2021 NFL Draft: Five players with first-round grades remain on the board

The first round of the 2021 NFL Draft saw 26 of the 31 players who received first-round grades taken. However, there are still five prospects who earned first-round grades left on the board as we enter day two. Where will these talented prospects land?

1.  Ronnie Perkins, DE, Oklahoma

The top player left on the board is Ronnie Perkins, which is not a big surprise as I was higher on him than most people were. Coming into the 2021 NFL Draft, Perkins was rated as the top defensive end and the most underrated defensive end in the draft.  What makes him such a good value pick is his ability to hold up against the run yet still have enough explosiveness to get after the passer. This past season while only playing in only six games, he was able to account for 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, OLB, Notre Dame

The biggest reason why Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is still on the board is that he is somewhat of a tweener. He lacks the size and strength to be great against the run and is not athletic enough to consistently play safety in the NFL. However, he is a linebacker who shines in coverage and if he plays with more discipline, could be a very valuable chess piece for a smart defensive coordinator.

3. Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

The defensive tackle position is proving why it was one of the weaker positions in the 2021 NFL Draft as no player was taken at this position in the first round. The first defensive tackle who will likely come off the board early in the second round is Christian Barmore of Alabama. Barmore is a prospect with a lot of upside as he displays the ability to get after the passer and moves very well for someone 6-foot-4, 310 pounds.

4. Richie Grant, S, UCF

Another position that didn’t see anyone get drafted at last night was safety, and the only prospect who earned a first-round grade going into the 2021 NFL Draft was Richie Grant. What earned Grant a late first-round grade was his ability to play the run yet still be able to hold up well in coverage. This should allow Grant to play either free or strong safety in the NFL which will likely be enough for him to hear his name called early on day two.

5. Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

The top offensive player left on the board is Texas offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi who is rated as the 29th best player and fourth-best offensive tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft class. The thing scouts like the most about Cosmi is his ability to play left tackle in the NFL. He is one of the better athletes among this year’s offensive tackle group and also has ideal size coming in at 6-foot-7. He likely fell to the second round though due to the fact he is just an average run blocker.