The 2021 NFL draft had ten Ohio State players selected through the seven rounds, tied for the most with Alabama, but it was more in the middle and late rounds, not the usual parade of early-round talent we saw walk across the stage. Some of it had to do with the COVID-19 pandemic and a small sample size of games for the Buckeyes, but some of course had to do with production on the field in those games.
So, instead of guys like Shaun Wade and Wyatt Davis jumping into the first round, they fell, leaving just quarterback Justin Fields as OSU’s lone first-round pick.
But the college football universe looks to be in a potential self-correct mode next year. Many of the early NFL draft projections have multiple Ohio State players mocked in the first round, including one of the best out there, ESPN’s Todd McShay.
According to him (subscription required), he has four Buckeyes going in the first round, and we’ve got the names and what he says about them for you.
NEXT … A big-play wide receiver
Chris Olave – No. 12 overall pick, Atlanta Falcons
What McShay Says
“Olave explodes off the line and shows soft hands. And he is incredible at creating separation vertically, thanks to solid speed and always having a plan as a route runner. I had him among the top receivers in the 2021 class before he decided to go back to Ohio State for another season. If the Falcons are indeed considering moving Julio Jones to save cap space, Olave could step into a starting role to keep the passing game strong alongside Calvin Ridley and KylePitts.”
NEXT … An experienced defensive back
Sevyn Banks – No. 14 overall pick, Arizona Cardinals
What McShay Says
Garrett Wilson – No. 23 overall pick, New England Patriots
What McShay Says
Zach Harrison – No. 25 overall pick, New York Jets
What McShay Says
“We got the Jets a lineman earlier in Round 1, so let’s now add a big 6-foot-6, 268-pound defensive end with a lot of speed to come off the edge. Only Quinnen Williams — an interior lineman — had more than 3.5 sacks for the Jets last season. Harrison had only two in seven games last season, but look for him to get more production in 2021.”
Ohio State with four first-round picks in 2022?
What We Say
It’s not out of the realm of possibility at all that Ohio State gets this many guys in the first round. You’ll be hard-pressed to find two better receivers in the draft than Wilson and Olave, and Zach Harrison is one of those guys that has the potential of a Bosa brother or Chase Young when they broke out their junior years. To me, Sevyn Banks has to have some significant development to be a day one guy, but he’s got the skills.
The scary thing is that Ohio State could go even deeper here. We have yet to discuss Josh Proctor at safety and Tyreke Smith on the other edge. Both of those guys have NFL-type measurables and ability, and will a little seasoning, they too might get a top 32 type grade heading into next April.
If that is, all of these guys stay healthy and are actually all eligible for the 2022 NFL draft. As always, we’ll have to see how things play out.
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