National Football League

Best available prospects for Day 3 in 2021 NFL Draft

Updated Jul. 21, 2021 7:08 p.m. ET

Rob Rang

By Rob Rang
FOX Sports NFL Draft Analyst

The 2021 NFL Draft featured the most intriguing quarterback class this century, as well as bumper crops at wide receiver, offensive tackle, center, cornerback, and linebacker. And even after the second and third rounds wrapped up on Friday night, there is still a lot of talent on the board.

Will there be players selected who are not included on my list or players whom I gave draftable grades who sign as free agents? Probably. But my rankings have proven to be among the most accurate in the business in the past, which is why I’m confident that even in an unprecedented year such as this, they’ll stand up to the competition.

Along with the numerical ranking, to help distinguish the tiers of talent available, we’ve provided Blue Chip (potential All-Pro), Red Chip (immediate starter, potential future Pro Bowler), Green Chip (can compete for starting role), Yellow Chip (developmental player who projects as a starter within two years) and Gray Chip (long-term project) grades for each player.

Here are the best players available heading into Saturday's final rounds of the draft.

BLUE CHIPS

There are no Blue Chips remaining after Round 1.

RED CHIPS

1. Jabril Cox, OLB, LSU, 6-3, 233

A star at North Dakota State, who ascended to LSU as a grad transfer, Cox is arguably the best coverage linebacker in this class, showing terrific awareness and agility in space.

2. Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas, 6-0, 193

Don’t let the small school background fool you, Rochell is among the elite athletes in the 2021 draft class and didn’t look the least bit out of place at the Senior Bowl – until, that is, he missed the last few days with a minor injury, which might be why he remains on the board. With the run on cornerbacks that capped the third round – five of the last seven picks went to this position – Rochell shouldn’t be waiting long.

3. Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa, 6-3, 313

Along with first-rounders Zach Wilson (QB), Jaelan Phillips (DE) and Jamin Davis (LB), Nixon was one of the true breakout players in college football last season, exploding for 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to be named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year. A junior college player who wasn’t as impressive as hoped during his Pro Day workouts and interviews, Nixon can use this slight as motivation to surprise again in the NFL.

4. Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee, 6-6, 321

The lack of normal medical evaluations may be the culprit behind the massive and mean Smith still being on the board. Smith missed time over his career with blood clots being discovered in his lungs – though the situation was thought to be under control – leading to his returning to All-SEC caliber play in 2020. A throwback brawler best suited to a power scheme, Smith is an easy NFL starter if a team will give him a chance.

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GREEN CHIPS

5. Jay Tufele, DT, Southern California, 6-2, 305

A bowling ball of butcher knives just scratching the surface of his potential, Tufele would almost surely have heard his name called in the Top 100 had he not opted out on the season. He did it for all the right reasons, however, with his sister contracting COVID and spending months in ICU, leaving her "little" brother understandably needing time with family. If teams are sure he is locked in and in shape, Tufele won’t be on the board long, as his quickness and power are starter-worthy.

6. Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State, 5-11, 194

Ultra-productive and reliable as both a pass-catcher and downfield blocker, Wallace has been overshadowed by many flashier receivers so far in this class. Don’t be surprised at all when he outlasts many in the NFL once he gets his opportunity.

7. Marlon Tuipulotu, DT, Southern California, 6-2, 307

A classic run-plugger stuck in an era that no longer places the same value on them, Tuipuloto is one of several defensive tackles in this class who are, frankly, being a bit disrespected by scouts. He’ll wind up making an NFL roster and sticking, outplaying his draft position. Football is still a big man’s game.

8. Hamsah Nasirildeen, S/OLB, Florida State, 6-3, 215

Viewed by some as a ‘tweener caught between strong safety and outside linebacker, Nasirildeen just needs to fall to the right team to wind up proving a steal. At worst, he’ll prove to be a special teams demon, possessing not only the speed and length to excel in this area but also the temperament and toughness.

9. Elerson Smith, DE, Northern Iowa, 6-7, 262

Another opt-out, Smith made the NFL leap following an eye-popping junior season at Northern Iowa in which he collected 21.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and five forced fumbles. Sure, it was against lower competition, but Smith flashed at the Senior Bowl practices. He’ll need a year in an NFL weight room to develop the strength needed to compete at the next level, but the talent is there.

10. Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford, 6-4, 227

Speaking of talent, in a class full of small receivers who boast blazing speed, Fehoko stands tall, boasting a Chase Claypool-like raw skillset at 6-4, 222 pounds with sub 4.4 speed. Like a lot of receivers his size, Fehoko is too straight-linish to run every route in the tree but he’s tall enough to catch over them, if necessary. Just ask former NFL head coach Chip Kelly, whose UCLA Bruins Fehoko destroyed in his final collegiate game with 16 catches for 230 yards and three scores – including the game-winner in overtime.

11. D’Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina, 6-5, 305

12. Rashad Weaver, DE, Pittsburgh, 6-4, 259

13. Tyler Shelvin, DT, LSU, 6-2, 350

14. Jordan Smith, DE, Alabama-Birmingham, 6-6, 255

15. Stone Forsyth, OT, Florida, 6-9, 315

16. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Southern California, 6-0, 197

17. Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State, 6-1, 196

18. Chris Rumph II, DE/OLB, Duke, 6-3, 235

19. Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina, 5-7, 201

20. Thomas Graham, CB, Oregon, 5-10, 182

21. Derrick Barnes, OLB, Purdue, 6-1, 238

22. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis, 5-8, 201

23. Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State, 6-4, 303

24. Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri, 6-0, 207

25. Bobby Brown III, DT, Texas A&M, 6-4, 321

26. Charles Snowden, OLB, Virginia, 6-6, 243

27. Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami, 6-3, 247

28. James Hudson, OL, Cincinnati, 6-5, 313

29. Drew Dalman, OC, Stanford, 6-3, 299

30. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 210

31. Quincy Roche, DE, Miami, 6-3, 245

32. Tommy Doyle, OT, Miami (Ohio), 6-8, 320

33. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma, 6-0, 231

34. Buddy Johnson, ILB, Texas A&M, 6-0, 229

35. Zech McPhearson, CB, Texas Tech, 5-11, 196

36. Jaylon Moore, OT, Western Michigan, 6-4, 311

37. Shakur Brown, CB, Michigan State, 5-10, 185

38. Royce Newman, OG, Mississippi, 6-5, 310

39. Marco Wilson, CB, Florida, 6-0, 191

40. Tommy Togiai, DT, Ohio State, 6-2, 296

41. Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State, 5-10, 184

42. Keith Taylor, CB, Washington, 6-2, 187

43. Seth Williams, WR, Auburn, 6-3, 211

44. Jacob Harris, TE/WR, Central Florida, 6-5, 219

45. Talanoa Hufanga, SS, Southern California, 6-0, 199

46. Brenden Jaimes, OL, Nebraska, 6-5, 298

47. Cameron Sample, DL, Tulane, 6-3, 267

48. Alaric Jackson, OT, Iowa, 6-6, 321

49. William Bradley-King, DE, Baylor, 6-4, 252

50. Khalil Herbert, RB, Virginia Tech, 5-09, 210

51. Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina, 5-10, 186

52. Josh Ball, OT, Marshall, 6-7, 308

53. Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU, 6-2, 325

54. Shaka Toney, DE/OLB, Penn State, 6-3, 242

55. Demetric Felton, WR, UCLA, 5-09, 189

56. Drake Jackson, OC, Kentucky, 6-3, 293

57. Isaiah McDuffie, ILB, Boston College, 6-1, 229

58. Larry Rountree III, RB, Missouri, 5-11, 211

59. Deonte Brown, OG, Alabama, 6-3, 344

60. Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State, 5-10, 206

61. Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State, 5-11, 214

62. Dan Moore, Jr., OT, Texas A&M, 6-6, 311

63. James Wiggins, S, Cincinnati, 5-11, 209

64. Shawn Davis, S, Florida, 5-10, 202

GRAY CHIPS

65. Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame, 6-0, 200

66. Tre Brown, CB, Oklahoma, 5-10, 185

67. Daelin Hayes, DE, Notre Dame, 6-4, 263

68. Olaijah Griffin, CB, Southern California, 5-11, 176

69. Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia, 6-3, 234

70. Cornell Powell, WR, Clemson, 6-0, 204

71. DJ Daniel, CB, Georgia, 6-0, 185

72. Garrett Wallow, OLB, TCU, 6-2, 220

73. Feleipe Franks, QB, Arkansas, 6-7, 234

74. Trevon Grimes, WR, Florida, 6-4, 220

75. Jason Pinnock, CB, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 204

76. Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green, 6-2, 243

77. Darius Stills, DT, West Virginia, 6-1, 278

78. Kary Vincent, CB, LSU, 5-10, 185

79. Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas, 5-08, 174

80. Trey Hill, OL, Georgia, 6-4, 319

81. Tony Fields, OLB, West Virginia, 6-1, 222

82. Josh Kaindoh, Florida State, 6-6, 260

83. Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State, 5-10, 184

84. Trill Williams, DB, Syracuse, 6-0 208

85. Kene Nwangu, RB, Iowa State, 6-0, 210

86. Wyatt Hubert, DE, Kansas State, 6-3, 258

87. Hamilcar Rashed, Jr., OLB/DE, Oregon State, 6-2, 251

88. Darren Hall, CB, San Diego State, 5-11, 188

89. Antonio Phillips, CB, Ball State, 6-0, 186

90. Larnell Coleman, OT, Massachusetts, 6-6, 307

91. Cameron McGrone, ILB, Michigan, 6-1, 234

92. Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas, 6-1, 220

93. Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama, 6-1, 222

94. Darrick Forest, S, Cincinnati, 6-0, 206

95. Marquez Stevenson, WR, Houston, 5-10, 182

96. David Moore, C/OG, Grambling State, 6-2, 330

97. Victor Dimukeje, DE, Duke, 6-2, 262

98. Evan McPherson, K, Florida, 5’11, 185

99. Chris Garrett, DE/OLB, Concordia, 6-4, 241

100. Ben Mason, FB, Michigan, 6-3, 246

101. Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, Louisville, 6-2, 208

102. Camryn Bynum, DB, California, 6-0, 196

103. Sadarius Hutcherson, OG, South Carolina, 6-3, 321

104. Ta'Quon Graham, DT, Texas, 6-3, 292

105. Michael Strachan, WR, Charleston, 6-5, 226

106. Justin Hilliard, OLB, Ohio State, 6-1, 229

107. Kenny Yeboah, TE, Mississippi, 6-4, 250

108. Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana, 6-0, 205

109. Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State, 6-3, 207

110. Tedarrell Slaton, DT, Florida, 6-4, 330

111. Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo, 5-7, 195

112. William Sherman, OL, Colorado, 6-3, 304

113. Tyler Coyle, S, Purdue, 6-1, 209

114. Nick Niemann, OLB, Iowa, 6-3, 234

115. Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana, 5-10, 201

116. Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon, 5-10, 199

117. Racey McMath, WR, LSU, 6-3, 211

118. Tarron Jackson, DL, Coastal Carolina, 6-2, 254

119. Ar’Darius Washington, DB, TCU, 5-8, 176

120. Jose Borregales, K, Miami, 5-10, 206

121. Tony Poljan, TE, Virginia, 6-7, 250

122. Chris Evans, RB, Michigan, 5-11, 211

123. Tavante Beckett, OLB, Marshall, 5-10, 220

124. Caden Sterns, S, Texas, 6-0, 202

125. Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State, 6-0, 201

126. Jamien Sherwood, S, Auburn, 6-2, 216

127. Javian Hawkins, RB, Louisville, 5-08, 183

128. JaCoby Stevens, S, LSU, 6-1, 212

129. Zayne Anderson, S, BYU, 6-2, 206

130. James Smith, P, Cincinnati, 6-5, 231

131. Damar Hamlin, DB, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 200

132. hmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa, 6-1, 181

133. Larry Borom, OL, Missouri, 6-5, 322

134. Brady Breeze, S, Oregon, 6-0, 197

135. Jonathan Adams, WR, Arkansas State, 6-2, 210

136. Briley Moore-McKinney, TE, Kansas State, 6-4, 240

137. Max Duffy, P, Kentucky, 6-1, 196

138. Landon Young, OL, Kentucky, 6-6, 310

139. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina, 6-4, 212

140. K.J. Britt, ILB, Auburn, 6-0, 235

141. Drew Himmelman, OT, Illinois State, 6-9, 323

142. Dylan Soehner, TE, Iowa State, 6-6, 268

143. Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh, 6-2, 301

144. Jalen Camp, WR, Georgia Tech, 6-2, 227

145. Nick Eubanks, TE, Michigan, 6-5, 245

146. Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky, 6-4, 327

147. Whop Philyor, WR, Indiana, 5-10, 184

148. Bryan Mills, CB, North Carolina Central, 6-1, 174

149. Jake Funk, RB, Maryland, 5-10, 204

150. Ben Skowronek, WR, Notre Dame, 6-3, 220

151. Zac Thomas, QB, Appalachian State, 6-1, 205

152. Thomas Fletcher, LS, Alabama, 6-1, 237

153. Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR, Illinois, 6-1, 218

154. Richard LeCounte, S, Georgia, 5-11, 197

One of the most recognized names in the industry, Rob Rang has been covering the NFL draft for over 20 years with his work found at FOX, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, among others.