Who is PFF’s 2021 NFL Draft positional rankings missing?

MADISON- Before every football season Pro Football Focus ranks the top five players from every position group for the upcoming draft. This year’s list included a few Badgers, Jack Sanborn and Jake Ferguson were both at the five spots for their positions. The list did miss a few notable Wisconsin players, including an Walter Camp Preseason All-American. 

MADISON- Before every football season Pro Football Focus ranks the top five players from every position group for the upcoming draft. This year’s list included a few Badgers, Jack Sanborn and Jake Ferguson were both at the five spots for their positions. The list did miss a few notable Wisconsin players, including an Walter Camp Preseason All-American. 

Cole Van Lanen was the highest-graded tackle by PFF after the 2018 season and had a phenomenal year last season as well. He was rated at a 90.4 in 2018 ahead of the first-round draft picks Andre Dilliard and Jonah Williams. Van Lanen even ranked higher than Penei Sewell who is the top-rated tackle prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft. He did miss a few games due to a concussion, but his performance was strong enough to earn him the honor of being a first-team Walter Camp Preseason All-American. Along with this honor, PFF predicted the Green Bay, Wis. native to be a second-round pick in the NFL Draft for 2021. 

Van Lanen has shown in his time at Wisconsin he has all of the makings of another elite offensive tackle, and that his game will transfer well to the NFL. He has the prototypical size for an NFL tackle at 6-foot-5, 312 pounds, as well as has the speed to be able to track down some of the fastest defensive ends and linebackers in the Big Ten. 

Injuries from last season were the reason that Cole Van Lanen dropped in the PFF rankings, but a strong 2020 season could cement him as the number one tackle prospect for next year’s draft. This season Van Lanen will have to be the rock for this young unit because of the loss of Tyler Biadasz, but with his talent and experience, he shouldn’t have any issues. This season will be very important for Van Lanen in silencing any doubters, and it will be exciting to see what he can do this season if healthy. 

Should Van Lanen have been included in the PFF 2021 NFL Draft rankings? What do you expect from the offensive line this season? Let me know in the comments below.