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Tony Dejak/Associated Press
If you re an NFL draft viewer, three short phrases likely dominate your living room during Round 1 every year.
1. That s a steal!
2. That s a reach!
3. That s a surprise!
Steals, of course, are players who should have come off the board earlier than they did. Reaches are players in the opposite circumstance. Surprises are, well, surprises sometimes positive, sometimes negative, always unexpected by definition.
With that in mind, let s review the opening round of the 2021 draft through those lenses.
Steal: Atlanta Falcons Select Florida TE Kyle Pitts Fourth Overall
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David Dermer/Associated Press
A tight end is drafted in the top four for the first time in modern NFL history, and we re calling it a steal? Yup, because Kyle Pitts is so much more than a typical tight end. He s arguably the top non-quarterback in this class.
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Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
Alijah Vera-Tucker is the top guard on the board, and while this may be a little early for him, the Panthers have a major need at the position, so securing a true plug-and-play starter to bolster the line would be a wise move.
Vera-Tucker has proven that he can play tackle if needed, while guard is where his ceiling is highest as a refined, technically sound player with scheme versatility. He also has plenty of room to grow considering he turns 22 in June.
Carolina has struggled on the O-line due to a lack of depth and injuries, so Vera-Tucker would not only insulate them against both issues but also dramatically upgrade last year s primary starter at left guard, Chris Reed, whom they let walk in free agency.
John Bazemore/Associated Press
A month out from the 2021 NFL draft, the idea Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields could be the steal of the entire event would have been classified as foolish.
With a few days to go, not so much. Now, it s almost starting to feel like a guarantee.
For the better part of a year, if not longer, Fields name sat comfortably alongside 2021 class heavyweights such as Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson and it wasn t much threatened by the rise of North Dakota State s Trey Lance or Alabama s Mac Jones. He was never a challenger to go No. 1, but he was right there.
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Elise Amendola/Associated Press
Ever since Tom Brady departed the New England Patriots, their quarterback position has been under tight scrutiny.
So, of course, the talk in the buildup to the 2021 NFL draft revolves around potential moves Bill Belichick can make to land the quarterback of the future.
Cam Newton is back for another season, but he showed in 2020 that he is not the long-term answer at the position.
While it would be nice for the Pats to land one of the top five signal-callers, they may not be in the market for one with the 15th overall pick.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison reported two new cases of COVID-19 on the Island Monday afternoon.
P.E.I. currently has 11 active cases of COVID-19 and has had 177 positive cases since the pandemic began. There have been two hospitalizations and no deaths.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic region Monday:
Nova Scotia reported 66 new cases Monday, which is a single-day record for the province. There are 323 active cases the province announced more restrictions beginning Tuesday.
New Brunswick reported seven new cases. There are 122 active cases, including the variant first recorded in India.
Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed four new cases and has 28 active cases.