Sleeper 2021 NFL Draft prospects who could sneak into the first round
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Trevor Lawrence leads the way at the quarterback position in the 2021 NFL Draft, followed by the trio of Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance, in whatever order you prefer. That top four is pretty clear but the position after that is extremely difficult to predict.
Right now, most consider Alabama’s Mac Jones or Florida’s Kyle Trask to be QB5 but I am keeping my eye on Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati. Ridder has shown some questionable decision-making ability at times and is far from a consistently accurate quarterback. That being said, his combination of mobility, athleticism and arm talent at the quarterback position is special. If a team wants to bet on upside at the quarterback position in the 2021 NFL Draft, Ridder is a strong bet.
He feels like the perfect quarterback to draft and let sit for a year or two behind a veteran quarterback. Teams picking late in the first round like the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers would make a ton of sense for Ridder. I would also not count out a team like the Detroit Lions or Atlanta Falcons trading back into the first round, taking Ridder and grooming him to be their long-term starting quarterback.
Either way, there are certainly plenty of teams who could consider Ridder at the end of the first round. NFL teams love to bet on physical traits at the quarterback position and Ridder has plenty. Some teams are going to fall in love with him and it could raise his 2021 NFL Draft stock in a big way.
Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
At this point, it feels like a fair bet that Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney will be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Toney has taken his game to the next level this season, showing incredible natural playmaking ability in the open field.
He is an extremely elusive and explosive player who can make defenders miss in space and explode to the end zone when he finds space. Toney also shows incredible natural contact balance for a wide receiver, seemingly always finding a way to keep his feet and keep the chains moving.
Simply put, Toney is an incredibly talented wide receiver prospect whose special playmaking ability should force him into the first round. I have a hard time seeing this guy falling past the first 32 picks.