Final NFL Mock Draft
With the 2021 NFL Draft mere days away your friendly neighborhood NFL Draft specialist is here to deliver one last mock draft. Please enjoy and feel free to throw stones at me on Twitter if you disagree!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Team Needs: QB, OL, DL, TE
Imagine if the Jaguars didn’t take Trevor Lawrence. That’s like having the chance to take DeShaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes but passing on them in order to take a plodding running back with bad hands. No, these Jaguars are too smart to make a mistake like that one…right? Assuming stable minds rule this organization, we can expect Lawrence to be the pick, as the former Clemson star is the blueprint for a superstar quarterback. Blessed with a killer combination of size, athleticism, arm strength, accuracy, and poise, Lawrence should have no trouble living up to the hype regardless of where he lands.
2. New York Jets
Pick: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Team Needs: Everything
Wilson has separated himself from the pack in the last six months, overtaking Justin Fields as the consensus QB2 in this class. While some may knock him for his status as a one-year wonder on a non-power conference team, Wilson’s arm talent and playmaking abilities are truly excellent and he makes a ton of sense as the No. 2 overall pick.
3. San Francisco 49ers (Via MIA, Via HOU)
Pick: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Team Needs: OL, LB, WR, RB
Teams do not trade three first-round picks not to take a QB. Jones is the favorite to go third as of me writing this section. Scouts have raved about his preparedness and football I.Q, two things that I know Kyle Shanahan loves in a signal-caller. While he’s not a dynamic athlete like Justin Fields or Trey Lance, Jones is a skilled passer with nice accuracy who could run Shanahan’s offense to perfection.
4. New England Patriots (Via ATL)
Pick: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Team Needs: QB, WR, DL
In this hypothetical trade, the Patriots receive the fourth overall pick in exchange for several draft picks (including No. 15 in this class) and perhaps a player (J.C Jackson or Stephon Gilmore), ask Adam Schefter if you want more details. Bill Belichick is reportedly very high on Fields, who would be an immediate upgrade over Cam Newton without sacrificing any mobility.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: LT Penei Sewell, Oregon
Team Needs: OL, TE, LB
The Bengals failed Joe Burrow last season. The 2020 first overall pick was under duress in every game he played last season, eventually landing on IR with a nasty knee injury. Sewell could be a godsend for Burrow and the Bengals, serving as the blindside blocker for the young quarterback upon his return from injury. Though Oregon isn’t known as an offensive linemen factory, Sewell has been well developed, utilizing his supreme strength, balance, and agility to become the best offensive line prospect in this class.
6. Miami Dolphins (Via PHI)
Pick: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Team Needs: WR, OL, DB, DL
Pitts is a unicorn who could be used in tandem with current starter Mike Gesicki while being groomed to take over his role in 2022. This is the right pick Dolphins fans, trust me on this one.
7. Detroit Lions
Pick: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Team Needs: LB, DB, WR, QB
Kenny Golladay who?
8. Washington Football Team (Via CAR)
Pick: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Team Needs: TE, OL, DL, LB, DB, QB
Another big trade from a team in search of their franchise QB. The Football Team would love a dual-threat like Lance under-center, particularly in tandem with standout RB Antonio Gibson. In this scenario, Carolina gets a huge haul of picks from Washington, signaling to Sam Darnold that he’s their guy at the QB spot — for now, at least.
9. Denver Broncos
Pick: OL Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Team Needs: QB, OL, DB, DL
Well, it looks like Drew Lock gets another shot in this mock draft. If that’s the case then Denver should surround him with even more talent on offense, leading me to believe they’ll invest in Slater, the most versatile lineman in this class.
10. Dallas Cowboys
Pick: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Team Needs: DB, DL, OL
Surtain appears to be the CB1 in this class and fills a need for the Cowboys here. He’s not a reach by any means.
Fluid here by Patrick Surtain II. Good feet and hips. From a technical standpoint he’s one of the most consistent I’ve ever seen coming out of college. Good feet/hips here. pic.twitter.com/CQrAeGEmPs
— Crocky (@eric_crocker) April 20, 2021
11. New York Giants
Pick: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
Team Needs: WR, DB, LB
The Giants seem to be in the market for a WR here and Smith is the best availble at the position. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner should have no issues adjusting to the NFL game, especially with Kenny Golladay and Sterling Shepherd flanking him.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (Via MIA, Via SF)
Pick: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Team Needs: WR, DB, LB, DL, OL
While the Eagles have a multitude of needs across their roster, cornerback is one of the biggest. Outside of veteran Darius Slay, the Birds have no viable coverage men, making Horn a worthy use of this pick.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: DL Kwity Paye, Michigan
Team Needs: OL, LB, DB, DT, TE
Paye is a really nice defensive line prospect who could develop into a menace alongside Joey Bosa. While an offensive lineman could be in play here, the Chargers can’t go wrong with another pass-rusher either. Melvin Ingram’s days as a Charger could be numbered, meaning the team could look to draft his successor with this pick. Paye is a very gifted athlete who can comfortably serve as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end thanks to his skills as a run stuffer. Once again BPA meets need.
14. Minnesota Vikings
Pick: DL Christian Barmore, Alabama
Team Needs: DB, OL, DL, LB
Though some GMs are beginning to fade Barmore on the premise of his “uncoachability” I see the Vikings taking him here as the long-term anchor for their defensive line.
15. Atlanta Falcons (Via NE)
Pick: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Team Needs: QB, DB, TE, DL, LB, OL
A versatile linebacker with the speed of a safety, JOK could be a real difference-maker for the Falcons defense off the bat.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Pick: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Team Needs: OL, DL, TE, DB,
The Cardinals seem like the type of team to pull off this stunt, so let’s pretend they do it. Waddle is an extremely dynamic deep threat who could add yet another element to Arizona’s already prolific passing attack. As we saw with their selection of Isaiah Simmons in 2020, the Cardinals are not afraid to go BPA.
17. Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Team Needs: DL, LB, WR, QB
A true do-it-all linebacker, Collins has a chance to become a transcendent defensive player in the NFL. A gifted athlete with a nose for making big plays, Collins could be the cornerstone of Las Vegas’s defense moving forward.
18. Miami Dolphins
Pick: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
Team Needs: OL, LB, WR, RB
The Dolphins are an RB away from being a dominant offense and Harris is about as good as they come.
Najee Harris is a human highlight reel. Who do you think will draft the Alabama RB 🤔 @ohthatsNajee22 @AlabamaFTBL
(via @CBSSports)pic.twitter.com/swujOCrUsZ
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) April 25, 2021
19. Carolina Panthers (Via WFT)
Pick: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami (FL.)
Team Needs: QB, OT, LB, DB
Now here’s a real upside selection. Phillips flashed a lot of potential this past season for the ‘Canes and could be a better version of 2020 second-rounder Yetur Gross-Matos.
20. Chicago Bears
Pick: QB Davis Mills, Stanford
Team Needs: QB, WR, OL, DE, OLB, CB
Bears fans I want to hear about this one. Mills is a player who has gained a lot of buzz in recent weeks and could possibly arise in the latter half of round one. If Chicago likes what they’ve seen from him enough then they may very well have to pull the trigger on him here.
21. Indianapolis Colts
Pick: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Team Needs: WR, DE, CB, TE
Parsons’ draft day slide ends in Indianapolis. Were it not for some concerns about his fit and character, the former PSU star might have been a top-five selection in this year’s class. I can’t imagine he or the Colts would complain too much if this came to fruition, as a defense with Parsons and Darius Leonard could be unreal.
22. Tennessee Titans
Pick: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Team Needs: WR, OL, DL, CB
Bateman could immediately step into the role vacated by Corey Davis and thrive. This is a match made in heaven for player and organization.
WR Rashod Bateman is physical and can play in any scheme for all 32 teams in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/lNyx4chJLN
— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) April 20, 2021
23. New York Jets (via SEA)
Pick: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Team Needs: Everything
The Jets need to take some pressure off of Zach Wilson if they want him to succeed and the first step towards doing that will require them to draft a solid RB who can catch the ball. Enter Etienne, a player who checks each of these boxes.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: C Landon Dickerson, Alabama
Team Needs: RB, C, DB, QB
Dickerson is the best center in this class and fills a glaring need for Pittsburgh, who will regret missing out on Harris and Etienne.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR)
Pick: TE Pat Friermuth, Penn State
Team Needs: QB, OL, DL, TE
One look at Jacksonville’s tight end depth chart and you’ll begin to understand this pick.
26. Cleveland Browns
Pick: DT Daivyon Nixon, Iowa
Team Needs: LB, DB, WR, DT
Following Sheldon Richardson’s release, it’s clear that the Browns need to draft a defensive tackle here. Nixon is the best guy on the board who fulfills these criteria.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Pick: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
Team Needs: WR, DL
The Ravens need a receiver badly and John Harbaugh loves guys like Toney who specialize in running after the catch.
Favorite slo-mo clip of 2021 draft cycle. Don’t see any way @GatorsFB WR Kadarius Toney makes it out of first round next Thursday. Playmaking potential is special in @0fficialC2N. ⚡️🕹💪 pic.twitter.com/feq5jAJcgs
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 20, 2021
28. New Orleans Saints
Pick: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
Team Needs: QB, WR, DE, LB, CB
While Ojulari is not an ideal fit for the Saints 4-3 defense, his talent as a pass-rusher could force the team to make a BPA pick here. The 6’3, 240 pounder is a twitchy, disruptive athlete off the edge, and he would provide the Saints with a suitable replacement for Trey Hendrickson.
29. Green Bay Packers
Pick: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
Team Needs: WR, LB, DB, TE, OG
A dynamic slot target with measurables and workout metrics on par with Tyreek Hill, Moore could be a dangerous No. 2 option in the passing game for the Packers.
30. Buffalo Bills
Pick: FS Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Team Needs: RB, TE, OL, DE, DB
We waited a long time to see a true safety come off the board, but here he is.
31. Baltimore Ravens (Via KC)
Pick: OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Team Needs: CB, OL, LB
Finding Orlando Brown’s replacement is necessary with this pick. Leatherwood is the best-equipped player to do so and succeed from day one.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
Team Needs: OG, DT, DE, CB
What to give the team that has everything? Oh, how about a contingency plan for Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett? Sounds great to me.
