The 2021 NFL Draft is 30 days away and big boards are being finalized. It’s mock draft season and here is the one you’ve all been waiting for. This mock is no trades and what I would do if I was the general manager of these twenty-nine teams. Without further ado let’s get right to it.
Round 1 Pick 1 Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence
No one act too surprised here. Obviously, Lawrence has been a lock here since the Jaguars secured the first pick. He is going to be an absolute star in the NFL and will bring better days to Duval County. With weapons like DJ Chark Jr., Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones Jr, and James Robinson, T-Law should get off to a hot start in the Sunshine State.
Round 1 Pick 2 New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson is the second best quarterback in the draft and is way too good to pass up on. He is a clear upgrade over Sam Darnold and will be a great fit for Mike LaFleur’s new offense in NYC. He is a mobile guy with a massive arm and an aggressive play style. Jets fans should be rejoice, this is an amazing second prize.
Round 1 Pick 3 San Francisco 49ers: QB Trey Lance
I’m not buying the Mac Jones rumors here. Trey Lance has top ten potential and will thrive with a coach like Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers gave up a ton of draft capital and they have had their eyes on the athletic freak from NDSU for quite some time. Lance will get to learn how to be a professional from Garoppolo and just might bring the 9ers back to the Super Bowl.
Round 1 Pick 4 Atlanta Falcons: QB Justin Fields
Four quarterbacks in the first four picks. The Falcons won’t be picking this high for awhile so they should opt to get their QB of the future, especially with their new staff. Justin Fields can sit behind Matt Ryan for the next year or possibly the next two years. Justin Fields has a ton of potential and just might be what they need in A-Town to get back to the Super Bowl.
Round 1 Pick 5 Cincinnati Bengals: OT Penei Sewell
I am not buying the Ja’Marr Chase rumors. Joe Burrow cannot be hit like he was last season ever again and that starts with grabbing one of the most talented offensive tackle prospects of this generation. Their new franchise QB gets to grow with their new franchise LT.
Round 1 Pick 6 Miami Dolphins: WR Ja’Marr Chase
Ja’Marr Chase is one of the best wide receiver prospects we have ever seen. Miami is in desperate need of some offensive fire power and by trading back with SF they showed that they’re committed to Tua. Ja’Marr Chase will be a super star in Miami.
Round 1 Pick 7 Detroit Lions: WR Jaylen Waddle
Dan Campbell has taken over in Detroit and like his former mentor Sean Payton, he loves shiny offensive toys. Jaylen Waddle is the perfect way to start off the new regime in the Motor City. He has field tilting speed and is a craft route runner who will have success early and often in the NFL.
Round 1 Pick 8 Carolina Panthers: QB Mac Jones
The Panthers have been pretty clear that they want to make a change at the quarterback position and Mac Jones is their answer. Mac Jones is an accurate big bodied passer with a big arm. He is coming off an incredible season leading the Crimson Tide. Teddy Bridgewater will be a great mentor to Jones.
Round 1 Pick 9 Denver Broncos: ILB Micah Parsons
Parsons is very athletically gifted and will be an incredible player once Vic Fangio gets his hands on him. He is gonna be the perfect addition to and already talented Broncos defense. We saw how valuable Devin White was to the Bucs championship run and the positional value of inside linebackers is on the rise. Fangio gets his prized backer.
Round 1 Pick 10 Dallas Cowboys: TE Kyle Pitts
Kyle Pitts somehow has fallen this far and makes the Cowboys the most loaded offense in America. Dak now has Kyle Pitts, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Ezekiel Elliot, and CeeDee Lamb, and zero excuses to not score 40 points a game. Pitts is one of the most athletic big men we have ever seen and acts like a Pro Bowl receiver in his 6’6″ 240 lbs frame.
Round 1 Pick 11 New York Giants: WR DeVonta Smith
The Giants did just sign Kenny Golladay, but Smith is also too tempting to pass up. He is a great route runner and is a super tough player. He needs to add about 15-20 lbs but would make the offense in NYC a pretty scary one. Golladay, Barkley, Smith, and Engram also means that Daniel Jones is fully equipped to showcase his full skill set and prove whether he is the guy for the job or not.
Round 1 Pick 12 Philadelphia Eagles: CB Patrick Surtain II
Surtain is the most NFL ready cornerback and will be a top ten player with proper coaching. Surtain and Slay will also change the culture of the secondary in Philly. Surtain is a SEC battle tested cover corner who can shadow any and all WR1s at the next level.
Round 1 Pick 13 Los Angeles Chargers: OT Rashawn Slater
Slater might be the only tackle how shut down Chase Young in 2019. He opted out in 2020 and that only helps him to be a more NFL ready player for the 2021 season. Justin Herbert gets his franchise LT to play with for the next 10+ years. This would be a dream come true for the Chargers.
Round 1 Pick 14 Minnesota Vikings: OT Christian Darrisaw
The Vikings cut LT Riley Reiff after the 2020 season and now have a hole at the blind side blocker position. Darrisaw might not be these all world prospects that Slater and Sewell are, but Darrisaw is a rock solid starter at left tackle. Darrisaw is a real smooth mover and a mountain of a man who can hold down the LT spot for 10+ years.
Round 1 Pick 15 New England Patriots: ILB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
JOK is arguably the most athletic player in the draft and could be the perfect addition to the Patriots revamped defense. The Patriots need a running mate at ILB next to Dont’a Hightower and JOK will be a great compliment to his physical play style. Jeremiah is a better cover man than some CBs in the draft and will be a great answer to the Patriots TE coverage woes.
Round 1 Pick 16 Arizona Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn has shot all the way up draft boards since the start of the season. He killed it during the season and proved himself against elite SEC talent. He has killed the pre draft process and opting out partially through the season has also been a help. He’s an uber aggressive man cover corner and could be the final piece to the secondary in the desert.
Round 1 Pick 17 Las Vegas Raiders: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
AVT is a top 15 player and gives the Raiders a ton of versatility as they revamp their offensive line. Alijah is an absolute people mover and fits the Raiders scheme perfectly. He is probably best suited to play guard in the NFL but can play RT if needed. Vera-Tucker is a real physical player and is exactly the kind of guy Gruden would fall in love with.
Round 1 Pick 18 Miami Dolphins: RB Najee Harris
Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed belong below two or three people on the depth chart and not in the back field on every Sunday. The Dolphins need a big time back and Najee Harris is just that. He is a super powerful runner who does bring some value to the passing game. Tua gets reunited with his college running back and Najee Harris comes to an offensive system that sets him up to pad the box score.
Round 1 Pick 19 Washington Football Team: CB Caleb Farley
Caleb Farley should never have fallen this far and is one of the most polarizing corner prospects in recent memory. Farley just recently learned the cornerback position and has the tools to be an All Pro. A recent back surgery is scaring away teams but not Ron Rivera and the Washington Football Team. Rivera gets a legit CB1 to play behind the fearsome pass rush in D.C.
Round 1 Pick 20 Chicago Bears: OT Teven Jenkins
The Bears are rolling with Germain Ifedi and a local flag football player holding down the right side of the line so an improvement must be made. Jenkins is guard and tackle capable but is probably best suited to be a right tackle in the NFL. He is a human plow and can be a great cap on the end of the line opposite of Charles Leno Jr..
Round 1 Pick 21 Indianapolis Colts: OT Liam Eichenberg
The Colts have a massive hole at the blind side blocker spot and after investing valuable capital into Carson Wentz, they must protect him. Eichenberg is a plug and play left tackle and will fit perfect next to fellow Notre Dame alum Quenton Nelson. The left side of the line will go from a weakness to an all time strength.
Round 1 Pick 22 Tennessee Titans: WR Rashod Bateman
The Titans lost Corey Davis to the Jets in free agency and need a new running mate for A.J. Brown. Bateman is a very complete wide receiver who will be a stud in the NFL. The Titans might start passing a little more in order to prolong the life span of Derrick Henry. Bateman could be a consistent 1,000 yard receiver in the NFL and would be an upgrade from Corey Davis.
Round 1 Pick 23 New York Jets: DE Jaelan Phillips
Robert Saleh’s defense runs through the pass rush and Phillips would be an absolute steal at 23. Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and Jaelan Phillips will be a top ten defensive line immediately and will be exactly what Saleh needs to implement his defensive scheme. Phillips is gonna be a stud at the next level.
Round 1 Pick 24 Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Greg Newsome II
After the release of Steven Nelson, the Steelers are in desperate need of a cornerback opposite Joe Haden. Newsome II has the skills to be a great press man corner and CB2 in the Steelers ultra talented defense. If they hope to make one last run with Big Ben, they must sure up their secondary and thats just what they do here.
Round 1 Pick 25 Jacksonville Jaguars: FS Trevon Moehrig
The Jags made a very underrated signing in Rayshawn Jenkins and they decide to add a running mate at 25 with Trevon Moehrig. Trevon is an incredibly talented ball hawk with elite coverage skills. His skill set will translate well to the NFL and will add to the culture of “speed” that Urban Meyer wants to implement in Duval.
Round 1 Pick 26 Cleveland Browns: DE Kwity Paye
Kwity is a super athletic pass rusher who would develop perfectly opposite Myles Garrett. With the great coaching staff in Cleveland. He will have the chance to sharpen his skills and learn from an elite pro in Myles Garrett and the duo of him and Paye will be an uber talented duo in the Dawg Pound for years to come.
Round 1 Pick 27 Baltimore Ravens: OLB Azeez Ojulari
Ojulari is a speed rusher out of the SEC who has sky high potential. In Baltimore he’ll have a chance to be the go to guy on third down and can learn from guys like Calais Campbell about how to implement more pass rush moves and run game polish into his play style. This would be a steal for the Ravens at 27.
Round 1 Pick 28 New Orleans Saints: DT Christian Barmore
The Saints need cornerbacks but they have always been a team that builds from the trenches. With the departure of Trey Hendrickson, Malcom Brown, and Sheldon Rankins, 3 of their 4 starters on the line are now gone and they have a few holes to fill. Barmore is a guy with incredible pass rush potential in the NFL and with the coaching of Ryan Nielsen, he could quickly become an annual 10+ sack guy.
Round 1 Pick 29 Green Bay Packers: LB Nick Bolton
Bolton is an electrifying linebacker and could be exactly the addition that the Packers defense needs under new coordinator Joe Barry. He is a great athlete who is a big hitter and an above average pass rusher at the ILB position. He is a pretty polished player who can start from day one and can be a great chess piece in Wisconsin.
Round 1 Pick 30 Buffalo Bills: CB Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes has tested very well in the pre draft process and can be a Jaire Alexander or Tre’Davious White type late first steal. He’s got great man coverage traits and good size to match up with physical receivers in the NFL. Another SEC guy who capitalized on his opportunities. Could be one of the steals of the draft.
Round 1 Pick 31 Kansas City Chiefs: OL Jalen Mayfield
Jalen Mayfield provides tackle and guard versatility. With both tackle spots up for grabs in KC, Mayfield should have ample opportunities to take one of those starting spots. They need to protect their $500 million investment in Patrick Mahomes and grabbing a guy like Mayfield is a great first step.
Round 1 Pick 32 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
The Bucs have brought back all of their starters and are in a perfect position to take the best player available. Wouldn’t this just be a slap in the face to the rest of the league if they let a player like Marshall fall into the laps of the Buccaneers. Godwin, Fournette, Evans, Marshall, and Gronkowski all at the disposal of Tom Brady. What a luxury pick this would be for the Bucs.