AU Next Level: 2021 NFL Draft Tracker

AU Next Level: 2021 NFL Draft TrackerAU Next Level: 2021 NFL Draft Tracker

AUBURN, Ala. – The fraternity of Auburn Tigers in the NFL will grow this weekend as the next crop of "Auburn Made" players wait to hear their name called in the 2021 NFL Draft. The program has had at least one player picked in each of the last 17 NFL drafts. 

Follow along as we track each and every Auburn player taken this year. 

RoundNo.PlayerTeamPos
391Anthony SchwartzCleveland BrownsWR
5146Jamien SherwoodNew York JetsLB
5176K.J. BrittTampa Bay BuccaneersLB
6219Seth WilliamsDenver BroncosWR

DAY 2

WR Anthony Schwartz
Round 3, Pick 91, Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns selected speedy Auburn receiver Anthony Schwartz on Friday in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the 91st player taken overall.

The NFL's draft profile highlighted some of the reasons the Browns invested their third rounder on Schwartz, describing him as a "world-class sprinter with game-changing speed who blows by man coverage."

ESPN's analysts also focused on Flash's signature skill.

"They wanted that guy who can fly," said Mel Kiper Jr. "The thing about Anthony Schwartz, 4.25 speed for Auburn. That's one thing you can't teach. He's over 6-feet tall, and he can run like the wind."

To read full story, click here. 

DAY 3LB Jamien Sherwood
Round 5, Pick 146, New York Jets

Impressed with Jamien Sherwood's size and skillset, the New York Jets selected the Auburn safety Saturday early in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and promptly positioned him at linebacker. 

Auburn's third-leading tackler in 2020 with 75 stops, the 6-2, 220-pound Sherwood will switch from the secondary to the front seven in the NFL, a move that ESPN's draft analysts say optimizes Sherwood's strengths.

"He is the best tackler you will see in a long time come out of the collegiate ranks," Mel Kiper Jr. said. "This kid, when he gets you, you are going down. This kid was up to around 230 this year. Is he a safety? Will he have to be an outside linebacker? I tell you what, this kid is a football player.
 
"You've got a guy who will tackle in space, a very instinctive football player, plays with that warrior mentality. I love this kid. I thought he played lights out this year."

Leading up to the draft, which he watched with family and friends from his home in Jensen Beach, Florida, Sherwood appreciated that his tackling ability had attracted attention from NFL scouts and analysts.

"People have told me I'm a sure tackler," said Sherwood, who was the second pick in the fifth round, No. 146 overall. "That's one of the positives to my game. That's something I pride myself on. When I get my chance to lay a big hit, I bring it with full force and effect as hard as I can. I take pride in that. It makes me feel good when someone at the next level recognizes that." 

"I think he's today's NFL," said ESPN's Todd McShay. "It doesn't matter what you call him. I think you can play him as a nickel linebacker or a dime linebacker, you can play him as a strong safety. Whatever you want to call him, this guy can play football. He loves playing football. What I loved about him is his finishing ability."


LB K.J. Britt
Round 5, Pick 176, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

K.J. Britt is headed to the defending Super Bowl champions. 

The Auburn linebacker was taken in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at pick No. 176 overall. He is the third Auburn player drafted by the Buccaneers in the last four years and will join former teammates Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean in Tampa Bay. 

Britt played in just two games this past season and recorded double-digit tackles in both games, including a career-best 12 tackles against Georgia. As a junior at Auburn in 2019, he finished with 69 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and earned First Team All-SEC honors. He played all four years at Auburn and had 119 career tackles.  

"There are no issues with hustle and effort and toughness with this guy," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said. "His nickname is 'Downhill Britt', and when you watch him play, this is a guy who is coming to get it. 

"He's a little bit different than what they're used to down there as far as their inside linebackers with Devin White and those types of players, but this is a guy who maybe can make your football team because of the fact that he's so tough and you know he's going to be a force on special teams."

"Though Britt missed the final nine games of the 2020 season due to injury, he was able to participate in January's Senior Bowl where he was voted the best linebacker by the running backs and offensive lineman he went up against all week. 

"I wrote down violent about five times in my scouting report on him," added fellow ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, who scouted Britt at the Senior Bowl. 


WR Seth Williams
Round 6, Pick 219, Denver Broncos

Known for his ability to rise up and high-point the football, wide receiver Seth Williams has found a new home in the Mile High City with the Denver Broncos. 

Williams was drafted with pick No. 219 in the sixth round Saturday. 

In three seasons at Auburn, Williams ranks in the school's top 10 all-time in career receptions (132), receiving yards (2,124) and touchdowns (17). He caught at least one pass in 24 straight games and has five career 100-yard receiving games, including two this past season. 

Williams led the Tigers in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. In 2020, he finished with 47 catches for 760 yards and four touchdowns. 

"He is big. 6-3, 211," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said. "This guy was a medal winner in the high jump and the long jump at the state level coming out of high school, so he's got all the physical tools. He can get up, and he can rise high and win the 50-50 balls. 

"He's a big body. He can run the inside breaking routes and win the contested catches in between the numbers. He has to continue to develop that aspect of his game and put it all together because if he can play like that on occasion, then you can play like that all the time. It's not a matter of not having the hands to make the spectacular catches."

Williams hauled in two touchdowns in the season opener against Kentucky, including a highlight-reel grab over defensive back Kelvin Joseph, a second-round pick Friday. 

"The reason you take a flier on (Williams) this late is because you saw flashes," ESPN's Todd McShay said. "The first tape you've got to watch is the matchups against individual guys that you're going to face in the NFL, and he makes some big-time plays."

Undrafted Free Agents

WR Eli Stove, Los Angeles Chargers
DB Jordyn Peters, New York Jets