Every 2021 NFL mock draft scenario from now until April is going to be filled with twists and turns as the NFL’s quarterback landscape takes shape.
There have already been three major starting quarterbacks traded, and the new league year has yet to begin.
Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for fellow former first-overall pick Jared Goff, now the quarterback of the Detroit Lions.
Former second-overall pick Carson Wentz was sent to the Indianapolis Colts to play for his old pal Frank Reich as the Colts try to get back into annual playoff contention.
What moves will be next? Can some team pull off a blockbuster trade for superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson? Who’s going to be quarterbacking the San Francisco 49ers?
There are so many fun scenarios that could play out over the next two months. Here’s one of them.
2021 NFL mock draft: 1st pick
There should be no theatrics here, though obviously some rumors are floating out there that a number of NFL teams have Zach Wilson ranked ahead of Lawrence on their 2021 NFL Draft boards.
More than likely, those teams never had a shot at the first overall selection to begin with, but there are some experts of the QB position who have stated their preference for Wilson over Lawrence.
Ultimately, even if you are enamored with what you saw from Wilson this past year, Lawrence is a much more consistent, safe selection. Wilson has a bit of that Mahomes-like flare to his game, but what Lawrence lacks in flare he more than makes up for on the physical and intangible side.
He joins Urban Meyer in Jacksonville to try to revive this Jaguars franchise.
2021 NFL mock draft: 2nd pick
What if the Jets move forward with Sam Darnold? That’s not impossible.
There is no guarantee that the Jets will simply take the best QB on their board here if they believe that Sam Darnold can turn his career around in the offense that will be run by Kyle Shanahan disciple Mike McDaniel.
With so many other teams interested in adding Darnold in hopes that he can still become the QB1-type of prospect many thought he was just three years ago, why would the Jets not believe he could become great in that type of offense?
They will undoubtedly be doing their homework on QBs in the 2021 NFL Draft, but taking the best offensive lineman on their board would not be a bad idea either. The Jets have a lot of picks to work with between this year and next year, including four first-round picks.
Joe Douglas has a chance to really build this roster with talented players and Penei Sewell playing a bookend role to Mekhi Becton would help make any quarterback better.
2021 NFL mock draft: 3rd pick
TRADE: Dolphins trade 3rd pick to Eagles for 6th pick, 37th pick, future 3rd-round pick
The Philadelphia Eagles traded Carson Wentz and got some strong capital in return for him, including what could be a first-round pick in the 20s next year if the Colts make it to the playoffs and Wentz plays 70 percent of the offensive snaps in the process.
The Eagles have Jalen Hurts, a 2020 second-round pick, but there is no doubt the Carson Wentz trade puts them in a position to be players on the QB market in 2021.
Maybe the Eagles are one of the teams that likes Zach Wilson as the QB1 of this draft and a they would be willing to move up as high as number two overall.
Giving up a second-round pick in this year’s draft to get this deal done stings a bit, but ultimately, the Eagles have a player in Wilson they can build around at QB and start fresh.
2021 NFL mock draft: 4th pick
The Atlanta Falcons have a new head coach, a new general manager, and an aging quarterback whose talent is no longer raising all of the boats around him.
The quarterback position is squarely on the radar for the Atlanta Falcons, whose hiring of Terry Fontenot in the front office and Arthur Smith as head coach indicates this team is ready for a new identity.
Justin Fields is a Kennesaw, GA native and would be coming back to his home state to take the reins as the franchise QB of the Falcons.
There are undoubtedly some valid questions about Fields’ game translating to the next level but his athleticism, work ethic, and big-time arm talent are all traits that Smith can work with.
2021 NFL mock draft: 5th pick
With Penei Sewell off the board, the Cincinnati Bengals have to decide what the best way to support Joe Burrow with this selection is.
The team is poised to potentially lose two former first-round picks in AJ Green and John Ross this offseason, and even with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins on the roster, the Bengals would undoubtedly struggle to pass on a player the caliber of Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase was arguably the best player on that legendary LSU offense (with all due respect to the plethora of talent they had) as he averaged a whopping 21.2 yards per reception with 84 catches on the year, including 20 touchdowns.
Simply put, Chase was unstoppable.
A combination of Chase and Higgins on the outside with Boyd in the slot? The Bengals can take advantage of the depth of this tackle class in rounds two and three and make this pick here to get Burrow one of his best pals from LSU.
2021 NFL mock draft: 6th pick
The Dolphins could take their WR1 at pick number three overall, but in this scenario, they find a way to dominate the first two rounds of the draft and still get the Heisman winner at receiver, De’Vonta Smith.
Smith’s incredible 2020 campaign overshadows the tremendous work he did prior to that, but he’s been consistently a great player for the Crimson Tide despite other receivers getting the fanfare.
Smith’s route running, strong hands, and big-time speed will make him a huge asset to a Dolphins offensive arsenal that seriously lacks in the playmaking department.
The Dolphins will unquestionably look to supplement that talent later on in this draft, but for now, getting Smith reunited with Tua Tagovailoa seems like a strong play for Miami.
2021 NFL mock draft: 7th pick
TRADE: Lions trade 7th pick to 49ers for 12th pick, 43rd pick, future pick
The San Francisco 49ers might be in a position where they have to stick with Jimmy Garoppolo for at least one more season, but they need a better contingency plan than Nick Mullens or CJ Beathard.
Actually, the 49ers taking on Josh Rosen as a project is really fun, but I don’t think that precludes them from taking on someone like Trey Lance in this draft and paying the required price to do it.
Lance is as raw as they come, but the 49ers have a great situation for raw quarterbacks because Kyle Shanahan and his offense have historically been really good for just about any type of quarterback.
Lance had bouts of erratic accuracy as a passer at North Dakota State, but he has a huge arm and is an asset as a runner.
2021 NFL mock draft: 8th pick
Although Penei Sewell, Ja’Marr Chase, and De’Vonta Smith have come off the board, some feel that Kyle Pitts is the best non-quarterback in the entire draft this year.
Some don’t consider him a pure tight end, but honestly — and I mean this sincerely — who cares?
Pitts is a playmaker and as the league moves to positionless offenses, he’s an ideal fit. He may not be able to punish defenders like George Kittle in the running game, but he can certainly be a mismatch in the passing game and he will be just that going forward.
The Panthers obviously need to get their quarterback position figured out, but in this scenario, they don’t win the bidding war for Deshaun Watson and continue building the core of what Matt Rhule and company started a year ago.
2021 NFL mock draft: 9th pick
TRADE: Broncos trade 9th pick to Texans for QB Deshaun Watson
Just so we don’t get this mixed up, let’s look at the full parameters of what the Denver Broncos could potentially give up in a trade for Deshaun Watson. By the way, they were most recently the odds-on favorites to be the next team he plays for if it’s not the Texans.
Broncos get:
- QB Deshaun Watson
Texans get:
- EDGE Bradley Chubb
- DL Dre’Mont Jones
- QB Drew Lock
- WR Tim Patrick
- 2021 1st round pick (9th overall)
- 2021 2nd round pick (40th overall)
- 2022 1st round pick
- 2022 2nd round pick
This trade would sting for the Broncos, giving up both Bradley Chubb and Dre’Mont Jones to get Watson but this is the caliber of deal any team is going to have to put forth in order to actually entice the Texans to let Watson go.
Chubb and Jones are each established defenders in this league on rookie contracts, Drew Lock has some upside with two more years on his rookie deal, and four picks in the top 64 of the draft including 9 and 40 in 2021 are not terrible, even if they don’t guarantee the Texans a young QB immediately.
New Texans GM Nick Caserio uses the first of the draft assets acquired from the Broncos to take the top cornerback in the 2021 class, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley.
Make no mistake about it, trading Deshaun Watson is going to be painful (if the Texans even do it) but getting three new defensive starters like Chubb, Jones, and Farley immediately would help transform that side of the ball for this team.
Having Lock gives Houston a talented prospect to try and work with, and they can evaluate this year to see how they want to pursue other options in 2022.
Tim Patrick, who was arguably the Broncos WR1 in 2020, is not just a throw-in, either. He can play.
2021 NFL mock draft: 10th pick
The offensive line has increasingly become a bit of a concern for the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaking of concerns with the Dallas Cowboys, what the heck is going on with Dak Prescott’s contract situation? How concerning is the second surgery he had?
At any rate, the Cowboys could upgrade either the offensive line or the defensive backfield here with this selection, and Rashawn Slater would be a great pick.
He could start anywhere they need on the offensive line year one but he has upside as a long-term left tackle or right tackle.
2021 NFL mock draft: 11th pick
We know that New York Giants head coach Joe Judge has a history as a special teams guy and he also has a history not only with Bill Belichick in New England but with Nick Saban at Alabama.
One of the best special teams players at Alabama over the past three seasons has been Jaylen Waddle, an electric punt returner in addition to being one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers at wide receiver.
The Giants have needs on both sides of the ball but a player like Waddle — especially when Saquon Barkley is also coming back — can make a massive difference.
His speed and elusiveness in the open-field would be welcomed additions for the Giants’ offensive weaponry.
2021 NFL mock draft: 12th pick
Although there are some concerns about off-field maturity that need to be figured out, Micah Parsons could very well be the steal of the 2021 NFL Draft with this pick.
He has all of the talent in the world as a dual-threat off-ball linebacker as well as a pass rusher.
As a pure talent, Parsons could be the best pass rusher in this class.
The Lions need to get more young talent on the defensive side of the ball and because the value of a pure off-ball linebacker is a bit diminished, they would need to be creative with a talent like Parsons.
After trading down, the Lions picked up even more assets for the future where they are absolutely loaded thanks to the Los Angeles Rams.
2021 NFL mock draft: 13th pick
The Los Angeles Chargers missed out on Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater, so in this scenario, they look at their second most-pressing need at cornerback and take the player who is probably the best on the board at this point — Patrick Surtain II.
Surtain may not have the same type of obvious athletic prowess as Caleb Farley, but he has been consistent for the Crimson Tide and he could excel in new head coach Brandon Staley’s defense with his physical and instinctive style of play.
The Chargers have found their franchise QB of the future in Justin Herbert but now they are changing offensive schemes completely. It was oddly the Chargers’ defense that let them down more often than not in 2020. Surtain can help get them back on track.
2021 NFL mock draft: 14th pick
With no second-round pick, the Vikings have to make this one count.
Their current situation with Riley Reiff at the left tackle position is probably not ideal in the long-term, and they may have to get out of his contract this offseason anyways.
The Vikings used a second-round pick on Ezra Cleveland in 2020 in hopes that he would be the clear heir apparent at left tackle, but he ended up starting for the team at right guard and excelling.
Alijah Vera-Tucker has positional versatility as a guard who kicked out to tackle in 2020 and did exceptionally well. He’s a plug-and-play starter in the NFL and I think the Vikings would be making a wise long-term move here.
2021 NFL mock draft: 15th pick
Every year, we talk about the New England Patriots finding the heir to Tom Brady.
This year will be no different.
The Patriots and Bill Belichick obviously have a great relationship with Alabama and Nick Saban, and Mac Jones is one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this class.
He may not have the spectacular traits of the other guys, but Jones plays the position well and he plays smart. The Patriots went with Cam Newton this past year and that experiment didn’t work out. They are going to need to go with a young player at the position and start to build around him for the future.
2021 NFL mock draft: 16th pick
Vance Joseph’s defense took a step forward in Arizona in 2020, but they are losing a bunch of pieces to free agency, including potentially longtime star Patrick Peterson.
Peterson has been a staple for the Cardinals since 2011 but that era may soon be over.
Enter Jaycee Horn, a fun blend of size, athleticism, and toughness who needs some refining but could be the ideal fit for a press-man type of defense like Vance Joseph’s.
He would be given a ton of responsibility as a rookie in this scenario, but Horn would unquestionably be up to the task. He has the right type of mindset to be a CB1 in the NFL and I think almost every NFL team is going to love him in that way.
2021 NFL mock draft: 17th pick
The Las Vegas Raiders paid a lot of money to try and fix their defense over the last two years, and it hasn’t worked out.
In fact, they have not only paid a bunch of money, but they have invested a lot of draft capital there as well, only to see the defense continually struggle.
Cory Littleton was not the big-money player the Raiders signed him to be. Nick Kwiatkoski turned out to be a bargain for them but there is still work to be done.
Raiders GM Mike Mayock used to call games for Notre Dame and he’s going to have plenty of intel on Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who could be this year’s version of an Isaiah Simmons-type of weapon on defense.
Owusu-Koramoah is not a traditional off-ball linebacker, but he could play a Kam Chancellor type of role in Gus Bradley’s defense or float between nickel, safety, off-ball, and pass rusher.
2021 NFL mock draft: 18th pick
Not everyone is a fan of the first-round running back, but sometimes your draft capital and team needs necessitate it.
The Miami Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa and in this scenario De’Vonta Smith. Here they get Najee Harris, who has consistently been one of the most improved players on the Crimson Tide offense over the last three seasons.
Although he’s not a traditional, bruising type of back like Derrick Henry, Harris is an ideal fit for the modern NFL as a three-down player who can even line up out wide and run routes like he plays the receiver position full-time.
He’s a dynamic threat and would give the Dolphins another valuable weapon to surround Tua.
2021 NFL mock draft: 19th pick
The Washington Football Team might have to punt their quarterback need down the road again in 2021.
Alex Smith was an unbelievable comeback story in 2020, but this Washington offense needs some serious work.
They don’t have to look too far outside of DC to find a possible long-term solution at left tackle in Christian Darrisaw, who was one of the most improved players at any position in the country in 2020.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1363118708466483200
Regardless of their quarterback situation, the WFT needs to address the left tackle spot ASAP.
What are the Chicago Bears going to do at the quarterback position? Are they going to bring back Mitchell Trubisky and hope things can still work out? How are they going to justify that to ownership?
The Bears’ brain trust of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy has gotten another year after they scraped and clawed into the postseason in 2020. There is no question that Chicago needs to figure out an answer at quarterback, but they also have question marks all over on offense.
Wide receiver needs to be addressed and if Chicago can find a way to bring back Allen Robinson, a trio of Robinson, Darnell Mooney, and Kadarius Toney could be dynamic.
The Bears will need players who can really bail the quarterback out if they are unable to make an upgrade at that position. Kadarius Toney is exceptional after the catch and has game-breaking speed.
2021 NFL mock draft: 21st pick
After securing Carson Wentz in a trade, the Indianapolis Colts have to turn to the other position that is most vital to success offensively — left tackle.
Jalen Mayfield has played right tackle for the Michigan Wolverines, but there is no doubt he has the athletic ability and natural talent to transition to the left side as a pro.
The Colts will need him to.
What Mayfield lacks in experience he more than makes up for with splashy tape. He hasn’t been flawless, by any means, but you watch his progression in just a short sample from the 2020 season and you can see the kind of strides he’s capable of taking.
2021 NFL mock draft: 22nd pick
After their division rivals selected an offensive tackle from Michigan, the Tennessee Titans take a player with the very next pick who they hope will give him fits in their annual battles.
Kwity Paye’s quickness off the edge and positional versatility make him an ideal fit for the Mike Vrabel defense, as we know from his time as a professional player and coach how meaningful “availability” is to him.
Paye has big-time pass rush potential at the next level. He may not have put up huge numbers as a Wolverine but Paye sets the edge well and can get after the quarterback.
2021 NFL mock draft: 23rd pick
After using their top pick on offensive tackle Penei Sewell, the New York Jets upgrade the running back position, something that is desperately needed after the ageless Frank Gore dominated the football for them in 2020.
Gore is obviously due plenty of respect, but the Jets need to get younger and more explosive at the position.
Travis Etienne is a high-character player who has proven himself capable of three-down duties for what seems like the last decade at Clemson. In four years for the Tigers, Etienne has consistently been one of the best players on one of the best teams in the country.
He is instinctive and explosive and will give the Jets a player they can rely on for three-down work.
2021 NFL mock draft: 24th pick
Although they could go a number of directions with this selection, the Steelers ultimately settle on taking the best player left on the board at this point, or one of them.
Azeez Ojulari doesn’t have the ideal frame for an edge player in the NFL but he is as explosive as they come and would give the Steelers a plan if they have to move on from Bud Dupree either this year or next.
As he closed out his college career at Georgia, Ojulari was the best player on the field in the Bulldogs’ bowl game against Cincinnati. At the age of 20, he’s barely scratched the surface of his potential.
2021 NFL mock draft: 25th pick
After going in the top 10 of pretty much every NFL mock draft over the Summer, former Miami edge defender Gregory Rousseau’s stock has cooled a little bit.
Rousseau was dominant in the 2019 season with 54 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 15.5 sacks. He also forced a pair of fumbles and showed off his versatility, putting some of his best work on tape as an interior rusher.
That is also part of the reason Rousseau has dropped a bit.
Although there was huge production in 2019, Rousseau has some questions about his game that need answering, namely what is he at the next level? Another year to watch Rousseau’s growth would have been great.
In this instance, the Jaguars get a player who is 6-foot-7, 265 pounds, and can move around the defensive front. He might not be Myles Garrett, but he can be a productive edge in the NFL for a long time playing outside on base downs and kicking inside in nickel and dime packages.
2021 NFL mock draft: 26th pick
Even with a little run on edge players here in the first round, the Cleveland Browns aren’t going to miss out.
Some people believe the former five-star prospect Jaelan Phillips is the best overall edge defender in the class and certainly the best pure pass rusher.
At 6-foot-5, 266 pounds, Phillips is explosive and violent as a pass rusher, able to bend the edge in a way that makes absolutely no sense given his frame.
He had 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks this past season for the Hurricanes and pairing him up with Myles Garrett off the edge could make the Browns’ defense absolutely terrifying.
2021 NFL mock draft: 27th pick
A mountain of a man on the defensive line, Christian Barmore was a player who had high expectations heading into the 2020 season and he more than lived up to those.
He finished this past season with 34 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Calais Campbell is still playing well into his 30s, but Derek Wolfe is a free agent and the Ravens need to add some more depth on the line and off the edge.
Barmore fits the former need and what would an NFL Draft be without the Baltimore Ravens stealing a talent from Alabama later than they should be able to?
2021 NFL mock draft: 28th pick
Where do we begin with the New Orleans Saints?
Because they are entering the pits of salary cap hell, the Saints are going to have to make sacrifices that could, at least temporarily, cripple their roster.
One player who might be testing free agency is free safety Marcus Williams, who has played very well for them outside of the Minneapolis Miracle play.
There are so many needs to look at for the Saints given potential cap moves that could be necessary, but here they go for the best player available who can help their defense immediately in a variety of ways.
Trevon Moehrig won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country and is a football magnet whether he’s playing a deep safety role, in the box, or in the slot.
2021 NFL mock draft: 29th pick
There is no question the Green Bay Packers need to be in the market for wide receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it would be tough for them to pass on Zaven Collins for the field of receivers still available in this 2021 NFL mock draft scenario.
Collins is built like a traditional power defensive end but plays the game extremely fast at the off-ball linebacker position.
He can cover, rush the passer, and attack the line of scrimmage in the run game. This guy is a clutch performer who can not only play all three downs, but he can create turnovers in a variety of ways.
2021 NFL mock draft: 30th pick
The Buffalo Bills have a Super Bowl contending roster and most of the starting lineup should be back and under contract for the 2021 campaign.
One thing that can often put Super Bowl contenders over the top? A devastating pass rush in January.
Jayson Oweh’s production is not there in terms of sacks, but this guy gets after the quarterback and will almost undoubtedly produce better as a pro than he did at Penn State.
Oweh’s explosiveness and athleticism make him an interesting target this late in the first round for a team like Buffalo, which doesn’t have many pressing needs at this point.
2021 NFL mock draft: 31st pick
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a single first-round pick starting for their defense.
Considering how competent their defense has been the past couple of years, that’s tough to believe, but it’s true.
The Chiefs have done a good job of hitting on day two picks and bringing in free agents who fit what they are doing, but it’s time to bring in some top-level talent on that side of the ball.
The offense is going to do its work, but a playmaker on the back end of the defense like Tyson Campbell can help create more opportunities for the offense to put points on the board.
Campbell was not the most consistent player at the cornerback position in 2020, but he has all of the physical and athletic gifts to be a stud for a long time, especially in man coverage.
The Buccaneers’ list of prospective free agents in 2021 is massive. Even if they are able to convince the majority of these guys to come back for another year and try to run it back, the Bucs need more help off the edge.
Joseph Ossai was extremely impressive this past year for Texas racking up 55 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in nine games.
He would have the opportunity with the Bucs in 2021 to come into their deep rotation and give them a major weapon off the “bench” in pass rush situations.
2021 NFL mock draft: 2nd round
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Daviyon Nixon, DL, Iowa
34. New York Jets: Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
35. Atlanta Falcons: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
36. Miami Dolphins: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
37. Miami Dolphins (from PHI): Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
38. Cincinnati Bengals: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
39. Carolina Panthers: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
40. Houston Texans (from DEN): Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama
41. Detroit Lions: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
42. New York Giants: Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest
43. Detroit Lions (from SF): Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington
44. Dallas Cowboys: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
45. Jacksonville Jaguars: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
46. New England Patriots: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
47. Los Angeles Chargers: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
48. Las Vegas Raiders: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
49. Arizona Cardinals: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
50. Miami Dolphins: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama
51. Washington Football Team: Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State
52. Chicago Bears: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
53. Tennessee Titans: Aaron Robinson, DB, UCF
54. Indianapolis Colts: Richie Grant, S, UCF
55. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee
56. Seattle Seahawks: James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati
57. Los Angeles Rams: Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
58. Baltimore Ravens: Nico Collins, WR, Michigan
59. Cleveland Browns: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
60. New Orleans Saints: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
61. Buffalo Bills: Elijah Molden, DB, Washington
62. Green Bay Packers: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jay Tufele, DL, USC