Can’t Miss

The best prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft is Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Although someone like Trevor Lawrence is arguably the greatest football prospect the game has ever seen, he has been discussed too many times. Super Bowl LV showed us the importance of a cornerstone offensive tackle. Patrick Mahomes ran nearly 500 total yards before the ball was thrown during the Super Bowl and faced countless pressures and sacks that were the primary reasons why the Chiefs lost the game. Sewell has given up a total of two quarterback pressures and one sack in all of his pass blocking snaps in his last two years at Oregon which clearly will translate well to the professional game. His rookie season could be as good as Tristran Wriff’s was this past season, and his ceiling may be as high as a player like Quinnen Nelson. He could possibly fall out of the top five due to the receiver and quarterback depth, but he may be one of the greatest offensive line prospects in recent memory.

Don’t Pick

The main first-round talent to be avoided is Najee Harris out of Alabama. He is projected to go between picks 18-26 but due to his sheer usage throughout college, teams shouldn’t pick him in the first round. Watching Najee play was special and he was part of the second greatest college football offense we’ve seen in the last few years. The problem, however, is his durability. He has taken over 630 NCAA rushing attempts, and at 6’2”, 230 pounds, concerns should arise about how he’ll hold up. He is a massive boom or bust pick. He does have the potential to become a very elite level running back, but the risk of taking a “power back” in the first rounds has been called into question a few times. Especially when guys like Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, and Alvin Kamara have all gone later on in the draft. This running back class is a deep one, and taking the risk of drafting a running back that will possibly peak in his first 3 seasons isn’t worth the investment.

Underrated

The most underrated pick is Jalen Waddle out of Alabama. Although he suffered a high ankle sprain earlier this year, due to the depth of receivers in this draft, it wouldn’t surprise me if he managed to fall into the 10-14 range. He was supposed to be Alabama’s guy this year before he got hurt, and the man who stepped up in his place, Devonta Smith, managed to win the Heisman trophy. What makes this pick even more dangerous–given the thought he falls closer to the middle round–is that he will end up on a team with a real quarterback. He won’t have Sam Darnold, Jared Goff, or Teddy Bridgewater throwing him the ball, but likely someone more established who knows how to get receivers involved as well as a solid running back that can open the pass game up for him. He has the talent to be a top receiver in the NFL in just a few years.  Since both Smith and Ja’marr Chase are in this draft, Waddle is a top 5 to 7 prospect yet has the chance to fall to a team that needs a talent like him, and that is what is going to make him so special.