2021 NFL Mock Draft: Who is willing to pay the Atlanta Falcons?
By Ian Higgins
Scouting Report. College Stats. QB. BYU. Zach Wilson. 2. player. 30
Seemingly mirroring Urban Meyer and his approval of Lawrence at Clemson’s pro day, the New York Jets were sold on Zach Wilson following an impressive cross-body fadeaway touch pass off-platform from approximately 40 yards out. Followed by confirmation with the trade of Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers for a selection of future mid-round selections and a sixth-rounder in the 2021 NFL Draft.
To avoid the same fate as Darnold though, the New York Jets need to ensure they surround Wilson with adequate talent. Having added running back Tevin Coleman in free agency, and already possessing draft selection Denzel Mims as an athletic wideout, Wilson has two pieces that can offer a reliable foundation alongside a handful of 2021 NFL Draft selections. Left tackle Mekhi Becton has also flourished into a premier pass-protector with dominant size.
QB. Ohio State. Justin Fields. Scouting Report. 42. College Stats. 3. player
After making a bold move up to the third overall selection in exchange for two future first-rounders, the San Francisco 49ers sacrificed their short-term future to an already loaded Miami Dolphins organization for their pick of the second-tier of quarterbacks within the 2021 NFL Draft.
Expected to spend a season developing behind Jimmy Garoppolo, it was rumored Trey Lance was the favorite to the selection before recent connections with Alabama’s Mac Jones, but neither fits Shanahan’s system quite like Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
Although Jones showed exceptional command of the Alabama offense throughout the course of the 2020 season, Justin Fields showed flashes of brilliance during his pro-day workouts and has already been adorned with the “leader” label following Ohio State’s playoff performance.
Within Kyle Shanahan’s system of efficiency and winning from the sideline, Alabama’s Mac Jones would be a near-perfect schematic fit. In a modern league nearly demanding mobility from the quarterback position though, Shanahan should be ecstatic to bring in a signal-caller with the breakaway speed to crack a game wide-open.