2021 3-round NFL mock draft: Washington Football Team adds a QB

22. Tennessee Titans: Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Caleb Farley and his stock in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. The Virginia Tech product has stellar 2019 tape, and he has one of the best size-athleticism combinations in this cornerback class. Having said that, his opt-out in 2020 will unfairly impact his reputation among NFL evaluators, and his recent back surgery, undertaken after a year of no contact, will raise more red flags.

If you want my take, here it is: Farley is an extremely talented player regardless, and the surgery ideally helps him stay healthy down the road. Whoever gets Farley will be getting a massive steal, as long as he can stay healthy. Before injuries dominated the conversation surrounding his potential, Farley was consistently being mocked near the top ten. For the Titans, who need help at cornerback, Farley represents an exceptional value deal.

Of course, the Titans might be one of those teams that hesitates to take a chance on an opt-out, especially after the Isaiah Wilson debacle last year. Thus, Farley could fall past this pick. If he does, teams like Pittsburgh and Buffalo also make sense. But there’s not much stopping him from potentially falling out of Round 1.