2021 NFL Mock Draft: The insatiable hunger of the quarterback market

Having gained the general consensus for the most dynamic offensive weapon of the 2021 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots make the widely expected selection of Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. In an attempt to add a prime weapon to an otherwise lackluster passing attack, New England returns to their roots of a mismatch tight end who uses his size and athleticism to split seams and manufacture yardage post-catch with physicality (reminding you of anyone in particular?).

Alongside being a matchup-nightmare for opposing defenses, Pitts made a conscious effort in his final season at Florida to become a more complete tight end with well-rounded run blocking in order to earn the John Mackey Award for best tight end in the country. The New England Patriots still have a ways to go to complete their offense, but Pitts is a perfect start following a proven blueprint.

With key pass-rushers Haason Reddick, Markus Golden, and De’Vondre Campbell all set to hit the open market, the Arizona Cardinals need to supplement their losses with a pass-rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft. Thankfully, at number 16 overall, potentially the best pure edge of the class falls into their lap in the middle portions of the first round.

Showing much of what makes a successful edge rusher at the NFL level, Michigan’s Kwity Paye is a strong-built six-foot-four, 271-pound edge with bendy hips and explosiveness off of the snap. Paye may lack some of the technical polish of past first-rounders such as the Bosa brothers, but provides one of the most athletically-gifted platforms to work from as a developing pass-rusher with nearly unlimited potential.