseau. His elite athleticism is that of a top five edge rusher, but he slips down as teams fear his floor is insanely low. The Titans roll the dice to try and save a pass rush that was out sacked by the Giants interior lineman in 2020, and gamble that this will pay off.

1. Jets- Jaycee Horn, CB

Lamar Jackson is an elite QB and any team would be happy to have him, Lamar Jackson on the other hand has no business starting at CB on an NFL team. The Jets rectify this issue by selecting an intriguing CB prospect in Horn. I personally don’t really know what I think of Horn quite yet, but I know he deserves to go in the first and that the Jets would be happy to have him.

1. Steelers- Najee Harris, RB

Najee Harris is a patient running back who is great at finding the holes in the defense who supplements that style with a great ability to contribute in the passing game. Now when have the Steelers ever utilized a back like that effectively? Joke aside, Harris is a great talent and as I think Ben gives it one more year this is the weapon they bring in to fix their struggling rushing attack.

1. Jaguars- Jaelan Phillips, EDGE

The Jaguars will look at how the WFT has rebuilt and try to emulate that by getting an elite edge rushing pair of their own. Enter Jaelan Phillips, one of my favorite gems of this class. He is far from a guaranteed prospect, but I love his ability as a pass rusher and when placed opposite Josh Allen I see a foundation of a playoff-caliber defense if Phillips translates to the next level.

1. Browns- Joseph Ossai, EDGE

The Browns will likely lose Olivier Vernon this offseason, and replacing him would be a wise move to not have that defense totally fall into disarray. Ossai has the potential to be an effective edge rusher in the NFL, and the Browns should take a chance on him in order to make sure that they can replicate the pass rush that even kind of makes that defense respectable.

1. Buccaneers- Christian Barmore, DL

Christian Barmore is a talented player, and he is being drafted to help fill big shoes. The Bucs pass rush is losing its top man in Shaw Barrett this offseason, and Christian Barmore can help solidify the front 7. As the first DL off the board, he can potentially help support a bucs pass rush and add another weapon to the Bucs arsenal they have effectively used to control the rushing attack of other teams.

1. Ravens- Rondale Moore, WR

The Ravens are… lacking at the WR position, and for that reason they select the best WR left on the board. Rondale Moore brings a good weapon for Lamar Jackson to throw to, and support the talented young QBs development as a passer.

1. Saints- Zaven Collins, LB

The Saints are likely to lose Drew Brees this offseason, but unfortunately I think they won’t be able to get a QB that can fully fill his shoes. So instead of trying to recapture the magic of that short passing attack they support the new QB, whoever it is, by adding a versatile defensive weapon that can make a dangerous Saints defense even more of a nightmare. His prowess as a blitzer is appealing to Payton, and I think that while Collins could bust out his athletic traits plus his versatility will draw Payton in.

1. Bills- Azeez Ojulari, EDGE

The Bills have a hell of an offense nowadays, but the once elite defense is in need of a little bit of support in order to reclaim what they were in 2019. This comes by trying to increase the pass rush of the team, as it allows the safeties and White to work their magic and lock down the passing game. Ojulari is not my personal favorite prospect, but he has talent and I think McDermott would be wise to take a shot on him.

1. Packers- Chris Olave, WR

Aaron Rodgers is coming off an MVP campaign, and that is without having a real WR2. The Packers decide to add strength to an already terrifying passing game by adding one of the best route runners in the class. He may not transform into an elite #1 option, but Olave is a great target for the Pack to try and further an already terrifyingly powerful offense.

1. Chiefs- Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL

Alijah Vera-Tucker is a steady player that has the potential to be a contributor at the guard slot, and the projected superbowl champions struggled up the middle badly. Patrick Mahomes is everything to this franchise, and using yet another 1st round pick to protect him would be a wise decision.

1. Jaguars- Jalen Mayfield, OT

The Jaguars learn from the Bengals mistakes and immediately make moves to shore up a mediocre O-Line that could get their new franchise QB seriously injured. They do this by bringing in a solid OT prospect to try and offer Lawrence protection from good edge rushers. While not a perfect OT prospect, Mayfield is a slam-dunk pick for a team looking to protect their new QB.

1. Jets- Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

I LOVE Amon-Ra. He will be a steal in this draft, and only to meet rule #1 will I qualify that he does still have some bust potential. By drafting St. Brown, the new QB on the block in Fields for the Jets gets a weapon to grow with. This strategy has worked in recent years (Burrow-Higgins, Jones-Slayton), and the Jets bring in a great weapon to try and replicate this strategy.

1. Falcons- Dylan Moses, LB

As I said earlier, the Falcons need help at every level of their defense. That being said, with Deion Jones already in the linebacking corp they can afford to make a risky decision and draft a dominant athlete who has unfortunately underperformed in his last season in college. This pick is a high risk / high reward decision, but the Falcons need to roll the dice if they want to be relevant again any time soon.

1. Dolphins- Travis Etienne, RB

The Dolphins continue to commit to rebuilding their team to fit the skillset of Tua Tagovailoa, and part of that plan includes obtaining a much better running game than the one they currently have. Etienne isn’t a perfect prospect, but what he brings is a pedigree of success to the Dolphins that would certainly be appealing to Flores. Etienne, Sewell, and Bateman could bring a spark to an offense that desperately needs one.

1. Eagles- Nick Bolton, LB

The Eagles are bad, but the Linebacking corp needs extra attention. For this reason they take the best Linebacker left on the board in Nick Bolton. He won’t solve all of this defenses problems as they are likely to lose their best player in Brandon Graham, but maybe he can stem the bleeding of a mediocre defense that is only getting worse.

1. Bengals- Terrace Marshall Jr., WR

While earlier I said I didn’t believe the Bengals needed an elite #1 wideout, they can definitely afford to go and get another decent one. This is where Marshall Jr. comes in, the big man is a college teammate of Joe Burrow’s, and could be a contributor in the red zone. While I personally don’t expect him to be the best WR in this class, his size makes him someone you can’t take your eyes off of, which helps the already great other members of the Bengals skill positions.

1. Bengals (Via ATL)- Creed Humphrey, IOL

The Bengals continue to rebuild the O-Line to protect their investment in Joe Burrow by adding a good interior lineman to shore up a weak point on the team. Humphrey is also a big man and can contribute heavily to the rushing attack leveled by Gio Bernard and Joe Mixon. This may not be the sexiest draft for the Bengals, but they do what they have to do to maximize their investment in Joe Burrow.

1. Broncos- Daviyon Nixon, DL

The Broncos continue to invest in their defense by adding an interior DL that can work alongside Chubb, Miller, and Casey to create an absolute monster of a pass rush. Nixon is not a slam dunk pick, especially because the Broncos are drafting to add to an existing strength of theirs, but if they want to survive vs. the Elite deep passers in the AFCW, they need to be able to get to the QB quickly. For that basic reason, they invest heavily in their defense in the early round of this draft.

1. Lions- Kyle Trask, QB

If not this offseason, then sometime soon Matthew Stafford’s time in Detroit is coming to an end. The Lions get another QB through the door to backup the aging Stafford for the short term while he develops into hopefully the franchise guy in Detroit. Lord only knows they need one after the only thing keeping that team from drowning in Stafford is gone.

1. Patriots (Via NYG)- Pat Friermuth, TE

Bill Bellichek loves his tight ends, and this time he pulls off a trade with the Giants to leapfrog them and Jaguars to select the player aptly dubbed “Baby Gronk”. Friermuth is not a perfect prospect, some injury concerns are present, but his talents are impressive in every phase of the game and the Patriots should kill to have a weapon like this. The Giants do this to supplement a move they make later on in this mock.

1. Falcons (Via SF)- Trevon Moehrig-Woodard, S

For one last time, the Falcons need help at every level of the defense and this time they get a safety to work the secondary of this defense. Moehrig is an impressive player to me, and I think he has a chance to outperform his draft stock and be an anchor for a struggling Falcons secondary.

1. Cowboys- Jay Tufele, DL

The Cowboys are egregious up the middle of their defense. It is an absolute embarrassment to watch, and for that reason they make a pick that is far from sexy in selecting Tufele. Tufele is a talented player who I believe could help remove the sad reality that RBs were able to rush all over the Cowboys defensive line for much of the year. This pick is not the sexy kind that Jerry Jones loves to make, but he needs to bite the bullet and select someone to help their struggling run defense.

1. Jaguars- Eric Stokes, CB

The Jaguars miss Jalen Ramsey patrolling their secondary, but now they need to replace him with a new set of DBs that can support the rebuilt edge rush of this defense. This is where Eric Stokes comes in, an SEC proven defender which may appeal to a team that needs help in the secondary.

1. Giants (Via NE)- Jayson Oweh, EDGE

The G-Men thank their lucky stars and select the second player of their draft that has slipped down the draft board in Jayson Oweh. The pass rusher benefited in the past from working alongside Micah Parsons, but his talents stood out in their own right this year on an otherwise disappointing Penn State defense without Micah Parsons. While I personally favor Basham as a pass rusher, Oweh is a great fit for the giants 3-4 disguise scheme and New York is lucky to have him more often than not.

1. Chargers- Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE

An underrated part of what made the Browns good this year was their ability to jar the ball loose and force turnovers, allowing the offense to run the score up with an otherwise mediocre defense. With Melvin Ingram likely gone, the Chargers aim to replicate the Browns in that way and select Basham Jr. The Edge Rusher out of Wake Forest is an intriguing process, but to me his ability to force fumbles is a significant boon that should draw in the Chargers and their high power offense that scores more often than not when they have the ball. Turnovers win games, and the Chargers draft Basham for his ability to force them coming off the edge opposite Bosa.

1. Raiders- Shaun Wade, CB

The Raiders take a chance on Shaun Wade who has regressed in a major way when he was pushed to the outside on the Buckeye defense this year. He still has the desirable physical traits, including the size and speed to bully slot receivers around the league and be effective in zone coverage against large receivers and TEs. He is a developmental prospect, but at his best he is a high-end talent, and the Raiders defense desperately needs one of those.

1. Cardinals- Patrick Jones II, EDGE

The Cardinals defense has a great pass rusher in Chandler Jones, but he went down this year and the team suffered for it. While Haason Reddick stepped up for them, he is headed for free agency. The Cardinals bring in a good edge rusher in Patrick Jones out of Pitt to try and make sure that the pass rushing burden doesn’t fully fall on one person like it has the past two years under Kingsbury. If Jones pans out, the Cards may be able to dominate the difficult NFCW and that is why they’ll try to beef up their pass rush.

1. Dolphins- Trey Smith, IOL

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I like the idea of rebuilding the Dolphins offense to match the already good defense they have built. They bring in Trey Smith to compete for an IOL job which he will likely win to form a young core of Smith and Sewell on that O-Line. The idea of this draft being to give Tua a new weapon and a good run game to lean on, and if he can’t make the most of it then the next QB will have a great situation to walk into.

1. Football Team- Kadarius Toney, WR

One of my favorite prospects goes to one of my least favorite teams. As a Giants fan living in DC, I would be absolutely crushed if this happens but ultimately I think it makes too much sense. Toney is a great weapon in terms of breaking tackles, joining an already slippery Washington offense built around Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin for Mac Jones to pilot. While he is far from a complete player, Toney is a fun weapon that I believe Meshes well with Mac Jones and what Rivera is trying to build in Washington, and for that reason he is a great pick at 51st overall in the draft.

1. Bears- Walker Little, OT

The Bears draft another monster OT to work opposite of Cosmi. Walker Little can support the plan I have proposed for the Bears draft to try and become a good rushing attack, and he can become an NFL caliber pass blocker in my opinion. The Bears need a new direction, and being a team that punches people in the mouth in the trenches is one that they can certainly achieve with these two picks.

1. Titans- Marvin Wilson, DL

The Titans need a lot of help rushing the passer, and they take another pass rusher who has shown flashes of being a great NFL caliber talent. Wilson at the interior position for the Seminoles shows pass rushing talent, but his floors have been unfortunately low. The hope for the Titans is that he and Rousseau can develop into a great interior / exterior edge rushing tandem that may save a struggling pass rush on an otherwise playoff caliber team.

1. Colts- Joe Tryon, EDGE

The Colts are, in my opinion, one of the best coached teams in the NFL, and they know that as well. For this reason they take an intriguing project edge rusher in Joe Tryon. He has nearly every physical trait you look for in an elite NFL pass rusher, while also having very few of the desired techniques of one. The Colts take a risk and pick him, trusting that over the next few years they can unlock his potential.

1. Steelers- Liam Eichenberg, OT

The starting OT of the Steelers in Zach Banner ultimately went down with a season ending injury early in the 2020 season while the rest of the O-Line only gets older, and for this reason they inject a rookie into the group. Eichenberg is a promising prospect, and I believe that the Steelers are a good place to utilize his talents.

1. Seahawks- Josh Myers, IOL

Not my favorite pick of the draft, but the Steelers need help up the middle of the trenches and if they intend to commit to running the ball more they need it double. Myers is reached for a bit in order to supplement this need, and his help both in the run game and passing attack will surely be appreciated by Seahawks HC Pete Caroll.

1. Giants (Via LAR)- Brevin Jordan, TE

Using their third round pick and some of the assets acquired from the patriots trade the Giants move back up into the first round to select a TE of their own. The Rams need to recoup picks from their litany of trades over the past few years, and they gain more mid round picks to supply depth to their otherwise top-heavy team. The Giants take a complete TE in Brevin Jordan, drawn in by the fact that he won’t be a liability in every way the same way Evan Engram was. At the very least, he likely won’t cause three separate interceptions by volleyball setting the ball into the air for the defense to catch.

1. Buccaneers- Jevon Holland, S

The Bucs were exposed this year when Tyreek Hill dropped 200 yards on them in a half, and as more speedster wideouts enter the league they may want to fortify the help they afford their CBs over the top. In comes Jevon Holland, a player who is just solid, I don’t view him as particularly elite but he is almost certainly going to be a good role player for the Bucs. The Bucs have their defensive playmakers in the front 7, now they just need the help up over top to let the guys up front do their work.

1. Ravens- Quincy Roche, EDGE

The Ravens are likely to lose Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue this offseason, and they try to solve this issue by reaching for the Miami product to support their weak edge group. It is just a solid, respectable pick to make.

1. Browns- Chazz Surrat, LB

The Browns need some help in the back 7, but a lot of it for the secondary will come off IR. This means another linebacker could help improve this defense, and for that reason they select the best LB left on the board in Chazz Surrat.

1. Saints- Levi Onwuzerike, DL

The Saints defensive leader in Cameron Jordan is only getting older, and now is the time to start finding him help and eventually, his replacement on that DL. This is where the talented Onwuzerike is drafted, as he is a flawed prospect that can learn from Jordan and eventually grow into the role of the alpha on this defensive front.

1. Bills- Tyson Campbell, CB

The Josh Norman experiment was… passable for the Buffalo Bills. That being said he is 33 and that secondary is already very expensive. With a pricy Josh Allen extension on the horizon, getting a good cheap CB is a smart idea for the Bills. This is why they use their second round pick to select Tyson Campbell.

1. Packers- Jalen Twyman, DL

It is no secret at this point that the Packers weakness is their run defense. By adding another player onto the interior defensive line they can begin to get their feet under them. This is the reason they select the Pitt product to develop and bulk up next to Kenny Clark.

1. Chiefs- Asante Samuel Jr., CB

The Chiefs offense is… expensive to maintain. For this reason the secondary is a bit of a revolving door for this team. With most of their starting CBs leaving this offseason, they could use a young controllable piece to develop in Spags defense. Enter Asante Samuel Jr., who gets picked to fill just that role.
Trades:

• Pick 4 for Pick 12, 43, and future assets (Falcons and 49ers)
• Pick 5 for Pick 8, 39, and future assets (Bengals and Panthers)
• Pick 57 for 3rd Round Pick + future assets (Rams and Giants)
• Pick 43 for pick 46 and future assets (Giants and Patriots)

Thanks for reading! Please leave your thoughts/criticisms below. I would love to talk about them!