2021 NFL Draft: Post-Wildcard round first-round NFL mock draft

Still lacking a counterpart to A.J. Bouye since the departure of longtime defensive staple Chris Harris Jr., the Denver Broncos can look to polish off their secondary with one of the numerous talented cornerbacks within the 2021 NFL Draft. Premier safety Justin Simmons has become a defensive cornerstone for the Mile High City but needs some help from his corners to go one-on-one with the top-tier opposing wideouts who call the AFC West home.

Patrick Surtain II has been the lead cornerback for the Crimson Tide defense in their run to the college football championship, playing with prototypical physicality at the line of scrimmage and rangy length downfield. Surtain is not going to be the most athletic specimen of the 2021 NFL Draft but encompasses the qualities of a number one corner teams now seek as a press-man corner.

After one of the most memorable defensive performances for all of the wrong reasons throughout the 2020 campaign, the Dallas Cowboys need to find a solution to the vast problem that is their defense. Defensive end Randy Gregory has finally begun to pan out for the Cowboys, whilst cornerstone Demarcus Lawrence has been unable to capture his prior form. Dallas needs to find a player to generate pressure within the 2021 NFL Draft.

Gregory Rousseau is easily one of the most gifted athletes of the 2021 NFL Draft, measuring in at 6-foot-7, 265 pounds. Although technically raw, Rousseau managed to total 15.5 sacks with the Miami Hurricanes in 2019 justifying his label as a pass-rusher. Despite the need for coaching in his pass-rush technique as well as adding bulk in the weight room, Rousseau has the high-ceiling potential to justify a top-ten selection.

After narrowly missing an NFC East championship at the hands of Doug Pederson and Nate Sudfeld, the New York Giants have a clear need entering the 2021 NFL Draft. Gettleman needs to find a way to take the weight off franchise halfback Saquon Barkley’s shoulders and place a serious weapon alongside breakout tight end Evan Engram.

Jaylen Waddle is the most dynamic of the top three wide receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft, bringing the ability to create yardage on catch-and-runs from behind the line of scrimmage as well as stretch the field vertically. Despite being sidelined by an ankle injury and subsequently overshadowed by teammate Devonta Smith, Waddle has shown his value to scouts and his ability to break games open with his speed and elusiveness.

Since falling from grace following the crushing super bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco needs to recapture their prior form of a reliable defense complemented by Kyle Shanahan’s speed-based running attack. Free-agent addition Jason Verrett has been impressive for the Niners across from Richard Sherman, but with the latter on his way out in free agency opens a void for a better system-fit in the secondary across from Verrett.

After being one of the first top prospects to opt-out of the 2020 college football season in favor of preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft, Caleb Farley has managed to uphold his draft stock as another physical man corner within this cornerback class. Aligned across from Verrett, San Francisco can shift their coverage focus from shell-zone to aggressive man-coverage with a variety of blitz packages, trusting the athleticism of their secondary.