NFL 2021 Draft Prospects: Part III: Receivers and Tight Ends

-John Turner

In a passing league you need good pass catchers. In one of if not the deepest positions in this draft class there’s no lack of playmakers at the receiver position. There’s a few tight ends that stick out to me but there is an absolute plethora of talent at wide out. We saw five receivers go in round one last year and I believe we’ll see no less than four come off the board in the first this season.

DeVonta Smith may have elevated himself to the top of the ranking with his performance in the National Championship. He had an outrageous 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touch downs. If he tears it up in the combine he’s likely to be the first WR taken. Meanwhile Jaylen Waddle is another member of The Crimson Tide that’s declared for the draft. Although he suffered a broken ankle against Tennessee, he should be at full speed by the time mini camps kick off.

Ja’Marr Chase opted out this season but there’s no denying his body of work in 2019. catching passes from Joe Burrow, he had 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touch downs on the way to winning the title. He had 9 catches for 221 yards and two score in the National Championship game alone. If he could manage to slip to the fifth spot, would the Bengals be interested in a reunion of two Tigers?

Rashod Bateman is another one that opted out of the 2020 campaign. In 2019 he caught 60 balls for 1,219 and five scores while averaging just over 20 yards per reception. At 6’2″ he’ll make a fine possession receiver at the next level. Terrace Marshall Jr.and Nico Collins are two other big body guys to watch for. I don’t see any of these three guys making it out of round two.

DeVonta Smith	WR	6’0¼”	170	Alabama
Ja’Marr Chase	WR	6’0″	208	LSU
Rashod Bateman	WR	6’2″	213	Minnesota
Jaylen Waddle	WR	5’10”	177	Alabama
Elijah Moore	WR	5’9″	184	Ole Miss
Terrace Marshall Jr	WR	6’4″	200	LSU
Chris Olave	WR	6’1″	185	Ohio State
Nico Collins	WR	6’3½”	220	Michigan
Kadarius Toney	WR	5’11”	199	Florida
Sage Surratt	WR	6’3″	215	Wake Forest
Rondale Moore	WR	5’9″	180	Purdue
Tylan Wallace	WR	5’11”	187	Oklahoma State
Ihmir Smith-Marsette	WR	6’1″	189	Iowa
Justyn Ross	WR	6’3½”	205	Clemson
Charleston Rambo	WR	6’2″	178	Oklahoma
Marquez Stevenson	WR	6’0″	189	Houston
Tyler Vaughns	WR	6’2″	187	USC
Osirus Mitchell	WR	6’4½”	214	Mississippi State
Tutu Atwell	WR	5’9″	153	Louisville
Reggie Roberson Jr	WR	5’10⅝”	199	SMU
T.J. Washer	WR	6’5½”	214	Texas Tech
Tamorrion Terry	WR	6’3″	195	Florida State
Warren Jackson	WR	6’5¾”	212	Colorado State
Josh Palmer	WR	6’2″	204	Tennessee
Brandon Smith	WR	6’2½”	224	Iowa
Jhamon Ausbon	WR	6’2″	219	Texas A&M
Javon McKinley	WR	6’1½”	220	Notre Dame
Rico Bussey Jr	WR	6’0⅛”	192	Hawai’i
JD Spielman	WR	5’9″	184	TCU
Davontavean Martin	WR	6’3″	189	Oklahoma State
Shi Smith	WR	5’11”	189	South Carolina
Trevon Grimes	WR	6’5″	219	Florida
Whop Philyor	WR	5’10”	175	Indiana
Andrew Parchment	WR	6’2″	184	Kansas
Tre Nixon	WR	6’1½”	189	UCF
Dillon Stoner	WR	6’0½”	196	Oklahoma State
Dazz Newsome	WR	5’11”	189	North Carolina

Kyle Pitts is likely the only tight end taken in the first round this season. He caught for over 700 yards and found the end zone 12 time in 2020. Not sure if he would’ve made the difference in the Cotton Bowl since the Florida Gators got boat raced by the Oklahoma Sooners 55-20, but I would have preferred to see him and some other players that decide to forego playing bowl games suit up against the big competition. After all you practice your whole life to get to these moments and the school likely just gave you a free ride for four years and possibly a good education. Just seems a tad selfish to me but what gonna do?

Brevin Jordan at this point last season I felt might be the top TE to enter the draft. If he were to stay at Miami I think the Hurricanes might have a legit shot at getting in to the CFP with D’Eriq King returning, but the kid from America’s Playground has decided to bet on himself at the next level. I think he’d be a great fit in Washington if they could get him with one of their third rounders.

Kyle Pitts	TE	6’6″	239	Florida
Pat Freiermuth	TE	6’5″	259	Penn State
Brevin Jordan	TE	6’3″	235	Miami
Charlie Kolar	TE	6’6″	257	Iowa State
Noah Gray	TE	6’4″	244	Duke
Brant Kuithe	TE	6’2″	235	Utah
Matt Bushman	TE	6’4¼”	239	BYU
Cade Otton	TE	6’5″	240	Washington
Zaire Mitchell	TE	6’4⅜”	269	Notre Dame College
Nick Eubanks	TE	6’4⅜”	256	Michigan
Nick Muse	TE	6’4½”	254	South Carolina
Tony Poljan	TE	6’6⅝”	263	Virginia

Does your team need more fire power? I can definitely think of a team or two… It’s A Football World, we’re all just passing through.

Next up: Linemen

Photo credit: Sun Sentinel