2021 NFL PRO DAY RESULTS & TOP NFL DRAFT PROSPECT RANKINGS ANALYSIS

2021 NFL PRO DAY RESULTS

Official 2021 NFL Pro Day results have been posted to College Football Today RokFin and many of my top ranked NFL Draft prospects are witnessing their NFL Draft stock rapidly rising through the Pro Day scouting process. 

TOP NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS

​During the past four years of analyzing the top NFL Draft prospects at each position. I have come to the realization of the rationale that is generated through statistical data compiled from numerous events, sources and cognitive generalizations that separate one top NFL Draft prospect from another. In knowing that the NFL Combine plays a key role in top NFL executives decision making process and the fact that there will be no NFL Combine taking place this year, I began to examine the NFL Pro Days that have been completed across the nation. In getting to compare the top NFL Draft prospects to each other throughout the course of the NCAA FB season on College Football Today, I am witnessing many under the radar prospects that I ranked highly NFL Draft stock rapidly rising from extremely successful Pro Day events. The NFL & D1-FBS American football leagues have become very similar in how scouting for the best overall athletes is conducted, as many scouting & recruiting departments are looking for world class athletes that can be molded into their coaching staffs overall philosophies. Looking back at pasts NFL Draft's, there are guys who were labeled "combine players" like DK Metcalf by the masses, but were able to receive private coaching in the one area needed to become an elite NFL wide receiver. Metcalf had freakish overall athletics, but had issues with hand placement when moving at sub 4.4, 40 speed and was a mediocre route runner. Many claimed he would be a total bust and have issues with dropping passes in the NFL, but obviously Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks were able to help mold Metcalf into one of the best overall play-makers in the NFL Today. Through two seasons, Metcalf has accumulated over 2,000 yards receiving and found pay-dirt 17 times for Seattle, which is also a statement to how effective Russel Wilson is at distributing the football to what has become one of the most feared deep threats in the National Football League. Read more on via NBC Sports on how the other 8 WR's drafted ahead of MetCalf are faring or more on "The Draft Network" on why Metcalf slipped to the Seahawks at pick number 64. DK's agility came into question with his sub-par shorts shuttle (4.5) and 3-Cone Drill (Mid 7's), while also dealing with minor neck issues throughout the NFL Draft scouting process. But his 4.33, 40 yard dash at 6'4,228 pounds was able to set him apart from the competition at the NFL Scouting Combine, as well as his 40.5" vertical leap and 27 reps on bench. After the Steelers, Saints, Titans, Bucs, Packers and a total of 21 NFL teams left the Arkansas State Pro Day, word around the league was that Jonathan Adams Jr has the overall play-making potential and many similarities athletically to DK Metcalf.  Read my 2021 Top 60 NFL Draft WR Prospects Scouting Report from over 4 months ago featuring Jonathan Adams Jr, Tylan Wallace and Jaelon Darden by clicking HERE and see my initial NFL Draft WR prospect evaluation on Adams Jr below! 

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2021 TOP NFL DRAFT WR'S

This group of sixty 2021 top NFL draft WR's had very high draft grades compared to year's prior, which is quite frightening for NFL defenses when we got to witness 37 receivers drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. When comparing my 2021 NFL Draft receiver rankings to every other rankings available online, I realized that not many are adept at evaluating passed the uniform the prospect is wearing. Just because a guy is the best receiver on the best team, doesn't always mean he is the best receiver available for the National Football League. Stats can also be misleading for prospects that play in a run oriented offensive scheme or if the receiver prospect has felt the excruciating pain of having highly erratic quarterback play. Which brings me to my next two prospects, who I believe are going overlooked by the general populous, but not by top NFL executives and Coach Trout. Featured above & below is Jonathan Adams Jr from Arkansas State, who has the same high-pointing and acrobatic characteristics of NFL Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss. Given that he doesn't have a marksman like former Marshall QB Chad Pennington hurling him air mail consistently, Adams Jr is still approaching 1,000 yards for the season and has 10 touchdown receptions. The Red Wolves still have three games remaining on the 2020 schedule, but Adams Jr was able to jump onto the radar of many top NFL executives, after his epic 3 touchdown performance in the Red Wolves upset over Big 12 opponent Kansas State.

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TOP 2021 NFL WR PROSPECTS

When referencing to the partial top 2021 NFL WR prospects rating formula at the top of the article, Adams Jr has proven to have top echelon body control (BC) and is able to quickly adjust to poorly or under thrown footballs. The Red Wolves primary target uses his 6'3,225 pound frame brilliantly to go over the top and/or box out defenders, to create space for him to make the reception. His overall catch radius is excellent, but his overall ability to track the flight of the football and bounce quickly off the turf, makes him virtually unstoppable when the football is delivered in the proper location. The vertical leap is of somewhat importance, but Denver Broncos first round draft pick Jerry Jeudy is also a synaptic-ally charged athlete and only bounced 35.5" while testing the vertical leap. The main thing that separates good outside receivers from great jump ball receivers is the ability to locate the football before the defensive backs, while quickly positioning your body in accordance with the flight of the football and using "soft hands" to catch the ball at it's highest point. Adams Jr is arguably one the most significant deep threats in this year's very talented 2021 NFL Draft receiving class and his ability to create separation can be visibly seen in his route running progressions. I expect Adams Jr to perform very well at the NFL Combine and his stock to continue to rise as top NFL executives start to see a receiving prospect that inevitably has Pro Bowl potential in any offensive scheme. Find out where Top 2021 NFL Draft WR prospect Jonathan Adams Jr ranked in the College Football Today & ESPN Plus 2021 Top 60 WR prospect rankings on our RokFin channel!

College Football Today and ESPN Plus 2021 NFL Draft WR rankings have been released and it happens to be a very diverse group of top 2021 NFL Draft WR prospects. We had already deemed Oklahoma State receiver Tylan Wallace 1st round talent as only a Sophomore and thought he should have declared for the Draft the past couple of seasons. I normally do not defer much from my initial projections when it comes the NFL prospect rankings and Tylan hasn't really given me a reason to. After torching Big 12 defenses for 1491 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns, teams began to shift their attention to arguably the fastest receiver in the 2021 wide receiver draft class and this led to Chuba Hubbard more space to operate. But it's not just his speed that makes him a big time NFL Draft WR prospect, but rather his ability to produce yards after the catch. Wallace also has outstanding bounce when high pointing the football over top of defenders and proves to have the impeccable concentration needed to make receptions in heavy traffic. There are many top receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft class and many jump through the roof, but how quickly you get off the ground is what I refer to as bounce and Wallace has significant bounce in his offensive skill-set. Throughout the span of four years, Tylan has hauled in 185 passes and has proven to have the explosive characteristics of a Stefon Diggs, while averaging over 17.1 yards per reception. From observing Wallace the last three years, he also is a very unselfish player and has been a very reliable blocker out on the edge. But what has top NFL executives fired up is Tylan's ability to take the football the distance any time he gets the football in his grasps. There isn't one thing about Wallace's four year body of work that doesn't state he is certainly first round NFL Draft talent. Given this year's 2021 NFL Draft class is loaded with top tier WR prospects, Tylan could slip into the late second round and be a significant offensive weapon for an NFL Franchise. From doing my due scouting diligence since his breakout Soph season, I probably wouldn't be able to pass him up in this year's 2021 NFL Draft. Find out where Wallace ranked in the College Football Today & ESPN+ 2021 Top 60 NFL Draft WR prospects on our RokFin channel!

​Top 2021 NFL WR prospects range from 5'9" to 6'6" tall and I am finding that the exuberant and extremely athletic style of play that prospects like Jaelon Darden possess, are exactly what I personally would be playing at the slot or wing back position in my offensive attack. Much likeTavon Austin, you can also line players like Darden up in the backfield and execute some of the best misdirection plays, as defenders are unable to calculate proper pursuit angles. As you will see on the first play in the footage below, Darden has the ability to cut and change direction in a flash and could possess the best overall agility in the 2021 NFL Draft receiver class. The Mean Green offensive coaching staff uses his diverse athletic skill-set brilliantly and sets up one of the best overall athletes in the nation for instant success, by using him in motion to create mismatches in open space. These scenarios often present themselves in the chess matches we have seen take place in the NFL and Jaelon is a significant problem for any defender in one on one coverage. He proves to also have the top end speed to pull away from PAC-12 defenders and is able to create instant separation with his wicked acceleration, as well as his deceptive start and stop route running progressions. When operating in the short passing game, Darden is the quickest at shifting into high gear after the catch and his extreme wiggle is able to throw defenders off balance, as he could very well be the most the explosive 2021 NFL Draft WR prospect in this year's Draft class. Darden's body control and field awareness when catching the football near the sideline, as well as proper hand placement and coordination also grades out as a top tier WR prospect. His magnificent overall football skill as a ball carrier will make him a prime candidate in the return game and we could very well see Darden being drafted ahead of some of the more well known receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Find out where Top 2021 NFL Draft WR prospect Jaelen Darden's round projection, rankings and more on the College Football Today 2021 Top 60 WR prospect rankings on RokFin! Fact: Our 2020 NFL Mock Draft was the only NFL Mock Draft that had both TCU Horned Frogs being selected in the 1st round in the Eagles Jalen Raegor and the Vikings Jeff Gladney. 

SPENCER BROWN NFL DRAFT

Northern Iowa's Pro Day witnessed two remarkable NFL Draft prospects in Spencer Brown & Elerson Smith performing their Pro Day combine events. The 6'9,320 pound former 0 Star recruit Spencer Brown reeled off a 4.88, 40 yard dash, as well as a 30.5" vertical jump and pumped out 29 reps on bench press. Elerson Smith ended up stealing the show with an eye-popping 41.5" vertical, 4.71 - 40 yard dash and 10'7" broad jump and both were able to solidify  themselves as at least day two NFL Draft picks. Read my initial scouting report on Top 2021 NFL Draft OT prospect Spencer Brown below and see why the Pittsburgh Steelers are eyeing him in the 2nd or early 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft! 

College Football Today & ESPN Plus 2021 NFL Draft OL prospect rankings features the Top 2021 NFL Draft OT, OG & OC prospect rankings. We will be releasing a Top 2021 NFL Draft overall O-Linemen rankings for round three, after prospects perform their Pro Days and/or NFL Combine. When evaluating Top 2021 NFL Draft OT prospects, I am looking for OT prospects that move like big cats and can quickly drop step, while being able to either direct or mirror the edge rusher to the top side of the pocket. If a defender attempts to beat them to the inside, they are able to either take them to the ground or keep their momentum going in that direction and ride them completely out of the play. In the totality of the evaluation process, sometimes level of competition can be a factor, but for the most part, I am evaluating the OT prospects overall body kinetics and football technique. When run blocking, does the top NFL Draft OT prospect fire off the football quickly and seal off linebackers at the 2nd level of the defense? Upon engagement, does top NFL Draft OT prospect keep feet moving and can he chip block, while quickly pivoting to get up the field to find another defender to take for a ride? Does the top 2021 NFL Draft OT prospect have the athletics needed to quickly pull to the outside on screen plays and pummel much smaller defenders? Mathematically speaking, if you have one man who has the capabilities to efficiently block two defenders, your offense has a major advantage when moving the football down the field. On the flip side, I watched some OL prospects who appeared to have the worst foot work I have ever seen out of a so-called NFL Draft prospect and were flat out clumsy. A few linemen propelled to the 2nd level quickly, only to either trip and fall over continuously and/or appear completely lost, while looking like a very large deer in headlights. In all sincerity, I wouldn't touch them or even invite them to a tryout. These guys had the body structure and anywhere from 3 to 5 years to develop the skills needed, but instead, spent most of their time at Popeye's or playing video games. There was 33 Offensive Tackles taken in the 2019 NFL Draft and that number dropped to 20 in the 2020 NFL Draft, as some teams probably got sold a line from guys like Mel Kiper or a jersey, instead of actual production on the football field. I might have graded Northern Iowa OT prospect Spencer Brown to low, but he did crack the top 10 of the College Football Today & ESPN Plus Top 2021 OT Prospect rankings and checked all the boxes athletically, as well as technically in our 2021 NFL Draft OT prospect formula. I couldn't find a 247 Profile on Spencer Brown, but Rivals has him as a 0 star football recruit, who had one offer coming out of high school. Obviously, someone dropped the ball in their evaluation process, as Brown could be a potential Pro Bowler in the years to come. See where how Top 2021 NFL Draft OT prospect Spencer Brown graded in both run & pass blocking, as well as were he ranked in the College Football Today & ESPN+ Top 2021 OT prospect rankings on RokFin! 

BEST NFL PROSPECTS 2021

I will be evaluating more of the best NFL prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class and starting top 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 top football recruit comparisons, as we move through the 2023, 2024 & 2025 top football recruit "Ides of March" re-ranks in preparation for the upcoming NCAA Football Evaluation period. Click the image below to create a football recruiting profile & get evaluated by every CFB recruiting staff in the world of College Football Today.