2021 NFL Draft: Post-Super Bowl first-round NFL mock draft

In a three-team deal working on multiple levels, San Francisco moves up into the thick of the fray for a quarterback in the 2021 NFL draft, the New England Patriots collect their “new” starting quarterback, and the Miami Dolphins continue to collect draft assets.

A deal seemingly beneficial to all parties involved (in the short-term), this is one possible scenario of a franchise making an aggressive move to the top of the draft in order to ensure they get their guy. Miami continues to collect their assets in a bid to topple the Buffalo Bills, and New England reacquires the former future of their franchise who will be able to utilize the full playbook from week one even with an unconventional offseason.

Making their aggressive move to the top of the 2021 NFL draft and having sold out on their former franchise-quarterback, the San Francisco Niners need a prospect with a proven track record and ability to compete for the starting job in training camp.

After an up-and-down end to his final campaign with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Justin Field’s inconsistent performances from Northwestern to Clemson to Alabama bring question marks about his current health and game-to-game consistency. Two important traits that can not be understated though are his athleticism and leadership.

Kyle Shanahan has run one of the most successful rushing offenses in the NFL in recent years around the premise of spreading the defense laterally with their speed and punishing overcommitment. Fields is an intelligent player who can capitalize on such a system from day one and add the element which Garoppolo never could, a quarterback counter-punch on the ground.

Following the flurry of quarterbacks to be taken off of the board with the first three selections of the 2021 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons make sure to not miss out on the party with a selection which will be the protege and eventual successor to Matt Ryan is an explosive Falcon’s offense.

Relatively unproven at the collegiate level but demonstrating each and every physical attribute desired in a new-age franchise quarterback, Trey Lance is a six-foot-four athlete with the ability to stretch the field both vertically and laterally with his arm strength and playmaking mobility. With 24 touchdowns to zero interceptions in his single season of regular season play at North Dakota State as well as 1,100 yards rushing, Lance is a stat-factory at quarterback.

Sitting behind Ryan through the 2021 season would serve the rookie well though, as he will need time to calibrate and catch-up to the speed of the NFL and work his way through the Falcon’s playbook. Having come from the FCS with little experience relative to his 2021 NFL draft counterparts, Lance is a developmental prospect with high-yield potential.