Kelly: A look at the 2021 NFL draft’s top-25 talents | Analysis

For the second consecutive year the coronavirus pandemic has added a level of difficulty to the NFL draft, making it more challenging for your favorite team to effectively evaluate the 2021 prospects.

Unlike last year, NFL teams don’t have a full season of college football to dissect since numerous top-tier players opted out, and some teams only played a handful of games, if they even played. There was also no scouting combine to fall back on, preventing teams from being able to compare apples to apples when it comes to metrics like the 40-yard dash times and positions drills.

As a result, drafting will be even more of a guessing game for all 32 NFL teams, which weren’t allowed to bring players to their facility for the second straight spring.

Complicating things is the lack of top-shelf talent in this draft class, which has roughly 20-25 players with legitimate first-round grades.

Here are the top-25 prospects in the upcoming NFL draft:

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence is the best quarterback prospect to enter the draft since Andrew Luck in 2012. He’s big (6-6, 220 pounds), athletic, knows how to operate in the pocket, and has a cannon for an arm. He played on college football’s biggest stage, and won more than he lost. The Jaguars will select him with the No. 1 pick in the first round, and hope to build a foundation around him.

Florida TE Kyle Pitts

Pitts has exquisite size at 6 foot 6, 240 pounds and the catch radius teams crave for in a tight end along with sure hands and the ability to adjust his body to make contested catches like a wide receiver. Pitts will contend with Riley Odoms (No. 5 in 1972), Kellen Winslow Jr. (No. 6 in 2004) and Vernon Davis (No. 6 in 2006) to become the highest-drafted tight end in the modern era (since 1970).

LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase

Chase plays the game like he’s a 6-foot-4, 220-pound split end, but has the movement skills of a slot receiver. While he doesn’t have elite size (6-0, 200) for the position, he has a phenomenal catch radius, and an uncanny knack for getting open. He has a chance to become one of the top-five players at his position in a season or two.

Oregon OT Penei Sewell

Sewell is one of the most athletic offensive linemen we’ve seen enter the NFL since Quenton Nelson and Zach Martin were first-round picks. He plays like he’s 40-pounders lighter than he is, which indicates that he’d be dominant with a zone-blocking team.

BYU QB Zach Wilson

Wilson’s accuracy on difficult throws, and his ability to operate an offense on schedule won over NFL evaluators last season, where he led the Cougars to a 11-1 record while throwing 33 touchdowns and rushing for another 10. The fact he played with a mediocre group of receivers shows that his game will evolve if the right talent is put around him.

Alabama WR DeVonta Smith

Smith, who led Alabama in receptions the past two seasons despite playing in an offense with what will ultimately be three other first-round picks at receiver, is as natural a hands catcher as you’ll find in any draft. He’s competitive in catch-and-run situations, but there is some concern about his size (6-1, 166) and whether or not he’ll physically hold up in the NFL. Those concerns could lead to him being selected in the teens.

Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle

Waddle has game-breaking speed, which makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field. When healthy, which he wasn’t last season because of an ankle injury, he’s able to stretch the field, which will occupy a safety. He has added value as a return specialist. There are some rough edges when it comes to his route running, and he doesn’t always catch the ball cleanly.

Ohio State QB Justin Fields

The physical traits indicate that he could become this generation’s Cam Newton because he has a cannon of an arm, and the athleticism and speed (4.4 in the 40-yard dash) required to carve up teams with his scrambling. Concerns about his struggles as a pocket passer, and Ohio State’s history of quarterbacks struggling in the NFL could lead to him sliding down many team’s boards.

Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater

Slater has the physical traits, instincts, football intelligence and footwork to become a high-level NFL starter in his first few seasons. His handwork is sensational, and his footwork allows him to recover well. The only concern about his game is whether or not he’d struggle with powerful defensive ends. The answer to that question might dictate whether he gets kicked inside to guard.

Tulsa ILB Zaven Collins

Collins had a phenomenal junior season, where he won the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Awards, which are annually given to the nation’s best defender. His combination of rare size (6-5, 270), athleticism (4.67 in the 40, and 19 reps of 225 pounds) and instincts makes him scheme diverse, and the level of discipline and technique he showed at Tulsa indicates he’ll become an NFL standout quickly.

Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II

Surtain, the son former Dolphins great Patrick Surtain, who was an 11-year starting cornerback in the NFL, is as physically impressive as it gets. His movement is fluid. He has powerful hands, and is at his best in press coverage. But his anticipation and recognition skills could use some improvement.

Alabama RB Najee Harris

Harris leaves Alabama as the school’s all-time leading rusher after gaining 3,843 yards and scoring 46 rushing touchdowns in the 55 games he’s played over the past four seasons. He’s a big back (6-2, 230) that is nimble on his feet and has soft hands, which makes him a threat in the passing game.

South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn

Horn, the son of longtime Saints standout receiver Joe Horn, is at his best lining up in off-coverage. When he’s able to keep his eye on the quarterback his recognition skills shine. Despite the lack of turnover production (two interceptions and two forced fumbles) in 30 games in college, he has the makings off a ballhawk.

Penn State OLB Micah Parsons

Parsons is a gifted athlete who played with good functional strength. But his instincts and play recognition need to catch up with his physical gifts in order for him to play more downhill. Most of the 6.5 sacks he produced in his two seasons on the field were a byproduct of a free rush. But he has the explosiveness to be an effective blitzer.

Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley

Farley is long (6-2) and fluid. He has rare change of direction skills for a player of his size (200 pounds), and his backpedal is smooth. He plays with an aggressive mindset (six interceptions and one sack in 24 games) and is a willing tackler. A procedure he had on his back this year after sitting out the 2020 season raises concerns about whether the team that selects him is getting a durable player.

Georgia OLB Azeez Ojulari

Ojulari, who produced 14 sacks in his two seasons as a starter for the Bulldogs, might be the best pure rusher in the draft. But his limited size (6-2, 240) has him pigeonholed as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL unless a 4-3 defensive team thinks it can get him to bulk up without losing some of his movement skills.

Notre Dame OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Owusu-Koramoah is the prototype of the style of linebacker the NFL needs more of. He’s a position-less, hybrid safety because of his fluidity, speed and tenacity. Owusu-Koramoah’s ability to work in space allows him to shadow scatbacks, and his respectable frame (6-2, 220) prevents him from getting abused by tight ends. The only wart to his game is his ability to stifle the run and set the edge.

North Dakota State QB Trey Lance

Lance comes from the same program that produced Carson Wentz, but he only started one season for the Bisons because of COVID-19 pandemic, which only allowed his school to play one game last year before the season was called off. During the 2019 season he showed good ball placement, impressive pocket presence, and the scrambling ability to carve up defenses. He gained 1,100 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns on 169 carries.

Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw

Darrisaw was a three-year starter at left tackle who is proficient in the run game. He manhandles defenders at the point of attack, but needs to polish his technique in pass protection. The physical traits he possesses show that he’ll be a good starting left tackle, but he might need a season or two to blossom so patience will be required.

Miami DE Jaelan Phillips

Phillips is the most diverse, well-rounded edge player in the 2021 draft. He has an arsenal of pass-rushing moves, and sets the edge effectively, which indicates that he could be a Day 1 starter. Problem is he has a history of injuries, which include concussions that nearly ended his collegiate career. Teams will likely drop his draft stock because of the medical risk associated with selecting him early.

USC OG Alijah Vera-Tucker

Vera-Tucker’s feet never stop moving, and he’s rarely found off-balance. Those instincts indicate that the 6 foot 5, 310-pounder can excel as a guard. He played both guard and tackle at USC, so position flexibility won’t be a problem. There is a concern about his functional strength, and ability to anchor down against powerful nose tackles.

Michigan DE Kwity Paye

Paye is a stout, powerful athlete who beats blockers and can consistently set the edge of a defense. His power can wreck an opponent’s run game. But he is a very limited pass rusher (11.5 sacks in 37 games). His pass-rushing repertoire is thin, but it is possible that aspect of his game can be coached up.

Washington OLB Joe Tryon

Tryon is a multi-directional athlete who is scheme diverse, and there’s a possibility he could be a Jack of All Trades linebacker in the right scheme, filling a Kyle Van Noy-like role for a team that runs a hybrid system. The biggest concern is the rust associated with him missing the 2020 season.

TCU S Trevon Moehrig

The Jim Thorpe Award winner is a dynamic safety with corner-like coverage skills. He capably matches up with slot receivers in space, but he doesn’t have the size (6-1, 202) to match up well with a tight end. He flashes outstanding range as a deep-center field player, but is an inconsistent tackler.

Miami DE Gregory Rousseau

Rousseau’s length and power indicates that he can be a Calais Campbell-like defensive lineman in the right scheme. He has the ability to bully offensive linemen, and has quick hands and closing speed. The problem is, he sat out all of 2020 as a COVID-opt out, so teams never saw development after his one impressive season (15 sacks in 2019). He also looked slow and unathletic at UM’s Pro Day, which could lead to him sliding out of the first round.