All of the hard work to make it to the next level has finally paid off for many of the top names that were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. Yet, even higher expectations will be placed upon their shoulders and it starts with us.
There could be nothing more pressure inducing than comparing a new face rookie to one of the most iconic players of all time, so that’s exactly what we’re going to do here.
During much of their time on the collegiate level, each and every one of these prospects flashed the sort of potential that made NFL GMs salivate. With the first round officially over, we’ve taken the time to dissect what each organization can expect from their new shiny toy.
There will be no discussion of bust on this list, only greatness lies ahead. Even all-time failures such as JaMarcus Russell and Sam Bradford flashed enough brilliance during their amateur days to warrant not only a high draft pick but a comparison to a great former player. Although they never lived up to the hype, that doesn’t mean this group of players won’t.
So while they have all been living with high expectations for the majority of their careers, we will be adding to that. Each player chosen in the first round has had their moments where it made you wonder just how great they can become. If everything breaks right, meaning the team builds around them and works around their strengths, then after a long and fruitful career, they’ll be sporting a gold jacket.
The NFL Draft might be viewed as a high stake guessing game, but sometimes, those guesses turn into stone cold facts. For this crop, we wanted to look solely at their potential and the ultimate player they can become. Many of you will roll your eyes incredulously to a number of these predictions but remember, this is what we believe can happen if everything goes according to plan, not what will happen.
Don’t come back in a few years to point a blaming finger at us if a certain quarterback we pegged as the next John Elway becomes a colossal bust.
Now, let’s get started.