The 2021 NFL Draft is merely a few weeks away, and as free agency continues to die down, much of the discussion surrounding the NFL currently surrounds top draft prospects.
Teams are making their way through the Pro Day circuit, interviewing prospects and gaining additional data needed to come to concrete solutions on the players they watch. As we ramp up our draft coverage here at Windy City Gridiron, now seems like a good time to take a look at some of the top prospects this class has to offer.
The Bears have struggled quite a bit on offense in recent years, and with picks in each of the first three rounds for the first time since 2016, it seems likely they will focus more on that side of the ball in this year’s draft.
Now that my personal tape-watching period has concluded, I figured I would share with all of you my top 10 players at each position, starting with the offensive side of the ball. In addition to sharing my rankings, I also gave out individualized superlatives to certain prospects in the class.
Quarterback
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
- Zach Wilson, BYU
- Justin Fields, Ohio State
- Trey Lance, North Dakota State
- Mac Jones, Alabama
- Kyle Trask, Florida
- Davis Mills, Stanford
- Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
- Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
- Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Best Arm: Lawrence
Most Accurate: Lawrence
Most Athletic: Fields
Sharpest Decision Maker: Jones
Biggest Risk: Lance (inexperience and FCS)
Sleeper: Mills
Running back
- Travis Etienne, Clemson
- Najee Harris, Alabama
- Javonte Williams, North Carolina
- Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
- Michael Carter, North Carolina
- Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
- Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
- Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
- Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
- Trey Sermon, Ohio State
Fastest: Etienne
Most Elusive: Carter
Best Power Back: Harris
Best Pass-Catcher: Gainwell
Biggest Risk: Sermon (injury)
Sleeper: Chris Evans, Michigan
Wide receiver
- DeVonta Smith, Alabama
- Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
- Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
- Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
- Rondale Moore, Purdue
- Kadarius Toney, Florida
- Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC
- Amari Rodgers, Clemson
- Jaelon Darden, North Texas
Fastest: Waddle
Best Route Runner: Smith
Most Physical: Nico Collins, Michigan
Best After Catch: Moore
Biggest Risk: Moore (injury)
Sleeper: Darden
Tight end
- Kyle Pitts, Florida
- Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
- Brevin Jordan, Miami (FL)
- Hunter Long, Boston College
- Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame
- Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss
- Kylen Granson, SMU
- Nick Eubanks, Michigan
- Miller Forristall, Alabama
- Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
Most Athletic: Pitts
Best Route Runner: Pitts
Best Red Zone Target: Long
Best Blocker: Dylan Soehner, Iowa State
Biggest Risk: Matt Bushman, BYU (injury and age)
Sleeper: Zach Davidson, Central Missouri
Offensive tackle
- Penei Sewell, Oregon
- Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
- Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
- Samuel Cosmi, Texas
- Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
- Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
- Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State
- Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
- Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
- Jackson Carman, Clemson
Best Hands: Eichenberg
Best Pad Level: Sewell
Most Athletic: Slater
Strongest: Sewell
Biggest Risk: Walker Little, Stanford (injury and 2020 opt-out)
Sleeper: Stone Forsythe, Florida
Interior offensive line
- Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
- Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
- Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
- Josh Myers, Ohio State
- Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Trey Smith, Tennessee
- Landon Dickerson, Alabama
- Deonte Brown, Alabama
- Kendrick Green, Illinois
- Tristen Hoge, BYU
Best Hands: Vera-Tucker
Best Pad Level: Humphrey
Most Athletic: Green
Strongest: Meinerz
Biggest Risk: Dickerson (injury)
Sleeper: Bryce Hargrove, Pittsburgh
If you haven’t already, please consider checking out my 2021 NFL Draft guide on Patreon! For just $5, you will have access to my entire top 400 big board, a 7-round mock draft, in-depth scouting reports on my top 30 prospects, a long-term positional outlook for the Bears, and more! Your consideration is greatly appreciated.