Justin Fields, Feleipe Franks Headline 2021 NFL Draft Prospects With Baseball Ties

Image credit: Feleipe Franks (Don Juan Moore/Getty)

In recent years, Kyler Murray, A.J. Brown, Hayden Hurst and Cole Kmet have continued the long tradition of top NFL draft picks who were once promising baseball players. From John Elway and Ricky Williams to Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, the list of NFL stars who were once drafted by MLB teams is a long one.

The 2021 NFL Draft class doesn’t quite have a player of that caliber in both sports. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields showed enough talent on the diamond to be invited to the Perfect Game National Showcase in high school, while Arkansas quarterback Feleipe Franks was drafted by the Red Sox in 2019 after impressing during a bullpen session. Neither actually played college baseball, though, and neither is expected to play baseball professionally barring a sudden end to their football careers.

Still, there are some ties worth noting as the NFL draft begins Thursday. Here are seven notable players in this year’s NFL draft who have ties to baseball.

 

 

 

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State—Fields was a standout middle infielder in high school and participated in the 2017 Perfect Game National Showcase, where he impressed with his speed, athleticism and quick hands in the batter’s box even though he was rather raw. Fields briefly entertained playing baseball as well as football at Ohio State when he transferred from Georgia, but ultimately decided to keep focusing on football exclusively. 

Alim McNeil, DT, North Carolina State—McNeil was a power-hitting corner outfielder in high school and originally committed to play both baseball and football at NC State. He ultimately dropped his plans to play baseball for the Wolfpack after starting on the defensive line as a freshman. He has credited the hand-eye coordination he developed playing baseball for helping him become one of the top defensive linemen in the nation.

Ben Cleveland, OL, Georgia—Cleveland was a 322-pound power-hitting first baseman in high school in addition to being a top football recruit. According to MaxPreps, he hit .516 with 12 home runs, 34 RBIs and 31 runs scored as a sophomore at Stephens County High in Tocca, Ga. Cleveland remained a member of the baseball team as a junior but graduated early and enrolled at Georgia before the spring of his senior year.

Zach McPhearson, CB, Texas Tech—McPhearson was a standout outfielder in high school and ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 8 prospect in Maryland in 2016. His brother Matt McPhearson was a fourth-round pick of the D-backs in 2013 and played five seasons in the minors. 

Feleipe Franks, QB, Arkansas—The Red Sox drafted Franks in the 31st round in 2019 and signed him for $40,000 despite the fact he hadn’t played baseball in four years. Franks, then a quarterback at Florida, threw a bullpen session where he reportedly touched 94 mph to pique the Red Sox’s interest. Franks transferred to Arkansas for the 2020 season and broke the single-season school record for completion percentage. He is officially a member of Boston’s organization but has not played a professional game.

Dax Milne, CB, Brigham Young—Milne didn’t play baseball, but his father Darren was an all-conference outfielder for BYU and was drafted by the Tigers in the 19th round in 1992. Darren Milne played four seasons in the minors, all in the Tigers organization, and reached Triple-A.

Shane Buechele, QB, Southern Methodist—Buechele is the son of 11-year major league infielder and current Rangers executive Steve Buechele. His older brother Garrett was a 14th-round pick of the Giants in 2011 and played two seasons in the minors.