Five biggest reaches in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft

The first round is over, so now we can have some fun. We are talking about the top 32 best players in the NFL Draft here, so you cannot really call any of them a bust, because at the end of the day they haven’t even put on pads at the next level. But I think we can talk about the top players we feel teams reached for. Let’s talk about our top five biggest reaches in the 2021 NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State – The Niners gave up a lot of draft capital to move up to the third spot. The 49ers gave up the 12th pick, a third in 2021, and two firsts in 2022, and 2023 to move up to three and take Trey Lance. The team was going back and forth on Mac Jones and Trey Lance reportedly. The team selected Lance with the 3rd overall pick, but Mac Jones would have been there at 12 if they had waited. Mac Jones wound up going 15th to the Patriots. They gave up a lot, Trey Lance is a great prospect, but it was still a huge reach, because how much they gave up.

Washington Football Team – Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky – I get he fits their system, but is Davis a better player than Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah? I am not too sure. I think Washington could have traded back a bit and still landed Davis. I know some teams will say the same about the Raiders, but I feel the Raiders actually landed a stud. Davis is a player I had projected as a 2nd round pick. At 19th overall I think the WFT reached, but hey they got their guy right?

New York Giants – Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida – The Giants traded back from 10 because they were sniped by their division foe the Eagles. They wanted a wide receiver and ended up settling for a player that truly has one year of film. The Giants did sign Kenny Golladay, so Toney can add value at this pick, but I feel it was a bit of a reach because his one year of success scares me. I watched him live, he is a gamer, I just don’t feel he was a first rounder, because of his fragileness.

Green Bay Packers – Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia – Yes, he is fast, but he refused to participate in the change of direction drills at his pro day. Many say his change of direction is a problem. The NFC North is getting better, and I feel the Packers reached on this pick. They should have taken Asante Samuel Jr., he was the better cornerback on the board at that pick.

New Orleans Saints – Payton Turner, DE, Houston – Many had Payton Turner as a second round to third round pick. I am not mad at this pick, but the Saints could have traded down a few picks and landed their guy still. They really wanted to trade up for a top cornerback but they went off the board quickly. The Saints land a great kid, and while many may not know about him, he is a gamer. I think he will be fine, but as far as where I had him projected he was a bit of a reach.