The 2021 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away! Months and months of mock drafts and big boards finally come down to this. Soon we'll get answers to all of the questions that have plagued us since the draft season began. Questions like: How many quarterbacks get taken in round one? Which talented players will slip down the board? Was spending the last few months insulting a 20-something year old kid's character for your own personal gain really worth it? I'll try my best to predict the answers to these questions, as well as a myriad of others, in this mock draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence QB, Clemson
Duh… This pick has been set in stone since the minute the season ended. Urban Meyer is in Jacksonville to coach Trevor Lawrence, and coach Trevor Lawrence he will.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson QB, BYU
With Sam Darnold officially out of the picture, new head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas get their own guy at QB. New York resets the timer on a rookie QB, hoping they finally get it right this time.
3. San Francisco (From Miami): Justin Fields QB, Ohio State
I refuse to believe the Niners traded three first round picks for Mac Jones. If you're mortgaging the future, why not do it on someone with a much bigger upside? Kyle Shanahan should get the best out of an incredibly talented Fields.
TRADE! 4. Washington Football Team (From Atlanta): Trey Lance QB, NDSU
Washington gives Atlanta a godfather offer to move up eleven spots. Having Ryan Fitzpatrick already in place gives Lance time to develop and adapt to the NFL game. Washington quietly has a very talented roster, so trading a bunch of picks for a chance at their franchise QB makes sense.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase WR, LSU
It's no secret who Joe Burrow wants the Bengals to select with this pick. Cincinnati takes their QB's advice and opts to get him help in the form of another weapon rather than o-line help. Let's hope ignoring the o-line doesn't backfire on them like last year.
6. Miami Dolphins (From Philadelphia): Kyle Pitts TE, Florida
Four QBs going in the top five is a dream scenario for Miami, and exactly why they traded back up to six. The Dolphins grab a once in a generation type of talent in Pitts. Pitts is a guy who will demand double coverage, opening up the field for DeVante Parker and Will Fuller.
TRADE! 7. New England Patriots (From Detroit) : Mac Jones QB, Alabama
New England's new found off-season aggression continues in the draft. Belichick and co. trade into the top 10 to select the last of the top tier QBs. As if the Tom Brady comparisons weren't already enough pressure for Jones, he'll now be tasked with replacing the GOAT.
8. Carolina Panthers: Penei Sewell OT, Oregon
If Sewell is still available at eight, Carolina should run this card to the table. With Sam Darnold now in town, the Panthers need to do what the Jets failed miserably to do – surround the QB with talented players. What better way to do that than with a franchise left tackle.
9. Denver Broncos: Micah Parsons LB, Penn State
The first defensive player is finally off the board! With all of the top quarterbacks gone, Denver elects to bolster Vic Fangio's defense. Parsons would have the potential to explode in this scheme, especially surrounded by talented players like Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II CB, Alabama
The Cowboys defense was bad at the beginning of 2020, like historically bad… A good way to change that is to draft Surtain. Son of a former all-pro CB, Surtain (the second) can help improve a Dallas secondary in desperate need of top end talent.
11. New York Giants: Jalen Phillips EDGE, Miami
New York caps off a mini run of defensive players. Phillips is viewed by many as the most talented pass rusher in this draft. If he can avoid some of the injury issues that plagued his college career, he would be a welcomed presence on a defense that lacks a real edge rusher.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith WR, Alabama
It has no doubt been a tumultuous off-season for the Eagles. However, having the reigning Heisman trophy winner fall to them would certainly lessen the sting. Smith is an explosive play maker with the ball in his hands and would immediately become the number one receiver in Philly.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater OT, Northwestern
Los Angeles does the opposite of what Cincinnati did in terms of helping their young signal caller – electing to give Justin Herbert more protection, rather than a shiny new weapon. Slater can play tackle or move anywhere he is needed on the Chargers line.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw OT, Virginia Tech
Minnesota could be a sneaky name to watch in the QB market, however, in this fake scenario that I made up, they are out bid by more QB-hungry teams. The Vikings, instead, decide to strengthen an o-line that has been terrible for as long as I can remember.
TRADE! 15. Detroit Lions (From New England): Jaylen Waddle WR, Alabama
Detroit has a long way to go, which is why they elect to trade down and acquire more future assets. The run on QBs in the top ten will cause talented players, like Waddle, to slide down the board much further than they should. Let's hope he's got an appetite for knee caps!
16. Arizona Cardinals: Jaycee Horn CB, South Carolina
With Patrick Peterson having left for Minnesota, the Cards look to find his replacement in the draft rather than signing someone else from the 2013 all-pro team. Horn has all the traits to develop into the shutdown corner that Peterson was for years in the desert.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Alijah Vera-Tucker OG, USC
I'm still scratching my head at what the Raiders decided to do in free agency. When you get rid of 60% of your (very good) o-line from the season before, you eventually need to find players to fill those holes.
18. Miami Dolphins: Kwity Paye EDGE, Michigan
One weakness on what what was a dominant defense last year, is the lack of a real elite edge rusher. Paye's combination of size and freak athleticism should fit in nicely on Brian Flores' defense.
TRADE! 19. Atlanta Falcons (From Washington): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB, Notre Dame
After moving back eleven spots, the Falcons still find themselves in a very favorable position. Owusu-Koramoah is a versatile defender that can make an impact in a multitude of ways on a defense that very much needs more top tier talent.
20. Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman WR, Minnesota
A QB needy team out of reach of any of the elite prospects, the Bears instead add to the receiving corps and give some help to Andy Dalton. The duo of Bateman and Allen Robinson would make things much easier on the much maligned new "QB1."
21. Indianapolis Colts: Caleb Farley CB, Virginia Tech
One of the best defenses in the NFL gets even better. Farley is a big physical corner with big time potential who could slide because of injury concerns. If the defense gets even better than it was last season it takes some pressure off new QB Carson Wentz, who can be a tad emotionally fragile at times.
22. Tennessee Titans: Greg Newsome II CB, Northwestern
The Titans are going to be hoping this year's first round selection works out a little bit better than last year's. Newsome fills a major need in a talent poor Titans secondary that saw both Malcolm Butler and Adoree' Jackson leave in the off-season.
23. New York Jets (From Seattle): Zaven Collins LB, Tulsa
With most of the top tier corners now off the board, the Jets fill a different need on defense. Collins is a versatile linebacker who can make an impact in many different ways. Whether it's rushing the passer, stopping the run, or in coverage, Collins should make an immediate impact on Robert Saleh's defense.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Teven Jenkins OT, Oklahoma State
With Maurkice Pouncey retiring and Alejandro Villanueva still a major question mark, the Steelers will be forced to address the o-line, especially with the increasingly less nimble Big Ben returning. Jenkins is a nasty punishing blocker that should fit in well in the AFC North.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (From Los Angeles): Christian Barmore DT, Alabama
After loading up in free agency, the Jags fill one of the biggest holes left on the defense. Adding Barmore to a young talented d-line should help improve a run defense that ranked third last in the NFL last season.
26. Cleveland Browns: Gregory Rousseau EDGE, Miami
The Clowney signing should not prevent Cleveland from taking the talented edge rusher out of Miami. Clowney hasn't shown he can stay healthy or produce consistently enough to count on full time. Plus, you can never have enough talented pass rushers.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Terrace Marshall Jr. WR, LSU
The Ravens need to develop the passing game. Their dominant run game can only get them so far. With free agent wide receivers seemingly avoiding Baltimore, it makes it that much more important to hit on pass catchers in the draft.
28. New Orleans Saints: Jamin Davis LB, Kentucky
It's the beginning of a new era in New Orleans. With Drew Brees no longer under center, the Saints can't count on a special offense to carry them any longer. Adding a talented Linebacker would be a major upgrade over what they currently have at that position.
29. Green Bay Packers: Elijah Moore WR, Ole Miss
The Packers completely ignored getting Aaron Rodgers weapons during last year's draft. After an MVP season, Green Bay should do everything possible to make him happy. Moore has the ability to be an electric play maker and the down field threat that this offense currently lacks.
30. Buffalo Bills: Azeez Ojulari EDGE, Georgia
The Bills have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. One of the few things missing is a consistent pass rush. Ojulari could be the final piece that Buffalo needs to get themselves over the top.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Leatherwood OT, Alabama
Despite adding talent to the o-line in free agency, KC still has a glaring hole at the tackle position. It might be tempting for Andy Reid to add one of the talented receivers still left. However, marching Mike Remmers out as a starting tackle would be a tough sell to the fans.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Creed Humphrey C, Oklahoma
The Bucs are running it all the way back! Returning all 22 starters from last years team leaves few holes on their roster. Why not add to one of the strengths on the team by drafting the best center in the draft.
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