2021 NFL Draft Big Board: Bleacher Report very high on Landon Dickerson

On Tuesday, Bleacher Report released their first 2021 NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board. It is certainly a worth-while read filled with a ton of interesting player grades and rankings, not only the top 100 but also broken down by position. This is undoubtedly something that anybody interested in the 2021 NFL Draft should be checking out.

There were many interesting rankings that stood out on this Big Board, but none stood out more than Alabama center Landon Dickerson at No. 6 overall. Dickerson is a great player and I certainly understand why he could be considered such an elite option based on the film evaluation, but it was still shocking to see him this high.

Dickerson’s ranking was due to an 8.8 grade (out of a 10-point scale) from offensive line guru Brandon Thorn. Thorn is one of the best in the business in offensive line evaluation and when he is spitting knowledge on the position, we should all listen closely. Him giving Dickerson an “Immediate Impact NFL Starter // 1st Round” grade is something that should not be taken lightly. Thorn also lists Dickerson as the best interior offensive lineman in the class, the best run blocker and most pro-ready at the position.

Dickerson was an impact offensive lineman throughout his college career, playing all across the offensive line throughout his time at Florida State and Alabama. Dickerson’s best college season came in 2020, where he dominated in the middle of the Alabama offensive line at the center position. He won the Rimington Trophy for the best center in college football and was a unanimous first-team All-American selection this past season.

The Alabama offensive line was absolutely dominant throughout this past season and Dickerson was a major reason why. He shows impressive on-field awareness, consistently understanding his responsibility and getting in a position to take care of it. He senses blitzes and stunts well and appears to do a nice job of communicating with his teammates up front.

Dickerson immediately stands out as a mean and nasty run blocker on tape. This guy is incredibly physical at the point of attack, displays strong hands and is always looking to embarrass the opposing defenders by driving them deep down the field. Dickerson is at his best when he is allowed to play aggressively in a phone booth and he is typically dominant in those situations.

The only real knock on Dickerson’s game is his durability. He has suffered many major injuries throughout his college career, including a season-ending knee injury that required surgery late last season. Medical checks will obviously be massive when it comes to his 2021 NFL Draft stock.

However, if Dickerson checks out medically, it is difficult to see him as anything other than a legitimate first-round 2021 NFL Draft prospect. His film at Alabama was absolutely dominant this past season and Thorn’s incredible evaluation only backs that up. Seeing Dickerson so high on this kind of a list is surprising, but he is an incredible football player who is undoubtedly worthy of such heavy praise.