Featured Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/99765040@N02/49314412697/ …TigerNet.com
The NFL off-season is coming up soon, and for many teams it already is here. This mock draft will be mostly with organized picks, no trades. With that, here is my first mock draft of the year!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson.
Common sense pick here. Jacksonville finds their quarterback for the future, and a damn good one.
2. New York Jets: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon.
The Jets stick with Sam Darnold at quarterback. I know sometimes a new coach wants their “guy”, but I don’t think Darnold was fairly assessed under Gase. Adding Sewell at one tackle and having Becton at the other, those are two stellar tackles to protect Daronld.
3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston): WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU.
The Dolphins can secure a true number one wide receiver with this pick. They do currently have Parker, but he’s battled injuries on and off. Chase can bolster the Dolphins offense and give Tua another target to throw to, (or Watson if the dream trade ever happened).
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
The Falcons may stick with Ryan next year, but I would not be surprised to see Wilson get drafted here. A very talented quarterback that could be the next man up in Atlanta. He could be someone that a team trades up for.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
The Bengals need a quality offensive tackle to help protect Joe Burrow, who is coming off a very serious injury. Bobby Hart at RT isn’t going to cut it. The best college football tackle came off the board, but Slater is no push over. He should help stabilize the offensive line, or at least start the process.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
This pick will hurt many NFC East fans other than Philly. Smith is the Heisman Trophy winner of this college football season and is coming off a monster season. The Eagles have no help at wide receiver and it showed many times this year. Smith would be a tremendous target for Wentz or Hurts…whoever they go with.
7. Detroit Lions: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
This pick would almost be the “best player available” approach. The Lions could certainly use help on defense and they would be getting a solid player in Parsons.
8. Carolina Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
This is another player I see a team like Carolina trading up for. Bridgewater isn’t the future, and Fields has a similar play style to him, so the change wouldn’t be too large. Fields would be a great fit for the Panthers on offense.
9. Denver Broncos: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
With issues circling Von Miller, it may not be a bad idea to bring in a guy like Paye. The Broncos have a good pass rush with Miller and Chubb, and it would only amplify with Paye.
10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
The Cowboys defense was horrendous last season. Surtain would help bring some consistency to the corner back position across from former college teammate Trevon Diggs.
11. New York Giants: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Many are thinking, “oh no another Evan Engram”, but actually it’s not. Pitts could very easily be used as a wide receiver in the NFL. Evan Engram is still a good tight end, just has some drops to battle. Pitts would give Jones another target in the Giants offense that was ranked second to last in 2020.
12. San Francisco: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
The 49ers lost Jimmy Garoppolo during the season last year due to injury. The best thing to keep a quarterback upright and healthy is having a solid offensive line. Trent Williams is in his 10th season, Darrisaw could be a potential successor to him at tackle.
13: Los Angeles Chargers: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
The Chargers have a solid corner back in Casey Heyward, and an aging Chris Harris. Farley would be a great addition for the Chargers, a team that’s defense was tremendous a few seasons ago.
14: Minnesota Vikings: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
After the Vikings traded away Yannick Ngakoue and turned away from Everson Griffen, it seems they have not found their dominant pass rusher in some time. Their team leader had just 3.5 sacks this year. Rousseau would be a large improvement in the pass rushing department.
15. New England: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Great pick up for New England. Waddle tried to play some snaps in the National Championship but seemed to aggravate his injury a bit. It is quite concerning seeing he isn’t fully healthy yet. The Patriots do need a great target on offense, and Waddle would be the best option to do so. The quarterback situation is tricky, and I almost selected one here, but I don’t think they should pass on Waddle.
16. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
Chandler Jones is a free agent this season, and there aren’t too many edge rushers on the team that are flashy. Of course Reddick’s numbers look great, but 5 of his 12.5 sacks came in one game against the Giants. Ossai would be a good compliment in the pass rush, rotating in with Golden, Kennard, Reddick and more.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Leatherwood is a solid tackle and would help cement the offensive line for the Raiders. This would help open up some running lanes for Jacobs to take and some added protection to quarterback Derek Carr.
18. Miami Dolphins: OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
The Dolphins offensive line was okay in 2020. I think Davis is one of the best guards in this draft, and it would only help the Dolphins keep Tua protected and safe. It certainly helps to provide quality depth on the offensive line.
19. Washington Football Team: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
I think Washington will draft a quarterback here to replace the whiff they took on Dwayne Haskins. Many fans will say that they already have Kyle Allen and Alex Smith but they are both not part of their future, especially in the next 5-10 years. Allen is not a franchise quarterback and Smith’s not getting any younger. Mac Jones was a finalist for the Heisman this year, and should help Washington’s quarterback issues.
20. Chicago Bears: WR Rashod Batemen, Minnesota
Is it crazy to think the Bears will keep Mitch Trubisky? Not really. He had a strong second half to the season and very well could stay. I do think that Allen Robinson could test free agency and be on his way out. If so, Batemen would be a great fill in for the loss of Robinson and give Trubisky a reliable target.
21. Indianapolis Colts: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota St.
Philip Rivers retired just this past week after only one year in Indy. The Colts could very well find his replacement in the draft. They still do have Brissett on the roster and their first-year quarterback Jacob Eason. Drafting Lance and having these guys compete could be ideal. I see this move happening because the Colts are in a position to win now but also find their next franchise quarterback. I don’t see them choosing free agency this time around.
22. Tennessee Titans: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
The Titans line backing unit could use some depth and consistency. Bolton is a good tackler with some good cover skills, logging 2 interceptions in 2019 (sat out 2020). He also logged 107 tackles.
23. New York Jets (via Seattle): RB Najee Harris, Alabama
Harris reminds me alot of Derrick Henry, he is big, fast, and powerful. He will run over you or run by you. He finished with 26 touch downs in 2020. The Jets lost Bell this year and haven’t had a stellar running back since, and even Bell didn’t do much. Harris would make the Jets offense spark in the run game and pose as a threat.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
The Steelers could use a dependable tackle, especially if Big Ben decides to play another season under center. Vera-Tucker is an underrated tackle in this draft that I think could provide some solidity to the Steelers offensive Line.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LA Rams): OG Trey Smith, Tennessee
Jacksonville gets their franchise quarterback, now they need a guy to protect him, and that is Smith. One of my favorite guards in the draft, he is a mauler at 6’6, 330 pounds. He would also amplify the run game in front of Robinson.
26. Cleveland Browns: S Jevon Holland, Oregon
Holland is one of the better safeties in this draft. The Browns have looked good on paper across the board, safety was one of the positions that was concerning. Sendejo is 33 years old and is not going to be around forever. Holland has had 9 interceptions in his two seasons at Oregon (2018, 2019, did not play in 2020). That play making ability is what the Browns need at the safety position.
27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
The Ravens could use another target for Lamar Jackson. He was “Holly Wood” Brown and Boykin. Bryant and Snead aren’t as promising to count on. Moore is a smaller receiver at 5’9, and they could use him in the slot role or in the back field with unique formations.
28. New Orleans Saints: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
The Saints are pretty stacked at many positions, especially the defense. Adding Owusu-Koramoah would make the defense stand out even more. He opted out in 2020, but finished with 5.5 sacks and 80 tackles in 2019. He is a solid defender that can provide quality and depth to the Saints defense.
29. Tampa Bay: EDGE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh
The Bucs are another team that is absolutely stacked across the board. I can see them adding an edge rusher that can be relied on for many years down the road. JPP is in his 30’s, and Jones could be a guy that would eventually be his successor. Jones had 8.5 sacks in 2019 (sat out 2020).
30. Buffalo Bills: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Josh Norman will not be with the Bills for the years down the road. Outside of White, the cornerback position could use some depth. Horn had 2 interceptions in 2020.
31. Green Bay: WR Terrace Marshall Jr, LSU
Green Bay finally drafted a wide receiver in the first round! In the 2020 NFL draft everyone was shocked by the Jordan Love selection, but this time they go out and get another play-making wide receiver opposite of Devonta Adams.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: OG Deonte Brown, Alabama
An absolute animal on the offensive line. He has not allowed a sack in 3 seasons at Alabama. That is incredible. The Cheifs have had some rotations at guard this season. Brown protecting Mahomes would be stellar for this Cheifs already dynamic offense.
Photo Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Justin_Fields_(cropped).jpg
About Dylan Davis
Dylan Davis is a graduate of the State University of New York at Canton, where he obtained a B.A.A in Sport Management. He is a former athlete of football and baseball and sports fan for much of his life. Dylan creates content for 366 Sports and New York Giants 366, and is also a host on his own show, “The J&D Sports Show”.
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