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Folks, things are finally starting to get clearer. We are officially less than two weeks away from the 2021 NFL Draft and we are finally starting to get some clarity on who teams love. I can confidently say that I’m convinced that that the following three things are going to happen:
- Five quarterbacks are going to go in the top 10.
- Kyle Pitts will be the first non quarterback to be selected.
- Teams are going to value the elite offensive weapons at the top of the draft and address defense/offensive line later
Then the draft is going to come and likely prove me wrong. But either way, I’d stake my claim on those things happening right now. With that being said, let’s get to the mock. Keep in mind that mock drafts are what I think teams will do and not necessarily what I would actually do.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence
Duh.
2. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson
You could put this pick in ink the second the Jets traded Sam Darnold. Wilson is the second best quarterback in this draft.
3. San Francisco 49ers (Via Miami via Houston): QB Mac Jones
As I’ve said before, I can’t even believe that I have to type this pick out but all signs point to the San Francisco 49ers picking Mac Jones with the third overall pick. It’s disgusting. It’s abhorrent. But it’s great news for all of the teams who don’t need a quarterback and the other teams that are quarterback needy.
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Justin Fields
Let me be clear: The Falcons are either taking a quarterback here or they’re trading the pick. It would make no sense to pick here when they could accumulate so much draft capital by trading this pick. In this mock, I have them bringing a Georgia native home. Fields could sit behind Ryan for a year and then take the reins.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Kyle Pitts
Yes, I know that the Bengals need an offensive lineman. The good news for Cincinnati is that they can address that in round 2. This team needs interior offensive linemen more than they need tackles and this draft is full of really good interior offensive linemen. It’s not full of once in a generation offensive weapons.
6. Miami Dolphins (Via Philadelphia): WR Ja’Marr Chase
The Dolphins get the best pure wide receiver in this draft in Ja’Marr Chase.
7. TRADE: Washington Football Team (Via Detroit): QB Trey Lance
Here’s a draft bombshell that I think is within the realm of possibility: The Washington Football Team trades up and takes a quarterback that they can groom behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Trade Terms:
Washington Receives: 2021 First Round Pick (7)
Detroit Receives: 2021 First Round Pick (19), 2022 First Round Pick, 2021 Third Round Pick
8. Carolina Panthers: OT Penei Sewell
This is a no brainer pick if the board falls like this. Sewell can anchor that line and protect Sam Darnold for years to come.
9. Denver Broncos: LB Micah Parsons
Denver misses out on a quarterback but gets a guy who can quarterback their defense for the next decade.
10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Patrick Surtain
If the board falls like this then the Cowboys will have to decide between Patrick Surtain and Rashawn Slater. The closer I get to the draft, the more I feel like the Cowboys are going to address their failing defense in the first round. Surtain is the best cornerback in this draft.
11. New York Giants: WR Devonta Smith
The Giants would have plenty of great options if the board falls like this. As a Giants fan myself, I’d just have to pray that Dave Gettleman doesn’t blow it and reach for an edge here.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Miami via San Francisco): CB Jaycee Horn
The Eagles have been tied to Horn for a while. They like feisty cornerbacks and they’ll get just that in Jaycee Horn.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Rashawn Slater
Both Chargers fans out there are going to be ecstatic if the draft falls like this. They get a top player in the entire draft in a position of great need for them.
14. Minnesota Vikings: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker
The run on offensive linemen has begun and the Vikings get one of the highest floor players in this draft.
15. New England Patriots: WR Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle in a new look Patriots offense? This is gonna be fun to watch for the ⅓ of games where Waddle absolutely goes off.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Kwity Paye
I have Paye as the first edge off the board. The more I think about it, the more I think that teams will view Paye as the safest edge. He is loaded up with potential and his excellent run defending ability and motor will make him the safest edge pick. This is a position of need for Arizona even though they signed JJ Watt.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Did someone say the Raiders are going to take a really good athlete who is versatile? This fits their organization’s motto and Owusu-Koramoah is going to be a really good player.
18. Miami Dolphins: Edge Gregory Rousseau
The Miami boy stays home. The Dolphins defense gets a weapon who is incredibly raw but could become special under Brian Flores.
19. Detroit Lions (Via Washington): WR Kadarius Toney
Toney is going to be a weapon if he goes to the right team. I’m not so sure that the Lions are the right team but I can see Dan Campbell wanting to replace Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones with a receiver who can do a lot of things.
20. Chicago Bears: OT Christian Darrisaw
The Bears need to load up the offensive line for their “franchise quarterback” Andy Dalton. Darrisaw is a big tackle who is Bear tough.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Edge Jaelan Phillips
The Colts get a technically sound edge rusher in Jaelan Phillips to add to their potent defense.
22. Tennessee Titans: OT Tevin Jenkins
The Titans take an offensive lineman who is not Isaiah Wilson.
23. New York Jets (Via Seattle): CB Caleb Farley
The Jets have enough draft capital to take a risk on Caleb Farley, who is a great player, but has an extensive injury history. Farley would likely be a top 15 pick if he wasn’t injured.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Najee Harris
I hate taking running backs in the first round but the Steelers are an old school organization and this is a position of great need for them. Harris would give their offense something that they haven’t had since Le’Veon Bell.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (Via Los Angeles Rams): S Trevon Moehrig
The Jaguars continue to add to a secondary that has CJ Henderson and free agent acquisition Shaquill Griffin. Moehrig is a versatile safety that can do it all.
26. Cleveland Browns: Edge Azeez Ojulari
The Browns get a project edge rusher that they can use as a situational pass rusher behind Jadeveon Clowney for a season while he develops.
27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman
The Ravens (finally) go get an alpha receiver. Bateman is going to be one of the best pass catchers to come out of this draft when it’s all said and done.
28. New Orleans Saints: CB Greg Newsome
The Saints inject some youth into their secondary. Newsome is a fundamentally sound cornerback that would thrive playing opposite Marshon Lattimore.
29. Green Bay Packers: WR Terrace Marshall
The Packers get a guy in Marshall who can line up anywhere and is a huge mismatch at 6’4”.
30. Buffalo Bills: RB Travis Etienne
The Bills add yet another weapon to their offense and hope to win the offensive arms race that they’re currently in with the Kansas City Chiefs.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Samuel Cosmi
This is a no brainer if you’re the Chiefs. You’ve gotta take a tackle here so that Mahomes has time to be Mahomes back there.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Jayson Oweh
Jason Pierre-Paul has had a borderline Hall of Fame Career but he isn’t getting any younger. The Buccaneers can take a project edge rusher that they can mold into a guy who can potentially be the next JPP.