2021 NFL Draft: Jets and Giants kick off this first-round mock draft
By David Glancy
Woeful football in New York pits the Jets and Giants on a collision course for the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The end of October marks the end of plenty of NFL teams remaining playoff hopes. An 0-7 start from the Jets sees the New York franchise in the driver’s seat for the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes, but the Giants aren’t far behind after a 1-6 start. Houston, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Minnesota and the Bengals are all in the running for the first overall spot with each team owning just one win.
After an 0-4 start, a lack of a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and the questionable DeAndre Hopkins trade, the Texans fired Bill O’Brien from both head coach and general manager roles. Meanwhile, the Jets should be expected to move on from coach Adam Gase as the only remaining winless franchise.
The Falcons won six of their final eight games in 2019 to save Dan Quinn’s job, but after blowing several multi-score leads this season, Quinn will need more late-season luck and a playoff appearance to stay in Atlanta. With a current top-five pick, Matt Ryan’s job could be in question under a new regime with a Falcons franchise that has been unfamiliar with an early first-round pick.
Likewise, a 1-5 start puts the Minnesota Vikings in uncharted waters with the Vikings in a spot to potentially move on from Kirk Cousins. Cousins would carry a $41 million cut if released after the season but could groom a replacement and released at a more team-friendly $10 million hit the following year. Like the Falcons, Minnesota’s rough start goes beyond just quarterback play. A new coach and high value 2021 draft pick could put either team back in playoff contention.
With the NFC East-leading Eagles at 2-4-1, each franchise is in as much of a position for the first overall pick as they are for a playoff appearance. The first two months of the NFL season have led to plenty of interesting storylines and we take a deeper look into the 2021 NFL Draft if the season ended today.