2021 NFL Draft: First-Round mock draft using Madden 20 sim for draft order
58. CB. Shaun Wade. 18. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Ohio State. player
Washington fared much better than expected in this Madden simulation and end up with the 18th overall pick in this mock draft. When the actual 2021 NFL Draft rolls around, I would expect Washington to be picking somewhere in the top five, but a drastic turnaround like this is possible if quarterback Dwayne Haskins takes a major step forward.
Despite picking lower than expected in this 2021 NFL Draft scenario, Washington is still able to snag a high-level prospect on the defensive side of the ball. Shaun Wade is the next elite cornerback prospect out of Ohio State and he has a chance to be as good as any of them.
Wade is a quick and athletic cornerback who shows impressive man-to-man coverage skills. He changes directions quickly, presses at the line of scrimmage extremely well and attacks the ball in the air at a high level. While he primarily lined up as a slot defender last season, that had more to do with the other talented cornerbacks on the roster (2020 first-round picks Jeffrey Okudah and Damon Arnette) than a testament to his own abilities.
Wade will likely shine as an outside cornerback for Ohio State during the 2020 season and then he will enter the 2021 NFL Draft as a high-level cornerback who we know can defend receivers on the outside and out of the slot. Washington is lacking in talent at the cornerback position and Wade is a potential star in the making. This is a logical fit and fantastic value selection for Ron Rivera and company.