Sleeper 2021 NFL Draft prospects who could sneak into the first round
Looking at some sleeper prospects who could sneak into the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
There are plenty of mock drafts out there for all of us to read as we continue to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. While these mocks are certainly fun to read and give us a good idea of team needs and where a prospect can land, the truth is that these mock drafts are rarely accurate.
There are always draft-day surprises and the 2021 NFL Draft will be no different. That being said, we can try to predict who those surprise players will be based on their talent-level and what NFL teams are looking for. In this post, we are going to look at five 2021 NFL Draft prospects who you will not see in many first-round mock drafts but certainly have first-round upside.
Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
Personally, I am surprised that there has not been much buzz surrounding Elijah Moore this season. He was a solid target in the passing game for Ole Miss last season but took his game to the next level this season. The wide-open offensive attack brought to Ole Miss by Lane Kiffin has helped take Moore’s game to the next level and his 2021 NFL Draft stock should continue to soar.
Through eight games this season, Moore has hauled in 86 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns. He has been a consistent weapon for Ole Miss in the passing game, doing most of his damage out of the slot.
Moore separates well against man coverage and has the speed/quickness combo needed to be a massive playmaker after the catch. This allows him to be an exciting playmaker in the short passing game, but do not sleep on Moore’s ability to compete deep. He has blazing deep speed out of the slot that will consistently keep the defense. Plus, he tracks the ball in the air extremely well.
Moore is the kind of player who can make an impact at all three levels of the defense and undoubtedly has a high ceiling at the next level. This wide receiver class is loaded with talent, but Moore cannot be ignored as a worthy first-round option. Do not be surprised if he sneaks into the back-half of the first round and becomes an immediate impact player for his NFL team.