2021 NFL mock draft: Small-school studs crash top 10

We’ve seen one North Dakota State star make his way into the top 10 of an NFL draft class, but could we see two of them do it next year?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, which has Bison quarterback Trey Lance and offensive tackle Dillon Radunz both landing among the top 10 selections.

Lance heads to the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall as the eventual successor to Matthew Stafford, while Radunz goes to the Denver Broncos at the very next pick to protect Drew Lock.

This mock starts predictably enough at the top, with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence going No. 1 overall to the New York Jets, and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields landing with the Carolina Panthers at No. 2. LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (No. 3 overall, New York Giants), Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons (No. 4 overall, Miami Dolphins) and Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell (No. 5 overall, Cincinnati Bengals) round out the top five.

A flurry of interior offensive linemen find their way into this first-round forecast, led by Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis (No. 6 overall, Washington Football team). Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey (No. 14 overall, Los Angeles Chargers), Tennessee’s Trey Smith (No. 15 overall, Las Vegas Raiders), Alabama’s Deonte Brown (No. 19 overall, Tennessee Titans) and Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum (No. 30 overall, Kansas City Chiefs) join Davis in the first round.

A handful of big-name prospects also go later than expected in this projection: Miami edge defender Gregory Rousseau (No. 11 overall, Atlanta Falcons), Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II (No. 28 overall, San Francisco 49ers) and Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (No. 29 overall, New York Jets).

To check out the full first-round mock at CBS Sports, click here.