The 2021 NFL Draft will take place on Thursday, April 30, and with it being less than a month away I’ve decided to release my mock draft 2.0

My mock draft 1.0 was challenging due largely to the fact that free agency hadn't started, but with the dust settling and many of the top names already signed to their new teams, we have a clearer picture of what may happen in a few weeks. 

 

#1 Jacksonville Jaguars- QB, Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

Not much has changed in the last few months, Lawrence is a lock to go first overall to the Jaguars.

 

#2 New York Jets- QB, Zach Wilson, BYU

After an impressive pro day, I think any notion of them keeping Sam Darnold can be completely thrown out the window.

 

#3. San Francisco (via MIA/HOU)- QB, Mac Jones, Alabama

The San Francisco 49ers made a huge move trading up from #12 to #3. Publicly they’ve said that they plan on keeping Jimmy Garoppolo, and it’s rumored that a first-round draft pick price tag has been put on Jimmy G. I highly doubt anyone will give up that much for him. Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch will take their guy Mac Jones, despite what the media has to say about Jones's athleticism.

 

#4 New England Patriots (TRADE via ATL)- QB, Justin Fields, Ohio State

Cam Newton resigned a one-year dealing, meaning that the Patriots will likely need to find a long-term solution at some point. The QB draft class is questionable in 2022, Belichik needs to take Fields in case Newton has another horrendous season as he did in 2020.

 

#5 Cincinnati Bengals- TE, Kyle Pitts, Florida 

By drafting Pitts you’re upgrading at the TE position and still getting another receiver target for Burrow to throw to, it’s the best of both worlds. They took care of OT by adding Riley Reiff in free agency, and they have Jonah Williams to anchor the other side.

 

#6 Miami Dolphins- WR, Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

Reuniting Tua with Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith is tempting, however, I think they take Chase because of his blend of size and speed.

 

#7 Detroit Lions- WR, Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

The Lions are disappointed that they missed out on Chase, so they take Waddle who will be an immediate WR #1, on a team that only has Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams. Waddle can also be utilized on special teams as a kick and punt returner, the ultimate swiss army knife.

 

#8 Washington Football Team (TRADE Via CAR)- QB, Trey Lance, North Dakota State

Washington’s plans come draft day are incredibly tricky to predict. They took care of needs at CB (William Jackson), WR (Curtis Samuel), and QB (Ryan Fitzpatrick). Even by signing Fitzpatrick that still doesn’t solve the team's franchise signal-caller issues. Both Fitz and Kyle Allen are on one-year deals, and Taylor Heinicke signed a two-year deal after a few games as a starter. Lance is a polarizing player who could turn this team into a Super Bowl contender if you give him a year or two behind a veteran QB.

 

#9 Denver Broncos- LB, Micah Parsons, Penn State

If Parsons slides to #9 the Broncos should be sprinting to the podium to turn in the pick.  The team addressed CB with the signings of Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. Take some pressure off Von Miller and Bradley Chubb by giving them a talented teammate to man the middle of the defense.

 

#10 Dallas Cowboys- OT, Penei Sewell, Oregon

Dallas lost Chidobe Awuzie in free agency, and to the naked eye, one would assume that they need someone to pair alongside Trevon Diggs. However, they have Jourdan Lewis and players like Sewell don’t come around very often. Tyron Smith and La’el Collins have struggled to stay on the field, drafting Sewell would solidify the trenches in Dallas.

 

#11 Minnesota Vikings( TRADE Via NY)- OT, Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

Minnesota is unable to wait till pick #14 to get Slater because the Giants and Chargers are ahead of them, and both need OT help. The last time we saw Slater in a college football season was in 2019 when he did a pretty solid job of handling NFL defensive Rookie of the Year, Chase Young.

 

#12 Philadelphia Eagles- WR, DeVonta Smith, Alabama

The Eagles are rolling with Jalen Hurts for the foreseeable future, so why not pair him with Biletnikoff and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

 

#13 Los Angeles Chargers- CB, Patrick Surtain Jr, Alabama

Tevaughn Campbell and Michael Davis are the projected starters at cornerback. Surtain was a lockdown corner in his three years in Tuscaloosa, he’s a sure-fire star in the bright lights of LA.

 

#14  New York Giants- LB, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

JOK is a heat-seeking missile at the LB position. Blake Martinez has been solid for the G-men and they have depth with Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines, though Koramoah gives you an explosion that neither one of those players can give.

 

#15 Atlanta Falcons- ED, Kwity Paye, Michigan

Kwity Paye was a man amongst boys in the Big Ten last year. He can give the Falcons the edge rusher they’ve been looking to add ever since they drafted Vic Beasley who didn’t pan out.

 

#16 Arizona Cardinals- DL, Christian Barmore, Alabama

According to an article by Cardswire.com, the Cardinals’ cumulative grade from interior defensive linemen was 41.7 last season, the second-lowest in the league. Barmore was dominant down the stretch last year, he'll fix a lot of their defensive line issues. Can you imagine Barmore alongside J.J Watt and Chandler Jones, NFC West QBs will be running for their lives.

 

#17 Las Vegas Raiders- OT, Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech 

Had he not been included in a draft class with Sewell and Slater, Darrisaw would be regarded as the top player at the position. With that being said, he’s still a great addition to a Raiders line who desperately needs his help.

 

#18 Miami Dolphins- ED, Azeez Ojulari, Georgia

Losing Kyle Van Noy and Shaq Lawson means that the Dolphins will need an edger rusher. Ojulari can play with his hand in the ground and also standing up, he led the SEC with 8.5 sacks in 2020.

 

#19 Carolina Panthers- CB, Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

Jaycee Horn is the type of player you want in your secondary, He's an aggressive, and physical specimen who’s not afraid to jam a WR at the line. Horn has already challenged himself by saying that he can’t wait to go up against Julio Jones because he considers Jones to be the best receiver in the NFL.

 

#20 Baltimore Ravens (TRADE Via Chicago)- WR, Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Lamar Jackson needs some more firepower on offense, signing Sammy Watkins ain’t going to cut it for Baltimore.

 

#21 Indianapolis Colts- CB, Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech

Farley had a minor procedure done in his back that may cause his draft stock to fall a little bit. Indy scoops him at #21, helping out aging cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

 

#22 Tennessee Titans- CB, Greg Newsome, Northwestern

Adoree Jackson is gone and Newsome is a perfect replacement for a team that needs a corner opposite Kristian Fulton. WR is a big need as well and I almost took one here, regardless this class is deep at the position and their need can be addressed in the second round.

 

#23 New York Jets- CB, Asante Samuel Jr, Florida State

What Samuel Jr. isn’t in size, he makes up for in his hip fluidity and ballhawk skills. Florida State was horrendous this year, but when you watch the film Samuel Jr. stands out.

 

#24 Pittsburgh Steelers- RB, Najee Harris, Alabama

I’m usually not one to advocate for teams to take a running back in the first round, however, Harris isn’t your typical running back.  The blend of speed, and power in a back at 6’3 230 lbs, is truly incredible. James Connor walked in free agency, leaving the Steelers with Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland.

 

#25 Jacksonville Jaguars- S, Trevon Moehring, TCU 

Jacksonville ranked 27th in passing touchdowns allowed in 2020 and could use as much help as possible in the backend of their defense.

 

#26 Cleveland Browns- LB, Nick Bolton, Missouri 

When it’s all said and done, Bolton could end up being one of the best players to come out of the draft. He played his heart out against Alabama and was very impressive when it came to keeping the highly potent Bama offense in check for the majority of the game.

 

#27 Chicago Bears- OT, Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State

Jenkins is a plug-and-play tackle, he plays with grit and an old-school toughness that’s rarely seen in today’s NFL.

 

#28 New Orleans Saints- WR, Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

Michael Thomas barely played in 2020 due to injuries and disciplinary actions. The Saints miss out on all their top QB options, so they give Taysom Hill a young weapon to take some pressure off his shoulders. Moore is lightning in a bottle, Sean Payton just better hope he miraculously slides to them.

 

#29 Green Bay Packers- WR, Kadarius Toney, Florida

DeVante Adams will be a free agent after this year, and with the amount of money given up just to hold on to RB Aaron Jones, it’ll be tough to pay Adams. Toney can step up to the challenge and be a top target for this team going forward.

 

#30 Buffalo Bills- OT, Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Grabbing an edge rusher is tempting here, instead, they give Josh Allen some protection by adding Leatherwood. A lot of people aren’t high on Leatherwood after he struggled a bit at the Senior Bowl, yet he was automatic in college.

 

#31 Kansas City Chiefs- C, Landon Dickerson, Alabama

When we all watched the Chiefs take on the Bucs in the super bowl, one thing was clear. The Chiefs need some better offensive lineman so that Mahomes doesn’t have to run for his life on every drop back. Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher are no longer on the team, making way for new faces Joe Thuney and Kyle Long. Long hasn’t played football since last December, leaving a bit of mystery at the guard position. Dickerson is a hard worker who will quickly cartwheel his way into the starting lineup, he can play anywhere along the interior of the line.

 

#32 Tampa Bay Buccaneers- QB, Kyle Trask, Florida

Looking at the Bucs roster it’s hard to find many holes. The team somehow managed to retain every big free agent from the super bowl winning roster, making a back-to-back run very possible. Drafting Trask at the tail end of the first round might seem a bit early even though Brady isn’t getting much younger. There’s a lot of redeeming qualities to like about Trask, he’s flying a bit under the radar which is perfect for the Bucs.

 

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