2021 NFL Draft OG rankings: Wyatt Davis and Alijah Vera-Tucker top list
By John Blair
9. Deonte Brown, Alabama
6-foot-3, 364 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
One of the players whose draft grade is all over the board is Alabama’s Deonte Brown. The people that are higher on him have him project him to go at the end of the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The reason they are so high on him is due to his size and strength combination.
However, people who aren’t so high on him have him graded similar to the draft grade he receives here which is a day three pick. The reasons he receives this grade include his lack of athleticism especially when it comes to flexibility. This concern was very evident during the Senior Bowl when he had one of the worst weeks of any player at the game. He has also been nicked up during his Alabama career as he has missed playing time each of the past three seasons.
10. Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina
6-foot-4, 320 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
South Carolina’s Sadarius Hutcherson has been a four-year starter for the Gamecocks, as he has seen time at both guard spots and left tackle. Due to a lack of great athleticism though he will likely be forced to play guard in the NFL. Another knock on him to go along with his lack of athletic ability is his hand placement, as he tends to get on the outside of his defender. The team that will like Hutcherson the most are teams that love big powerful guards and arent overly worried about how they move in space.
11. D’Ante Smith, East Carolina
6-foot-5, 294 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
East Carolina’s D’Ante Smith is one of the more mobile guards in the 2021 NFL Draft. He would be a good fit as a developmental guard for a zone blocking team due to how well he moves and his overall athletic ability. However, in order for him to make it he is going to need to bulk up and add strength. He is the type of player a team looks at late in the draft to possibly stash on their practice squad.