2021 NFL Draft: 5 bold predictions for Round 1

2. Kadarius Toney will go in the top 15

Toney is one prospect that’s going to shoot up mock drafts the closer the actual event comes to fruition. He lacks the size to play any significant snaps on the outside, but he’s a potentially dominant playmaker in the slot. Any NFL offense looking to add juice in 2021 will salivate while watching Toney’s collegiate tape.

The challenge in slotting him into the draft is that the odds still favor him being the fourth wide receiver off the board. Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith all project to be top 10 picks. They are all more versatile players than Toney. In other words, they have a chance to play on the outside as well as in the slot.

There appears to be a significant dropoff between Toney and the next wide receiver on most team’s boards. That could easily tempt a franchise to move up to take him before one of their peers forces them to settle on a lesser player in Round 2.

Unlike the impending running back phenomenon, fans should expect slot receivers to gain more and more traction in future drafts. Most teams use three wide receiver sets on almost every snap in the modern NFL. That means everyone can use a top-notch slot guy like Toney to torment opposing secondaries.