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.
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.
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.
Host city bid process
The host city was chosen during the NFL Spring League Meeting on May 22, 2019. 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.
Player selections The following is the breakdown of the 259 players selected by position:
38 cornerbacks 36 wide receivers 33 defensive ends 25 offensive tackles 22 linebackers 21 safeties 19 defensive tackles 18 running backs 13 guards 11 tight ends 10 quarterbacks 8 centers 2 long snappers 1 fullback 1 kicker 1 punter
* compensatory selection × Resolution JC-2A selection † Pro Bowler
Notable undrafted players
Trades (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades which took place during the draft.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Resolution JC-2A picks Resolution JC-2A, which was enacted by the NFL in November 2020, rewards teams for developing minority candidates for head coach and/or general manager positions. The resolution rewards teams whose minority candidates are hired away for one of those positions by awarding draft picks. These draft picks are at the end of the third round, after standard compensatory picks; if multiple teams qualify, they are awarded in draft order from the first round. These picks are in addition to, and have no impact on, the standard 32 compensatory picks. Four picks have been awarded for the draft pursuant to the resolution.
Notes
Forfeited picks
Summary Selections by NCAA conference
ConferenceRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7TotalNCAA Division I FBS football conferencesAmerican212522519ACC659659242Big 12042642422Big Ten7492115644C-USA00130004Ind. (FBS)133120515MAC01102004MW00021003Pac-12335448128SEC121078716565Sun Belt00001214NCAA Division I FCS football conferencesMVFC11110004Southland00010001Non-Division I NCAA football conferencesMEC (DII)00000011MIAA (DII)00001001NSIC (DII)00000011WIAC (DIII)00100001
A new record-high 65 players were drafted from one conference, the most in NFL history, surpassing the previous number of selections, 64, in 2019. Both numbers were set by the Southeastern Conference.
Colleges with multiple draft selections SelectionsColleges10Alabama, Ohio State9Georgia, Notre Dame8Florida, Michigan7LSU6Kentucky, Penn State, Pittsburgh5BYU, Clemson, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Texas, UCF, USC4Auburn, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida State, Iowa, Miami (FL), Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Washington3Houston, Northwestern, Wisconsin2Arizona, Boise State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Louisville, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Ole Miss, Oregon State, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, TCU, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Tulane, UCLA, Western Michigan
Selections by position PositionRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7TotalCenter03110128Cornerback538676338Defensive end635743634Defensive tackle023435219Fullback00001001Guard113113313Kicker00001001Linebacker334342221Long snapper00000202Offensive tackle464433125Punter00000011Quarterback512101010Running back211415418Safety032185221Tight end113240011Wide receiver555538536
PositionRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7TotalOffense18181918132115122Defense14142221262115133Special teams00001214
References Trade references
General references
External links 2021 NFL Draft Listing at Pro Football Reference