2021 NFL Draft: Two-rounds of 2021 mock draft madness.
NFL teams are reporting back to training camp and the league is putting policies in place all over the country for what a 2020 season could look like. Football is back, but the 2021 NFL Draft — which seems a long way off, but really it’s not — could be one of the most fascinating in recent memory.
The reason the intrigue surrounding the 2021 NFL Draft is so much different than in years past? No one knows if there’s going to be a college football season in 2020, and if there is, no one knows what it’s going to look like or when it will be.
If the NCAA decides to try a season but delayed by a few months, will players choose to opt-out of it?
If the season isn’t played, how many guys are going to bet on what they’ve already put on tape? In the NFL world, a year is incredibly valuable to every single player. Going into the NFL Draft at the age of 23 compared to the age of 24 is a massive difference for NFL teams.
With that being said, even if the NCAA is able to work something out to give guys extra eligibility, what we thought the 2020 college season could look like could be substantially different. Would Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields even play?
If they decide to start late, I don’t think so, and I think many others would do the same.
The NFL seems adamant about having a season and starting it on time. Everything has gone as the NFL initially scheduled it from free agency to the NFL Draft, and even with OTAs being canceled around the league in person, teams were still able to meet online with their players.
If the NFL presses forward while college football is forced to sit out, the 2021 NFL Draft would be pretty strange, to say the least.
With all of that said, it’s never too early for a new mock draft.
For this particular mock draft, I wanted to use Pro Football Focus’ roster rankings heading into the 2020 season for the order.
I included one major trade in the first round involving a quarterback prospect and a team I felt PFF had ranked way too high on their overall roster rankings.
Using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine and team needs, here is the latest two-round mock draft I came up with for the 2021 NFL Draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Although I’m not completely on board for the Jaguars picking first overall, if they’re picking this high in the 2021 NFL Draft then I’m guessing Gardner Minshew had something to do with it.
If there is no college football season, we could be getting robbed of Trevor Lawrence’s attempt to overshadow what Joe Burrow was able to put together in 2019 for the LSU Tigers.
Is Lawrence that good?
Absolutely, he is.
Considered the best young QB prospect to come along since Andrew Lock from before he had even picked a college school to attend, Lawrence is one of the most highly anticipated players coming from the college ranks in the last decade.
He has every tool necessary to be an instant success at the NFL level, and he’s proven the moment is not too big for him, leading Clemson to a national title his first year on campus.
If the Jaguars end up in the quarterback market next offseason or with the top overall pick as in this scenario, they would be making a really wise pick going after Lawrence.
2. Washington Football Team: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
The Washington Football Team has a cornerstone piece defensively in Chase Young, an elite prospect among elite prospects on their defensive front.
They also have a quarterback worth putting stock into in 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins.
If the Washington Football Team is picking this high next year, it’s hard to imagine they won’t be in the market for a quarterback.
With that said, I also think they could continue to press on with Dwayne Haskins, and if that’s the case, they would need to add the next big piece of their rebuild — a premier tackle prospect.
Sewell is considered one of the best tackle prospects to come along in the last two or three decades. His presence would give Washington building blocks at three of the most critical positions on the roster: Quarterback, edge, and left tackle.
I have been on record as stating the Washington Football Team will not be picking this high next year because of the impact I think Ron Rivera can make with their talented pass rush unit, but if they are picking this high, Penei Sewell would be a great fit to protect Haskins and lock down the left side of that Washington offensive line.
3. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
The Miami Dolphins had three first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The former Alabama star is going into a very fun situation with the Dolphins, and it’s hard to see them being worse in 2020 with him under center, especially if he’s able to stay healthy.
Apparently, PFF thinks very little of the Dolphins’ overall roster, and parts of that certainly make sense.
Still, this team overachieved with a worse roster in 2019 and I think we could see them as a contender in the AFC East in 2020.
If they are picking this high, it’s hard not to be intrigued by the possibility of Ja’Marr Chase in this slot. Chase averaged over 21 yards per catch last year for LSU, and he caught 84 passes.
That’s downright silly production.
As a result, he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Without Joe Burrow under center for LSU in 2020 and without Justin Jefferson drawing attention in the slot, it will be fascinating to see how Chase performs.
Provided there’s a college season of some sort.
4. Carolina Panthers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The Carolina Panthers are quickly looking like one of the potential favorites around the NFL to contend for the top overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
PFF’s roster rankings have them pretty close.
In this mock draft scenario, the Panthers get a little bit lucky with the Washington team going offensive tackle and the Miami Dolphins already having a quarterback, leaving Justin Fields right there for the taking.
Fields broke out in the 2019 college season as one of the best quarterbacks in the country, lighting up defenses as a pocket passer and proving he can be just as frustrating to defend as a runner.
Fields running the Panthers’ offense with all of their weapons in the passing game and running game would be a lot of fun to watch.
All due respect to Teddy Bridgewater, if the Panthers are picking this high in next year’s draft, plenty of that blame will likely fall on him.
5. New York Jets: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)
The New York Jets made a pretty significant dent in a pretty massive roster overhaul during the 2020 NFL Draft, but there is still work to be done in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Jets added Mekhi Becton as a blindside protector for Sam Darnold and managed to get Denzel Mims out of Baylor with their second-round selection.
One of the bigger weaknesses on this roster looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft? Edge rusher.
Even just as a redshirt freshman in 2019, Gregory Rousseau was a terror for the Miami Hurricanes defense, racking up 54 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 15.5 sacks.
Hopefully, we are able to see what Rousseau can do with a player like Quincy Roche on the other side of him in the pass rush.
If the Jets are picking in the top 10 next year, we could see wholesale changes on the roster and in the coaching staff, and that could potentially include a change at the quarterback position.
That might be another topic for another day.
Assuming they continue to build around Darnold, Rousseau would be a nice pick and a possible cornerstone piece of the defense for the foreseeable future.
6. New York Giants: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
It feels like just about every year, the New York Giants are in the market for a linebacker in the NFL Draft.
As it turns out, the stars could be aligning for a union between them and Micah Parsons in the 2021 NFL Draft.
When all is said and done, don’t be surprised if a lot of people talk themselves into Micah Parsons as the best defensive player in the entire 2021 NFL Draft class.
He flies around the field with ridiculous play speed, instincts, coverage ability, pass rush abilities, and everything in between.
An absolute specimen at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, Parsons was the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year after racking up 109 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups, and four forced fumbles.
He’s a game-changer.
7. Chicago Bears: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
*Projected trade with Bengals*
The Chicago Bears actually had the no. 12 pick on this order initially, so Pro Football Focus thinks pretty highly of their overall roster (higher than I think) with probably a heavy weight towards the defensive side of the ball.
The Bears brought in Nick Foles this offseason to compete with Mitch Trubisky, their top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and that has lit a fire in Trubisky’s belly.
Even with that being the case, Trubisky has not shown the type of development through the early portion of his career to warrant a long-term investment, and even if the Bears win in spite of Trubisky this year, they could be heavy in the market for QBs in 2021.
Enter Trey Lance, this year’s not-so-mystery man at QB.
Lance is the latest in a line of fine QB prospects to come out of the NDSU program, including Carson Wentz and Easton Stick.
Lance is a dynamic type of player with the ability to beat you with his arm and his legs, and NDSU uses him as a runner quite a bit. That didn’t translate to many mistakes last year, though, and Lance racked up around 4,000 yards of total offense without a single interception.
This guy’s talent is through the roof.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Marvin Wilson, DL, Florida State
I want so badly to put a quarterback here for the Raiders. How much longer are they going to be at it with Derek Carr as their quarterback?
If they’re picking in the top 10 of next year’s draft, I am not sure the Raiders can afford to go with another young option at the position, although Jon Gruden is certainly capable of falling in love with the young guys in this class. Perhaps he and Mike Mayock will pay the price for someone like Justin Fields or Trey Lance.
If they don’t have a shot at any of the top three guys as in this scenario, Marvin Wilson is not a bad secondary option.
Wilson is a playmaker on the defensive interior with size, length, quickness, strong hands, and pass rush ability.
The Raiders have quietly been doing a nice job of building their roster as they move to Las Vegas, and adding a presence on the defensive interior like Wilson would be great for the rest of the players they have in the fold.
9. Arizona Cardinals: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The Arizona Cardinals have done plenty over the last two years to upgrade their offense.
They hired Kliff Kingsbury as their head coach and he promptly began building the team around quarterback Kyler Murray.
After Murray, the Cardinals used a second-round pick in 2019 on slot receiver Andy Isabella, a dynamic athlete who could be one of their top breakout players in 2020.
The Cardinals also swung trades for running back Kenyan Drake — who was tremendous in 2019 for them — and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who could very well be the best wide receiver in the entire league.
Even with all of that, the Cardinals lack a presence at the tight end position, which is where Kyle Pitts could really come in handy.
Pitts is a chameleon offensively with the ability to play a variety of positions including in-line as the tight end, and his dynamic combination of size, speed, athletic ability, and strong hands would make him an impossible one-on-one cover with the rest of the talent on Arizona’s roster.
10. Miami Dolphins (from Texans): Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
This was somewhat of a shocker to see Houston’s roster so low on PFF’s overall roster rankings, but Bill O’Brien has certainly done a good job of making life harder for DeShaun Watson by trading his most trusted target in the passing game and letting defenders go left and right.
The Texans’ inability to surround Hopkins aside, this is about the Miami Dolphins.
Earlier in this mock draft, the Dolphins used a selection on LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. This seems a bit over the top, but I’m playing with ideas and the Dolphins don’t have a ton in the cupboard at wide receiver right now outside of DeVante Parker.
Albert Wilson and a host of others are free agents after the 2020 season, so the Dolphins are going to need to revamp the receiver position one way or another.
Why not add two of the most dynamic threats in the entire 2020 NFL Draft?
Miami has invested a lot defensively in the first two years of the Brian Flores era, and understandably so.
They could significantly boost their offense with top playmakers on rookie contracts to surround Tua Tagovailoa with the best talent possible.
Adding Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle of the top 10 of the same draft? That may seem crazy, but the Dolphins would be electric on offense.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be getting ready to move on from Leonard Fournette, if not at some point in the 2020 season then certainly after.
Although Fournette has been tremendous at times, he and the Jaguars haven’t been the right fit for each other so it’s close to time to move on.
It’s certainly not always the preferred method to go for a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft, but the Jaguars are looking at a situation here with Trevor Lawrence coming in and an offensive unit that will have very little without Fournette in terms of running game talent.
Travis Etienne would be joining his Clemson teammate in this scenario, always a fun way to operate in the NFL Draft, and he certainly brings a lot to the table to be worthy of this selection.
Etienne has home run ability but he is also a patient runner and much more physical than he’s given credit.
He surprisingly decided to go back to Clemson for another season despite having some first-round potential in the 2020 NFL Draft.
12. Cincinnati Bengals: Wyatt Davis, OL, Ohio State
For the Cincinnati Bengals, the 2021 offseason will need to be focused on doing whatever it takes to make life better and easier for Joe Burrow.
Learn from the mistakes Bill O’Brien has been making with the Houston Texans’ roster and don’t make the same ones.
The Bengals spent a first-round pick in 2018 on Billy Price, and that hasn’t exactly worked out. They are projected to have Michael Jordan starting at one of the guard positions, and that’s normally been a very good thing if you’re a professional sports franchise.
With that said, Jordan could be joined or even supplanted by fellow Buckeye Wyatt Davis, who is probably the unquestioned top interior lineman in the 2021 NFL Draft at this point.
This guy is pro-ready in every facet of his game and another season at Ohio State is just going to be a little warm-up before he’s mauling people at the NFL level.
13. Atlanta Falcons: Jaylen Twyman, DL, Pittsburgh
There were rumors leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft that the Atlanta Falcons were potentially interested in trading up for someone like Jeffrey Okudah or Javon Kinlaw to upgrade their defense.
They ultimately stayed put with the 16th overall pick and selected AJ Terrell out of Clemson, taking defensive lineman Marlon Davidson later on.
With Davidson’s flexibility to play off the edge, the idea of the Falcons going after more of an interior player with this pick is intriguing.
Jaylen Twyman burst onto the scene for Pittsburgh last season, racking up 41 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and a pair of pass breakups.
Twyman has a good first step off the snap and some nice length, strength, and pass rush ability from the interior.
With Marlon Davidson, Dante Fowler Jr., and Grady Jarrett, Twyman’s arrival could give the Falcons one of the most athletic and disruptive defensive fronts in the NFC.
14. Detroit Lions: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Despite the fact that both Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb were probably better overall prospects, Henry Ruggs III showed how valuable play speed is in today’s NFL when he was the WR1 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2020 NFL Draft has perhaps a bigger gap between the best guys, but Rondale Moore could very much sneak himself into the WR1 conversation with his tremendous long speed, play speed, quickness, and open-field abilities.
Although he was hurt in 2019 and we didn’t get to see the encore, Moore’s freshman season was electrifying and fun to watch every single week.
He had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns on offense and he averaged over 20 yards per kickoff return.
Moore is a big play waiting to happen and there could be some transition for Detroit’s wide receiver group in 2021. Moore would be a tremendous addition and a big-time weapon for the Lions.
15. New England Patriots: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The Patriots watched the mass exodus of big-name players happen in 2020 with very little in terms of a knee-jerk response.
The Patriots waited until two months after the 2020 NFL Draft to sign Cam Newton to a very modest contract.
They didn’t rush to make a move to get a big-time receiver at tight end. The Patriots calmly utilized the 2020 NFL Draft to replenish some key areas of their roster and make plans for the future of the squad.
They will continue that in the 2021 NFL Draft, no doubt.
At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Caleb Farley is certainly one of the most physically gifted athletes at cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft crop. He’s also known for being one of the most athletic.
Farley made Bruce Feldman’s “freaks” list after clocking over 24 miles per hour in an actual game last season.
That is some insane speed for a corner of this size.
16. Minnesota Vikings: Hamilcar Rashed, EDGE, Oregon State
The Minnesota Vikings are taking on a lot more roster turnover in 2020 than anyone who is a fan of any of the other 31 NFL teams probably realizes.
The Vikings lost Stefon Diggs notably with the trade to the Buffalo Bills, but they also lost guys like Everson Griffen defensively along with most of their top contributing cornerbacks.
The pass rush needs to be revamped in Minnesota, and perhaps a somewhat underrated player from Oregon State can help.
Hamilcar Rashed was an All-American in 2019 with 62 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks along with a pair of forced fumbles.
Even as productive as Rashed was last season for the Beavers, his upside is tremendous because there’s room to grow in terms of his strength and overall game, but the pass rush ability he has was on full display last season.
He could address a big need for the Vikings in 2021.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
A couple of years ago, the Los Angeles Chargers got themselves a big-time steal when Derwin James inexplicably fell to the middle of the first round of the draft.
In the 2021 NFL Draft, they would be thanking the football gods again for gifting them perhaps the ideal 2021 first-round pick in Alex Leatherwood.
Leatherwood has played a couple of positions for the Crimson Tide, but he settled in as Jonah Williams’ replacement at left tackle and he’s been doing a very good job with signs he can be even better.
He would have been a mid-late first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft as well, but Leatherwood’s decision to return to school for the 2020 season should make him stand out among the crowd at tackle in 2021.
He’s big, long, physical, and heavy-handed. Although he isn’t the most fleet of foot, Alex Leatherwood should be a solid starting left tackle right away in the NFL.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
If the Seahawks are in the market for a center in the 2021 NFL Draft, they couldn’t ask for a better scenario than this.
I don’t think Humphrey would have ranked too far behind a player like Cesar Ruiz in the 2020 NFL Draft had he declared, even as a redshirt sophomore.
Humphrey has a wrestling background and it shows up in the way he plays with his scrappy, aggressive mentality. He does a great job getting everything lined up as the man in charge of calling out protections.
Humphrey is strong and likes to be a bully on the interior offensive line.
The Seahawks have to deal with some of the best defensive line play in the NFL coming from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Arizona.
Humphrey can help them deal with some of those interior pass rushers trying to get after Russell Wilson.
19. Denver Broncos: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Denver Broncos may have to move on from left tackle Garett Bolles after the 2020 season.
Bolles, a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, simply has not developed the way the team had hoped up to this point. The Broncos declined his fifth-year team option for 2021, which doesn’t mean his departure is set in stone, but it doesn’t look good.
With that said, Bolles will get another year to prove that he can take Mike Munchak’s coaching.
If that doesn’t happen, Bolles will be out and the Broncos could be in the market for a first-round offensive tackle to protect Drew Lock’s blind side.
Samuel Cosmi is an athletic pass protector who certainly has some improvements to make to his technique and consistency, but the tools and upside are all there.
20. Indianapolis Colts: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The Colts would have to be pinching themselves at this point if Shaun Wade were still on the board.
Wade has inside-outside versatility, and hopefully, he gets to show what he can do in 2020 with Jeffrey Okudah no longer casting a large shadow over everyone else in the Ohio State secondary.
Wade is physical, aggressive, and tremendous in coverage. He can also blitz and be effective that way.
More than willing and capable in run support, Wade has everything you look for in a starting defensive back from versatility to all-around production.
The Colts somewhat showed their hand here by signing veteran Xavier Rhodes to a contract along with veteran TJ Carrie in 2020. There are long-term needs remaining at cornerback for the Colts and Shaun Wade could definitely help with that.
21. Green Bay Packers: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Packers faithful are probably still recovering from the shock of the Jordan Love pick in April’s draft, but the idea of bringing in someone like DeVonta Smith could ease their frustrations a bit.
Although Jordan Love is not a bad prospect, the Packers did some serious damage by putting a clock on Aaron Rodgers’ time with the team.
How much damage? We won’t know for a couple of months, but Rodgers has been outspoken that it means he won’t be finishing his career in Green Bay.
DeVonta Smith was a bit overshadowed this past season by Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, even a bit by Jaylen Waddle. That doesn’t mean he’s not a first-round prospect in his own right.
Smith has big-play ability, really good speed, and he would be a dynamic vertical threat to go along with Davante Adams in Green Bay.
In three seasons at Alabama, Smith is averaging 18 yards per reception and he’s got 23 touchdowns and counting.
22. Cleveland Browns: Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
The Cleveland Browns are not far removed from the offseason that made them the best-looking young roster of skill position talent in the entire NFL.
A disappointing 2019 has certainly pumped the brakes on the Browns hype train, but this is a talented team that could take a massive leap forward in 2020.
It looks like PFF is projecting that by having the Browns ranked as a borderline top 10 roster in the entire league.
With Kevin Stefanski coming in, the philosophy in Cleveland could change a bit but I think Baker Mayfield will benefit tremendously and moving forward, the Browns would be wise to potentially invest in another receiver to play on the outside with Jarvis Landry in the slot.
Seth Williams out of Auburn is a player to keep an eye on.
Watching through a lot of Auburn games in the 2020 NFL Draft circuit, Williams was a player who consistently stood out when evaluating other players.
He scored eight touchdowns last season despite some inconsistency from young Bo Nix, and he should be even better in 2020 if college football has a season.
I like his fit in Cleveland as a big-bodied outside target who can block, make plays downfield, and take pressure off the other talented receivers in the lineup.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Some key free agents and players at other positions could force the Steelers into another position atop their 2020 NFL Draft class, but the value of Patrick Surtain II was too much to pass on at this point in the mock draft.
Surtain has the size, aggressiveness, and refined technique to be a big impact in his first year in the league.
He has really shown himself to be a big-time playmaker in two seasons for the Crimson Tide, breaking up 15 passes, picking off three, and forcing three fumbles in 2019 alone.
Pittsburgh is going to have a variety of questions to answer next offseason, not the least of which is whether or not Ben Roethlisberger will be back, which seems to be an annual deal at this point.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is a big free agent along with running back James Conner in very uncertain economic times for the NFL.
This Pittsburgh roster may be top 10 for the 2020 season but for how much longer?
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
The Philadelphia Eagles love speed, and Dylan Moses flies around the field at the linebacker position.
At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Moses is the NFL’s new prototype for the linebacker position in the mold of a guy like Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers who can do everything for you.
He’s a legit sub-4.5 speed type of player on the field and despite having only one year of real starting experience at Alabama and coming off a pre-season injury, he would have probably contended for LB1 honors in the 2020 NFL Draft.
He’s that gifted.
Somewhat of an old-school type of player in terms of the way he loves to hit people and make them pay for coming into his territory, Moses would be a perfect piece in the middle of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense, which also added a tremendous amount of speed at linebacker in 2020 with Colorado’s Davion Taylor.
Having a linebacker group with a ton of speed can get you in trouble at times because guys tend to be lighter and less effective against the run, but that’s not the case with Dylan Moses. He can do it all.
25. Tennessee Titans: Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest
The Tennessee Titans have been one of the consistent teams rumored to have interest in free agent Jadeveon Clowney, so apparently this team is in need of a solution off the edge.
Carlos Basham may be one of the best kept secrets in college football and certainly in the ACC.
Not only is he big and powerful as a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end prospect, but Basham is one of the freakiest athletes in all of college football and he shows off his freaky speed often.
As well as Basham played as a junior and as little depth as this 2021 NFL Draft class has in terms of pure pass rushers, he could wind up going a lot higher than this.
If not, he’d be a steal for the Titans and a tremendous fit opposite Harold Landry with the ability to stand up or play with his hand in the dirt.
26. Buffalo Bills: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
The Buffalo Bills have one of the most well-rounded rosters in the NFL heading into the 2020 NFL season.
With that said, they may be looking for some upgrades on the defensive line come time for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Mario Addison is not a long-term solution for the team off the edge, and Jerry Hughes is also going to be 33 in the 2021 season. Star Lotulelei is also not getting any younger.
Sean McDermott’s defensive system has been great for the linemen coming through Buffalo, and I love the idea of adding the versatile Aidan Hutchinson to the mix along with 2020 second-round pick AJ Epenesa.
Hutchinson, like Epenesa, can play all over the defensive line but I think Hutchinson can play even more of a full-time role inside.
With his length, strength, and pass rushing skills, Hutchinson should be a fast riser in the 2021 NFL Draft process.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Caden Sterns, S, Texas
The Dallas Cowboys didn’t get a long-term deal done with Dak Prescott, which will be a dark cloud hanging over their entire 2020 season.
Even if Prescott had signed a contract extension, the Cowboys couldn’t possibly replace all of the talent they had hit the 2020 free agent market in one offseason, and that’s where Caden Sterns comes into play.
The Cowboys brought in Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix to potentially fill in for this season, but will he be a long-term option? They may need to address this position high in the 2021 NFL Draft, and this kid would be a fun option.
The local Longhorns product has been a stud in his first two seasons of college ball, racking up 121 total tackles over the past two seasons with four interceptions, seven tackles for loss, and five pass breakups.
Sterns could be a player the Cowboys look at, or maybe they decide to try and package some picks together to make the long-anticipated trade for Jets safety Jamal Adams, who has been rumored to be interested in a trade to Dallas.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent a lot of money in the 2020 offseason and perhaps no team in the NFL will look as drastically different in 2020 compared to 2019.
The Bucs obviously brought in Tom Brady and let go of former top overall pick Jameis Winston. They made a trade for Rob Gronkowski and added some big pieces through the 2020 NFL Draft in Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr.
This Bucs team is ready to do some damage in 2020 and Pro Football Focus is acknowledging the drastic roster changes by pegging them as a top-five roster in the entire league right now.
That might be a bit over the top, but time will tell.
If the Bucs are picking this low and they have a shot at a player like Christian Barmore, he could be a nice fit in their current defensive line group.
He’s only got one year of experience with the Tide, but Barmore is built NFL ready at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, and he showed some playmaking skills last season with 26 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks.
The Bucs have such a talented defensive front and getting a player like Barmore with positional versatility up front could give the edge players an even easier job on Sundays.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
The rich keep on getting richer.
The Kansas City Chiefs are about as well constructed as a team can be in the modern NFL with Patrick Mahomes already a league and Super Bowl MVP before any of his massive contract extension starts to count against the cap.
Mahomes’ deal structure allowed the Chiefs not only to trade for and sign a player like Frank Clark off the edge, but also to keep Chris Jones around and happy as well as bring in Tyrann Mathieu last season.
With all of that said, the clearest area of weakness on the Kansas City roster right now — barring breakout performances — is at cornerback.
How about a legacy player to come and fill the need?
Asante Samuel Jr.’s dad could really play, and even though he and Andy Reid maybe have some history, this would be a great pickup for KC at the bottom of the first round.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
The San Francisco 49ers have spent a ton of draft capital in the last four years upgrading their defensive front seven.
Now, the tide could be shifting to the defensive backfield.
Tyson Campbell is a player who really needs some form of a 2020 college football season to happen since injuries limited him to just nine games last season after a tremendous freshman campaign.
Still, the traits are evident and the ability is there for Campbell to be a first-round player.
Campbell is a physical, aggressive player whose ability in zone coverage is one of his standout traits at this point. He attacks the football in the air and prides himself on making his presence felt as a hitter as well.
31. New Orleans Saints: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The Saints and wide receiver seem to be the popular marriage in the 2021 NFL Draft as of right now.
It makes sense with Emmanuel Sanders over 33 years old at this point, and receivers usually taking about a year or so to get the swing of things at the NFL level.
As good as the 2020 NFL Draft class was at wide receiver, you have to wonder if — even just at the top — the 2021 class is even better.
Rashod Bateman was awesome in tandem this past year at Minnesota with Tyler Johnson, a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With quarterback Tanner Morgan and a host of others returning to the Minnesota program in 2020, Bateman is on track to really put on a show for NFL scouts should the college season be played.
Bateman caught 60 passes last year for the Gophers, averaged over 20 yards per reception, and finished with 11 touchdowns. He was an absolute monster in every way and he’s only going to keep getting better.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee
NFL teams are very likely going to have a tough time evaluating Trey Smith with some prior health concerns, but he appeared on track as of the later portion of the 2019 college football season.
Smith’s unreal strength and power are his calling cards, so he would fit right in with a team like Baltimore, which lost the great Marshal Yanda to retirement in the 2020 offseason.
Smith certainly needs some refining as he is rough around the edges in terms of his pass protecting technique and his willingness to let just strength and bullish power overcome mechanics at times, but that can be easily overcome.
He was a big-time recruit coming out of high school and with what he’s shown in the early stages of his college career, it looks like he will have a long future as an NFL interior lineman and a fit in Baltimore and their rushing attack is almost too perfect.
Second Round
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
34. Washington team: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami (FL)
35. Miami Dolphins: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
36. Carolina Panthers: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
37. New York Jets: Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest
38. New York Giants: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
39. Cincinnati Bengals: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Temple
40. Las Vegas Raiders: Tanner Morgan, QB, Minnesota
41. Arizona Cardinals: Brant Kuithe, TE, Utah
42. Miami Dolphins (from Texans): Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, Florida State
43. Los Angeles Rams: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
44. Chicago Bears: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
45. Atlanta Falcons: Zamir White, RB, Georgia
46. Detroit Lions: Tyler Shelvin, IDL, LSU
47. New England Patriots: Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia
48. Minnesota Vikings: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
49. Los Angeles Chargers: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
50. Seattle Seahawks: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
51. Denver Broncos: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
52. Indianapolis Colts: Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
53. Green Bay Packers: Amon-Ra St.Brown, WR, USC
54. Cleveland Browns: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State
55. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC
56. Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
57. Tennessee Titans: Darius Stills, IDL, West Virginia
58. Buffalo Bills: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
59. Dallas Cowboys: Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
61. Kansas City Chiefs: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
62. San Francisco 49ers: Paris Ford, S, Pittsburgh
63. New Orleans Saints: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
64. Baltimore Ravens: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan