2021 1-Round Mock Draft

03/09/2021 - Post Franchise Tag Mock Draft

1: Jacksonville Jaguars

QB Trevor Lawrence - Clemson

Easy choice here, no need for an explanation.

2: New York Jets

QB Zach Wilson - BYU

This pick (Assuming they keep it) will be determined by how the new coaching staff feels about Sam Darnold. I’ve never been a fan and I think it’s time to move on. Wilson has all the tools to be the franchise QB the Jets have been longing for all these years.

3: Miami Dolphins

WR Ja’Marr Chase - LSU

Miami came out and over-performed as a top tier defensive unit last season, now it’s about time to get their offense into gear. Pairing Chase opposite Devante Parker is a great way to get the most out of 2nd year QB Tua Tagovailoa.

4: Atlanta Falcons

QB Trey Lance - North Dakota St

Is this a little high for Lance? Maybe. Would there be a better situation for him to be drafted into? Not so sure. Trey Lance has all the talent in the world and I think the opportunity to sit and learn behind a pro-bowl quarterback like Matt Ryan for a year or two is just what he needs. Not to mention a team with playmakers like the Falcons don’t luck into a top 5 pick all that often, might as well get your QB in a rich class like this one.

5: Cincinnati Bengals

OT Penei Sewell - Oregon

This pick will ultimately depend on the moves Cincinnati makes in free agency. If they’re able to sure you the offensive line before the draft they easily go Kyle Pitts or Micah Parsons here. But with the roster as is this would be the no-doubt selection at 5.

6: Philadelphia Eagles

OLB Micah Parsons - Penn St

The Eagles are in bad shape. They’ve got a bad team with a lot of holes and they’re over the cap by a significant margin. They need weapons on offense but with Chase off the board they fill another hole on the defensive side of the ball. Parsons will be an immediate impact player for a team who needs impact players and fast.

7: Detroit Lions

QB Justin Fields - Ohio St

Don't be fooled by the trade for Jared Goff, they are still looking for the guy to lead them into the future. Fields has performed well on the biggest of stages and with Goff in the building he could sit and learn from an experienced quarterback.

8: Carolina Panthers

TE Kyle Pitts - Florida

Admittedly, this has been a worst case scenario top 7 for Carolina. Assuming they don’t make a move for Deshaun Watson, I would imagine they’d love to grab a quarterback in this slot. But that’s not how this draft has worked out and they add Kyle Pitts to give Teddy Bridgewater every advantage imaginable.

9: Denver Broncos

CB Patrick Surtain - Alabama

Surtain Is my CB1A aside Caleb Farley but I think the added benefit of having 2020 tape gives Surtain the slight edge for a needy cornerback team like Denver. With the AJ Bouye experiment not working out this pick fills a big need in the mile high city.

10: Dallas Cowboys

CB Caleb Farley - Virginia Tech

Dallas ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every defensive category last year. They’re expecting bounce back years out of some guys in their front 7 so they take an athletic man to man corner to pair with Brown and Diggs.

11: New York Giants

WR Devonta Smith - Alabama

Giants fans hit the jackpot here with the Heisman winning receiver falling to 11. Smith would add to a less than exemplary receiving core and give Daniel Jones a shifty, talented threat on the outside.

12: San Francisco 49ers

DE Gregory Rousseau - Miami

You could argue that the 49ers have bigger needs than another pass rusher but with the top 2 corners off the board they take this 6’7, 265 beast to help terrorize Russell Wilson along side Nick Bosa.

13: Los Angeles Chargers

OT Rashawn Slater - Northwestern

The Chargers have holes all along their offensive line and Slater can play both tackle positions as well as guard. He’s the ideal pick for a team with multiple issues up front.

14: Minnesota Vikings

DE Kwity Paye - Michigan

The Yannick Ngakoue experiment didn’t last very long so the Vikings will be looking for someone to pair alongside Danielle Hunter to rush the passer. Paye might be the most NFL ready pass rusher of the group and could make an immediate impact in Minnesota.

15: New England Patriots

WR Jaylen Waddle - Alabama

New England gets an absolute steal at 15 with possibly the best receiver in the draft. Coming off a season ending ankle in his junior year at Alabama, he could fall a bit in the draft and make a receiver needy team like New England very happy.

16: Arizona Cardinals

CB Jaycee Horn - South Carolina

The Cardinals fill a big need here with the likely loss of Patrick Peterson. Horn has an NFL ready body and will be able to match up nicely in off-man coverage. Very good spot for Horn coming off of a very good junior season.

17: Las Vegas Raiders

OT Christian Darrisaw - Virginia Tech

Losing Trent Brown opens a big hole at right tackle for the Raiders. Darrisaw would be a safe option here and could plug and play on the right side of that line. The Raiders could be compelled to take a pass rusher early but none of the names available impress me enough to pass on Darrisaw.

18: Miami Dolphins

IOL Alijah Vera Tucker - USC

Miami got their sexy pick with Chase, now they fill a need on a young, developing offensive line. Tucker is a fundamentally sound pick here who should slide right in at either guard spot.

19: Washington Football Team

QB Mac Jones - Alabama

With Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith gone the Football Team takes a calculated move and picks CFP champion Mac Jones. With the defense driving the team, a smart QB with good instincts and multiple teammate endorsements seems to be the way to go here.

20: Chicago Bears

IOL Wyatt Davis - Ohio St

As much as Bears fans are crossing their fingers they can swing a trade for Russell Wilson, in this world no such trade is made and they’ll have to look elsewhere. Whomever they choose, Wyatt Davis will be a solid addition to help his stay upright.

21: Indianapolis Colts

OT Samuel Cosmi - Texas

With the retirement of Anthony Costanzo an otherwise elite offensive line has a glaring need at left tackle. Cosmi would fit perfectly right next to all-pro guard Quenton Nelson. The Colts could go pass rusher here with Justin Houston and Denico Autry set to hit the market but they’ll have money to retain or replace one or both.

22: Tennessee Titans

OLB Azeez Ojulari - Georgia

The Titans have been missing that presence off the edge and an athletic, high-motor guy like Ojulari could be just what they need. He projects best as a 3-4 rush linebacker and Tennessee would give him just that.

23: New York Jets

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - N. Dame

This pick is fun because JOK can do so much for a defense. He would make an excellent addition to a defense with multiple holes and provide a wild card that you could throw at multiple different spots. A defensive mind like Saleh could afford to get creative.

24: Pittsburgh Steelers

OT Alex Leatherwood - Alabama

Recent developments with their Offensive Line has more or leas forced Pittsburgh into this spot. Strapped for cash, they will have to spend a high pick or two on the offensive line. Leatherwood was a 3-year starter at Alabama and can effectively play both tackle

spots.

25: Jacksonville Jaguars

DL Christian Barmore - Alabama

Jacksonville’s defense has fallen a long way in just 3 years. They’ve got their franchise QB, now it’s time to sure up the guys doing the dirty work. Barmore will be an upgrade over the DTs they had last year and will look to help a defense who finished toward the bottom of the league in run defense.

26: Cleveland Browns

DE Jaelen Phillips - Miami

With Olivier Vernon coming off of a ruptured Achilles and set to hit free agency, Myles Garrett will need someone to help him rush the passer. Phillips is a very high value pick on the late first and should help Cleveland move on from Vernon.

27: Baltimore Ravens

WR Rashod Bateman - Minnesota

Lamar Jackson had a down year (by his terms) last year and one big reason was he didn’t have the best pass catchers to help him. Bateman would come in and immediately pair with Hollywood Brown as a starter. Bateman has big upside and could certainly give Jackson a dangerous weapon to throw to.

28: New Orleans Saints

WR Rondale Moore - Purdue

With Michael Thomas firmly implanted at the #1 spot, New Orleans should look for someone to line up opposite him. Thomas is a big, possession receiver, so naturally you’ll wanna help stretch the field. Rondale Moore is just the fit, especially if big arm Jameis is going to take over under center.

29: Green Bay Packers

LB Zaven Collins - Tulsa

Green bay lost Blake Martinez to the Giants last offseason and they simply didn’t have anyone to replace him. Zaven Collins is a big, fast, sideline to sideline linebacker who will add something to that already stacked defense that they didn’t have last season.

30: Buffalo Bills

RB Najee Harris - Alabama

Now this is a fun one to think about. The Bills have one of the most electrifying offenses in football already, but the one thing they were missing was a consistent run game. Harris is a big, athletic back who will take some pressure off of Josh Allen and give defenses a reason to keep more guys in box.

31: Kansas City Chiefs

OL Creed Humphrey - Oklahoma

The Chiefs have a lot of question marks on their O-line coming into next season. Humphrey is a very solid center who will help alleviate some of those issues.

32: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DT Levi Onwuzurike - Washington

Not the most exciting pick to cap off the first round but with Ndamokung Suh getting oldwe this fills a gap in their defense and puts an athletic, explosive interior defender right next to him.