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

Following a free agency in Foxborough which can only be described as ‘bonkers,’ the New England Patriots return to the defensive side of the ball after missing out of the top receiving weapons of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite signing defensive linemen Deatrich Wise, Davon Godchaux, and Henry Anderson to new deals, Bill Belichick can’t miss out on a potential solution to his pass-rushing woes.

At 311 pounds, Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore has the size to play as a conventional nose tackles in the NFL but provides sufficient pass-rushing versatility to play as a 3-4 defensive end or even as a conventional 4-3 defensive end. Combining physical strength in his pass-rush moves with lateral mobility, Barmore brings the invaluable dimension of an interior pass-rush, an asset proven to be one of the few things capable of troubling any quarterback in the league.

After missing his pro day to undergo ‘minor’ back surgery, Virginia Tech cornerback has seen a wild swing in his draft stock ranging from a handful of spots to moving outside of the first round. Although back injuries are never something to blow off during pre-draft evaluation, this injury occurred while deadlifting at Virginia Tech. Although he missed his pro-day, Farley was recorded on video running an unofficial 4.28 making him the strongest cornerback athletically of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Having lost franchise cornerback Patrick Peterson during free agency, the Arizona Cardinals now leave safety Budda Baker flanked by Robert Alford and Malcolm Butler. Needing athleticism and youth at the position, taking the chance on Farley at sixteen overall is not out of the realm of reason. Originally thought to be set with Horn, the Cardinals won’t be disappointed to land a cornerback formerly fighting for the title of CB1 in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Seemingly every draft, we see a player who defies the boundaries between positions and reminds us that the ‘positionless’ player is seemingly the most valuable in the modern NFL. From rangy tackling to blanket coverage, these ‘linebackers’ are handed the responsibility of transforming their respective defense. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah completed such a feat during his time with the Fighting Irish.

Operating as a utility player in the Notre Dame defensive front, Koramoah saw his responsibilities match that of an outside linebacker, slot corner, and strong safety. Although the first impression you may receive is that of Jamal Adams, Koramoah trades unique pass-rush abilities for superior coverage. With strong reps against what would commonly be mismatches, Koramoah even operated effectively against slot receivers. With such wide-reaching utility across the defensive front, Koramoah is a centerpiece that can replace and heavily improve upon free-agent addition Corey Littleton.