2021 NFL Draft: 5 storylines to watch
The 2021 NFL Draft starts on April 29, and there are five main storylines to keep an eye on when the madness begins.
5. How many offensive tackles go in top 32 picks?
This is one of the best classes in recent memory for offensive linemen, specifically tackles. Penei Sewell of Oregon and Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater are two of the top players, but there’s a host of others including Teven Jenkins, Liam Eichenberg, Sam Costi, Elijah Vera-Tucker, Christian Darrisaw and so forth. There’s a very good chance we see at least a half-dozen tackles fly off the board in the first round.
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4. Does any running back go in the first round?
We know the NFL has moved away from drafting running backs in the early rounds, unless your name is Adrian Peterson, Ezekiel Elliott or Leonard Fournette. Last year, the first runner off the board was LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 32 overall. This time, it appears we could be waiting into the late-20s if not the second round. Alabama’s Najee Harris is probably the first running back to go, but he could be waiting until next Friday.
3. Where will DeVonta Smith go?
The wide receiver class is phenomenal, but it’s a class with a huge question mark about one of its best. The top 15 should see a trio of pass-catchers in Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, and LSU’s JaMarr Chase. However, Smith is fascinating at 170 pounds. Does he start to slide and if so, how far? It’s not impossible to think Smith falls into the 20s.
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2. Which team will make the big move?
There’s always a team that comes out of nowhere to shake up the entire NFL Draft. Is it the Chicago Bears who decide they need to take another stab at finding a quarterback? Maybe it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers who understand this is going to be it with Ben Roethlisberger. It’s impossible to say, but there will be a big swing taken from a 2020 playoff team who wants to go for a power play.
1. Who do the 49ers take at No. 3?
This is where the 2021 NFL draft really starts. The San Francisco 49ers moved up nine spots a month ago, getting to the No. 3 overall pick to select Jimmy Garoppolo’s eventual replacement. The Niners are going to have their options, choosing between Trey Lance, Mac Jones and Justin Fields. Which way will the power tandem of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch go?
