The 2021 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and boy, am I excited. The NFL Draft is always one of the most fun weeks of the whole season because of all the hype, implications, and hopes for teams around the league. Nearly every year we see some surprises, some heartbreaks, and almost always a weird storyline (I’m looking at you, Laremy Tunsil). So here is my mock draft and prediction of how things will shake out in a few days.
Picks 1-10
Picks 11-20
Picks 21-32
Pick 1 – Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
I don’t think anyone in the world will be shocked by this selection, as it seems that Lawrence is already a Jaguar. I actually wouldn’t even be shocked if Lawrence already has a Jacksonville playbook and has been studying since the day the college football season ended. I am extremely excited to see what Lawrence can do in Duval. I predict that he will have the Jaguars in the playoff picture yearly by 2022.
Pick 2 – New York Jets
QB Zach Wilson, BYU
This pick is much more difficult to predict than the first pick. We know for sure that this pick will be a quarterback after the Jets dealt their starter, Sam Darnold, to the Panthers for some picks. I think there are two guys in play here at the second overall pick, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson seems to have some more upside as a passer, but Fields comes with a winning pedigree and a dual-threat skillset. I am leaning towards Wilson because I think the Jets are going to shoot for the upside pick.
Pick 3 – San Francisco 49ers
QB Mac Jones, Alabama
In a move that shocked many NFL fans, the San Francisco 49ers jumped into the top 3 overall picks by trading with the Miami Dolphins. Many have speculated that they moved up to have their shot at a franchise quarterback. If the Jets pick was difficult to predict, then this one is even harder. Many have tied together Mac Jones from Alabama with the Niners because of Kyle Shanahan’s fondness of pocket passers. Jones has also been deemed to be an extremely intelligent quarterback which is something that Shanahan will love about him, as well.
Pick 4 – Atlanta Falcons
QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
I have to say, I am a little skeptical of Trey Lance as a prospect. But, there is no denying that Lance has worked his way up to being a first-rounder, and a high one at that. I think that the Falcons are going to be searching for their quarterback of the future and they are ready to move away from the pocket passer style of quarterback. Lance has a very intriguing dual-threat style of play, one that has worked elsewhere around the league. I think the Falcons go with a quarterback here, but I would also not be surprised if they sell the pick to another team looking to find a QB of the future.
Pick 5 – Cincinnati Bengals
OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
Finally, a first-round pick that is not a quarterback! I love it! The Bengals are the first team that is guaranteed to NOT take a quarterback which gives them a great field of players to choose from. They will essentially get their choice at the best prospects at all of the other positions. They can go with Ja’Marr Chase, the best wide receiver in the draft. They can go with Kyle Pitts, the best tight end in the draft. But ultimately, I think they will go with Penei Sewell, the best tackle in the draft. They got a rude awakening that their line protection was not good enough after Joe Burrow tore his ACL in his rookie season. I think they will strive to protect Joe as much as they can in this draft, and it starts with Sewell.
Pick 6 – Miami Dolphins
WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
I really, really love this pick for the Dolphins. I think that the Dolphins are very close to being a championship contender and this pick could be the piece that they are missing. I was also leaning towards Kyle Pitts with this pick, but I think that the Dolphins are happy with Mike Gesicki, as they should be. Chase is an absolute monster and has the size to win jump balls, the speed to blow by defensive backs, and the finesse to run crisp routes. He is the best receiver prospect to come out in quite some time and I think he automatically makes the Dolphins a better team.
Pick 7 – Detroit Lions
LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
It seems like the Lions are like a sinking ship. Every year, they patch a hole in their team, only for another hole to open up. Last year, they addressed their need in the secondary by drafting a cornerback, only to get to the season and realize they have no linebackers. It really has just been a mess, but hopefully, some new faces will shake things up. I think Parsons presents a huge upside for the Lions and can be the defensive cornerstone they have always been looking for.
Pick 8 – Carolina Panthers
TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Okay, maybe I am just being a Panthers homer in hoping that Pitts falls down to eighth overall… but the fit is absolutely fantastic here. The Panthers have been searching for their tight end of the future ever since Greg Olsen left. Ian Thomas never quite grew to fill Olsen’s shoes, and Pitts can absolutely do the job. He even has the upside to be better than Olsen, which is not an easy thing to do. I think if Pitts is still on the board, the Panthers snag the versatile pass catcher with the eighth pick. The big “if” for this pick is if Pitts will fall this far.
Pick 9 – Denver Broncos
QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
In all honesty, the Broncos are one of my favorite teams to move up in the draft this year. They are slowly starting to realize that Drew Lock is not the quarterback of the future and that they may have to find another guy. Luckily for them, this year’s class is exceptionally deep at the quarterback position, and even if they do not choose to move up, should be able to find a quarterback they like at 9th over. I think Justin Fields may still be on the board if they choose to stay at nine, and he will be their pick.
Pick 10 – Dallas Cowboys
CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Horn has been one of the trendiest players of the draft season and has been quickly climbing up the draft boards. It is almost a guarantee that the Cowboys will take a defensive back after hemorrhaging passing yards this season. Heck, they even allowed a massive 326 passing yards to a very mediocre Eagles team in week 16. Jerry Jones has been very vocal about his love for Kyle Pitts, but if he is smart, he will invest in his defense.
Pick 11 – New York Giants
OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Giants fans should rejoice at this pick. It seems like line play has been an issue for the Giants for quite some time now, and Slater seems like he is going to be a monster. After notoriously locking up Chase Young in college, Slater would be given the opportunity to do that for 2 games a season every year. Even if Daniel Jones is not the quarterback of the future for the Giants, they still need to get some protection for their stud running back Saquon Barkley.
Pick 12 – Philadelphia Eagles
WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Jaylen Waddle would probably have a much higher draft pedigree coming into this draft if an ankle injury did not keep him out of the majority of the 2020 season. Waddle is a polished receiver who can stretch the field vertically. He has even been garnering comparisons to NFL speedsters like Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill. The Eagles need all the help they can get at the wide receiver position after losing Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson this offseason. It only makes sense to give new starter Jalen Hurts one of his offensive weapons from his time at Alabama.
Pick 13 – Los Angeles Chargers
OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
The Chargers are in a great position coming into 2021, having found their franchise quarterback in the 2020 draft with Justin Herbert. Now, all I expect them to do is build up their offensive line to protect the golden boy. Christian Darrisaw is one of the top tackles in this class and is just the man for the job when it comes to protecting Herbert. Darrisaw stands at a massive 6’5” and has the frame and quickness to protect the edge. I think the Chargers will be more than happy with this pick moving forward.
Pick 14 – Minnesota Vikings
CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
The good news for the Vikings is that they are going to have a lot of options when it is their turn to pick. The bad news is, there are a lot of players that they are going to have to pass on. The Vikings are an aging team that is in win-now mode. They need to go for the most NFL-ready prospect on the board who will help them immediately, and that person is Patrick Surtain II. Surtain II has lockdown qualities and elite size and speed.
Pick 15 – New England Patriots
WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
Ugh, I really don’t like this pick. It just doesn’t feel like a pick the New England Patriots would make. It is blatantly obvious that they are in search of a franchise quarterback, so a trade-up is certainly in the picture for the Pats this year. But, should they stay at 15th overall, Smith offers massive value. The 2020 Heisman winner brings unmatched speed and route running, something that the Patriots are in desperate need of.
Pick 16 – Arizona Cardinals
CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Well, the Cardinals have a screaming need in the secondary after Patrick Peterson walked away this offseason. Farley is a polished prospect at the cornerback position coming out of one of the league’s premier defensive back factories in Virginia Tech. The Cardinals are pretty solid on the offensive side of the ball, so I think they will look to fill their biggest defensive need with Farley. The only question mark is Farley’s health, as he has been dealing with some back issues as of late.
Pick 17 – Las Vegas Raiders
S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
The Raiders brought Karl Joseph back this offseason and have a very solid strong safety in Johnathan Abram, but there is always room to build for the future. Moehrig provides a lot of upsides and can grow into a defensive cornerstone role for the Raiders in the future. He is a young 21 years old and already has an NFL-ready frame at 6’2”. Oakland can go a lot of different places with this pick, but Moehrig has extreme upside.
Pick 18 – Miami Dolphins
EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
The Miami Dolphins have a real shot to grab another top talent in the draft with the eighteenth pick. Aside from a few secondary players and a linebacker, very few defensive players will have been selected by this point. The Dolphins will have their pick of a very talented class of edge rushers and Kwity Paye is clearly at the top. He has freakish intangibles and immense strength. The Dolphins will be more than happy with this pick.
Pick 19 – Washington Football Team
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Under Ron Rivera, the Washington Football Team has taken on the bully persona, emphasizing crushing defense and immense pressure. I believe that this pick will aim to build upon what Rivera started in 2020 and the Football Team will go with a defensive beast. They have solidified their defensive line, but they will look to help the linebacking corp in the draft. Owusu-Koramoah possesses the skills to blitz up the middle as well as to drop in coverage and stick with an athletic tight end down the seam. He will surely be a nice addition to Washington’s defense.
Pick 20 – Chicago Bears
OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
The Bears are in this really weird position where it feels like they are simply a quarterback away from a playoff run. And this isn’t going to be the year where they solve that quarterback issue either. They signed Andy Dalton this offseason to be a “bandaid” quarterback for 2021. I guess the most logical pick here is to take Alijah Vera-Tucker and prepare a steel wall of blocking for when the quarterback of the future arrives.
Pick 21 – Indianapolis Colts
CB Asante Samuel Jr., FSU
The Colts are one of those teams that are pretty solid across the board. They boast one of the best offensive lines in the league, have a fantastic running back room, and have a mean defense, as well. But depth seems to be the name of the game in the NFL as of late and who could ever turn down depth in the secondary? Asante Samuel Jr. comes from a pretty great line of DB blood and was quite a playmaker during his time at FSU. He will provide a nice backup presence for the Colts secondary.
Pick 22 – Tennessee Titans
WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
After letting Corey Davis walk this offseason, the Titans are going to be looking to replenish the targets vacated from the offense. And luckily for the Titans, there is not much of a better draft class in recent memory than this one for wide receiver depth. The Titans tend to go for bigger-bodied wide receivers that can stretch the field which is why I think Bateman is their guy. Bateman runs a 4.39 40 yard dash and is a massive 6’3″. If he can return to his 2019 form, he will be a steal for the Titans at 22.
Pick 23 – New York Jets
RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
I know, I know… taking a running back in the first round is a “bad investment.” But if you’re the Jets and your other options at running back are Lamical Perine and Ty Johnson, then I think a first-round running back is actually a GREAT investment. Etienne is a special player. That is something that we have all known for the entirety of his time at Clemson. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, has both finesse and power in his run game, and has proven extremely consistent near the goal line. Just what the Jets need.
Pick 24 – Pittsburgh Steelers
RB Najee Harris, Alabama
This seems to just be the perfect landing spot for Najee Harris and every single person in America wants to see it happen. Well, maybe not Ravens and Browns fans, but mostly everyone else does. Harris is an electric running back and fills a major spot of need for the Pittsburgh Steelers. James Conner was solid for the Steelers for a few seasons, but really since Le’Veon Bell left, the Steelers’ offense has not been the same. Harris can bring that spark that Bell once did and may be enough to revitalize the sleepy Pittsburgh offense.
Pick 25 – Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
Kadarius Toney has been shooting up the draft boards lately, even rising into the conversation as being one of the top four wide receivers off the board. Trevor Lawrence is stepping into an already improved version of the Jacksonville offense, but adding a young, talented wide receiver like Kadarius Toney will certainly give him the weapons he needs. Also, recently, there has been a trend where teams have been pairing rookie QBs with a young wide receiver and allowing them to grow together. Think Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins or Lamar Jackson and Marquise Goodwin. I think Toney could be that guy for Lawrence in year 1.
Pick 26 – Cleveland Browns
OLB Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
This is a case of taking the best guy available on the board with your pick. Thanks to a bevy of draft picks in the last few drafts, the Browns are an incredibly young team with a lot of talent spread across the field. They have begun to pride themselves on the defensive side of the ball and with the offseason addition of Jadaveon Clowney, their defense will be even meaner in 2021. Ojulari fits the profile of a mean defender and will almost instantly make this defense even better.
Pick 27 – Baltimore Ravens
EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
This could perhaps be the steal of the draft if Phillips falls all the way down to Baltimore at pick 27. The Ravens have been tied to a wide receiver in this draft, but I think in this scenario, Phillips is too good of a get to pass up. Phillips was a five-star recruit coming out of college who could never quite find a home in college. If he lands with the Ravens, they will certainly tap into that five-star potential and he will have the potential to become a household name in a few years.
Pick 28 – New Orleans Saints
CB Greg Newsome, II, Northwestern
The Saints will be ushering in the post-Drew Brees era in New Orleans, an era that may not be able to score as many points as the former era. As a result, the Saints will have to bolster their defense. Janoris Jenkins spent a brief one-year stint with the Saints but left in the offseason. That leaves a backup in his position as the corner opposite Marshon Lattimore. Greg Newsome II is a physical corner that plays a similar style of defense to Lattimore and offers a good combination of size and speed – a perfect fit in New Orleans.
Pick 29 – Green Bay Packers
OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
I struggled with mocking this pick because I want to believe that the Packers are going to give Aaron Rodgers some more weapons other than Davante Adams. But, for whatever reason, they seem to not be interested in the wide receiver position. I think they will still try to help Rodgers by adding some offensive line depth. Teven Jenkins is a “tweener” guard/tackle combo who should give them some immediate depth and versatility upfront. The Packers already have a very solid line, but it proved to be shallow last season after a few injuries.
Pick 30 – Buffalo Bills
EDGE Jayson Oweh, Penn State
Talk about a riser on the draft board. Oweh wowed scouts at his Pro Day by showing off an insane combination of speed and athleticism for a defensive lineman. He shot up draft boards almost immediately and landed himself in the first round. The Bills always seem to be adding depth pieces to their defensive line and Oweh would be a great fit. Sean McDermott loves his defense and Oweh can make an impact right away.
Pick 31 – Baltimore Ravens
WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
The Ravens can finally grab that wide receiver they have been searching for and may even get a steal while they are at it. Marshall opted out of the 2020 season but had he not, he may have been a top 15 draft pick. Marshall boasts a good-sized frame at 6’3” and 205 lbs with great quickness to bat. He will pair well with Lamar Jackson and has the potential to shift the Ravens towards throwing the ball more than they have in recent years.
Pick 32 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
Seems like a pretty good deal for the Bucs to win the Super Bowl and then get the best defensive tackle in the draft too, huh? Well, that just may be the case in this draft. The Bucs were able to re-sign every starter from their Super Bowl team, however, everyone will be a year older this season… including Ndamukong Suh. Barmore can help give the aging Suh some relief on the defensive line.
