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

Establishing themselves as one of the NFL’s premier defenses behind linebacker Darius Leonard and redemption-fueled cornerback Xavier Rhodes, the Indianapolis Colts will have their work cut out for them in replacing and supplementing an aging and thinning defensive unit.

After adding interior anchor DeForest Buckner via trade during last year’s draft, the Colts defense will still need to address their pass-rush compliments to the 31-year-old Justin Houston. First though, Indianapolis needs to bring in a young premier cornerback to replace or pair with Xavier Rhodes after Rock Ya-Sin’s disappointing campaign.

After making a hasty transition from a nickel to boundary corner, Shaun Wade saw his 2021 NFL Draft stock fall to the wayside behind the likes of fellow cornerback prospects. Wade is an instinctive corner who did his best work in off-coverage on the outside but showed flaws in press-coverage with poor hand-usage, giving away leverage on both in-breaking and boundary routes. Despite these recent struggles, Wade is still one of the best nickel corners of the 2021 NFL Draft and could become a lead-cornerback with the right coaching.

Lacking true edge-rush talent, the Tennessee Titans will be seeking a high-value selection in the back-half of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite an overall effective front-seven, there is a clear lack of a truly dynamic pass-rusher at the outside linebacker position within the Tennessee Titans’ 3-4 front. Defensive end Jeffrey Simmons promises to become one part of the solution, but a second asset from the 2021 NFL Draft would offer a cap-friendly solution.

By far and away the fastest riser of the 2021 NFL Draft class, Azeez Ojulari has ascended to the top of a thin edge class. A raw playmaker for the Georgia Bulldogs, Ojulari shows natural hand-usage and athletic superiority over many opposing tackles.

Ojulari also managed four forced fumbles through the 2020 season, showcasing his nose for the football and aggressive turnover-focused mentality. Within a Titan’s defensive front lacking pure pass-rushing talent, Ojulari is a strong six-foot-three, 240-pound edge presence against both the run and pass with instincts and physicality.

Although we would all love to see it, Frank Gore can not play forever. Even if he is able to contribute in the New York Jets backfield for another season, the focus of the Jets running game will be shifted to incumbent halfback La’Mical Perine and a likely incoming rookie from the 2021 NFL Draft class.

The vast majority of pundits would place consensus RB1 Travis Etienne in this position, but the fit of needs for this roster is too good to pass up on the latest Crimson Tide halfback.

Another Alabama halfback dominating the college football landscape with raw power. Harris has not only been the lead back for the Crimson Tide on their run to the national championship (6.1 YPC on 229 attempts) but a consistent contributor in the passing game as a reliable check down for Mac Jones with 36 receptions. This added dimension could elevate the bell-cow back’s draft stock and legitimize him as the new face of the Jets rushing attack.

With franchise tackle Alejandro Villanueva set to hit free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in need of a cap-friendly tackle solution for their competitive roster in an effort to protect either the aging Ben Roethlisberger or newfound franchise centerpiece for the 2021 season. With a late first-round selection and a deep offensive tackle class, Pittsburgh would be inclined to save cap-space by letting Villanueva walk in favor of a young rookie.

Samuel Cosmi has risen up draft boards thanks to his raw measurables and athleticism at offensive tackle. At six-foot-seven, Cosmi possesses the unique length of an offensive tackle in the mold of Trent Brown, able to make up for any disadvantage in footspeed with long arms extending into the chest of less physical edge-rushers. Cosmi has shown a tendency for poor weight distribution but can be coached into a franchise pass-protecting tackle.