2021 NFL Draft: 3 fits for Jaylen Twyman after opting out

The 2021 NFL Draft is next for Pitt’s Jaylen Twyman after opting out

A respected prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jaylen Twyman announced Saturday he’s forgoing the 2020 College Football season with the Pittsburgh Panthers to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Twyman is shuffling around the mid-to-late first-round talk early in the scouting process but is considered one of the top interior defensive linemen in the class. On the back of a 10.5 sack season for the Panthers in 2019, his decision could be a wise one. However, should the 2020 season be played in its entirety (or even if just the SEC plays) Twyman could see his value drop due to names like Christian Barramore from Alabama and West Virginia’s Darius Stills further showcasing their skills as interior pass rushers, among others.

Nevertheless, Twyman will be a prospect to watch throughout this unusual process. The NFL has a need for dominant interior pressure creators and Twyman will be connected and compared to the league’s best in that regard: Rams DT Aaron Donald, a Pittsburgh University alumn.

The five teams listed are in need of interior pass-rushing help. While expecting to get the next Aaron Donald seems unfair, getting the first Jaylen Twyman could prove to be a valuable upgrade inside.

These three teams are expected to be selecting somewhere in the latter half of the first round or early second, and as such, should be in play for the services of a promising young interior pass rusher.