Whether there ends up being a season or not, there’s going to be a slew of Ohio State football players taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. We’ve previewed all the Buckeyes that will be draft-eligible, and it has the potential to be one of the all-time great crops OSU has churned out in a single year.
And it’s all over the field with guys going up and down the draft board. It’s going to be a deep draft for Ohio State, including some that will be among the elite talent available.
On that note, ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. just released a new big board to preview the next draft class but included just the top 25 players (subscription required), including two from Ohio State.
So where does he rank them in the top 25 and who are they?
Next … Kiper’s rundown on Justin Fields
No. 3 – Quarterback Justin Fields
What Kiper says about Fields
NFL teams would love to see another season from Fields — and I’m still hopeful the Big Ten will play at some point — just to increase the sample size. The Georgia transfer has made only 14 college starts, even if he was tremendous in those games. He threw 41 touchdown passes with just three interceptions (and added 10 rushing TDs) for the Buckeyes last season, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting. If you’re a general manager for an NFL team, what you crave is information on prospects, and watching only 14 starts from Fields increases the risk. (Mitchell Trubisky started only 13 college games.) Still, you can see Fields’ talent and superstar potential, and I expect him to be a top-10 pick next April.
What we say
It’s no wonder Justin Fields is pushing to play in 2020. Right now he’s locked in as a probably top-five pick, but if he has the type of season many expect this upcoming season (whenever that is), he’s got a legitimate shot at lapping Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence for the No. 1 overall pick. He’s got the skill set to do it with a big arm, accuracy, and legs to get out of trouble when things break down. Either way though, he’s going to be gone very, very early in the draft.
Next … Kiper’s narrative on Shaun Wade
No. 7 – Cornerback Shaun Wade
What Kiper says about Wade
On a defense that just had two first-round cornerbacks in Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette, Wade played mostly in the slot, but he popped when I studied the Buckeyes. The plan was for him to move outside in 2020 — and we’ll see if the Big Ten has games this season — but Wade’s versatility to move inside or outside is an asset as he transitions to the NFL. He had four interceptions over the past two seasons, and he also picked up two sacks in 2019.
What we say
Wade is destined to be the next first-round defensive back taken from Ohio State. He didn’t get a chance to showcase his talents as much last year because of playing with two other first-rounders, but his ceiling is as high as any returning cornerback in college. He was about to take the world by storm, and will still hopefully get a chance to shine as the No. 1 guy on the outside at some point before the draft. If, that is, he plays.
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