NFL Mock Draft 2021

By: Football Zeus

Mock Draft Season

With the NFL Draft coming up in two weeks, it's time to make predictions of who's going to be drafted, and when. With that being said, there are some picks that are locks, for example, Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars, and Zach Wilson to the Jets.

The draft really starts at #3, with the 49ers most likely taking a quarterback after Jimmy Garoppolo's poor play all season. The NFL Draft is crazy, picks are always traded, unexpected picks are made, and with that being said, this is my NFL 2021 first-round mock draft.

1: Jacksonville Jaguars

• Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

This pick has been locked ever since Lawrence Stepped onto the field as a freshman. It was just a question of who would pick him. Luckily for the Jaguars, they ended up with the first pick, which could lead to a decade of wins.

2: New York Jets

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

This is another fairly obvious pick, however, it was unexpected at the beginning of the season. Wilson showed superstar talent, and some go as far as to call him a generational talent. Chris Simms even put him ahead of Lawrence, but I'm not entirely sold. One minor issue I have with Wilson is the fact that he didn't play too many good teams in 2021.

3: San Francisco 49ers (from Texans through Dolphins)

• Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

There's been a lot of talk recently if the Niners are going to take Alabama's QB Mac Jones. I call bs. There's no way they trade up for the #3 pick to get him. Joe Thomas, a former pro bowl lineman even said "Kyle Shanahan and the @49ers are going to draft Justin Fields." I love the way Fields fits into Shanahan's offense, with his speed and accurate arm.

4: Atlanta Falcons

• Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

There are 2 ways this pick could go. 1, the Falcons trade back and pick a corner such as Patrick Surtain, or they stay put and grab a blue-chip talent like Pitts. Pitts is a generational talent, and likely a future Hall of Famer if he lives up to expectations.

5: Cincinnati Bengals

• Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

The Bengals will either draft Sewell, which is the smartest option to keep Joe Burrow alive, or draft Ja'marr Chase. They make the right decision and draft Sewell, another blue-chip generational talent. The Bengals badly need o line, and Sewell instantly helps them.

6: Miami Dolphins (Via Philadelphia)

• Ja'marr Chase, WR, LSU

Ja'marr Chase skipped the 2020-2021 season, however, if he was eligible to be drafted last year, he would've been the first wide receiver off the board. Chase instantly boosts the Dolphins receiver core and gives Tua an extra weapon.

7: Detroit Lions

• DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

The Heisman winner finally comes off the board to help a team desperate for wide receivers. After having their wide receiver core shattered in free agency, the Lions make the right choice and go with a future superstar.

8: Carolina Panthers

• Rayshawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

After trading for Sam Darnold, the Panthers no longer need to worry about drafting a quarterback for the future. They already give Sam Darnold a loaded offense, but drafting Slater makes them even more dangerous. The Panthers badly need an offensive tackle, and Rayshawn Slater steps in as a starter from day one.

9: Denver Broncos

• Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota St.

With the best offensive tackles off the board, the Broncos turn to a new quarterback for the future. They're not sold on Drew Lock, and frankly, I'm not either. Lance has raw talent and could be a future superstar.

10: Dallas Cowboys

• Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

The Cowboys desperately need help in the secondary, and Surtain is able to step in and be reliable and consistent from day one. Surtain is the best corner in the class, so the Cowboys go with a safe pick and draft their corner for the future.

11: New York Giants

• Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

The Giants need an edge rusher and an offensive tackle, but with no edge rushers worth taking, and the top tackles off the board, they turn to the best linebacker in the draft, Micah Parsons. Parsons is a freak of nature, at 6'3" 245, running a 4.39 40, he instantly boosts the Giant's defense.

12: Philadelphia Eagles (Via San Francisco)

• Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Philadelphia decides to go with defense here and gets a crazy athletic, physical corner. They could go with a receiver like Jaylen Waddle, but defense wins championships. Horn is a good corner to pair with Darius Slay and gives them a long-term corner to develop.

13: Los Angeles Chargers

• Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

The Chargers could go with a guard or receiver here, but they choose to get a corner instead. Cornerback is still a need for the Chargers, and Caleb Farley fills the need. If Farley can stay healthy, he could be a star in the future.

14: Minnesota Vikings

• Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC

The Vikings need to revamp their offensive line, and they get the best guard in the draft, Alijah Vera-Tucker. Vera-Tucker is a versatile lineman and gives them the option of moving him to the outside, although I think he's better suited inside, and that's what the Vikings need most.

15: New England Patriots

• Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

There's been talk of the Patriots trading up to acquire their quarterback, but they stay put and get their guy. The Patriots are a good quarterback away from being back in playoff contention, and Mac Jones helps them out.

16: Arizona Cardinals

• Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Edge rusher is a key position for a defense that wants to be good, and the Cardinals take Kwity Paye to fill their need at #16. Paye is a freak of nature, running a 4.52 at 6'4" 270. He can cause some serious pressure off the edge and replaces Haason Reddick as the Cardinal’s new star pass rusher.

17: Las Vegas Raiders

• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, JOK for short, is the next best linebacker in this year’s draft. The Raiders need a linebacker after small returns from Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski. JOK is able to step in and be a day one starter and instantly makes the Raiders defense better.

18: Miami Dolphins

• Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

The dolphins still need an offensive tackle, and they fill their need with Christian Darrisaw. He steps in and gives Tua the time he needs in the pocket to make plays. The Dolphins offensive line is boosted with this pick, and it pairs well with the offense they're building.

19: Washington Football Team

• Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

The Washington Football Team is lucky that Jaylen Waddle slips this far, and doesn't hesitate to pick him up. Waddle has drawn comparisons to Tyreek Hill, the Chefs superstar receiver, and has a huge upside.

20: Chicago Bears

• Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

The bears are in desperate need of a wide receiver, and they choose the next best receiver on the board. They could also go with a corner here, but I'm betting they pick Bateman. Bateman has good hands, good route running, and is pretty consistent when it comes to making catches.

21: Indianapolis Colts

• Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

After losing Justin Houston in free agency, the Colts need to refill the edge position. Azeez Ojulari fills in the glaring need for an edge rusher and will bring instant pressure to the opposing quarterback.

22: Tennessee Titans

• Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

The Titans need to fill in the hole they have at tackle after Jack Conklin left the last offseason. Treven Jenkins is a prototype right tackle and should be able to come in and start day one.

23: New York Jets (Via Seattle)

• Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

The Jets need an edge rusher on defense, and Ossai comes in and fills their need. Ossai is agile, explosive, and has a high motor. He should work out perfectly for the Jets.

24: Pittsburgh Steelers

• Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

The Steelers need to beef up the interior of their defensive line, and Barmore is the ideal player to help with that. Barmore is the best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class and has great physical and athletic gifts to help him succeed in the NFL.

25: Jacksonville Jaguars (Via Los Angeles Rams)

• Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

This guy is my favorite safety in the whole draft. The Jaguars need help at safety, and Moehrig is the ideal prospect. He's compared to elite safeties such as Jessie Bates, has great instincts, and is a good tackler too. He has the traits to become a good starter early in his career.

26: Cleveland Browns

• Asante Samuel Jr, CB, Florida State

The Browns could go with an edge rusher here, but with the new addition of Jadeveon Clowney, they pick up a solid cornerback in the draft. Asante Samuel Jr is a good pick, being tough, strong, and physical. He should make contested catches a nightmare for NFL receivers.

27: Baltimore Ravens

• Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami

After Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue left for free agency, the Ravens are desperate for a new edge rusher. Gregory Rousseau is a good fit for the Ravens and could be their next Terrell Suggs. He has the physical traits of an NFL superstar, and if he can develop, he could become one.

28: New Orleans Saints

• Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

The Saints don't have a ton of holes that need to be filled, however, cornerback is their biggest one. Greg Newsome should be able to come in and be a consistent and reliable starter for the Big Easy.

29: Green Bay Packers

• Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

The Packers have had the same need this year as the past few years. Find a wide receiver to take the pressure off of Davante Adams. Green Bay has done fine with the Aaron Rodgers Davante Adams duo, however, they can't still rely on that. Rondale Moore is a solid receiver that should help out the Packers.

30: Buffalo Bills

• Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami

The Bills don't have a lot of needs, and their best bet is to go with an edge rusher here. Jaelan Phillips is a great option, as he is explosive, flexible, strong, and has a high motor. Phillips has had some injuries in the past, but if he can stay healthy, he should develop into a solid starter.

31: Kansas City Chiefs

• Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

The Chiefs saw what happened when you don't have a good defense, and Tom Brady made them pay last super bowl. Drafting Zaven Collins would make their linebacker core one of the best in the NFL.

32: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington

Somehow, the Buccaneers will have all 32 starters from their super bowl winning team back this year. They could add depth at defensive tackle by drafting Levi Onwuzurike. Two starters on their defensive line are already past 30, so they draft a younger replacement

 

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