NFL Football Betting: 5 Best Linemen In 2021 NFL Draft

The NFL draft is roughly three weeks away, so it’s time to size up the various prospects in the draft in numerous ways. One way is to identify the best players in each position group. Here are the five best offensive linemen in the 2021 draft class.

Penei Sewell, Tackle, Oregon

The first offensive lineman who will be taken in the draft is Sewell, who opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic and will be very physically fresh. Sewell is the lineman who helped Oregon coach Mario Cristobal usher in a transformation of the Ducks after the decline of the program under Mark Helfrich and the team’s continued stagnation in one season under coach Willie Taggart. Sewell was the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12 in the seasons he played at Oregon. He helped the Ducks win the 2020 Rose Bowl over Wisconsin, which marked the full restoration of the Oregon program dating back to its appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Sewell won’t get picked in the top three of the draft since all those spots are reserved for quarterbacks, but with the Atlanta Falcons currently picking at No. 4, there’s a very real chance Atlanta will take him as a prime pass protector for aging quarterback Matt Ryan. Even if Sewell doesn’t get taken at No. 4, he will be off the board in the top 10, the only offensive lineman to earn such a distinction.

Alijah Vera-Tucker, Tackle, USC

The USC tackle is expected to be taken at some point in the top 25. He could go as early as No. 14, but he won’t fall beyond No. 23 or 24. The value of an elite offensive lineman is too great for Vera-Tucker to slide out of the top 25, certainly not the first round at the very least. He is an agile and versatile lineman who, while naturally suited to tackle, could slide over to guard and be a reliable NFL performer for a solid decade. He will make an NFL team happy, and deserves to be viewed as the No. 2 overall prospect among offensive linemen.

Christian Darrisaw, Tackle, Virginia Tech

The reason Darrisaw makes the top five is not easy to identify. Many people will look at Virginia Tech’s very inconsistent offense from 2020 and wonder why a Hokie lineman will grade so highly. The main point to make there is that Virginia Tech received highly erratic quarterback play. The Hokies had great opportunities to win close games, but their quarterbacks didn’t make the throws they were supposed to make. Virginia Tech’s offensive limitations last season were the product of a deficient set of skill position players, especially quarterbacks and receivers. The offensive line paved the way for a productive run game and put the offense in position to make plays. The quarterbacks simply didn’t finish the job. Darrisaw enters the draft as a highly recommended prospect.

Rashawn Slater, Tackle, Northwestern

The dynamic explained above with Virginia Tech also existed last year with Northwestern. The Wildcats didn’t have a very good offense, but it was because quarterback Patrick Ramsey was inconsistent, and because the receivers did not have the speed needed to get open and separate from defensive backs. The Northwestern offensive line was solid, providing good pass protection even though the offense was not especially potent and therefore got into a lot of third-and-long situations. Slater was the star of this line, and as a tackle, NFL teams will find value with him.

Landon Dickerson, Center, Alabama

The anchor of Alabama’s elite national championship offensive line suffered an injury in the SEC Championship Game against Florida, so there might be some health concerns about him. Yet, Dickerson seems to have largely recovered from that injury. He is extremely smart and has excellent footwork. He will be a world-class competitor as long as his body does not betray him.