The 2021 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away, which means that 2021 NFL Mock Draft season is nearly complete.
For the time being, we get to have fun with hypothetical scenarios. What teams are going to be aggressive? Which teams are going to jump into the fray for quarterbacks in this particular class?
There are a number of trades that could happen and a couple that we will explore in this 2021 NFL mock draft scenario. The primary positions in focus for trade, as usual, will be at the quarterback position, but teams could get aggressive for offensive tackles or cornerbacks in this class as well.
Less than three weeks out, the rumor mill is churning, and although it’s hard to know at this point which rumors to buy and which ones to dismiss, there are plenty of intriguing scenarios to consider.
Let’s take a look at how the top three rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft could go in a couple of weeks on this Mock Draft Monday.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 1st pick
There shouldn’t be too many theatrics with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the top pick in the 2021 draft.
Trevor Lawrence has been the presumptive number one overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft basically since he came out of high school a few years back. He did nothing at Clemson to change that trajectory.
Lawrence is arguably the “prototype” at the quarterback position when it comes to his physical makeup, arm talent, accuracy, decision-making, athleticism, and gym rat approach to the game.
There are some aspects where Lawrence is Manning-like, but he’s still got plenty of room for growth. For the Jacksonville Jaguars and new head coach Urban Meyer, that’s a great thing.
Lawrence is a slam-dunk pick here and could help propel the Jaguars back into contention sooner rather than later.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 2nd pick
As the NFL world descended upon Provo, Utah for the BYU pro day, news broke that the San Francisco 49ers had traded up for the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
What does that have to do with the Jets and Zach Wilson?
Well, not that this has been confirmed, but with the timing of everything, it’s almost like John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan showed up at the BYU pro day to shake hands with Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh, congratulating each other on landing their respective quarterbacks.
The 49ers, given their relationship with Saleh, would have undoubtedly made the same offer to the Jets at no. 2 overall as they made to the Dolphins at no. 3 overall, but the Jets had their guy.
Wilson’s pro day cemented his status as the Jets’ pick here and he is certainly a fascinating talent.
Let’s not get carried away with hyperbole, but there were times on tape this past season when the things Wilson did as a passer to all levels of the field regardless if he was throwing off-platform or not were very Mahomes-like.
Wilson’s arm talent, athleticism, and playmaking ability are required in today’s NFL and the Jets didn’t want to pass on a shot to get a guy like that after his amazing 2020 campaign.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 3rd pick
Did the San Francisco 49ers seriously trade up to the third overall pick for Mac Jones?
It sure seems headed in that direction.
Barring something changing — which it very well could — it’s hard to deny a literal report from Adam Schefter of ESPN that Jones will be the 49ers’ selection here.
Although the 49ers are planning to attend the pro days of both Justin Fields and Trey Lance, who are holding second pro days for teams, it’s hard to know whether they are really keeping an open mind or just trying to keep those optics for the drama of the NFL Draft.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan passed on Justin Fields’ original pro day to go see Mac Jones, which could ultimately mean nothing but it’s worth noting at this point.
Jones, for all of the flak he takes from some in the NFL Draft world and in the media, is a very accurate passer to all levels of the field with an excellent understanding of reading defenses, throwing accurately under pressure, and taking shots deep.
Although the ‘prototype’ is probably thrown around too much when it comes to Kyle Shanahan’s ideal QB, Jones fits the mold of the guys Shanahan has had the most success with at the NFL level.
Are the 49ers buying the Mac Jones hype? Right now, it seems that way.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 4th pick
TRADE: Falcons trade 4th pick to Patriots for 15th pick, 46th pick, 96th pick, future 1st
The New England Patriots are a fascinating team to watch right now.
The Patriots signed Cam Newton to another one-year contract after what many thought was not an overly successful first year in New England.
The Patriots also spent a boatload of cash on the 2021 free agency crop, solidifying the fact that Bill Belichick hates finishing in third place.
This team is going to be aggressive about getting back into contention, but how aggressive will he be about getting a QB of the future? It’s possible that Cam Newton will be much better in a second year in this offense, but the Patriots could grab an ideal heir apparent in either Justin Fields or Trey Lance.
Both of those players, like Newton, are obviously threats with their ability to both run and throw. Fields’ journey is somewhat similar to that of Newton after starting off buried on a depth chart at one school (for Fields, it was Georgia) before transferring to another and becoming a Heisman contender.
Fields is a playmaker and while he could certainly benefit from some time behind a player like Cam Newton, he could also play right away.
Sitting behind Newton and absorbing what the Patriots are trying to install offensively would be beneficial for him. It does seem like the Patriots are moving towards a possible move like this. Why else sign Newton back for another year?
New England could fully commit to a run-oriented offense with players like Newton and Fields running it, stark stylistic contrasts to Tom Brady.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 5th pick
The Cincinnati Bengals added Riley Reiff in free agency. They have former first-round pick Jonah Williams.
The offensive line is not a no-doubt, no question whatsoever pick here at five overall.
Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow were one of the deadliest duos in college football in the 2019 college football season, hooking up for over 21 yards per reception en route to Burrow winning the Heisman Trophy and Ja’Marr Chase winning the Biletnikoff Award.
Chase is a big-time playmaker who has excellent play speed, he’s physical, and he’s a monster at the catch point.
Chase is a true alpha playmaker at the wide receiver position and that’s something the Cincinnati Bengals could be looking to replace.
Tee Higgins is a tremendous “X” receiver while Tyler Boyd is a very underrated slot. Besides those guys, however, what do the Bengals really have at receiver?
With the departures of AJ Green and John Ross III this offseason, receiver is definitely an area of need for the Bengals and Chase already has chemistry with their young QB.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 6th pick
Moving down from the third overall pick, the Miami Dolphins obviously have a scenario or two in mind with this selection.
They stand a pretty decent chance of getting the top non-QB on their board, and they unquestionably have a top three they would want to choose from.
To venture a guess, I would say the Dolphins at pick number six overall are targeting one of these three guys:
- TE Kyle Pitts
- WR Ja’Marr Chase
- OT Rashawn Slater
The fact of the matter is, this Dolphins team needs more weapons in the passing game, and Kyle Pitts might be the most dynamic one in this draft class.
Pitts is an absolute freak of nature physically with basically an unlimited catch radius. In the red zone, how can you stop this guy with just one defensive back covering him?
Pitts can play in-line, he can split out in the slot, he can play X, he can really do it all. There’s no spot you can line this guy up in where he won’t be a mismatch. That’s the kind of weapon the Dolphins need, and when you put him with DeVante Parker, Will Fuller, and Mike Gesicki?
You might really have something there.
2021 NFL Mock Draft
TRADE: Detroit Lions trade 7th pick to Washington for 19th pick, 74th pick, future picks
Someone’s going to make a bold move in the 2021 NFL Draft, and it might as well be the Washington Football Team.
There have been some rumblings that the Detroit Lions are threatening they could take a quarterback, but that could be a smokescreen to try and make their pick all the more valuable in a trade.
Detroit has been collecting future picks and they are well-armed for the future after the Matthew Stafford trade, but this move would give them even more ammunition for the future.
The Washington Football Team won the very weak NFC East last season playing with some house money. Ron Rivera has a heck of a defense on his hands, but that offense needs to get up to speed.
Washington signed Ryan Fitzpatrick in the 2021 free agency period as well as offensive weapon Curtis Samuel. Those guys are upgrades for that side of the ball but the future at QB needs to be addressed for this team after the failure of Dwayne Haskins.
Lance is a dual-threat at the position who is extremely impressive as a runner at this point. If (maybe when) his arm catches up to his legs, this guy could be a superstar.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 8th pick
The Carolina Panthers spent their entire 2020 NFL Draft class on the defensive side of the ball. The offense needs an emphasis in 2021.
Especially now that the Panthers have acquired Sam Darnold to be their next quarterback.
Darnold was acquired for a sixth-round pick in 2021 and a second- and fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Panthers can’t make the same mistakes the New York Jets made. They need to surround Darnold with the proper level of talent around him, and bringing in Slater is doing exactly that.
The Panthers are already giving Darnold better skill guys than he’s ever had with DJ Moore, Christian McCaffrey, and his former Jets teammate Robby Anderson. They could stand to add some more weapons on the outside but they need to make sure that Darnold is protected and that lanes are paved for McCaffrey.
Slater opted out of the 2020 season, but teams love his 2018 and 2019 tape as well as his positional flexibility and versatility. He’s played on both the right and left side, and played well at both.
He looked like an absolute stud in 2019 against eventual second-overall pick Chase Young.
With his athletic talent, the sky is the limit for Slater.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 9th pick
Sitting put at the ninth pick despite a chance they could move up for a quarterback, the Denver Broncos can’t pass on the value of Penei Sewell here with this pick.
George Paton has passed on the quarterback position altogether so far in the 2021 offseason despite opportunities to add guys or upgrade. He was involved in the Matt Stafford trade talks but ultimately was not willing to meet the Lions’ asking price.
He was not involved with Carson Wentz. He made merely exploratory calls about Sam Darnold. What does all of that say about Paton’s opinion of Drew Lock?
Well, the answer there could possibly be found in his pro day travel circuit. Paton went to go see the top QBs in this year’s draft (at least Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Zach Wilson) in person. The Broncos have given themselves the option to fall in love with some of these guys, but who knows if it will happen?
What if Paton actually does like Lock better than the QBs who will be left after the third pick? It’s not impossible, and the Broncos could try to trade for a guy like Gardner Minshew to compete with Drew Lock sometime between now and May.
Lock has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two years in the NFL, but consistency has not been there. He’s turned the ball over too much for the team’s liking, but that’s where a proven hedge like Minshew, who doesn’t turn the ball over at as high of a clip, could help.
Penei Sewell plays one of the most important positions in football, and the Broncos have some serious concerns at right tackle with Ja’Wuan James penciled in as the starter.
James opted out of the 2020 season, like Sewell, and was injured most of 2019. He does not inspire a lot of confidence at this point but the team is contractually tied to him.
Sewell could help the Broncos move on sooner rather than later.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 10th pick
The Dallas Cowboys are apparently infatuated with the idea of adding Kyle Pitts to their offense.
Don’t be surprised if they try to trade up to do it, because there’s little chance that Pitts will be sitting on the board when they come on the clock at pick number 10 overall.
Jerry Jones has to realize that, while Pitts would be a fun addition to his star-studded offense, it would be much wiser to invest prime draft capital in the defensive side of the ball.
Specifically, Jerry needs to look at the defensive backfield where he could get a lot better in this particular draft class.
Patrick Surtain II could be considered the CB1 by many in this class. He has a very solid all-around combination of size, athleticism, ball skills, football QB, and playmaking ability. There may be other guys in this class with higher ceilings, but Surtain has a very high floor and his NFL bloodlines are apparent in the way he plays.
Pairing him with former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs at the outside cornerback positions in Dallas could get this team back to being a bit more competitive on that side of the ball.
The Cowboys hired former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn to be their defensive coordinator this offseason. A physical, technically sound player like Surtain should fit right into his scheme.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 11th pick
TRADE: Giants trade 11th pick to Colts for 21st pick, 4th-round pick, future 2nd
The Indianapolis Colts have proven over the course of the last two seasons that they are willing to be aggressive to go and get the guys they want.
In the 2020 offseason, they traded a first-round pick for 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.
In 2021, they’ve already made a bold move for quarterback Carson Wentz. Although the Colts certainly have a need at the left tackle position, they would also need to strongly consider one of the best athletes in the entire 2021 NFL Draft class in Jaycee Horn if he’s still sitting on the board at this point.
The Colts’ defense was tremendous last season and although Carson Wentz has proven himself in the past, he needs to re-establish himself and he’s going to need the support of a strong defense to do it.
Jaycee Horn is built like a bigger safety but moves all over the field with ease. He is explosive, not only vertically but on a plane as well. He has tremendous reactive quickness and with his length and aggressiveness, it’s only a matter of time before this guy is turning opportunities into a plethora of turnovers.
The Colts need to make sure they do everything they can to supplement their offense and adding a playmaker like Horn at the cornerback position can help do just that.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 12th pick
Although it’s not exactly best practice, the Philadelphia Eagles go back-to-back years in this scenario taking a wide receiver.
In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Eagles picked up Jalen Reagor out of TCU, a speedy outside receiver with a physical style after the catch. Reagor had just 31 receptions in his rookie season, but he’ll be in line for a breakout in 2021.
Jaylen Waddle would be re-joining his former Alabama teammate Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Waddle is an exceptional talent at the wide receiver position.
In addition to his game-breaking speed, Waddle is a fantastic player at the catch point with strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air.
In such a star-studded receiver group at Alabama, Waddle’s playmaking ability stood out in a big way with his burst, vision in the open field, special teams ability, and well-rounded game in general.
Waddle averaged over 18 yards per touch in his three seasons at Alabama and an insane 19.3 yards per punt return. He is as dynamic as they come and if not for injury, he would probably have no shot at going this low in the first round.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 13th pick
Although the Los Angeles Chargers definitely need to address the offensive line, they cannot pass up the kind of value DeVonta Smith presents here with the 13th overall selection.
Smith won the Heisman Trophy in 2020 and was undoubtedly the best player in the country.
Dating back to the 2019 season, Smith has been one of the more underrated players in the country and it was great to see him get recognized with the Heisman after his unreal 2020 campaign.
Smith is very slight for the receiver position (hovering around 170 pounds) but it hasn’t proven to be a detriment for him up to this point.
As a route runner, Smith is top-notch. He has strong hands and wins at all levels of the field. Although he’s not the same type of burner as Jaylen Waddle or Henry Ruggs III, Smith has good speed and can blow by guys.
One way or another, the Chargers have to find a way to support Justin Herbert with this selection. Smith doesn’t play on the offensive line but he would provide Herbert with yet another weapon that can get open easily, and the Chargers do have to find a way to replace Hunter Henry as one of the top three options in their passing game.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 14th pick
I think the Minnesota Vikings should be considered a prime candidate to trade out of their pick here given they have a number of starter-level needs and no second-round pick to use.
The Vikings traded their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft so they could get Yannick Ngakoue. When it became apparent they were not going to get a long-term deal with Ngakoue, they shipped him off to the Baltimore Ravens for a third-round pick.
It didn’t work out much better for the Ravens as Ngakoue bolted in free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Vikings need to address the offensive line after the departure of veteran Riley Reiff (Bengals) this offseason.
They also may need to add a starter at cornerback after 2020 first-round pick Jeff Gladney has had some disturbing off-field issues in recent weeks. Safety and pass rusher are other starter needs for the Vikings.
Still, you’ve got to build in the trenches and get value, and Alijah Vera-Tucker is the best of both worlds here with this pick, even if it’s not the sexiest selection.
The Vikings got Justin Jefferson last year, they are good on the sexier first-round picks.
Vera-Tucker is a plug-and-play starter at either left tackle or left guard, depending on what the team wants to do with Ezra Cleveland. Cleveland was a left tackle at Boise State but emerged as the Vikings’ starting right guard last season.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 15th pick
After trading back from the 4th overall pick all the way down to the 15th overall pick, the Atlanta Falcons take a shot on Penn State’s ultra-talented linebacker prospect Micah Parsons.
Actually, this mock draft pick was a pretty popular one early on in the NFL mock draft process as the Falcons were assumed to be taking the top defensive player on the board, which, for a long time, Parsons was considered to be.
Concerns have risen over Parsons’ history of immature decision-making and behavior, though Penn State coaches have routinely gone to bat for him (though there was that one-game suspension for undisclosed behavior issues).
Parsons is alleged to have been part of some pretty gross hazing at Penn State and the “maturity” concerns have come up from too many reputable voices to be completely dismissed.
Arthur Smith, who was just in Tennessee where Isaiah Wilson seemingly flamed out of the NFL in less than a year, may not want a repeat situation in his first year as head coach, but love for football doesn’t seem to be Parsons’ issue.
With that in consideration, this is a guy who could help the Atlanta Falcons in a number of ways on the field. Parsons is an outstanding athlete who can rush the passer, play sideline to sideline, and he’s finding his way in coverage.
This guy can win in so many ways physically. If the game “slows down” for him at some point, he’s going to be a force.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 16th pick
The Arizona Cardinals have had a heck of an offseason, haven’t they?
They signed JJ Watt after he was released by the Texans. They signed AJ Green to pair with DeAndre Hopkins. They added Rodney Hudson to their offensive line.
The job being done the last couple of offseasons by Steve Keim has really helped turn this franchise around. Who knows where they would be if they had simply stuck with Josh Rosen because he was their first-round pick the year prior?
Defensively, the Cardinals still need some help. Specifically, in the defensive backfield.
Everyone is talking about Patrick Surtain, Jaycee Horn, and Caleb Farley this offseason, but more people should be talking about Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II.
Newsome is every bit as big, long, and athletic as those other top guys in this class and he has some really good tape.
Although injuries are somewhat of a concern, Newsome is exactly the type of cornerback that can work well in Vance Joseph’s defense. With the veterans up front on the defensive line creating pressure, Newsome would have a chance to really rack up interceptions as a rookie taking advantage of quick (bad) decisions by the quarterbacks he goes up against.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 17th pick
The Las Vegas Raiders did some gutting in the 2021 offseason, and both Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have got to be feeling some serious pressure.
The Raiders experienced a high point in year one of their transition to Las Vegas, beating the Kansas City Chiefs and looking like a legitimate playoff team early on in the season.
Unfortunately, the roster has not been constructed as well as the team would have hoped after trading away star pass rusher Khalil Mack a couple of years ago.
That trade hasn’t led to the kind of draft success the Raiders would have liked to have seen. With that being said, there’s no time to cry over spilled milk and the Raiders need to right some other offseason wrongs.
Specifically, the Raiders moved right tackle Trent Brown back to his old team, the New England Patriots, leaving a void at the right tackle position.
Although it would seem somewhat surprising, Teven Jenkins would be a total “Raiders” pick as somewhat of a reach here at 17 but a guy who fits the mold of what both Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock love in a player with his physical toughness.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 18th pick
Some mock draft picks just make a ton of sense.
Najee Harris to the Miami Dolphins is one of those picks.
Reuniting Harris with Tua Tagovailoa would be a lot of fun to see, and Harris would add yet another dynamic to the Dolphins’ offense that is presently missing.
Although Harris is an excellent running back, he’s a dynamic three-down player with the ability to split out wide and actually line up as a slot or wide receiver.
Harris is not the same type of bruising back as other Alabama players like Derrick Henry, but he’s not completely “finesse” at the position, either. He’s physical when he needs to be and with his frame, he rarely goes down on first contact.
Harris will stick his nose in there and pass protect, and he plays the game with an impressive level of savvy. He’s improved so much over the course of the last couple of seasons and with his natural hands and pass-catching ability, he would be a serious rookie of the year candidate in a place like Miami.
In every draft class, you find players who become “your guys” and in this year’s class, Najee Harris is one of mine. There’s little doubt in my mind that this guy is going to be a star at the next level.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 19th pick
The Detroit Lions could be in for a lengthy rebuild.
The trade of Matthew Stafford was a signal-fire that the Lions are looking two or three years out, not necessarily at the immediate future.
Sorry, Jared Goff.
The Lions got a sweet haul in return for Matthew Stafford, perhaps better than what anyone really expected them to get initially. Acquiring multiple future first-round picks for Stafford was a huge win for this team, and in this mock draft, they acquire even more future draft capital from the Washington Football Team, who had a losing record in 2020 despite winning their division.
The Lions themselves could wind up as favorites or among the top five favorites to earn the number one pick in the 2022 NFL Draft with the way their roster is constructed, but we’ll see how much of a difference-maker Jared Goff is.
If the Lions are going to be competitive in 2021, they are going to need playmakers at receiver and Kadarius Toney is certainly that.
Toney is one of the best players in this draft at creating after the catch. He has tremendous explosiveness and long speed but he’s capable of breaking away from tackles with his strength as well.
This guy has the ability to run a full route tree and play a versatile role in the NFL going forward. Lions GM Brad Holmes was with the LA Rams last offseason when they used a second-round pick on Florida receiver Van Jefferson. In this trade down scenario, he gets Jefferson’s teammate for his new squad.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 20th pick
The Chicago Bears went for it all this offseason, but they ultimately came up short. Instead of pulling off a blockbuster trade for Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, the Bears had to settle for free agent Andy Dalton, who served as Dak Prescott’s backup in Dallas last season.
Dalton has been a solid starter since he came into the NFL as a second-round pick out of TCU, but that move has not quite moved the needle for Bears fans, at least not in comparison to what adding Russell Wilson would have.
With that said, the Bears now have to focus on putting the best possible team around Dalton, which could start in the 2021 NFL Draft with adding help at the offensive tackle position.
Christian Darrisaw did a lot more run blocking than he did pass blocking at Virginia Tech, but he basically pitched shutouts when he was tasked with pass protecting, and he showed tremendous growth there in his final year with the Hokies.
The Bears have had plenty of offensive line struggles in recent years and Darrisaw is a guy who could step in and start right away for them at either tackle position. He is going to be an immediate mauler in the running game and very few big men get out in space like Darrisaw can.
He plays with a nasty streak and although that seems like somewhat of a cliche statement to make about offensive lineman, he has so many plays on tape where he’s just rag-dolling players.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 21st pick
The New York Giants are in an interesting spot after free agency. Some of the additions they made and remaining needs lead me to believe they should be an ideal trade-down candidate at their original pick (11 overall).
Giants key 2021 offseason pickups
- WR Kenny Golladay
- WR John Ross III
- TE Kyle Rudolph
- CB Adoree Jackson
The Giants’ offseason has gone largely under the radar, probably because of the fact that no one quite knows what to make of Daniel Jones at this point.
New York has certainly given Jones a plethora of weapons to get the ball to and if that offensive unit can stay healthy (which has been easier said than done lately) they can be absolutely awesome.
Defensively, the Giants need some help off the edge in the pass rush department. Jaelan Phillips could be the guy with the highest ceiling in that department in this entire class.
A former five-star prospect, Phillips would fit in with everyone else the Giants have been acquiring lately with this sentiment — If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a star.
Phillips started his collegiate career at UCLA and wound up transferring to Miami. In his final season at Miami, he was the best player on the team and showed that he’s capable of being a versatile stud at the next level with his combination of size, length, speed, explosiveness, and array of pass rush moves.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 22nd pick
The Tennessee Titans, all things considered, have got to be up there among teams that have had the worst offseasons in 2021.
After their spending spree in 2020 where they re-signed Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry, the Titans had to pay some dues in 2021 and ended up losing a lot of important guys that have helped them to tremendous success the past couple of seasons.
Former first-round pick Corey Davis? Gone.
Former first-round pick Adoree Jackson? Gone.
Last year’s first-round pick Isaiah Wilson? Gone.
Tight end Jonnu Smith? Out.
Former Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler? Gone.
Yes, the Titans have added Bud Dupree (coming off of a torn ACL) to hopefully solve some of their pass rush woes off the edge. Yes, they brought in veteran Janoris Jenkins who will hopefully provide some stability to the secondary.
The Titans could go any number of directions given the players they’ve lost, but without Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith, it’s hard to argue against this team going for a receiver early.
Elijah Moore comes from the same school that brought the Titans AJ Brown, arguably their best player offensively as crazy as that might be to argue with Derrick Henry on the roster.
Over the last two years, Moore has really emerged as one of the best playmakers in the SEC and ran a blazing 4.34 at his pro day. This guy simply doesn’t drop passes, either. He’s sure-handed, and not just because he’s always getting himself open. Moore makes contested catches and he makes impossible grabs look easy.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 23rd pick
After snagging Zach Wilson with their top pick, how will the New York Jets follow it up at pick 23?
With one of the picks they acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in the Jamal Adams trade, the Jets revamp their own secondary by stopping the drop of Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley.
Farley, if he can stay healthy, could wind up as one of the biggest steals in the 2021 NFL Draft.
At pick number 23 overall, he’s well worth the risk here.
At 6-foot-2, over 200 pounds, the former dual-threat quarterback turned receiver turned playmaking defensive back is a rare type of athlete at his position. He has tremendous length and maybe the best ball skills of any cornerback in this year’s class.
Farley’s sub-4.4 speed makes him a great matchup for any type of receiver on the outside and for the Jets, he could be a cornerstone type of piece in Robert Saleh’s defense.
Saleh knows how to get the best out of his players. The Jets have invested in their pass rush in free agency by bringing in Carl Lawson from the Bengals. Sheldon Rankins comes over from the Saints to pair up with Quinnen Williams on the defensive front to give this team some guys who can dominate one-on-one matchups.
A player like Caleb Farley, who has been a projected top-10 pick most of the offseason, could really take advantage of that pressure and get Zach Wilson and the offense more opportunities.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 24th pick
After losing Bud Dupree in free agency (along with a number of other key defensive players) the Pittsburgh Steelers are in transition a bit.
Kwity Paye has a chance to be the first EDGE player off the board in this class with the way he played over the past couple of seasons at Michigan, and he seems like almost the ideal type of player to replace Dupree in the Steelers’ lineup depending on how highly they think of 2020 third-round pick Alex Highsmith.
This guy is a big-time athlete whose flashes of production have certainly been there with 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his last 16 college games.
Paye is so explosive off the snap and with his combination of speed and power, the sky is the limit for this guy.
The Steelers sent a huge contingent to the Michigan pro day. Although there are a number of guys they could have been interested in, it’s not hard to connect the dots between the Steelers and Kwity Paye especially after the team let Bud Dupree walk in free agency, signing with the Tennessee Titans.
Paye’s game is somewhat similar to that of Dupree’s coming out of Kentucky and he could provide a high-upside pass rush option on the opposite side of the field from TJ Watt.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 25th pick
The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing the long game in this draft with all of their selections, and although the safety position is not the most important in terms of positional value this high in the draft, Trevon Moehrig is a player who is worth the investment.
Moehrig won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2020 as the best defensive back in the country, and he did it not just by playing a center field safety position but by playing all over the defensive formation and making life difficult on opposing offensive coordinators.
Moehrig reads the quarterback so well and he seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to the timing of the quarterback releasing the ball. He breaks on plays so quickly it can seem like TCU is out playing with 12 defenders at times.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could go any direction with this pick, but they need to continue upgrading the secondary. The team invested a first-round pick in CJ Henderson last year and they brought in veteran free agent Shaquill Griffin in 2021 on a big-money deal.
Adding a playmaker at safety is going to strengthen the back end of this Jaguars defense and give Trevor Lawrence and the opportunity to put more points on the board.
Moehrig is a guy who can help new head coach Urban Meyer reshape the culture in the organization and be a leader by example. He’s a very smart player who can be relied upon being put in multiple positions.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 26th pick
Myles Garrett is one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL right now and the Cleveland Browns have to do everything they can to make life easier for him.
They brought in former first-round pick Takk McKinley to come off the edge and they are about to go sign former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to add even more depth off the edge in this defense.
Even with Sheldon Richardson and Malik Jackson on the interior of this defensive line, the Browns cannot pass up the value of a player like Christian Barmore as a long-term fixture on the defensive line.
Barmore was expected to take a step forward in the 2020 season with the Crimson Tide and he did just that.
In 11 games, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Barmore racked up 8.0 sacks and three forced fumbles. This guy is a freak of nature running a 4.93 at 310 pounds with his long limbs and non-stop effort.
The way Barmore comes at offensive linemen with reckless abandon, he has terrifying potential at the next level especially if he’s constantly getting favorable matchups working next to a player like Myles Garrett.
Trying to block a Cleveland defensive line with Garrett, Clowney, Richardson, Jackson, Barmore, and others? That would be a tall order for even the NFL’s best offensive lines.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 27th pick
The Baltimore Ravens have been somewhat quiet in the 2021 offseason, but they have made some under-the-radar moves that could inch this team ever closer to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC.
Offensively, they brought in cap casualty Kevin Zeitler to stabilize the interior offensive line. They also signed Sammy Watkins away from the Kansas City Chiefs to add even more speed and experience to their receiver room.
Defensively, the Ravens brought back veteran defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, but they said goodbye to pass rusher Matt Judon.
It’s not atypical of the Ravens to be relatively inactive in free agency, as this has long been a team that prefers building through the NFL Draft.
Typically picking at the bottom of the first round, the Ravens always find ways to add value to their roster and make picks on players who have no business going as low as they do.
Azeez Ojulari would fit that description for this team in the class of 2021.
Although Ojulari is not a lock for the top 10 picks by any means, he has flashed the potential of a player who looks like he could be the best pass rusher in a draft class where there is really no consensus in that category.
Ojulari isn’t the biggest or fastest edge rusher prospect, but he’s got tremendous ability to convert his speed to power and use his hands to fend off offensive linemen quickly on his way to the quarterback.
He had 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles this past season for the Bulldogs and showed his ability to close out games.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 28th pick
Although you can’t overstate it too much, the New Orleans Saints’ defense took a big step forward last year when they made a pretty under-the-radar trade for linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Unfortunately for the Saints, who were in salary cap hell this offseason, they had to let Alexander go.
With so many areas to address on this roster in the post-Drew Brees era for the Saints, what direction will they wind up going early in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is as good as any at this point.
The Saints’ defense should remain strong despite some key losses on that side of the ball in the 2021 offseason. They certainly would like to replace that speed that Alexander brought to the linebacker position and there are a number of options in this draft class to do exactly that.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a weapon on the defensive side of the ball, not only capable of playing the off-ball linebacker position but also lining up in the slot, playing some safety, blitzing, and doing pretty much anything he’s asked to do.
There is no doubt that at 220 pounds, Owusu-Koramoah is on the lighter side for a linebacker prospect. He has proven at that size that he can get around or cut underneath blocks and he fights his way to the football.
As critical as coverage is for linebackers in today’s NFL, Owusu-Koramoah could be the next in the evolution at the position.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 29th pick
Just a year after putting another chip on Aaron Rodgers’ shoulder by drafting Jordan Love, the Green Bay Packers finally get him some more help at wide receiver.
This year’s wide receiver class is ridiculous enough that, unless the Packers see a guy they can’t live without, they’re going to get a day one starter at pick number 29 overall.
Terrace Marshall is one of the most underrated players in this year’s class thanks to players like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase getting more hype from evaluators and pundits.
The way Terrace Marshall is built is reminiscent of former NFL star receiver Brandon Marshall, but this guy moves a lot faster all over the field.
He ran a 4.38 at the LSU pro day at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds and he has shown his explosiveness throughout the past few seasons for the Tigers.
In his last 19 games, Marshall has 94 receptions and 23 touchdowns among them. He averaged over 15 yards per reception last season and showed he can get it done not only at the catch point but after the catch as well.
The Packers need to add another threat in the passing game opposite Davante Adams. Marshall has star power and would be a tremendous WR2 for them.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 30th pick
The Buffalo Bills are one team that is in a rare position where they could really afford to take a shot on Jayson Oweh at the back end of the first round.
The Bills are a well-constructed roster from top to bottom with a great combination of youth and experience and they have done a tremendous job in recent years with player development on both sides of the ball.
Development and patience will be required for Oweh, who is still relatively new to football compared to his peers in this class, but he’s got star qualities athletically and big-time flashes on tape.
At 6-foot-5 and nearly 265 pounds, Oweh ran a freakishly fast 4.37 in the 40-yard dash with a 39-inch vertical jump. There is no doubt about Oweh’s explosiveness but he needs to learn how to finish more plays.
Some of his teammates at Penn State had the privilege this past season of cleaning up a lot of Oweh’s great pass rush work, so the potential is there, but when is the last time a pass rusher with zero sacks (even in a weird season) was taken in the first round?
As odd as it may be, Oweh actually really progressed this past season as a run defender and since he’s shown that he can set the edge, you have to be willing to bet on this guy’s ridiculous physical traits translating to the next level.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 31st pick
The Kansas City Chiefs know their bread and butter over the next decade plus is going to be on the offensive side of the ball.
They lost Sammy Watkins this offseason and while that doesn’t exactly necessitate a first-round pick to replace him, they would have the chance to get a really good player to insert into the offensive gameplan here at pick number 31 in Rashod Bateman.
At some point, the Chiefs will need to address the tackle positions, but if they feel that Mike Remmers and Lucas Niang and whatever combination of guys they want to use on the interior are good enough to keep Mahomes out of harm’s way.
Rashod Bateman has drawn some comparisons to a guy the Chiefs are quite familiar with — Keenan Allen of the Chargers.
Bateman (like seemingly everyone else) broke the 4.4 barrier in the 40-yard dash at the Minnesota pro day and showed off what makes him such a special talent at the receiver position.
Running in the 4.3’s is basically a prerequisite for playing receiver in the Chiefs’ offense these days.
All kidding aside, the Chiefs have an embarrassment of riches offensively but there’s reason to believe they might prioritize receiver. First and foremost, another round of players going off the board is going to thin the herd in a strong class.
Bateman is an instant contributor at the next level and a pretty great fit to play Sammy Watkins’ role in the offense.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 32nd pick
TRADE: Buccaneers trade 32nd pick to Dolphins for 36th pick, 5th-round pick, future pick
The Miami Dolphins move up with the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to steal the final pick of the first round.
Rondale Moore is a player the Dolphins could be stealing from their division-rival New York Jets, and he’s someone who could add yet another dynamic element to their offense.
To recap this first round for the Dolphins:
- Kyle Pitts
- Najee Harris
- Rondale Moore
That is how you build a young core around a young quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa.
Moore is a dynamic talent at the receiver position who can line up in the slot, out of the backfield, out wide, or as a returner. He can truly do it all.
He would give the Dolphins an option to get the ball to quickly and create offense while Will Fuller helps them take the top off of defenses.
With Moore’s after-the-catch ability added to the group the Dolphins have assembled in this mock scenario, the sky is the limit for this offense.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 2nd round
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
34. New York Jets: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
35. Atlanta Falcons: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington
37. Philadelphia Eagles: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
38. Cincinnati Bengals: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
39. Carolina Panthers: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
40. Denver Broncos: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
41. Detroit Lions: Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
42. New York Giants: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
43. San Francisco 49ers: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama
44. Dallas Cowboys: Daviyon Nixon, DL, Iowa
45. Jacksonville Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
46. Atlanta Falcons: Nico Collins, WR, Michigan
47. Los Angeles Chargers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
48. Las Vegas Raiders: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
49. Arizona Cardinals: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
50. Miami Dolphins: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
51. Washington Football Team: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
52. Chicago Bears: Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M
53. Tennessee Titans: Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
54. Indianapolis Colts: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
55. Pittsburgh Steelers: Elijah Molden, DB, Washington
56. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
57. Los Angeles Rams: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
58. Baltimore Ravens: Richie Grant, S, UCF
59. Cleveland Browns: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
60. New Orleans Saints: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
61. Buffalo Bills: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
62. Green Bay Packers: Quinn Meinerz, OL, Wisconsin-Whitewater
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Brady Christensen, OT, BYU
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 3rd round
65. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame
66. New York Jets: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
67. Houston Texans: Creed Humphrey, IOL, Oklahoma
68. Atlanta Falcons: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami
69. Cincinnati Bengals: Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State
70. Philadelphia Eagles: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
71. Denver Broncos: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
72. Detroit Lions: Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington
73. Carolina Panthers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
74. Detroit Lions: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
75. Dallas Cowboys: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
76. New York Giants: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State
77. Los Angeles Chargers: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
78. Minnesota Vikings: Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
79. Las Vegas Raiders: Tommy Togiai, DL, Ohio State
80. Las Vegas Raiders: Ar’Darius Washington, S, TCU
81. Miami Dolphins: Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
82. Washington Football Team: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
83. Chicago Bears: Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
84. Philadelphia Eagles: Hamsah Nasirildeen, S/LB, Florida State
85. Tennessee Titans: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
86. New York Jets: Janarius Robinson, EDGE, Florida State
87. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina
88. Los Angeles Rams: Trey Smith, OL, Tennessee
89. Cleveland Browns: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston
90. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Smith, EDGE, UAB
91. Cleveland Browns: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
92. Green Bay Packers: James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati
93. Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis
94. Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
95. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Milton Williams, DL, Louisiana Tech
96. Atlanta Falcons: Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest
97. Los Angeles Chargers: Trill Williams, DB, Syracuse
98. New Orleans Saints: Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh
99. Dallas Cowboys: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
100. Tennessee Titans: Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri
101. Detroit Lions: Ben Cleveland, OL, Georgia
102. San Francisco 49ers: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
103. Los Angeles Rams: D’Ante Smith, OT, West Carolina
104. Baltimore Ravens: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
105. New Orleans Saints: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida