The 2021 NFL draft is in the distant future, but the upcoming college football season is quickly approaching. It is a great way for NFL fans to get a preview of the NFL’s future stars. There are many talented offensive players in college football who will make the jump to the NFL after this season. With one season remaining before they begin their pro careers, here are six potential offensive top ten picks for the 2021 NFL draft.
Six Potential Offensive Top Ten Picks for the 2021 NFL Draft
1. Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Clemson
Trevor Lawrence has been one of the most talked-about prospects since his first season in 2018. Lawrence has thrown for at least 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in both of his seasons with Clemson. Lawrence has led the Tigers to two national championship games and won the 2018 national championship. He had 347 yards and three touchdowns in a complete blowout against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Lawrence should be the top quarterback in the 2021 NFL draft and has a strong chance to be the first overall pick in 2021.
2. Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State
Fields had an incredible 2019 season with Ohio State following his transfer from Georgia. He threw for 3,273 yards and 41 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Fields’ outstanding performance combined with his ability to run the football got him third in Heisman voting for 2019. He led Ohio State to a college football playoffs birth and finished the season with a loss to Clemson and Trevor Lawrence in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State finished short of a national championship, but Fields showed that he is a serious threat and Ohio State should have a good chance to reach the national championship in 2020. Fields should be a top pick in the 2021 NFL draft and will compete with Trevor Lawrence for the right to be the first quarterback taken in the draft.
3. Travis Etienne, Running Back, Clemson
Clemson’s offense isn’t just their elite passing offense. They also have one of the nation’s top running backs. Etienne has played three seasons with the Tigers and has produced at a high level in all of them. Etienne has rushed for over 1,600 yards in each of his last two seasons and has at least 19 touchdowns in both. He also improved his abilities in the passing game in 2019 with 432 yards and four touchdowns. Etienne has over 4,000 career yards for Clemson heading into his senior season and is looking to win another national championship before heading to the NFL. It is hard to believe Etienne won’t be the first running back selected in 2021 and should find himself being drafted somewhere in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
4. Chuba Hubbard, Running Back, Oklahoma State
Hubbard is currently one of the most exciting players in college football. His 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns tore up opposing defenses in 2019. Hubbard should continue to see success in 2020 on his way to a top 50 selection in the NFL draft. The NFL has seen a recent boom in running back talent and Hubbard will contribute to that boom when he makes the jump to the NFL. Hubbard will look to follow in the footsteps of other great Oklahoma State running backs such as Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas.
5. Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU
Ja’Marr Chase had an incredible sophomore season for the National Champions. LSU’s passing offense destroyed defenses all season long and Chase contributed a lot to it. Chase had 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Tigers in 2019. He also had 84 receptions which give him an average of 21 yards per catch. Chase is a playmaker and can help move an offense downfield at a rapid pace. It will be interesting to see if Chase can produce without Joe Burrow at quarterback. However, if he can, Chase has a good chance to be the first receiver taken in 2021 after the unfortunate injury to Clemson’s Justyn Ross.
6. Devonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama
Smith is the next great Alabama receiver in line and his success in 2019 gives them confidence he can excel in the role. Smith had over 1,200 yards on 68 receptions in an offense that had Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs on it in 2019. Both went in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft which is good news for Smith. Smith also had 14 touchdowns in 2019 and his numbers should increase in 2020. Smith is entering his senior season, so his long tenure in the program should be an advantage to him. If Smith continues his success this season, he should join his former teammates as a first-round pick in 2021.
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