2021 NFL Draft: 5 under-the-radar steals from Day 3
By Sam Penix
5 of the biggest Day 3 steals of the 2021 NFL Draft
The 2021 NFL Draft was the strangest in recent history. With an unprecedented lack of tape and data, the draft was excepted to be unpredictable, and it certainly delivered. A ridiculous amount of Day 2 talent plummeted down the board, and some excellent players even went undrafted. Here are five under-the-radar steals from Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
5. Eagles get a 2021 NFL Draft steal in RB Kenneth Gainwell
Kenneth Gainwell was selected with the sixth pick in the fifth round, 150th overall, and the spot after the Cincinnati Bengals took the class’s first specialist. Gainwell opted out of the 2020 season, which could explain his fall, and did not test nearly as well as expected. This seems to have been a trend among many players; their pro day numbers did not reflect their in-game athleticism, and Gainwell is definitely a member of that group.
He totaled over 2,000 yards from scrimmage to go along with 16 touchdowns in 2019, and showed off an impressive degree of versatility. He is not a between-the-tackles bellcow, but he does show a good amount of power for a player as high-strung as he is at 5-11 191 pounds. His contact balance is excellent and he’s a much shifter player than his agility testing would indicate.
Where Gainwell really shines is his receiving ability not just out of the backfield, but split out wide and in the slot. He truly does look like a wide receiver when he runs routes, and should be an instant weapon for the Eagles in the passing game; everyone knows about the team’s consistent lack of talent at wide receiver, and Gainwell could help to offset some of that deficiency even as he’s listed as a running back.