2021 NFL Draft: Alabama sets first-round pick record in 2-round mock draft

The 2020 Alabama team was one of the most talented teams in college football history. The Crimson Tide set numerous offensive records and had two of the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Alabama will also likely set the record for most players drafted in the first round of the draft. In my first mock draft of the year, I have eight players from Alabama going in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, which would be two more than the previous record of six players that was set by Miami in 2004.

In this mock draft, I tried to keep it as realistic as possible and did not include any trades. While surely some trades will happen, they are impossible to predict and throw off the entire draft order when they are predicted.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 1st overall

The first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft will be one of the easiest moves the Jacksonville Jaguars have ever made when they take Trevor Lawrence with the pick. This move will give Jacksonville a new face of the franchise and someone the team can build around for years to come.

Trevor Lawrence gives the Jaguars one of the best pure passers to come out of college football in years. He has the arm strength, intelligence, work ethic, and accuracy you need from your franchise quarterback. Last season, might have been the best season of his career as he completed a career-high 69% of his passes and also threw for 24 touchdowns in just five games. I would be very surprised if Lawrence does not become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in the next five years.

While this pick is a no-brainer for the team, the real question with Jacksonville will be what do they do with the rest of their draft picks, including the 25th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 2nd overall

The Jets have several options when it comes to the second overall pick. Some of these options include taking a quarterback with this pick, addressing another need such as cornerback, or even trading down and picking up extra picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.

When it is all said and done, I think New York will end up taking a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. One of the reasons I think they move on from Sam Darnold is because they have to decide to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason. If they decide to exercise this option, they will owe him a significantly higher salary for the 2022 season, which is likely not the best option for a player who has underperformed so far.

I also think they will add a quarterback with this pick since they have already started the rebuilding process by bringing in a new head coach in Robert Saleh. Why would Saleh want to waste a year with Darnold, when he can spend the year developing a rookie quarterback?

The question then becomes what quarterback do the Jets take with the second overall pick. The two main options are BYU’s Zach Wilson and Ohio State’s Justin Fields. I think the right choice with this pick would be Wilson as he shows both a higher football IQ and a stronger arm. I also think his personality would be the perfect fit in New York.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 3rd overall

The hot spot for trades in the 2021 NFL Draft will likely be at the third pick in the draft. This is where teams will look to trade up and select whichever quarterback is left on the board between Zach Wilson and Justin Fields. However, I am not predicting trades in this mock draft so we will assume the Dolphins hang onto the pick.

If they hang onto this selection I think it will be a decision between three players which are Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. The player I think they will eventually settle on is Smith as he is the most polished receiver in the draft, and the Dolphins desperately need to find playmakers for Tua Tagovailoa.

As a prospect, Smith shows several skills that should allow him to become one of the best receivers in the NFL. One of these is his impressive route running ability. He does a great job of getting separation on his routes and is the most refined route-runner in the 2021 NFL Draft. To go along with his strong route-running ability, Smith also has extremely reliable hands.

In fact, he has a career drop rate of just 2.9% which is the lowest of any receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft. One more positive with Smith is he is dangerous after the catch which is one of the reasons he set an SEC record this season with 1,856 receiving yards.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1355259947089616898

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 4th overall

The Atlanta Falcons could be one of the teams primed to trade up in the draft. They would likely make this move to make sure they got one of the quarterbacks they wanted. However, if the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins stay where they are at things could fall perfectly for the Falcons.

If the draft fell this way, it would allow the Falcons to take their future franchise quarterback with the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is a need as Matt Ryan will be 36 next year, and the team has no potential replacement for him on their roster.

In Justin Fields, the Falcons are getting a multi-dimensional player who can win with both his feet and his arm. During his college career Fields has been one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the Big Ten as he finished second in the conference in completion percentage.

His accuracy has been on display in all areas as well as he consistently hits the short to intermediate routes but also has good placement on the deep ball. He displays the arm strength, leadership and ability to make plays when things break down which is another key attribute the team wants to see out of a potential franchise quarterback.

If all three of the top quarterbacks are off the board by the time Atlanta picks, they could consider taking a cornerback at this spot.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 5th overall

The top priority for the Cincinnati Bengals has to be addressing their offensive line. The team gave up 48 sacks last year which was the sixth-most in the NFL. The poor offensive line also led to 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow suffering a season-ending injury.

A player who could definitely help the team in pass protection is Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Sewell is one of the higher-rated offensive tackles to come out of college recently and has even been compared to former Bengale great Anthony Muñoz by Mel Kiper Jr.

What makes Sewell such a promising prospect is his outstanding athletic ability. He has both the mobility to easily get to the second level as a run blocker, and the quick feet to stay with the fast edge rushers he will see in the NFL. While he still needs some work on technique there is no doubt he can be the franchise left tackle the team is looking for.

If Sewell is off the board and the Bengals still want to address the offensive line with this pick they might consider Rashawn Slater. Or if the team thinks this is too high for Slater they could also grab Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 6th overall

The Philadelphia Eagles will likely make several changes at the wide receiver position this year. They are likely to cut both DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery this offseason. They also have several unproven players on the roster including 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor who only had 31 catches last year and Travis Fulgham who despite leading the team in receiving yards last year is far from a great wide receiver.

This lack of star power at the position and the fact they need whoever is the starting quarterback in 2021 to have a successful season, is why I predict the Philadelphia Eagles to take a wide receiver at the sixth spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. The wide receiver who would make the most sense with this pick is LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase.

Chase was one of the most dominant players in college football in 2019 as he recorded 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. The skills that should translate to the NFL and make Chase an All-Pro wide receiver include the ability to make yards after the catch, and an ability to track the ball with the best of them.

One other option at this pick would be Micah Parsons, but the Eagles usually don’t consider linebackers this high in the draft.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 7th overall

The Detroit Lions made the trade of the offseason so far when they traded Matthew Stafford to the Rams in exchange for two first-round picks and Jared Goff. Now the question is does Detoriot give Goff a chance to prove he can be their quarterback of the future or do they draft someone in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft?

Considering no quarterback available is worth the seventh spot in the draft, and Dan Campbell told Chris Burke that the team will not reach for a quarterback I am guessing they will address needs on the defensive side of the ball.

The Lions have several needs on the defensive side of the ball, but the two top needs are at linebacker and defensive tackle. A player who would fill the need at linebacker and is the top defensive player on my board in Penn State’s Micah Parsons.

Parsons has the versatility to play either inside or outside linebacker for Detroit. He has the bulk coming in at 245 pounds to hold up in the middle, although his instincts do need to improve some for him to reach his potential at this position. As far as how he would fare at outside linebacker he has the speed to match up well in coverage against any tight end he would see and also is one of the better blitzing linebackers in the 2021 NFL Draft.

A prospect who is getting some attention from the Detroit media is Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, so he could be another option at this pick.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 8th overall

While the Detroit Lions might not need to reach for a quarterback the Carolina Panthers might not be in a similar position. The team signed former Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgwater to a three-year, $63 million contract last offseason hoping he would be at least the short-term answer at quarterback. However, it looks like the team is already ready to move on from him as head coach Matt Ruhle has stated in order for Bridgwater to keep his job that he is going to need a tremendous offseason.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the top three quarterbacks will likely be long gone by the time they pick at the eighth spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. This means they will have to reach for North Dakota State’s Trey Lance at this pick. While Lance has been outstanding in college as he completed 67% of passes for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns in his last full season of college football he does have some questions.

One of the biggest concerns I have with him is his overall accuracy. Even though he did complete a high percentage of passes, he did not always hit receivers in stride. The other question with him is the level of competition jump.

Due to these concerns, Carolina would be wise to have Lance backup Bridgwater for a year or two before inserting him into the starting lineup.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 9th overall

It looks like the Denver Broncos are moving on from A.J. Bouye after they cut him earlier this month. The team traded for Bouye last year, sending a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for him. Unfortunately, Bouye struggled in 2020 as he battled both injuries and a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The move saves Denver over $13 million in salary-cap space and also creates a need to find a starting cornerback.

The Denver Broncos could look to fill this need in the 2021 NFL Draft by taking Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain. Surtain has been one of the best corners in college football over the past couple of seasons being named a unanimous first-team All-American this season. Surtain has the size, speed, and fundamentally sound play to step right into the starting lineup next year for the Broncos.

Surtain would join a secondary that already has some talent as both Bryce Callahan and Michael Ojemudia have proven they can be solid contributors in the NFL. If the team decided to go with a different cornerback at this position, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley would be a wise choice for the team with the ninth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 10th overall

One of the bigger debates in the 2021 NFL Draft is who is the better cornerback between Alabama’s Patrick Surtain and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley. While I have Surtain as the number one cornerback on my board, Farley is not far behind. The one thing separating these two is that Surtain is more polished when it comes to technique. However, this is mainly due to Farley only having played two years at cornerback.

What Farley does bring to the table is a combination of great size, quickness, and ball skills. Coming in at 6-foot-2 he is one of the bigger corners in the 2021 NFL Draft and for someone his size, he shows impressive quickness. He shows an outstanding burst when it comes to making a play on the ball, and also has the overall speed to match up with even the fastest receivers. Farley shows impressive ball skills as well as he picked off four passes and broke up 12 passes in 2019.

Farley would be a great addition to the Dallas Cowboys secondary. He and 2020 second-round pick Trevon Diggs would make one of the better young cornerback tandems in the NFL. These two together would also turn the Cowboys secondary from a weakness to one of the strengths of the team.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 11th overall

Going into the 2020 season the New York Giants thought wide receiver was a position of strength for them but unfortunately things didn’t work out that way. The team had disappointing years from both Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, and will likely cut Tate this offseason. The team also did not get a ton out of former first-round pick Evan Engram at the tight end position, so upgrading the passing game is a must.

The player who could make an immediate impact for the Giants is former Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Waddle has outstanding speed and can make plays either by making yards after the catch or by catching the deep ball. He would easily become the favorite target for Daniel Jones and should help open up things more for Evan Engram. This will be a big year for Engram who will need a big season this year to prove he can live up to the expectations the Giants had for him when they drafted him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Another positive with Waddle is he can help out on special teams. With his elusiveness in the open field and overall speed, he would make a dangerous kick returner in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 12th overall

The 49ers will have a tough choice here between Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye and Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater. However, I am going to go with Paye with this pick as he fills a more immediate need at defensive end. This is a more pressing need due to the health concerns surrounding Dee Ford and his back injury.

Another reason the 49ers would go with Paye here is his impressive upside. When watching his film you can see an impressive athlete who is just starting to grow into the position. Speaking of athletic ability Paye has put up some extremely impressive testing numbers and was actually named the number one physical freak in college football by Bruce Feldman at the start of the season. Some of the numbers he has posted include a 6.37 seconds 3-cone drill time and a 4.57 40-yard dash.

In terms of where Paye would fit in with the 49ers, at the bare minimum he would provide valuable depth behind Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. This is a very valuable role for any player the 49ers would pick up as Nick Bosa missed most of the 2020 season with a torn ACL, and Dee Ford only played in one game before being placed on injured reserve. The team will likely also lose its most productive pass rusher last year Kerry Hyder Jr. in free agency. Paye would then eventually enter the starting lineup whenever the team moves on from Ford, which could be as early as the 2021 season.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 13th overall

When your starting offensive tackles are graded as the 65th and 74th best tackles in the NFL by Pro Football Focus it is time to upgrade the position. That is the case with the Chargers, and one of the reasons they take an offensive tackle in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The team also needs to prioritize protecting Justin Herbert as he has shown the ability to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

If the Chargers were able to draft Rashawn Slater with this pick they would be getting a player who could step in at either tackle spot and play from day one. The main reason for this is Slater is a very smart player who plays with great technique. He also shows the strength to be a strong run blocker and the quick feet to hold up against the best pass rushers. If you are looking for proof of this just check out how much Slater dominated Chase Young in 2019.

The only knock on Slater is that he lacks elite height coming in at only 6-foot-3. He also does not have the longest arms. Despite these concerns, I still think Slater could be a very good starting tackle in the NFL. Even if I am proven wrong and he doesn’t have the physical traits to play tackle he would make a very good offensive guard in the NFL.

If the Chargers took Slater with the 13th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, I would look for Slater to compete for the starting left tackle job. If he lost this battle the Chargers could then move him to right tackle or guard.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 14th overall

If the Minnesota Vikings are going to push for a playoff spot next year they must improve their defense. Last season, the Vikings ranked 29th in points per game on defense allowing 29.7 points. One of the biggest issues for the Viking’s defense was a lack of pass rush as they only averaged 1.4 sacks a game which ranked 28th in the league. To top that off they also traded their most productive pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens.

Due to this need to get a pass rush the team would be wise to take Miami defensive end, Gregory Rousseau with the 14th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Rousseau has been one of the most productive players in college football when he has actually been on the field as he registered 15.5 sacks in 2019. As a pass rusher, he shows an outstanding burst off the line of scrimmage and overall athletic ability.

I would look for Gregory Rousseau to make an impact with the Vikings right away as a pass rusher. He might only be a situational pass rusher at first though as he lacks great strength against the run, and is still working on how to get off blocks.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 15th overall

The New England Patriots get the steal of the draft in this mock draft as they select Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. This move would make sense for a couple of reasons with the first being the tremendous value they would be getting with this selection. Pitts is an amazing athlete for someone his size and is by far the best tight end in the draft.

This move would also make sense as New England lacked production at this position last year, despite spending two draft picks on it in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Patriots leading tight end last year was Ryan Izzo who only had 13 catches on the year. New England also ranked dead last in receptions from this position in 2020, as their tight ends only caught a combined 18 passes.

This production would skyrocket if Kyle Pitts was brought into the fold. This is due to the fact one of the more creative offensive minds in the NFL is Josh McDaniels and he would line Pitts up all over the field. Plus, McDaniels has a good history of finding ways to get his tight end the ball as he did with Rob Gronkowski.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 16th overall

One of the biggest questions in Arizona this offseason is what will they do at cornerback. The team has several of its corners including last year’s starters Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatric scheduled to hit free agency this offseason. Even if the team resigned both of these players which is doubtful, they would still need to upgrade the position as neither player had a standout year in 2020.

In South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn the Cardinals would be getting a big physical corner who has a somewhat similar playing style to Patrick Peterson. When watching Horn’s game film it is evident he is best playing outside where his physical style of play can be allowed to press receivers getting out of their stance.

This would be a good fit for the Cardinals as the team seems set at nickel corner with Byron Murphy who has impressed during his first two years in the NFL. This selection would allow Arizona to play Horn at one of the starting corner spots next year and possibly bring in a free agent to fill the other spot. The team will also likely add more help in the secondary later in the 2021 NFL Draft as well, to help fill out the depth chart.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 17th overall

The Las Vegas Raiders had one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2020. The team placed 30th in points per game giving up an average of 29.9 points. Part of the reason they struggled so much was their inability to get to the quarterback as they only recorded 1.3 sacks a game which ranked 30th in the league. The weakest position on the Raiders last year when it came to getting pressure on the quarterback, was defensive tackle which only recorded 3.5 sacks on the year.

Due to this lack of interior pass rush, I could see the Las Vegas Raiders drafting Alabama’s Christian Barmore with the 17th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Barmore was one of the best pass rushers in the SEC last season when he recorded eight sacks on the year. What is even more impressive though is he is just scratching the surface as a pass rusher and has the potential to be even more dominant in this area if he learns how to use his hands better and plays with better pad level.

Barmore will also help the Raiders run defense which needs all the help it can get as they ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. In this area of the game, Barmore’s enormous size of 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds allows him to eat up blockers and space. He also has the strength to go along with this size and is very hard to move out of the way. One other positive for him as a run defender is his quickness which allows him to make his share of plays behind the line of scrimmage.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 18th overall

With their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dolphins added a playmaker in the passing game with the addition of Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. The team adds another offensive playmaker from Alabama with the 18th pick in the draft, this time selecting running back Najee Harris.

Harris has been one of most productive running backs in college football over the past two seasons as he has rushed for 2,690 yards and 39 touchdowns over those two seasons. He was also a big part of Alabama’s passing game last season when he caught 43 passes for 425 yards and four touchdowns.

As a player, Harris is a bigger back coming in at 230 pounds and is one of the more physical backs in the 2021 NFL Draft. To go along with his power running style Harris has the speed to break the long run and also is a surprisingly good athlete for someone his size. In addition to these skills Harris displays soft hands which allow him to be a threat in both the running and passing game.

Harris would likely earn the starting running back job in Miami as a rookie, as the only back on the Dolphins roster who rushed for over 500 yards last season was Myles Gaskin. Even though Gaskins impressed for a second-year player who was drafted in the seventh round he is probably best off as a back who can give the starter a break. This is why Harris and Gaskins would make a good tandem.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 19th overall

The Washington football team is led by one of the best defenses in football, as they only gave up an average of 21 points a game. Unfortunately, they are also held by one of the less potent offenses in the NFL. As the team only averaged 21 points a game which ranked 25th in the NFL. The one area the team must address this offseason to improve the scoring production of their offense is quarterback.

While Alex Smith was a feel-good story this year coming back from a gruesome leg injury, he is not the long-term answer at quarterback. The team could also lose Smith this offseason as he will be a free agent. The other quarterback on the team who has shown some promise is Taylor Heinicke, but he is best off being a backup at this point in his career. This means Washington will need to bring in a player this offseason and their best bet is bringing one in via the 2021 NFL Draft.

The player who would make sense at the 19th pick in the draft is Alabama’s Mac Jones. While Jones may never develop into an All-Pro quarterback he shows the skills to be a solid starter in the NFL. One of these skills is his outstanding accuracy. Jones completed 77% of his passes this fall for the Tide, and also displayed great accuracy during Senior Bowl week.

To go along with his impressive accuracy, Jones is an extremely smart player who shows adequate arm strength. Even though he will not be able to beat you with his feet, he is the type of player who can beat you through the air if you surround him with a strong supporting cast.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 20th overall

The Chicago Bears’ top need going into the offseason will be to find a starting quarterback, but unfortunately, if Washington takes Mac Jones at the 19th spot no quarterback remaining on the board would be worth the 20th pick. This means the Bears will have to go in another direction with this pick. The team will likely consider either a wide receiver or offensive tackle at this position.

In this situation, I would see the Bears taking Christian Darrisaw with the 20th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. They would be wise to snag him with their first-round pick as most people think he will go higher than this pick, and because Darrisaw has the athletic ability to play left tackle in the NFL.

When evaluating Darrisaw the first thing that stands out is how mobile he is. He has the ability to easily get to the second level when run blocking, and also the quick feet to keep up with edge pass rushers. In addition to these traits, he has the length you want in a left tackle as he comes in at 6-foot-5. I am also impressed with the fact he did not give up a single sack this year.

While Darrisaw does need some technique work especially when it comes to pad level, he could compete for the starting left tackle job as a rookie. Even if he was unable to win a starting position in training camp, he would be a first-round pick. This is due to the fact he has a high upside and could easily develop into a Pro Bowl left tackle.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 21st overall

While the Indianapolis Colts offensive line is far from a weakness, they did lose one of their best players on it when Anthony Castonzo announced his retirement. This leaves a void at left tackles and the team will likely choose to fill this need in the draft.

One of the rawest prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class is Michigan offensive tackle, Jalen Mayfield. Mayfield has only started 15 games during his career at Michigan including 13 games in 2019. He had a strong enough season that year to be named All-Big Ten honorable mention and was expected to have a big 2020 season. Unfortunately, he only played in two games this season, as he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the second game of the year.

As a prospect Mayfield shows several traits that make you think he can play tackle at a high level in the NFL. One of these is his mobility as he has the quickness to make the switch from college right tackle to NFL left tackle. He has ideal size as well coming in at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds. One more positive with him is he has the versatility to play either tackle spot or guard in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 22nd overall

The biggest need the Titans have this offseason is finding edge pass rushers. The team tried to address this need last offseason by signing Vic Beasley and Jadeveon Clowney but neither one of these players made much of an impact. Overall, the team finished with only 19 sacks which placed 30th in the NFL. The only bright spot for the team at this position was Harold Landry III who recorded 5.5 sacks on the year and was the only Titans outside linebacker to record more than one sack on the year.

A player who would be a good pick-up at this point in the draft is Georgia outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari. Ojulari would be a good fit here as he can get after the passer as he recorded 11 sacks over the last two years at Georgia. He also has experience playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense as it is the same scheme Georgia runs.

I would look for Ojulari to be able to earn a starting spot on the Titans defense as a rookie, and instantly upgrade the Titans pass rush. I also would not be surprised if Tennessee goes back to this position later in the draft to add some depth.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 23rd overall

Earlier in the draft, the New York Jets took Zach Wilson with the second pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. With the 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets decide to address the defensive side of the ball. The area they decided to address is cornerback as the team had no players graded in the top-60 at this position last year according to Pro Football Focus. The team also gave up an average of 276 yards in the air last season, which was the fifth-worst mark in the NFL.

Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell is someone who could make sense with the 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. What makes Campbell such an intriguing prospect is his measurables. Coming in at six-foot-two, he has the size to play the cover two type defense Robert Saleh likes. He also has good speed to go with his size, as he is expected to run a 4.4 40-yard dash in the pre-draft process.

Unfortunately, though Campbell is more of a project at this time compared to a proven player. During his time at Georgia he only intercepted one pass and also only had eight pass deflections over the previous two seasons. Part of the reason for his lack of on-field production is that he seems to not have the best instincts on the field.

With the being said the New York Jets still might think they can develop him, and that he is worth a late first-round pick.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 24th overall

Despite starting the 2020 season off by going 11-0 the Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of work to do if they want to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2021. One of the things the team must fix is its running game. Last season, the Steelers finished dead last in both rushing yards per game and yards per carry. One of the things they need to address is their offensive line especially the right tackle spot in order to improve their run game.

A player who could potentially fill this need is Alex Leatherwood of Alabama. Over the past few seasons, Leatherwood has been one of the better offensive tackles in the country being named All-SEC in 2019 and a unanimous first-team All-American in 2020. He has also graded extremely high by the Alabama coaching staff as he was given a grade of 91.5 this past season.

If the Steelers were able to select Leatherwood with the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he would likely win the right tackle job. He would also immediately improve Pittsburgh’s running game as he shows outstanding strength in the run game. The team could also consider keeping him at his college position of left tackle if Alejandro Villanueva leaves in free agency.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 25th overall

The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team that had a high first-round pick that went with a quarterback that comes back and grabs a Georgia corner later in the first round of the draft. The team is looking for someone to pair with 2020 first-round pick C.J. Henderson as Tre Henderson had issues with penalties last year and Sidney Jones battled injuries.

While I have Eric Stokes teammate Tyson Campbell going ahead of him in this mock draft I actually have Stokes as the higher-rated corner on my board. Like Campbell, Stokes has a nice size and speed combination that will attract scouts. Stokes is listed at 6-foot-1 which is just one inch shorter than his teammate. He also has the speed to go along with this size, as he ran a 10.39 100-meter dash in high school.

In terms of where Stokes would fit the Jacksonville Jaguars, he would likely be the team’s number two corner next year. This would allow them to move Tre Henderson to nickel corner and give the team a solid group of corners to build around. Plus if you watch any film of Ohio State you quickly realize how important this position is to new coach Urban Meyer.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 26th overall

The style of football coach Kevin Stefanski likes to play is pound the ball with the running game on offense, and play great defense. However, in order for this style of football to work, you have to have a defense that ranks better than 21st in yards per game. Due to this so-so defense look for the Browns to address this side of the ball in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Even though the weakest position on the defense is linebacker, the team and their analytic approach doesn’t believe in investing heavily in that position. Due to that philosophy, I have them picking a defensive end at the 26th spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is also a need for the team as they need a pass rusher opposite Myles Garrett as last year’s starter Olivier Vernon is coming off a torn achilles and will also be a free agent this offseason.

Miami’s Jalen Phillips would be a good fit for the Browns to fill that need at defensive end. Phillips started his career off at UCLA but battled injuries throughout his time with the Bruins. Phillips then decided to transfer to Miami before the 2020 season and had a great year for the Hurricanes as he recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. As a prospect, he shows the size, athletic ability, and hustle that makes you think he could be an impact player in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 27th overall

One of the top priorities for the Ravens this offseason must be to improve their 32nd rated passing game last year. While part of this can be attributed to Lamar Jackson not being a great passing quarterback, the other part of the equation is a lack of threat in the passing game. The team currently only has one legitimate starting receiver in Marquise Brown, and he is more of your home run threat. The team needs to look for more of a possession receiver to team up with Brown this offseason.

The player who would be a perfect fit for this role is Minnesota’s, Rashod Bateman. Bateman was one of the most productive receivers in the nation in 2019 when he caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns. When watching his film it is impressive how crisp of a route runner he is and how sure-handed he is. These are the traits Baltimore desperately needs in a receiver.

If the team decided to address the defensive side of the ball instead, defensive end Jayson Oweh of Penn State could make sense here. This is a position of need as both starting defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon are set to become free agents this offseason.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 28th overall

The New Orleans Saints are one of the hardest teams to predict when it comes to what they will do in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is mainly due to the poor salary cap situation they are currently in. This makes it hard to predict which of their free agents they may resign and who might get cut in order to free up money. Due to this I just predicted they go with the best player still available in the draft in Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Owusu-Koramoah is one of the more versatile players in the draft as he has the speed, athletic ability and coverage ability to play a variety of positions on defense. This includes outside linebacker where he primarily played at Notre Dame. He also could make the switch to strong safety which the Saints might do depending on what they do with Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams this offseason.

The team could look at several other positions with this pick including pass rusher, wide receiver, or even quarterback. A pick that would surprise people but I could see the Saints making is drafting Florida quarterback Kyle Trask with the 28th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 29th overall

While a lot of people are predicting the Green Bay Packers to go with a wide receiver here, I think the team is happy with Davante Adams and either Allen Lazard or Marquez Valdes-Scantling as their starting wide receivers going into the 2021 season. The Packers would also be wise to address their need on the defensive line with this pick, as the only standout on Green Bay’s defensive line is Kenny Clark.

In my latest seven-round mock draft I did for the Green Bay Packers, I had them taking Daviyon Nixon with the pick, and he is still my pick for them in this mock draft. Nixon would give the Packers an athletic pass rusher defensive lineman who put up strong numbers in college. In Nixon’s first year as a starter for the Hawkeyes, he posted 13.5 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Nixon would be an ideal fit in the Packers 3-4 defense as a defensive end. This is because he has both the size and quickness to make this switch. He would likely be a day one starter which would make this a great value pick for Green Bay.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 30th overall

One area the Bills must upgrade this offseason is the running game. The team finished last year rated 25th in the NFL in rushing yards by a running back, and had the fourth-highest percentage of runs that were stuffed. Part of this issue can be attributed to not having a star running back as Zack Moss was rated as the 30th best running back in the NFL by Pro Football Focus and Devin Singletary was rated as the 47th by the same service. However, the interior offensive line might be even more of an issue.

The only interior offensive lineman on the team who is pretty much guaranteed a spot next year is Cody Ford. Although, Ford has battled injuries throughout his career so you can’t count on him starting every game. The other guard position is filled by Jon Feliciano who also missed significant time in 2020, and when he played had his share of struggles. The team also might decide to cut center Mitch Morse this offseason, as Morse has battled concussion issues and would free up significant cap space.

A player who could take over for Jon Feliciano at left guard is USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker. With Vera-Tucker the Bills would be getting the best offensive guard in the 2021 NFL Draft, and one of the most well-rounded offensive linemen as well. In 2019, Pro Football Focus graded him as the top run and pass blocking guard in the Pac-12. He also has experience playing along the offensive line as he has played both guard and tackle at USC. In terms of his physical skills, the trait that stands out the most with me about him is his outstanding strength.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 31st overall

The surprising Kansas City Chiefs’ loss in the Super Bowl was largely due to their below-average offensive line. The team allowed Patrick Mahomes to be pressured 52% of the time he dropped back and to be sacked a total of three times. Even though the Chiefs were playing with several backups among the offensive line, this is an area the team must address this offseason.

The biggest weakness on the Chiefs offensive line is at offensive tackle as both Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher are coming off significant injuries. However, the team needs to address the interior of the offensive line as the team has plenty of questions here as well.

Since the team has so many questions on its offensive line I have them taking one of the more versatile players in the 2021 NFL Draft in Alabama offensive lineman Landon Dickerson. While Dickerson spent the 2020 season at center he has played every position on the offensive line and could easily play either center or guard in the NFL. This versatility would give the Chiefs several offensive line options on how to rebuild their weakest unit.

As a player, Dickerson has been one of the most dominant offensive linemen in football as he was the winner of the Rimington Trophy this year which goes to the best center in college football. He also was named a second-team All-SEC pick in 2019 when he split time at both guard and center. His top asset as a blocker is his impressive strength as he has the power to open lanes in the running game and also the ability to stop the powerful defensive tackles he will see in the NFL.

If the team decided to take an offensive guard at this position either Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg or Texas’s Samuel Cosmi would make sense with this pick.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 32nd overall

One of the bigger questions for the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers is who will be starting at running back for them next year. While Leonard Fournette looked good in the Super Bowl, he will be a free agent and might not return next year. If he leaves this creates a gaping hole at running back for Tampa Bay as neither Ronald Jones nor Ke’Shawn Vaughn have proven they are starting-caliber running backs.

A running back that would look very good in Tampa Bay’s offensive system is Clemson running back Travis Etienne. Etienne would be a good fit here for a couple of reasons. The first one being that he is a home run threat that shows the patience and vision to be a complete running back. He also does a great job of catching the ball out of the backfield as he caught 48 passes this year for Clemson. This is something Tampa Bay was trying to do more with Fournette at the end of the season, and Etienne is significantly better than him in this area.

Another option I could see the team going with at this point in the 2021 NFL Draft is LSU wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., especially if they let Chris Godwin walk as a free agent this offseason.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 33rd overall

Jacksonville needs to find a left tackle as Cam Robinson is about to hit free agency. In Eichenberg the Jaguars get a prospect who can compete for the starting left tackle as a rookie.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 34th overall

The Jets need to surround their first-round pick Zach Wilson with some offensive firepower, and one of the best playmakers left on the board is Florida wide receiver, Kadarius Toney. Toney is one of the more elusive players in the 2021 NFL Draft and gives former 49ers assistant coach Robert Saleh a Deebo Samuel’s type player.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 35th overall

The Falcons have had trouble finding an edge pass rusher recently. 2017 first-round pick Takkarist McKinley didn’t work out and is now a Las Vegas Raiders. The team also tried to fill this position by signing big-name free agent Dante Fowler last offseason, but he failed to live up to expectations this year only recording three sacks this year. The Falcons could look to address this position again with the 35th pick in the 2021 NFL draft with Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 36th overall

Miami addressed the offensive side of the ball with their first two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, in the second round, they shift their focus to the defensive side of the ball grabbing Tulsa outside linebacker Zaven Collins. Collins is a versatile linebacker who shows outstanding coverage skills, yet can also be used as a pass rusher. He is the type of linebacker head coach Brian Flores loves and would be a great fit in the Dolphins defensive scheme.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 37th overall

One of the bigger tasks for the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason is to find someone to play opposite Darius Slay. In Newsome, the Eagles will be getting a big physical corner who has shown good ball skills. The biggest issue with Newsome is that he has battled his share of injuries which is why he will likely fall to the second round.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 38th overall

While wide receiver is not a tremendous need for the Cincinnati Bengals they do need to add a deep threat to go along with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. In Purdue’s Rondale Moore they are getting one of the fastest receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft, and a player who can take the top of any defense he sees.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 39th overall

This is a need for the Carolina Panthers as both of the team’s starting offensive tackles Taylor Morton and Russell Okung are free agents this offseason. Texas offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi would fill one of these positions as the athletic offensive tackle has the ability to play either left or right tackle.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 40th overall

In the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos added cornerback Patrick Surtain II. The team goes back to the defensive side of the ball in the second round this time adding a middle linebacker. This is a need as the team needs to find someone to pair with Josey Jewell in the team 3-4 defense and the hard-hitting Nick Bolton would be an ideal fit.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 41st overall

The secondary of the Detroit Lions can be summed up in one word and that word is underachieving. 2020 first-round pick Jeff Okudah had his struggles this year as did 2019 free-agent pickup Justin Coleman. The lack of success from these players led to the Lions being given the worst coverage grade in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. With the pickup of Molden, the team gets a player who can start from day one as a nickel cornerback.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 42nd overall

While the New York Giants had a very solid defense in 2020, they could lose some key players this offseason as Leonard Williams, Dalvin Tomlinson and Kyler Fackrell are all free agents. The team will likely look to replace at least one of these players in the 2021 NFL Draft. A player who could be looked at as a replacement is Jay Tufele, as he has the versatility to play either nose tackle or defensive end in the Giant’s system.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 43rd overall

One of the weakest positions on the 49ers last year was right guard, and this is a position the team will likely address in the 2021 NFL Draft. A player the 49ers would love to be available at this spot is Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins. Jenkins shows outstanding strength in the run game. He is still developing as a pass blocker but shows the ability to become solid in this area especially if he moves to guard and doesn’t stay at tackle.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 44th overall

This will be the second time the Cowboys address their secondary as they took Caleb Farley with the 10th overall pick earlier in this mock draft. With their second-round pick, the Cowboys decide to add a ball hawk safety in TCU’s Trevon Moehrig. Over the past two seasons, Moehring has accounted for six interceptions and 20 pass breakups which is the type of production Dallas’s secondary needs.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 45th overall

Jacksonville addressed their primary needs earlier in this mock draft as I have them taking a quarterback, cornerback, and offensive lineman with their first three picks in the draft. This frees them up to take one of the best players still left on the board who also fills a lesser need. Penn State’s  Pat Freiermuth is your old-fashioned tight end who is a physical blocker and reliable receiver in the intermediate passing game.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 46th overall

The New England Patriots need to bring in a young quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, and no one left on the board was worth taking at the 15th spot in this year’s draft. However, the selection of Trask could be a value pick in the second round as he shows impressive accuracy and football IQ. He will need to be in an offense similar to what the Patriots ran with Tom Brady though, as like Brady he lacks the athleticism to be any type of running threat.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 47th overall

With the Chargers planning to go to more of a 3-4 defense under new head coach Brandon Staley, the team will be looking for personnel that fits this need. In Ossai the team gets an athletic 3-4 outside linebacker who has a knack for getting to the quarterback.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 48th overall

The Raiders continue to address their defense with their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. This time they address their secondary as they have a big need at free safety. With the selection of Jevon Holland, they get an athletic defender who is outstanding in coverage. He is also one of the more productive defenders in the 2021 NFL Draft as he recorded nine picks in just his two-year college career.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 49th overall

Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake will be a free agent this offseason, and it is unknown if the team plans to re-sign him. Even if they do though they will still need to upgrade the running game as Drake only averaged 4 yards per carry last season. In North Carolina running back Michael Carter, the team gets an explosive running back who can also help out in the passing game.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 50th overall

Miami has some young talent on their offensive line, but also some question marks in terms of how these players will develop. One of the biggest questions revolves around Robert Hunt, and if you can count on him as a tackle or if you need to move him inside to guard. If the Dolphins decide to move him inside next year, they are going to need to bring in someone to replace him at right tackle. In Walker Little, Miami is getting someone who has played limited football over the last two seasons but shows a ton of potential.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 51st overall

Last season Washington saw starting tight end Logan Thomas have a breakout season as he had career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Unfortunately, the team does not have much behind him as the other tight ends on the roster only accounted for three receptions on the year. Due to this lack of depth and their not being another highly-rated player at this position of a more pressing need I see them taking Miami tight end Brevin Jordan at this spot.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 52nd overall

This is a spot where the Chicago Bears decide to take the best player left on the board, as offensive guard is not a big need for the team. Davis is a tough mauler who should immediately boost the physicality of the Bears offensive line, and hopefully help the team improve on its rushing game that finished 27th in the NFL last year.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 53nd overall

One of the biggest free agents on the Titans roster this offseason is wide receiver, Corey Davis. If the team loses him in free agency they have little on the roster besides A.J. Brown as no other receiver had 25 receptions on the season. In Wallace, the Titans get a physical receiver who does a great job of winning the contested catch.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 54nd overall

Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton will be a free agent this offseason and it is not certain if the team will resign him. The team does have high hopes for Michael Pittman, but they will still need a solid number two receiver if Hilton leaves. Amon-Ra St. Brown could fill this role or at the bare minimum be a good slot receiver in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 55th overall

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to address their running game in the second round after taking offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round. North Carolina running back Javonte Williams is a big physical running back who would be your traditional Pittsburgh Steelers type running back.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 56th overall

Russell Wilson has made it clear that he is tired of getting beat up behind the Seahawk’s poor offensive line. The team decides to try and please Wilson with its first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, after trading their first-round pick to the New York Jets. With Brown, the team would be getting a big physical guard who would team well with Damien Lewis on the Seahawks interior offensive line.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 57th overall

While the big question on the Los Angeles Rams offensive line is if Andrew Whitworth will return, the team could also cut right tackle Rob Havenstein to save salary cap space. If the team decided to do this a potential replacement would be North Dakota State’s, Dillon Radunz. Radunz is a big physical lineman who should be able to develop into a good NFL right tackle.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 58th overall

The Ravens’ top four outside linebackers will all be free agents and it would be surprising if the team resigns all of them. It will be key for the Ravens to add a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft to replace whoever the team loses. Washington’s Joe Tryon would fit this role as he was one of the better pass rushers in college football in 2019 when he recorded eight sacks. This was also Tryon’s last college season as he opted out of the 2020 season.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 59th overall

Starting corners Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams battled injuries last season, and both of their backups will be free agents. If either Kevin Johnson or Terrance Mitchell leave via free agency the team will likely look to replace them in the 2021 NFL Draft. Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo could be a good replacement as the 6-foot-1 corner has recorded eight interceptions over the past two seasons.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 60th overall

New Orleans has one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Michael Thomas, but they need a deep threat to stretch the field. One of the fastest players in college football is Anthony Schwartz and he is definitely capable of being the deep threat the Saints need. He also is dangerous after the catch and can turn the slant routes the Saints like to run into a big play opportunity.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 61st overall

The Bills did not see much production from their tight ends last year as the position only accounted for 42 receptions and 458 yards on the year. Boston College’s Hunter Long had more production than this by himself as he led FBS tight ends with 57 receptions. Long is also a complete tight end as he is a willing blocker who shows nice aggression in this area.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 62nd overall

Michigan’s Nico Collins is another player who opted out of the 2020 season due to Covid-19. However, when he was on the field in 2019 he was a proven deep threat. That season he averaged 19.7 yards on 37 catches. He also has the size the Packers like coming in at 6-foot-4 222 pounds.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 63rd overall

In the first round the Kansas City Chiefs addressed the interior of the offensive line with the selection of Landon Dickerson, and now come back and grab a tackle in the second round. The Chiefs need to add some depth to this position as both Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher are coming off injuries. While this might be a little high for Christensen, he is a proven left tackle that has a good upside.

2021 NFL Draft: Round 2, 64th overall

The Buccaneers need to add a developmental quarterback who can hopefully take over for Tom Brady, whenever he retires. In Mills, the team gets a player who is very raw but has the tools to be an NFL starter in a couple of years. This would be the ideal situation for Mills as he gets to learn from the greatest quarterback of all time, and also does not face any pressure to see the field.