2021 NFL Draft: Latest mock draft with Patriots plummeting to worst record

2021 NFL Draft: The latest 2021 mock draft with football on the horizon.

With everything going on in the world right now, football has been put on the backburner. But with facilities around the NFL opening back up slowly and states permitting live sports gradually, football is coming into focus again. It’s on the horizon. The 2021 NFL Draft feels even further away with as far removed as we are from live sports, but if the NFL has its way, this season will go according to plan.

Everyone hopes the world can return to a semblance of normalcy in the near future, but whatever our new normal is for live sports will be significantly different than what we previously knew, at least for the time being.

In my first mock draft for the 2021 NFL Draft, I really wanted to just get an initial look at some players who could be considered among the top prospects in the class.

Right now, most outlets have the Jacksonville Jaguars landing the top overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft but I wrote about why I’m not so sure that will be the case.

The Jaguars had a really good 2020 NFL Draft class and Gardner Minshew was way better as a rookie than anyone seems to recall.

Although a lot hinges on the Jags staying healthy, are we so certain they’re going to be the team to tank for Trevor Lawrence?

Will Lawrence even be the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Last year at this time, Tua Tagovailoa was the unquestioned top overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he was overthrown by Joe Burrow. That doesn’t mean the same is bound to happen to the Clemson star QB, but what if?

Let’s shake things up a little bit and change around the typical 2021 NFL Draft order prediction with a team besides the Jaguars who would love to have Trevor Lawrence…

New England Patriots

Why is no one talking about the New England Patriots actively trying to tank for Trevor Lawrence?

The Pats willingly let Tom Brady hit free agency without much of a fight. They watched a number of other key starters leave for other teams in free agency.

Looking over the Patriots’ roster, it’s a young group of guys with the biggest question mark at quarterback perhaps in the entire league in Jarrett Stidham.

Stidham looked good in 2019 in preseason play, but everyone knows that the regular season is a different beast entirely. While many in the national media (not coincidentally based in the New England area) seem to think Stidham is going to keep the Patriots’ ship afloat, there’s a realistic scenario where this team struggles badly if they don’t sign a veteran QB who can actually help them win games.

Brian Hoyer isn’t going to keep this team from tanking.

I don’t think it’s out of the question that the Patriots are simply willing to see what happens this year.

If Jarrett Stidham is great, they look like geniuses. If he isn’t? They get the opportunity to be in range for Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence going to New England would make a lot of folks’ skin crawl, but it would set up the Patriots for immediate and long-term success yet again.

Carolina Panthers

The Matt Rhule experiment in Carolina is going to be a multi-year process.

The Panthers just moved on from Cam Newton and brought in Teddy Bridgewater to replace him. As much as I love Bridgewater, there’s no question about the fact that if both players are healthy, Cam Newton is the far better option and gives the Panthers a better chance to win.

Let’s not forget that Bridgewater is no guarantee to stay healthy, either.

Although the Panthers have some nice pieces on their roster, Bridgewater is more of a question mark at QB to me than a sure thing and as good as Christian McCaffrey is, it’s going to take time for Carolina to gel defensively and get things going.

If the Panthers land this high in the 2021 NFL Draft order, Justin Fields has to be considered a legitimate option.

Fields could contend with Trevor Lawrence to be the top player off the board in general with his size, arm. talent, athleticism, and natural playmaking ability. He accounted for 51 total touchdowns (41 passing, 10 rushing) in his first season at Ohio State after transferring from Georgia.

New York Giants

If the New York Giants land in this range of the 2021 NFL Draft, there could be some major changes coming from the top. But with a young quarterback entering his second season, there’s no doubt there could be more growing pains and more work to be done.

Especially with a first-year head coach, the Giants shouldn’t be expected to be an overnight success story in 2020.

As many positive changes as the Giants have made in recent years and as well as Daniel Jones played as a rookie, this team lacks at the wide receiver position which is no surprise because they are just one year removed from trading Odell Beckham Jr.

How about another LSU wide receiver to take the WR1 job in New York?

Daniel Jones is going to need a consistent, reliable target at receiver, and Ja’Marr Chase is the top overall prospect at that position in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

He averaged over 21 yards per reception last season and caught 20 touchdown passes from Joe Burrow.

Washington Redskins

If the Washington Redskins are picking this high in 2021, they will be between a rock and a hard place.

Unless he’s injured, it’s likely that part of the reason they would be picking this high will be the development of quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

Although there’s no mandate to move on after two seasons, Washington does have a new coaching staff trying to impress ownership, and this kind of top-five finish simply won’t fly for Ron Rivera.

With that said, they don’t have to be pigeon-holed into taking quarterback next year thanks to the gaping hole left by Trent Williams, who has officially been moved to the San Francisco 49ers.

Penei Sewell has a very high ceiling and is one of the best tackle prospects to come along in quite some time.

In 2019, he was the first Polynesian and first sophomore to win the Outland Trophy as the country’s most outstanding offensive lineman.

Since Pro Football Focus started grading in 2014, he has the highest single-season grade as a blocker.

He’s being touted as one of the best offensive line prospects ever.

New York Jets

The New York Jets are banking a lot on Denzel Mims in 2020.

Even if Mims becomes a stud right away for this team, wide receiver is going to be at the forefront in 2021.

Lucky for the Jets, the 2021 class is deep at receiver, maybe not as deep as the 2020 class but certainly more top heavy.

One player who is going to establish himself as an absolute superstar this season is Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle.

This kid’s talent is other-worldly.

The speed, the acceleration, the hands…

Jaylen Waddle has it all. He would be a great target for Sam Darnold.

Jacksonville Jaguars

I like the Jaguars’ chances in 2020 more than most, but I’m still keeping them in the top 10 for the time being.

The Jaguars’ hopes in 2020 hinge on Gardner Minshew, whose rookie season was actually pretty awesome in retrospect.

This team could be losing Yannick Ngakoue at some point in the next 8-10 months, and in fact that seems more likely than not. With that being the case, the Jaguars complement Josh Allen in the 2021 NFL Draft with Miami’s Gregory Rousseau, a breakout player who can bring some serious heat off the edge.

https://twitter.com/ACCFootball/status/1244621622549585922

He’s only going to be a redshirt sophomore in 2020 but the upside is obvious and if he can put together even close to the production he had in 2019, he should be a lock for the top 10 of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Staying in the state of Florida and joining this young, talented Jaguars’ core (with another first-rounder later on) would be a nice fit.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals go with another local product with their top selection in this draft class after taking Ohio native Joe Burrow in 2020 and get a defensive stud in Shaun Wade.

https://twitter.com/OhioStateOnBTN/status/1195806587136249861

Wade would have easily been a top 20 pick if he had come out in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he returns to Ohio State for another season to prove he can be dominant on his own and not just in a loaded secondary with two other first-round picks (Jeffrey Okudah, Damon Arnette).

Wade has four interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 14 pass breakups in his first two seasons with the Buckeyes. He’s aggressive, physical, and makes plays all over the place.

He would be a stellar centerpiece to Cincinnati’s defense.

Chicago Bears

For all of the Chicago Bears fans who will dispute this pick slotting — the Bears could be in some real trouble.

If Mitch Trubisky plays, it could be bad news. If Nick Foles plays, there’s still no guarantee that the ship is going to stay on course. Foles didn’t exactly raise all boats in Jacksonville.

The Bears have a solid roster around their quarterbacks, but will it be enough? I’m not so sure.

If Chicago finds itself picking in the top 10 of next year’s draft, quarterback has to be on the table.

Trey Lance is this year’s mystery man who is not so much of a mystery anymore.

This kid was absolutely electrifying for North Dakota State as a freshman, and the pressure will be on in his sophomore season to repeat the greatness of his 2019 campaign.

Lance still feels like more of a run-first quarterback, but at this stage of his development, that’s okay. You still see the traits with his arm and talent as a passer throughout his 2019 tape.

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are in need of some playmakers at every level of their defense.

They also need a leader in the middle of it.

Micah Parsons is one of the best linebacker prospects in the early scouting for the 2021 NFL Draft and certainly one of the most complete players at the position.

Last season at Penn State, he had 109 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups, four fumbles forced, and a partridge in a pear tree.

There was no play Parsons did not make for the Nittany Lions’ defense, and at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, he’s got tremendous size, athleticism, and range.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have much higher hopes than picking 10th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it’s not always smooth sailing with a quarterback battle.

Justin Herbert is going to be called on to start sooner rather than later in my opinion, and when he gets into the lineup, the Chargers will have some questions to be answered at left tackle.

Leatherwood has played a few positions for the Crimson Tide on their offensive line, most recently taking over as the left tackle for the departed Jonah Williams.

As a sophomore, Leatherwood started as the Tide’s right guard. As a junior, he was an All-American left tackle.

He would be one of the final pieces of the Chargers’ offensive line rebuild which began this offseason with the trade for Trai Turner and the signing of Bryan Bulaga at right tackle.

The Chargers’ defense is championship ready, they just need the offense to catch up.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders miss out on the top quarterback prospects in this class, though the roster is to the point right now where it might not make much sense to throw a rookie quarterback in there unless they can get one of the top two guys on their board.

If they don’t go with a quarterback, they could do a lot worse than Florida State defensive lineman Marvin Wilson.

Wilson was on pace to be selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft before an injury cut his season short. He had already racked up 44 tackles in nine games — a career high — and five sacks with 8.5 tackles for loss.

The Raiders have a stout defensive interior but Wilson has star power to go along with 2020 free agent acquisition Maliek Collins and Maurice Hurst.

Wilson could step in as a starter and impact player right away for the Raiders.

Detroit Lions

Every NFL team is looking at the Kansas City Chiefs and their team speed, and the Detroit Lions have a long way to go towards achieving that.

One huge step in that direction would be this — adding Purdue’s Rondale Moore.

If Matthew Stafford is healthy all of 2020, the Lions could be picking significantly lower than this. He’s one of the most under-appreciated players in the NFL.

With that said, if they could add Rondale Moore in the 2021 NFL Draft they might be given a violent shove into contender status.

https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/status/1161985114370392067

Moore has unbelievable play speed, strength, and ability to make defenders miss. He could ultimately go higher than this based on his talent level and production at Purdue where he’s undoubtedly the focus of every defensive coordinator.

He only played in four games last season but he is due a huge bounce back in 2020.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are going to invest in offensive weapons in this mock draft.

Kyle Pitts was a late-first rounder in the first mock draft I did this offseason, but the more I watch him play, the more I see how dynamic he truly is at the tight end position.

At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Pitts plays more of a hybrid tight end/split out receiver position for the Gators but what he is is an offensive weapon.

Pitts is very difficult to track in the open field and his catch radius is insane. Not only does he have a huge catch radius, but he’s dominant in contested catch situations.

https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1249097141303365632

After selecting Tua Tagovailoa with their top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins follow up with their top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by taking the draft’s best tight end.

Cleveland Browns

Creed Humphrey has a reputation as one of the nastiest offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft class, and that would be perfect to add in with the nasty the Cleveland Browns added in the 2020 offseason.

In free agency, the Browns signed Jack Conklin from the Tennessee Titans to a big-money contract. They turned around and followed that signing up by drafting Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills, one of the biggest and baddest linemen in the 2020 class.

Although Nick Harris has starter potential, there’s no doubt that Humphrey is a blue-chip type at the center position.

Despite Harris’ presence on the roster, Humphrey would be a big-time addition to an offensive line that has already made significant improvements in the past couple of months.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts decided to bring in Philip Rivers in the 2020 offseason, so clearly this is a team that feels it is ready to compete for a title right away.

Rivers wasn’t able to make the Chargers a contender with arguably a better all-around supporting cast, but there are pieces in Indianapolis and they seem to be a better sum of their parts than what meets the eye when you read over their depth chart.

With that said, the Colts need some upgrades at cornerback, and Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II could be a nice value here with the 15th overall pick.

In his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Surtain has three interceptions, four forced fumbles, and 15 total pass breakups. He’s no stranger to making plays on the ball and might be one of the best cornerbacks to come out of Alabama in some time.

Tennessee Titans

Former third-round pick Jonnu Smith has developed into a very solid receiving threat for the Tennessee Titans at the tight end position, catching eight touchdowns in his first three years with the team.

He is entering a contract year in 2020 and while there’s no guarantee he will leave, there’s also no guarantee he’s going to stay.

Even if he does, it could be argued that Pat Freiermuth is a better long-term investment with his overall skill set.

Freiermuth has caught 15 touchdown passes in his first two seasons with the Nittany Lions and has shown off his dominant abilities as a receiving threat.

At 6-foot-5 and nearly 260 pounds, Freiermuth is a tank and has a huge catch radius.

He could be the ideal outlet and red zone weapon for Ryan Tannehill in the passing game for Tennessee.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos added playmakers on top of playmakers in the 2020 offseason, and if former first-round pick Garett Bolles could put it together, they might just be able to go with the best player available here with this selection.

As it stands right now, the team could be looking at a desperate need for a left tackle.

Samuel Cosmi is not a finished product at this point, specifically in pass protection, but he’s a mauler in the run game and a good athlete for a 6-foot-7, 312-pound beast.

He has already started 26 games for the Longhorns and will bring plenty of experience even though he’s only entering his junior season with the team.

If the Broncos don’t get consistent play out of Bolles in 2020 or get a healthy Ja’Wuan James, the tackle position will be a huge area of emphasis for them.

Minnesota Vikings

Hamilcar Rashed might not be the most well-known 2019 All-American in the country, but he’s certainly one of the best pass rushers.

The 2019 All-American racked up 62 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks last season for the Oregon State Beavers, and he has some serious juice coming off the edge.

Entering his third year as a starter, Rashed has a chance to now establish himself as a first-round talent.

The Minnesota Vikings have taken on a lot of change on the defensive side of the ball, and they could be in the market for a rusher opposite Danielle Hunter in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Rashed can continue to build on what he put together in 2019, he is definitely going to be in that conversation.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are building something special offensively.

Kyler Murray should not be counted out to become one of the biggest breakout stars in the league in 2020, especially after the team added DeAndre Hopkins into the mix.

With Kenyan Drake playing so well at the end of the 2019 season, the Cardinals felt okay letting go of David Johnson but how much longer will Drake be around?

He is playing on the one year tag in 2020, so a replacement could be necessary in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Travis Etienne just happens to be one of the most dynamic playmakers at the running back position in this draft class and would have been one of the most coveted backs in the 2021 NFL Draft had he declared early.

Etienne has game-changing speed and can score from any part of the field as a runner or receiver.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers obviously have the entire 2020 season to figure out what Ben Roethlisberger’s got left in the tank.

From a team perspective, Roethlisberger has been the glue holding this squad together for a long time, even with the feud between him and Antonio Brown shedding some negative light on Roethlisberger’s leadership abilities.

If Roethlisberger’s play is not where it needs to be in 2020, the Steelers may have to look into alternate options in the 2021 NFL Draft.

They may do that anyway.

Jamie Newman is set for a nice spotlight in 2020 because he transferred from Wake Forest — which is actually putting out some legit NFL talent in both 2020 and 2021 — to the Georgia program to take over for Jake Fromm.

Newman has some nice tape at Wake Forest already and with the cast around him at Georgia, he could be in line for a first-round grade in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars (from LA Rams)

Oregon’s defense often asks a lot of some of its best players, and Jevon Holland is no exception.

He has played safety and slot corner in his time with the Ducks, and has excelled at both.

Holland has proven himself to be one of the best defensive playmakers in college football over the past two seasons.

The 6-foot-1, 200 pound junior has nine interceptions and 10 pass breakups in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and emerged in his sophomore season as a blitzer with 4.5 tackles for loss.

For the Jaguars, this is yet another piece in an impressive rebuilding process. Earlier in the first round of this mock draft they selected pass rusher Gregory Rousseau. Adding Jevon Holland to the mix would give this team a really impressive young core of players on the defensive side of the football.

Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)

This is yet another selection that would make Tua Tagovailoa a happy camper.

The Dolphins selected Florida tight end Kyle Pitts in the earlier portion of this mock draft, giving them a dynamic weapon who can line up in line or as a big slot.

Here, they get the electric speed and downfield playmaking ability of DeVonta Smith.

Smith had 1,256 yards receiving in 2019 with 14 touchdowns, showing off his speed and strong hands to every level of the field.

He might not be as dynamic as Henry Ruggs or Jaylen Waddle and he might not have the route running abilities of Jerry Jeudy, but Smith is a well-rounded prospect with the ability to take over games.

Just ask Ole Miss.

The idea of adding him to the mix with Tagovailoa at quarterback and Kyle Pitts at tight end would help the Dolphins establish a balanced offensive attack.

At 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Smith has a slighter frame but he’s capable of muscling some catches and definitely doesn’t shy away from being physical at the catch point.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are a fascinating team to me.

They are extremely well-coached by Sean McDermott and his staff, and as strong as their overall roster is, I think they have overachieved under his watch.

Even so, the Bills are a tough team with a very good defense and an offense that could be on the rise.

There aren’t a ton of needs on the roster but the interior offensive line could use some upgrades, and Wyatt Davis would be a tremendous fit here in the later portion of the first round.

Davis has the look of an immediate starter at the guard position in the NFL. He’s entering his fourth year with the Buckeyes as a redshirt junior in 2020 and his experience and veteran leadership will be coveted by this Bills’ coaching staff.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be must-see television every single week in the 2020 NFL season.

As if adding Tom Brady weren’t already entertaining enough, the Bucs added his old pal Rob Gronkowski to an already loaded group of offensive weapons.

The Bucs also have a lot of talent on their defensive front seven, but adding a pass rusher like Jaylen Twyman could help get the ball to the offense a few more times every game.

Jaylen Twyman broke out last year at Pitt with 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, showing off his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

With his added juice on the defensive front, opportunities open up for Shaquil Barrett and the Bucs’ edge rushers.

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers really ruffled the wrong feathers in the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love instead of weapons for Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers has openly stated he doesn’t know if his dream of playing his entire career for one team will actually happen at this point.

If there is an impending separation between the Packers and Rodgers, then Green Bay is going to have to do whatever it takes to get Jordan Love plenty of support to help him succeed.

Even with Tyler Johnson playing such a critical role and drawing NFL attention in 2019, Rashod Bateman was the Big Ten receiver of the year last year and deservedly so.

He averaged over 20 yards per reception with 11 touchdown grabs.

Will the Packers right their wrongs in 2021 and get some playmakers for their passing game to go along with Davante Adams?

This would be a nice rebound.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have stacked their roster for 2020 and look poised to compete for another Super Bowl title with their new weapons on offense and a revamped defense.

One of the areas of weakness on this roster right now is undoubtedly the off-ball linebacker position, although the addition of Davion Taylor out of Colorado in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft gives the team a player with some big upside.

Dylan Moses might have been a first-round pick even having sat out a full season this past year at Alabama. His talent level is tremendous, but he now has to prove he is healthy after tearing an ACL in 2019.

If he can do that, he gives the Eagles a strong option to lead the middle of their defense.

As a sophomore at Alabama, Moses had 86 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Seattle Seahawks

The last time the Seattle Seahawks took a converted receiver to play cornerback from Stanford it worked out pretty well, didn’t it?

This Seattle team has really emphasized building through the draft and they’ve done as good of a job as just about any team could expect to do going through a ‘rebuild’ of such a legendary defense that was dismantled.

Paulson Adebo has eight interceptions over the last two seasons for Stanford and 27 pass breakups. He has been all over the field for them making plays both in coverage and as a tackler.

If he can be more consistent at not biting on double moves in man coverage, he could wind up going in the top 20 picks.

In this mock draft, he’s a nice value option for the Seattle Seahawks and a potential early starter for their secondary.

Dallas Cowboys

There were a lot of people who felt like the Dallas Cowboys could go with Xavier McKinney with their top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they could not pass up on the chance to draft CeeDee Lamb when he fell into their laps.

Safety remains a need for this Dallas team, though they are obviously hopeful former Alabama star Ha Ha Clinton-Dix can provide some solid play there this season.

At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Hamsah Nasirildeen is a big dude who can lay the wood on the back end.

He can also make plays on the ball.

He has almost 200 tackles over the last two seasons for the Seminoles and this past season had two interceptions and three forced fumbles. If he continues on that trajectory, his ability to make plays on the ball and come up into the box and hit people make him an enticing potential first-round option.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints added Emmanuel Sanders to pair up with Michael Thomas in the 2020 free agency period, but Sanders is not getting any younger and they could need more reinforcements as soon as next offseason.

That’s where Sage Surratt, one of the most talented receivers from the ACC comes into the picture.

At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Surratt is built more like Thomas than Sanders is, certainly, and in tandem with Thomas he would give the Saints a pair of big, physical receivers to torment defensive backs with.

As a sophomore in 2019, Surratt reeled in 66 passes for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In high school, he was the first-ever athlete in the state of North Carolina to be named player of the year in both basketball and football.

He’s a tremendous athlete with a very aggressive mentality at the catch point and plenty of after-the-catch abilities.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have an absolutely stacked roster.

That’s one of the benefits of having a superstar quarterback on a rookie contract.

As good as the Ravens’ roster is overall, they could stand to upgrade off the edges. Aidan Hutchinson can help in that regard.

Hutchinson has the size to play defensive end in the Ravens’ scheme and they could have a need there with Calais Campbell getting up there in age and Derek Wolfe only coming in this offseason on a one-year contract.

Pairing up Hutchinson with 2020 third-round pick Justin Madubuike would give the Ravens a pair of position-flexible defensive linemen who can get after the quarterback and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers don’t necessarily need a running back in the first round, but this selection would make their offense virtually unstoppable.

At least, on initial contact.

The 49ers drafted wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with one of their two first-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, a pick that gave them a trio of the most impressive after-the-catch offensive weapons in the NFL.

Adding Najee Harris to the mix?

Yikes.

Harris is one of the most naturally gifted running backs at catching the football you will see. He looks like a wide receiver when he splits out and runs routes. Alabama successfully used him in a number of red zone situations split out in the 2019 season.

Harris is also the perfect style of one-cut runner for Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have a stacked roster leading up to the 2020 NFL season, but they also have some clear needs looking ahead to next offseason and the 2021 NFL Draft.

One area they need to get better? Cornerback.

Derion Kendrick is a very talented athlete who came to Clemson as a highly touted wide receiver prospect before moving to the defensive side of the ball in 2019.

The move was met with some nice success.

Kendrick wound up with 43 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and five pass breakups. He also has the ability to return kicks and punts.

I think we’ll see him put it all together as a junior and have an outstanding year as one of the top breakout defensive players in the ACC.