2021 NFL Draft: D’Wayne Eskridge shining at Senior Bowl

The 2020 NFL Draft was loaded at the wide receiver position. The 2021 NFL Draft might be even better.

As good as the receiver class is at the top with guys like LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase and Alabama’s stellar duo of DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.

While that top-end talent is tremendous, the depth of this wide receiver class might be even more exciting. One of the players who has been drawing a lot of attention during the week of practices at the 2021 Senior Bowl in Mobile is Western Michigan’s D’Wayne Eskridge.

Eskridge is not a super well-known prospect up to this point, but he’s been on the radar with his speed, quickness, and big-play ability.

Look at him putting on a show in the one-on-one drills.

Being able to get off of press coverage is essential for receivers in today’s NFL, and Eskridge is showing here that despite being just 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, he has plenty of fight in him to get a clean release off the line of scrimmage with more than just quickness.

Eskridge will turn 24 in March, and that will almost undoubtedly prevent him from becoming a first-round pick when other guys coming into the same class are going to be 21, 22 years of age. That could make him an absolute bargain by the time day two of the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around.

Eskridge has solidified himself as a top 100 player with an impressive couple of days of practice at the Senior Bowl, but when you turn on the tape is where the top 100 status was really built.

Over the course of his last 21 games, Eskridge has averaged 22.7 yards per reception. He had eight receiving touchdowns this past season and also added a kickoff return touchdown.

Teams needing another big-play threat at receiver and on special teams (who doesn’t?) will be all over a player like Eskridge, whose ability to separate was apparent all throughout this past season but was showcased at the 2021 Senior Bowl.