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

Having moved back with San Francisco in order to acquire additional draft assets, the Miami Dolphins address the lack of weapons to make life easier for franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Thankfully for Miami, one of Tagovailoa’s former Alabama teammates and the single best ball-in-hand playmaker of the 2021 NFL draft is available to rekindle the volatile pairing.

Possessing lightning quickness and the ability to evade defenders in a phone booth, Jaylen Waddle is the definition of a modern wide receiver with his ability to take simple crossing-route and screen completions for first-downs and more. Tagovailoa has struggled to make plays downfield with targets such as big-body wideout Devante Parker, so the addition of a receiver such as Waddle who can make plays on his own is a no-brainer for a stalling offense.

With question marks across the offensive line in front of rookie-standout Justin Herbert, the big-arm quarterback will hope for improved pass-protection in his second season. In a deep offensive tackle class inherited by prospects with prototypical size, the Los Angeles Chargers find a prospect with the versatility to play all across the offensive line.

At only six-foot-three, Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater has had questions raised about his ability to play tackle in the NFL with his lack of reach, despite impressive tape against numerous 2019 NFL draft pass-rushers including a game against future number-two overall selection Chase Young. Projected to slide inside to guard at the NFL, Slater can compete for the starting job at left tackle in training camp with the floor as a starting offensive guard.

Having lost integral pass-rushers Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen in recent years, the single outstanding issue of the Minnesota roster has been the lack of a clear pass-rush. In a 2021 NFL draft class littered with edge talent through the back-half of the first round though, the Minnesota Vikings can find their man without trading up from the 14th spot.

At six-foot-four, 271-pounds, Michigan’s Kwity Paye fits the conventional physical mold of a top 4-3 edge-rusher with his stout-yet-bendy frame. Combining both sufficient twitchiness off of the snap with imposing power in his first-punch, Paye has a mean swipe-move that has rattled offensive linemen time and time again. To become an elite pass-rusher in Minnesota though, Paye will need to capitalize on his power-based athleticism with a deeper repertoire of moves for savvy offensive tackles.