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Folks, as football season winds down and we come to the sad realization that there’s just three games remaining, we take solace in the fact that mock draft season is beginning to heat up. That means that months of speculation, spirited debates, and Mel Kiper Jr. coming out of hibernation.
We here at the team of 366 Sports decided that we should do our own mock draft to get the offseason going. A total of five of us (Matt, Dylan, Ryan, Manil, and myself) all completed our first mock draft of the 2021 offseason over this long weekend. Keep in mind that the results of this draft are what we think the teams will do, not what we would necessarily do. There were also a few fun trades.
Let’s get the mock going!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence:
Matt: Duh.
2. New York Jets: T Penei Sewell
Dylan: The Jets will stick it out with Darnold, he was never fairly evaluated with Gase as the head coach. They give him protection with the best tackle in college football.
3. Carolina Panthers (via Dolphins): Carolina trades this year’s first round pick (8), this year’s second round pick (39), a 2022 first, and a 2022 third to move up to the third overall pick to pick QB Justin Fields
Couver: The Panthers gave up a ton to move up to number three here but this trade makes complete sense for them. Teddy Bridgewater is not the quarterback of the future in Carolina and getting a guy like Justin Fields instantly gives them hope and a future at the quarterback position.
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Zach Wilson
Ryan: A new general manager and head coach coach are on the way, which usually means a new quarterback as well. Wilson can sit and learn for a year behind Ryan.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Micah Parsons
Manil: This is the nightmare scenario for Cincy with teams trading up for quarterbacks and Sewell being taken. In an ideal world they land Sewell, but Parsons comes in and immediately becomes their best defensive player.
6. Eagles: CB Patrick Surtain
Matt: Need meets talent perfectly here for Philadelphia. Darius Slay had a solid year but he’s turning 30 and the Eagles need an upgrade over Avonte Maddox. Surtain is one of the best players in the draft and gives the Eagles a number one corner.
7. Detroit Lions: WR Devonta Smith
Dylan: Wiith Kenny Golladay and/or Marvin Jones potentially leaving in free agency, the Lions get an incredible playmaker to help their offense.
8. Miami Dolphins (via Panthers): WR Ja’marr Chase
Couver: What’s the dream scenario for the Dolphins other than landing Deshaun Watson? Trading back and getting Tua Tagovailoa a legitimate number one target.
9. Denver Broncos: Edge Kwity Paye
Ryan: With Patrick Surtain gone the Broncos look to Paye to help rush the passer, as they could move on from Von Miller to save cap space.
10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Caleb Farley
Manil: Dallas hasn’t been able to replace Byron Jones yet. Trevon Diggs has looked decent but it never hurts to have a 2nd good cornerback in a passing league.
11. New York Giants: TE Kyle Pitts
Matt: Dave Gettleman and John Mara made it very clear that the team needs offensive playmakers. Why? They need Daniel Jones to work. So the Giants go ahead and give Jones the best weapon he’s ever had and arguably the best weapon in the draft with Kyle Pitts.
You can see more of why we like Kyle Pitts here: https://366sportsnetwork.com/2021/01/18/kyle-pitts-makes-sense-for-the-giants-at-11/
12. San Francisco 49ers: OT Rashawn Slater
Dylan: Another top offensive lineman in the draft, the 49ers need to help protect Jimmy G or whoever their quarterback may be in 2021.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge Gregory Rousseau
Couver: Melvin Ingram is a free agent this offseason. The Chargers may not have enough money to sign him. Rousseau would be able to slide right in and replace him over the long term. This is a perfect edition of need meeting value here.
14. Minnesota Vikings: DT Christian Barmore
Ryan: Barmore is a big man who will help the Vikings rebuild a once great defense.
15. Chicago Bears (via Patriots): The Bears trade this year’s first round pick (20) and this year’s third round pick (83) for pick 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft and select QB Trey Lance.
Manil: Trubisky is a bust. They need a new QB for the future to complement a good defense.
16. Arizona Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn
Matt: Jaycee Horn would step in and make an immediate impact in the secondary starting alongside and learning from Patrick Peterson. He’s going to need some development but the talent is there.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Edge Joseph Ossai
Dylan: The raiders lack pass rushers, and their last first round edge rusher, Clelin Ferrell,hasn’t panned out. Ossai should help in that department.
18. Dolphins: T Christian Darrisaw
Couver: The best way to help your injury prone quarterback succeed is by protecting him. Darrisaw is going to be a good tackle in this league and he will do the job of keeping Tua upright.
19. Washington Football Team: QB Mac Jones
Ryan: The Washington Football team is in desperate need of a QB, look no further than Mac Jones who a team could absolutely take a chance on in the first round this year.
20. New England Patriots (via Chicago): WR Jaylen Waddle
Manil: The Pats need a quarterback and a wide receiver badly. Waddle suffered a brutal ankle injury and still tried to come back in time for the National Championship. That’s the kind of player the Pats need.
21. Indianapolis Colts: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Matt: Vera-Tucker shifted from left guard to left tackle this offseasom for USC and thrived. While many think Vera-Tucker is a guard, he played well enough to warrant consideration at tackle.
22. Tennessee Titans: WR Rashod Bateman
Dan: Corey Davis looks to be heading out of town and the Titans will have a hole on the outside. Bateman will fit nicely in that offense and give them another vertical threat.
23. New York Jets: RB Travis Etienne
Dylan: The Jets lost Le’Veon Bell at running back this year and haven’t had a threat at running back since. Etienne brings athletic ability and power to help the Jets offense.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Jalen Mayfield
Ryan: Mayfield has the ability to play both sides of the line, and has faced a lot of top competition in the Big Ten. Mayfield can push for a starting spot from day one and can eventually learn to take over at LT.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Alex Leatherwood
Matt: Jacksonville adds an offensive lineman to help protect Trevor Lawrence.
26. Cleveland Browns: Edge Jaelen Phillips
Manil: Myles Garrett is a stud, but the Browns could use an upgrade at the other edge.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Zaven Collins
Dylan: The Bucs could use depth at line backer outside of White and David, otherwise they don’t have many weaknesses.
28. Baltimore Ravens: G Wyatt Davis
Couver: We all know that Baltimore loves to run the football and Davis is going to be an absolutely amazing run blocking guard in the NFL. It would also pair him back up with Ohio State RB JK Dobbins.
29. Saints-Ryan-QB Kyle Trask
Ryan: Brees just played his last game with the Saints, they have the option to bring Winston back on a short contract and allow Trask to sit and learn or take over if Winston struggles.)
30. Buffalo Bills: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah
Manil: The Bills are in the AFC championship game largely due to their offense and secondary. Their LBs need some work though. Milano is underrated and Edmunds is solid but they don’t have an absolute game changer.
31. Green Bay Packers- WR Kadarius Toney
Matt: Green Bay gives Aaron Rodgers another weapon after ignoring him last offseason. Toney can play on the outside with Adams and shift inside when Green Bay plays in 3 wide receiver sets.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Derion Kendrick
Dylan: The Chiefs don’t have a stellar corner, but they’ve done well enough to be good. Kendrick could work to become their number one corner.
bears a NO on that trade …