2021 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: Day 3

Winners and Losers – Day 1 | Winners and Losers – Day 2

By Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
Published: May 6, 2021.

Third-Day Winners

Carolina Panthers
I thought the Panthers did well on the opening night of the 2021 NFL Draft, made some mistakes on Day 2, but then circled the wagons and finished out the draft well by making a trio of really good picks on Day 3. In the fourth round, Carolina landed Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard, who could have been a second-round pick if he had entered the 2020 NFL Draft coming off his 2,000-yard season. Hubbard was injured last fall, but he has a good skill set that includes size, quickness, and running ability. Because Mike Davis left in free agency, Hubbard could turn out to be an excellent backup and rotational back who can help lighten the load on Christian McCaffrey. Hubbard has a starter’s skill set, so landing him in the fourth round was excellent value.

The Panthers ended Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon’s fall in the fifth round, and he was expected to be a Day 2 pick. After releasing veteran Kawann Short this offseason, Carolina needed a three-technique and interior pass rusher to go next to powerful nose tackle Derrick Brown. The Panthers did not draft another player at the position or sign a veteran, so Nixon is in a prime position to see early playing time and compete to be a starter immediately.

Nixon is quick and athletic at the point of attack with the upside to improve as he gains experience. With Brown on one side and dynamic edge rusher Brian Burns on the other, Nixon should see phenomenal looks with single-block situations as teams will send double teams to Burns or Brown. If Nixon can get clean up his off-the-field life, he could be a big steal for Carolina.

In the sixth round, Carolina added a really good wide receiver in Shi Smith. He is a dangerous slot receiver who runs good routes, is quick, has solid hands, and is dangerous after the catch. Many expected Smith to go in the third round, and he had third-round grades from some teams, so landing him in Round 6 is a steal. Smith could be a contributing slot receiver as soon as his rookie season.

The Panthers had some other decent picks on Day 3, but the three guys above were special picks and were wise choices by the team’s decision makers. Of all the NFL franchises, I think Carolina did the best on Day 3.

Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers went into the 2021 NFL Draft needing a lot of help on the offensive line, and they surprisingly waited until the mid-rounds to take a lineman. On Day 3, Pittsburgh landed a really good value in Texas A&M offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. He has a nice skill set and received a lot of developmental experience in the SEC, showing improvement each season. Moore could be the Steelers’ long-term right tackle, and getting him in the fourth round was a steal, as some teams had him graded a round higher. Fifth-round pick Isaiahh Loudermilk is a nice fit as a five-technique defensive end in the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme, while sixth-round edge rusher Quincy Roche had good sack production in college and has the necessary speed to be a designated pass rusher in the NFL during obvious passing situations. Pittsburgh did a good job of drafting on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Dallas Cowboys
Dallas made some good choices during the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft, starting with LSU linebacker Jabril Cox. Cox is dynamic in pass coverage but needs to get more physical and stronger as a run defender. If he develops in this regard, he could become a starter because the NFL is passing driven and turn out to be fourth-round steal. Marshall offensive tackle Josh Ball had some second-round grades, but he fell due to character concerns stemming from his domestic violence past at Florida State. Ball has talent and could be a steal if he avoids trouble. Sixth-round nose tackle Quinton Bohanna could stick as a block eater and big body in the middle of the line. Later in the sixth round, South Carolina cornerback Israel Mukuamu was a solid pick as he has big size to be a situational press-man corner who also could play some safety. Overall, Dallas did a nice job of getting good values on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
To start off Day 3, I know the Bucs broke the hearts of numerous teams around the league when they took North Texas wide receiver Jaelan Darden in the fourth round. The ultra-fast big-play receiver was a touchdown machine and is a real weapon out of the slot. I knew of a few teams that were planning on taking him in the fifth round, so Tampa Bay got a steal with Darden.

Auburn linebacker K.J. Britt was a nice selection to serve as a run thumper in obvious running situations and could develop into being a starting Sam – strong side – linebacker or backup Mike – middle – linebacker. He also should be a core special teams player and contributor. Seventh-round pick Grant Stuard, the final pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, I liked as well. Stuard could be a good backup and a start on special teams. Don’t be surprised if some of these picks by the defending champs end up being valuable players on special teams and good backups.

Third-Day Losers

New Orleans Saints
It’s hard to really label any team a loser on for Day 3 of any NFL draft because over 60 percent of third-day picks don’t work out in the NFL. Those odds go up even higher in the late rounds, with 80-90 percent of sixth- and seventh-rounders not panning out. Thus, I can’t level serious criticism at New Orleans.

The Saints choices on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft look like players who will have a hard time sticking in the pros. Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book was a reach in the fourth round, and his ceiling looks like that of a third-string caliber quarterback. Kentucky offensive tackle Landon Young wasn’t a horrible sixth-round pick and was the best of the Saints’ best third-day selection because he has the potential to become a solid swing tackle backup. Seventh-round wide receiver Kawaan Baker could be a practice squad player, but he doesn’t look like he has the speed to even become a rotational backup in the NFL.