With college football bowl season on the horizon, I'm updating my rankings for the 2021 NFL draft. You'll find a new Big Board with my top 25 prospects overall, plus the top 10 prospects at every position, from quarterback to kickers, punters and long-snappers. (Check out the projected first-round order for the draft here.)
My pal Todd McShay and I did a "mini" 2021 mock draft last week, predicting the top 10 picks, and we'll have full 32-pick mocks next month as the lead-up to April's draft continues. It's a really interesting class loaded with top-tier wideouts and a quarterback class that has come out of nowhere to project as many as five first-rounders. I didn't expect that. The class is also light on elite pass-rushers, though you'll find a few risers I like below.
A few notes before we get started:
These aren't detailed scouting reports, and there is a lot of projection involved. Some of these prospects have made only a handful of starts, and others opted out of the 2020 season altogether.
Height and weight for each prospect are based on the data we get from schools, so it's not official yet. We don't get official numbers until the 2021 NFL combine. And because of the coronavirus, I'm not sure what the combine is going to look like next year.
Prospects change positions all the time. Running backs turn into fullbacks. Offensive tackles move inside to guard at the next level. My position rankings are based on where I project each player to play in the NFL.
This is a strange year in which the NCAA has thrown out eligibility clocks, so seniors who play this season could be seniors again in 2021. That still means underclassmen who are three years out of high school can enter the draft, but it also means we could see some upperclassmen return to school.
Jump to: Position rankings
1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
HT: 6-6 | WT: 220 | Previously: 1
There's no movement at the top. Lawrence is the best prospect in this class and is the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. After missing a few games because of a positive COVID-19 test, he returned at the end of November and threw for 403 yards in a blowout win over Pitt. He's completing 69.2% of his passes with 20 touchdowns and three picks while averaging 9.7 yards per attempt. Lawrence has everything NFL teams want in a starting quarterback, from size to arm talent to the ability to process reads and make the right throw. Next up for the Tigers is a rematch with Notre Dame in the ACC title game; Lawrence missed the first game, but the Tigers are heavy favorites. Can Lawrence light up the Fighting Irish and lead Clemson to another College Football Playoff?
2. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
HT: 6-6 | WT: 330 | Previously: 3
I wrote in September that Sewell could be a top-five pick even if he never played another snap at Oregon and that still looks likely. He announced just days after my preseason Big Board was released that he was opting out of the season and entering the 2021 draft. He's the clear top offensive tackle in this class and dominated as Justin Herbert's blindside protector last season, winning the Outland Trophy as college football's best lineman. In a class with outstanding quarterback and wide receiver talent, Sewell won't be the sexiest pick, but he'll be an instant starter and upgrade for the team that picks him.
3. Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
HT: 6-3 | WT: 223 | Previously: 2
Since I last updated my rankings, Fields had his first true bumpy college game, throwing three interceptions in a win over Indiana. Those were his only picks in five games this season. Todd McShay and I talked about that game when we settled on Fields to the Jaguars at No. 2 in our 10-pick mock draft last week. I was impressed by Fields' ability to bounce back and impact the game with his legs. Overall, Fields still ranks second in the FBS in Total QBR (94.8) and first in completion percentage (78.1%). He has 20 total scores (five rushing) with those three INTs. Before the season, I said I wanted to see Fields improve as a decision-maker in the pocket and on off-platform throws, and we've seen him take a step forward in both. He has superstar potential and is right behind Lawrence on my quarterback board.
4. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-1 | WT: 175 | Previously: 5
Smith is going on two years of being Bama's No. 1 wide receiver, as it was Smith, not top-15 picks Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III, who led Alabama in receiving yards (1,256) and touchdowns (14) in 2019. He has been a touchdown machine this season, with 17 total (15 receiving, one rushing, one on a punt return). He has had five games with at least two receiving touchdowns. He leads the FBS in receiving yards (1,327), yards after catch (666) and receiving first downs (61) and is second in catches (83). I picked Smith as a potential first-round sleeper last October before he decided to return to school for his senior year. He's not a sleeper anymore, and he's my top-ranked receiver in this class.
5. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
HT: 6-1 | WT: 200 | Previously: 6
Chase is another prospect who opted out and is entering the draft, but as I wrote in September, there won't be an issue with sample. He has two full seasons of film to show NFL teams, including his phenomenal 2019 in which he caught 84 passes and led the country with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's stellar after the catch, breaking tackles and running away from defenders. As I mentioned in the summer, Chase consistently beat first-round pick A.J. Terrell in the national title game, catching nine passes for 221 yards and two TDs. He's an elite prospect.
6. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
HT: 6-3 | WT: 245 | Previously: 4
Parsons opted out too, and has been training for the 2021 draft. He was all over the field the past two seasons, racking up 191 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. He has rare talent, though he has room to grow into the defense that picks him. He played linebacker for the Nittany Lions, but he was a defensive end in high school and could end up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the next level. It's the versatility that makes him valuable, as he could also play inside linebacker in a 4-3. Parsons had five sacks last season, but he has a higher ceiling as a pass-rusher in the NFL.
7. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
HT: 6-6 | WT: 239 | Previously: 7
Pitts has shown off his size/speed traits this season, as he has eight red zone touchdown catches but is averaging 17.8 yards per reception. That shows how good he is all over the field. He has a huge frame, of course, but he high-points the football well and has soft hands. Pitts began the season with a stellar four-TD game, but he suffered a concussion against Georgia and has missed some time, including Saturday's loss to LSU. He's expected to play in the SEC title game against Alabama. Pitts is a perfect fit for what NFL teams want out of their tight ends, a receiving weapon who can create mismatches when lined up out wide. McShay and I thought he'd be a great fit with the Panthers at No. 8 in our mini mock draft.
8. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
HT: 5-10 | WT: 182 | Previously: 11
Waddle is out for the season, unfortunately, after he suffered a combination of a high ankle sprain and fracture against Tennessee last month. He was averaging 22.3 yards per catch and had four touchdowns in four games. He's electric with the ball in his hands, as a receiver and returner. He's going to run away from defenders at the next level, and I hope he can get healthy soon. He's one of the fastest prospects in this class.
9. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ILB, Notre Dame
HT: 6-2 | WT: 220 | Previously: 16
With a stellar ability to find the ball and react and with the speed to cover tight ends in the passing game, Owusu-Koramoah just keeps rising in my rankings. He's a perfect fit for today's NFL because he's a three-down off-ball linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. He had 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and nine total tackles in the double-overtime win over Clemson, and now he and Notre Dame get the Tigers again, this time with Trevor Lawrence. I'm excited to see how he plays.
10. Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa
HT: 6-3 | WT: 305 | Previously: NR
A junior college transfer who made only one start for the Hawkeyes last season, I was waiting to add Nixon to my rankings. I can't wait any longer, though, because he has been one of the most dominant and disruptive players in the country in 2020. Just watch his athleticism on this pick-six. He looks like a tight end running the ball, except he weighs 300 pounds. Nixon has really come into his own this season, racking up 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He has some pass-rushing moves from the interior. He has a big wingspan. He's great against the run. Nixon is my new No. 1 defensive tackle.
11. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
HT: 6-2 | WT: 203 | Previously: 9
You probably recognize the name; Surtain's father, Patrick, picked off 37 passes and earned three Pro Bowl trips over 11 NFL seasons. He was a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1998. Surtain II is a little bit bigger than his dad, but they have similar coverage traits. His frame reminds me a little bit of Marlon Humphrey, another Crimson Tide corner who went in Round 1 (2017). Surtain is a shutdown corner who can break on throws with ease -- he has 23 pass breakups over the past three seasons, along with four total interceptions. He also forced three fumbles last season and has one more in 2020.
12. Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
HT: 6-5 | WT: 265 | Previously: NR
I mentioned last month that Phillips was off to a tremendous start in his first season with the Hurricanes, and he has wreaked havoc on offenses lately. He has 5.5 sacks in his past three games and eight on the season. A former five-star prospect who had some injury issues at UCLA, Phillips landed at Miami and has put all of his talent together. He had only 4.5 sacks over two years with the Bruins. Phillips has a great frame for a 4-3 defensive end, and I really like his all-around game. In a class desperate for pass-rushers, I could see him being the first edge defender off the board. It's just a shame we never got to see him play on the other side of Gregory Rousseau, who opted out of the season (and is also on my Big Board).
13. Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
HT: 6-2 | WT: 207 | Previously: 12
Nothing has changed with Farley, who was the first notable prospect to opt out of the 2020 season. I wrote about him in August, and I moved him up in my cornerback rankings after watching more tape. I would have loved to see another full season of starts, just because 2019 was only his second year playing defensive back -- he played quarterback and wide receiver in high school. And that was after he tore his ACL in fall practice in 2017. But you can see Farley's tools on the Virginia Tech tape, even if he needs some refinement. How he tests at the combine will be crucial.
14. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
HT: 6-3 | WT: 210 | Previously: 13
Wilson starts a run on quarterbacks here, and I've moved him slightly ahead of Trey Lance and Mac Jones. It's going to be close throughout the pre-draft process, but I'm giving Wilson the edge right now. He has a stellar arm and can climb the pocket to find the open receiver. He was too up and down last season, bordering on reckless, but he has been the opposite this season. Wilson has thrown only three interceptions to go along with 30 touchdown passes, which ranks second in the FBS. He also has eight rushing scores and has shown off his athleticism to manipulate the pocket. He has a great arm and shows anticipation on throws. He's the complete package. Wilson, a true junior, could still return to BYU for another season, but I think he's a first-rounder if he enters the draft.
15. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
HT: 6-3 | WT: 214 | Previously: 24
I didn't include Jones in my quarterback rankings in October, but McShay and I had a fun debate about Jones last month. Read that piece for more thoughts, but in short: He just keeps improving. I have been so impressed by his deep-ball accuracy and ability to stand in the pocket and make throws under pressure. I didn't see him as a potential first-round pick last year, when he took over after Tua Tagovailoa's injury, but he has made his case this season. Jones ranks first in the FBS in Total QBR (96.0) and yards per attempt (11.7) and is second in completion percentage (76.4). Yes, he has elite playmakers around him, but I'm a believer in his talent. He can make every throw.
16. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
HT: 6-3 | WT: 224 | Previously: 8
Lance got a one-game showcase earlier this season and will forgo his final two-plus seasons and enter the 2021 draft. He was just OK in that game against Central Arkansas, but as I wrote before it was played, I wasn't going to overreact to one game against an FCS opponent. He's going to end his college career with only 17 starts -- all wins -- and none of those came against FBS opponents. That makes him a bit of a wild card for this class, as teams will want to get to know him more in the lead-up to the draft. We do know that he's a phenomenal talent, though; he had 42 total touchdowns (28 passing) and zero interceptions last season for the FCS champs. He threw for 2,786 yards and ran for another 1,100. All eyes will be on Lance at the combine next year.
17. Rashawn Slater, G, Northwestern
HT: 6-3 | WT: 308 | Previously: 17
This is a veteran offensive line prospect who has started 37 games at both left and right tackle, though I see his NFL future at guard because of his size. He has good feet and is an excellent pass-blocker; he didn't allow a sack last season while playing on the left side. He moves really well for his size. Slater opted out of the season, but he didn't need to prove much in the Big Ten. His father, Reggie, had a long career in the NBA.
18. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
HT: 6-5 | WT: 314 | Previously: 18
The more I watch Darrisaw, the more I like him. He's a road grader in the running game who just mauls edge defenders. He has a mean streak and finishes plays. He started as the Hokies' left tackle as a true freshman in 2018 and he just keeps getting better. The junior is still young, but he's rising big time based on his play this season. He just erases edge defenders. And he has the frame to stick at left tackle in the NFL.
19. Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
HT: 6-7 | WT: 310 | Previously: 10
McShay thinks I'm overrating Cosmi a little bit, but I really like him as mid-first-round left tackle who can step in and start immediately. A starter at right tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2018, he switched to left tackle last season. He was Sam Ehlinger's blindside protector this season until he decided late last month to begin preparing for the draft. Cosmi has great feet and bend as a pass-protector. As I mentioned in September, he has a chance to be Texas' first first-round pick from the offensive side of the ball since quarterback Vince Young in 2006.
20. Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
HT: 6-7 | WT: 253 | Previously: 15
Rousseau is another opt-out for this season and I'm not quite as high on his 2019 tape as others. He has a massive frame, but I didn't see an explosive first step off the line of scrimmage. He was inconsistent from snap to snap. He had 15.5 sacks, but a few of those were coverage takedowns. The draft, though, is all about potential and traits, and there's no doubt that Rousseau has both. I'm really interested in seeing his testing numbers at the combine.
21. Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
HT: 6-2 | WT: 208 | Previously: 20
Moehrig stood out on the 2019 tape because he was always around the football. He had four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 76 tackles and forced two fumbles. He has two more picks this season, including this one-handed grab. TCU coach Gary Patterson knows how to coach up his defense and he found a star in Moehrig, who has some potential as a ball hawk. Moehrig is still growing into his 6-2 frame, but he's my top-ranked safety in this class.
22. Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson
HT: 6-0 | WT: 190 | Previously: NR
I wanted to see more from Kendrick this season. He impressed me in 2019, as he made the move from wide receiver as a freshman and immediately became a starter for the Tigers. But he's showing elite potential this season, and he just sticks to receivers in coverage. Kendrick is feisty; he's not afraid to stick his head in and make a tackle. His interception total won't wow you (one this season, two in 2019), but he has ball skills, and those picks will come. Clemson could have its third straight year with a corner going in the top 40 picks (Trayvon Mullen in 2019, A.J. Terrell in 2020).
23. Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
HT: 5-9 | WT: 185 | Previously: NR
What a wide receiver class this is shaping up to be. And Moore might be the best slot wideout in this draft. He's only 5-foot-9, but he's explosive in and out of his cuts and has burst after the catch. He leads the country with 86 catches and is second in receiving yards (1,193). Moore also has forced 18 missed tackles with the ball in his hands, according to ESPN Stats & Information, which ranks ninth. He could help an NFL team in the return game as well. I love watching Moore and would feel comfortable taking him in the first round if I were a general manager.
24. Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
HT: 6-3 | WT: 200 | Previously: 21
Marshall flashed behind Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase on the Tigers' run to the national title last season, but he was the clear top target for LSU this season until he opted out of the rest of the season late last month. He had four straight games with at least two touchdown catches and averaged 15.2 yards per reception. Watch him break tackles and outrun defenders on this 51-yard score. He has quickness that you can't teach. Marshall isn't quite the athlete that Chase is, but he has a ton of ability and could be a No. 1 receiver at the next level.
25. Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
HT: 6-4 | WT: 272 | Previously: 19
It's all about projection with Paye, who has two sacks in four games this season (both in the season opener) and only 11.5 sacks in his three-plus seasons in Ann Arbor. I don't think he has scratched the surface of his talent. He is a gifted athlete with an impressive frame, and he has some scheme versatility if he keeps growing. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up as a defensive tackle in the NFL. I've been told that Paye will light up the combine. Michigan has had to cancel its past two games because of COVID-19 concerns, so it's unclear if we'll see Paye the rest of the season.
Position rankings
Quarterbacks
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2. Justin Fields, Ohio State
3. Zach Wilson, BYU
4. Mac Jones, Alabama
5. Trey Lance, North Dakota State
6. Kyle Trask, Florida
7. Feleipe Franks, Arkansas
8. Dustin Crum, Kent State
9. Ian Book, Notre Dame
10. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Running backs
1. Najee Harris, Alabama
2. Travis Etienne, Clemson
3. Trey Sermon, Ohio State
4. Javonte Williams, North Carolina
5. Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
6. Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
7. Demetric Felton, UCLA
8. Michael Carter, North Carolina
9. Javian Hawkins, Louisville
10. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Fullbacks/H-backs
1. Ben Mason, Michigan
2. Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
3. Ryan Bowman, Washington
4. Jeremiah Hall, Oklahoma
5. Mason Stokke, Wisconsin
6. Tory Carter, LSU
7. Houston Heimuli, Stanford
8. Clay Moss, Weber State
9. Carl Tucker, Alabama
10. Chris Elmore, Syracuse
Wide receivers
1. DeVonta Smith, Alabama
2. Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
4. Elijah Moore, Mississippi
5. Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
6. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
7. Chris Olave, Ohio State
8. Kadarius Toney, Florida
9. Rondale Moore, Purdue
10. Nico Collins, Michigan
Tight ends
1. Kyle Pitts, Florida
2. Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
3. James Mitchell, Virginia Tech
4. Brevin Jordan, Miami (Fla.)
5. Hunter Long, Boston College
6. Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
7. Cade Otton, Washington
8. Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin
9. Noah Gray, Duke
10. Kenny Yeboah, Mississippi
Offensive tackles
1. Penei Sewell, Oregon
2. Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
3. Samuel Cosmi, Texas
4. Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State
5. Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
6. Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
7. Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
8. Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
9. Brady Christensen, BYU
10. Walker Little, Stanford
Guards
1. Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
2. Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
3. Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
4. Trey Smith, Tennessee
5. Aaron Banks, Notre Dame
6. Ed Ingram, LSU
7. Zion Johnson, Boston College
8. Deonte Brown, Alabama
9. David Moore, Grambling
10. Ben Cleveland, Georgia
Centers
1. Landon Dickerson, Alabama
2. Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
3. Drew Dalman, Stanford
4. Nick Ford, Utah
5. Trey Hill, Georgia
6. Josh Myers, Ohio State
7. Michal Menet, Penn State
8. James Empey, BYU
9. Jimmy Morrissey, Pitt
Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum was originally my No. 2 center, but he's returning to school.
Defensive ends
1. Jaelan Phillips, Miami (Fla.)
2. Gregory Rousseau, Miami (Fla.)
3. Kwity Paye, Michigan
4. Patrick Jones II, Pitt
5. Ade Ogundeji, Notre Dame
6. Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
7. Joe Tryon, Washington
8. Rashad Weaver, Pitt
9. Payton Turner, Houston
10. Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame
Defensive tackles
1. Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
2. Christian Barmore, Alabama
3. Jay Tufele, USC
4. Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
5. Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA
6. Tyler Shelvin, LSU
7. Tommy Togiai, Ohio State
8. Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M
9. Marvin Wilson, Florida State
10. Haskell Garrett, Ohio State
Inside linebackers
1. Micah Parsons, Penn State
2. Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
3. Nick Bolton, Missouri
4. Jabril Cox, LSU
5. Tony Fields II, West Virginia
6. Dylan Moses, Alabama
7. Devin Lloyd, Utah
8. Ventrell Miller, Florida
9. Monty Rice, Georgia
10. Baron Browning, Ohio State
Outside linebackers
1. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
2. Joseph Ossai, Texas
3. Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
4. Zaven Collins, Tulsa
5. Chris Rumph II, Duke
6. Quincy Roche, Miami (Fla.)
7. Grant Stuard, Houston
8. Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo
9. Shaka Toney, Penn State
10. Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa
Cornerback
1. Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
2. Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
3. Derion Kendrick, Clemson
4. Shaun Wade, Ohio State
5. Elijah Molden, Washington
6. Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
7. Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
8. Kary Vincent Jr., LSU
9. Eric Stokes, Georgia
10. Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas
Safeties
1. Trevon Moehrig, TCU
2. Jevon Holland, Oregon
3. Talanoa Hufanga, USC
4. Caden Sterns, Texas
5. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
6. Richard LeCounte, Georgia
7. Paris Ford, Pitt
8. Andre Cisco, Syracuse
9. Richie Grant, UCF
10. James Wiggins, Cincinnati
Kickers and punters
1. Jose Borregales, K, Miami (Fla.)
2. Evan McPherson, K, Florida
3. James Smith, P, Cincinnati
4. Zach Von Rosenberg, P, LSU
5. Andre Szmyt, K, Syracuse
6. Michael Turk, P, Arizona State
7. Pressley Harvin III, P, Georgia Tech
8. Daniel Whelan, P, UC Davis
9. Luis Aguilar, K, Northern Arizona
10. Max Duffy, P, Kentucky
Long-snappers
1. Camaron Cheeseman, Michigan
2. Adam Bay, Wisconsin
3. Erik Dickerson, Arizona State
4. Turner Bernard, San Diego State
5. Thomas Fletcher, Alabama
6. Damon Johnson, USC
7. Ethan Tabel, Illinois