Jan. 1-7

As you know, telling the stories of the people behind the players – the agents, scouts, executives, trainers and coaches who make up the framework of the game – is what we do at Inside the League. As part of that mission, we annually seek to award the teams that evaluated best with the Best Draft Award, which we’ve presented each year since 2018, when Saints Assistant GM Jeff Ireland accepted the award for his team’s work in 2017. 

Since that year, we’ve seen representatives from the Colts (Best Draft Award for 2018), 49ers (2019) and Buccaneers (2020) step the podium, physically or virtually, to accept the award. Most years, the winner seemed pretty evident almost from the moment we sent out the ballots. This year, however, with so many talented rookies, is unlike any previous years. 

Our job was tougher than ever this year as we had to weigh the impact of the transcendent players of the ’21 class (i.e., Dallas’ Micah Parsons, Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and others) vs. the teams that brought in depth across all three days of the draft. In the end, after considering the full 16 games so far, as well as teams’ relative performance in all seven rounds, we wound up leaving the Cowboys and Bengals out of the mix despite the resounding success of their first-rounders. Instead, the five teams we chose as candidates for the trophy hit on players all over the draft, usually at key positions. Here are the five teams vying for Best Draft 2021 as voted on by active NFL scouts and executives over the next two months.

Broncos: Denver hired a new GM last January, and based on the early returns, the team made the right choice. Paton and his retooled scouting staff hit on the team’s first four picks, all starters: Alabama DC Patrick Surtain (1/9), North Carolina OH Javonte Williams (2/35), Wisconsin-Whitewater OG Quinn Meinerz and Ohio State IB Baron Browning. Another three Day 3 picks are reserves for the Broncos, who are 7-9 entering their season finale after a 5-11 season in 2020. 

Chiefs: Kansas City made a bold move by completely rebuilding its offensive line through the draft, and it was remarkably successful. Their selection of Oklahoma OC Creed Humphrey (2/63) and, especially, Tennessee OG Trey Smith (6/226), worked masterfully, and by midseason, the front line had become one of the team’s strengths. The selection of Missouri LB Nick Bolton, another impressive starter, was almost gravy. 

Chargers: Every year, teams hope the draft yields help at impact positions like quarterback, defensive end, left tackle or cornerback. However, it’s rare that a team gets instant difference-makers at both positions as the Chargers did with Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater (1/13) and Florida St. DC Asante Samuel Jr. Four other picks have been key reserves as the Chargers have moved to within inches of a playoff berth with the Raiders standing in the way Sunday. 

Dolphins: At midseason, with a 1-7 mark, no one would have looked at the Dolphins as in line for any kind of award, much less one associated with the ’21 draft. However, after a seven-game winning streak and on the strength of big seasons by so many draftees, the conversation has changed. The team’s first four picks – Alabama WO Jaylen Waddle(1/6), Miami (Fla.) DE Jaelan Phillips (1/18), Oregon FS Jevon Holland (2/36) and Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg(2/42) have all been key contributors. 

Patriots: Last season, the Pats struggled as they kicked off the post-Tom Brady era. A year later, no one is talking about a hole at quarterback as Alabama’s Mac Jones (1/15) has the look of a 10-year starter in his first season under center. Based on (very) early returns, the fifth passer taken in the first round may be the best. Alabama DT Christian Barmore (2/38) and Oklahoma OH Rhamondre Stevenson (4/120) have also been key contributors as the Patriots have a playoff berth in hand after a 7-9 season in 2020.

Coming up just short were several teams. The Lions, despite their struggles this season, hit with OT Penei Sewell (1/7, Oregon) and WO Amon-Ra St. Brown (4/112, USC), who can set a rookie receiving record for the Lions this weekend. The Bills got a standout pass rusher (Miami DE Gregory Rousseau, selected 1/30) and a starting right tackle (Spencer Brown, picked 3/93 out of Northern Iowa) last spring, while the Packers picked up two starters (Ole Miss OG Royce Newman, 4/142, and Georgia DC Eric Stokes, 1/29) and the Steelers three (Alabama OH Najee Harris, 1/24, Penn State TE Pat Frieermuth, 2/55, and Texas A&M OT Dan Moore, 4/128). That’s not even counting Dallas or Cincinnati, who each drafted rookie superstars that look like they’ll be impact players for years.

So those are the finalists. Good luck figuring out the winner, scouts and executives. Ballots will go out Sunday, and as always, we’ll conduct voting for eight weeks before announcing the winner in Indianapolis at our 13th annual ITL Combine Seminar in March. Of course, as is customary, we’ll also poll voters on their salaries and benefits as part of our yearly survey. Results of the confidential survey will also be provided at the seminar. Please don’t forget to vote as we do our part to recognize the teams doing exemplary work without a lot of fanfare.

In the meantime, here’s a look at what else we saw, heard, read and said in the business of college and pro football this week.

We need your input: The Best Draft Award won’t be the only one we hand out in Indy. We’ll also recognize the ten scouts in each conference who were selected as our inaugural BART List honorees, and we’ll present the winners of the Eugene E. Parker Award for Lifetime Service to the agent industry and the C.O. Brocato Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Scouting. We’ve got a pretty good idea of the winners of the Parker and Brocato awards, respectively, but we’re always looking for input. We seek people who’ve served honorably, acted with character, and made their profession a better one than it was before their arrival. Want to make a nomination? We’re all ears. Just email us by responding to this email or reaching out to nstratton@insidetheleague.com.

A look inside the CGS: We’ll be working extensively with the aspiring NFL scouts who make up CGSU, our internship program at the College Gridiron Showcase, this week. We’ll give them dozens of opportunities to walk alongside NFL personnel over the next several days as well as hearing from them first-hand on how they got started, what they look for in new scouts, and how to break into the industry. Wanna get a closer look at just what our interns will do over the next three days? Check out this week’s blog at Succeed in Football here.

Interview prep, anyone?: With the Senior Bowl less than four weeks away and the NFL Combine about two months away, we’re revving up our interview prep program for the ninth straight year. Past trainers have included Saints AGM Jeff Ireland, Falcons Senior Personnel Executive Phil Emery and Rams Senior Personnel Executive Ray Farmer. This year, as he has for the past four years, former Bears GM Jerry Angelo will head the program. Among past ITL clients has been Jets OT Mekhi Becton, Cowboys DC Trevon Diggs, Panthers DT Derrick Brown, Titans DC Caleb Farley, Bills DE Gregory Rousseau, Ravens DT Justin Madubuike and many more. Though Jerry is based in Tampa, we can provide affordable training options with other members of our team via Zoom or in-person, usually without travel costs. Reach out and let us give you a quote; Jerry is tentatively scheduled to be in South Florida next week, Dallas the following week and Phoenix the next week. We’d love to work with you. Hit us up!

Catching Up: Chuck Brensinger, 35, started out in personnel at Princeton University before spending nine seasons with the Lions. We caught up with him last week.

Where are you living and what are you doing now?: “I moved back home to Pennsylvania in August. I've been keeping myself busy by doing some consulting work for a CFL team. I wrote a fair amount of preseason reports for them, but more recently my focus has been on evaluating draft-eligible college prospects and projected early-out underclassmen. The majority of my scouting experience in the NFL has been in pro scouting and so I was very thankful for this opportunity to diversify my experience by focusing on evaluating college players during this time. I've also been doing some work with a start-up sports media company, which has also focused on evaluating the top draft-eligible college players. My objective during this time is to become a more well-rounded and complete scout, and I think I've done a good job of working towards that thus far.”
Do you miss the job? What do you miss most?: “I do. I'm a very team-oriented individual, so the thing I've missed most is being around the team. I miss being around the other members of my department, the scouting staff as a whole, the coaches, and the support staff with everyone in the building working towards a common goal. I miss being able to effortlessly talk ball with my colleagues.”
Do you keep in touch with any of your former colleagues?: “Absolutely! I've forged a lot of relationships over the years that I value immensely. It's not always easy and I can't say I always do the best job of staying in touch, but I try to make sure I at least check in from time to time. I wish all my guys health and success.”
Do you go to any live games (HS/college/pro)?: “I attended a couple of local high school practices and games in the late summer and into the fall, but that's been the extent of my live game experience this year.”
Are there any players you love to watch and/or feel close to due to your work in the game? “I obviously appreciate watching great players at all levels. The college game has always been a lot of fun for me to watch. It's been exciting watching my alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, and QB Kenny Pickett have a great season, which culminated in an ACC title. I've also really enjoyed following Matthew Stafford in this new phase of his career with the L.A. Rams.”

Review the latest from other former NFL scouts and executives by accessing our Catching Up archive here. Want to hear from a former scout, or know someone who may be interested in being interviewed? Let us know.

ITL Travel Schedule: Just a reminder of where you’ll find ITL in the next month. Dates include:
  • CGS: This Saturday, Jan. 8, to Tuesday, Jan. 11
  • Tropical Bowl and Hula Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 12, to Friday, Jan. 14
  • Shrine Bowl: Friday, Jan. 28, to Sunday, Jan. 30
  • Senior Bowl: Monday, Jan. 31, to Wednesday, Jan. 2
It looks like we regretfully won’t make it to Los Angeles for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, but we are working on clearing our schedule for the Cajun All-Star Bowl in Beaumont, Texas, Feb. 9-12, and we hope to make it to New Orleans for the HBCU Legacy Bowl the following week. We’ll keep you posted. Safe travels, people. 

Rep Rumblings: As it always is this time of year, it was a week full of brimming reports. On New Year’s Day, we had plenty of buzz on the players in the day’s bowl slate, focusing mostly on the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl. Monday was much the same as we focused on the signing buzz surrounding many of the big players whose college careers ended over the weekend, plus we offered a note of caution on the USFL’s player signing process due to a misleading tweet. Tuesday, we looked at the vaccination and credential policies for a game that’s still a ways off (the Senior Bowl) and one that starts, well, now (the CGS). We also celebrated an old friend in a new role, passed along the long-awaited info on how and when to submit a player for USFL consideration, and had signing buzz. Finally, on Thursday, we thought out loud about the rise of the XFL, the USFL and the transfer portal and what it might mean for college all-star games. We also looked at those leagues’ representation at the CGS and had more signing buzz. Don’t miss a word of our reports. Click here to check out everything going back 10 years.

Next week: OK, here we go. We’ve piled lots and lots of signings and all-star invites and training locations onto our big board, but now it’s time to leave the office, go out into the world and meet the people who do the work of football. In so doing, we’ll be adding lots and lots more information into our Signings Grid, and we’ll hear and see plenty of things on the all-star trail that will fit nicely into our Rep Rumblings and our Succeed in Football blog. We’ll also start breaking out the respective rosters for the CGS, Tropical Bowl and Hula Bowl as we have already done with the Senior Bowl, listing players and their agencies. By the end of next week, we hope to have full rosters complete with representation for every player, as we always do. We might even have new additions to our library at YouTube or ideas for new Zoom sessions. Bottom line, it’s going to be a busy time of working hard and playing hard. If you see us out on the trail, make sure to stop and say hey. We look forward to it, especially if you’re a member of the ITL family. Safe travels, friends.