2021 NFL Draft: Best Prospect Fits at Positions of Need + What to watch for in the CFB Playoff
Clemson vs. OSU is the biggest game to watch, and highlighting some draft prospects to watch tonight. Plus, looking at the best fits overall for the 49ers in the draft at positions of need.
Even if you aren’t the type to watch College Football, as usual, the College Football Playoff is almost always stacked with NFL talent that you will be seeing on Sundays in the future. This year’s playoffs are no exception, especially at the QB position where there are 3 consensus 1st round prospects, including two top five prospects going at each other in Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence and Fields have been rivals since high school, with Lawrence always the #1 and Fields always nipping at his heels at #2. This looks to continue in the NFL, and Clemson vs. OSU is a rematch of last year’s Fiesta Bowl which Clemson beat OSU in. Lawrence is the most hyped and consensus-best prospect at QB since Stanford’s Andrew Luck in 2012.
One thing is for sure… you will want to tune in to OSU vs. Clemson. Not only because of the QBs, but the EDGE, DB, and OL prospects are all prospects the 49ers could look at, come April. Shaun Wade could be in play for the 49ers in the early 2nd round, and Josh Myers is also a great OL prospect. Jackson Carman is a big LT/RT the 49ers could groom, and he should also be there in the mid-rounds.
How Fields plays will likely decide a massive part in how the 1st round shakes out, because if Fields lights up Clemson, he will retain his #2 QB spot which has had competition from Zach Wilson for a while. If he doesn’t… then things get very interesting.
Over at the other bowl game, it should not really be close. Notre Dame is a great team but Alabama is a whole other beast, led by Heisman hopeful Mac Jones, who could cement his Heisman case with a win today. Jones is throwing to two other Heisman candidates, with the finalist being Devonta Smith. Smith has been transcendent this season and if he measures well at the combine, is a possible top 10 pick. Najee Harris, Bay Area native, is the other. The RB has had 1500+ all-purpose yards and a whopping 27 TDs in just 11 games, which is absurd. He’s a well-rounded back built in the mold of a Derrick Henry, a big guy who can also out-run you if he gets going. Harris has some very good elusiveness as well. Alabama also has a talented LB in Dylan Moses, who was previously a top 10 prospect but now has dropped to the 2nd round. However, if he performs well, he could begin to see his stock rise again. Their OL, specifically Alex Leatherwood, is also a player to watch.
For Notre Dame, there aren’t many prospects the 49ers will be in play for, but their QB, Ian Book, could be a very late round flier that the Niners could take a shot on. Daelin Hayes is a talented EDGE rusher with all the tools and is a mid to late round prospect who the 49ers could also take a bet on. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a LB/S hybrid that could go very high, and is likely already a top 20 pick. He’s been Notre Dame’s best defensive player and best player overall, and if Notre Dame pulls off the upset, he will have played a large part.
Sugar Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State
Prospects to watch on OSU:
#1 - Justin Fields, QB
#8 - Trey Sermon, RB
#33 - Master Teague III, RB
#2 - Chris Olave, WR
#52 - Wyatt Davis, IOL
#71 - Josh Myers, IOL
#24 - Shaun Wade, CB
#13 - Tyreke Johnson, CB
#11 - Tyreke Smith, DE
Prospects to watch on Clemson:
#16 - Trevor Lawrence, QB
#9 - Travis Etienne, RB
#23 - Lyn-J Dixon, RB
#79 - Jackson Carman, OT
#3 - Amari Rodgers, WR
#3 (same number, but on defense) - Xavier Thomas, DE
#1 - Derion Kendrick, CB
Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Notre Dame
Prospects to watch on Alabama:
#10 - Mac Jones, QB
#22 - Najee Harris, RB (Antioch native!)
#70 - Alex Leatherwood, OT
#65 - Deonte Brown, OG
#6 - Devonta Smith, WR
#18 - LaBryan Ray, DT
#32 - Dylan Moses, LB
#28 - Josh Jobe, CB
#2 - Patrick Surtain Jr, CB
Prospects to watch on Notre Dame:
#12 - Ian Book, QB
#74 - Liam Eichenberg, OT
#78 - Tommy Kraemer, IOL
#55 - Jarrett Patterson, IOL
#9 - Daelin Hayes, DE
#6 - Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, LB/S
While the Playoff continues, the 49ers aren’t going to be drafting from just those teams. Beginning now, every week I will highlight prospects at non-QB positions of need that the 49ers could be in play for. What does that mean? Obviously, I could name the best prospect at each position of need - but that doesn’t factor in where the 49ers will be picking, if they will take them in the round they are projected to go in, and if they are fits. The prospects I highlight will need to fit all of those categories.
Offensive Line
Walker Little, OT, Stanford - 6 foot 7 inches, 320 pounds - Projected: 2nd to 4th round
Don’t let the size, or the weight fool you. While you might be getting Mike McGlinchey flashbacks to his measurables, or be wary of another Stanford lineman - Little has been a stalwart for Stanford for a long time, but he’s another risk, as he tore his ACL a season ago, and opted out for this season. You might be thinking, if he has not played for more than a year, what makes him a prospect for the 49ers especially with our injury issues? His athleticism. Little has great lateral agility and functional strength, to go along with his size and length. He is a good blocker out in space and is a better pass protector than run blocker, but not bad at run blocking. While he ends up whiffing on more run blocks than you would like to see, it’s nothing to panic at… but where he makes his money is pass protection. Little has very, very good technique, and his good lateral agility and length - and ability to bend his knees and use that leveraging is what separates him from McGlinchey and other types of prospects. His only concern in pass protection is his movement out of his stance, which can be a little slow or too short at times, which sometimes makes him struggle against smaller, quicker EDGE rushers who can beat him to the edge. PFF ranked Little the 3rd best tackle going into this season, but that has since changed due to other players rising in the draft class. Little is expected to be a Day 2 pick, but if he performs below expectations at the combine, could drop to the 4th round.
The ideal fit with Little would be to take him in the 3rd, and place him at RG or LG, where he would thrive with his athleticism and strength. He has no problems with his center of gravity or leveraging. Little could eventually take over at tackle for either Williams, or McGlinchey if he is not able to step up next season - McGlinchey, whether you like it or not, has the clock ticking on him.
Running Back
Stephen Carr, RB, USC - 6 foot, 216 pounds - Projected: 6th round to UDFA
Carr is a former five-star recruit and a very good one. He’s flashed incredible ability in his time at USC but never was able carve out a role for himself after his stellar freshman season, due to many nagging injuries and a lack of snaps on 1st and 2nd down. This is a blessing for the 49ers, who love to grab RBs late or undrafted. Carr likely will not go undrafted but he should be there in the late rounds, and with the 49ers not having a single backup RB signed through 2021, I believe he would fit very well. He has vision issues and needs to find gaps/holes better, but man, when he’s clicking, he’s clicking. He excels on 3rd down as a pass blocker and pass-catcher, and his burst, explosivness, and elusiveness, are easily early-round level. The problem is his playing time, injury history, and some issues with his vision, but nothing that can’t be sorted out. He is blazing fast, and big as well. The problem with Carr is not his ability. And while our injury issues may scare you with regards to someone like Carr, chances need to be taken, especially with this level of talent.
Wide Receiver
Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State - 6 foot 4, 210 pounds - Projected: 3rd to 5th round
He will run under 4.5 at minimum. That’s already a good sign - but that’s not all he is. I can guarantee this - he will be on Kyle Shanahan’s radar come April, because of this one stat: Terry averaged the most yards per attempt on screen passes in college football last season (2019), per PFF. With that size, and being able to do that with the elusiveness and speed he does it with… it’s tantalizing. The best part about Terry’s game, at least for me, is that he can be a #1 WR. He’s an elite deep threat and YAC monster but most of all, he shows off some crazy contested catch ability. He has a lot of focus drops and does need work on his route running, but the potential is massive with Terry. He’s a consensus 4th to 5th round prospect, but with a strong combine in the cards, could likely sneak into the 3rd.
Tight End
Shaun Beyer, TE, Iowa - 6 foot 5 inches, 247 pounds - Projected: 5th to 7th round
Sounds familiar. Beyer was one of PFF’s highest graded TEs this year, with an overall grade of 88.5 on the year, 4th in all of college football. Beyer’s run blocking was elite, with a grade of 81.2, and although his receiving numbers weren’t big-time with just 11 receptions for 158 yards and a score, he also earned a 76.5 receiving grade. His production is what drops him to a late-round prospect. Beyer is a former track star and was said to have competed with Noah Fant in races - Noah Fant ran a blazing 4.5 40 yard dash. That bodes extremely well for Beyer’s athletic profile. With Jordan Reed and Ross Dwelley projected to hit free agency this spring, Beyer could be an ideal late round pick with the 49ers’ projected three 5th round picks and some more 6th and 7th round picks. He sounds very familiar. Just saying.
Safety
Hamsah Nasirlideen, S, Florida State - 6 foot 4 inches, 220 pounds - Projected: 3rd to 4th round
Think Kam Chancellor. That’s who Nasirlideen reminds me of, just lesser of a hitter. He’s got the ball production, the tackling, the size and strength to be a star at SS as a replacement for Jaquiski Tartt. Although the safety positions have been interchangeable more often than not in most of the 49ers’ looks, Nasirildeen can do that and also fill in the full box-safety role if needed. He’s got things you can’t teach, namely his physical frame, instincts, and ball skills. That’s normally a really good combo, and although he tore his ACL in 2019 and now has recovered, if the 49ers can grab him in the 3rd to 4th, they would be getting a steal.
Cornerback
Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia, 6 foot 2 inches, 185 pounds - Projected: 2nd to 3rd round
The Georgia product was originally projected to go in the 1st, but cooled off as the season went on and now looks to be a 2nd round to early 3rd round player. Campbell is a physical beast, at 6 foot 2, 185 pounds, and likely to run in the low 4.4s at minimum - but probably in the 4.3s. He’s about as perfect as a scheme fit as possible, with elite closing speed and athleticism to stay with receivers in any technique. He’s covered guys from Kyle Pitts to Kadarius Toney very well. The biggest thing with Campbell is his added versatility, as he flashed being able to play high-level slot coverage. With the way that the 49ers used Jason Verrett this season, I can see them being very interested in a long, physical, and really fast corner like Campbell. In 2019, he only allowed 8 catches on 20 targets, with 3 pass breakups and zero touchdowns allowed. 2020 has not been as impressive, but regardless, Campbell has still impressed. He does need development.
Defensive End
Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State - 6 foot 5 inches, 254 pounds - Projected 2nd to 3rd round
This is my favorite fit for the 49ers in this draft. Oweh is a long defensive end - and he’s run in the 4.3s. He is a freak. Although extremely raw, Oweh flashes some incredible pass-rush moves and his production backs it up - Oweh had the 3rd highest pass rush win rate in the Big Ten, and was ranked 7th in PFF’s pass rush grade among returning Power 5 defenders. He does need work in the run-game, but his physical gifts along with being coached by Kris Kocurek would be more than enough for him to improve in that area. He could rise into the 1st with a strong combine however, which would put him out of play.
Elite. #28 at the bottom on this play, not the top player.
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Oh I love these articles Sir Riqo. Your draft assessments is yet another reason to be reading FTN over any other 49ers website - I really like Oweh. I'll be happy with Surtain-CB and Oweh-EDGE in the first 3 picks.