Photo Credit: Jake Roth
Caleb Farley joined an elite group of Hokies becoming the fourth defensive back selected in the first round of the NFL Draft with the Tennessee Titans picking him 22nd overall.
With the No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @Titans select CB Caleb Farley!
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2021
📺: 2021 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/vJpcYXO0fR
Farley joins DeAngelo Hall (2004, 8th overall), Kyle Fuller (2014, 14th), and Terrell Edmunds (2018, 28th) as Hokie defensive backs selected in the first round of the draft. Him and Christian Darrisaw also became the third pair of Hokies selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft joining DeAngelo Hall and Kevin Jones in 2004, and Tremaine Edmunds and Terrell Edmunds in 2018.
Farley had a tremendous two seasons in Blacksburg with his 2019 being his standout performance with 4 interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and 20 tackles on his way to earning All-ACC First Team honors. While he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, he did put up a strong two seasons of numbers with 6 interceptions, 19 pass breakups, and 56 total tackles.
There is no denying the elite talent that Farley brings both athletically and with the growth that he has shown as a cornerback despite being a high school QB who wasn't fully at cornerback till the offseason prior to the 2018 season. Farley's growth has been tremendous and there's no doubt that he has the potential to be a 15-year starter who makes 5-10 Pro Bowls and could even end up in Canton.
However, injury concerns drove him out of the top 10 down to 22nd overall especially given his two back injuries that led to surgeries in addition to his torn ACL prior to the 2017 season. Those back injuries are the biggest worry for NFL teams with back issues being the type of thing that can linger. While that is a legitimate concern, Farley's talent is undeniable and it wouldn't be surprising to see this turn out to be a steal for the Titans.
We will have more as this story develops.
