The 2021 NFL Draft is in the books. As always, there were plenty of twists and turns throughout the seven rounds and we saw a number of players fall far further than expected. The key to winning in the draft is maximising value at each spot and these picks were some of the best examples of that. Here are my biggest steals in each round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
1st Round – Justin Fields | QB, Ohio State
No. 11 Overall to the Chicago Bears
Big Board Rank: #4
This was easily my favourite move of the first round. Fields was in the conversation to be the QB2 of this class, so to get him outside the top ten is great business. Before the draft he looked like a lock to go inside the top ten and I still have no idea why the Panthers and Broncos passed on him. The Bears had to give up just one future first rounder and a couple of day three picks to make the jump for their quarterback of the future. Fields has the ideal combination of accuracy, arm strength and mobility to succeed in the NFL. This pick could help the Bears to compete for the NFC North again.
Honourable Mention: Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech (No. 23 to the Vikings)
2nd Round – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | LB, Notre Dame
No. 52 Overall to the Cleveland Browns
Big Board Rank: #12
Maybe the biggest surprise of the first round was that Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah didn’t hear his name called. I had him as the second ranked linebacker in the class and he was 17th overall on The Athletic’s Consensus Board. The fact that he then slipped all the way down to No. 52 overall made the entire situation even more surprising. Owusu-Koramoah is the best coverage linebacker in this year’s class and has the versatility to play in the box, at safety, or as a slot corner. He is also effective as a blitzer, with 27 pressures on 133 career pass rushing snaps.
Honourable Mention: Christian Barmore, IDL Alabama (No. 38 to the Patriots)
3rd Round – Elijah Molden | CB, Washington
No. 100 Overall to the Tennessee Titans
Big Board Rank: #37
Molden entered the draft as the best slot corner in the class, so to see him fall all the way to the back of the third round was a major surprise. The Titans were the beneficiaries and he joins Kristian Fulton and Caleb Farley in a talented young cornerback room. Molden lacks ideal size and speed, but his instincts are unrivalled. He reads the game very well and accounted for 17 forced incompletions through his last 17 games. He is also one of the most dominant tacklers at the position in this year’s class.
Honourable Mention: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE Oklahoma (No. 96 Overall to the Patriots)
4th Round – Jabril Cox | LB, LSU
No. 115 Overall to the Dallas Cowboys
Big Board Rank: #44
Cox wasn’t in the first round conversation but appeared to be a lock on day two. He was widely regarded as being amongst the second tier of linebacker talent in this class and ranked 58th on The Athletic’s Consensus Board. The Cowboys seem to be overflowing with linebackers right now, but getting Cox in the fourth round is still exceptional value. He rivals Owusu-Koramoah when it comes to coverage ability and was responsible for 19 forced incompletions throughout his college career.
Honourable Mention: Rashad Weaver, EDGE Pittsburgh (No. 135 Overall to the Titans)
5th Round – Jamar Johnson | S, Indiana
No. 164 Overall to the Denver Broncos
Big Board Rank: #43
I still have absolutely no idea how Johnson fell this far. He was my third ranked safety coming into the draft and ranked 96th on The Athletic’s Consensus Board. His experience in college was limited, but he put out plenty of great tape. He is exceptional in coverage, allowing a passer rating of just 32.2 throughout his career. For context, the passer rating on a throwaway is 39.6. He is a good blitzer too, with 11 pressures and four sacks on 33 career pass rushing snaps. Johnson isn’t the most reliable tackler, but still should have been taken well ahead of this spot.
Honourable Mention: Cameron McGrone, LB Michigan (No. 177 Overall to the Patriots)
6th Round – Tay Gowan | CB, UCF
No. 223 Overall to the Arizona Cardinals
Big Board Rank: #60
Gowan falling all the way to the sixth round was a huge surprise and looks like it might be the biggest steal of the draft. His tape at UCF was limited, with just one year of production, but he showed all of the traits you look for in a cornerback prospect. He allowed just 274 yards on his 50 targets in 2019 and had nine forced incompletions. UCF gave him a versatile coverage role and he was comfortable in man and zone, with the ability to play off and press coverage. He has the combination length and quickness to get the job done in the NFL and will help to improve a poor Cardinals secondary.
Honourable Mention: Khalil Herbert, RB Virginia Tech (No. 217 Overall to the Bears)
7th Round – Patrick Johnson | EDGE, Tulane
No. 234 Overall to the Philadelphia Eagles
Big Board Rank: #108
The Eagles snagged some talented players in this year’s draft and got a bargain with Johnson in the seventh round. I had him as the 108th player on my board and he was still a steal judging by The Athletic’s Consensus Board, where he ranked 173rd. Johnson was a three-year starter in Tulane and produced consistently. He racked up an impressive 109 pressures and 24 sacks over the past three years and offers exceptional hand usage. He is a little undersized at 240 lbs, but plays with decent power at the point of attack.
Honourable Mention: Kylin Hill, RB Mississippi State (No. 256 Overall to the Packers)
