NFL Draft, Stacking the Box

2021 NFL Draft: 10 best players available after Round 1

2021 NFL Draft prospects

Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth (87) runs for a touchdown against Memphis. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Several top prospects remain as Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft gets underway, including Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth and Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr.

The 2021 NFL Draft was certainly one that was driven by offense, with three wide receivers chosen in the top-10, along with former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, but several high-impact prospects remain on the board.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars go on the clock with the No. 33 overall pick on Thursday night, they might be able to add a starting caliber pass-catcher to pair with Trevor Lawrence, or an immediate starter on the back-end of a rebuilt defense.

Here’s a look at the five best remaining players, after the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft

10. Pat Freiermuth – TE, Penn State

Any team that missed out on Kyle Pitts, would be getting a solid consolation prize in Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Freiermuth, 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds, has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro Rob Gronkowski, and it’s easy to see why. A playmaker down the seam in the passing game, Freieruth dropped just two passes last season, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4.

A three-year starter at Penn State, Freiermuth was one of the more consistent red-zone targets in college football having not dropped a single pass inside the 20-yard line during his three seasons in Happy Valley.

Whichever team drafts Freiermuth will be getting a legitimate weapon in the passing game, capable of lining up in-line or in the slot who is as reliable as it comes in the passing game, after catching 92 passes for 1,185 yards and 16 touchdowns during his collegiate career.

9. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

One of the premier linebackers in this class, it was a bit of a surprise to see Owusu-Koramoah slide out of the first-round on Thursday, that saw Penn State’s Micah Parsons as the first linebacker chosen, at No. 12 overall.

Owusu-Koramoah, 6-feet and 215 pounds, has the athleticism and speed to step in immediately as the quarterback of a 4-3 defense at the WILL spot, and a three-down contributor.

Last season saw the Notre Dame alum produce 57 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Instincts and blazing speed pair well with his propensity for hitting like a box truck when unleashed downhill into the backfield.

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