2021 NFL Draft Big Board: Trevor Lawrence, Penei Sewell, Ja’Marr Chase headline class

Jaylen Waddle will get his chance to be the No. 1 receiver at Alabama with Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III off to the NFL. Waddle has 78 career receptions for 1,408 yards and 13 touchdowns despite playing behind those top-15 picks. He brings extra value as a game-changing returner. Averaged 24.4  yards per punt return, including a 77-yard punt return vs. LSU, the second of his career. Waddle also returned a kick for a score vs. Auburn.

Trey Lance helped guide North Dakota State to another FCS National Championship last season as a redshirt freshman when he threw 28 touchdowns and not a single interception. The 6-foot-3, 221-pounder also completed 66.9 percent of his passes and ran for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry. He was the first freshman to win the Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. He could be one of the more tantalizing prospects who keeps moving up boards as more and more see him dominate on the FCS level. He is the best quarterback prospect outside of Lawrence and Fields.

DeVonta Smith had moments last year when he outplayed Ruggs, Jeudy and Waddle, but there was just so much talent for him to be a weekly threat. Now, he’ll get his chance opposite Waddle to thrive and put up monster numbers.

Alex Leatherwood stepped in as a true freshman when injuries struck and looked comfortable at left tackle ever since. There’s a chance Leatherwood is the second offensive tackle drafted behind Sewell if Little is unable to return to his pre-injury form.

Samuel Cosmi should have a chance to get Texas back in the first round. The Longhorns had to wait until pick No. 70 in the NFL Draft to get off the board. Texas shouldn’t have to wait too long to hear Cosmi’s name called in the middle of the first next year.