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Folks, today’s been a wild day in the NFL. In the span of about 20 minutes the entire draft landscape changed and was flipped on its head when the Miami Dolphins started making moves. The madness started when the San Francisco 49ers moved up to the number three overall pick making a blockbuster deal with the Dolphins. The Dolphins netted a total of 2 additional first round picks and a 3rd round pick. They also swapped pick 3 and pick 12 in this year’s draft.
But the Dolphins weren’t done, they then traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles to number 6 and the Eagles were able to net a 2022 first round pick by moving down from pick 6 to pick 12 in this year’s draft.
So these moves wreaked havoc on the draft process. Each pick in the NFL Draft changes the entire course of the draft. Having so much movement in the top 12 of the draft has a ripple effect that will impact the entire draft process for each and every team. Some teams are big winners from this process, some teams are big losers. You can see who we predict will be the biggest winners and the biggest losers below.
Let’s get to our updated mock!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence
Dan: Duh.
2. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson
Matt: There’s no way the 49ers didn’t offer the Jets the blockbuster trade they made with the Dolphins. That means the Jets are sold on a QB and every indication is Zach Wilson is their guy.
3. San Francisco 49ers (Via Miami via Houston): QB Justin Fields
Dan: The San Francisco 49ers made one of the biggest draft trades in the past decade today when they mortgaged their future to trade up with the Miami Dolphins to get a quarterback. The million dollar question for them is will their next quarterback be Justin Fields or Zach Wilson? It will largely depend on what the Jets do at number 2. All indications right now show that the Jets are going to take Zach Wilson so Justin Fields it is for San Francisco.
4. Denver Broncos (Via Atlanta Falcons): QB Trey Lance
Matt: The Broncos trade up and select a guy who they think can be their quarterback of the future making four quarterbacks go in the top 4. In an ideal scenario Justin Fields falls a bit further and they’re able to grab him but the Broncos generally love strong armed quarterbacks so this will fit the bill. Denver can take their time developing Lance with Drew Lock at the helm in front of him for the start of the season.
Trade terms:
Broncos receive: 2021 1st (4th overall)
Falcons receive: 2021 1st (9th overall), 2022 1st, 2021 2nd round pick
5. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Penei Sewell
Dan: The Bengals can’t mess around here. They NEED to protect Joe Burrow at all costs and Sewell will give them the best chance at doing so. Could they go receiver here? Absolutely. But they can’t afford another injury to Joe Burrow.
6. Miami Dolphins (Via Philadelphia): WR Ja’Marr Chase
Matt: The Dolphins moved back to 12 and then back up to 6 because they wanted to land a top pass catcher in the draft. The Dolphins get to have their cake and eat it too because Ja’Marr Chase is THE top pass catcher in the class. Tua gets a top weapon and the Dolphins are rolling.
7. Detroit Lions: WR Devonta Smith
Dan: The Lions lost both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay this offseason. It makes sense for them to refill those holes at receiver with one of the best playmakers in this draft. If Jared Goff really is their guy for the future then he’s going to need some weapons.
8. Carolina Panthers: CB Patrick Surtain
Matt: The Carolina Panthers are the big loser of the QB carousel in the mock. With the 49ers moving up to 3rd overall and the Broncos mocked to move up to 4th to take Lance, the Panthers aren’t able to land a QB. Matt Rhule will continue to build up that defense by taking one of the best corners in the draft to partner with Donte Jackson.
9. Atlanta Falcons (Via Denver): CB Caleb Farley
Dan: The Falcons were able to add a future first round pick and a second round pick to move back five spots and still address their defense that needs a lot of work. Caleb Farley is a great cornerback who will improve a terrible defensive unit instantaneously. They end up as huge winners from all of the desperation for quarterbacks.
10. Dallas Cowboys: OT Rashawn Slater
Matt: The strength of the Cowboys offense over the past decade has been their offensive line. It’s been no secret that over the past season or two their offensive line hasn’t been as dominant as it used to be. Slater would help them rebuild their offensive line.
11. New York Giants: Receiver Kyle Pitts
Dan: The Giants offseason of loading up on offensive weapons continues when they add BEAST of a tight end/pass catcher Kyle Pitts. Not only is Pitts insanely tall but he possesses great body control and route running ability. Pitts is one of the best pass catchers in this draft and he would make this Giants offense better immediately. This would also open the door for a potential Evan Engram trade on day 2.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Miami via San Francisco): CB Jaycee Horn
Matt: The Philadelphia Eagles sent DB coach Dennard Wilson to work out Jaycee Horn at his pro day. The team made it a priority to meet with Horn as well. Horn is a 3 year starter at South Carolina and possessive elite man coverage potential. Caleb Farley and Patrick Surtain may be getting all of the hype, but Horn belongs right there with them at the top of the CB class.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge Gregory Rousseau
Dan: With Melvin Ingram likely leaving town, there’s a massive hole on the edge of their defense. Rousseau could fill it very well and is the perfect scheme fit. He easily has the highest ceiling of any Edge Rusher in this draft.
14. Minnesota Vikings: OT Christian Darrisaw
Matt: The Viking addressed the defensive line in free agency by adding Dalvin Tomlinson so now it’s time to address the offensive line. Darrisaw checks off all the boxes as the guy that can become your future LT. He has the athleticism, size, and length to be a really good LT in today’s NFL. With a little bit of coaching, the Vikings could finally have their LT of the future.
15. New England Patriots: WR Jaylen Waddle
Dan: The Patriots went all out during free agency to get weapons on offense. If Jaylen Waddle falls this far then they have a chance to add a receiver who can be a home run hitter to an offense that has a lot of good possession targets in tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
16. Arizona Cardinals: ILB Micah Parsons
Matt: Micah Parsons may have the biggest window of any player in this entire draft class. He could be a top 10 pick, he may slide into the 20’s. There’s a lot of uncertainty with him due to the fact that he sat out in 2020 and because he had some off the field issues. The Cardinals lost Haason Reddick this offseason and Parsons is versatile enough to rush the passer while playing ILB in the base defense. He would fill a huge need for them.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: OT Samuel Cosmi
Dan: Cosmi is an athletic tackle. We know two things about the Raiders: The first is that they really only like to take athletes in the first round of the draft. The second is that they always overdraft on their first round pick. Cosmi fits both criteria here as he would probably be a second rounder on most team’s boards. On top of all that, the Raiders decimated their offensive line this offseason.
18. Miami Dolphins: LB/S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Matt: Owusu-Koramoah is a jack of all trade defender coming out of Notre Dame. He plays fast and physical with a ton of explosiveness. He’s a good run defender that should be able to cover RBs and TEs, which is important in today’s NFL. The only real concern is that Owusu-Koramoah is a tweener – he’s stuck between a safety and a LB. I think this is a great fit as Brian Flores will be able find creative ways to use his talent.
19. Washington Football Team: QB Mac Jones
Dan: By signing NFL legend and perennial bridesmaid Ryan Fitzpatrick to a contract, it will give the Football Team time to let Mac Jones develop for a season before putting him into game action. Do I think that Mac Jones is a first round talent? Absolutely not. But I firmly believe that a team will use a first round pick on him.
20. Chicago Bears: OL Teven Jenkins
Matt: Jenkins is a fast riser this draft season out of Oklahoma State. Some teams are going to view Jenkins as a tackle and others will push him inside to guard due to his shorter arms. I think you push Jenkins inside where he can use his power to open up lanes for David Montgomery.
21. Indianapolis Colts: DL Kwity Paye
Dan: The Paye free fall stops here. Paye is a tough prospect to judge because I’m not quite sure that he’s a true edge but he’d fit this Indianapolis scheme perfectly. I could see Paye having a lot of success in Indy if he slides this far.
22. Tennessee Titans: DL Christian Barmore
Matt: Christian Barmore is your classic Alabama Football interior defensive line prospect that have seen a ton of success in recent seasons. He’s strong and explosive off the snap and will draw double teams that will open things up for Bud Dupree.
23. New York Jets: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Dan: The Jets did a great job getting Sam Darnold weapons in free agency and based on what we know right now, the Jets absolutely could be going to go into next season with Darnold as their quarterback. It’s a bold strategy and keeping Darnold upright will be their best bet. Vera-Tucker will help with that quite a bit.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: DB Trevon Moehrig
Matt: Moehrig projects as a safety that can drop down into the slot when you’re in nyour nickel defense. Moehrig also has the ability to drop off and play deep safety. He’s a talent ball tracker in coverage which translated to 7 interceptions in college. He also has the ability to close well in coverage to knock the ball out of a receivers hands. Moehrig could drop into the slot role that the release of Steven Nelson vacated for Pittsburgh.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Azeez Ojulari
Dan: Ojulari is a bit undersized but could be a quality outside edge rusher for the Jaguars. The Jags have done a nice job this offseason getting weapons on their offense and a great pass rush will help their defense out even more.
26. Cleveland Browns: EDGE Jaelen Phillips
Matt: Jaelen Phillips is the most talented and complicated EDGE prospect in the class. He retired from football after some nagging injuries in 2017 and 2018 at UCLA. He then transferred to Miami and wreaked havoc on the ACC this year with 15.5 tackles for a loss and 8 sacks in 10 games. He’s a special player with a complicated past.
27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman
Dan: This is the steal of the mock draft so far. I have Bateman as a top 15 player. Realistically I think he will go a bit earlier than 27 but if the cards play out like this then he may not. The Ravens desperately need a dominant receiver to help their passing game out and Bateman would be just that.
28. New Orleans Saints: LB Zaven Collins
Matt: A three-year starter and sure tackler, Collins has all the tools to become a productive starter at LB in the NFL.
29. Green Bay Packers- WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
Dan: If the Packers are smart then they get Aaron Rodgers some more weapons. This team completely botched the draft last year and still ended up going to the NFC Championship game. They will not get that lucky again. Marshall is a must-get if he falls to Green Bay.
30. Buffalo Bills: RB Najee Harris
Matt: The Bills really struggled to run the football this year. While teams are rarely a running back away, this explosive Bills offense could really use a game changing running back.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Jalen Mayfield
Dan: If the Super Bowl taught us one thing it’s that you can’t lose your best offensive lineman and expect to win in the NFL. This Chiefs team has virtually no weaknesses so suring up the offensive line and going on another Super Bowl run will be ideal for them.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Travis Etienne
Matt: Tampa is going to continue to stack weapons around Tom Brady as they try to add another ring to his finger. With Harris off the board, Etienne is a decent consolation prize that should offer an upgrade in the running game.
Cardinals took a lb last year. Doubt they take another