This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2021 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2021 NFL Draft Stock Up
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson Lawrence gave more proof of his lofty projection by ripping Wake Forest in the 2020 season opener. He finished that contest 22-of-28 for 351 yards with a touchdown and two rushing scores. Lawrence made some beautiful throws that showed off his powerful arm, accuracy, and an impressive ability to throw on the run. It wasn’t a flawless performance, as he missed a wide-open receiver downfield on a third down with an overthrow and he took a bad sack early on, but overall, beating Wake Forest was a very good start to the season for Lawrence to justify his high standing entering the season.
Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama As we covered in the Hot Press, multiple team sources say they see first-round potential and Barmore possibly being a high first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In 2019 Barmore totaled 26 tackles with two sacks while being a rotational player. It looked like he was just scratching the surface of his potential as the 6-foot-5, 310-pounder has good size with speed and athleticism. Now that he has some experience and is projected to be an every down starter, Barmore could skyrocket as a junior.
“He has a ton of upside,” texted one director of college scouting. “He has in-line pass rush and will get the Bama bump, lol.” Barmore has the potential to be a riser during the 2020 season and could end up being the top interior defensive line prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse Against North Carolina, Cisco picked up the 2020 season exactly where he left off his underclassmen years by showing his special ball-hawk ability. After a quiet stretch, Cisco made his presence felt with his 13th career interception. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell tried to hit a pass down the seam, but Cisco came over from deep zone to undercut the route and make a leaping interception. Cisco showed good hands on the play and had a nice return to set up Syracuse just past midfield.
For the next level, Cisco may not be a safety who can line up in man coverage on receivers. But he is a dangerous zone safety with good instincts and phenomenal ball skills. He could be a solid first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has his junior year off to a good start.
2021 NFL Draft Stock Down
Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State Purdy has had some in the media projecting him as a first-round pick, but in speaking with NFL teams, Purdy is not viewed as a first-round talent. He then had an ugly season opener against La.-Lafayette, throwing a bad interception, taking an ugly drive-killing sack, and struggling to beat man coverage. Purdy completed 16-of-35 passes for 145 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception against the Ragin’ Cajuns and did not look like an early-round pick.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 212-pounds, Purdy lacks size for the next level, plus he has a limited skill set. He looks like an accurate dink-and-dunk quarterback but a guy who struggles under pass rush and lacks good mobility to escape defenders. Purdy is also short and has issues seeing the field under pressure, and is not a playmaker on his own. From what I saw last year and against La.-Lafayette, I think Purdy looks like a fifth-round pick, at best. The Ragin’ Cajuns tape will definitely hurt his draft grade and is a stock-down entry for him to open the 2020 season.
Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame Book did not have an awful game in leading Notre Dame to a win over Duke, but he threw some ugly passes with a bad overthrow interception and a second even-worse pick that was negated by an offsides penalty. Book has the look of a competent college quarterback, but he could lack starting ability for the NFL.
Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State Terry had a rough start to the season, catching six passes for 52 yards while leaving some big plays on the field in the Seminoles’ home loss to Georgia Tech. Late in the second quarter, Terry almost had a long touchdown reception when he ran a corner route past the safety and James Blackmon lofted in a pass just a little bit long that Terry had hit off his hands incomplete. It was a tough catch, but Terry should have made it, and it would have been a touchdown of around 70 yards. A few plays later, Terry ran a deep slant and took a bone-rattling hit from the safety. That hit caused the ball to fall out of Terry’s hands incomplete, and both players received attention from trainers after the play. That was another big gain lost.
The Georgia Tech tape was a negative for Terry, overall, even though he saw some double coverage. As a large wideout, Terry needs to make those tough catches in traffic and be very sure-handed. Even though this was a rough start to the year, Terry is a big receiver who has good speed for his size. He should bounce back in the weeks to come and remain an early-rounder for the 2021 NFL Draft.
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