OFFENSE RULES THE FIRST: The 2021 NFL Draft featured 18 offensive players selected in the first round, tied for the fourth-most in the common-draft era, trailing only the 1968, 2004 and 2009 NFL Drafts (19).
With each of the first seven picks on the offensive side of the ball, the 2021 NFL Draft featured the most offensive players selected to start a Draft since 1967, surpassing the previous high of six in the 1999 NFL Draft.
DRAFTED QBs: With five quarterbacks chosen in the first round, 2021 is the sixth consecutive draft (2016-2021) with at least three quarterbacks selected in the first round, surpassing 2002-2006 (five consecutive drafts) for the longest such streak in the common-draft era.
It also marks the fourth time that at least five quarterbacks have been selected in the Draft’s opening round since 1967. The 1983 NFL Draft holds the record with six quarterbacks selected in the first round, including Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN ELWAY, JIM KELLY and DAN MARINO.
QB1: The Jacksonville Jaguars selected TREVOR LAWRENCE with the first-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It marks the third time in the common-draft era that a quarterback was chosen No. 1 overall in four consecutive NFL Drafts, joining 2001-05 (five consecutive drafts) and 2009-12 (four)
NOT PASSING ON QUARTERBACKS: With the selections of TREVOR LAWRENCE (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville), ZACH WILSON (No. 2, New York Jets) and TREY LANCE (No. 3, San Francisco), the 2021 NFL Draft became the third Draft since 1967 in which quarterbacks were chosen with each of the first three picks, joining the 1999 and 1971 NFL Drafts.
NON-FBS TO FIRST ROUND: North Dakota State’s TREY LANCE (No. 3 overall, San Francisco) became the sixth quarterback from a non-FBS school to be drafted in the first round since 1979, when Division I-A was formed.
QB-RB DUOS: Clemson, with quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville) and running back TRAVIS ETIENNE (No. 25, Jacksonville), and Alabama, with quarterback MAC JONES (No. 15, New England) and running back NAJEE HARRIS (No. 24, Pittsburgh), became the fifth and sixth colleges with both a quarterback and running back chosen in the first round of the same NFL Draft since 2000.
With both Lawrence and Etienne being selected by Jacksonville, it marks the first time that a quarterback and running back duo from the same college were each selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft by the same team in the common-draft era.
ROLL CALL: Five offensive players from Alabama – quarterback MAC JONES (New England, No. 15 overall), running back NAJEE HARRIS (Pittsburgh, No. 24), wide receivers DEVONTA SMITH (Philadelphia, No. 10) and JAYLEN WADDLE (Miami, No. 6), and offensive lineman ALEX LEATHERWOOD (Las Vegas, No. 17) – were chosen in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Alabama becomes the first school in the common-draft era to have a quarterback, running back and two wide receivers selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft, and this marks the first time that a school has had at least five offensive players chosen in the first round of a single Draft since 1967.
Additionally, with the selection of cornerback PATRICK SURTAIN II (Denver, No. 9), Alabama became the second school to have six players chosen in the first round of the same NFL Draft in the common-draft era, joining the University of Miami (six) in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Along with the Crimson Tide, six other schools had multiple players selected in the first round of 2021 NFL Draft: Clemson, Florida, Miami (Fla.), Northwestern, Penn State and Virginia Tech.
DUO OUT WIDE: Alabama wide receivers JAYLEN WADDLE (Miami, No. 6) and DEVONTA SMITH (Philadelphia, No. 10 overall) were each selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Smith and Waddle are the sixth pair of wide receiver teammates to be drafted in the first round of the same NFL Draft since 1967, and the first pair to both be chosen in the top-10.
FLORIDA’S FINEST: The Atlanta Falcons selected Florida tight end KYLE PITTS with the fourth overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, the highest-drafted tight end in the common-draft era.
Additionally, Florida wide receiver KADARIUS TONEY was selected with the No. 20 overall pick by the New York Giants. With the selections of Pitts and Toney, Florida is the second school since 1967 to have both a wide receiver and tight end selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft, joining Ohio State in the 1996 NFL Draft [wide receiver TERRY GLENN (No. 7 overall) and tight end RICKEY DUDLEY (No. 9)].
FOOTBALL IS FAMILY: With the selections of JAYCEE HORN (No. 8 overall, Carolina) and PATRICK SURTAIN II (No. 9, Denver), it marked the continuation of NFL family legacies.
Jaycee is the son of 12-year NFL veteran and four-time Pro Bowl selection Joe Horn, while Patrick is the son of 11-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection Patrick Surtain.
COURTESY NFLmedia.com
