Teams in the West divisions of the NFL have found a vast array of success from their 2021 draft selections. The 49ers notably went all in on NDSU QB Trey Lance which only resulted in 8 total games played and a fourth round pick in a trade with Dallas. The Chiefs drafted franchise cornerstones in the NFL’s highest paid center Creed Humphrey and standout linebacker Nick Bolton. Meanwhile the Rams, despite not having an opportunity to pick in the first round, proved their “F them picks” strategy right when they won the Super Bowl that year. But while San Francisco’s gamble for Lance was a mistake in hindsight, their 2021 class still made an impact with some key value selections in later rounds. Additionally, while those value selections are possible to recreate, front offices across the league show a varying level of competency when finding those diamonds in the rough, the West being no exception. As such, we’ll be looking at those teams and their best value picks from the 2021 draft to see which franchise did best at finding those hidden gems.
Seattle Seahawks: CB Tre Brown
(Credit: Steven Bisig)
The inclusion of Tre Brown here is more of a reflection of Seattle’s draft rather than Brown’s abilities as a player. After the Jamal Adams trade, the Seahawks entered the 2021 draft with just three selections, with two of them being day three picks. As of 2025, those players are no longer with the Seahawks, and are not starters on their new teams. Regardless, coming out of Oklahoma, Tre Brown was a second team all-Big 12 player with the Sooners. In 2023 he led all cornerbacks in press coverage, and faced just 22 targets on 145 press snaps. However, his 2024 season fell short of expectations, having a PFF score of just 53.5. There even came a point where rookie Josh Jobe was the starter over Brown in a 31-10 loss to the Bills after he missed time due to injury. In that game, despite the fact that Jobe allowed a few big plays, he caught MVP Josh Allen’s first interception of the season. This offseason, the former sooner inked a 1.7 million dollar deal with former division rival San Francisco. Brown is a quality backup and will probably sit behind Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and rookie Upton Stout for this upcoming season.
Notable Highlight: Brown picks off Jared Goff and returns it 40 yards for a Seahawks touchdown, Seattle would end up winning 37-31.
Los Angeles Rams: LB Ernest Jones IV
(Credit: Brandon Sloter)
Ernest Jones led the Gamecocks in tackles during his last two years with South Carolina before being drafted by LA in the third round at pick 103. As a Ram, he didn’t play as a full time starter his first two seasons, but showed flashes of the star he would become. Jones showed many of those flashes when he stepped into the starting role in the biggest game of the season against Cincinnati in the super bowl. In the big game, the former Gamecock recorded 7 tackles, a sack, a pass defended and 2 TFLs. In 2023, his first year as the full time starter, Jones produced career highs in sacks (4.5), TFLs (14), passes defensed (6) and tackles (145). Furthermore, Jones had made a major impact not just on the field, but also in the locker room, being named a team captain that same season where he was the starter for all sixteen games. “He’s someone who is a very important part of that defense for many reasons.” Were words Rams GM Les Snead had to say about Jones, “Definitely the leader of the defense, or has evolved to become one of the key leaders of the defense”. As a third round pick, Ernest Jones’ contributions to not just the Rams, but the Seahawks and even the short amount of time spent with the Titans have been massive. And after signing a 3 year 33 million dollar deal with Seattle, he’ll be looking to continue leading defenses to success.
Notable highlight: Jones makes a perfect peanut punch and forces the fumble on Josh Jacobs, Seattle would end up losing 13-30.
Arizona Cardinals: CB Marco Wilson
(Credit: Norm Hall)
The man who notoriously tossed a shoe during a game against LSU was selected by the Cardinals in the fourth round. After cornerback, a position of need, wasn’t available at pick 16, Arizona traded up in order to take Marco Wilson at pick 136. In his first year as a pro, the former Gator proved to be a valuable piece on the Cardinals defense, having the second highest snap count among corners on the team. In the following season, he would record three interceptions, 58 tackles and more than double the number of passes he defended with ten. Of those three interceptions, one was a pick six in a week seven prime time matchup against the Saints which earned Wilson the title of NFC defensive player of the week. However, after new head coach Jonathan Gannon came to Arizona, Wilson struggled to adjust to the team’s new defensive scheme. He was released by the Cardinals, but eventually found himself a new home with the Bengals, signing a 1.52 million dollar contract this offseason after he was picked up off waivers by Cincinnati in November. Although his time in Arizona didn’t end the way he or the Cardinals had hoped, he’s proven himself to be a capable starter in the right scheme, especially during his first two seasons, and more recently when he held players like Calvin Ridley and Jerry Jeudy to just one and two catches respectively.
Notable Highlight: Wilson leaps into the endzone after catching an interception off the hands of Saints WR Marquez Callaway, Arizona would end up winning 42-34.
San Francisco 49ers: CB Deommodore Lenoir/S Talanoa Hufanga
(Credit: Kym Fortino)
The only team to have two value selections on this list, the 49ers hit it out of the park with their two fifth round DBs. Lenoir in his rookie season only started 2 games, but managed to rack up 8 tackles and defended 2 passes during that short timespan. Meanwhile, his draftmate Hufanga faced a similar situation, starting in only three games his rookie year. Ever since then, the two have been staples on the San Francisco secondary, with them combining for 13 interceptions and 40 passes defensed ever since they got to the league. The question that remains is which player is the better value selection. The case for Lenoir is that he arguably plays a much more technically demanding position, making it far more difficult to find a replacement. Due to that positional value, the Niners made sure to pay their young star, agreeing to a 5 year 92 million dollar extension this past November. In contrast, while Hufanga’s missed some time with injury and is no longer with San Francisco after Malik Mustapha turned some heads during his rookie season, unlike Lenoir he’s been named both a pro bowler and an all-pro during his young career. Even though the Trey Lance experiment didn’t work out for the 49ers, their two fifth round stars have made the 2021 draft remain a memorable one, with both making big contributions for San Francisco in their first four years.
Notable Highlights: Lenoir’s big hit on Eagles RB D’Andre Swift results in an incompletion and a dazed Swift, San Francisco would end up winning 42-19.
Hufanga reads the screen and intercepts Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s pass, taking it to the house, San Francisco would end up winning 24-9.
Kansas City Chiefs: OG Trey Smith
(Credit: Ryan Kang)
In his true freshman year at Tennessee, Trey Smith started at multiple spots on the offensive line, first at right guard before being moved to left tackle. He’d continue at tackle before being moved back to guard (this time on the left side) when future Chiefs teammate Wanya Morris joined the Vols. Additionally, Smith earned first team all SEC honors in his last two seasons at Knoxville before turning pro. Kansas City selected the former Vol in the sixth round with the 226th pick, and Smith made sure to make the most of it. He was a day 1 starter in his first season with the Chiefs and had the most snaps out of any guard in the NFL. Since then, he has made a strong impact on the line. Alongside fellow draftee Creed Humphrey and veteran Joe Thuney, the three have combined to make one of the best interior offensive lines in the entire game. On an individual level, Smith had the 13th best pass block win rate among guards and sixth in run block win rate while also only allowing 1.5 sacks this past season. Furthermore, he earned himself the title of a pro bowler for the first time in his career this past season. With Kansas City’s offensive line woes, the Chiefs made sure to place the franchise tag on Smith, keeping him for at least one more year.
Notable Highlight: Smith paves the way for Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco to score a touchdown by effortlessly blocking two players on the same play, Kansas City would end up winning 34-28.
Las Vegas Raiders: CB Nate Hobbs
(Credit: Cooper Neill)
Heading into his rookie season, Nate Hobbs beat out veterans Amik Robertson and Keisean Nixon for the starting role as the team’s nickel corner. The Raiders drafted the Illinois alumnus in the fifth round at pick 167 and he immediately became a contributor on the secondary, logging 74 tackles alongside an interception and 3 passes defensed. Furthermore, Hobbs has also brought value not just from the slot, but also playing on the outside, bringing some versatility to the Las Vegas DB room. Raiders cornerbacks coach Ricky Manning Jr had high praise for Hobbs after his 2023 season, “Nate is the key that unlocks our defense. That nickel spot is very special, that star spot is very special. Being able to play inside and outside is a unique characteristic to have. That’s what Nate Hobbs is, that’s what the star position has become. He’s the key to unlock our defense and he’s great at it”. The fifth round pick has recorded a combined 281 tackles since turning pro, and has found himself in the backfield with 14 TFLs and 3 sacks. Hobbs signed a four year deal worth 48 million dollars with Green Bay, and after the Packers released long time star CB Jaire Alexander, Hobbs’ play will be key to their success.
Notable Highlight: Hobbs breaks up the pass when covering Chiefs WR Rashee Rice on fourth down, Las Vegas would end up winning 20-14.
Los Angeles Chargers: OT Rashawn Slater
(Credit: Kevin Sabitus)
It’s difficult to call a player taken 13th overall in the first round a steal. However, when looking at the rest of the Chargers 2021 draft class, alongside Slater’s positional value and his high level of play, it becomes apparent that he’s the best value pick of this Los Angeles draft class. Slater has established himself as a franchise left tackle, and will most likely spend the majority of the rest of his career in LA. He’s been elite as a protector since his rookie season. In his first year as a pro he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors and was named to the Pro Bowl in a season where he was on the field for 1116 snaps, and had a 90.4% pass block win rate. He missed most of 2022 after suffering a ruptured biceps tendon in week three, but bounced back the following two years, only having 38 pressures on 726 pass block snaps the following season. In his most recent campaign he continued that excellence, being the second best ranked tackle the NFL had to offer according to Pro Football Focus. Los Angeles GM Joe Hortiz said during late February that he and the rest of the Chargers organization were looking to lock up their young tackle long term. If the Bolts are able to give their star the payday he deserves, he and last season’s first round pick Joe Alt will be one of the best tackle tandems for years to come.
Notable highlight: Slater stands firm against Chase Young to create a big hole for an Austin Ekeler TD, Los Angeles would end up winning 20-16.
Denver Broncos: OLB Jonathon Cooper
(Credit: Cooper Neill)
Jonathon Cooper’s story shows how determination can overcome even the toughest odds. Born with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a congenital heart defect which could have ended his NFL dreams before they would even start. However, with a number of ablations and faith from the Broncos staff, the former Buckeye was able to find his way on the field and eventually landed on the 53 man roster. A seventh round pick, Cooper would not be the full time first stringer for a while, only logging 14 games as a starter during his first two years and tallying 4.5 sacks and 86 tackles during that short period. However, when the time came for him, he delivered. In 2023, his first season as full time starter, he led the Broncos in sacks with 8.5 and still got to the backfield with 8 TFLs. He continued that success heading into the 2024 season, recording the 13th most pressures among all defensive ends according to PFF, and building upon that 8.5 sack season with 2 more for his second campaign as starter. The Broncos made sure to pay their star as soon as possible, giving him a 4 year 60 million dollar deal in November, making him (as of today) the 23rd highest paid edge rusher in the league according to Over The Cap. If he keeps developing, Denver could walk away with a massive bargain, and one of the biggest steals from the entire draft.
Notable Highlight: Cooper beats Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw for the sack in the redzone to force a field goal, Denver would end up winning 21-20.
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