Urban Meyer's lone Ohio State NFL draft pick lands multi-year deal with 49ers
The Jacksonville Jaguars were an utter mess while former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was in charge, but one decision to bring in one of his favorite players paid off. Tight end Luke Farrell was a good value as a fifth-round pick, and he was the only Buckeye that Meyer added in the 2021 […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars were an utter mess while former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was in charge, but one decision to bring in one of his favorite players paid off. Tight end Luke Farrell was a good value as a fifth-round pick, and he was the only Buckeye that Meyer added in the 2021 NFL Draft.
On Monday, Farrell's stint with the Jaguars ended. The blocking specialist signed a three-year, $20.25 million deal with $11 million guaranteed, per ESPN.
He caught 36 passes for 318 yards with zero touchdowns in four years with the Jaguars.
Farrell knew he wouldn't be featured much as a receiver with the Jaguars, but was always confident as a blocker. After being picked, he said, “I definitely think I’m one of the best, if not the best, block tight ends coming out of this class. But I think one of my biggest strengths is my versatility and my toughness. I think whatever they’re going to ask me to do, I can do at a high level—and we were asked to do a lot as tight ends at Ohio State, and I know I can continue to do that.”
He was consistently graded as a plus blocker and will serve the same role in San Francisco's run-based offense. Turning only 28 this fall, Farrell will be a free agent again at 30.
Farrell, the 145th overall pick in his class, has almost outproduced his collegiate stats at Ohio State. He caught 34 passes for 380 yards and four scores from 2017-2020.
The 49ers famously love blocking tight ends, with George Kittle proving to be one of the most effective two-way weapons in the league. Farrell can now work in a devastating blocking tandem with Kittle.
Seven of Meyer's nine draft picks from the 2021 class are still in the NFL.
