2021 NFL Draft: Huge QB trades in pre-Super Bowl mock draft

The 2021 NFL offseason is going to be dominated by what could feel like constant quarterback movement. The ripple effects in the 2021 NFL Draft will be massive.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently posted that he thought there could be more than 18 quarterbacks changing teams in the 2021 offseason.

Realistically, which teams could be making a change at quarterback?

Jacksonville, New York Jets, Houston, Carolina, Chicago, New Orleans, New England, San Francisco, Denver, and plenty of others will be in the market.

Two of those moves have already happened with the huge trade going down between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions swapping Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford.

What will be the next dominoes to fall? Which quarterbacks are moving cities in 2021? That will be the theme of the 2021 offseason and the 2021 NFL Draft will follow.

Let’s take a look at a scenario before Super Bowl LV with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers with some (maybe crazy) scenarios of trades and player movement that could ultimately end up going down between now and late April.

2021 NFL Draft: 1st pick

There should not be a ton of intrigue with this selection.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are under new management with GM Trent Baalke (formerly of the 49ers) and head coach Urban Meyer, who came out of retirement to take this job.

It’s hard to imagine Meyer would come out of retirement for this job with a different player in mind with this selection.

The Jaguars have a rare opportunity to build backward from the 2021 NFL Draft, knowing there is really no question about who they will be taking with that first pick and that could factor into every free agent negotiation and decision they make otherwise.

Lawrence is set to undergo an operation on his non-throwing shoulder but should be ready to go for training camp.

Considered a top NFL prospect since his high school days, Lawrence has been awesome for the Clemson program the past three years, showing tremendous growth as a player and leader along the way. He has been the projected top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for over three years now and the Jaguars earned the right to claim him as their prize for a dreadful 2020 season.

2021 NFL Draft: 2nd pick

TRADE

At this point, there are really two (maybe three) logical places for Deshaun Watson to spend the 2021 season and beyond. The Houston Texans have not yet made Watson available, but at this point, Watson’s demands have made it feel like that is only a matter of time.

If the Texans finally concede and tell Watson they are willing to trade him, Watson has a no-trade clause and would essentially get to pick his destination. But how bad does he just want to get out of Houston?

Watson may not be able to be super picky about his destination and the Jets have the ability to create a trade package that might actually get Houston on board for making a move. Recent rumors indicate Houston would be seeking multiple first-round picks, multiple second-round picks, and multiple defensive starters to even get the conversation going.

If the trade proposed here is even just a baseline, I think this would entice Houston.

Before we go any further, let’s make the second pick which — in this scenario — belongs to the Houston Texans.

The Texans get their choice of quarterbacks behind Trevor Lawrence in this draft class. They get a star defensive player in Quinnen Williams. They get additional draft capital which the Jets have more of than any other team in the Watson sweepstakes.

This is a steep price to pay for a player but 25-year old quarterbacks who are legitimate MVP candidates (with a full contract and guaranteed money already on the books) don’t hit the trade block on an annual basis.

The closest comparison might be Jay Cutler being traded by the Denver Broncos to the Chicago Bears in 2009 for two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and quarterback Kyle Orton.

Any Deshaun Watson would be (and should be) an unprecedented return.

2021 NFL Draft: 3rd pick

Ultimately, the Miami Dolphins may not be able to get cute with this selection.

If the Dolphins do not engage in (or win) the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, then their option is to use their plethora of draft capital to build around Tua Tagovailoa.

Tua struggled at times in his rookie season, but that shouldn’t be so scoffed at or unexpected. Playing quarterback in the NFL is hard. Even though Tagovailoa clearly has the better talent and higher ceiling, it’s no surprise that Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to keep himself on the field and replace Tua in the lineup mid-game even.

Fitzpatrick is a veteran who has been around the block many times.

The Dolphins, in this scenario, commit to Tagovailoa and draft his teammate from Alabama, Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

Smith is a dynamic playmaker at the wide receiver position despite not being a huge “alpha” type of physical specimen. He plays like one.

Smith runs routes with precision, patience, quickness, and veteran-level savvy. He has speed to burn, strong hands, and is a dynamic threat after the catch.

Miami could try to trade down and get more capital while also getting Smith, but in the end, would they risk it with how crucial it could be to Tagovailoa’s development to have him around?

2021 NFL Draft: 4th pick

With no clear-cut top defensive prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class like Chase Young, the Atlanta Falcons are going to have a dilemma on their hands.

Do they trade back here? Do they take the best defensive player on their board anyway?

The Falcons are actually in prime position to take their quarterback of the future and start planning for life beyond Matt Ryan.

Even though 2008 was a long time ago, that still seems crazy to even say.

The Falcons were in the Super Bowl with Matt Ryan a few years ago, but that era is done. New general manager Terry Fontenot has hired Arthur Smith as his new head coach, and you can almost always bet on new general managers and head coaches making their own selections at the quarterback position.

Smith has done an incredible job in Tennessee with the Titans building an offense around Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. Not that Justin Fields has a “Tannehill” comp at the next level, but Tannehill is a big-armed QB who can run, and Fields is as well.

There is so much to love about Fields’ game from a physical standpoint but he has some impressive accuracy to all levels of the field as a passer. He needs to work on processing things as a field general reading the defense, but the talent level, work ethic, and toughness are all there for this player.

The Falcons’ situation could dictate this selection.

New GM, new head coach, aging quarterback who is not raising all boats, and the fact that Atlanta obviously is going to hope they aren’t picking this high again for some time. All of those factors lead me to believe this Falcons squad and new brain trust will target a QB early.

2021 NFL Draft: 5th pick

Over the course of the next few months, I reserve the right to change my mind about this selection.

The Cincinnati Bengals lost Joe Burrow to a devastating knee injury in 2020 and the knee-jerk reaction is to throw premium draft capital at the offensive line.

Let’s not make any two ways about it — the Bengals could go with Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater here with this pick and they would be right in doing so. Joe Burrow cannot be getting hit so much and it’s the Bengals’ responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen often if they can help it.

With that being said, we have not yet seen what free agency will bring. We don’t know what moves the Bengals are going to be able to make before the 2021 NFL Draft even gets underway, so this option has to at least be on the table right now.

Reuniting Burrow with one of his top targets in the 2019 season (Chase averaged over 21 yards per reception) would be a lot of fun, and there is merit to the Bengals giving this more than just a passing thought.

Longtime franchise star AJ Green is headed for free agency and hasn’t been healthy enough to make a substantial impact in recent years. Former first-round pick John Ross appears to be on his way out as well.

The Bengals have Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd as foundation pieces, but having a player like Chase not only gives them yet another dynamic weapon, it makes life easier for everyone else.

This is such a deep offensive line class and the Bengals would still be able to get a day one starter at tackle in round two. There are not many players like Ja’Marr Chase in this class, however.

2021 NFL Draft: 6th pick

Many mock drafts have the Philadelphia Eagles going with an offensive weapon with this top selection.

So much of the Eagles’ offseason now hinges on the future of Carson Wentz, which doesn’t appear to be in Philadelphia.

The former MVP candidate will be traded later in this mock draft scenario, leaving the Eagles with Jalen Hurts, and another pick later…stay tuned.

For this pick, the Eagles go with a player who is unlike many or really any to come along in recent classes. Kyle Pitts will be listed as a tight end, but he’s an offensive weapon and a dynamic one, at that.

Pitts’ physical dominance is incredible to watch as he lines up as a big slot against smaller nickel defensive backs, safeties, or linebackers. He is not coverable one-on-one. He has the catch radius of Inspector Gadget and is dynamic in the open field.

While the future of Carson Wentz is uncertain, it seems like Zach Ertz has played his final game in an Eagles uniform. Dallas Goedert will also be a free agent after the 2021 season.

Regardless of who is playing the quarterback position for the Eagles in 2021 or beyond, there is no question that having a player like Pitts around would make life a lot easier.

2021 NFL Draft: 7th pick

If you get drafted by the Detroit Lions, you had better be ready to bite some kneecaps.

New general manager Ray Farmer made a bold statement in his first move running the team by trading former first overall pick Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for another former top pick in Jared Goff along with three draft choices, including first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.

The Lions have to take an open-minded approach with their top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and in this scenario, they actually take the first defensive player off the board in Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley.

Farley is 6-foot-2, well-built, and he has ball production for days.

Lions fans may not be over-eager to draft a cornerback again with how Jeff Okudah struggled in his rookie season, but you can’t evaluate or draft like that.

The Lions and their defensive coaching staff have to see the best in Okudah and get it out of him. They also have to look at the option of drafting Farley and think about how incredibly envious other teams would be to have the duo of Farley and Okudah to build around in the secondary.

Detroit could just as easily go with an offensive weapon here, but they will not be able to get a playmaker in the secondary like Farley beyond the first round, there are a ton of receivers to choose from, and the linebacker depth is great, so Micah Parsons (and his potential off-field concerns) would be a reach here.

Farley opted out of the 2020 season but he may have the highest upside at the cornerback position in this class.

2021 NFL Draft: 8th pick

I wrestled with whether I had the conviction to put this pick in a mock draft, but it’s an interesting scenario to talk about so let’s talk about it.

The Carolina Panthers coached Mac Jones at the 2021 Senior Bowl. Jones was the best quarterback prospect at the Senior Bowl and the Panthers were the one coaching staff of the two involved in the week’s festivities (Dolphins the other) whose team may be in the market for first-round quarterbacks.

Jones doesn’t get a ton of hype because he’s not going to blaze the track in the 40-yard dash, he doesn’t have Josh Allen-like arm talent, and people think the stigma around Alabama quarterbacks is real (it’s not, always scout the player not the jersey or helmet).

It’s difficult to find flaws in Jones’ game. While his arm strength is not other-worldly, he makes every throw and has been executing NFL concepts while at Alabama.

He has a good understanding of coverages and which routes to throw against those different coverages. He has plenty of pocket mobility and even though he’s not going to be running the triple-option anytime soon, he’s also not out there trudging around with cement blocks on his feet.

The Panthers had to come away impressed with what they saw from Jones at the Senior Bowl, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from trying to trade the 8th pick in the draft for Matthew Stafford.

With no Stafford, maybe the Panthers enter the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. Ultimately, if they end up not winning any trade sweepstakes for veteran quarterbacks, Jones is a guy that Matt Rhule is going to be able to win with.

The Panthers could go with a higher upside player in Trey Lance here, but with Jones’ production these past two seasons and his time on task with the Panthers’ coaching staff, it wouldn’t surprise me if Matt Rhule and Joe Brady convince the Panthers’ front office that this guy can be the point guard for their plethora of offensive talent.

2021 NFL Draft: 9th pick

This selection for the Denver Broncos would come down to an offensive tackle, cornerback, or likely trade down possibilities. Maybe they would go with Trey Lance if they fall in love with him as a staff.

New general manager George Paton comes over from the Minnesota Vikings, inheriting a roster he called a “sleeping giant”.

The Broncos won seven games in 2019 with a very young offensive roster. Getting even younger in 2020, the team took a step back with more injuries than just about any other team in the league (the 49ers would like a word).

Because of the team’s injuries and veterans on defense, it will be interesting to see what strings Paton starts pulling.

On the offensive side of the ball, the work is not done. The Broncos signed Ja’Wuan James in 2019 to be their right tackle and he barely played in his first year with the team due to a knee injury that had him uncomfortable all year despite being medically cleared to play.

In 2020, James opted out of the season and his contract tolled to 2021.

The Broncos are contractually tied to James in 2021 but that’s just about it. They would be under no obligation to play him if a situation like this presented itself.

Penei Sewell could go in the top five picks easily, but a number of scenarios have had him falling outside of the top 10 lately and I think the Broncos — who spent a ton of time scouting Justin Herbert at Oregon — would have a really good idea of the type of player they’d be getting here.

Sewell would kick over to the right tackle position with Garett Bolles having a breakthrough in 2020, and this pick would set Denver’s offensive line for years to come.

2021 NFL Draft: 10th pick

The Dallas Cowboys undoubtedly need to address the defensive side of the ball in the 2021 offseason.

Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are both slated for free agency, and with the team needing to figure out a way to retain quarterback Dak Prescott, those two could be among a number of roster casualties.

Dallas’ defense doesn’t need to be other-worldly, but they need to be competent and giving up more points than all but four teams in the NFL in 2020 isn’t going to cut it moving forward.

The Cowboys’ pass defense needs to be addressed as they allowed 34 passing touchdowns in the 2020 season, ranked 27th in the league. Adding a player like NFL legacy Patrick Surtain II could be a “best-case scenario” of sorts in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Surtain would be re-joining his former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs with the Cowboys in this scenario, and giving the Cowboys and new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn one of the most technically sound and disciplined players in the draft at his position.

Surtain is going to be a good player in the NFL for a long time, and having two outside corners with length, ball skills, and playmaking ability would be huge for Dallas.

2021 NFL Draft: 11th pick

The New York Giants somehow found themselves in the mix for the playoffs in 2020 despite being one of the league’s worst teams offensively (31st in scoring offense).

Daniel Jones had some injuries in year two and it didn’t help, obviously, for this team to not have its superstar Saquon Barkley.

Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, and Dalvin Tomlinson have really emerged for this Giants team as building blocks and there is no question that they should consider adding to an area of strength atop the 2021 NFL Draft.

Head coach Joe Judge comes from the New England Program where versatility is a prerequisite, and Kwity Paye is the kind of defensive line/edge player that would typically attract New England or a team with Belichick in its DNA.

Paye is explosive and quick off the ball, and his physical tools will be enticing for any NFL decision-maker.

With this player, you’re buying into the person Paye is with his tremendous work ethic and background, not just his physical gifts. He’s got a very high ceiling and even though he’s not the most refined product at this point in time, he could make a lot of explosive plays with the other talented guys on New York’s defensive front.

2021 NFL Draft: 12th pick

The San Francisco 49ers suddenly find themselves in a very interesting position.

They are both the most recent NFC West team to represent the division in the Super Bowl and the team with the worst quarterback situation. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch didn’t put too much effort towards acquiring Matthew Stafford, so what is San Francisco’s play?

Jimmy Garoppolo is still under contract and the 49ers obviously had that 2021 cap figure in their budget. The best option for them could very well be to look into long-term solutions through the 2021 NFL Draft.

Enter Trey Lance, perhaps the poster boy for “long-term solution” in this class.

There is a definite risk-reward factor in drafting a player like Lance (even though every player carries some level of risk). Lance has just 17 games under his belt, six of which he completed 56.5 percent of his passes or less at North Dakota State.

He has some bad tape out there, but he also has some outstanding tape and playmaking ability. He has the traits to really mold an offense around and the 49ers could see this as the play to really climbing back into the thick of things in the NFC West “from now on” rather than just looking at 2021 as a window year.

2021 NFL Draft: 13th pick

The Los Angeles Chargers struck gold in the 2020 NFL Draft with Justin Herbert.

Herbert was named offensive rookie of the year in 2020 after his record-breaking season as a first-year passer. The Chargers, however, decided to make wholesale changes to their coaching staff.

Los Angeles fired head coach Anthony Lynn and brought in Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their new head coach. Staley hired Joe Lombardi to run the offensive side of the ball.

There is still work to be done there and the Chargers obviously have to hope there is no regression with Herbert moving from one offense to another, especially if there are concerns of the 2021 offseason being even somewhat similar to 2020.

Rashawn Slater opted out of the 2020 season but there is no doubt about his talent as an offensive tackle. He doesn’t have the frame of the ideal offensive tackle, but turn on Slater’s tape against Chase Young from the 2019 season and you’ll see a player that is ready to face the best of the best.

Some believe Slater will move to guard at the next level, but the good news is for the Chargers, they won’t have to be overly picky about where he lands in terms of position, because they could have needs all over their offensive line.

2021 NFL Draft: 14th pick

The Minnesota Vikings said goodbye to offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who has retired from his post.

Kubiak and the Vikings’ offense ranked 11th in the league in scoring, fourth in yards, third in total first downs, and they saw the emergence of a number of young players on that side of the ball including star rookie Justin Jefferson and another very underrated piece of the 2020 draft class, offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland.

When the Vikings drafted Cleveland, the assumption was obviously that he would stick at his college position of left tackle, but he ended the season as the team’s top right guard.

The Vikings face a really tough situation in the 2021 offseason regarding left tackle Riley Reiff, who was the subject of trade and even cut rumors in 2020.

If Reiff is a cap casualty, left tackle is obviously thrust to the front of the Vikings’ priority list. There is still a possibility that Cleveland could wind up there, but this is a deep tackle class and Minnesota could try to pull off what they did in 2020 at the wide receiver position when they traded Stefon Diggs before drafting Justin Jefferson.

Christian Darrisaw has tremendous raw power and aggressiveness in the running game, but he made huge strides in the 2020 season as a pass protector.

If the Vikings keep the zone scheme offensively, Darrisaw is an ideal fit.

2021 NFL Draft: 15th pick

Who is going to play quarterback for the New England Patriots in 2021?

Who knows?

The Patriots may need to go against what has been the typical grain for them and move up for a player they like in this year’s draft, whether that’s someone like Trey Lance, Mac Jones, or Justin Fields. They are most likely out of range on Zach Wilson.

The Patriots will undoubtedly explore free agent options as well, but there are clearly question marks for this team at the most important position on the roster for the second straight offseason.

With that being said, what scenario at quarterback here is appealing to them? They likely won’t be able to trade for Sam Darnold. They did not seem to be in on Matthew Stafford. What are the Patriots going to do here?

In this scenario, they take the super-talented Jaylen Waddle to add to what has been one of the worst sets of skill players in the league, specifically at receiver.

Jaylen Waddle can line up in the slot or out wide and excel in both areas. His long speed is unbelievable, but his ability to make defenders miss in space is second-to-none in this year’s class.

Getting a playmaker like this is going to make the quarterback — whoever it is — a lot better.

2021 NFL Draft: 16th pick

The NFC West is going to be loaded with intrigue at the quarterback position with the arrival of Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams.

Vance Joseph has actually done a pretty good job with the Cardinals’ defense since coming over from the Denver Broncos, but there is still work to be done, especially in the secondary.

The Cardinals, under Joseph, are a press-man team and Jaycee Horn has the type of physical, competitive, alpha style of play to be an absolute stud in this kind of defense.

Everyone is going to talk about Horn’s bloodlines — his father Joe played wide receiver for the Saints — but the most important aspect of that is what will hopefully be a great first touchdown celebration involving the ancient flip cell phone.

If you know, you know.

With Patrick Peterson slated for free agency and a number of veteran journeymen not expected back, cornerback has got to be arguably the Cardinals’ biggest offseason priority in 2021.

There is no doubt this offense is built to compete in the NFC West, but the defense is going to need talented pieces like Horn who can create turnovers and more opportunities for Kyler Murray.

2021 NFL Draft: 17th pick

The Las Vegas Raiders made a concerted effort to improve their defense in the 2020 offseason.

Needless to say, after ranking 30th in the league in points allowed, it didn’t really take.

The Raiders brought in free agents like Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton as well as Maliek Collins and Damon Arnette, one of their 2020 first-round draft picks.

Again, the Raiders’ attempt to throw money and high draft picks at the defense over the past two seasons hasn’t blossomed in the way they thought it would. They fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and hired on Gus Bradley.

Bradley’s defensive scheme is obviously most famous for the work he did when he was with the Seattle Seahawks. While Bradley is running the defense, Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden are obviously in charge of drafting the personnel for it.

Those two, in particular, have really favored the Clemson and Alabama programs, but Mayock also has a very strong connection to the Notre Dame program as he called games for them for NBC back in the day.

Although those days pre-dated Owusu-Koramoah, there’s no doubt Mayock has remained connected to the program and a player like this could really help the Raiders’ defense take the next step.

Owusu-Koramoah has tremendous coverage abilities and is very effective as a blitzer, racking up 142 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and five forced fumbles in just two seasons for the Irish.

His playmaking ability and three-down skill set will be hugely valuable to Gus Bradley.

2021 NFL Draft: 18th pick

The Miami Dolphins might be pinching themselves at this particular point in time.

Time will tell how much they matter to NFL teams, but maturity concerns have come up repeatedly with Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, and those off-field issues combined with his general positional value could wind up leading to a dip in draft stock.

Most mock drafts don’t have Parsons lasting past the top 12 picks, but what if the Miami Dolphins could come away from this first round with both DeVonta Smith and Micah Parsons?

They might leave day one of the 2021 NFL Draft feeling like they had two top 10 picks.

If the off-field issues are not a concern, Parsons will go much higher than this. If teams are concerned enough, a team like Miami with a very solid infrastructure and culture like Miami could take a shot on him and hope that he becomes the best version of himself as a person and player in their program.

There is no question about Parsons’ natural talent. His play speed is on another level, and he may be the most naturally gifted pure pass rusher in this class.

He’s a high-impact off-ball linebacker who can rush the quarterback and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

In the 2018-19 seasons at Penn State (he opted out of 2020), he racked up 191 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five pass breakups, and six forced fumbles.

His versatility in Brian Flores’ defense could be a deadly combination.

2021 NFL Draft: 19th pick

Just like the New England Patriots, the Washington Football Team is another squad caught between a rock and a hard place at the quarterback position.

The revolving door they had at the position in the 2020 season ended with Alex Smith ultimately looking like the best option they had, which is probably not saying much looking forward at the future of this team.

Smith is still under contract for the 2021 season and Washington would probably be wise to keep him around just in case no other options work out.

They apparently were in the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes but how interested in this year’s draft class are they, at least to the guys who are realistically available to them?

There is no clear option that makes sense for Washington in this draft to trade up for given their other needs on the roster.

The left tackle position needs to be addressed and Alijah Vera-Tucker showed in 2020 that he is capable of playing there long-term.

Heading into the 2020 season, he was thought of as strictly an interior player but USC moved him to tackle and he did a tremendous job.

Whether Washington would use him at tackle or guard, they would have a plug-and-play starter with this pick.

2021 NFL Draft: 20th pick

TRADE

Although the Indianapolis Colts perhaps make the most sense for Carson Wentz with Frank Reich as the team’s head coach, are they going to be the most desperate team to acquire him?

The Chicago Bears surprisingly clawed their way into the playoffs in the 2020 season. Mitch Trubisky’s contract is up and there is no guarantee he will be coming back by any means.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy were retained for the 2021 season despite many thinking they could both be out and that the Bears might clean house. Even though they have jobs for 2021, it’s clear that Pace and Nagy are both on thin ice, at least from an outside perspective.

Acquiring Carson Wentz could cost multiple very high draft picks. Regardless of the price, I think there is no question that the Bears are more desperate than the Colts given the situation facing their head coach and general manager.

In this scenario, the Bears pay the price to take a shot on Carson Wentz becoming the player he showed he could be when he was an MVP candidate with the Eagles before injury in 2020.

For the Eagles, what does this all mean? Is Jalen Hurts really the guy they want at the position moving forward?

That remains to be seen. If the team trades Carson Wentz, you would have to think the odds were way higher of this team pursuing a quarterback in the top 10 selections.

In this scenario, however, they build around Jalen Hurts and give that route a chance for this season.

Adding Kyle Pitts in the top 10 picks would give Philadelphia a dynamic hybrid type of player who can stretch the field and pair with Dallas Goedert for at least a season. Adding Pitts’ teammate Kadarius Toney here in the later portion of the first round?

This would give the Eagles enviable weaponry on the offensive side of the ball along with 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor.

Reagor’s big-time speed combined with Toney’s quickness and elusiveness after the catch could make him the ideal pairing and Hurts would have a hard time not succeeding with this kind of supporting cast, even as young as they would all be together.

2021 NFL Draft: 21st pick

The Indianapolis Colts are in a very interesting situation right now.

Philip Rivers has retired. Andrew Luck is not coming out of retirement. The Colts were not aggressive enough in pursuit of Matthew Stafford and there’s no telling if Stafford would have wanted to be there anyway.

The Colts are way down on the 2021 NFL Draft pecking order and way out of range for the top quarterback prospects in this class. They could look to the 2021 free agent crop, but who is out there they could get that would keep this roster moving forward and closer to the goal of winning a championship?

Colts owner Jim Irsay said that he believes the roster the Colts have is ready to contend in the AFC. That means Indianapolis can likely be expected to remain aggressive on the quarterback market, but they won’t be foolish.

Ultimately, I think there’s a decent chance they will end up with Carson Wentz, but what if that doesn’t happen? Why not Sam Darnold?

Darnold is talented enough that, if the Colts really have a championship-ready roster, he can help them compete right away. If this roster is as good as the Colts think it is, they are arguably the perfect situation for Darnold to st ep into as well.

The stars could be aligning for this. ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks the Jets could net a first-round pick for Darnold, but that seems quite steep. If it’s the going rate and a team is willing to pay it, it might wind up being a bargain for the Colts.

Darnold is still young and very talented, but he needs the right situation. Maybe the Colts are it.

What direction would the Jets go with this pick after acquiring Deshaun Watson earlier?

With Robert Saleh and Mike McDaniel coming over from the 49ers, the Jets are obviously going to have an emphasis on the zone running game the Shanahan offense has made famous for decades.

I think Najee Harris is an ideal fit for that offensive scheme as he is more of a smooth runner than a powerful bruiser.

Not only that, but Harris is a big-time receiver out of the backfield who can line up out wide if he’s asked to do so.

Getting Watson and Harris would give the Jets a young offensive skill position core that looks like this on paper:

QB: Deshaun Watson
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Denzel Mims
WR: Jamison Crowder

There is obviously plenty of work to be done there but at the very least, that top three is something they can build on.

2021 NFL Draft: 22nd pick

The Tennessee Titans have certainly been seeking help in the pass rush department. They may have telegraphed their interest in pursuing top-flight edge players in the 2021 offseason by signing Jadeveon Clowney on the eve of the 2020 season.

Harold Landry wound up leading the Titans with 5.5 sacks in the 2020 season and obviously, that is unacceptable for a team that expects to be competing come January.

This is where a player like Azeez Ojulari could really come into play.

Ojulari was dominant in Georgia’s bowl game against Cincinnati with three tackles for loss, three sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles.

In terms of speed rushers, Ojulari is almost unquestionably the best in this year’s draft. There is no real clear-cut EDGE1 in this class and the list could shuffle a lot between now and April. With that said, there is a lot to like about Ojulari’s game from more than just a speed perspective, too.

Ojulari had 15 sacks and five forced fumbles over his 21 games from 2019-20 with the Bulldogs and he’s only scratching the surface of what he is capable of becoming.

2021 NFL Draft: 23rd pick

The Houston Texans may not recover from trading Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins both within a year of each other, but adding players like Zach Wilson, Quinnen Williams, and Rashod Bateman with some of their prime draft capital in return could soften the blow.

After taking Wilson near the top of this mock draft, the Texans go after the former Minnesota playmaker to be a possible WR1 of the future for them.

As a route runner, Bateman is a smooth operator who can get in and out of breaks with the best of them. One thing that really stands out about Bateman’s game is his ability to track the ball downfield and compete at the catch point.

For a guy who strikes as a possession receiver first, Bateman is a tremendous big-play threat.

He averaged over 20 yards per reception in 2019 at Minnesota and reeled in 11 touchdowns.

It will be very interesting to see if the Houston Texans look at the possibilities of mock draft scenarios in the event that they would trade Deshaun Watson to find out how willing they might be to pull off such a crazy deal.

If they were able to get anything close to this package from the Jets, how could they not at least consider it? If Deshaun Watson doesn’t want to play for Houston ever again and there is nothing they can do to convince him, they could get some very interesting trade packages as soon as this offseason and perhaps come away with a haul like this.

Other teams would be lining up to pay the price, but if Deshaun Watson really wants to play for the New York Jets, this is a scenario (landing Zach Wilson, Rashod Bateman, and Quinnen Williams) that Houston might be able to get on board for.

2021 NFL Draft: 24th pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not quite at a crossroads yet with Ben Roethlisberger, who is coming back for 2021 (as far as we know).

With that said, the future is definitely on the radar for this team at a variety of positions.

Not only is the clock ticking on Ben Roethlisberger, but Bud Dupree is a free agent in 2021 coming off of injury, James Conner is a free agent, Alejandro Villanueva is a free agent — there are so many moving parts with the Steelers right now and the team doesn’t have any one clear direction it will have to go in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

At 20 years old, Jalen Mayfield is one of the youngest players in this draft class at any position but he is definitely also one of the most talented.

The Steeleres could project him as a right tackle or left tackle at the next level with his size, quick feet, and athleticism for his size.

If you want to see a prospect who has been through the ringer, it’s this guy. He has had to go up against some of the best pass rush prospects to come out of the college ranks in the past couple of seasons, and obviously, there have been mixed results.

The sample size here is very small, but Mayfield is extremely talented and looked very good in the little bit we saw of him during the 2020 season.

2021 NFL Draft: 25th pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping they hit a home run with the 9th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in CJ Henderson, who has a tremendous combination of size, ball skills, and athleticism.

After using their top selection on Trevor Lawrence, which everyone expects to happen, where do the Jaguars go next?

Why not the secondary?

The Jaguars need an influx of talent on the back end of their secondary and it just so happens there are a number of playmakers in this class who could step in and give this team some high-upside options right away.

This doesn’t guarantee the Jaguars are going to come away with someone who is going to be defensive rookie of the year, but a player like Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu could come in, take his lumps as a rookie, and make a few big plays along the way.

The upside is huge for a player like Melifonwu who is 6-foot-3 and has the short-area quickness of a slot corner.

In the last three seasons, Melifonwu broke up 19 passes with three interceptions and he’s shown his ability to attack the line of scrimmage with five tackles for loss.

At this stage of the first round and with so many areas of the roster to address, the Jaguars need to make three-to-five-year decisions, not just decisions based on what players can do for them in 2021.

Melifonwu and his combination of size/athleticism along with the shutdown upside of CJ Henderson could give the Jaguars an enviable pair of outside corners.

2021 NFL Draft: 26th pick

With a drastically improved offensive line, Odell Beckham Jr. coming back in 2021, and the best running back duos in the NFL, there’s not much work to be done on the offensive side of the ball for the Browns.

Defensively, however, some moves could be made.

How impactful will the former LSU stars Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams be coming off of injury?

They might be a lot more impactful if the Browns are able to get a pass rusher with the athleticism and talent of Jayson Oweh.

Productivity is certainly not what Oweh is going to be known for. He didn’t have a sack in the shortened 2020 season for Penn State, but he was consistently putting pressure on the quarterback and making plays in the backfield.

With his speed and quickness off the ball combined with his strong hand punch and change of direction skills, Jayson Oweh could be a really good bookend for Myles Garrett and someone who could feast on one-on-one opportunities with his big-time athletic talent.

Oweh has the look of a player who could be better in the pros than he was in college, certainly more productive.

The furious speed at which Oweh plays the game would make him an absolute nightmare in tandem with Garrett.

2021 NFL Draft: 27th pick

One of the craziest things about the 2020 offseason that went overlooked with all of the other craziness going on in the world was Earl Thomas’ unceremonious departure from the Baltimore Ravens as well as his departure from the NFL in general.

Although there is no question that the Ravens could look into a variety of positions on either side of the ball with this selection, a playmaker on the back end of the defense like Trevon Moehrig makes as much sense as anyone.

Moehrig has the ability to play high as the free safety, but he can also mix it up as a box safety or play as a slot corner. In three seasons with TCU, Moehrig picked off seven passes and broke up 21 others.

He racked up 124 total tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, showing off his ability to be physical.

Moehrig plays like a veteran with instincts and he attacks the football with conviction. He won the Thorpe Award in 2020 as the nation’s top defensive back.

A high-character player, Moehrig would be an asset to the Ravens both on and off the field.

2021 NFL Draft: 28th pick

The New Orleans Saints are in such an interesting position heading into the 2021 offseason.

Drew Brees is headed for retirement. The Saints are way in the hole when it comes to salary cap space.

What is about to happen to this depth chart? What is about to happen to the young core of players the Saints selected in their vaunted 2017 draft class?

Will they be able to convince Jameis Winston to come back? Do they even want that as their top option?

No one knows quite what is going to happen with the Saints in the 2021 offseason but they are going to be a fascinating team to watch. At this point in time, a player like Zaven Collins could make some sense for New Orleans’ defense.

Collins is one of the most versatile players in this year’s draft class defensively and proved at Tulsa that he is a high-level playmaker whether he’s rushing the passer, playing in coverage, or playing the run.

The Saints drafted Zack Baun in 2020 which could make the selection of a player like Zaven Collins a bit redundant, but Collins is on a different level as a prospect coming out this year.

Collins plays with instincts and speed at all times, and his ball production as a linebacker is outstanding.

2021 NFL Draft: 29th pick

It’s going to be hard not to give the Green Bay Packers a wide receiver because there is a pretty good chance that is the route they go in 2021 with their top pick.

Although there is no denying Jordan Love is a talented quarterback prospect, Aaron Rodgers is still playing at an MVP level and the Packers could have really benefitted from having additional playmakers at wide receiver this past season.

At any rate, there could be an emphasis there with their top pick here in the first round of the 2021 draft, but with so many receivers off the board, the Packers go after a cornerback who can play both the nickel and outside roles.

For UCF, however, Robinson has primarily put his best stuff on tape playing in the slot. Because that spot on the defense has gotten undervalued a bit, there is no guarantee a player like Robinson will go in the first round.

The Packers will almost undoubtedly want conviction that he could play on the outside and maybe kick inside when they are in their nickel package if they are taking him with this pick. With his size, physicality, man coverage skills, and length, he’s really an intriguing option for teams needing a versatile weapon in their defensive backfield.

2021 NFL Draft: 30th pick

The Buffalo Bills have one of the more complete rosters in the NFL right now, and because they are clearly in a competing window with the core they have, they can afford a little bit of luxury with this selection.

Running backs are not valued as highly in the draft as they once were, but Travis Etienne is the type of player who would add a ton of value to an offense like Buffalo’s.

Although with nearly 800 touches in his college career there could be worry about some mileage, Etienne plays the game like a seasoned veteran already and can contribute on all three downs.

Over the last two seasons at Clemson, Etienne really grew as a receiver out of the backfield with 85 receptions and over 1,000 yards. He has proven in his time with the Tigers that he can be a home-run threat with his long speed.

With Josh Allen and this passing game in Buffalo, adding a playmaker like Etienne in the running game could give them tremendous balance and someone who is just a model of productivity. He had at least one touchdown in 46 of his college games.

He’s going to bring a ton to an NFL locker room and I think in Buffalo with Brian Daboll, he will be a very quick study.

2021 NFL Draft: 31st pick

The Buccaneers’ defense is one of the most talented in the NFL, but there could be question marks up front beyond the Super Bowl.

Shaquil Barrett played the 2020 season on the franchise tag and obviously, the team would have to figure out a way to work out a long-term deal to keep him around. Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul are not getting any younger, even if both guys are still playing at a high level in Todd Bowles’ defense.

The Bucs could use an infusion of some youth at a number of positions on the defensive front, including off the edge.

Gregory Rousseau, as it were, kills two birds with one stone.

Not only can Rousseau handle edge duties, but he also showed some of his best stuff on tape in 2019 at Miami when he was rushing from an interior line position.

This is the kind of value you would love to see if you’re the Bucs at the bottom of round one. Rousseau was projected as high as the top five going into the 2020 season but after opting out, clear questions about his game have come up as his tape has been dissected a bit more.

He still has the potential to be as high as a mid-first round selection but if he is sitting here for the Bucs, he would be a really fun fit and nice value.

2021 NFL Draft: 32nd pick

The Kansas City Chiefs have figured out a sustainable model of success that is commendable in today’s NFL.

The Chiefs were competitive in the AFC West even without Patrick Mahomes when Alex Smith was the quarterback, and this team has done a good job of identifying players who can play early and succeed quickly in their systems both offensively and defensively.

With that being said, the offensive line is an area that could need some serious attention as soon as the 2021 offseason.

Both Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher will miss the Super Bowl due to injury, and the Chiefs could have an opportunity in the 2021 draft to really take advantage of the depth of this class at tackle.

Samuel Cosmi is not the most refined player at the position in this class, but he is extremely athletic, talented, and has the body type to excel against all types of rushers.

Because Cosmi is undoubtedly a developmental prospect at the tackle position, getting into a situation like Kansas City’s could be ideal for him. He can play on the right or left side at the next level.