Draft fatigue set in yet? Well, hang in there, y’all. We only have a few days left. And, if you don’t have it already, here’s my 2021 NFL Draft big board to help you get there….
My 2021 NFL Draft Big Board
1. QB Trevor Lawrence – He’s the safest bet. I do think guys like Kyle Pitts, Justin Fields, and Jaylen Waddle have incredibly high ceilings, and could end up being the best player to come out of this draft when we revisit it in five years. But, for now, Lawrence is a difference-maker, and the best quarterback prospect we’ve seen in a decade.
2. TE Kyle Pitts – Pitts is so good and so dynamic that he can put an offense over the top. My bet is that he ends up in Cincinnati and really takes that offense to the next level. He’s impactful enough to do it.
3. QB Justin Fields – Why Fields isn’t getting the love he deserves is beyond me. Watch that Clemson game and tell me this dude isn’t someone to hitch the wagon to.
4. WR Jaylen Waddle – I think he’s the best overall receiver in this draft and is capable of igniting an entire offense if given the opportunity. Looking at you, Detroit.
5. OT Rashawn Slater – Everybody wants this dude to move inside because of his size, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I like Slater a lot because of his toughness, and that gives him the edge over Sewell for me. Give him a chance and watch him roll with it.
6. OT Penei Sewell – Sewell is one of the best overall offensive line prospects we’ve seen in a deep class of tackles this year. I anticipate he’ll be the first OT taken on Thursday night, possibly even going in the first five picks.
7. CB Patrick Surtain II – My notes on what is wrong with Surtain are awfully slim. He’s athletically gifted, technically sound, and has played on the biggest stage. He’s the best corner in this draft to me, and I will be SHOCKED if he slips out of the top 10 Thursday night.
8. WR DeVonta Smith – I could not care less about Smith’s size and frame. Forget the fact that he could definitely bulk up in the NFL….I just love what this guy does with the ball in his hands. He’s a savvy route-runner. He can catch anything. The Tide receivers are going to show out in the NFL.
9. LB Zaven Collins – This one might surprise some folks, but I absolutely love the way Collins plays the game. Tulsa used him a lot to clog up passing lines and spy on opposing quarterbacks. He has the athleticism to chase down the dynamic quarterbacks of today’s NFL, and he’s freakish enough to generate a good pass rush. I usually scoff at lofty comparisons, but I hear y’all saying ‘Brian Urlacher’ and I can’t really argue with that. Someone’s going to get a STEAL in the back half of the first round.
10. QB Mac Jones – I know, I know…you don’t like the lack of athleticism. But, when it comes to decision-making and command of an offense, you can’t get any better than Jones. And, I’ll say it – I think the guy’s arm talent is being underrated.
11. CB Jaycee Horn – I love Horn, and it’s hard to find weakness in his game. He understands the nuance of the position, and that’s what makes him really stand out in this class. If Surtain is CB1A, then Horn is CB1B.
12. QB Zach Wilson – I’ll catch some shit for this one, but I just don’t love the intangibles with Wilson. Lack of competition in college, and some have reported that he’s a bit of a spoiled brat rich kid. Is that the guy you want leading your franchise? I get that he can make every throw in the book…but if the going gets tough, how’s he going to lead your offense? And, believe me – the going is going to get tough before it gets easy with the New York Jets.
13. WR Ja’Marr Chase – I like Chase, and this ranking is not an indictment of his ability. I think we have three bona fide WR1s in this draft class. I just like the versatility and speed of Waddle better – I think he can be a generational talent. And, I like the savvy and polish of Smith a little bit better.
14. QB Trey Lance – It’s a level of competition thing for me, and the fact that we have such a small sample size of his recent work scares the hell out of me. Still, he has franchise quarterback potential and elite athletic traits. If he hits his ceiling, you’ve got a stud. You just have to weigh how likely it is that he does.
15. EDGE Kwity Paye – Paye is an absolute alpha. He has excellent leadership qualities. He’s explosive, and twitchy, and he can maneuver around just about anybody. The question about him is production, but I think this is a case in which I take the potential.
16. LB Micah Parsons – Parsons has all the talent in the world. He looks like a franchise linebacker. But, there are some real concerns about his character after some nasty stuff has come out.
17. EDGE Jaelan Phillips – I’ve seen some call Phillips the best edge rusher in this draft class, and if it weren’t for the injury questions, I wouldn’t really argue with you. But, with that in mind, I think it gives Paye the edge.
18. RB Najee Harris – There is a running back worth taking in the first round on Thursday night and his name is Najee Harris. Whether he actually goes or not remains to be seen, but Harris can do it all at the NFL level and can give any offense a spark. I think some folks are sleeping on his overall ability as a running back because the position has been (supposedly) so devalued over the years (though I’d say take a look at the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers).
19. CB Greg Newsome II – I love how polished Newsome plays in tight man coverage. He’s as sticky as they come. There are some questions because he does have a lack of ball production. But, you can’t make plays if people aren’t throwing at you. Go watch the Ohio State game again (the Big Ten Championship). Fields didn’t even look Newsome’s way.
20. OT Teven Jenkins – Jenkins is a MAULER. I know there are some concerns about his “short” arms, but this dude is the best right tackle in this draft class. An absolute ROAD GRADER.
21. CB Caleb Farley – It’s not even just the injury questions that scare me about Farley. It’s how many times I noticed him failing to even attempt to locate the ball in the air when watching his tape. He has elite potential from an athletic standpoint. But, there’s work to do before I can put him in the elite of this draft class.
22. OT Christian Darrisaw – Great size, great athleticism. Some scouts have been critical of his “want,” but I like the potential here and expect Darrisaw to be a top 20 pick on Thursday night.
23. OL Alijah Vera-Tucker – Don’t be surprised if this dude ends up going a lot higher than most of us are mocking. Teams love Vera-Tucker’s versatility, and the dude’s shown he can play inside or outside along that offensive line.
24. OL Landon Dickerson – Smart, fundamentally sound, good technique – he may be somewhat limited athletically speaking, and there are some fair injury questions, but Dickerson is a leader of men. I know centers don’t usually go this high, but in Dickerson, you’ve got a kid that can be the captain of your o-line for the next decade.
25. OT Alex Leatherwood – A lot of folks aren’t too high on Leatherwood, and I certainly understand the criticism. He’s not the most physical guy, and he just so happens to play a physical position. But, if you can get this guy in a pass-happy offense, which suits his strengths, he can be the anchor of your o-line for the next decade. I’m that confident in him.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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