2021 NFL Mock Draft: Who is willing to pay the Atlanta Falcons?

Following a recent surge of rumors suggesting the Atlanta Falcons will be moving out of the fourth overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, this NFL mock draft will see the Atlanta Falcons delay their search for a youthful quarterback instead for additional future draft assets. With a cornucopia of franchises hungry for a top quarterback from the 2021 NFL Draft, the Falcons hold legitimate bargaining power and still have present needs on a roster that was competitive on a single side of the ball.

After only his second season, Denver Bronco’s quarterback Drew Lock is already seemingly on the outs with the organization, posting an uninspiring 16:15 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a vastly improved collection of offensive weapons. Likely desiring to move away from the generic mold of a strong pocket-passer in the image of Elway, the Denver Broncos could opt for an athletic player under center from the 2021 NFL Draft.

Remaining outside the consensus top-tier 2021 NFL Draft quarterbacks simply due to a lack of tape from his time at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. With a stunning stat line exemplifying ball security and some of the best athletic tools in the class, Trey Lance has displayed the traits of the perfect NFL quarterback prospect against ‘subpar’ competition over a small sample size.

Likely requiring a full season to develop and acclimate to the NFL, Lance would not only have this opportunity behind Lock but could push the incumbent starter to improve his performance for the sake of job security. Already having built up the offense around Lock, Lance would enter a loaded Denver offense that will have found its identity and can mold itself to the strengths of Lance once fully evaluated in-house by the Denver coaching staff.

After having newfound franchise quarterback Joe Burrow stripped away following a brutal knee injury, the Cincinnatti Bengals need to look to procure protection for their centerpiece before surrounding him with elite weaponry. With the signing of Viking’s tackle Riley Reiff and the return of 2019 first-round selection Jonah Williams, the Bengals find themselves with a suitable pass-protecting pairing for 2021.

Although their current duo may be serviceable, the Bengals have the opportunity to form a dominant pair of offensive tackles with long-term sustainability. Currently regarded as the top offensive tackle of the 2021 NFL Draft for his athletic superiority, Oregon product Penei Sewell cemented his draft stock with a pro day workout which saw him display impressive movement skills to compliment the power which has been so heavily touted.