Round 1 of the 2021 NFL draft kicks off in Cleveland on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, and Rounds 2-7 will observe on Friday and Saturday. The Jacksonville Jaguars will choose first and have the chance to land Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, thought of one of the best QB prospect of the previous decade by many. He’s one in all 5 signal-callers within the class considered elite abilities and future franchise starters. The category can also be stacked with different offensive playmakers and influence defenders.
Whether or not you have been following alongside carefully for months and have been logging time with the sport tape otherwise you’re simply catching up now and studying about whom your favorite NFL team might be adding to its roster, we have now you coated. We’ll stroll you thru the full 259-pick draft order and all 32 teams’ needs and outlook for the three-day occasion. Our NFL draft analysts — Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay — have their newest rankings, mock drafts, evaluations and extra. We’ll introduce you to among the most attention-grabbing prospects with profiles and detailed appears to be like into their talent units. And to deliver you up to the mark on the most recent, our insiders break down the excitement across the league.
That — and extra — is all right here for this 12 months’s draft.
There can be 259 picks on this 12 months’s draft, and the Jaguars have the primary choose. The Eagles have probably the most picks in all the draft with 11, whereas the Seahawks have by far the fewest with simply three.
High 10:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
Three. San Francisco 49ers (from MIA/HOU)
Four. Atlanta Falcons
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. Miami Dolphins (from PHI)
7. Detroit Lions
eight. Carolina Panthers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Dallas Cowboys
• See the full 259-pick draft order
How do the prospects on this class rank?
Scouts Inc. high 10 prospects
1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (Highlights)
2. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida (Highlights)
Three. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU (Highlights)
Four. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU (Highlights)
5. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon (Highlights)
6. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (Highlights)
7. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama (Highlights)
eight. Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern (Highlights)
9. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State (Highlights)
10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama (Highlights)
• See all 350 and full scouting reports (ESPN+)
2:52
Ryan Clark types via who he thinks are the highest 5 defensive choices out there within the 2021 NFL draft.
Scouts Inc. high six quarterbacks
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2. Zach Wilson, BYU
Three. Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Four. Justin Fields, Ohio State
5. Mac Jones, Alabama
6. Davis Mills, Stanford
• Kiper’s top 150 prospects, plus position ranks (ESPN+)
• McShay’s top 350 prospects, plus position ranks and grades (ESPN+)
• Jeff Legwold’s top 100 prospect ranking
• Legwold’s top risers in the draft class
What can we count on to occur?
All indications are telling us that Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson would be the first two picks within the draft, in that order. We additionally know the 49ers probably are drafting a quarterback at No. Three, though we do not know for certain which one. After that, there can be surprises, trades, prospect slides, reaches and all types of draft-night pleasure. Here is the most recent on what we all know, what we’re listening to and what we’re predicting primarily based on intel from across the league.
Mock drafts
• Kiper’s most recent mock draft (ESPN+)
• McShay’s final mock draft (ESPN+)
• NFL Nation’s mock draft of Round 1
• Kiper and McShay’s alternating mock draft of the first 105 picks based on what they would do if they were drafting (ESPN+)
• Mike Tannenbaum’s mock draft of Round 1 based on his own preferences (ESPN+)
• Bill Barnwell’s All-Trades mock: Deals for all 32 picks
2:01
Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay give their opinions on what the Cowboys ought to do with their first-round choose.
Draft buzz
• Everything McShay is hearing heading into the draft, including how the top 10 picks might play out (ESPN+)
• Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler on everything they are hearing about potential picks, trades and more heading into the draft (ESPN+)
Discover the proper match
• Play our NFL draft first-round matchmaker game
Extra perception
• Our ESPN Draft Day Predictor answers big questions about Round 1 (ESPN+)
• Kiper and McShay draft dueling superteams of 22 prospects (ESPN+)
What’s each NFL group’s outlook?
Each NFL group has its personal draft board, its personal technique and a singular set of positional wants. How may your favourite group method Spherical 1 … and past?
• McShay breaks down all 32 teams’ top draft needs (ESPN+)
• Football Outsiders’ draft guides for all 32 teams (ESPN+)
1:05
Mel Kiper Jr. sounds off on the Eagles after Nick Sirianni didn’t title Jalen Hurts as his beginning quarterback.
How good are the quarterbacks on this class?
The quarterback class is extraordinarily proficient this 12 months, with 5 high-end signal-callers main it. Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones might all go within the high 10. And past these 5, there are a handful of Day 2 quarterbacks — together with Davis Mills, Kyle Trask and Kellen Mond — who might turn into starters within the NFL.
• The throws that show off the top eight QBs’ best traits (ESPN+)
• The biggest flaws for the top QBs (ESPN+)
• Do the stats match the tape for the top 13 QBs in this class? (ESPN+)
• Bill Barnwell: Behind the first-round QB boom (ESPN+)
• Which NFL teams should draft first-round QBs? (ESPN+)
• Is Mac Jones underrated? (ESPN+)
• Where do NFL quarterbacks come from?
1:06
Mina Kimes explains why she believes that Trey Lance is probably the most thrilling quarterback within the draft.
What are the highest prospects’ finest abilities?
The place do the highest prospects stand out? From Jaylen Waddle‘s elusiveness to Patrick Surtain II‘s press protection, from Travis Etienne‘s breakaway velocity to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah‘s versatility, this class provides just a little little bit of every part.
• The best in the class at 50 different skills (ESPN+)
• Our favorite draft class comps
• Kiper’s favorite prospects in the class (ESPN+)
• Perfect-for-the-modern-NFL team of prospects (ESPN+)
• McShay’s All-Satellite team (ESPN+)
• Matt Bowen’s best fits for the top receivers in the class (ESPN+)
• Why wide receivers are taking over the draft (ESPN+)
Projecting the draft’s high gamers within the NFL (ESPN+)
• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Wide receivers
• Pass-rushers
What do I must find out about betting on the NFL draft?
Sure, you’ll be able to guess on what occurs on the NFL draft. Our ESPN Chalk analysts are right here to assist.
• Best prop bets for the draft (ESPN+)
• Early action on the draft at sportsbooks
• Why bookmakers hate the NFL draft props
How can I play ESPN Draft Problem?
With ESPN Draft Problem, you’ll be able to predict how the draft will play out and win prizes. And it is easy to take part.
• Play ESPN Draft Challenge
• Intel for every ESPN Draft Challenge question
• Fantasy football lookahead: Top 80 rookies for dynasty leagues
How did COVID-19 influence the method?
It has been a really completely different pre-draft course of this 12 months with no mix, uneven faculty seasons, opt-outs, scouting limitations, Zoom video interviews and extra. How did COVID-19 influence the way in which this class has been evaluated?
• The challenges of scouting during a pandemic
• How teams build their draft boards
• Pulling back the curtain on pre-draft prospect interviews
• Biggest takeaways from pro days
• How opting out impacted prospect outlooks
zero:47
Subject Yates says not having an NFL mix is making it tougher for scouts to completely gauge gamers’ potential for the upcoming draft.
Who’re among the most attention-grabbing prospects?
Along with immense expertise, this class has a number of attention-grabbing backgrounds and paths to the NFL. Here is a better take a look at among the high names and largest personalities within the class.
Tim Keown: Who is Trey Lance, the class’ most mysterious prospect?
Dave Fleming: The magical connection between Trevor Lawrence and his brother, Chase
Martenzie Johnson: Justin Fields and the double standard
Jeremy Fowler: Why Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney will be matchup nightmares (ESPN+)
Hallie Grossman: The NFL draft’s most extraordinary prospect, Kwity Paye
Kevin Seifert: Why Rashod Bateman is ready for the moment, on and off the field (ESPN+)
Adam Rittenberg: How D-III’s Quinn Meinerz turned doubts into fuel
Liz Merrill: How Marco Wilson is out to convince scouts it was just one stinkin’ shoe
David Hale: The Surratt brothers’ journey to the NFL
Turron Davenport: Amari Rodgers’ best teacher is his famous dad
Marcel Louis-Jacques: Meet 5-foot-7 RB Jaret Patterson
Josh Weinfuss: How Whop Philyor got his nickname from a burger
Harry Lyles Jr.: Meet Cameron Cheeseman, one of the class’ top long-snappers
Every other nuggets to know?
We might see a handful of firsts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Listed below are a number of extra issues to look at.
• Through the widespread draft period — since 1967 — the earliest that 5 quarterbacks have ever come off the board was the opening 12 picks (1999). There’s a good probability the highest 5 QBs on this class will get drafted earlier than the Eagles are on the clock at No. 12. Quarterbacks have additionally by no means gone 1-2-Three-Four to start a draft.
• That 1999 draft additionally marked the most recent that the primary defensive participant has ever been taken, when Champ Bailey was taken at No. 7. However many mock drafts this 12 months have the highest defender getting drafted after the Lions’ seventh choose.
• The earliest a decent finish has ever been drafted throughout the widespread draft period was at No. 5 (Riley Odoms in 1972), however Kyle Pitts might go at No. Four.
zero:59
Mel Kiper Jr. compares Kyle Pitts to Kellen Winslow Sr., giving him the best TE draft grade of all time.
• The quickest that two huge receivers from the identical college have ever been drafted was within the first 15 picks — final 12 months. Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy went Nos. 12 and 15, respectively. Their former Bama teammates DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle might beat that mark in 2021.
• The Saints drafting DE Will Smith at No. 18 in 2004 was the final time the primary edge rusher did not come off the board till the second half of Spherical 1. It’s totally attainable that may occur once more — and doubtlessly later — this 12 months.
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