Risen Star
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https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/...-picks-every-position-including-justin-fields
Quarterback
Justin Fields, Ohio State
Fields' game has been picked apart during the pre-draft process, but he'd almost certainly be the top quarterback in most other classes. He's a special talent. I've never wavered on making him my No. 2 signal-caller behind Trevor Lawrence. Fields was questioned when he transferred from Georgia to Ohio State, but I love his competitiveness. He just wants to play. Does he have things he needs to work on? Of course. He had two bad games last season in which he compounded his mistakes and threw some ugly picks, but when he's at his best, he's phenomenal. Fields was the best player on the field when Ohio State beat Lawrence's Clemson team on New Year's Day. I really hope he lands with a team that has some weapons, and he'd be great for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.
Projection: I don't think Fields drops out of the top 10, even if it takes a team trading up to get him.
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Running back
Michael Carter, North Carolina
Carter doesn't get much publicity -- he's not even the popular notable running back on his own team, as UNC's Javonte Williams will likely get picked higher -- but I love the way he runs. He's tough to tackle at 5-foot-8. He carried the ball 514 times in four years for the Tar Heels -- and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. He led FBS with 18 rushes of 20-plus yards last season. He also posted back-to-back-to-back years with at least 20 catches. Carter is going to be a great addition for an NFL team.
Projection: Running backs are tough to gauge in the draft because how they fit a team really matters. I think Carter could go as early as the second round or as late as the top of the fourth round. By the way, Carter and Williams could both join Giovani Bernard as the the only North Carolina running backs taken in the first three rounds since 2000. Bernard went in Round 2 in 2013.
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Fullback
Ben Mason, Michigan
There aren't many true fullbacks in this class, but I wanted to mention Mason, a pile-driving blocker. He looks like a player pulled straight from 1985. He's a 6-foot-2, 250-pound fullback who will pave the way for running lanes. Mason wasn't used much in the passing game -- he caught three passes for 32 yards in his career, but he did have some goal-line carries, resulting in nine touchdowns ... and an average of 2.4 yards per rush.
Projection: Mason will be a Day 3 pick for a team that still values having a lead blocker. He'll have to contribute on special teams as well.
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Wide receiver
Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
Moore is going to be a quarterback's best friend. He is an explosive and versatile wideout who thrived in the slot at Ole Miss; 64 of his 86 catches last season came when he was lined up in the slot. And he did that in only eight games. He's one of the most pro-ready receivers in this class because a team can get him touches on Day 1 as a rookie. He'll be an instant starter.
Projection: I projected Moore to the Titans at No. 22 in my latest mock draft, but I wouldn't be shocked if he slid to the top of the second round.
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Tight end
Hunter Long, Boston College
Kyle Pitts would have been the easy choice here, so let's highlight Long. He's big, tough and physical, and he can block. He'll also stretch the deep middle of the field -- he caught 57 passes for 685 yards and five scores last season. Thirty-nine of his catches last season were on throws between 5-15 yards downfield, which means he knows how to get open. That ranked as the third most in FBS. Long is a complete player, and young tight ends who can block are tough to find, so he's going to have a lot of suitors.
Projection: Scouts love Long's all-around game, and I recently highlighted him as a player who could be a surprise first-round pick. He's likely to go in Round 2, though. No Boston College tight end has been picked in the first three rounds in the common draft era (since 1967).
Quarterback
Justin Fields, Ohio State
Fields' game has been picked apart during the pre-draft process, but he'd almost certainly be the top quarterback in most other classes. He's a special talent. I've never wavered on making him my No. 2 signal-caller behind Trevor Lawrence. Fields was questioned when he transferred from Georgia to Ohio State, but I love his competitiveness. He just wants to play. Does he have things he needs to work on? Of course. He had two bad games last season in which he compounded his mistakes and threw some ugly picks, but when he's at his best, he's phenomenal. Fields was the best player on the field when Ohio State beat Lawrence's Clemson team on New Year's Day. I really hope he lands with a team that has some weapons, and he'd be great for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.
Projection: I don't think Fields drops out of the top 10, even if it takes a team trading up to get him.
-
Running back
Michael Carter, North Carolina
Carter doesn't get much publicity -- he's not even the popular notable running back on his own team, as UNC's Javonte Williams will likely get picked higher -- but I love the way he runs. He's tough to tackle at 5-foot-8. He carried the ball 514 times in four years for the Tar Heels -- and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. He led FBS with 18 rushes of 20-plus yards last season. He also posted back-to-back-to-back years with at least 20 catches. Carter is going to be a great addition for an NFL team.
Projection: Running backs are tough to gauge in the draft because how they fit a team really matters. I think Carter could go as early as the second round or as late as the top of the fourth round. By the way, Carter and Williams could both join Giovani Bernard as the the only North Carolina running backs taken in the first three rounds since 2000. Bernard went in Round 2 in 2013.
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Fullback
Ben Mason, Michigan
There aren't many true fullbacks in this class, but I wanted to mention Mason, a pile-driving blocker. He looks like a player pulled straight from 1985. He's a 6-foot-2, 250-pound fullback who will pave the way for running lanes. Mason wasn't used much in the passing game -- he caught three passes for 32 yards in his career, but he did have some goal-line carries, resulting in nine touchdowns ... and an average of 2.4 yards per rush.
Projection: Mason will be a Day 3 pick for a team that still values having a lead blocker. He'll have to contribute on special teams as well.
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Wide receiver
Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
Moore is going to be a quarterback's best friend. He is an explosive and versatile wideout who thrived in the slot at Ole Miss; 64 of his 86 catches last season came when he was lined up in the slot. And he did that in only eight games. He's one of the most pro-ready receivers in this class because a team can get him touches on Day 1 as a rookie. He'll be an instant starter.
Projection: I projected Moore to the Titans at No. 22 in my latest mock draft, but I wouldn't be shocked if he slid to the top of the second round.
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Tight end
Hunter Long, Boston College
Kyle Pitts would have been the easy choice here, so let's highlight Long. He's big, tough and physical, and he can block. He'll also stretch the deep middle of the field -- he caught 57 passes for 685 yards and five scores last season. Thirty-nine of his catches last season were on throws between 5-15 yards downfield, which means he knows how to get open. That ranked as the third most in FBS. Long is a complete player, and young tight ends who can block are tough to find, so he's going to have a lot of suitors.
Projection: Scouts love Long's all-around game, and I recently highlighted him as a player who could be a surprise first-round pick. He's likely to go in Round 2, though. No Boston College tight end has been picked in the first three rounds in the common draft era (since 1967).
