2021 NFL Draft: Alabama, Ohio State load up two-round mock draft

2021 NFL Draft: Alabama, Ohio State load up 2021 2-round mock draft.

The 2021 NFL Draft order is set through the first 18 picks heading into the first round of the 2020-21 NFL playoffs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are slated to pick first overall and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be any surprise what happens there.

The heavily modified 2020 college football season is also about to come to a close with Ohio State taking on Alabama for the title of National Champion.

So much can unfold between now and the 2021 NFL Draft, but the list of prospects set to declare is growing and as teams in transition start to build up their front offices, plans to build rosters will start to take shape.

Here is a look at two rounds of 2021 mock draft madness with a couple of trades mixed in.

2021 NFL Draft first round: 1st pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars won the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes with 15 straight losses after winning their 2020 season opener.

It was predicted nearly a year ago that Jacksonville would earn the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and even with a talented young roster, injuries and COVID hurdles proved too much for this team to get into the win column more than once.

With Trevor Lawrence presumably on board, the Jaguars will have a chance to get back to contending sooner than later, but it’s still going to take some time.

The Jaguars will need some of their other recent draft picks to develop, and they will need to provide Lawrence with the kind of support around him to be successful, but he has the makeup of a prospect who will truly raise all boats.

Even as much as the NFL covets the drama of the event of the NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Jaguars attempted to sign Lawrence early and get him a playbook, get him into the fold, and get to work on building the rest of their 2021 NFL Draft class.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 2nd pick

In my most recent mock draft, I had Justin Fields as the quarterback falling out of the top 10 as questions mounted with inconsistent play in some of his recent games.

Fields’ games against Northwestern and Indiana in 2020, as well as Clemson in the 2019 college football playoff, raised some concerns over his decision-making abilities against attacking defenses.

Then came his gutty performance against Clemson in this year’s playoff, and the hype around Fields has been restored.

As time has gone along, Fields has pretty consistently been in the top 10 of mock drafts and it’s become apparent that he could very well have the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this draft class besides Lawrence.

Zach Wilson has become a favorite of many and he won’t need to wait long to hear his name called, but it is possible the Jets could fall in love with a guy like Fields, whose top traits at this point are obviously his intangible qualities, big arm, and athleticism.

This would mean the Jets’ new head coach and general manager Joe Douglas would have reasoned to move on from the Sam Darnold investment. There would likely be a number of suitors interested in adding Darnold and attempting to maximize his lofty potential in their systems.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 3rd pick

TRADE: Dolphins trade 3rd pick to Eagles for 6th pick, additional picks

This mock draft pick may never come to pass and also may drive Philadelphia Eagles fans absolutely nuts, but let’s look at the possibility for the time being.

We’ve seen reports that Carson Wentz’s relationship with Doug Pederson is broken beyond repair. The Eagles did use a second-round pick on Jalen Hurts in the 2020 NFL Draft, but that will not preclude them from going after a guy they believe can be a franchise QB if that’s how they view Zach Wilson.

You have to wonder why the Eagles would essentially throw their final game of the season so they would have the 6th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft instead of the 9th. The Eagles pulled Jalen Hurts (who wasn’t playing well at all, to be fair) and put Zach Sudfeld in the game, and the result was predictable.

Will the Eagles try to run it back with Wentz or has that ship sailed?

If that ship has sailed, they will need to consider any and all options.

Zach Wilson is as intriguing of a QB prospect as you will have come along in a given year. He’s a tremendous athlete with tons of arm talent and his playing style at times reminds of Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

He’s not to that level as a prospect but Wilson’s ability to create outside of the pocket and make ridiculous throws (in addition to being able to manage a game well) all lead to potential franchise QB status.

In this scenario, the Eagles would obviously be moving on from the Carson Wentz era and that discussion would be a fun one all on its own.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 4th pick

The Atlanta Falcons fired longtime general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn during the 2020 season, and they have cast a wide net to find their replacements.

Atlanta has an offense that, at least on paper, you would think could win a championship in today’s NFL. Matt Ryan is a good quarterback, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are one of the best receiver duos in the league, and the Falcons have invested a lot on the offensive line.

Defensively, however, the Falcons are a clear work in progress.

Atlanta’s defense was supposed to be their calling card under Dan Quinn but they have become notorious for blowing leads in recent years.

In 2020, the Falcons ranked 32nd against the pass and the team’s sack leader (off-ball linebacker Deion Jones) finished the year with 4.5 quarterback takedowns.

The Falcons need to upgrade in the coverage department as well as in the pass rush department, and Micah Parsons is a guy who can frankly do a bit of both.

Parsons is one of the most naturally gifted pass rushers in this class despite that not being his full-time position, and he’s also tremendous in coverage when that is his responsibility.

The best defensive player in this draft class, Parsons is an athletic freak who will fit whatever kind of defensive scheme the Falcons are poised to run.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 5th pick

Talk about a sigh of relief scenario for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bengals fans lost their collective you-know-what when Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending knee injury, one that ended up being severe and somewhat concerning regarding his availability for the start of the 2021 season.

As fans lamented Burrow’s season-ending injury, they also lamented the team’s poor situation on the offensive line.

Burrow had been hit hard all season long, and when he finally took a shot that got him hurt significantly, it triggered what will likely be the Bengals’ 2021 offseason motto: Protect the QB at all costs.

Lucky for the Bengals in this scenario, they are able to get the guy who is widely considered the best offensive line prospect in the entire class with the fifth overall pick.

Penei Sewell was lights out for two years as Justin Herbert’s blind side pass protector in Oregon’s offense, and while it’s been thrown around way too much, the term “generational” has come up with him.

Even if generational is a stretch, it’s not a stretch to say that Sewell could be one of the best investments the Bengals could make in the 2021 offseason.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 6th pick

In any 2021 mock draft scenario, does any player/team fit make more sense than the Miami Dolphins and wide receiver Devonta Smith?

The Dolphins don’t have an offensive coordinator as of this particular writing, so this is specifically connecting Smith to his former college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Smith has been sensational in his years at Alabama and it was somewhat of a shock that he went back to school for the 2020 season in the first place.

He would have been a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he returned to Alabama and wound up winning the Heisman Trophy, possibly even a National Championship as well.

Simply put, no one has been able to stop Smith all year and frankly, barely anybody could stop him in the 2019 season.

Smith’s greatest limitation at Alabama may have been playing with three other first-round picks at wide receiver at the same time.

As good as the Crimson Tide receiver corps has been the past few seasons, no wide receiver has won the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991. Smith has made history and even as odd as the 2020 season has been for the players, his dominance should come with no asterisk.

He would be a huge asset for Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 7th pick

The Detroit Lions need a new general manager and head coach.

How soon will they need a new quarterback?

One of the biggest rumors leading up to the 2021 offseason is what the future might hold for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Will Detroit’s new general manager hold onto him? Will he actually be traded?

If the Lions go with a full rebuild, they will obviously be in the market for a quarterback high in this class. But what if they run it back with Stafford? What would this team need the most?

I think it’s no question a wide receiver to complement Kenny Golladay.

The Lions’ receiver group needs an infusion of youth as the team’s top receiver in terms of targets was Marvin Jones, who is now north of 30 years old.

Golladay is a free agent, as well.

Ja’Marr Chase is one of the most physical receivers in this class and despite not having the ideal frame, he’s got such a well-rounded skill set and is one of the best receivers in a deep class of players at winning at the catch point.

Chase turns into a bulldozer after the catch and is too strong for arm tackles.

Transitioning to the NFL, Chase looks like he will be a high-volume receiver who is capable of making huge plays from any part of the field, whether he’s getting the ball vertically or in the short/intermediate passing game.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 8th pick

The Carolina Panthers made some huge changes in the 2020 offseason when they hired Matt Rhule as their head coach, then spent their entire 2020 NFL Draft on the defensive side of the ball.

Why not keep things going in that direction?

Whoever the Panthers hire as their new general manager, they are undoubtedly going to want to go with a little more balance in 2021 but there is no question that they need help in the secondary.

Caleb Farley, who is probably going to wind up being almost a unanimous CB1 in this class, would almost be a steal at this juncture.

Farley’s man cover skills are tremendous and his ball skills are second to none in this particular class, which is good at the top.

In 26 games for Virginia Tech, Farley picked off six passes and broke up 19. He is so fluid for a player who checks in at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds. At that size, he can match up with any type of receiver on the outside and he has the foot quickness to keep up with the smaller, shiftier receivers as well.

The Panthers picked off just seven passes in the 2020 season, good for third-worst in the entire league. They need to prioritize creating turnovers and that’s what Farley can bring to the table.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 9th pick

TRADE: Broncos trade 9th pick to Patriots for 15th pick, additional picks

The New England Patriots have to be one of the likeliest teams in the NFL to have a complete overhaul of their quarterback position in the 2021 offseason, but what will that look like?

For starters, the Patriots might try to bring in someone like veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to get the ship afloat and bridge the gap to a rookie.

That rookie could wind up being North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, one of the best athletes at the quarterback position in the past couple of draft classes.

Lance has a big arm and what he lacks in experience, he makes up for with talent and potential.

The fact that he started just 17 games at the college level will certainly give teams pause, but if the Patriots are able to keep their current offensive coaching staff in place, they definitely have implemented plenty of concepts that would work for Lance over the long haul during the 2020 season with Cam Newton starting.

Whatever NFL team drafts Lance is going to need a scheme that can cater to his obvious skills as a runner, but perhaps (significantly) less than he did at North Dakota State.

Lance is capable of winning from the pocket but how quick will his NFL transition be?

The Patriots need to do a little retooling of their roster in general, so having a player like Fitzpatrick to bridge the gap to Lance could get the Patriots into playoff contention in 2021 and allow Lance to take over a successful operation at some point shortly thereafter.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 10th pick

The Dallas Cowboys struck gold in the 2020 NFL Draft when they were able to get both CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs with their top two picks.

The defense in Dallas still needs a ton of attention.

The Cowboys let go of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, so they are going to be running a different scheme on that side of the ball for 2021 and beyond.

No matter who is calling the shots defensively, the Cowboys will need to make adjustments to the secondary and there might not be a better situation for them than looking Patrick Surtain II straight in the face with their top draft choice.

Surtain is a legacy player whose father was an excellent cornerback in his time in the NFL, but Surtain II looks like he could wind up being one of the better man cover corners in the NFL sooner rather than later.

Although his athleticism doesn’t always shine on tape, Surtain is rarely bested and has been consistently good for the last three seasons for the Crimson Tide.

He is NFL-ready and would immediately become the Cowboys’ CB1.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 11th overall

The New York Giants fought to the bitter end and despite only winning six games in the 2020 season, they had a shot at the postseason.

Despite having that shot at the playoffs, the Giants’ roster needs continued work on both sides of the ball.

In particular, they need some legitimate weapons in the passing game. Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle could be an absolute highway robbery here if he’s still available.

Waddle was explosive every time he touched the ball at Alabama and his long speed makes him a threat to score at any part of the field.

In addition to averaging over 19 yards per reception over three seasons (33 games) with the Crimson Tide, Waddle was a phenomenal returner on special teams.

You think that will appeal to Joe Judge, a former special teams coordinator who also just happens to have worked on Nick Saban’s staff?

Given all of the Giants’ needs, this fit is basically a no-brainer.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 12th overall

The San Francisco 49ers traded defensive lineman DeForest Buckner in 2020 for a first-round pick from the Indianapolis Colts.

They replaced Buckner on the defensive front with South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.

Could they look at drafting Kinlaw’s former South Carolina teammate in the 2021 NFL Draft?

It might just be a perfect fit.

The 49ers will need an influx of youth in the defensive backfield anyway, and Horn’s style of play could be perfect for what the 49ers’ truly tremendous defensive front provides on their end.

Horn attacks the football in the air with an aggressive mentality and he takes no prisoners in the run game as well.

At his size, Horn more closely resembles a rocked-up safety but he has the quickness of a smaller cornerback.

With Nick Bosa back in 2021 and hopefully fully healthy, the 49ers’ defensive front will be causing havoc and there will be opportunities on the back end to cash in. Jaycee Horn might be the ideal guy to fall to them with their top pick if they are going defense.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 13th pick

The Los Angeles Chargers have struck gold with Justin Herbert, the QB3 of the 2020 NFL Draft who wound up setting the NFL’s rookie record for touchdown passes.

Even the most optimistic Herbert supporters couldn’t have foreseen the tremendous breakthrough he would experience as an NFL rookie, which started off with the strange competition with Tyrod Taylor for starting duties.

Now that Herbert has solidified himself as the Chargers’ franchise quarterback, they need to do everything in their power to protect their most valuable asset.

When you look at Darrisaw’s game, you see a player who has franchise left tackle written all over him. His size, length, athleticism, and killer instinct out there make him a top prospect at one of the most valuable positions in football.

Darrisaw was strong before this past season, but his 2020 campaign really put him over the top as far as being an intriguing guy and a must-have type of guy.

For the Chargers, this would almost be a no-brainer.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 14th pick

The Minnesota Vikings attempted to upgrade their edge position prior to the 2020 season by trading a second-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Yannick Ngakoue.

Whether they couldn’t reach a long-term deal or whatever the issue may have been, the Vikings opted to get back whatever value they could for Ngakoue and he’s now in Baltimore.

The Vikings still have a hole on the edge and really on the defensive line in general.

Kwity Paye doesn’t necessarily kill two birds with one stone, but he has the ability to play a versatile role off the edge as an outside/inside player.

In just four games in 2020, Paye had four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks but was an absolute terror off the edge in general.

He’s got a very intriguing blend of size and quickness around the edge but his greatest strength at this point is converting speed to power.

Ngakoue, who played just six games with the Vikings in 2020, finished the season as the team’s leader with five sacks. The next closest was Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had 3.5.

Adding to the pass rush is a necessity.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 15th pick

After trading down in this mock draft scenario, where do the Denver Broncos go?

After investing heavily on the offensive side of the ball in 2019 and 2020, it seems clear that the Broncos are going defense early in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Broncos could have stayed put at their 9th spot in this mock draft scenario and gone with someone like Patrick Surtain II for the secondary. Ultimately, the decision to go after the EDGE position comes down to Von Miller’s immediate and distant future with the team.

At the age of 31, Miller has one year left on his contract and there’s no guarantee he’s back in Denver at over $22 million in 2021 cap hit.

Would the Broncos honestly pay that with the cap going down in 2021?

It’s certainly possible, but it wouldn’t be wrong of them to go after EDGE even if Miller is back in 2021.

Azeez Ojulari was awesome in the 2020 season for Georgia and capped off his time with the Bulldogs in style, wrecking the end of their bowl game against Cincinnati.

Ojulari’s explosiveness off the edge could be game-changing for the Broncos, even if he’s just playing in rotation with Miller and Bradley Chubb.

The defensive backfield will need attention as well, but the Broncos really need to find more explosiveness off the edge which they had in spades when they won Super Bowl 50.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 16th pick

The Arizona Cardinals definitely have a plethora of weapons on the offensive side of the football to get involved.

What’s one more?

Larry Fitzgerald might not be back for the 2021 season and the Cardinals, although they don’t employ a tight end traditionally like other teams do, could really use some more secondary targets behind DeAndre Hopkins in the passing game.

With Hopkins drawing so much attention, a player who feasts on one-on-one coverage like Kyle Pitts could be a luxury the Cardinals can’t afford to pass on.

Pitts is a dynamic athlete whose ability to play in line, in the slot, split out wide — really anywhere you ask him to play — will make him an instant impact player at the next level.

Having Hopkins to take attention off of him is a huge added bonus, but the Cardinals’ desire to push the ball vertically would be much more efficient, especially over the middle of the field, with Pitts in the fold.

Dan Arnold had a respectable season for the Cardinals averaging over 14 yards per reception, but Pitts is a game-changer.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 17th pick

The Las Vegas Raiders will no doubt have to focus on the defensive side of the ball in the 2021 offseason.

Not only did the Raiders miss the playoffs in 2020, but they likely missed the playoffs primarily because of the poor performance of the defense down the stretch.

The Raiders lost five of their last seven games to close out the 2020 season after it really looked like they were going to be a strong Wild Card option after beating the mighty Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2021, it will be back to the drawing board on defense for Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden, who would probably love to add a versatile weapon like Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to the mix.

There are few linebackers in college football who have been as impactful on all three downs as Owusu-Koramoah in the 2020 season.

In addition to being able to be a WILL linebacker in a team’s base defense, Owusu-Koramoah has the range, athleticism, and pure speed to play in the nickel or as a box safety when called upon.

With the way the league is set up right now, having the players who can at least help limit the amount of damage super-athletic tight ends are capable of doing is a great luxury to have.

Not only can Owusu-Koramoah do that, but he can blitz and make plays as a pass rusher.

He’s got such a fun skill set and the Raiders would be able to add him to their linebacker group that also includes 2020 free agent pickups Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 18th pick

2020 was quite the year for Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins.

The best way to describe Collins’ playing style would be a relentless playmaker.

He was truly a game-changer for Tulsa in his entire time there, but he was on another level in the 2020 season.

He racked up 54 total tackles in eight games with 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns.

Moreover, Collins is probably the quintessential linebacker when it comes to the types of players who have come through the Patriots’ systems, and while Brian Flores is obviously on his own in Miami now, he still employs the type of defense he helped run in New England.

Collins can play standing up as an off-ball linebacker or put his hand in the ground and get after the quarterback. He can blitz, he can cover, and he can play the run.

We’ll have to wait and see how his athletic numbers turn out, but he has great tape and three years of it, to boot.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 19th pick

The Washington Football Team made the playoffs in the first year of the Ron Rivera era, though in pretty much any other year, they might not have.

They’re not going to complain, however, about having a shot to make some noise with Alex Smith playing well in his incredible comeback season.

It’s obvious that Washington is going to need to figure out a way to upgrade the offensive side of the ball in the 2021 offseason and there is perhaps no more critical area for them to address than the offensive line.

Rashawn Slater opted out of the 2020 season but the last time we saw him play, he looked like a first-round pick.

Slater has a signature game against Washington’s Chase Young and experience at both right and left tackle which will make him an attractive option for just about every NFL team in need of offensive line help.

There are also those who feel that Slater could transition well to the interior offensive line at the next level.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 20th pick

With their backs against the wall and an extremely unsettled quarterback position, the Chicago Bears found a way to get into the postseason in 2020.

Even though they were 8-8 and found a way to get into the playoffs, the Bears have no shortage of needs they could address in the 2021 offseason.

The biggest offseason agenda item for the Bears? What will happen at the quarterback position?

The team declined Mitchell Trubisky’s fifth-year option prior to the 2020 season and despite it all, he’s managed to prove himself to be the team’s best shot at winning for the time being.

How will they get Trubisky to stick around? It’s not like after what he has shown in 2020 that he wouldn’t have other teams thinking they might be getting the next Ryan Tannehill in 2021.

The Bears might not be able to just sign Trubisky on a team-friendly deal but there’s no way he’s proven he’s worth the price of the franchise tag. This selection could ultimately be used to find Trubisky’s replacement but if it’s not, the Bears will undoubtedly look to some protection for whoever the quarterback ends up being.

Samuel Cosmi’s projection at this point seems to be somewhere from the mid-late first-round and the second round, but tackles with his blend of length, athleticism, and upside usually don’t last long.

He could wind up starting on the right or left side as a rookie but over the long-term, he looks more like a left tackle.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 21st pick

After using their top selection on Trevor Lawrence, what would the Jacksonville Jaguars do?

This team is so far off from being complete as far as a rebuilding project that it’s really tough to know. Thankfully, for the Jaguars’ sake, they have a lot of time to figure things out.

When rebuilding a roster, you have to look to the trenches on both sides unless you can get cornerstone players at offensive tackle, off the edge, or maybe cornerback/wide receiver.

Receiver is less of a need for the Jaguars here even with a deep class of players, but building through the trenches is always something teams need to do.

Can you ever have enough pass rushers on the interior defensive line?

There has been perhaps no bigger breakout player in the 2020 college football season on the defensive line than Iowa’s Daviyon Nixon.

Nixon played his first season for the Hawkeyes as a JUCO transfer in 2019 and he was productive, but he was phenomenal in 2020 with 45 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a ridiculous 71-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

Nixon’s burst and athleticism on the interior defensive line could not only make him one of the top risers in college football but in the 2021 NFL Draft class as a whole.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round, 22nd pick

The Indianapolis Colts are going to be a fun team to focus on in the 2021 offseason with what could wind up happening at their quarterback position.

Will Philip Rivers retire after this year? Will he give the Colts one more go-round after a successful 2020 campaign for the team?

The Colts are widely considered the likeliest landing spot for Carson Wentz in a trade if the Eagles get rid of him, and that could certainly involve this pick.

If the Colts and Eagles don’t make a trade for Wentz or they make one that doesn’t include this pick, Indianapolis could go a number of directions. They were aggressive with their pick in 2020, trading it for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.

One area they could look at is the cornerback position where Xavier Rhodes has been a nice free agent flyer this season.

They could look for some youth at corner and at this stage of round one, Georgia’s breakthrough junior Eric Stokes could be a nice value. Stokes picked off four passes in 2020 for the Bulldogs and increased his career pass breakup total to 22.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round, 23rd overall

The Cleveland Browns are obviously a team on the rise in the loaded AFC and despite having ample huge personalities on the roster as well as a very long playoff drought, they have somewhat quietly risen through the AFC ranks.

One big reason for their inclusion in the NFL’s postseason “dance” in 2020? Myles Garrett is an absolute superstar on the defensive line and one of the most dominant players off the edge in the NFL today.

How could the Browns make life better/easier for Garrett in 2021 and beyond?

They could add themselves a player like Joseph Ossai.

Ossai was a consensus first-team All-American for Texas in 2020 with 55 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

He’s the type of player off the edge who is going to either feast on one-on-one matchups he gets or he will be able to draw extra attention and force offenses to give some favorable matchups to Myles Garrett off the other edge.

The Browns obviously envisioned this with Olivier Vernon off the other edge and he has been solid especially throughout the second half of the season, but an upgrade should be pursued.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 24th overall

All throughout the 2020 offseason, Gregory Rousseau held the top EDGE ranking in most mock drafts and projections for 2021.

He decided to opt-out of the 2020 college football season and, perhaps more than any other player who made that decision in 2020, he has been hurt by it.

There were concerns about Rousseau’s game that were valid coming into the year, but those concerns could wind up being more of assets as he transitions to the next level.

More versatile than he is twitchy off the edge, Rousseau could actually be a great fit for Mike Vrabel’s defense in Tennessee which would really value his ability to play outside in the base package and inside as a rusher in nickel or dime.

The Titans have done a tremendous job of building up their roster these past few seasons. They struck gold with former Dolphins first-round pick Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and every other area of the team has really followed suit.

They made it all the way to the AFC Championship game in 2019 and could get there again in 2020.

Looking ahead to 2021, the Titans need help in the pass rush department, and Rousseau’s slight fall here could be their benefit.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 25th pick

In a class that is fairly weak at the top on the defensive line, Barmore might wind up getting valued a lot higher than this.

The Buccaneers went to the trenches with their top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft but on the offensive side of the ball when they took Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

The Bucs’ decisions in the 2020 offseason have made them legitimate contenders in the NFC and they are all-in for the immediate future.

Barmore would represent more of that all-in mentality as he is a productive pass rusher on the interior defensive line who could be an absolute force for this team, which already has a loaded front.

Barmore showed off his potential as a freshman but emerged in 2020 as a first-team All-American on the defensive line with 7.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He has been awesome for the Crimson Tide in 2020, living up to lofty expectations.

It doesn’t get much better than that from a defensive line production standpoint.

Barmore is big, long, strong, and aggressive. He should definitely be considered on the rise if he winds up declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 26th pick

A wide receiver could be somewhat of a difficult pick for the Baltimore Ravens to justify considering how much they emphasize running the football.

If they hadn’t just used a first-round pick on Hollywood Brown in the 2019 NFL Draft, this might be a bit easier of a pill to swallow. Still, it might be a necessary move for the Ravens especially if Rashod Bateman is available.

Despite being 32nd in the NFL in pass attempts, the Ravens have been one of the most efficient teams in the NFL at scoring through their passing attack in the past two seasons. Lamar Jackson won the MVP award in 2019 for more than just his running abilities.

Brown emerged as the team’s top target in the passing game in 2020 with 100 targets but behind him at wide receiver was Willie Snead with just 48 targets.

As solid as Snead has proven to be in his career, adding a player like Bateman could be a game-changer for the Ravens’ offense. He is capable of finding openings at every level of the field and is such a good complement both physically and skill-wise with Brown.

Bateman, the Big Ten receiver of the year in 2019, set Minnesota school records for receiving yards and touchdowns in his first two seasons on campus.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 27th pick

The Jets used their top pick on Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, why not use their next pick on his favorite guy to throw to?

If you get a quarterback high in the NFL Draft and you have a chance to make life better and/or easier for him as he transitions to the pros, why would you not take it?

Olave is a borderline first-round guy at this point in time but he’s shown plenty of first-round traits on tape from his route running to his strong hands and ability to get open deep downfield.

If Fields is drafted to the Jets, the Jets don’t exactly have a ton of guys for him to go and get the ball to. Denzel Mims certainly showed promise in his rookie season and there are worse players than Jamison Crowder when he is able to stay healthy.

Olave’s smooth route running ability and versatility in the slot and out wide would be a really nice complement to the big-bodied Mims on the outside.

With 19 touchdowns in his last 19 games, it’s clear that Olave is a favorite target of Fields, and being able to reunite them in the NFL could be great for both of their careers.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 28th pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers might need to start doing some forward-thinking on the offensive line, starting with the 2021 NFL Draft.

Alejandro Villanueva is a free agent after the 2020 season, and as with any impending free agent on any team, there is no guarantee he will return.

On the right side, Chukwuma Okorafor has done well as a fill-in for Matt Feiler who landed on IR this season.

Will Okorafor be in the team’s plans moving forward? Can they count on Feiler coming back from injury?

With a number of key questions on the offensive line, it’s worth at least looking into the possibility that the Steelers will have to go tackle in round one of the 2021 draft.

Jalen Mayfield has big upside but doesn’t have a ton of experience. He left Michigan with just over 1,000 snaps under his belt.

If the Steelers’ offensive line question is not for 2021, Mayfield would certainly be a potential solution beyond that.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 29th pick

The New Orleans Saints will be a fascinating team to watch all throughout the 2021 offseason.

Obviously at his age, the future of Drew Brees is in question once again. Will he come back for another season with New Orleans?

If Brees doesn’t return for another go at it in 2021, the Saints will undoubtedly be in the market for a quarterback in the offseason circuit and that could include making a bold move in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Still, as low as they will be picking, it’s hard to envision the Saints being able to make a big enough splash via trade to get one of the top QBs in this class.

If they stay put, Nick Bolton would be a fun first-round get.

Alex Anzalone is a projected free agent and has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Kwon Alexander has also struggled recently with injuries and despite being under contract, he could very well be gone in 2021.

Enter Nick Bolton, one of the top three-down linebacker prospects in this particular draft class.

Over the past two seasons, Bolton came just shy of 200 total tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss and 12 pass breakups along with two interceptions.

Bolton is productive against the run and pass but it’s his range against the pass that should get him selected in round one of the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 30th overall

Are the Buffalo Bills not one of the most entertaining teams in the entire NFL?

A couple of short years ago, the Bills looked like they were a lost cause making weird, somewhat old veteran free agent acquisitions.

The Bills’ attempted trade of wide receiver Antonio Brown that never wound up going through was a major turning point for this franchise…for the better.

The Bills have assembled such a talented roster at this point that it would be hard to fault them for making what would appear to be a luxury pick to end all luxury picks.

Yes, Buffalo has Zack Moss and Devin Singletary at the running back position, but with the way they are constructed right now, a player like Najee Harris could be a true game-changer for them.

In order to pick a running back in round one, your team must be set at other key positions and you have to have great faith in your system overall to put such premium draft capital at a position that is consistently a revolving door.

The Bills are a legitimate contender in the AFC, and a three-down back like Najee Harris would be absolutely awesome for them. Harris has the skills of a wide receiver when Alabama splits him out, but he’s also a back that can grind out tough yardage and be the featured back in your running game.

Prior to Alabama’s game against Ohio State, Harris has 27 touchdowns in just 12 games in the 2020 season.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 31st pick

In just about every 2021 mock draft scenario I have put together dating back to the Summer of 2020, the Green Bay Packers have used their top pick on the wide receiver position.

That remains a very real possibility for them but there is also a chance the Packers could look at the defensive side of the ball where they didn’t exactly have the easiest job creating turnovers.

As a matter of fact, the Packers ranked 25th in the NFL in turnovers forced in 2020 and a small fraction of the turnovers they did force came from the cornerback position.

Needless to say, the Packers could use some ball-hawks in the secondary, and Clemson’s Derion Kendrick is a fun option here late in the first round.

Some like Kendrick’s ability to translate to the NFL more than others, but there’s no question he’s got the talent and ball skills when his technique is on point.

Kendrick is a converted receiver who has taken well to the position, though he had a poor outing against Ohio State in the college football playoff.

There’s a chance Kendrick could return for another season at Clemson to maybe get up to CB1 status in 2021, but there’s enough hype about him out there that he would likely have to turn down a first-round distinction to go back to Clemson for another year.

2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 32nd pick

Talk about the rich getting richer…

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs certainly made what felt like a “luxury” pick by taking LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but so much has happened in between that many forgot the Chiefs were forced to move on from tackle-breaking machine Kareem Hunt, who had become a star in their offense and wasn’t ever exactly “replaced”.

The pick of Edwards-Helaire may have seemed like a luxury but the Chiefs’ offense is the most important area of their team and will be the primary reason for their success now and into the future.

With that in mind, it’s critical to remember that the Chiefs’ offense could lose two key contributors in 2021 in wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins.

Terrace Marshall could be the ideal replacement candidate for those guys with his long, slender frame and ability to win vertically. Over the past two seasons (20 games) Marshall racked up 23 touchdowns with a career average of 15 yards per reception.

Marshall’s size, ability to win at the catch point, and he can play both inside as a slot or out wide.

2021 NFL Draft 2nd round

33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

34. New York Jets: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

35. Miami Dolphins: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma

36. Atlanta Falcons: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami

37. Cincinnati Bengals: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC

38. Philadelphia Eagles: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama

39. Detroit Lions: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

40. Carolina Panthers: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

41. Denver Broncos: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State

42. Dallas Cowboys: Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama

43. New York Giants: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan

44. San Francisco 49ers: Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State

45. Los Angeles Chargers: Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee

46. Jacksonville Jaguars: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State

47. New England Patriots: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

48. Arizona Cardinals: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

49. Las Vegas Raiders: Jay Tufele, DL, USC

50. Miami Dolphins: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State

51. Washington Football Team: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

52. Chicago Bears: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State

53. Los Angeles Rams: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

54. Indianapolis Colts: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami

55. Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern

56. Tennessee Titans: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State

57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest

58. Baltimore Ravens: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon

59. Seattle Seahawks: Hamilcar Rashed, EDGE, Oregon State

60. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marvin Wilson, DL, Florida State

61. New Orleans Saints: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

62. Buffalo Bills: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina

63. Green Bay Packers: Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina

64. Kansas City Chiefs: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama