Who Was Drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The 2021 NFL Draft is in the books, and we now know which players will be suiting up for which teams next season. Here’s a look at who was drafted in the first round.
Round 1
The Cleveland Browns selected cornerback Greg Newsome II from Northwestern with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. Newsome fills a need for the Browns, who lost four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency this offseason. Newsome is the fifth corner to go in the first round.
Pick 1: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
With the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Trevor Lawrence, quarterback out of Clemson University.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Lawrence is widely considered to be one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory, and is expected to be a franchise cornerstone for the Jaguars for years to come.
Lawrence led Clemson to a national championship as a freshman in 2018, and was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2019 after throwing for 3,665 yards and 36 touchdowns. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Jaguars are hoping that Lawrence can turn around a franchise that has struggled mightily in recent years, and help them return to contention in the AFC.
Pick 2: Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
With the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Zach Wilson, quarterback out of BYU. Wilson was widely considered one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s class and is expected to be the Jets’ franchise quarterback of the future. He will likely compete with incumbent starter Sam Darnold for the starting job this season.
Pick 3: Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Trey Lance of the North Dakota State Bison was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lance, 21, is a 6-foot-4, 226-pound quarterback who played three seasons at North Dakota State. He redshirted his first year on campus, then led the Bison to undefeated seasons and national championships in his next two years as a starter.
In his two seasons as a starter, Lance completed 67 percent of his passes for 5,103 yards and 54 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,325 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Round 2
The second round of the 2021 NFL draft has wrapped up, with a total of 33 players getting drafted. This includes a total of 16 offensive players and 17 defensive players. Among the offensive players drafted, there were 9 quarterbacks, 3 running backs, and 4 wide receivers. On the defensive side of the ball, there were 5 defensive linemen, 6 linebackers, and 6 defensive backs.
Pick 32: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
With the 32nd pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have selected Ja’Marr Chase, a wide receiver from LSU.
Chase was a member of LSU’s 2019 national championship team, where he caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. He opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At 6’1″ and 200 pounds, Chase is considered a playmaker with strong hands and route-running ability. He is expected to provide an immediate impact for the Bengals opposite veteran wide receiver A.J. Green.
Pick 33: Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
In recent years, the tight end position has become increasingly important in the NFL, and Kyle Pitts is one of the best prospects to come along in quite some time. Standing 6’6″ and weighing 246 pounds, Pitts has the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact at the pro level. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and he should be a key piece of the Falcons offense for years to come.
Pick 34: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have selected Jaylen Waddle with the 34th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Waddle is a wide receiver out of Alabama. He is 5’10” and 182 pounds.
In his three years with the Crimson Tide, Waddle caught 129 passes for 2,244 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also had four punt return touchdowns.
Waddle is considered one of the best wide receivers in this year’s draft class. He has good speed and quickness and is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball.
Round 3
The 2021 NFL draft has come and gone, and we’ve got a full list of the Round 3 picks right here. The action started with the Jaguars on the clock at pick No. 33 and didn’t stop until the Packers made the final pick of the round at pick No. 96. As always, there were a few surprises along the way.
Pick 65: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
With the 65th pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood.
Leatherwood was a three-year starter at Alabama, starting all 15 games at left tackle in 2020. He was a key cog in an offense that averaged 48.5 points per game (second in the nation) and 547.5 yards per game (sixth in the nation). He was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press and second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.
The 6-foot-6,312-pounder is a physical specimen with good length and strength. He’s a solid run blocker who can generate movement at the point of attack. In pass protection, he has good feet and uses his length well to keep defenders at bay.
Leatherwood projects as a right tackle or guard at the next level and should be able to step into a starting role immediately. He’ll need to improve his technique and footwork in pass protection, but he has the potential to be a very good player for years to come.
Pick 66: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
With their second pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Pat Freiermuth, a tight end out of Penn State.
Freiermuth, 21, is 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2019 after catching 43 passes for 507 yards and seven touchdowns. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Freiermuth will likely compete for a starting spot with Eric Ebron, who was signed by the Steelers in free agency this offseason.
Pick 67: Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, New York Jets
Alijah Vera-Tucker (born August 26, 1998) is an American football offensive lineman for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC, and was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
