The NFL draft scouting process is always a fluid one. With a strong foundation of initial scouting completed over the summer, we finally have new information on most of the NFL prospects eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft, and with that comes our first opportunity to update the TDN100 Big Board. When reflecting on the recent changes, here are some of my notable takeaways in the form of superlatives.
Deepest Position Group: EDGE
One of my favorite things to do when stacking a big board is seeing the positional distribution once the project is complete. When doing that with the updated TDN100, five position groups have at least 10 players represented, but EDGE defenders lead the way with 15 prospects. It’s a good year to be in the market for adding young talent at outside pass-rusher.
Leading the way is Gregory Rousseau, our No. 7 overall prospect and top-rated EDGE defender. While he’s only a redshirt sophomore and has opted out of the 2020 college football season, the traits and ability he displayed in 2019 are indicative of a top-of-the-first-round talent. The interesting race comes in determining who is next. While several Big Ten edge defenders like Aidan Hutchinson, Kwity Pate, and Jayson Oweh have a wide-open opportunity to climb the board since their seasons just started, the emergence of Joseph Ossai, Azeez Ojulari, Rashad Weaver, and Jaelan Phillips already this season create a log jam of talented prospects to stack.
It’s exciting to think about the rest of the process unfolding and seeing how the group stacks up once we finalize our scouting reports, which includes crosschecks from the entire TDN scouting staff.
Weakest Position Group: Running Back
The NFL has proven capable of finding productive running backs in the later portions of the draft and the 2021 crop will force that trend to continue. While Travis Etienne is a special talent with his burst, vision, and contact balance and Najee Harris has developed into a complete back, the rest of the running back crop is littered with question marks. With only four prospects rated among the TDN100, the top talent for the 2021 draft is lacking. The medical concerns surrounding Journey Brown and circumstances surrounding Kylin Hill created some big question marks among the perceived top backs in the class.
With that said, that doesn’t mean there aren’t several talented backs that can help an NFL offense, there just aren’t many worth picking high in the draft. This is the type of year to add a piece to the running back stable and not necessarily a feature back. I will say, keep an eye on the North Carolina backs, Michael Carter and Javonte Williams. The pair forms arguably the best running back duo in college football and are fast risers so far this season.
Primed To Climb: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
I am ready to go all-in on Paye as a top-15 prospect in the class, but he currently sits at No. 40 overall in the TDN100. After logging 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2019 for Michigan after playing running back in high school, Paye was No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s College Football Freak List for 2020.
At 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds, Feldman shared that Paye clocked an astounding 6.37-second three-cone drill, runs a 4.57 40-yard dash, 4.15 short shuttle drill, 11.3 60-yard shuttle, has a 34-inch vertical jump, and logs 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.
Paye’s 2020 debut was dominant against Minnesota, where he collected two sacks and three tackles for loss. If he keeps up that level of play, Paye’s ascension will continue and he’ll be much higher on the board in our next update.
Biggest Surprise: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Studying Darrisaw over the summer, the raw ability was present. It was easy to identify his terrific stature, length, and mobility. With that said, his lack of consistency with weight distribution, posture, and balance combined with not illustrating much in the way of a mean streak forced me to be cautious with his forecast. Without better body control and physicality, Darrisaw looked like an incomplete prospect that was forecasted as more of a developmental type.
What a difference a year can make. The growth I thought would come in the NFL as a developmental prospect has manifested itself in 2020 at Virginia Tech. Darrisaw is showcasing an aggressive demeanor and displaying impressive power. He is far more patient in his pass sets and trusting his length and ability to mirror more in pass protection. Darrisaw is making noise with his play and he’s primed to be a top-five offensive tackle selection when draft day comes should he continue this level of play and put together the combine I’m anticipating he will.
Don’t Forget About: Pac-12
The delayed start to the 2020 season has put the Pac-12 prospects on the backburner. Only 11 Pac-12 prospects are represented among the current TDN100 and a lot of that has to do with a lack of new information. We haven’t had the chance to see growth from the prospects or see the inevitable risers come to fruition yet.
In a condensed season that consists of just six games, the opportunities for prospects in the Pac-12 to make noise will be limited and puts pressure on them to quickly show who they are to NFL teams. The conference is scheduled to kick off the season on Nov. 7, and all eyes will be on the NFL hopefuls after several weeks of focusing on the other conferences. More movers and shakers are inevitable as we gain new information about the talented players in the Pac-12.
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