The 2021 NFL Draft has come and gone, and while no former Auburn football studs were selected in the first round (or second) like in 2020, there were several Tiger alumni that heard their names called on day two and three.
Anthony Schwartz was the highest selected Auburn man, being taken in the third round by the Cleveland Browns. Seth Williams was the other former Bo Nix/Jarrett Stidham target to be selected, as two players on each side of the ball realizing their dream.
The first defensive player taken in the first round, Jamien Sherwood, was the first 2021 NFL Draft pick to sign on the bottom line on his rookie contract.
NFL reporter Adam Schefter revealed as much on his verified Twitter page:
Four-year deal is worth $3,834,856. https://t.co/1vNbzclg6l
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 5, 2021
Sherwood is expected to switch positions at the next level. Under Gus Malzahn and Kevin Steele’s watch, Sherwood played in the secondary, often lining up the safety spot.
At the professional level, Sherwood is expected to be a linebacker for the NY Jets. The new NY head coach, Robert Saleh, figures to be a defensive-minded HC after transitioning from a defensive coordinator role for the San Francisco 49ers.
Under his appointed DC, Jeff Ulbrich, Sherwood’s skill set could be put to better use in the middle. Sherwood’s tackling is his strength, as Sherwood will track down rushers and punish those looking to take his contact head on.
That said, he is not the most fleet of foot, and at the next level he likely would have been burned by all of the talented deep threats in the NFL, paired with quarterbacks able to find them with the deep ball.
The Jets seem likely to get the most out of Sherwood given their willingness to fit him in their defensive schemes. If the former Auburn football star can stick, he will earn just under a million dollars year in and year out for Gang Green.