2021 NFL Mock Draft
Ladies and gents I bring to you my first official mock draft of the offseason. Mock drafting is some of my favorite content to make. I love playing GM, scouting players and acting like I would do a much better job than some of the existing decision makers in football. I mean I always do great in Madden and that’s pretty much the same thing right? Let’s get right into the good stuff here with just a few notes before you dive into the mock. First and foremost, none of the mocks I put will include trades. While It would be fun to shake things up and create some make believe chaos, the draft is unpredictable as it is. trying to predict who moves up and down the draft board just seems pointless to me. Secondly as the title says, this is a pre free agency mock. Meaning by the time this gets posted the needs of teams probably will have changed drastically as news drops every single day. I tried to wait until after the franchise tag deadline so I had a better idea of who would actually hit the market. Lastly this will be only a 1st round mock. I will have deeper mocks as we get closer to draft time.
1.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
This one is pretty much chalk. Urban Meyer didn’t take this job to draft anyone other than Lawrence, who checks all the boxes of the top pick of the draft. Uber talented, high floor, high ceiling at the game’s most valuable position.
2.NEW YORK JETS: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
This is where the draft really begins as the Jets have a big decision to make at QB. Do they stick with incumbent Sam Darnold who has underwhelmed since being drafted by them in the first round, or do they dip into this talented QB group? If I’m calling the shots I choose the latter with ease. Wilson is a better prospect than Darnold was coming out and you would have him on his rookie contract. Whereas Darnold is a year away from getting paid if he is even able to convince the Jets that he is the answer. If they do decide to stick with Darnold then they should absolutely trade this pick for a bunch of much needed draft capital.
3.MIAMI DOLPHINS: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
There is talk about the Dolphins already moving on from Tua and drafting a QB. While it would be very smart of them to do their due diligence on this year’s draft class, I think they ultimately stick with Tua unless they end up trading him in a deal for Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson. If Zach Wilson were sitting here at three I would seriously consider taking him. But with him off the board in this scenario they take BPA and give a desperately needed talent boost to their offensive line. They should also definitely look into what they can get trading back, but unless it’s a major haul Sewell is too good to pass up here.
4.ATLANTA FALCONS: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
If I was in charge here I would be taking a QB, whomever they liked better between Fields and Lance. But my gut tells me they want to salvage whatever time QB Matt Ryan has left on the team and make another run at the post season. What better way to make Ryan’s life easier than grabbing a top 5 talent in this draft in Pitts. You don’t ever see tight ends go this high in the draft but Pitts is a whole different breed. Able to line up anywhere and be a mismatch, he would take this already talented offense to the next level.
5.CINCINNATI BENGALS: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Drafting quality players at valuable positions in the early rounds of the draft is how you build superbowl caliber rosters. That’s what this pick is. Yes you could argue O-Line is a bigger “need” but you don’t draft for need. I don’t view the next best offensive lineman after Sewell to be worth a top 5 pick. Chase however, could provide them with a number 1 option for second year QB Joe Burrow, much like he was at LSU.
6.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio St.
There is nothing that Jalen Hurts showed me in his play last year that would prevent me from drafting a QB if one is available. Unless they plan on completely gutting the roster, bottoming out and getting a QB in next year’s class that could feature Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler. I say bring in Fields who gives your offense the same rushing floor that Hurts does, but with exponentially more potential as a passer.
7.DETROIT LIONS: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn St.
I think the Lions want to see what they have in Goff for at least this year. So with QB off the table, Parsons feels like a Dan Campbell pick. That first pick of your head coaching tenure that “sets the tone” for how you want your team to look like. Getting a talent like Parsons with your inaugural draft pick is a great way to start off as he has the potential to be a versatile defensive staple.
8.CAROLINA PANTHERS: Trey Lance, QB, NDSU
The Panthers take the last of the “big four” QB prospects and I love the fit. With Teddy Bridgewater on the team for at least another year, it gives Lance some time to get ready to play at the NFL level, which he is arguably the least ready for of the top prospects. But his ceiling is one of the highest in the draft with running ability that you can build an offense around and the best arm talent in the draft.
9.DENVER BRONCOS: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
With Lance going one pick ahead of them, finding an upgrade over QB Drew Lock will have to wait for now. Fortunately, talent and need meet in a huge way with the Farley pick. If you were to build a CB in a lab, he would come out looking alot like Farley. He will immediately have the size, speed and athleticism to match up with just about anyone in the NFL.
10.DALLAS COWBOYS: Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
Just about every mock you see will have Dallas taking a CB here. If Farley were still available he would have been the pick. I am not as high on CB Patrick Surtain as the consensus, having him graded towards the end of the first round. Two reasons I like Barmore at this spot. The talent matches the value in the top 10. Also the depth at DL is almost non-existent in this year’s class. The talent drop off after Barmore is steep and he also happens to fill the biggest need on the roster.
11.NEW YORK GIANTS: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
If the G-Men are going to continue to stick with QB Daniel Jones they have to put a better situation around him. Waddle is just too good to pass up here. He would give a speed and explosive element to an offense that currently has neither outside of RB Saquon Barkley.
12.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
Three consecutive Alabama players go here with Surtain going to the CB needy Niners. While, as I stated earlier, I don’t have him graded as high as others I don’t see him going outside the top 15 picks. With their top four CBs hitting free agency this pick fills a huge need.
13.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Concerns that Slater will have to switch to guard in the NFL keeps him out of the top 10. But he is too talented to fall much further than this. The Chargers need help along their entire O-Line, so Slater will provide value no matter where he ends up.
14.MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami
I think Rousseau is being vastly undervalued in this draft. Him opting out hurt his stock as teams weren’t able to see him add to his freshman tape. He is still viewed as an extremely talented, raw prospect. But edge is a position where the guys with the “tools” translate the most. Vikings get a steal here at pick 14.
15.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
I’m not in the camp of size being a problem for Smith in the NFL. He is a great player who just happens to fall a bit to the middle of the 1st round in this mock. The Patriots are in desperate need of weapons at wide-out. Despite their poor history of drafting WRs in the first round this is a great pick.
16.ARIZONA CARDINALS: Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami
Phillips is one of the wildcards of this draft. He had multiple concussions that made him retire from football while he was at UCLA. He decided to start playing again and showed immense talent at Miami. He is actually my highest graded edge defender in this class. The threat of concussions prematurely ending his career will scare a lot of teams off. But someone will take a chance on his talent.
17.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
A trade sending Trent Brown to the Patriots opened a big hole on the Raiders O-Line. Darrisaw can step right in and fill that void.
18.MIAMI DOLPHINS: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
After getting a franchise tackle with their first pick, the Dolphins continue to build an offense around Tua with their second pick. Bateman fits perfect with what Tua does best and would give this offense a big boost.
19.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
I have a 2nd round grade on Jones. But there’s no way he makes it out of the first round. The league is too starved at the position and Jones admittedly lit college football on fire last season. A playoff team last year, Washington is looking for a signal caller who can step in and provide consistency to the position.
20.CHICAGO BEARS: Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC
The QB options have dried up here so they go with the best offensive linemen left on the board. With some guard/tackle versatility Tucker is a great value at this spot.
21.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan
With the top 4 receiving options off the board and the value not quite there at OT, the Colts grab a pass rusher here. While I don’t think he has the upside of Rousseau or Phillips, he has all the tools needed to be successful at the next level.
22.TENNESSEE TITANS: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
With Corey Davis likely out the Titans need to add to a thin WR corp. Moore is one of the most explosive players in this draft.
23.NEW YORK JETS: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
After getting their franchise QB, the Jets get to work on the defense. Horn will bring a physicality and toughness that new coach Robert Saleh will love.
24.PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramorah, LB, Notre Dame
The Steelers get a versatile piece for their defense. While they may have bigger needs along the O-Line the talent was too good to pass up here.
25.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
With their franchise QB secured, they pick up a “QB” for their defense with the top safety in the class. Moehrig can do it all and would be a steal this late in the first round.
26.CLEVELAND BROWNS: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
This is one of the most commonly mocked picks. But it makes sense here where talent and need meet the value on the board.
27.BALTIMORE RAVENS: Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn St.
Oweh is one of the best athletes in the draft and Baltimore desperately needs to replenish their edge rush group. While Oweh will need a lot of technical refinement the talent is too much for Baltimore to pass up here.
28.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Asante Samuel, CB, Florida St.
I love Samuel’s tape. I have him as my #2 CB. I think his less than ideal size will drop him a bit but whoever takes him will be getting a really good player.
29.GREEN BAY PACKERS: Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
With Corey Linsley probably pricing himself out of Green Bay, they get their replacement at the back end of the first round. This brings our Alabama first round picks total to six!
30.BUFFALO BILLS: Payton Turner, Edge, Houston
A lot of you probably haven’t heard of Turner yet but as we get closer to draft time his name will start to rise up draft boards. He has the size and athletic profile you want on the edge.
31.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Chiefs have let go of BOTH of their starting tackles. This makes OT easily their biggest need headed into free agency. With very limited cap space this need will most likely follow them all the way to the draft. Cosmi will be a great fit as a polished pass protector coming out of college.
32.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
With Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown both possible free agent departures, Moore will add an explosive element from the slot. You want to keep QB Tom Brady’s weapons at a premium to keep this superbowl window open as long as possible.