Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
Alijah Vera-Tucker is the best guard prospect in the 2021 NFL draft class. He returned to USC after considering opting out of the 2020 season and preparing for the draft. He decided to return and he played at left tackle, which helped him improve his draft stock significantly. It showed that he can play both tackle and guard positions but many see him as a guard moving forward.
This group of offensive linemen is very much like Vera-Tucker as they played tackle in college but it seems like they will be moving inside to play guard in the NFL. They could always develop into starting tackles in the league but for the near future, it seems like guard will be a better option for them.
One word scouts say when they talk about this kid is athleticism. His quickness and ability to move has shot him up draft boards over the past college season. That has been his best quality during his time at USC and it has allowed him to grow his game into a better overall toolkit. It seems more than likely that he will be chosen on the first day of the draft and if a team sees him more as a tackle then he will be selected even higher.
This crop of guards entering the league are very athletic and can block top talent in the college ranks. Transferring that to the NFL can be difficult for some but these players should move to the next level without issue.