Fansided

2021 NFL Draft: 10 best players available after Round 1

By Matt Lombardo

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - SEPTEMBER 21: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels runs with the ball during a game against the California Golden Bears at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - SEPTEMBER 21: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels runs with the ball during a game against the California Golden Bears at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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NFL Daft 2021
Mississippi Rebels running back Snoop Conner (right) is stopped in the backfield by Vanderbilt Commodores defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports) /

4. Dayo Odeyingbo, DL, Vanderbilt

Dayo Odeyingbo was a disruptive force along the interior of the Vanderbilt defensive line, and a player that executives inside the league seemed much higher on than the public, ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft getting underway.

“He’s really an explosive, quick interior player,” former New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller said in a recent appearance on FanSided’s The Matt Lombardo Show podcast. “I could see him being a power player, and a quickness player. He’ll fit in a lot of different schemes.”

ODeyingbo injured his Achilles tendon just prior to the Senior Bowl, but has the look of a disruptive force both against the run as well as as an interior pass-rusher.

Last season, Odeyingbo produced 5.5 sacks, 16 hurries, 12 quarterback hits and six knockdowns, which could help him project to an immediate contributor on passing downs at the next level.

3. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

Thursday saw four edge rushers chosen, and Ojulari will likely come off the board quickly on Friday, as the Georgia alum was one of the more heralded prospects at the position, entering this draft.

Last season, Ojulari produced nine sacks, and 20 total pressures, as one of the most dominant players along the Bulldogs’ front-seven.

Pro Football Focus gave Ojulari a 90 overall grade for 2020, after he produced a 24 percent pass-rush win-rate.

As dominant edge rushers become more vital to defense success, and teams such as the Jaguars, Jets, and Falcons who are in desperate need of pass-rush help sit atop the board, don’t be surprised of Ojulari is one of the first players to hear his name called in Round 1.

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