2021 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0 is here. The Senior Bowl has come and gone, and outside of a few pro days was the last chance we get to multiple high-level prospects on the field together. There were some standouts that have rocketed up boards and a few players that still have question marks around them, but with no usual combine workout this year, tape evaluation will be more important than ever.
Players 1-30
1) Trevor Lawrence, QB – Clemson
2) Penei Sewell, OT – Oregon
3) Kyle Pitts, TE – Florida
4) Zach Wilson, QB – BYU
5) Ja’Marr Chase, WR – LSU
6) Rashawn Slater, OG/OT – Northwestern
7) DeVonta Smith, WR – Alabama
8) Jaylen Waddle, WR – Alabama
9) Patrick Surtain II, CB – Alabama
10) Caleb Farley, CB – Virginia Tech
11) Justin Fields, QB – Ohio State
12) Micah Parsons, LB – Penn State
13) Trey Lance, QB – North Dakota State
14) Christian Darrisaw, OT – Virginia Tech
15) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S – Notre Dame
16) Gregory Rousseau, Edge – Miami (FL)
17) Kwity Paye, Edge – Michigan
18) Jaycee Horn, CB – South Carolina
19) Rashod Bateman, WR – Minnesota
20) Azeez Ojulari, Edge – Georgia
21) Kadarius Toney, WR – Florida
22) Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL – USC
23) Liam Eichenberg, OT – Notre Dame
24) Najee Harris, RB – Alabama
25) Zaven Collins, LB – Tulsa
26) Trevon Moehrig, S – TCU
27) Nick Bolton, LB – Missouri
28) Joseph Ossai, Edge – Texas
29) Jaelen Phillips, Edge – Miami
30) Levi Onwuzurike, IDL – Washington
High Guy: Kyle Pitts, Tight-End – Notre Dame
Kyle Pitts is a matchup nightmare. The tight end out of Florida is at his best in the pass game where he has elite route running, hands and body control. The biggest area of improvement in Pitts’ game came in his blocking which is merely adequate but allows him to remain on the field in heavy run looks and get mismatches in the play action game. Wherever Pitts ends up he will be a go-to option in the middle of the field and the red-zone and impact player similar to Travis Kelce in Kansas City.
Low Guy: Micah Parsons, Linebacker – Penn State
This is not a negative view on Micah Parsons, as he is an explosive athlete and disruptive force in the front seven of the defense. Parsons is at his best when asked to attack downhill in both the run and pass game where he consistently shoots gaps and blows up plays before they get started. His talent is top rate, but he is a bit of tweener between an edge rusher and a linebacker. His utilization will be key to maximizing his potential, and he likely will take some time to develop in whatever position he is asked to play which is why he has slid down the board for me.
My Guy: Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver – LSU
While teams work to manufacture touches for speed players in space, the down-to-down winners in the NFL are guys like Ja’Marr Chase who can utilize physicality while still maintain solid play speed. Chase has an NFL build and dominated in 2019 as Joe Burrow’s go-to option in the pass game. He might get dinged for a small sample size of tape or that he opted out in 2020. However, Chase is not a quarterback and even in his small sample size he consistently dominated against future NFL corners including guys like A.J. Terrell, C.J. Henderson, Cam Dantzler, Trevon Diggs, and Patrick Surtain. Given his combination of hands, physicality, route running, and YAC-ability, Chase is wide receiver one for me in this draft.
Players 31-60
31) Creed Humphrey, IOL – Oklahoma
32) Jalen Mayfield, OT – Michigan
33) Javonte Williams, RB – North Carolina
34) Travis Etienne, RB – Clemson
35) Asante Samuel Jr. CB – Florida State
36) Pat Freiermuth, TE – Penn State
37) Teven Jenkins, OT – Oklahoma State
38) Carlos Basham Jr., Edge – Wake Forest
39) Christian Barmore, IDL – Alabama
40) Terrace Marshall Jr. WR – LSU
41) Jayson Oweh, Edge – Penn State
42) Alex Leatherwood, OT – Alabama
43) Aaron Robinson, CB – UCF
44) Eric Stokes, CB – Georgia
45) Dillon Radunz, OT – North Dakota State
46) Rondale Moore, WR – Purdue
47) Jabril Cox, LB – LSU
48) Greg Newsome II, CB – Northwestern
49) Daviyon Nixon, IDL – Iowa
50) Mac Jones, QB – Alabama
51) James Hudson, OT – Cincinnati
52) Landon Dickerson, IOL – Alabama
53) Tommy Togiai, IDL – Ohio State
54) Trey Smith, IOL – Tennessee
55) Joe Tryon, Edge – Washington
56) Elijah Moore, WR – Ole Miss
57) D’Wayne Eskridge, WR – Western Michigan
58) Marvin Wilson, IDL – Florida State
59) Wyatt Davis, IOL – Ohio State
60) Patrick Jones, Edge – Pittsburgh
High Guy: Tommy Togiai, Defensive Tackle – Ohio State
Tommy Togiai is arguably the best run defender among the defensive linemen in this year’s draft class. Playing primarily on the nose for Ohio State, he was a disruptive interior player that utilized great natural leverage to play with power and strength at the point of attack. He does not have ideal length, but Togiai plays with excellent quickness for a man his size and with some development could turn into a solid pass rusher. He will get instant playing time on early downs and could develop into a three-down player if he can add some versatility to his game.
Low Guy: Patrick Jones, Edge – Pittsburgh
When I initially watched Patrick Jones, I was really sold on his athletic profile as a three down edge defender with great burst and a variety of moves in his pass rush repertoire. Jones is likely a starting defensive end in a 4-3 front, but he has virtually no experience in coverage or as a stand-up rusher. Furthermore, I question his ability to counter the combination of length and strength NFL tackles possess as he struggled against top competition on tape specifically against Notre Dame. All together Jones is a high floor player, I just question what the ceiling is for him as a developing player.
My Guy: Rondale Moore, WR – Purdue
Injuries happen and unfortunately for Rondale Moore he has struggled with them over the past couple of seasons at Purdue. However, when healthy Moore is pound for pound one of the best athletes in this draft class. He is versatile playmaker who can line up anywhere on the offense and effects the game as returner in special teams. Moore’s quickness and speed are both elite attributes and although he is an undersized player, he is compact and shows some nastiness when finishing runs. If he can stay healthy, he will be a game breaker for the team that drafts him.
Players 61-100
61) Hamsah Nasirildeen, S/LB – Florida State
62) Jevon Holland, S – Oregon
63) Samuel Cosmi, OT – Texas
64) Brevin Jordan, TE – Miami
65) Richie Grant, S – UCF
66) Michael Carter, RB – North Carolina
67) Tyler Shelvin, IDL – LSU
68) Chazz Surratt, LB – North Carolina
69) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR – USC
70) Jay Tufele, IDL – USC
71) Quinn Meinerz, IOL – UW Whitewater
72) Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB – Syracuse
73) Elijah Molden, CB – Washington
74) Dyami Brown, WR – North Carolina
75) Rhamondre Stevenson, RB – Oklahoma
76) Spencer Brown, OT – Northern Iowa
77) Hunter Long, TE – Boston College
78) Tyson Campbell, CB – Georgia
79) Josh Myers, IOL – Ohio State
80) Dylan Moses, LB – Alabama
81) Osa Odighizuwa, IDL – UCLA
82) Tommy Tremble, TE – Notre Dame
83) Andre Cisco, S – Syracuse
84) Anthony Schwartz, WR – Auburn
85) Elerson Smith, Edge – Northern Iowa
86) Nico Collins, WR – Michigan
87) Quincy Roche, Edge – Miami (FL)
88) Paulson Adebo, CB – Stanford
89) Israel Mukuamu, CB – South Carolina
90) Tylan Wallace, WR – Oklahoma State
91) Pete Werner, LB – Ohio State
92) Shaun Wade, CB/S – Ohio State
93) Rashad Weaver, Edge – Pittsburgh
94) Adetokunbo Ogundeji, DL – Notre Dame
95) Talanoa Hufanga, S/LB – USC
96) Amari Rodgers, WR – Clemson
97) Paris Ford, S – Pittsburgh
98) Khalil Herbert, RB – Virginia Tech
99) Ben Cleveland, IOL – Georgia
100) Ar’Darius Washington, S – TCU
High Guy: Quinn Meinerz, Center/Guard – UW Whitewater
How can you not love Meinerz? He absolutely blew up this past week at the Senior Bowl and showed he not only can play against better competition but dominate it as well. While the tape is a bit inconsistent, he showed at the Senior Bowl he has strong hands and nimble feet to control and stay in front of pass rushers. Some teams will pass on Meinerz simply because of level of competition and sample size questions, but he has all the tools to be a starting interior offensive lineman in the NFL.
Low Guy: Tyson Campbell, Cornerback – Georgia
My first mock draft had Tyson Campbell listed as a first-round pick based primarily on his athletic traits. Campbell is a tall, long and fast all great attributes to have as a starting outside corner in the NFL. However, I am not sure if I would put him out on an island day one. Campbell struggles when the ball is in the air and really is inconsistent staying in phase. His athleticism will take him far, but he needs to develop a better sense of awareness on confidence on a down to down basis.
My Guy: Elerson Smith, Edge – Northern Iowa
Another guy that opted out of the season who should be shooting up draft boards is Elerson Smith. At Northern Iowa, Smith was primarily a 4-3 defensive end, but he has the athleticism to stand up at outside linebacker if asked. Smith plays with solid leverage and maximizes his length to win on a down to down basis. He will need to do some refinement with his hand use and pass rush plan but has a phenomenal athletic profile and could be a dominate player if he puts it all together.
Photo courtesy of FloridaGators.com
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