2021 NFL Draft Comps: Using advanced stats and measurables to evaluate 2021 draft prospects

Comparing current NFL draft prospects to those of years past is standard procedure in draft evaluation, though most comparisons are built on the memory recall and subjective opinion of the particular evaluator.

This will be the first in a series of articles comparing the 2021 draft prospects to prior years and picking out the most similar comps with a clearly delineated and quantifiable method.

The comps below were derived from a two-step process. First, we converted all the most statistically relevant stats and measurables to percentiles based on the thousands of prospects who have entered the NFL since 2006 at each position. Then, we filtered the total universe of past prospects by those who had draft positions, weight and 40 times within a 10th percentile in either direction of the player we were evaluating.

Prospects will be added daily as we get closer to the 2021 NFL Draft. In the meantime, be sure to download your copy of the 2021 NFL Draft Guide, which includes three-page draft profiles on hundreds of NFL draft prospects in the 2021 class. Click here to get your copy today!

RUNNING BACK

• Travis Etienne, Clemson
• Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
• Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
• Larry Rountree, Mizzou
• Demetric Felton, UCLA
• Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
• Chris Evans, Michigan
• Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
• Javonte Williams, North Carolina
• Michael Carter, North Carolina
• Trey Sermon, Ohio State
• Najee Harris, Alabama
• Javian Hawkins, Louisville
• Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State

WIDE RECEIVER

• Amari Rodgers, Clemson
• Cornell Powell, Clemson
• Jonathan Adams Jr., Arkansas State
• Tre Walker, San Jose State
• Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
• Seth Williams, Auburn
• Simi Fehoko, Stanford
• Tamorrion Terry, Florida State
• Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
• Rondale Moore, Purdue
• Shi Smith, South Carolina 
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC
• Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
• Jaelon Darden, North Texas
• Josh Palmer, Tennessee
• D'Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan
• Dax Milne, BYU
• Nico Collins, Michigan
• Cade Johnson, South Dakota State
• Dyami Brown, North Carolina
• Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
• Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU 
• Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
• Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
• Kadarius Toney, Florida
• Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
• DeVonta Smith Alabama