2021 NFL Draft Notes: Pat Freiermuth, Rashod Bateman, Dylan Moses

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has been taking an early look at some of the top draft prospects to watch for the upcoming season and for the 2021 draft. 

Pat Freiermuth

• Jeremiah writes Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth has an ideal build for the position at 6-5 and 259 pounds and plays all over the field for Penn State.
• While he’s not the most explosive, Jeremiah points out Freiermuth has outstanding hands and is good after the catch. 
• He says Freiermuth reminds him of Chargers TE Hunter Henry as a good, but not great, athlete with great size, hands and reliability. 

Rashod Bateman

• Jeremiah sees some similarities to Saints WR Michael Thomas in Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman.
• Both have similar size at 6-2 and 210 pounds. Bateman has experience playing outside and in the slot in college, uses a variety of release moves and is a precise route runner, according to Jeremiah. 
• Bateman also has strong hands and attacks the ball in the air, per Jeremiah: “You can see how much confidence he has in his hands when he’s working in the middle of the field. He does not slow down and gather before the catch. Instead, he accelerates through the catch point. He’s very physical and aggressive after the catch. He routinely breaks tackles and generates big yards on underneath and intermediate throws.” 
• Jeremiah notes Bateman does not have elite explosiveness and has more “build-up speed” instead of burst, which also is similar to Thomas. 

Dylan Moses

• Jeremiah says Alabama LB Dylan Moses would likely have been a top prospect in this past draft had he not torn his ACL during fall camp. Moses elected to come back to school for his senior season. 
• At 6-3 and 235 pounds, Jeremiah calls Moses a “tall, rangy athlete” with tremendous explosiveness. He’s violent coming downhill against the run, a sure tackler with lateral range and versatile against the pass. 
• Jeremiah notes Moses needs to reign in his aggressiveness at times, as he’ll blow up a blocker but miss the ball-carrier. But he says the energy Moses brings to every single snap is reminiscent of Ravens legendary LB Ray Lewis. 
• Jeremiah compares Moses to Jaguars LB Myles Jack and expects him to be difference-making starter early in his NFL career.