2021 NFL Draft Top 50 Rankings

The 2021 NFL Draft is right around the corner. This year's draft class is unique considering the light schedules and opt-outs of the 2020 college football season. There was also no NFL combine, which made the pro-day circuit even more important than usual. This class overall lacks depth.

The one area where this class is not lacking is at the quarterback position, as the top-five signal-callers are all terrific prospects.  From one through five, this might be the best QB group in a long time, possibly ever.

The purpose of my top-50 is to rank prospects based on how I would set up my draft board if I were an NFL General Manager. These rankings have nothing to do with where I expect players to be drafted. The rankings are original and homemade, as I don't read any other scouting reports before watching the film of each prospect. My rankings are based on critical film study, research, and statistics. I'm a lifelong draftnik with NCAA coaching experience. My assessments don't always agree with the general consensus, but every opinion is rooted in a thorough study of each prospect. Here is my top-50 list for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Draft Prospect Big Board

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Top 50 NFL Prospects for 2021

1. Trevor Lawrence - QB, Clemson

Trevor Lawrence headlines a strong group of QBs. He has everything teams look for in a franchise QB. Read my full Prospect Profile of Lawrence here.

2. Trey Lance - QB, N. Dakota St.

Trey Lance is not far off from Lawrence in my opinion. He has the best arm in this draft. Read my full Prospect Profile of Lance here.

3. Kyle Pitts - TE, Florida

Kyle Pitts is the best TE prospect of all time. Read my full Prospect Profile of Pitts here.

4. Justin Fields - QB, Ohio St.

Justin Fields isn't flawless, but a lot of the critiques of his game are nitpicking. He's super talented with incredible production.  Read my full Prospect Profile of Fields here.

5. Zach Wilson - QB, BYU

Ranking Zach Wilson at QB4 is not an indictment of his skillset. He's a phenomenal talent. This is just an absolutely loaded QB class. All five of the top QBs would be considered potential first overall picks in most other drafts. Read my full Prospect Profile of Wilson here.

6. Penei Sewell - OT, Oregon

Draft season is usually time for hyperbole, but let me be clear - Penei Sewell is one of the best tackle prospects I've ever scouted. At 6-6, 331 pounds, Sewell is a behemoth with rare movement skills for his size. Few 330-plus pound humans can move like him, as he shined in the screen game, as a puller, and on the backside of zone runs. Sewell has elite quickness and twitch for his size in addition to exceptional feet. His game is not polished, but there is no doubt his traits translate. As a pass blocker, he has some work to do, as his film shows him struggle to stay stout and place his hands, especially against bull rushes. At just 20 years old, the sky is the limit.

7. Ja'Marr Chase - WR, LSU

So, this class features the best one-through-five QB groups I've ever seen, the best TE I've ever scouted, and arguably the best OT I've ever scouted. Ja'Marr Chase is also right in the mix with the best WRs I've scouted in my 15-plus years of studying draft prospects. Read my full Prospect Profile of Chase here.

8. DeVonta Smith - WR, Alabama

At No. 8, we are still talking in historical terms, as DeVonta Smith just had one of the greatest college WR seasons of all time.  There are some questions about his transition, but his skill set plays in the NFL regardless of weight concerns. Read my full Prospect Profile of Smith here.

9. Jaylen Waddle - WR, Alabama

Jaylen Waddle is coming off a crazy year in which he missed nine games with a fractured ankle only to shockingly return to the National Championship game, where he was so clearly hobbled that NFL players were tweeting about it. His choice to play in that game speaks to his competitiveness and love for football, as it was probably not the best business decision. Medicals will be key with Waddle, as he actually produced just as much, if not more, than DeVonta Smith in the first four games sans Jeudy/Ruggs.

As far as evaluating traits of a healthy Waddle, his film is exciting. The speed pops off the screen, routinely running by defenders on deep routes, double moves, and with the ball in his hands. His tracking and ball skills are also advanced, and his ability to win contested deep balls at just 5-foot-10 speaks to his uncommon twitch and athleticism. In-and-up routes, perfect sail routes, and dominating Auburn for four TDs are also highlights. Waddle is special, but the medical will be absolutely critical to his ultimate draft fate. If not for injury, he would have likely challenged Chase for WR1 status.

10. Rashawn Slater - OT, Northwestern

Rashawn Slater opted out in 2020, but was phenomenal in 2019, allowing zero sacks in 11 games at left tackle. Slater is a traditional franchise LT prospect in terms of pass-blocking prowess, as he displays excellent balance and the ability to simply stay in front of edge rushers. He actually shut out Chase Young in 2019. He is light on his feet and secure, showing an understanding of angles and body positioning. Slater's most impressive attribute is his ability to get to the second level in the run game. The only question mark is his lack of ideal arm length (33 inches), which is overblown.

11. Micah Parsons - LB, Penn St.

The first defensive player on my board is Penn State LB Micah Parsons. Parsons opted out in 2020 but was the most impressive linebacker in the country in 2019. He absolutely dominated the game the last time he was on a college field, creating nightmares for the Memphis offense in the 2019 Cotton Bowl. Parsons is probably the most dynamic defensive player in this class. Some believe he could transition to a full-time EDGE player, but he makes sense as an off-ball LB who can play on the line of scrimmage situationally.

Parsons' burst is special, and he is a true sideline-to-sideline force, with uncommon 4.39 speed at 6-3, 246. His film shows an ability to stay square and slip blocks, run and hit, force turnovers, and make plays in the backfield. Parsons is a better prospect than Isaiah Simmons was last year but does have character concerns.

12. Jaycee Horn - CB, S. Carolina

Jaycee Horn is my CB1. He's a dog, having gone toe-to-toe with some of the draft's best receivers. Horn has the innate coverage ability of a Pro Bowl corner, showcasing his ability to run routes for opposing WRs on film. He dominated Auburn's Seth Williams, proving that he can perform against size. He also showed an ability to cover the whip route, one of the most difficult routes to match in man, twice on film. Fluid and long with great eyes, Horn has the potential to excel in a man or zone scheme.  There's more of an edge to his game than Patrick Surtain II.

13. Alijah Vera-Tucker - OG, USC

AVT has the film of an easy first-round pick. Vera-Tucker dominated UCLA DEs and Notre Dame DTs on film, displaying outstanding play strength, especially as a run blocker. He is a natural knee-bender at 6-4, 315, and uses his hands well, re-setting well in pass pro. It looks like he's going to cross his feet at times, but he subtly always seems to get to the right spot. At the end of the day, OL play is about staying in front of people, and he does that well.

14. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - LB, Notre Dame

JOK has the potential to be a Darius Leonard-like impact second-level defender. He's an athletic marvel who plays a different speed than everyone else on the field. He closes space like lightning and has highlights of huge hits, forced fumbles, and an intercepted pitch against Clemson. He's theoretically good in coverage, although there are limited reps of him displaying that ability on film. The best thing about studying JOK is that he has film against the top-two RBs in this class - Travis Etienne of Clemson and Najee Harris of Alabama. He showed the ability to finish tackles and defeat blocks versus both of them.

15. Elijah Moore - WR, Mississippi

Elijah Moore is one of "my guys" in this class. His playmaking is reminiscent of Antonio Brown. Read my full prospect profile of Moore here.

16. Christian Darrisaw - OT, Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw is a solid-as-a-rock offensive line prospect. The 6-5, 313-pound Darrisaw was the starting left tackle for Virginia Tech but doesn't have the typical build of an NFL blindside protector. While his thighs look heavy and he may struggle with quickness, he was rarely exposed as a pass blocker for the Hokies.

Regardless of where he plays along the line, Darrisaw's run-blocking prowess will translate. There are reps of him pulling and destroying opposing defensive ends on counter and blocking defenders literally 20 yards downfield. The NC State defensive ends had no chance against him. The best two words to describe Darrisaw are powerful and deliberate. He'll have a productive career for someone, the only question is whether or not it will be at left tackle.

17. Teven Jenkins - OT, Oklahoma St.

Teven Jenkins has the size, athletic profile, and film of a terrific right tackle. He has an outstanding mix of strength, balance, and handwork, and shows an understanding of how to climb on zone runs. While he may struggle with length at times, Jenkins showed flashes of dominance against West Virginia and Texas.

18. Mac Jones - QB, Alabama

When I first studied Mac Jones' film, I came away unimpressed. On a second viewing in preparation to write an article about him, he grew on me. Jones is a polarizing prospect whose lack of athleticism gives him almost no margin for error as a pocket passer. His feel for the game is impressive. Read my full Prospect Profile of Jones here.

19. Levi Onwuzurike - DT, Washington

This class is weak overall at DT, and I'm much higher on Washington's Levi Onwuzurike than most. Onwuzurike's film is impressive, as he routinely sheds blockers in both the pass and the run game. He can shock and shed, has strong hands, and is quick enough to knife into the backfield. Utah's interior line had no chance to block him.

He's active in pursuit, actually caught up to the speedy Tyler Huntley, and made tackles against perimeter screens, highlighting his effort. Onwuzurike is a real pocket pusher whose bull rush translates to the NFL in terms of strength.

20. Patrick Surtain II - CB, Alabama

Patrick Surtain II is possibly the cleanest prospect in this draft. Surtain has been a stalwart in the Alabama secondary the past few years, and his film shows an ideal mix of length, fluid hips, and quickness. Surtain plays with good eye discipline and coverage instincts, but he will give up catches to more physically gifted receivers. He can tackle and play inside, but he will get handsy at the top of routes. His technique is sound when the ball is in the air, as he can get his head around and play through the hands of the WR. Surtain isn't a flashy prospect and might not ever be an All-Pro, but he has the pedigree and traits of a solid starting CB.

21. Najee Harris - RB, Alabama

Najee Harris just does things. Read more here.

22. Travis Etienne - RB, Clemson

Travis Etienne is a true home run hitter. Read more here.

23. Rashod Bateman - WR, Minnesota

Rashod Bateman is naturally gifted in terms of hands and route-running. He had the deep dig and post-out routes mastered at Minnesota and showcased the rare ability to track the football and complete catches in traffic. Bateman doesn't project as much of a deep threat or run-after-catch threat, but he's a solid all-around WR. His sharp breakpoints are better than his speed breakpoints, which he'll need to work on at the next level.

24. Azeez Ojulari - EDGE, Georgia

There is no Chase Young in this class, so you can make a case for a handful of players at EDGE1. Azeez Ojulari has the highest upside of any EDGE in this class and blazed a 4.62 40 at 6-2, 249.  Ojulari is long and physical, with a solid mix of play speed and play strength on the edge. He plays with spirit and energy, has a good first step, and is stout at the point of attack against the run. As a pass rusher, he has an effective inside move and pull-down handwork but lacks elite bend. At times, he can be a block magnet and didn't have his best film against Alex Leatherwood and Alabama. He doesn't fit every scheme and did not test well in the three-cone, but he has the effort and tools to develop into a quality NFL pass-rusher.

25. Joe Tryon - EDGE, Washington

Joe Tryon is an underrated prospect who may be lacking media buzz due to opting out of the 2020 season. His 2019 film was spectacular, as the 6-5, 262-pound pass rusher flashed rare traits for the Huskies. Tryon is super explosive with long arms and dismissive hands. He had dominating reps against the Boise State right tackle, walking him back into the QB's lap. His good first step, agility, and athleticism give him the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher at the next level.

26. Jaelan Phillips - EDGE, Miami Fl.

Jaelan Phillips is arguably the best EDGE in this class, but his injury history scares me. Phillips transferred from UCLA to Miami and tallied eight sacks in his only year as a Hurricane. He has an unteachable size/power/athleticism mix with natural pop in his hands. Although his pass-rushing repertoire is not yet refined, Phillips has real upside. The Virginia Tech right tackle had no chance against him. The issue with Phillips is his injury history. The UCLA medical staff actually recommended that he retire from football if he suffered another concussion. Also with two ankle surgeries to his name, Phillips struggled to find his place in other areas before returning to the football field in Miami. The risk here is massive, but if he can stay healthy, he could be an All-Pro at one of the most valuable positions in the NFL.

27. Kwity Paye - EDGE, Michigan

Kwity Paye's quickness is borderline folklore at this point, and he plays with the same twitch his legendary three-cone would indicate. Paye wasn't super productive in the sack department, tallying just 11.5 in 28 career games in college.

He plays with a high motor, is tremendous in pursuit, and had no issue showcasing his quicks on stunts and inside against guards. At 6-4, 272, Paye has all the tools to develop into a quality pro pass rusher. However, his film is questionable in the sense that most of his sacks do not appear to translate, taking advantage of interior offensive linemen and subpar tackles to get after the QB. While hustle sacks obviously showcase his effort as an important trait, his football-specific pass-rushing skills are not typical of a high pick.

28. Zaven Collins - LB, Tulsa

At 6-4, 259, Zaven Collins has borderline EDGE size and can rush the passer well as a blitzer. His best trait is his closing burst, as he is exceptional at closing space when he reads the ball carrier. Some of his production is inflated due to making tackles downfield and some mild pile-jumping, but his mix of size/speed/production is unquestionably worth a high draft pick. His lurking pick-six in overtime against Tulane was one of the plays of the year.

29. Jamin Davis - LB, Kentucky

Jamin Davis is a violent off-ball LB with rare athleticism for his size at 6-3, 234. He made a ton of plays for Kentucky, including a pick-six versus Tennessee and a blocked kick. His speed and acceleration help him fit the run and show well in coverage. He's not going to take on blocks that well (watch Georgia's OL get into him), but he can be a force if kept clean and his skill set fits today's more spread-out NFL.

30. Terrace Marshall Jr. - WR, LSU

Terrace Marshall Jr. suffers from the debilitating disease of not being Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase. Marshall is a freakish talent in his own right, running a 4.40 40 at 6-3, 205 at LSU's pro day. The Tigers didn't exactly have Joe Burrow throwing the ball in 2020, and Marshall still scored 10 touchdowns in just seven games. His film shows rare traits as a fast, big-bodied receiver who excelled inside. He can run by people, get in and out of breaks quickly, and shows natural strong hands. My only issue with Marshall is that his play strength is not where it needs to be for the pro game.

31. Jevon Holland - S, Oregon

Jevon Holland is a ball-hawking safety prospect who can run, tackle, and cover. He has NFL size and athleticism at 6-1, 207 with a 4.46 40. He's an urgent, fluid athlete with special teams upside as a returner. In terms of physicality, athleticism, and movement ability, he has first-round potential. He made Jonathan Taylor look bad in pass pro in 2019 as a sophomore.

32. Landon Dickerson - C, Alabama

Landon Dickerson can do everything you want from an interior OL. He has terrific balance, is fast in space, and anchors well in pass pro. Dealing with power at the next level is my only on-field concern, but he's an easy starting NFL center when healthy.  His concerning injury history is a huge red flag, however.

33. Liam Eichenberg - OT, Notre Dame

Liam Eichenberg is a prototypical pro right tackle. He struggles with speed and doesn't have ideal foot quickness, but everything else about his game translates. Calm and steady with great recognition skills against twists, Eichenberg has good knee bend and mostly mirrors well in pass pro. Quickness from elite pass rushers may give him trouble but he's plug-and-play from day one.

34. Greg Newsome II - CB, Northwestern

Newsome is one of this draft's fastest risers after running a blazing 4.38 40 at 6-1, 190 pounds at his pro day. This is likely a case where the media is catching up to the scouts, as Newsome's film was excellent. He shows terrific natural coverage ability with his eyes married to his feet. Newsome plays with swagger and confidence, which are necessary traits in the offense-driven NFL. He was able to drive on the boundary quick out, a route that not many corners actually defend. He then matched the out-and-up perfectly, displaying smarts and instincts. He also showed the knack for breaking up passes and staying with verticals on the boundary. He undercut a comeback and showed the fluidity that projects as a versatile cover guy who can play both the slot and outside. Newsome is not a powerful player, but he tackles low and has great feet.

35. Kadarius Toney - WR, Florida

Kadarius Toney is a polarizing prospect due to his late breakout age, but his film shows a dynamic playmaker with Tyreek Hill-like quickness and twitch. His straight-line speed may not be world-class like Hill, but their styles are similar. Toney is a human highlight reel, showing a devastating dead leg and nasty return route on film. He didn't run a full route tree at Florida, but there were instances of him getting literal yards of separation in the quick game. Toney plays with energy and an edge, showing grit and effort as a blocker even with his slight frame. He dug out a defensive end after short motion, an uncommon play from a 6-0, 194 speed-based receiver. It's worth noting though that while his hands looked fine on film, he did struggle with drops at Senior Bowl practices.

36. Trevon Moehrig - S, TCU

Moehrig is an instinctive, playmaking prospect with ideal size at 6-2, 203. He plays fast and can play both in the box and deep at the next level. A solid open-field tackler, Moehrig probably isn't a man-to-man guy in the NFL but shows terrific instincts and ball skills on film. He is also frequently communicating pre-snap, and his leadership and smarts show up in his play.

37. Nick Bolton - LB, Missouri

Bolton is large (6-0, 237), fast (unofficial 4.59 40), and physical. He's the quintessential alpha Mike backer who will call the defense at the pro level. Bolton stood up to and at times dominated Najee Harris, and does a great job profiling up offensive players to make plays. He can shoot gaps and run but doesn't have the greatest coverage instincts. Overall, his athletic profile and aggressive style translate well to the pro game.

38. Caleb Farley - CB, Va. Tech

Farley was once considered a top-10 player in some draft circles, as he has ideal size, length, coverage instincts, and ball skills.  However, a back injury has forced him to have surgery, and the questions surrounding his medicals will surely influence his draft stock.

I didn't have Farley as a top-20 player even before the injury news. Certain reps on his film do warrant some concerns, which are curiously left out of most discussions about his pro prospects. He was burned from a tight split corner route against Miami and didn't show a consistent ability to get his head around in man defending verticals.

College ball production and making plays in cover two prove he's a quality football player, but the NFL is a different beast entirely, especially for CBs. Is he quick enough to stay with pro receivers at the next level? I have no doubt he'll be drafted high, but a couple of gift interceptions against Miami (yes, including the impressive one-hander) may have inflated his stock a bit.

39. Rondale Moore - WR, Purdue

Rondale Moore had one of the best freshman WR seasons of all time and is extremely explosive and talented. Read my full Prospect Profile of Moore here.

40. Javonte Williams - RB, N. Carolina

Javonte Williams is a tackle-breaking machine. Read more here.

41. Payton Turner - EDGE, Houston

Possibly the most underrated player in the entire draft, Payton Turner has an outstanding get-off at 6-6, 270. Turner showed the ability to dip, rip, and win with speed on the EDGE against Tulane and UCF. He's active, has a great first step, plays hard, and makes a lot of plays. His balance and technique need some work, but there's a lot to work with. A 6.98 3-cone, the most predictive test for defensive ends, also bodes well for his future.

42. Jayson Oweh - EDGE, Penn St.

The 6-5, 252-pound Oweh ran a blistering 4.39 40 to go along with other elite athletic testing numbers including a 6.83 time in the all-important 3-cone drill, the most predictive drill for pass rushers. Oweh's film doesn't always scream first-round pick. He makes a lot of plays five-plus yards past the line of scrimmage, struggled with the Ohio State left tackle, and wasn't consistent in showing planned pass-rush moves. However, the best of his film shows a feisty, strong, edge-setter with enough speed-to-power to really threaten the edge. With great coaching, he has the natural tools to develop into a big-time edge rusher at the next level.

43. Walker Little - OT, Stanford

Walker Little doesn't have a lot of film after dealing with a knee injury in 2019 and opting out in 2020. He did have a terrific freshman season in 2018 and was a top recruit coming out of high school. Little has ideal size (6-7, 313) and athleticism mix and possesses all the tools of a starting NFL tackle. He needs to get a bit stronger but is a natural knee bender who has reps of tossing smaller DL on film.

44. Pat Freiermuth - TE, Penn St.

Pat Friermuth is a solid second-round TE prospect with no major weaknesses. He is a bit laborious in terms of movement skills, but he can catch in traffic and is versatile enough to block and run routes from various alignments. His blocking is inconsistent, but there are reps where he executes different types of assignments well. He has the upside to develop into a starting TE if he can add some strength.

45. Nico Collins - WR, Michigan

Nico Collins suffered from subpar QB play at Michigan but has the tools to be a quality pro WR. At 6-4, 215, Collins blazed an unofficial 4.42 40 at his pro day, and his deep speed pops on film. He had a nice catch in traffic against Alabama, and won a lot of his one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl, winning with his big body and athleticism. He's solid at the catch-point as well. The issue with Collins is that he's not twitchy enough in and out of breaks, especially at the top of his routes. He had a chance to win a game against Penn State, but ran a weak goal-line comeback route and was smothered. Even with his flaws, the tools are there to develop into a productive pro.

46. Christian Barmore - DT, Alabama

Christian Barmore is a typical, lovable penetrating SEC three-technique who made a lot of his splash plays against guards who won't sniff the NFL. The issue with prospects like Barmore is that when they win with quickness in the SEC, transitioning to facing off against the best college guards and ex-college tackles is difficult. The tape shows strong hands and quickness, but some rough stretches against Notre Dame and Ole Miss, including struggling to get off blocks and stay stout against doubles.  Barmore is talented, and when his first step is right, he's very good, but there are a lot of flaws on film and I don't know if his bullrush translates. The good news is that he's young and coachable and has above-average tools to work with.

47. Seth Williams - WR, Auburn

The enigmatic Seth Williams never seemed to put it all together at Auburn, struggling at times despite a 6-3, 211 frame and 4.50 speed. Williams does silly things on the field like throw his hand up when he thinks he's open and block like he's never been coached how to. However, his natural skill set is that of a fade master and back-shoulder beast. He's not consistent, but at his best, he displays terrific ball skills and length. He looked like he belonged versus Alabama and has the traits to be a playmaker at the next level.

48. Tamorrion Terry - WR, Florida St.

Tamorrion Terry is somewhat similar to Seth Williams in that he has tremendous talent, but his film is inconsistent at best.  Angular with plucky hands, the 6-3, 207-pound Terry ran an unofficial 4.44 at the Florida State pro day. His coaches used him at wildcat QB at times and he had success with a pretty slant-and-go route, including a long touchdown against Notre Dame.  Ball security was an issue and it's fair to wonder how he'll translate after a rocky college career, but the tools are there.

49. Amon-Ra St. Brown - WR, USC

Amon-Ra St. Brown projects as a solid slot WR at the next level. He's not the biggest (5-11, 197), or fastest (unofficial 4.59 40), but his film shows terrific ball skills and a good feel versus zone coverage. St. Brown is also one of the best blocking WRs in this draft and his toughness overall is evident running routes through traffic. He's not as small, but his ball skills and balance remind me of Tyler Lockett.

50. Eric Stokes - CB, Georgia

Eric Stokes has ideal size at 6-0, 194 with over 32-inch long arms. He ran an unofficial 4.29 40 at Georgia's pro day and has all the traits of a solid pro corner. His most glaring weakness on film is that he doesn't get his head around defending verticals.  However, with his recovery speed, length, and ability to match underneath routes, Stokes is worth a top-50 pick. He matched slants step-for-step against Denzel Mims, Henry Ruggs III, and others, twice turning good coverage into pick-sixes.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more NFL Draft coverage.

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