2021 NFL Draft Top Prospects 17-24
24. OT/OG Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
The NFL tends to like Alabama left tackles. If you’re able to hold down the prime spot, you’re good enough to start for some next-level team as soon as you’re ready to go get paid. The 6-6, 310-pound versatile blaster can play almost anywhere on the line, with his long-term future likely to be at guard after getting a shot at taking over a left tackle job for a while.
22. S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
Part linebacker, part defensive back, part offensive playmaker coming out of high school, the 6-4, 212-pound veteran has grown into a whale of a safety. He might not necessarily look the part – he’s tall for a safety – but he’s got corner speed and he’ll bring the pop, king 192 tackles over the last two seasons.
22. RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Ultra-fast, he’s got 4.4ish speed – and that might be selling him short – to go along with his tremendous production. He was ready to go this year – he would’ve pushed for the late first round – coming off his second straight 1,600+ yard season. Great at getting into the end zone, he has 62 career scores and is turning into a stronger receiver.
Y’all thought it was over… 🎥 @nxtgenhighlight pic.twitter.com/mpSmpmhZxq
— Travis Etienne Jr⁶𓅓 (@swaggy_t1) January 23, 2020
21. WR Rondale Moore, Purdue (Jr.)
He’s not 6-3 and 210 pounds. Other than that, there isn’t much more you could want out of the 5-9, 180-pound academic all-star and all-around flash of lightning.
Along with his 4.3 speed, he’s able to work bit as a runner, a return man, and he catches everything. He grabbed 114 passes for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, but he’s coming off a knee injury that knocked him out for the year just four games in.
20. RB Najee Harris, Alabama
The star of recruiting stars in 2017, the 6-2, 230-pounder was okay early on in the crowded backfield, but he wasn’t able to take over and become the transcendent next-level back expected when he signed on. He was great in key spots in the national championship win over Georgia, but his workload was limited over his first two seasons.
Good out of the gate last year, he took over the Bama offense at Tua Tagovailoa got hurt to finish with 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns, and became a more dangerous receiver with 27 grabs and seven scores.
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19. CB Thomas Graham, Oregon
A big-time ball-hawker, he might not have blazing speed – he’ll hang around the 4.5s – but he’s got decent 5-11, 193-pound size. An all-around statistical force from his freshman year, he came up with 183 tackles, eight interceptions, and 32 broken up passes – with a whopping 28 in the last two years – over his three seasons. Everyone keeps challenging, and he keeps on coming through.
18. WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU (Jr.)
Call it the offensive system, or having Joe Burrow throwing to him, or having Justin Jefferson on the other side, but there’s no faking 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns – averaging over 21 yards per grab – for a national championship offense. So what’s the problem? The 6-1, 200-pounder will likely clock in closer to 4.6 than 4.4, but whatever. He’s always open.
17. LB Hamilcar Rashed, Oregon State
He’s a little tall and rangy, but he’s ultra-productive. The 6-4, 238-pounder showed glimpses of what he could do in his sophomore season – with 53 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss – and then he destroyed the Pac-12 with 14 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 62 tackles. Extremely quick with great closing speed, he’s a fantastic hybrid pass rusher.