2021 NFL draft: Could Caleb Farley fall out of the first round?

When the NFL season ended, and everyone’s attention turned to the NFL draft, Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley was considered a lock to be the first cornerback taken.

Throughout the draft process, scouts and teams were enamored with Farley’s rare combination of size and athleticism. In just two years of playing cornerback, Farley became an All-ACC performer.

Despite the lack of experience, there aren’t many cornerbacks who stand 6-feet-2 and ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds.

Things were going smoothly for Farley until late March when he revealed he would miss Virginia Tech’s pro day. The reason Farley was missing pro day was to have a procedure on his back. It’s actually the second time Farley has undergone a back procedure in the last three years.

Recent mock drafts have Farley as either the third or fourth quarterback taken with Alabama’s Patrick Surtain going No. 10 overall to the Dallas Cowboys in several. In most mock drafts in February and March, it was Farley predicted to Dallas at No. 10.

Now, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, NFL teams are wary of Farley’s back injuries, and he could slip out of the first round.

Let’s hope these rumors aren’t true, and Farley still lands in the first round. I don’t see Farley slipping past Tennessee at No. 22 overall.

The first round of the 2021 NFL draft begins on Thursday night in Cleveland.