2021 NFL Draft: 5 takeaways from Mel Kiper’s Big Board

Mel Kiper 2021 NFL draft Big Board

ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper published his 2021 NFL Draft Big Board this week and there were few surprises at the top.

With next year’s NFL draft headlined by two quarterbacks and a franchise-changing left tackle, teams searching for a quarterback or a cornerstone offensive lineman to protect their passer will be in luck.

But as Kiper’s Big Board proves, there’s a lot more depth to this class than that.

Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields crack top-3

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The 2021 NFL draft is going to be a whole lot of fun. Lawrence and Fields are both franchise quarterback prospects and they’re both in the running for the first overall pick.

The favorite right now is Lawrence, who’s been anointed as a No. 1 overall prospect since his first start at Clemson. But Fields’ remarkable season in 2019 was a table-setter for what’s to come this year. As he gains more experience, he’ll be an even more lethal dual-threat.

Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell is the real deal

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Listed as the No. 2 player on Kiper’s Big Board, Sewell is posturing to become the most sought-after offensive lineman since Quenton Nelson (who was the most sought-after offensive lineman in quite some time when he entered the draft in 2018).

“As a sophomore, he went out and won the Outland Trophy as the best lineman in college football,” Kiper wrote. “Sewell has everything NFL scouts look for in an offensive tackle, and he’s going to be coveted in 2021.

The NFL is desperate for quality offensive tackle play, so when a bonafide blue-chipper comes along, expect teams to do whatever it takes to get into striking distance to select him.




Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons is the top defensive prospect

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Penn State has a rich tradition of linebacker play and Parsons is the next in line to be a high-first-round pick produced by the Nittany Lions. Kiper has him ranked No. 5 on his Big Board and while that ranking may be a bit rich for my taste, it isn’t completely unwarranted.

Parsons is an instinctive and highly athletic sideline-to-sideline terror who possesses the kind of well-rounded game to be a three-down asset for NFL defensive coordinators. He’s slippery enough to win in the trenches against the run and he’s more than athletic enough to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game.

Kiper suggests Parson will be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL, which is probably correct. But there’s a bit of that ‘defensive weapon’ quality about Parson’s game that will have coaches intrigued by what they can do with him.

Another big year at wide receiver

JaMarr Chase, LSU, Wide Receiver

Kiper has two wide receivers in his top-10 with LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase and Minnesota’s Rashod Batemen checking in at No. 4 and No. 8 respectively.

Chase, much like Trevor Lawrence, is widely considered the big prize at wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft. Kiper spoke glowingly of his skill set.

“I studied a lot of tape of the LSU offense leading up to the 2020 NFL draft, and Chase is hard to miss,” Kiper wrote. “He makes highlight-reel catches look easy. He’s stellar after the catch, breaking tackles and running away from defenders. And he has physicality that can’t be taught.”

Bateman is a bit more surprising, however. He had a big season in 2019 (1,219 yards and 11 TDs) but with other receiver prospects like Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle — who ranks 11th on Mel Kiper’s Big Board — and Clemson’s Justyn Ross (who ranks 18th), Bateman’s ranking is a bit too high. At least, for now.

Overall, Kiper has six wide receivers in his top-25.

Bryan Perez

Bryan is the founder of Pro Football Draft. His work has been featured on The Draft Network, NBC Sports and USA Today. Former CFL scout.

Follow him on Twitter: @BryanPerezNFL