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

The Jets acquired Seattle’s first-round picks in the 2021 and 2022 NFL Drafts after trading star safety Jamal Adams this past offseason. After the new regime moves on from Sam Darnold, the Jets rebuild around Trevor Lawrence and look to add a primary receiver opposite 2020 second-round pick, Denzel Mims.

Rondale Moore gives Lawrence his “Tyreek Hill” style game-changing receiver. After recovering from a season-ending hamstring injury, Moore opted out of the 2020 season and should be fully healthy upon entering the NFL. Moore is possibly the most explosive playmaker in college football and gives the new Jets offense a lethal ball carrier and downfield threat.

The defending Super Bowl champions are currently projected as the number two seed in the AFC at 6-1 with a lone loss to the Raiders. The Chiefs have a strong lineup top to bottom and could go a variety of ways in the 2021 NFL Draft. Upgrading on the offensive line or at receiver could be prioritized with a late first-round pick, but instead, Kansas City looks to add young pieces defensively.

Given expiring contracts at defensive end, Kansas City looks to upgrade at pass rush and brings in Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. to line-up opposite of Frank Clark. After a dominant junior year accounting for 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, Basham Jr. is again off to a strong start with 5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss through 5 games. Basham Jr. may be the most underrated defensive player in the country and would be a steal in the late first.

At 5-1 the Packers have the joint-best record in the NFC and are slotted in as the NFC champions over Seattle. The Packers offense has continued to improve under second-year coach Matt LaFleur. After a 13-3 debut season, the Packers once again look strong and an improved offense is again led by Aaron Rodgers, despite the team’s decision to use their 2020 first-round pick on quarterback Jordan Love.

With another deep receiver class and the Packers in need of another explosive receiver, it would seem likely Green Bay targets a receiver for Love if not for Rodgers. Instead, the Packers remain consistent in avoiding a skill position in the first round and instead go with North Dakota State left tackle Dillon Radunz. Current left tackle David Bakhtiari is on the final year of his four-year contract and is yet to come to terms with the Packers. Instead of paying the 29-year-old Green Bay addresses the left end of their offensive line through the draft.

As the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves with the 32nd selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. With one of the top defenses in the league and a healthy Roethlisberger, the Steelers have been off to a strong start and look to address uncertain contract situations through the draft.

The Steelers extend outside linebacker Bud Dupree, currently on the franchise tag, opening the door for JuJu Smith-Schuster to possibly leave in free agency given the depth of the Steelers receiving group. After the retirement of right tackle Ramon Foster and a Week 1 early injury to Zach Banner, the Steelers could use depth at the offensive tackle position. Clemson star left tackle Jackson Carman gives the Steelers a replacement at either right tackle or 31-year-old Alejandro Villanueva who is in the final year of his four-year contract.