top rookies to consider as per walter football projection draft roundds as of 1/24/21
Rashawn Slater*, C/G/OT, Northwestern
Height: 6-3. Weight: 306.
Projected 40 Time: 5.08.
Projected Round (2021): 1-2.
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1/9/21: Slater decided to sit out the 2020 season, and that could hurt his draft momentum. Some are projecting him to the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, while some team sources say they have Slater in the second round.
Slater is a good athlete who could play tackle, guard or center in the NFL. Given his lack of height and length, he might be a better fit on the inside at guard or center. With Slater's versatility and athleticism, he shouldn't get out of Round 2 during the 2021 NFL Draft.
8/29/20: Slater has been a starting right tackle for Northwestern, but he projects to the NFL for a move inside to guard. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection, but he could end up rising with a solid all-star game performance.
Trey Hill*, C, Georgia
Height: 6-4. Weight: 330.
Projected 40 Time: 5.34.
Projected Round (2021): 1-2.
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1/9/21: Hill blocked very well in 2020, showing the ability to get movement in the ground game, hit double teams to open holes, and take on big defensive tackles. Hill was tough in pass protection as well, putting on display his ability to go one-on-one with tackles. While Hill blocked well, he also fired some bad snaps, so he needs to improve on his snapping accuracy for the NFL.
8/29/20: Hill was very good for Georgia in 2019. He is a tough run blocker and shows the ability to handle pass-rushing defensive tackles one on one. Taking on a future top-10 pick in Auburn's Derrick Brown, Hill was very impressive, and team sources have said Hill was impossible not to notice when they scouted Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kindley for the 2020 NFL Draft. Those scouts feel Hill could be an early-rounder and the top center in his draft class.
Hill is big for the position and moves well for a big blocker. With his large size, Hill can block defensive tackles one-on-one in pass protection and the ground game. While Hill is not as fast and athletic as some smaller centers who have gone as early-rounders in recent years, he brings more size and power to the position than those players. He could also move to guard for the NFL.
Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
Height: 6-6. Weight: 308.
Projected 40 Time: 5.22.
Projected Round (2021): 2-3.
View Ranking History
1/9/21: Dickerson played well for Alabama in 2020 before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Florida in the SEC Championship. Prior to the injury, he was getting second- and third-round grades, according to some team sources. Dickerson has some skill set limitations, but he has very good technique and is fundamentally sound. He is a smart center who knows how to play the game. Dickerson accepted an invitation to play at the Senior Bowl.
8/29/20: Dickerson is a transfer from Florida State who had a strong 2019 season for Alabama. Over his first season with the Crimson Tide, Dickerson was a solid run blocker and dependable in the passing game. He has good size to him with more length than most centers. Dickerson could be a riser as a senior.
Josh Myers*, C, Ohio State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 312.
Projected 40 Time: 5.28.
Projected Round (2021): 2-4.
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1/9/21: Myers closed out the regular season blocking really well for Ohio State and opening a lot of holes for Trey Sermon. Myers could stand to improve his reaction to blitzes and games in pass protection.
8/29/20: Myers earned the starting center position in 2019 as a sophomore and had an excellent debut for the Buckeyes. He has good size with length for an interior blocker, and was tough at the point of attack. Myers was an effective run blocker for J.K. Dobbins and a steady pass protector for Justin Fields.
Now that Myers has a year of experience, he could be even better and may end up being one of the top center prospects in his draft class. It will be interesting to see if Myers enters the 2021 NFL Draft following the Big Ten's foolish decision to cancel the 2020 season.
Jmmy Morrissey, C, Pittsburgh
Height: 6-3. Weight: 305.
Projected 40 Time: 5.24.
Projected Round (2021): 3-4.
View Ranking History
1/9/21: Morrissey was solid, if unspectacular, for Pittsburgh in 2020.
8/29/20: Morrissey has enough size to work his way into starting consideration in the NFL, and he had a very good junior year for Pittsburgh. Morrissey did not allow a sack in 2019 and graded out as the best run blocker on Pittsburgh's offensive line. The former walk-on won the starting center position as a redshirt freshman and has improved each season. Morrissey could stand to get stronger for the NF
