2021 NFL Draft: Jets and Giants kick off this first-round mock draft

As the only team yet to register a win, the New York Jets find themselves with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It should come as no surprise that third-year starting Clemson quarterback, Trevor Lawrence goes first. The biggest question then surrounding the Jets will be their head coach

After somehow surviving both Jamal Adams and Le’Veon Bell in New York, head coach Adam Gase continues to operate on borrowed time. The Jets ended last season strong but any momentum following the 2019 campaign has since passed. While the Jets are on track to replace the Browns as the dumpster fire of the league, New York should be able to attract a decent head coach with a first overall pick and a guarantee of Lawrence leading the offense for years to come.

Following the Jets is their city rival, New York Giants. Interestingly enough, the Giants are about as many games out of the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft as they are of clinching an NFC East divisional lead. If the Giants’ current form continues, this would be New York’s sixth top ten pick in the last nine years. What the Giants do with the second overall pick depends solely on general manager, Dave Gettleman’s future.

The Giants are 10-29 under Gettlemen and are currently under their second head coach after replacing Pat Shurmur with Joe Judge. It’s difficult imagining a scenario where New York picks second and Gettlemen retains his job, but if Gettleman remains in charge of the Giants draft strategy or if the new general manager believes in Daniel Jones, the New York Giants select the top offensive lineman and arguably most talented player available in the draft.

After a 10-6 and AFC Championship game appearance in Doug Marrone’s first complete year as the Jacksonville head coach, the Jaguars have since slumped to a 13-28 record and are off to a 1-6 start. It’s reasonable to expect a rebuilding Jaguar team to move on from the fourth-year head coach and end the honeymoon with Gardner Minshew II.

The Jaguars haven’t had a franchise quarterback since drafting Blake Bortles with the third overall pick of the 2014 Draft. Back in the third spot, the Jaguars take a quarterback hoping for better fortunes. While Lawrence is considered the top quarterback prospect, Justin Fields isn’t far off. Fields’ combination of arm strength, accuracy, and playmaking ability could make him the most successful quarterback in the class under the right staff.

After a late-season scramble to finish the 2019 season at 7-9, the Falcons did enough to save Dan Quinn’s job for another year. However, with another horrid start, the Falcons cut ties with Quinn after five full seasons and will be arguably the top available head coaching job. Atlanta has quarterback Matt Ryan under contract for three more seasons but holds a potential early out after next year, resulting in a dead cap hit of just under $27 million.

Atlanta still has a top-end quarterback under Ryan and with the weapons on offense, should be a playoff contender. A few tweaks defensively and a change in staff and Atlanta could be back in NFC South contention. After using their 2020 first-round pick at cornerback, Atlanta looks to improve one of the worst pass rushes with star defensive end Gregory Rosseau. Rosseau opted out of the 2020 college football season but trailed only second-round pick Chase Young in sacking the quarterback as a one-year starter.