Biggest movers in Daniel Jeremiah's latest prospect rankings
The 2021 NFL Draft officially begins in less than one month.
With the pro day circuit coming to an end next week, prospect rankings will start to take shape as we get closer to draft night on April 29.
In the third edition of his 2021 draft prospect list, Daniel Jeremiah updated his top 50 rankings yesterday.
Here are a few of the biggest risers in Jeremiah's newest rankings, along with commentary provided by the NFL Media analyst.
Kentucky LB Jamin Davis - No. 24 (up 11 spots from No. 35)
"Davis is a tall and lanky off-the-ball linebacker. He has excellent eyes to key, read, fill and finish. He uses his quickness to beat blockers to spots. He is much better working around blocks than taking them on, but he has outstanding lateral range, and his eyes give him a jump-start. He has stopping power as a tackler in the hole, and he really excels against the pass. He has shown the ability to carry TEs down the seam as well as mirror RBs on wheel routes (SEE: Vanderbilt game). He is instinctive as a zone dropper, picking off three passes in 2020, including an 85-yard pick-six versus Tennessee. I wish he was allowed to blitz more often, because he has the traits to excel in that department. Overall, Davis lacks some strength to bang versus blockers, but his speed and playmaking ability jump off the screen. He should be a Day 1, three-down impact player at the next level."
Georgia EDGE Azeez Ojulari - No. 29 (up 10 spots from No. 39)
"Ojulari is a slightly undersized edge rusher. He split time between playing with his hand on the ground and standing up on the edge for the Bulldogs. He takes short/quick steps and has a variety of pass-rush moves. He will push/pull, utilize a jump/slap/swim move or stick his head into the chest of offensive tackles and bull through them. He isn't an elite bender at the top of his rush due to some ankle tightness. His effort is excellent. He can stack and set the edge consistently versus the run. He can turn and chase, showing the ability to quickly close. He saved his best for the Peach Bowl against Cincinnati. He was a destructive force in that contest. Overall, Ojulari has some tightness and lacks ideal size, but he made plays in every game I studied. He is best suited to stand up on the outside for an odd-front team."
Mississippi WR Elijah Moore - No. 38 (up 12 spots from No. 50)
"Moore is an undersized wideout with outstanding versatility, quickness and toughness. He has experience lining up outside, in the slot and in the backfield. He has excellent quickness in his release and is clean/crisp at the top of routes. He gets a lot of quick hitters and he's very elusive after the catch. He also makes some huge plays over the top, tracking the ball naturally and showing reliable hands. He is effective when used as a runner out of the backfield, too. He hits the hole full-go and can make defenders miss. Overall, Moore lacks size, but he'll be a stud in the slot and can also help in the return game."
Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr. - No. 39 (previously unranked)
"Samuel is an undersized cornerback with quick feet, trustworthy eyes and outstanding hands. He's at his best in off coverage. Samuel has a quick, fluid pedal and he is very efficient in his plant/drive on throws in front of him. He has outstanding route awareness and anticipation to position himself for ball production. There are some instances in which he gets outsized on vertical throws, but he is always in position. He isn't a physical run defender, but he is reliable to wrap up and get ball-carriers on the ground. Overall, Samuel has a very high football IQ and the skill set to start outside or in the slot."
Jeremiah's latest rankings also saw several prospects fall down the list. Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley drops 12 spots to No. 17, while Washington EDGE Joe Tryon falls eight spots to No. 35. Farley's teammate, Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw, slips 10 spots down to No. 36, while LSU LB Jabril Cox comes in at No. 50, seven spots lower than his ranking last month.
Three new prospects appear in Jeremiah's top 50 after not being ranked last month. As previously mentioned, Samuel Jr. earns the No. 39 slot in the latest rankings. In addition, Wisconsin-Whitewater IOL Quinn Meinerz appears at No. 44 while Washington CB Elijah Molden lands at No. 49.
Three new players making the list also means that three players fell out of the NFL Media analyst's top 50 rankings: Louisville WR Tutu Atwell (previously No. 36), Iowa DT Daviyon Nixon (previously No. 45), and UCF CB Aaron Robinson (previously No. 48).
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah updated his ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft for the final time before the start of the draft.
No. 50 Georgia CB Eric Stokes
No. 49 Oregon S Jevon Holland
No. 48 LSU WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
No. 47 Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg
No. 46 Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth
No. 45 Wisconsin-Whitewater IOL Quinn Meinerz
No. 44 Oklahoma EDGE Ronnie Perkins
No. 43 Alabama DT Christian Barmore
No. 42 Houston EDGE Payton Turner
No. 41 Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman
No. 40 Alabama IOL Landon Dickerson
No. 39 Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr.
No. 38 Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw
No. 37 North Dakota State OT Dillon Radunz
No. 36 Oklahoma State OT Teven Jenkins
No. 35 Michigan OT Jalen Mayfield
No. 34 Missouri LB Nick Bolton
No. 33 Washington EDGE Joe Tryon
No. 32 Alabama QB Mac Jones
No. 31 Penn State EDGE Jayson Oweh
No. 30 Georgia EDGE Azeez Ojulari
No. 29 Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike
No. 28 Florida WR Kadarius Toney
No. 27 Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II
No. 26 Mississippi WR Elijah Moore
No. 25 North Carolina RB Javonte Williams
No. 24 Tulsa LB Zaven Collins
No. 23 Kentucky LB Jamin Davis
No. 22 Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley
No. 21 Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips
No. 20 Alabama RB Najee Harris
No. 19 Clemson RB Travis Etienne
No. 18 Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau
No. 17 Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye
No. 16 TCU S Trevon Moehrig
No. 15 Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
No. 14 South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn
No. 13 USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
No. 12 Penn State LB Micah Parsons
No. 11 Oregon OT Penei Sewell
No. 10 Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater
No. 9 Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II
No. 8 Ohio State QB Justin Fields
No. 7 North Dakota State QB Trey Lance
No. 6 Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
No. 5 Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle
No. 4 BYU QB Zach Wilson
No. 3 LSU WR Ja'Marr Chase
No. 2 Florida TE Kyle Pitts
No. 1 Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
Giants sign veteran DT Danny Shelton
The Giants have added to their stable of defensive linemen by signing tackle Danny Shelton, who was the 12th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Shelton, 6-2 and 345 pounds, has played in 87 regular-season games with 72 starts in six seasons for Cleveland, New England and Detroit. He also played in three postseason games – starting two – for the Patriots, including their Super Bowl LIII victory against the Rams. Joe Judge was New England's special teams coordinator – and the wide receivers coach in 2019 - when Shelton played there.
Shelton's career totals include 247 tackles (126 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits and one forced fumble. In the playoffs, he has nine tackles (seven solo), including one for loss.
In 2020, Shelton started all 12 games in which he played for the Lions. He collected 37 tackles (15 solo), 1.0 sack, 2 tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
The 27-year-old Shelton missed four games while on injured reserve with a knee injury and returned for the season finale against Minnesota. He injured his triceps against the Vikings. The 27-year-old Shelton was released by the Lions on March 16.
Shelton played his first three NFL seasons in Cleveland, which selected him in the opening round of the 2015 NFL Draft, from the University of Washington. He started all but one of the 46 games he played for the Browns. On March 14, 2018, the Patriots acquired Shelton and a fifth-round choice from the Browns in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick.
Shelton joins a Giants defensive line that includes Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Austin Johnson, B.J. Hill and recent addition Ifeadi Odenigbo. He is the third member of the 2020 Lions to sign with the Giants, joining wide receiver Kenny Golladay and linebacker Reggie Ragland.
Inside the Film Room: Kyle Rudolph provides athleticism, big red zone target
Check out the video below to watch Bob Papa and Super Bowl Champion Shaun O'Hara break down the film of new Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph in the latest edition of Inside the Film Room.
