The top of the 2021 NFL Draft will be quite offensive, although the Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II have solid opportunities to make it into the top 10. This is definitely a skill position draft, and much of the defensive talent will go in the middle of the first round or a little later. This includes cornerback from South Carolina Jaycee Horn and potentially Virginia Tech’s cornerback Caleb Farley.
Different reviewers may rate these two players and Surtain in different orders, although Surtain appears to be the favorite to come out of that group first. At the moment, ESPN has Surtain as the 9th overall position, while Farley is the 10th – so it is very close.
Horn is in 27th position, but some experts like him as a player in the first round, at worst. Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy is in the field and explained on ESPN’s NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Special why he actually thinks Horn is a better candidate than Surtain and Farley.
“For me, Jaycee Horn from South Carolina, another bigger and bigger guy is better than both, “said Nagy.” The reason I like Jaycee so much is, first, when you talk about a press officer and an outsider, Jaycee probably does both better than the other two – in terms of versatility and how you can use it. Two, I just love the confidence, the style and the aggressiveness with which he plays. This is what really separates you from the other two. Surtain and Farley are great, but I’ll stay with Horn if I’m trying to be a database room. “
Now this is spicy. Horn had a great career in South Carolina after originally making a commitment to Tennessee, but he did not have a full senior season as he opted out of the second half of the campaign after Gamecocks fired the former coach Will Muschamp. Many experts consider Surtain to be the main defender – or even the general defender – in college football.
Nagy is certainly not short on Surtain, per se. But it looks like he’s at Farley.
“Patrick Surtain is phenomenal,” said Nagy. “If you take the field on Day 1 in Tuscaloosa in the corner, it says it all. Mel Kiper talked about his background and lineage with his father – he is a great player.
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“So Mel talked about Caleb Farley. For me, it is a small feast or hunger. He may be the most physically gifted in terms of explosion for a big, long guy. It can really cover ground when the ball is in the air in both short and deep throws. It disturbs many balls. He gives up, but really interrupts many moves. “