2021 NFL Draft: 5 first-round picks teams will soon regret

OT Alex Leatherwood, No. 17 Overall, Las Vegas Raiders

I’m all for taking the player you like. But there’s no reason for Alex Leatherwood to come off the board this early in the process. The Las Vegas Raiders easily could have traded back, stockpiled assets, and still gotten the guy they wanted.

That’s not the reason why Leatherwood is on this list, though.

There’s just no consistency to Leatherwood’s game. He looks the part and offers enough athleticism to hold his own on the outside in the NFL. With that said, his motor tends to sputter at times and he doesn’t show the polished technique you’d expect out of a first-round pick.

For the most part, Leatherwood was seen as a Day 2 prospect whose game need significant refinement before he’d be ready to start at the next level. However, GM Mike Mayock and the Raiders stuck with their recent approach of getting their guy regardless of what pick they have (think Damon Arnette in 2020) with the selection of Leatherwood.

Realistically, Leatherwood could develop into a long-term starter. For the No. 17 pick in the draft, though, expect to be underwhelmed by what the Alabama product provides for Las Vegas in the immediate future.