2021 NFL mock draft: What each team should do in the first round

2021 NFL mock draft: Round 1, 3rd overall

Zach Wilson will likely be off of the board when the San Francisco 49ers go on the clock at No. 3 on Thursday night, but he is available for the team in this 2021 NFL mock draft and stands out as the obvious choice.

Wilson is a tremendous natural playmaker at the quarterback position who does a great job of improvising and making the most out of a play when it breaks down. He has a knack for escaping the pocket and throwing the ball accurately on the run and can also stand tall and read the field well from the pocket. Wilson is an exciting quarterback prospect who would undoubtedly shine in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive attack.

2021 NFL mock draft: Round 1, 4th overall

At this point, it seems relatively unlikely that the Atlanta Falcons will take a quarterback at No. 4 on Thursday night. This feels like a prime spot for a trade down and if they stand pat, superstar tight end Kyle Pitts seems like the choice. That being said, Matt Ryan is not getting any younger and the Falcons do not expect to be picking this high in the draft again anytime soon.

Now may be the best time for this team to strike at the quarterback position and Trey Lance stands out as a strong fit. Lance is another tremendous dual-threat quarterback prospect who is arguably the best rushing quarterback in this class. He pairs his obvious ability as a runner with a rocket for a right arm that allows him to hit any throw on the field.

Fields shows impressive natural improvising skills and also does a great job of working within the structure of the offense. Simply put, he is an extremely gifted player who has massive upside at the next level. Sitting him behind Matt Ryan for a year before turning to him as the full-time starter in 2022 feels like a strong plan of attack for this team.

2021 NFL mock draft: Round 1, 5th overall

Making a decision between offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will be a difficult one for the Cincinnati Bengals. Both players would undoubtedly help franchise quarterback Joe Burrow and while the offensive line is a much bigger need, it’s not like the Bengals are loaded with a ton of impact wide receivers. Plus, Burrow already has a rapport with Chase, making him potentially even more valuable to the Bengals than other teams.

That being said, the Bengals’ offensive line is too much of a mess to ignore. Sewell is an elite offensive tackle prospect and adding him to the mix would immediately take the entire unit to the next level. Whether Sewell moves to right tackle or replaces Jonah Williams at left tackle, he would be a tremendous addition to the Cincinnati offensive attack and an important player to help Burrow’s development.