2021 NFL Draft: 5 under-the-radar steals from Day 3
By Sam Penix
1. Shaka Toney, EDGE, Washington Football Team
Given that Shaka Toney was the more consistently impactful Penn State pass-rusher, and that he is an elite athlete in his own right, it is puzzling that there was a 215-pick gap between Jayson Oweh going to the Baltimore Ravens 31st overall and Toney finally being selected by Washington with the 18th pick of the seventh round.
Over his four years as a Nittany Lion, Toney logged 28.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. He will be a 23-year-old rookie, which contributed to his slide, but that does not fully explain why he fell so far. He tested like a maniac at Penn State’s pro day, putting up elite numbers all across the board.
The biggest concern with Toney is his size; he weighed in at 6-foot-2 242 pounds, which is tiny for a defensive end. He was so light because of a bout with COVID-19; he actually played above 250 pounds, which, while still on the smaller side, has not prevented plenty of similarly-sized pass-rushers from going in the first round over the past few years.
Toney has perhaps the best first step in the class, excellent bend around the edge, and displayed quality play strength, both against the run and when deploying his bull rush. Washington’s defense was already one of the best in the league, and with the addition of Toney and the other defenders they selected, it will be even better in 2021.