For the first time in awhile, the NFL Draft doesn’t appear to have many blue chip defensive line prospects. There aren’t any Chase Young or Nick Bosa-level players in the 2021 NFL Draft, but there are players ready to make an early impact for whichever team they end up with — and others with the raw talent to be effective with the right coaching.
There aren’t many big names outside of maybe Alabama’s Christian Barmore or Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari, so you might need a bit of a primer on the guys being drafted this year.
Superlatives are good way to do it. From late-round upside swings to guys that are ready to play right now, here are five defensive linemen to keep an eye on.