A pair of Iowa Hawkeyes lead the 2021 NFL Draft All-Underrated defensive team
By John Blair
Earlier this 2021 NFL Draft cycle the All-Underrated offensive team was released and now that all defensive players have been evaluated it is time to come out with the defensive team. This team is led by a pair of Iowa Hawkeye’s who should develop into strong contributors in the NFL despite by being day three draft picks.
In order for a player to make the All-Underrated team, a player had to be given a fourth-round grade or later by Pro Football Network. Please note the draft grade assigned with each prospect is the draft grade they were given by Pro Football Network.
Defensive End: Chauncey Golston, Iowa
2021 NFL Draft Projection: Fourth round
Iowa’s Chauncey Golston is not the type of player who is going to blow you away with his natural athletic ability. Instead, he is the type of player who will be one of the hardest workers on the team and a player who will go hard down after down. While he lacks that explosive first step he was still able to finish his Iowa career with 12 sacks including four in the last four games of his Iowa career. In the NFL he should develop into a solid rotational defensive lineman who can see time at both DT and DE.
Fun fact: Chauncey Golston brought down the QB in each of his last four games.
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) April 10, 2021
Here they are, including one you'll likely never forget.@2live57 // @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/NJ3oJgQx7f
Defensive Tackle: Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh
2021 NFL Draft Projection: Sixth round
A prospect who might carry the biggest difference in his draft grade is defensive tackle Jayler Twyman. Twyman was given a second-round grade in our defensive tackle preview but carries a sixth-round grade from both The Athletic and Pro Football Network. The reason he carries a higher grade here and is on this team is his ability to get after the passer. In 2019 he finished the season with 10.5 and likely would have put up strong numbers in 2020 if he had not sat out the year.
Defensive Tackle: Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
2021 NFL Draft Projection: Fourth round
One of the better run defending defensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft is Marlon Tuipulotu of USC. Tuipulotu shows impressive strength, especially in his upper body and is hard to move at the point of attack. This past season his strong play against the run helped him earn a spot on the All-Pac-12 team.
Defensive End: Payton Turner, Houston
2021 NFL Draft Projection: Fourth round
Payton Turner is similar to the other defensive end who made this team Chauncey Golston, in that both prospects are high effort players. They are also similar in that they have put up excellent production. Last season, Turner recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in just five games. To go along with his impressive production teams love his size as he comes in at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds. The biggest reason why he carries a fourth-round grade is his long injury history.