The 2021 NFL draft brings yet another excellent class of offensive weapons, and while it's difficult to know exactly how much stock to put in pro day 40-yard dash times this year, there will certainly be plenty of burners selected April 29 through May 1. Speed and elusiveness are key traits in today's NFL offenses, and the 2021 class offers a whole lot of both.
Whether it be on a deep shot to a receiver on a vertical route or a pop pass to a player on a jet sweep, NFL teams use speed to their advantage, getting playmakers in open space so they can create. The 2021 All-Satellite team is littered with prospects who are tough to contain when they get some room to operate.
This marks the 12th edition of this list, dating back to C.J. Spiller and the 2010 class. Past iterations have included the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Christian McCaffrey, Lamar Jackson, Tyler Lockett and Kyler Murray. The 2020 class was headlined by Henry Ruggs III, who showcased his 4.27-second 40 speed on multiple occasions as a rookie. The 2021 edition is packed full of wide receivers, including one of Ruggs' former teammates at Alabama atop the list. Here are the 10 best prospects in space from this year's class.
1. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
As I explained how dangerous Henry Ruggs III can be with the ball in his hands on last year's list, I made note of another Alabama player to keep an eye on for the future: "The scary thing for Crimson Tide opponents is Ruggs' teammate Jaylen Waddle might not have his speed but somehow has even more wiggle in his game. Remember that name for the 2021 draft class -- and next year's All-Satellite list."
Fast forward to the present, and here is Waddle atop my 2021 All-Satellite list. He explodes off the line and in and out of his breaks, and he is extremely elusive after the catch. With his elite lateral agility, field vision and, of course, top-end speed, I don't think there is a more dangerous player in the country with the ball in his hands. Waddle missed most of the 2020 season with an ankle injury, but over 13 games in 2019, he averaged 12.3 yards after the catch per reception, which ranked No. 1 in the nation among wide receivers.
Waddle didn't run a 40-yard dash this spring as he nurses an ankle injury, but I don't need to see it to confirm what we all already know: He is a world-class burner. He reaches top speed very quickly, and once he's there, good luck catching him. Waddle can get behind the secondary and tracks the deep ball very well.
The talented speedster also returned kicks and punts for Alabama, averaging 19.3 yards per punt return (38 attempts) and 23.8 yards per kick return (nine attempts) over three seasons. The Crimson Tide found ways to get the ball in his hands because, simply put, he made things happen. The NFL team that drafts him -- potentially in the top 10 -- should follow suit.
2. Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
Atwell might be undersized at 5-foot-9, but he has an elite combination of quickness and top-end speed. At Louisville's pro day in March, the lightning-quick receiver posted a 4.32-second 40. Atwell is a threat to pull away any time he gets a seam.
He is more dangerous after the catch than he is on deep-ball throws, though his speed certainly will get him behind defenders. He is particularly dynamic with the ball in his hands, and 40 of his 140 career catches came on screens. That's where he excels. If you get him going in the quick-pass game, he has the explosiveness to hit the home run in space.
Over the past two seasons, Atwell averaged 16.4 yards per reception, nearly nine of which came after the catch. Twenty-seven of 116 catches over that time picked up at least 20 yards. Atwell is expected to be a Day 2 selection.
3. Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Toney is a versatile offensive weapon with incredible elusiveness; he forced 21 missed tackles in 2020, which tied for seventh most in the nation. Playing mainly out of the slot for Florida, he showed high-end instincts, and his ability to find open space will only continue to improve as his route-running skills take the next step.
Toney is an explosive prospect with 4.39 speed and very strong contact balance. While he will certainly be used on all kinds of screens, sweeps and other quick-game elements of the offense, he also has the wheels to threaten vertically and separate from the coverage. His 18 catches of 20-plus yards last season tied for fourth in the FBS, and he tacked on an average of seven yards after the catch per reception.
In addition to his 70 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, Toney was used in the run game and as a returner with the Gators. He averaged 8.8 yards per rush on 66 career carries and returned double-digit punts and kicks during his final collegiate season. A likely first-rounder, he is the kind of player you want to manufacture touches for on offense and special teams.
4. Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
If it weren't for Alabama's DeVonta Smith, Moore would have led the nation in multiple receiving categories in 2020, including receptions (86) and yards (1,193). He averaged just under 14 yards per catch and broke 200 yards in three separate games. Another slot receiver, Moore is excellent at reading the defense and finding open space. He flashes as a route runner and has the ability to generate separation. His 4.32 in the 40-yard dash was among the top five results this spring across the draft class.
One of Moore's best traits is his ability to make defenders miss. His 39 forced missed tackles over the past two seasons tied for the most in the FBS, and his 18 in 2020 alone tied for 13th. He has burst and elusiveness, which cause problems for defenders after the catch. And while he is a smaller receiver at 5-foot-9 and thus not a serious downfield threat, he does have the speed to make vertical grabs. His 30 receptions for 20 or more yards over the past two seasons ranked tied for sixth in the FBS. Moore will be an elite offensive weapon and punt returner right out of the gate in the NFL, and he will likely be picked at the end of Round 1 or early on Day 2.
5. Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
I really like Moore's burst and second gear, as he can make defenders miss and then pull away when he gets the ball in space. He will track the deep ball well, but like many others on this list, he really excels in the after-the-catch field. His 5-foot-7 frame will cause some pause for NFL evaluators, but his 4.29 speed will get him plenty of attention.
A probable second-round pick later this month, Moore broke out in 2018 with 1,258 yards and 12 scores, but he was limited to 64 catches over the past two years with injuries. It's clear that he is dangerous if you find a way to get him the ball, and he averaged 7.6 yards after the catch per reception over his career.
6. Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn
Schwartz isn't nicknamed "Flash" for no reason. The burner ran a scorching 4.26 at his pro day -- the fastest we've seen this year -- and is a former track star, setting world youth records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in high school. And yes, that speed translates to the football field. He just explodes off the line of scrimmage.
Though he isn't a polished route runner, he is very sudden getting in and out his breaks, and he transitions upfield quickly after the catch. I wouldn't say he has elite elusiveness to go along with all that speed, but he can frequently make the first defender miss. His suddenness and straight-line wheels make him a true weapon in the screen game. He's a Round 3 prospect.
7. Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
Smith posted a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, but it's worth noting that he averaged only 11.2 yards per catch over the past two seasons. He is really smooth working upfield, though, with burst and the ability to make defenders miss. He has lightning quickness and can separate against man coverage. Smith will make an impact as a returner in addition to sub-package slot receiver duties in the NFL. I could see him coming off the board in either the third or fourth round.
8. D'Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
Eskridge made 13 catches for at least 20 yards in 2020, and he averaged 23.1 yards per catch (fourth in the FBS). In fact, he has averaged more than 20 yards per catch in each of his past three seasons. He also averaged just under 26 yards per kickoff return in 2020. The production is certainly here. And the speed is present both on the tape and on the stopwatch, as he ran a 4.38 this spring.
The Western Michigan burner is especially dangerous after the catch -- though he does threaten vertically, at times -- as his 14.35 yards after the catch per reception ranked fourth in the nation in 2020. The second gear is elite, and he can slip press coverage to get open. I wouldn't say he is a complete route runner, but it's impressive to watch him gear down on hitches or pull away on crossers. Teams will turn their attention to Eskridge in the middle rounds.
9. Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas
I've watched a lot of wide receivers on tape leading up to the draft, and I can't think of one who breaks or eludes tackles as often as Darden does. His 25 forced missed tackles on receptions tied for second in the country last season, and his 38 over the past two seasons tied for third.
He is undersized at 5-foot-7½, and he wasn't playing great competition in Conference USA; but he shows high-end suddenness on tape, and he filled the stat sheet for the Mean Green. Darden made 74 catches for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2020, and he had 28 catches go for at least 20 yards. As an added bonus, he has some experience in the return game. As of now, he's a late-round pick.
10. Avery Williams, CB/RS, Boise State
Williams is a Day 3 cornerback prospect at 5-foot-9, but his real NFL value comes as a return specialist. I really like his speed and vision in that area of his game, and over four seasons at Boise State, he took nine kicks -- six punts and three kickoffs -- to the house. That's three more than anyone else in the country over that time, and his four TD returns in 2020 is tied for the third most in a season over the past decade. He ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash at the Broncos' pro day in March.
Honorable mention: Javian Hawkins, RB, Louisville
Hawkins is a jitterbug with good speed, proving to be a home run threat whenever he finds a hole. And he can be an asset in the passing game too, never dropping a pass in college on 21 targets. And while there are concerns about his ability to hold up physically in the NFL and his tendency to dance too much looking for the big play, his electric quickness makes him an intriguing late-round flier. His 120.6 yards per game from scrimmage ranked in the top 20 nationally during the past two seasons, and his 12 touches for 40-plus yards ranked in the top five over that time.