2021 NFL draft

2021 NFL draft
2021 NFL draft
General information
Date	April 29 – May 1, 2021
Location	FirstEnergy Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
Networks	ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Overview
	259 total selections in 7 rounds
League	National Football League
First selection	Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Mr. Irrelevant	Grant Stuard, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Most selections (11)	Carolina Panthers; Dallas Cowboys; Minnesota Vikings
Fewest selections (3)	Seattle Seahawks
	← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 NFL draft was the 86th National Football League draft, the annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland, Ohio from April 29 to May 1, 2021.^[1]

Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round—Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones—the second highest amount (along with the 1999 and 2018 drafts) after the six selected in 1983 and 2024. The draft also marked the third time the first three picks were quarterbacks, following the 1971 and 1999 drafts. A total of eight quarterbacks were selected in the first three rounds, the most in NFL draft history, although only two quarterbacks were taken in the remaining rounds. By 2024, Lawrence was the only first-round quarterback to remain with his original team.

In addition to the high number of quarterbacks, six Alabama players were taken in the first round, which is tied with the six Miami players picked in 2004 for the most from an individual school. Conversely, no Big 12 Conference players were drafted in the first round for the first time since the conference began play in 1996 and no Michigan State players were selected for the first time since 1941.^[2]

Scouts considered the later rounds of the draft to lack desirable prospects due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortening the 2020 college football season. The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility and an opt-out option for athletes because of the shortened season, resulting in many prospects returning to school instead of declaring for the draft.^[3]

Host city bid process

The host city was chosen during the NFL Spring League Meeting on May 22, 2019.^[4] Cleveland and Kansas City were announced as the hosts for 2021 and 2023, respectively, from the remaining finalists from the 2019 draft after Las Vegas was chosen to host the 2022 event.^[5]

Player selections

The following is the breakdown of the 259 players selected by position:

*	compensatory selection
×	Resolution JC-2A selection
†	Pro Bowler^{[N 1]}

Positions key
Offense	Defense	Special teams
QB — Quarterback RB — Running back FB — Fullback WR — Wide receiver TE — Tight end OL — Offensive lineman T — Tackle G — Guard C — Center	DL — Defensive lineman DT — Defensive tackle^[a] DE — Defensive end EDGE — Edge rusher LB — Linebacker^[b] DB — Defensive back CB — Cornerback S — Safety^[c]	K — Kicker^[d] P — Punter LS — Long snapper RS — Return specialist^[e]
↑ Includes nose tackle (NT) ↑ Includes middle linebacker (MLB/MIKE), weakside linebacker (WILL), strongside linebacker (SAM), off-ball linebacker, and outside linebacker (OLB) ↑ Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS) ↑ Also known as a placekicker (PK) ↑ Includes kickoff and punt returners

[7] Includes nose tackle (NT)

[8] Includes middle linebacker (MLB/MIKE), weakside linebacker (WILL), strongside linebacker (SAM), off-ball linebacker, and outside linebacker (OLB)

[9] Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)

[10] Also known as a placekicker (PK)

[11] Includes kickoff and punt returners

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[N 1]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]