It is draft week my friends. The Sports Wave is going to be pumping out a ton of pre-draft content to get y’all pumped for the future stars of the NFL. Part of the draft content load will be mock drafts galore. This is the third edition of my 2021 mock draft and not only are we including trades, but this mock includes the element of surprise. Every single year, we are left saying “I did not see that coming”. So in this mock 3.0 we are going to try and predict even the stunners of this years draft. Let the mocking commence!
Round 1 Pick 1 Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence
Write it in the blood of your enemies.
Round 1 Pick 2 New York Jets: Zach Wilson
Write it in sharpie.
Round 1 Pick 3 San Francisco 49ers: QB Justin Fields
Write it in PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable Pen (Not sponsored, just a great pen).
*TRADE* Round 1 Pick 4 Denver Broncos: QB Trey Lance
ATL Receives:
2021 9th Overall
2021 40th Overall
2022 1st Round Pick
2022 2nd Round Pick
DEN Receives:
2021 4th Overall
The Broncos have made it abundantly clear that they don’t want Drew Lock under center past this season. Trey Lance has the highest ceiling of any signal caller in the draft and would be able to develop for a year under Drew Lock. Denver has an explosive offense but they’re missing the prized gem, Trey Lance would be that prized gem for the Mile High City.
Round 1 Pick 5 Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja’Marr Chase
I used to be ra ra Penei Sewell to the Bengals but the more I think about it, that doesn’t make as much sense as drafting a generational WR talent. Jonah Williams, when healthy, is a very talented left tackle and after the signing of new right tackle Reilly Reiff, there is flexibility at the pick. I think Tee Higgins can become a legit WR1 and Tyler Boyd is one of the best slot receivers in the league but the upgrade that Ja’Marr Chase could bring would transcend the offense to a new level.
Round 1 Pick 6 Miami Dolphins: TE Kyle Pitts
I’m just going to say it, Kyle Pitts is the best TE prospect of all time. He is better than Vernon Davis was in college and is a much more dynamic player. This is the greatest consolation prize ever and honestly, it’s possible Pitts was the Dolphins’ target the whole time. The best football the Fins’ offense played last year was in 12 personnel and now Mike Gesicki and Pitts are together in South Beach to form one of the best tight end duos in the league.
DET Receives:
2021 16th Overall
2021 49th Overall
2022 1st Rounder
ARI Receives:
2021 7th Overall
The Cardinals keep on the trend of making headlines this offseason in a blockbuster for a freaking wide receiver. They already have very little draft picks and they have pretty much set their Super Bowl window up for the next 1-2 years due to all of the one year deals. Jaylen Waddle brings a new dynamic to the Cardinals offense and slots in next to DeAndre Hopkins and AJ Green.
Round 1 Pick 8 Carolina Panthers: OT Penei Sewell
It’s hard for me to imagine that the Panthers feel confident in Cameron Irving to be their starting left tackle. Sewell is a generational tackle prospect and will be the perfect blocker to take on guys like Cameron Jordan and Shaq Barrett twice a year. This is also a big step in the right direction for the Panthers rushing attack and Sewell’s athleticism is going to be key to being a great lead blocker for CMC.
*TRADE* Round 1 Pick 9 New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones
ATL Receives:
2021 15th Overall
2022 1st Round Pick
NE Receives:
2021 9th Overall
Atlanta trades back again and picks up yet another first rounder for next year. Even through all of the shaking of Belichick’s head, Mac Jones is his guy. The Patriots have been in on quarterback workouts and trade talks all offseason and have made it clear that Cam Newton is not their guy. Jones is an effective passer with a big arm and great touch. This is the Patriots last choice out of the top five signal callers but they need to make a change and Mac is good enough for them.
*TRADE* Round 1 Pick 10 Minnesota Vikings: OL Rashawn Slater
DAL Receives:
2021 14th Overall
2021 78th Overall
2021 119th Overall
MIN Receives:
2021 10th Overall
The Vikings have a gaping hole at left tackle after parting ways with Reilly Reiff and truthfully every position but center could use some shuffling. Slater is the only offensive lineman in quite some time who I can confidently say will be great at all five positions in the offensive line. Slater is the only player who shut down Chase Young in college and with Khalil Mack, Za’Darius Smith, and Romeo Okwara getting after Kirk Cousins, they need to get some blind side help.
Round 1 Pick 11 New York Giants: WR DeVonta Smith
The Giants have said that they want to add another playmaker even after the Golladay signing and so they do just that by taking the 2021 Heisman Trophy recipient DeVonta Smith. No one saw success like Smith did last year and he will be great in the NFL if he puts on more weight, and thats a massive if. DeVonta measured in at a paper thin 166 lbs comparable to your average American high schooler. Smith shouldn’t have as many question marks as he does surrounding him right now.
Round 1 Pick 12 Philadelphia Eagles: CB Jaycee Horn
Horn is the best cornerback in the class. He plays an incredibly aggressive and physical brand of press man football and has the most impressive resume of any cornerback in a very long time. His technique is down, his ball tracking is elite, and he comes from NFL blood. Jaycee will slide into the Eagles defense across from Darius Slay to form a formidable duo in Philly.
Round 1 Pick 13 Los Angeles Chargers: CB Patrick Surtain II
Technique is the name of the game for Surtain. He has great size, IQ, and athleticism for the cornerback position. The Chargers current starting outside cover men are Donte Vaughn and Michael Davis. That duo is not gonna fly in a division sporting Henry Ruggs, Tyreek Hill, Courtland Sutton, and Jerry Jeudy. Surtain can step in and be the new Jalen Ramsey to Staley’s defense.
Round 1 Pick 14 Dallas Cowboys: DT Christian Barmore.
I am very glad that the Christian Barmore hype train is finally gaining some steam. He is shooting up draft boards and for good reason. Barmore is a big time pass rusher who has true game wrecking ability. The Cowboys are super thin on the interior of the defensive line and don’t have anyone to call on for a third down sack from the defensive tackle position. Barmore can be just that. Plus he’s a Bama boy, total Jerry Jones move.
Round 1 Pick 15 Atlanta Falcons: DE Jaelan Phillips
The Falcons are the biggest winners of the first round after moving back, gaining two first round picks, and then landing the best edge rusher in the class. Phillips is a pass rushing nightmare and despite the injury concerns, he is one of the ten most talented players in the class and I stand by that. Great first big day at the office for Terry Fontenot.
Round 1 Pick 16 Detroit Lions: LB Micah Parsons
The Lions moved back nine spots and still got one of their top targets. Parsons is a great athlete with tremendous third down value as a pass rusher and he has the speed to be developed as a cover man. Micah can come into the Lions defense and become a star next to the likes of Jamie Collins Sr. and Romeo Okwara. This would be a best case scenario start for Dan Campbell and the Lions.
Round 1 Pick 17 Las Vegas Raiders: OT Teven Jenkins
No one in this draft is more of a Raiders esque player than Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins. There are massive holes on the right side of the line for the Raiders and luckily Jenkins can fit the role of either right guard or right tackle. The Raiders are craving people movers for their scheme and Teven is just that. Great scheme fit and a total Mayock pick here.
Round 1 Pick 18 Miami Dolphins: OLB Azeez Ojulari
Ojulari is a speed rusher from Georgia who shows great pursuit and quick hands at the point of attack. The Dolphins above needing a scheme fit or a technician need versatile athletes and that is just what Ojulari is. Azeez may need to add some muscle in the NFL but even that isn’t a very big concern with me. He is my EDGE2 in this class and I have high hopes for him in the NFL.
Round 1 Pick 19 Washington Football Team: OT Christian Darrisaw
The Football Team got to where they are now by picking the best player available and that is what they do here. He just so happens to fill a need but Darrisaw is a top fifteen player in the class and will serve as a rock at left tackle and will be a staple in the run game. A line with Morgan Moses, Brandon Scherff, and Darrisaw is a big time upgrade from the last few years and regardless of who the passer, they should be comfy in this pocket.
Round 1 Pick 20 Chicago Bears: CB Caleb Farley
There are jobs on the line with this pick so Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy need to take a big swing here. Farley is the best cornerback in the class and due to a back surgery, he is sliding down boards and fast. There are upcoming medical tests with Farley that will be imperative to his stock on the 29th. If he makes it to 20, the Bears should grab the top cover man and pair him with young stud Jaylon Johnson to replace the production of recently departed Kyle Fuller.
Round 1 Pick 21 Indianapolis Colts: OT Liam Eichenberg
There are two things set in stone for this draft. Trevor Lawrence to the Jags. Liam Eichenberg to the Colts.
Round 1 Pick 22 Tennessee Titans: OT Alex Leatherwood
The Titans swung and missed big with Isaiah Wilson in 2020 and its time they fill the right tackle spot with a safe bet. Leatherwood has tackle and guard flexibility and fits the mold for what the Titans want at right tackle, a massive mountain of a man. Leatherwood will cap the line opposite Lewan and will blow open the holes for Derrick Henry for years to come.
Round 1 Pick 23 New York Jets: CB Greg Newsome II
Newsome II is an incredible cover man and that is exactly what Saleh needs to run his defense. As it stands, Bless Austin and Bryce Hall are the Jets corners. They’re not the worst but they can’t match up with WR1s in today’s NFL. Greg Newsome II is scheme versatile and could become top ten under Saleh.
JOK is one heck of an athlete and he is exactly what you want in a rover. He can cover, he can play the ball, he can hit, he can blitz, he can make pre snap reads, and he can play deep if necessary. JOK next to Devin Bush in the middle of the defense would make the Steel Curtain even scarier. It’s not a running back, it’s not a quarterback, and it’s not an offensive tackle, but it is one of the most polarizing defenders in recent memory and that is enough to get Colbert to pull the trigger.
Round 1 Pick 25 Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Kadarius Toney
Kadarius Toney is a Madden cheat code come to life. He is ultra versatile, a shifty player, he has great vision, and deceptive feet. He can slot into an offense with DJ Chark Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr, Marvin Jones Jr, and Trevor Lawrence do add a new dynamic element to the offense. The Jags have met with Toney multiple times and he fits their new brand of speed. This would be a great pick for JAX.
Round 1 Pick 26 Cleveland Browns: LB Zaven Collins
This pick right here could put the Browns in Super Bowl contention. Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney off the edges and Collins patrolling the middle takes the Browns’ defense from scary to terrifying. There isn’t anything Collins can’t do and he would add a dynamic role to the Browns defense that they don’t have with their current players.
Round 1 Pick 27 Baltimore Ravens: SAF Trevon Moehrig
Moehrig would absolutely dominate in the Ravens defense. They get a ball hawk that they didn’t even have with Earl Thomas and with the coverage core of Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, and Jimmy Smith, Moehrig can be given the deep half of the field to lay the boom and pick off passes. This is a dream defense for free safeties and the Ravens snag the best in the draft here.
Round 1 Pick 28 New Orleans Saints: DE Kwity Paye
The Saints have gotten to where they are by taking the best player available every year and that is just what they do here. Not only is he just the best player available but Kwity Paye has the potential to be one of the best picks in the whole draft. If the Saints can curate his talents and turn him into a force opposite Cam Jordan, they could have one of the best edge rushing duos on the whole league. This would be a home run for the Saints.
Round 1 Pick 29 Green Bay Packers: IOL Alijah Vera-Tucker
AVT never should’ve slid this far but here we are. The Packers not only take the best player available but they fill their biggest need at the same time. Aaron Rodgers gets an absolute stud in pass protection and Aaron Jones gets a human wrecking ball in the run game. AVT will thrive in the Packers’ system.
Round 1 Pick 30 Buffalo Bills: CB Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes is often compared to Tre’Davious White, so who better to grab Stokes that the same team that grabbed White. The Bills are in desperate need of a threat opposite Tre White and Stokes needs a team that can polish his game so this is a real win win here.
Round 1 Pick 31 Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman
Now the Ravens are in business. They will deal with Orlando Brown Jr.’s replacement in the form of a free agent and now they get to use their second first round pick of the year on a real need. They stop the slide of Bateman here at 31. So now Lamar Jackson has an offense that features the likes of Marquise Brown, JK Dobbins, Sammy Watkins, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman. Look out AFC.
*TRADE* Round 1 Pick 32 New York Jets: RB Najee Harris
TB Receives:
2021 34th Overall
2021 107th Overall
NYJ Receives:
2021 32nd Overall
Woah now the Jets just picked three times in the first round. Yes, they did and they now have the best running back in the draft to take some of the load off of Zach Wilson. With the arrival of Corey Davis and Keelan Cole, the existing room of Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder, and the additions of Zach Wilson and Najee Harris, the Jets can finally get some scoring on offense running. This is a great pick.