The countdown has reached one. On the final day before the NFL draft, I decided to have some fun with my player rankings. I am going to dive into my top 100, my positional rankings and even rank the position groups in this class.
This was easily the most difficult year I’ve ever had trying to nail down my final rankings. With no combine, incomplete medical information and the pandemic truly testing my mental fortitude, I certainly struggled. However, as I sit here in late April, I still feel pretty good about the list I have put together. I will dive into more of the specifics for some of these rankings when I get into the positional rankings. I also noted the cut off for where I have players graded by round. Without further ado, here are my top 100 players in this draft.
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
- Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
- Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
- Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
- DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
- Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
- Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
- Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
- Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
- Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC
- Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S, Notre Dame
- Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
- Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
- Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
- Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
- Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
- Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
- Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
- Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
- Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
- Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
- Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
- Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (First-round cut off)
- Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
- Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
- Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
- Wyatt Davis, G, Ohio State
- Liam Eichenburg, OT, Notre Dame
- Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
- Carlos Basham, DL, Wake Forest
- Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
- Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington
- Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
- Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
- Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
- Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
- Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
- Javonte Williams, RB, UNC
- Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
- Daviyon Nixon, DL, Iowa
- Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
- Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
- Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami
- Nico Collins, WR, Michigan
- Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
- Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
- Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
- Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
- Rashad Weaver, EDGE, Pittsburgh
- Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
- Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh
- Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
- Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
- Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
- Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
- Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
- Jay Tufele, DL, USC
- Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
- Peter Werner, LB, Ohio State
- James Hudson III, OT, Cincinnati (Second-round cut off)
- Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
- Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
- Chazz Surratt, LB, UNC
- Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
- Richie Grant, S, UCF
- Trey Smith, G, Tennessee
- Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
- Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
- Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington
- Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
- Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota
- Walker Little, OT, Stanford
- Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
- Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
- Michael Carter, RB, UNC
- Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
- Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
- Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
- Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
- Marvin Wilson, DL, Florida State
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
- D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
- Dyami Brown, WR, UNC
- Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston
- Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame (Third-round cut off)
- Tyler Shelvin, DL, LSU
- Nolan Laufenburg, G, Air Force
- Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas
- Monty Rice, LB, Georgia
- Quinn Meinerz, C, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
- Jackson Carmen, G, Clemson
- Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
- Kenny Yeboah, TE, Ole Miss
Let’s get into the nitty gritty now and take a look at each of the position groups. I tried to get very granular with these. Too often we just use the terms “EDGE” or “Linebacker” for so many front seven players. I wanted to really dive into which players fit into which schemes in my eyes.
Quarterback
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
- Trey Lance, North Dakota State
- Zach Wilson, BYU
- Mac Jones, Alabama
- Justin Fields, Ohio State
- Davis Mills, Stanford
- Kyle Trask, Florida
- Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
- Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest
- Shane Buechele, SMU
I don’t think there should be any surprise at No. 1. Trevor Lawrence checks all the physical boxes and enters the NFL with a wealth of high-level college experience. Meanwhile, my No. 2 quarterback lacks a lot of that polish that teams love about Lawrence. Trey Lance is incredibly physically gifted and has an incredibly high ceiling. I like his size a lot and think he is more likely to hold up at the next level than Zach Wilson. I do believe that Wilson has the best arm in this draft class, but I worry that he will not last long in the NFL. He runs with abandon and we saw that lead to a few injuries in college. Mac Jones is the most pro-ready passer in this class, but lacks the physical traits that wow fans and scouts alike. His ball placement is special though and I think he will be successful in the NFL, even if he is a bit unathletic by today’s standards for the position. Justin Fields is more of a project than I think most people realize. His speed is incredible, but his throwing motion and technique lack refining. I still believe in his potential, but I think his floor is lower than anyone else in the top five. Davis Mills is the biggest question mark in this class. Between injuries and a lack of experience, this is all about projection for him. I think he is a third-round prospect who will come off the board much sooner. Kellen Mond and Kyle Trask have some encouraging traits, but don’t bring enough to the table to make me believe either one of them will be high-end starters. I think both could be successful, but it will be more because of their surrounding talent than their raw skill. Jamie Newman is a wild card. He transferred from Wake Forest to Georgia only to opt out of the 2020 season after losing the starting job to Stetson Bennett. He is an intriguing project, but needs a ton of work. Shane Buchele is one of my favorite late-round quarterbacks. I think he could develop into a low-end starter or a reliable backup at the next level.
Running Back
- Najee Harris, Alabama
- Travis Etienne, Clemson
- Javonte Williams, UNC
- Michael Carter, UNC
- Rhammondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
- Trey Sermon, Ohio State
- Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
- Kenny Gainwell, Memphis
- Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
- Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
The top six running backs in this class feel like they could be regular starters in the NFL. Najee Harris is an exciting blend of size and skill. He is a big back with good vision and incredible hands. He will be an asset in the pass game, which is rare for a player his size. Travis Etienne is a home run hitter with reliable hands out of the backfield. He has impressive burst and balance with the ability to turn the corner on just about any play. Javonte Williams runs how you would expect a former linebacker to. He seeks out contact, pushes through arm tackles and keeps his legs churning through the hit. His backfield mate Michael Carter was the lightning to Williams’ thunder. He is elusive and agile with good hands as a receiver. He carries his weight well and seems sturdy enough to survive in the NFL despite being a bit undersized. Rhammondre Stevenson reminds me a lot of LeGarrette Blount. He will probably only be a two-down back in the NFL, but he is a slasher who can pick up good yardage whenever he touches the ball. I believe Trey Sermon’s draft stock would have been much higher if he did not miss the national championship game. He runs with purpose and showed flashes of being an elite back. Those flashes were just a bit too inconsistent to rank him higher. Khalil Herbert wraps up his college career with a fair amount of tread on his tires. He is far from Jonathan Taylor levels, but it is still a concern for me. He was an exciting player to watch in his one year at Virginia Tech and would be a solid addition to just about any backfield in the league. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we haven’t seen Kenny Gainwell take the field since his incredible 2019 season. He has low usage, but can he replicate his success, or will he be a one-season wonder? Chuba Hubbard is closer to the Hebert end of this spectrum. He had an outrageous 351 touches in 2019 before scaling things back in a shorter 2020 season. He definitely waited a year too long to leave school, but if he recreate his 2019 form, he will be a mid-round steal. Kylin Hill feels like a quality No. 2 back, ready to handle 8-to-12 touches per game right away.
Wide Receiver
- Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
- Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
- DeVonta Smith, Alabama
- Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
- Kadarius Toney, Florida
- Terrace Marshall, LSU
- Nico Collins, Michigan
- Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
- Rondale Moore, Purdue
- Amari Rodgers, Clemson
- Shi Smith, South Carolina
- Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC
- D’Wyane Eskridge, Western Michigan
- Dyami Brown, UNC
- Sage Surratt, Wake Forest
- Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
- Demetric Felton, UCLA
- Tomorrion Terry, Florida State
- Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois
This is another loaded receiver class. The top three are about as good as they come. Ja’Marr Chase might just be the best receiver prospect since Julio Jones. Jaylen Waddle might have been on his way to the Heisman before breaking his ankle. The actual Heisman winner, DeVonta Smith, is a technician with great hands and an impressive catch radius. Rashod Bateman could be a really strong possession receiver in the NFL. Few players are as fun to watch as Kadarius Toney, but he needs a bit more consistency in his play. Terrace Marshall was the third option in LSU’s historic 2019 passing offense, but he still won his matchups and looked sharp as the top guy in 2020. Nico Collins is a big-body receiver with great ability to adjust to the ball in the air. He still has some refining to do, but Michigan receivers have excelled after getting out of Ann Arbor in recent years. If you are looking for a slot machine, Elijah Moore is your best bet in this year’s class. Rondale Moore has first-round level talent, but undrafted levels of experience and injury history. In a year where the medicals are tough to confirm, he could definitely slide. He was rarely the star of the show, but Amari Rodgers deserves a bit more credit for Clemson’s offensive success. Shi Smith is one of my favorite sleepers in this draft. Tylan Wallace seemed like he should not be able to get open as frequently as he did in college. His good technique helps him overcome his lack of elite athleticism. Amon-Ra St. Brown strikes me as a future No. 2 in the right offense with his strength and leaping ability. Small-school star D’Wayne Eskridge could be the latest MAC receiver to take the NFL by storm. Dyami Brown can win downfield, but struggled with drops in his career. His game feels like a great fit for the Chargers offense. I had high expectations for Sage Surratt heading into 2020. He definitely didn’t meet them, capped off by an injury-riddled Senior Bowl week. When healthy, he is a nightmare for undersized corners. Someone is going to take a chance on Anthony Schwartz and his 4.27 speed. Demetric Felton showed out at the Senior Bowl and could be a fun player for offensive coordinators to move around. Tommorrion Terry instant brings value as a vertical threat. Much like Donovan Peoples-Jones, I think Josh Imatorbhebhe’s athleticism is going to translate very well to the NFL.
Tight End
- Kyle Pitts, Florida
- Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
- Brevin Jordan, Miami
- Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame
- Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss
- Hunter Long, Boston College
- Tre’ McKitty, Georgia
- Quinton Morris, Bowling Green
- Noah Gray, Duke
- Kylen Granson, SMU
This tight end class is better than last year’s, but that’s not saying much. Kyle Pitts is truly a generational talent at the position. Pat Freiermuth is a borderline first round talent with his physical skill set. I like how Brevin Jordan’s game should translate to the NFL. He fits the mold of these athletic tight ends allowed to operate in space. He is definitely a bit of a throwback, but Tommy Tremble provides immediate value as a blocker. Kenny Yeboah showed impressive ball skills and athleticism at the Senior Bowl. Hunter Long could be a solid second option at the position. Same goes for Quinton Morris and Tre’ McKitty. If you are looking for a late-round flier at the position, Noah Gray and Kylen Granson are my picks.
Offensive Tackle
- Penei Sewell, Oregon
- Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
- Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
- Samuel Cosmi, Texas
- Liam Eichenburg, Notre Dame
- Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
- Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State
- Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
- Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
- James Hudson III, Cincinnati
- Walker Little, Stanford
- Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa
- Brady Christiansen, BYU
- Stone Forsyth, Florida
- D’Ante Smith, East Carolina
Unlike the tight end class, the offensive line group brings both sizzle and substance. Penei Sewell is an outstanding athlete with plenty more room for growth in his game. Rashawn Slater could be a rock-solid tackle or an All-Pro guard. That versatility is enticing. Good luck moving Christian Darrisaw once he has anchored down. Getting Samuel Cosmi to an NFL squat rack could see him realize his immense potential. Liam Eichenburg is definitely one of my draft crushes. He just screams unheralded Pro Bowl right tackle for the next eight years to me. He has not developed quite as quickly as many hoped, but Jalen Mayfield still brings plenty to the table and could be a Day 1 starter at right tackle. While Trey Lance deserves the buzz, Dillon Radunz has the makings of a quality starting tackle who can kick inside to guard if the transition from I-AA ball proves to be too difficult. Teven Jenkins has all the necessary athleticism to be a great tackle, but his measurables worry me a little bit. It is unclear if Alex Leatherwood’s future is at tackle, but he has the versatility and experience to be a fit somewhere along the offensive line. James Hudson is still new to the position and would be a great project to work with. When healthy, Walker Little has looked like a first-round talent, but after seeing him play just one game across 2019 and 2020, it is hard to buy into his intangibles. His injury history and lack of experience scare me a bit. Spencer Brown is raw, but few human beings can move the way he does at 6’8″ and 300-plus pounds. Without a doubt, Brady Christiansen is a bit more polished than some of the guys ahead of him, but at 25-years-old, he is one of the oldest prospects in this class. In the later rounds, you look for traits to build upon. Stone Forsyth and D’Ante Smith both bring great size and length to the position.
Interior Offensive Lineman
- Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
- Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
- Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
- Landon Dickerson, Alabama
- Trey Smith, Tennessee
- Nolan Laufenburg, Air Force
- Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Jackson Carman, Clemson
- Drew Dalman, Stanford
- Aaron Banks, Notre Dame
- Ben Cleveland, Georgia
- Drake Jackson, Kentucky
- Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh
- Deonte Brown, Alabama
- Robert Hainsey, Notre Dame
This is a deep group of starting caliber centers, but the best interior lineman in this draft is definitely Alijah Vera-Tucker. I love Creed Humphrey and the experience he brings after four seasons starting at Oklahoma. I think he is pro-ready with some more potential still to be unlocked. Wyatt Davis is a road grader who will improve any running game. Landon Dickerson’s injury history holds him back after yet another knee injury. He will be a solid starter if he can get back to his pre-injury form. Trey Smith tested very well at Tennessee’s pro day and should be a starter at either guard spot in the NFL. Nolan Laufenburg is not getting much press, but he is a beast as a run blocker and has solid lateral quickness for the position. His crop top drew a lot of attention at the Senior Bowl. Quinn Meinerz backed it up with some solid play and could be a starting center come 2022. Drew Dalman tested incredibly well and could be the latest Stanford lineman to find success at the next level. Similar to Stanford, Notre Dame has a good track record of sending offensive linemen to the pros and I think that trend will continue with Aaron Banks. Ben Cleveland might be a steal in the later rounds of the draft with his combination of size and agility. While a bit undersized, Drake Jackson played really well at the Senior Bowl. Jimmy Morrissey is one of my favorite late round interior linemen. Deonte Brown is massive, but his lack of athleticism showed up in Mobile. Robert Hainsey feels like he will last a long time in the NFL as a swing guard providing depth.
4-3 Defensive End
- Gregory Rousseau, Miami
- Kwity Paye, Michigan
- Jaelan Phillips, Miami
- Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
- Joe Tryon, Washington
- Jayson Oweh, Penn State
- Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
- Joseph Ossai, Texas
- Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh
- Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh
- Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma
- Payton Turner, Houston
- Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt
- Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Oregon State
- Shaka Toney, Penn State
Time to really break things down. Gregory Rousseau is definitely raw and unrefined, but his tape makes me believe he can find success as a down lineman. Kwity Paye’s athleticism will likely see him drafted in the first round, but there is a lot of room for improvement. Without the injury concerns, Jaelan Phillips would be the top edge rusher in this class, but they are too big to ignore. Carlos Basham is quietly one of the best defensive linemen in this draft class. He got double-teamed a lot at Wake Forest. With his size and length, Joe Tyron can add or drop from his frame to fit what scheme he is drafted to play in. Jayson Oweh raw athleticism definitely points to him being more successful in the pros than he was in college. Azeez Ojulari only does one thing as a speed rusher, but he does it really well. Joseph Ossai is still learning how to play on the edge after starting his career as an off-ball linebacker. After missing 2019 with a torn ACL, Rashad Weaver impressed me in 2020. I’m willing to bet he looks even better another year removed from his injury. His teammate, Patrick Jones II, fell a bit in the draft process, but was incredibly productive and consistent throughout his college career. He missed part of the season due to a suspension, but Ronnie Perkins was nearly unstoppable down the stretch for Oklahoma. Both Payton Turner and Dayo Odeyingbo bring elite length to the position. Even if they are not the most refined prospects, those intangibles are worth targeting in the middle rounds. Hamilcar Rashed Jr. took a major step back production wise in 2020, leaving scouts to wonder if his 2019 breakout was actually an anomaly. While not quite as athletic as his former Penn State teammate, Shaka Toney is still an intriguing project.
3-4 Defensive End
- Gregory Rousseau, Miami
- Christian Barmore, Alabama
- Kwity Paye, Michigan
- Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
- Joe Tryon, Washington
- Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
- Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh
- Jay Tufele, USC
- Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
- Marvin Wilson, Florida State
- Payton Turner, Houston
- Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech
- Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt
- Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA
- Alim McNeil, NC State
I won’t belabor the point with players I already talked about. Christian Barmore has tons of exciting traits, but rumors that he is resistant to coaching could cause him to slide. Daviyon Nixon has some incredible moments on film at Iowa. If he can find some consistency, he will be a star in the NFL. Jay Tufele lost a lot of his traction after opting out, but he projects as a future starter in the league. As the league trends towards finding interior pass rushing, Levi Onwuzurike fits the profile of a disruptive interior player. No player likely hurt their draft stock worse than Marvin Wilson. Still, I’m willing to bet on him rediscovering his 2019 form with a change of scenery. Milton Williams turned some heads with the testing numbers he posted. His athleticism will be something teams covet. Osa Odighizuwa is longer than he is tall, which bodes well for him at the next level. It seems like every year NC State produces another NFL defensive lineman. I expect Alim McNeil to do his part as a rotational player.
4-3 Defensive Tackle
- Gregory Rousseau, Miami
- Christian Barmore, Alabama
- Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
- Joe Tryon, Washington
- Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
- Jay Tufele, USC
- Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
- Marvin Wilson, Florida State
- Payton Turner, Houston
- Tyler Shelvin, LSU
- Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech
- Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA
- Alim McNeil, NC State
- Darius Stills, West Virginia
- Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
Believe it or not, I think this is Gregory Rousseau’s best fit in the NFL. At 6’7″, he has room to add to his frame. He dominated interior linemen while at Miami. If he can bulk up a bit, I think he could be an elite 3-tech. Tyler Shelvin enters the conversation here. He is definitely best suited as a nose tackle, but I think he could survive as a run-stuffer paired with an interior pass rusher in a 4-3 scheme. Darius Stills and Marlon Tuipulotu both bring a lot of experience, which could serve them well as potential backups in the league.
3-4 Defensive Tackle
- Christian Barmore, Alabama
- Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
- Jay Tufele, USC
- Marvin Wilson, Florida State
- Tyler Shelvin, LSU
- Alim McNeil, NC State
- Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
- Tommy Togiai, Ohio State
- Tedarrel Slaton, Florida
- Bobby Brown, Texas A&M
This is not a good draft to need a nose tackle. Tommy Togiai plays bigger than he really is, which is good because he is a bit undersized in this spot. Tedarrel Slaton and Bobby Brown are space eaters who can contribute as two-down players and goal line defenders at the next level.
3-4 Outside Linebacker
- Zaven Collins, Tulsa
- Jaelan Phillips, Miami
- Joe Tyron, Washington
- Jayson Oweh, Penn State
- Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
- Joseph Ossai, Texas
- Quincy Roche, Miami
- Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh
- Baron Browning, Ohio State
- Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma
- Payton Turner, Houston
- Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Oregon State
- Shaka Toney, Penn State
- Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo
- Chris Rumph II, Duke
While I believe he is best suited to play off the ball, Zaven Collins is a solid pass rusher with great size. For the record, this is where I think Ojulari, Ossai, Perkins and Rashed Jr. fit best. Quincy Roche had a great week in Mobile, but he lacks the size to play in a 4-3 scheme. He could be a great situational pass rusher right out of the gate. Much like Collins, I like Baron Browning as an off-ball linebacker, but he has the athleticism to play on the outside. Malcolm Koonce and Chris Rumph II are lean edge rushers who could contribute in a rotational role.
4-3 Outside Linebacker
- Micah Parsons, Penn State
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
- Zaven Collins, Tulsa
- Jabril Cox, LSU
- Jamin Davis, Kentucky
- Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
- Joseph Ossai, Texas
- Baron Browning, Ohio State
- Pete Werner, Ohio State
- Nick Bolton, Missouri
- Chazz Surratt, UNC
- Dylan Moses, Alabama
- Monty Rice, Georgia
- Cameron McGrone, Michigan
- K.J. Britt, Auburn
I considered putting Micah Parsons in the 3-4 group as well, but I think he does his best work when he is allowed to attack downhill and react without having players put their hands on him at the snap. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah won’t last long on draft night because of his ability to cover players in space. I also have him listed as my top strong safety. That’s the type of ability we are talking about here. Jabril Cox is not quite as fast as JOK, but he can still flex out and match up tight ends and slot receivers on occasion. Jamin Davis tested off the charts and his potential is as one of the best all-around linebackers in the game. Pete Werner seems like the next great undersized linebacker to start racking up 150-plus tackles at the next level. While he has great straight-line speed, I worry Nick Bolton is going to struggle given his lack of agility. Chazz Surratt is still learning the position, which points to untapped potential. However, he is also already 24 years old. A year ago, Dylan Moses seemed like a lock to go in the first round, even coming off a torn ACL. Now, he will be lucky to go in the first three rounds after a rocky season in his return from injury. Cameron McGrone is a bit undersized, but has a nose for the football. Monty Rice and K.J. Britt would be solid cover linebackers capable of coming in on third downs.
Inside Linebacker
- Micah Parsons, Penn State
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
- Zaven Collins, Tulsa
- Jabril Cox, LSU
- Jamin Davis, Kentucky
- Baron Browning, Ohio State
- Pete Werner, Ohio State
- Nick Bolton, Missouri
- Chazz Surratt, UNC
- Dylan Moses, Alabama
- Monty Rice, Georgia
- Cameron McGrone, Michigan
- K.J. Britt, Auburn
- Riley Cole, South Alabama
- Charles Snowden, Virginia
Much of this list is the same, but we lose a few of the more natural pass rushers here. Riley Cole got his name on the radar at the Senior Bowl coming off a strong redshirt-senior season. Look for him in the later rounds. Same goes for Charles Snowden, whose size for the position will grab the attention of teams right away.
Cornerback
- Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
- Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
- Greg Newsome, Northwestern
- Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
- Eric Stokes, Georgia
- Tyson Campbell, Georgia
- Paulson Adebo, Stanford
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
- Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky
- Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
- Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota
- Aaron Robinson, UCF
- Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas
- Shaun Wade, Ohio State
- Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
- Elijah Molden, Washington
- Marco Wilson, Florida
- Tay Gowan, UCF
- Keith Taylor Jr., Washington
- Shakur Brown, Michigan State
This is a solid corner class that starts to drop off around the 13 or 14 mark. Patrick Surtain II could fit into any defensive scheme. His size and top end speed make him my top corner. Jaycee Horn and Greg Newsome move ahead of Caleb Farley as reports of his back issues seem to keep getting worse. Eric Stokes ran a 4.31 40-yard at his pro day, which ranks in the 97th percentile. Finding that type of speed in a 6’0″ corner is rare. His former Georgia teammate, Tyson Campbell, also ran well and is a bit taller, but he lacks the same fluidity as Stokes. Paulson Adebo fell off the radar after missing the end of 2019 with an injury and opting out of 2020. He tested great and his film makes me believe he could be a starter early in his career. If you are looking for long, toolsy corners, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Kelvin Joseph and Benjamin St-Juste deserve your attention. Asante Samuel Jr.’s tape is better than being the 10th corner in this draft, but his lack of size and length caps his upside. He would be a great nickel corner though. Aaron Robinson showed he has the physicality to be a good press corner at the Senior Bowl. Robert Rochell is a bit untested coming out of Central Arkansas, but his length and speed make him an interesting project. Shaun Wade and Israel Mukuamu are both long and physical, but have struggled in man coverage in their career on the outside. Those traits could be very useful in the right scheme though or at safety, if teams want them to switch positions. Elijah Molden and Marco Wilson could both be solid nickel corners. Tay Gowan is a bit of an unknown with only 13 career appearances, but could be worthy of a late flier. I came away very impressed by Keith Taylor Jr. at the Senior Bowl. He did not win every rep, but he was not afraid to compete with the top receivers in attendance. Shakur Brown has a nose for the football and could carve out a role for himself in the slot.
Strong Safety
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
- Trevon Moehrig, TCU
- Jevon Holland, Oregon
- Richie Grant, UCF
- Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
- Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
- Talanoa Hufanga, USC
- Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
- Caden Sterns, Texas
- Shawn Davis, Florida
I already talked about it, but it’s worth repeating. Owusu-Koramoah is a true hybrid player. However, the best all-around safety in this draft is Trevon Moehrig. Jevon Holland brings tons of versatility. He can play in either safety spot and even line up in the slot. Richie Grant had an impressive career at UCF and backed that up with a strong week at the Senior Bowl. Don’t sleep on Divine Deablo. In addition to having a great name, he can be a heat-seeking missile. Hamsah Nasirildeen is a bit of a conundrum. I’m still not sure if he is a big safety or an undersized linebacker. While he lacks elite speed, Talanoa Hufanga is a playmaker and a leader. Tyree Gillespie has good long speed, but his lack of short-area quickness limits his upside. Shawn Davis and Caden Sterns are both long, hard-hitting safeties. Sterns has a bit more speed those, which gives him the edge.
Free Safety
- Trevon Moehrig, TCU
- Jevon Holland, Oregon
- Andre Cisco, Syracuse
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
- Richie Grant, UCF
- Jamar Johnson, Indiana
- Shaun Wade, Ohio State
- Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
- Christian Uphoff, Illinois State
- Ar’Darius Washington, TCU
I’ve already praised Moehrig and Holland. I also love Andre Cisco. He was a ballhawk at Syracuse, but needs to improve as a tackler to really be a quality starter. Melifonwu has the size and range to be a potential centerfielder. Jamar Johnson sees the field well, but he does not bring any elite traits to the table. Christian Uphoff could be the latest D-III star to make the NFL jump. He lacks elite top speed, but his size and first step could see him hang around in the NFL. Ar’Darius Washington on the other hand is very undersized, but makes up for that with consistent effort and impressive initial quickness.
Ranking the position groups
- Wide Receiver – Top-end talent is among the best we’ve ever seen. There are plenty of good receivers that will slide into the later rounds.
- Offensive Tackle – With a few elite prospects and a good amount of depth, this offensive tackle class should produce a good number of starters.
- Quarterback – While extremely top heavy, this might be one of the best groups we’ve seen come out in a long time. All five quarterbacks could legitimately go in the top 10 picks. There just isn’t much depth in this year’s class.
- Cornerback – Without a standout prospect, this group is a bit more about volume. I have a ton of corners with second-round grades. I think we will see a decent group of starting corners come out of this class, even if they aren’t stars.
- Linebacker – There are a handful of really good players that could come off the board in the first three rounds. The quality of this group fades quickly after you make it through the first 11 or 12 players though.
- Running Back – There is no Saquon Barkley or Ezekiel Elliott in this class. Nor is there a ton of late-round backs that I feel confident in. I do have three running backs in my top 50, but only four in my top 100.
- Safety – Perhaps I am underrating this group a little. There are a number of fun and interesting safeties as you move down the board. There just aren’t many that you feel like are slam dunks.
- Interior Offensive Line – No Quenton Nelsons or Zach Martins to be found in this class. If you add Rashawn Slater to the mix, that does tip the scales a bit, but I think teams view him as a tackle.
- Edge Rushers – No elite prospects and not a ton of depth. This is a tough year to need a pass rusher. When only two players earn first-round grades, which is what I have, it’s an underwhelming class.
- Interior Defensive Line – Somehow, this group is even worse. It was difficult to come up with 10 potential nose tackles from this draft. Several of those players are better suited playing elsewhere. Overall, this interior line class stinks.
The Aftermath 